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Just copy the questions and fill out accordingly.
1. AL MVP
2. NL MVP
3. AL Cy Young
4. NL Cy Young
5. AL ROY
6. NL ROY
7. AL Division Champs (East, Central, West)
8. AL Wildcard
9. NL Division Champs (East, Central, West)
10. NL Wildcard
11. AL Champion
12. NL Champion
13. WS Champion
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Just copy the questions and fill out accordingly.
1. AL MVP
Alex Rodriguez, NYY
2. NL MVP
Ryan Braun, Mil
3. AL Cy Young
Trevor Cahill, Oak
4. NL Cy Young
Matt Cain, SF
5. AL ROY
Kyle Drabek, SP, Toronto
6. NL ROY
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta
7. AL Division Champs (East, Central, West)
Boston, Detroit, Oakland
8. AL Wildcard
Texas
9. NL Division Champs (East, Central, West)
Atlanta, Milwaukee, LAD
10. NL Wildcard
Philly
11. AL Champion
Oakland
12. NL Champion
LAD
13. WS Champion
Oakland
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Hall of Famer
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The Indians will be 5 games under sucky
President - Fort Collins Browns Backers
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it's amazing, i take a year off from baseball, and i come back and have no idea who is who.
although i know that philly has halladay and lee. barring injuries, i don't think any one team out there can beat them in any playoff series. just way too much.
i'm doing mlbtv this year so i can follow the tribe. it's like 120$ bucks, runs on the ps3, and is about 150 cheaper than the extra innings. plus you can watch on the net or on your phone. i think it's a great deal. i got a 30 day trial too so if it blows (heard nothing but rave reviews tho) i can not buy it.
i just hope i don't get blacked out when the tribe plays chicago. i can only take so much of the hawk before i mute the tv.
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you will get blacked out of the live broadcast but can watch it later (same happens to me when the Indians play the Rangers). doesn't matter. it's awesome and well worth the $$$.
Philly's bullpen is suspect especially with Lidge's shoulder. Utley is on the DL and he is their catalyst on offense. Add in that they are depending on huge things from rookie Dominic Brown and don't be surprised to see the Braves win that division. They are a more 'complete' team. That said, yeah, the Phillies have an amazing starting staff and that covers up alot of warts.
Look at Oakland's starting staff too though. In the playoffs, that is going to be crazy to deal with. They go 4-deep and are relatively young too.
(I'd add in SF but I think their arms are going to be taxed from all the innings they had to pitch to win the WS last year. though Matt Cain is ridiculous which is why I have him winning the NL Cy anyway)
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Quote:
13. WS Champion
If their pitching holds up, Philly.
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Yeah, Philly has the murder's row of pitching now ... Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt. Yikes!
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Quote:
Yeah, Philly has the murder's row of pitching now ... Halladay, Lee, Hamels and Oswalt. Yikes!
And no lineup.
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Hall of Famer
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13. Your 2011 Cleveland Indians!!!!
This is our year!!!!
I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch......
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#13 wouldn't be apt for Major League though. Even when Hollywood wrote about the Tribe they thought it too far-fetched for them to actually win the World Series.
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1. AL MVP - Don't know, don't care
2. NL MVP - Don't know, don't care
3. AL Cy Young - Don't know, don't care
4. NL Cy Young - Don't know, don't care
5. AL ROY - Don't know, don't care
6. NL ROY - Don't know, don't care
7. AL Division Champs (East, Central, West) - Sox, Sox, A's
8. AL Wildcard - Yanks
9. NL Division Champs (East, Central, West) - Phillies, Reds, Rockies
10. NL Wildcard - Braves
11. AL Champion - Sox (Chicago)
12. NL Champion - Braves
13. WS Champion - Sox (Chicago)
And I'll predict right here, the Indians will finish at .500 or slightly above. They had one of the best starting rotations and bullpen for the entire 2nd half of baseball. And with a few healthy bats, they'll improve 12-15 games.
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/Punchsmack/punch.gif) “...Iguodala to Curry, back to Iguodala, up for the layup! Oh! Blocked by James! LeBron James with the rejection!”
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1. AL MVP ... Kevin Youkilis 2. NL MVP ... Luis Pujols 3. AL Cy Young ... Justin Verlander 4. NL Cy Young ... Roy Halladay 5. AL ROY ... Lonnie Chisenhall  6. NL ROY ... Aroldis Chapman 7. AL Division Champs ... (East - Boston, Central - Chicago, West - Anaheim) 8. AL Wildcard ... NYY 9. NL Division Champs ... (East - Philly, Central - Cinci, West - San Fran) 10. NL Wildcard ... Colorado 11. AL Champion ... Boston 12. NL Champion ... Philly 13. WS Champion ... Philly
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The Indians clippers game in Columbus was called after 2 1/2 inning due to snow. I'd be ticked if I bought a ticket, $20
President - Fort Collins Browns Backers
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It is 85° here today. Does it still snow there this late in the year?
