MLB 2014 Season - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

troutman · 03-25-2014, 02:54 PM

Countdown to Opening Day: 5 days, 2 hours

14 things to watch for in 2014, a season of change for baseball

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb...lig/?eref=sihp

1. What team has the best chance to win 100 games?
The Los Angeles Dodgers. Let's remember how difficult it is to win 100 games these days. The Dodgers haven't done it in 40 years. Only three teams have done it in the past eight years. And if nobody gets there this year, it will be the first time in the 53-year history of the 162-game schedule that we see three consecutive full seasons without a 100-win team. (You can thank Bud.)

Los Angeles, a team that ripped off a 42-8 streak last summer, has the best shot at 100 because of a deep bullpen and, when the Dodgers are at full health, the most top-tier talent.

8. Who are the 2013 Pirates of 2014?
It's happened every season but one in the wild card era (1995-2013): at least one team makes the playoffs the year after a losing record. Actually, in just the past two years seven teams have done it, including three -- the Pirates, Red Sox and Indians -- last year. In order, here are the losing teams from last year that have the best chance to be playing in October this year: 1. Giants. 2. Angels. 3. Padres. 4. Mariners. 5. Brewers.

troutman · 03-25-2014, 02:56 PM

2014 Season Preview: Toronto Blue Jays

http://mlb.si.com/2014/03/25/toronto...eason-preview/

troutman · 03-25-2014, 03:02 PM

MLB predictions 2014: Sporting News' playoff picks

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/stor...ild-card-teams

AL Wild Card game: Yankees over Royals
ALDS: Tigers over Yankees, Rangers over Red Sox
ALCS: Rangers over Tigers

Wild Card Game: Giants over Pirates
NLDS: Giants over Cardinals, Dodgers over Nationals
NLCS: Dodgers over Giants

Power Rankings:
http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/stor...inals/slide/31

Maritime Q-Scout · 03-25-2014, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

MLB predictions 2014: Sporting News' playoff picks

http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/stor...ild-card-teams

AL Wild Card game: Yankees over Royals
ALDS: Tigers over Yankees, Rangers over Red Sox
ALCS: Rangers over Tigers

Wild Card Game: Giants over Pirates
NLDS: Giants over Cardinals, Dodgers over Nationals
NLCS: Dodgers over Giants

Power Rankings:
http://www.sportingnews.com/mlb/stor...inals/slide/31

Oh how I hope that's right.

I'm worried about the Rangers' health.

Darvish is not certain for opening day
Profar is out 10-12 weeks
Holland tripped over his freakin' dog and is out for months

CofR · 03-25-2014, 08:31 PM

I read that Darvish has been scratched from his Opening Day start with the neck issue.

nik- · 03-27-2014, 11:40 PM

Miggy Cabrera just got paid

troutman · 03-28-2014, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik-

Miggy Cabrera just got paid

Nearly $300 M.

Clever_Iggy · 03-28-2014, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troutman

Nearly $300 M.

The Tigers are so lucky to have shed Prince's massive contract... then they enter into one that's even more absurd.

burn_this_city · 03-28-2014, 09:44 AM

If Miggy stays healthy I don't think its a terrible deal. he's the best hitter in baseball by a long shot. Of course in the real world that is absolutely absurd money.

The Scherzer rejection has me worried, will have to see if he can replicate last year. Maybe the Tigers will luck out there if he fails to perform.

moon · 03-28-2014, 10:08 AM

Mike Illitch will be dead by the time that contract looks bad he doesn't give a crap, if he gets another title then great if not thats for his son to deal with.

nik- · 03-28-2014, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

If Miggy stays healthy I don't think its a terrible deal. he's the best hitter in baseball by a long shot. Of course in the real world that is absolutely absurd money.

The Scherzer rejection has me worried, will have to see if he can replicate last year. Maybe the Tigers will luck out there if he fails to perform.

Injuries happen, but he at least looks to have lost significant weight over the last few years. So that should help.

troutman · 03-28-2014, 12:49 PM

Baseball Team Values 2014 Led By New York Yankees At $2.5 Billion

http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozan...t-2-5-billion/

nik- · 03-28-2014, 04:34 PM

The Yankees have added almost a billion dollars in value in the last 4 years. Mostly because the insane price paid for the Dodgers bumped their value way up.

Antithesis · 03-28-2014, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nik-

The Yankees have added almost a billion dollars in value in the last 4 years. Mostly because the insane price paid for the Dodgers bumped their value way up.

Well, that and the revenue from TV contracts, both regional and national, are growing at an incredible rate. This is particularly true for the big market teams and those that own their own regional sports networks. There's a lot of talk out there that this growing wealth disparity could threaten the labour peace that fans have enjoyed for the past 20 years.

Drake · 03-29-2014, 08:43 AM

Mike Trout has signed a six year extension, $144.5 million contract.

http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/mlb/s...year-extension

Sylvanfan · 03-29-2014, 10:12 AM

Really signing a guy Trout's age for that money is a far smarter investment than extending Cabrera like the Tigers did, especially since they already had him taken care of for the next two seasons.

Antithesis · 03-29-2014, 10:30 AM

According to Ken Rosenthal, the breakdown is $5M signing bonus, $5.25M, $15.25M, $19.25M, $33.25M, $33.25M, $33.25M. The last 3 years of his deal would have been free agent years.

Sylvanfan · 03-30-2014, 10:27 PM

Well maybe Brian Wilson is the Giants incognito spy in the Dodgers clubhouse?

N-E-B · 03-30-2014, 11:52 PM

Hoping my Halos can do something this year. I hope trading Trumbo doesn't come back to haunt them but Skaggs looked okay in Spring training. No more Joe Blanton either.

Also, if the Blue Jays, Rangers, and Dodgers all want to have horrible seasons, then I wouldn't complain. Not getting my hopes up for Texas or LA, but the Jays have a good shot at it!

Go Angels Go! Can't wait for the game tomorrow! Trout is going to have an MVP season and hopefully Weaver is back in contention for the Cy Young after an injury plagued season last year.

Maritime Q-Scout · 03-31-2014, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N-E-B

Hoping my Halos can do something this year. I hope trading Trumbo doesn't come back to haunt them but Skaggs looked okay in Spring training. No more Joe Blanton either.

Also, if the Blue Jays, Rangers, and Dodgers all want to have horrible seasons, then I wouldn't complain. Not getting my hopes up for Texas or LA, but the Jays have a good shot at it!

Go Angels Go! Can't wait for the game tomorrow! Trout is going to have an MVP season and hopefully Weaver is back in contention for the Cy Young after an injury plagued season last year.

You mean the Texas Rehabers?

I'm a HUGE Rangers fan, our problem is staying healthy, and not having our players trip over their dogs.

Darvish, Harrison, Holland, and Lewis are all starting the season on the DL. that's essentially the entire pitching rotation.

Throw Soto (who I'm not a big fan of, but it means Arencibia is the starting catcher) and Profar on the DL as well and you have a ton on key injuries from the get go.

That said, and no offense, but I hope the Angels continue to tank. They went from non-offensive rivals to a team I loathe seemingly overnight. (I'm sure Texas was the same way for you).