Topic: omgomgomgomg omgomgomgomgomg!!!!

[groovitude]

** Note: Groovy was born and raised a Yankee fan.  His father, as well as his mother are staunch Yankee fans and have been since the late 1950s -- and there was no way around inheriting their love for the team, even in the early 90s when the Yankees hadn't won anything in twenty or so years. **

Despite that it will put us at loggerheads, Stealthy, a team with solid pitching and a good big-ball offense is the Toronto Blue Jays.  They're in one of the most competitive divisions in the league, the AL East, and have not placed in first or second in the division in quite some time -- due to the fact that the Yankees and the Red Sox (both in the East) are consistently two of the best teams in the American League.

This year, Toronto's off-season has included some solid moves, and they show a damn good chance of finally breaking first or second for the first time in something like nine years.

They're the first team that comes to mind -- I'm sure someone else has other suggestions for a team that fits that sort of profile...

[Govtcheez]

> help me pick a team, wait, in fact i'll follow whoever cheez follows just to be safe

You don't want to do that to yourself.  The Tigers haven't won a world series wince 1984 and haven't been in the playoffs since something like 1987.

Allow me to suggest the Baltimore Orioles.  They're in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox, so they don't get nearly as much press.  They're also one of the harder-hitting teams in the AL, so they're pretty entertaining to watch.

I'm pretty sure they're ober's team, too.

Toronto's not a bad choice, either.  They've also got the benefit of having one of the most dramatic World Series wins in history (see Carter, Joe)

[ober]

The O's have always been my team, and I'll probably always follow them (they should have a pretty decent year in 06), but alas.... I may turn into an Indians fan when I move out of this area.  Baltimore has really let me down as of late with some of the moves they've made... and I blame 98% of it on the owner/management.

Toronto will probably have a solid year as well, but I wouldn't be ashamed to offer you the White Sox/Twins/Angels.

I don't know jack-diddly about the National League, but there are some good teams to go with there as well.

Oh, and groovy, you're now on my shit-list for being a Yankees fan.

I will definately be in a MLB fantasy league if you guys want to run one.  I think the few that have mentioned it would stick with it.  And hell, if we get a few more that even play it out for half the season, it could still be fun.  I've never done one, and I think it'd be interesting.

So.... who's in?

[PJYelton]

Hell I'll join.  Worst case scenario everyone drops and its less work for me each week.  I honestly don't know that much about baseball except the elite players and which teams are good and which aren't, so this will be interesting.

[Govtcheez]

I'll definitely join, but no way in hell am I running it.

edit: You know what - I could run it, but I'd like to get together with people in a chat room or something so we get things reasonably straight.  Can anyone get together online tonight or early next week to hammer out details with me?

[ober]

Next week would work for me... the rest of this week is shot.  Are you on Skype?

[Govtcheez]

no

[ober]

You should be.

How shall we chat?

[Govtcheez]

I don't have a microphone.

IRC, AIM, whatever.  Hell, we could even do it in this thread.

[ober]

Skype has chat too... and a damn good one.  I can do AIM tho.

[groovitude]

>> So.... who's in? <<

I'm willing to do it, esp. if you run it through Yahoo.  It makes life easier when all of your fantasy teams are on one host...

>> Toronto will probably have a solid year as well, but I wouldn't be ashamed to offer you the White Sox/Twins/Angels. <<

* White Sox aren't exactly an underdog team coming off a World Series year, but are a solid team.  (I'm not a fan of Ozzie Gullien, though.)
* Twins aren't as hard-hitting in my view as compared to either the O's or the Blue Jays -- however, if you're really into pitching, Johann Santana is the man to watch.  He's godlike.
* Angels also come recommended.

>> The O's have always been my team, and I'll probably always follow them (they should have a pretty decent year in 06), but alas.... I may turn into an Indians fan when I move out of this area. Baltimore has really let me down as of late with some of the moves they've made... and I blame 98% of it on the owner/management. <<

I'll agree with your commentary on their moves.  Letting Ryan go was a huge mistake; on a team where pitching should be their biggest concern, they let a very nice arm leave.  Also, they've done almost nothing in the way of bulking their rotation.  When Bruce Chen is your biggest threat, you're in trouble.  