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My Indians prediction:
78-83 wins. This is finally the year where we start off hot and fade down the stretch (instead of the other way around).
Starting pitching: Carmona is good enough to at least be a #2 SP, Carrasco has the stuff for a #1 but not the control yet, Masterson will be boom or bust again. Tomlin/Talbot and the gluttony of 5th starters in AAA will at least be on average with who most teams throw out there.
Bullpen: I want to say our strength, but you really never know. If our starters can eat innings, then it will be. If not, then it will get taxed and struggle. Complete wild card (love C. Perez of course though).
Hitting: Actually looking forward to having a team that can hit this year. I think Brantley will do good enough in the leadoff spot and I'm expecting Asdrubal to have a bounceback year. Santana has looked healthy by all accounts so far. If Choo does what Choo does and Sizemore even gives 50% of his peak or Kearns while he heals, then we'll score runs (anything from LaPorta, Hannahan and Orlando is gravy)
Defense: Should be our biggest jump from last year. Hannahan/Orlando are defensive guys. Brantley is good in CF and Sizemore is more a natural fit for us in LF now. Really though, the key is Asdrubal being healthy at SS and Orlando at 2B. We were terrible up the middle last year.
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Quote:
It is 85° here today. Does it still snow there this late in the year?
Is 85 abnormal? I would think that would be par for the course for you. I believed it snowed a foot during april in Cleveland a few years ago.
President - Fort Collins Browns Backers
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Quote:
It is 85° here today.
that's what its going to be here tomorrow  . so much for 70 and cloudy (perfect weather for playing outside with the kids).
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Well last week it was pouring rain (what we consider pouring anyway). So it's a little weird to go from that to 85°. It's usually warm this time of the year, just not like this.
I'll take it though.
Anyway, baseball...
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1. AL MVP - Adrian Gonzalez
2. NL MVP - Troy Tulowitski
3. AL Cy Young - David Price
4. NL Cy Young - Cliff Lee
5. AL ROY - Lonnie Chisenhall
6. NL ROY - Brandon Belt
7. AL Division Champs (East, Central, West) - Red Sox, White Sox, A's
8. AL Wildcard - Yankees
9. NL Division Champs (East, Central, West) - Phillies, Brewers, Rockies
10. NL Wildcard - Braves
11. AL Champion - Red Sox
12. NL Champion - Phillies
13. WS Champion - Red Sox
Joe Thomas made Justin Timberlake change his name. He didn't want wusses to have the same initials...
Dawg Talker since 3/26/2005...
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Quote:
My Indians prediction:
78-83 wins.
83 wins would be a major step towards contention - I would be very happy with that. I was thinking 75-77 wins would be a good next step.
I think our starting pitching is substandard. Carmona should be solid, but I have no idea what to expect from the rest. Masterson and Carrasco have big-time arms, but lack command. Talbot seems to have good stuff too, but he is streaky ... inconsistent. Tomlin reminds me a little of Charles Nagy without the nasty slider; his command needs to be picture perfect, control-wise, for him to be MLB grade.
I like our bullpen a lot.
Our hitting is a big IF, because our DH, 1B, and 3B - positions you need production from - appear to be below par, to put it politely. I like Choo, Santana, Sizemore (if healthy), and A. Cabrera very much, but am unsure of O. Cabrera. I'm still not convinced Brantley is a major league hitter. Hafner and Laporta hold the key to the Featherheads having a potent offense. Hafner needs to approach 20-25 HRs and 80-90 RBI's or he should not be an MLB DH. Laporta needs to find the stroke that made him the centerpiece of the Sabathia trade. I'm not terribly confident either of those things will happen, but its the start of the season so I'm trying to be optimistic.
Defense should be better, if only because Marte is not playing 3B and Nix is not playing 2B. I'm not sure I know why we don't switch the Cabrera's positions, since - imo - Asdrubal is a much better 2B than SS, and Orlando Cabrera has played SS well for his whole career. Asdrubal's range at SS was not good last year, but that could have been due to his injury.
Although I would be happy/satisfied with 75-77 wins and ecstatic with 83, I think 70-72 wins is most likely.
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nice summary. I agree with most of what you wrote.
on the Cabrera's. I think the FO is thinking that Asdrubal is really our only SS in our system. He "needs" to be the SS of the future. So, even though Orlando may be better "this" year at SS, we need to see if Asdrubal can handle SS going forward. We have a bunch of 2B in our system and can hope at least one pans out there (Phelps, Kipnis, etc.).
you are absolutely correct on lacking power and hitting at the corners and DH. hopefully we can make up with it elsewhere and that they do a good enough job to get by.
almost out of the Hafner contract. just 2 more years (uggh, still 2 more years)
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almost out of the Hafner contract. just 2 more years (uggh, still 2 more years)
Thank goodness ... Gahh! Why do we insist on re-signing our own players to big contracts? 
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Quote:
Quote:
almost out of the Hafner contract. just 2 more years (uggh, still 2 more years)
Thank goodness ... Gahh! Why do we insist on re-signing our own players to big contracts?