>> Oh, and groovy, you're now on my shit-list for being a Yankees fan. <<

At least I don't root for them just 'cause they win.  (Not that that'll bother you too much as an O's fan.)

======================

We got out of school early due to snow, so I got to come home and watch the first spring training game live.  Damon went 2 for 3 with a double and a single, and I was happy.  Bernie seems to have regained a bit of throwing arm strength, as he was playing in right field.  They lost to the Phillies (ouch) 6-3 in the end, though; I'm not bothered, though, as the loss came mostly off of the need to get work in for left-handed specialist Mike Myers, who has an average of .195 against lefties and .385 against righties -- and he pitched something like two or three innings.  That, and four of our fielders all had to leave after the fifth to train for the WBC -- Jeter, A-Rod, Damon, and Williams (as well as Al Leiter).

[incognito]

I'd be willing to join.

In the national league the Mets come to mind, they might surprise a few people.

What about The Nationals? They did quite good last year after they moved to washington.

Just don't go for the Braves. It's actually funny, they're once again what Mickey Mantle once called a "mediocre team" (in his book), they're not bad enough to be laughed at yet not good enough to win.

They've won the division every year I think since '94 and they've only won the WS once. I hate the Braves so much it's not even funny.

Anyways somewhere inside my deepest something something, i'll still be rooting for the Marlins. They've only been in the league for 13 years and they've won the WS twice, I know that doesn't sound very exciting but for a low payroll team that's pretty good, oh and they've never won the division , always a wild card winner (In your face Braves).

[groovitude]

>>  I know that doesn't sound very exciting but for a low payroll team that's pretty good <<

The Marlins confuse me; They accumulate great teams full of young up-and-coming stars (like their last WS team, for instance) and then trade them away and release them into the wilds of free agency.  You can argue that they are a "low payroll team," but I'm not entirely convinced that they couldn't maintain some of those rosters.

>> In the national league the Mets come to mind, they might surprise a few people. <<

The Mets would be a good choice for him if you were focusing only on the big-ball aspect of it.  New York is a hub for power offenses this year, as well as teams that needs pitching help.  The Yankees, however, are much better off in this department, and the Mets are two or three starters short for their rotation to be even stable.

Also, if they do well, it won't be that much of a surprise, in my opinion.  Minaya has been wheeling and dealing on a level that Steinbrenner would be awed at -- and it's well known that they've been bulking up to powerhouse status over the past two years. As long as getting rid of Benson and Seo for bullpen support like Jorge Julio doesn't come back to haunt them, they shouldn't have a problem finally dethroning the Braves.  Thank God -- I don't know if I can stand to see the Braves clinch fifteen division wins in a row, seeing as they really haven't deserved it for some time now.

>> What about The Nationals? They did quite good last year after they moved to washington. <<

Also, I'm pretty convinced that the Nationals were a fluke last year and that this year will be a return to form for the redubbed Expos.  I mean -- Nick Johnson?  A mediocre Yankee backup turns into their golden boy?  Fluke and a half.

>> They've won the division every year I think since '94 and they've only won the WS once. I hate the Braves so much it's not even funny. <<

'96 was a very good year.  

[Govtcheez]

The Nats are my backup NL team.  Wilkie's not there anymore, though

>  That, and four of our fielders all had to leave after the fifth to train for the WBC

Carlos Guillen and Magglio Ordnonez (among others) are going for Detroit.  With their histories, I really can't get excited for this at all. I just hope Venezuela is out quickly with no issues at all.  If Guillen and Mags are out again, we may as well kiss the season goodbye before it starts.

[groovitude]

>>  I just hope Venezuela is out quickly with no issues at all. <<

That's wishful thinking.  The two best teams from each pool continue to the next round, which means you've got to hope that Australia or Italy can pull an upset to knock Venezuela out of the first round.  Venezuela and the Dominican Republic are the heavy favorites there.

With any luck Guillen and Ordonez will remain healthy for you guys.  I'd hate to see your best hopes lie solely on Pudge.