I know 
And lucky us when we do re-sign our guys they either stop using steroids (Hafner) or get injured for most of the new contract (Westbrook).
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Always makes me laugh .... we resigned a guy who happened to have the bottom fall out, instead of the "riskier" pitchers ... and the 2 pitchers we couldn't sign have been rocks while our "safe" power hitter has been glass. 
Micah 6:8; He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
John 14:19 Jesus said: Because I live, you also will live.
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The Indians will be 5 games under sucky
I haven't followed baseball all that closely for a few years, I just have been hearing for years, as we sell off all of our talent, that we are stocking up for the future.. so can somebody who has followed the Indians please let me know if this is the year we see some of that "future" talent start to pay off? or do we still have more real legitimate current talent that we need to sell in hopes of acquiring future talent... just curious.
yebat' Putin
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1. AL MVP A Rod, Yankees
2. NL MVP C. Gonzalez, Rockies
3. AL Cy Young J. Lester, Red Sox
4. NL Cy Young T. Lincecum, Giants
5. AL ROY J. Hellickson, Rays
6. NL ROY B. Harper, Nationals
7. AL Division Champs (East, Central, West) Red Sox, White Sox, Rangers
8. AL Wildcard Yankees
9. NL Division Champs (East, Central, West) Phillies, Brewers, Giants
10. NL Wildcard Reds
11. AL Champion Red Sox
12. NL Champion Brewers
13. WS Champion Red Sox
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Shapiro drafted terribly, which killed our farm system. Luckily, he was pretty good at trading which helped keep us afloat for awhile, but the bottom fell out. He gave over the draft duties 2 drafts ago and the results have been much better (so far). That, along with a bunch of our AAA talent and we actually have a good farm system again (Clips and Captains won their leagues, we have several good prospects in the system). As with all sports, alot comes down to drafting, which we were terrible at, but we have good upper level prospects at most positions now (Chisenhall@3B, Kipnis@2B, Alex White@SP being the 3 brightest and most likely to help out along with Santana@C who came up last year). I'd say 2012 is the year where the new draft strategy starts to pay off after these guys get their feet wet at some point this year (we are also top3 in spending in the draft now, which helps). or, they fall on their face like LaPorta did after dominating in the minors and we have to start all over again. either one.
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I believe the Indians are in the ascendant phase of their current developmental curve. I think they expect to have either or both of their phenom pitchers - Alex White and Drew Pomeranz - in their rotation late this year or early next year. I think they also are counting on their farm system filling the holes at 3B (Lonnie Chisenhall) and 2B (Jason Kipnis) next year. They still need Laporta to produce at 1B. They are on the hook through 2013 with Hafner's contract, but have a young hitter for the DH spot too (Nick Weglarz).
IMO, they are hoping for a run towards contention in 2012 & 2013. After that we start the downward phase again with the sell-off of Sizemore and Carmona.
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it's not like Sizemore has been giving us much these past few years anyway.
Carmona is hopefully the guy we target to resign like we did with Westbrook.
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Opening Day is a wonderful day.
It’s strange. The Browns are my favorite sports team. It’s really not even all that close. I love football the most and I love the Browns, the history, etc. However, I live out of state, so I can decide whether to ‘push’ my children to cheer for ‘my’ teams or the local teams. I have found that I seem to be allowing them to cheer for the local teams in football and basketball, but in baseball I am decidingly pushing them towards the Tribe (they both insisted on wearing Tribe outfits for Halloween last year).
I have thought about it and I think it’s because the Indians are my Dad’s favorite team and that baseball lends itself to more of a generational connection due to it’s nature (going to games or watching games is more relaxed and allows for more conversation about everything rather than the more fast-paced or continous nature of football/basketball).
Just thought I’d share a happy thought on baseball for Opening Day. Enjoy.
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uh oh. not a good start for our 'ace'
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Quote:
uh oh. not a good start for our 'ace'
and now a 9-pitch AB to Konerko that ends up being a single. 4-0, no outs. 3rd Inning.
Gonna be a long year
(at least Santana looked good)
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Ugh... 6-0. Way to show up for Opening Day guys. Same ole' Tribe.
[color:"white"]"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."
-- Mark Twain [/color]
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Quote:
Ugh... 6-0. Way to show up for Opening Day guys. Same ole' Tribe.
naw, last year we 'owned' the White Sox. this year it looks like we won't even do well against them.
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and why hasn't Acta shown Carmona any mercy here?
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We split the season series with Chicago last season. That hardly owning them.
[color:"white"]"Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference."
-- Mark Twain [/color]
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Quote:
We split the season series with Chicago last season. That hardly owning them.
All things are relative... we owned them.
yebat' Putin
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Quote:
Quote:
We split the season series with Chicago last season. That hardly owning them.
All things are relative... we owned them.
(and I was talking more early season. we went 9-4 against them in the 1st half of the year despite losing to everyone else)
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well at least the 'fantasy' team I play against this week is chock full of White Sox players
Last edited by no_logo_required; 04/01/11 04:28 PM.
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