2003 Predictions

[Carlos]

I'm sorry Carlos, you are very dear to me, but Denver. They're worse than they were last year. Robinson is ok, but I think he's about done. Rex Knight is going to be 2nd half Rex Knight for the entire season. Curt Wells is 35. And there's just no replacing Chris Valenzuela.

We finally get our first round pick depending on where we place this upcoming season.

Are we bad? You better believe it.

I hope Rex Knight hits 25 home runs in batting practice and simply retires in the middle of the season using some secret code OOTP never told anyone.

Curt Wells could have been moved this off season. But why? I'm gonna milk his knees faster than Sasha Gray's mouth in Peter North's manhood. He's done and he will do it in a Denver uniform, damnit.

Our best hitter is Tyler De. Say that again. Look, I want this kid to be good, to be like his ratings, but he just won't be. So screw that lineup. Jennings is batting third. Need I say more?

I'm touting Jamie Benge as my first prized pitching prospect. That's how screwed up we are in Denver. We treasure pitchers that could get a Virginia Bounce and still struggle to find success.

Robinson is just me spending money I would lose if I didn't pay him. But I actually do think he has something left in the tank. About $3.5 MM worth of left in the tank which is basically like watching Ivan Olivo toe the rubber in the first inning.

We are gonna be bad. But we are improved. You just don't know it yet because you're paying attention to how awful we are and that our lineup sucks. This team is better in other ways, and I'm looking forward to how awful we are gonna be so we can get a good pick.

[Jistic]

What team will improve the most?

I'm going with the sneaky Dino's. I like their pitching. Any time you can pitch you can win. Last year was a little hard luck for them. If they get some timely hitting I think they can easily win the Lager and then upset the Pawtucket's since they will probably be confused as to which uniform they should wear. In a Civil War you throw out the records.

What team will disappoint?

Baltimore. Hard to pick a team that was under .500 to disappoint. However this is a team two years removed from a title who made some aggressive off season moves that I don't see paying off. I don't like what I'm seeing with the pitching staff. I see players slipping. It feels like there might be too many holes in the dyke that some patchwork can't fix. They won't suck, but I don't see a strong contender. However with the fall of Virginia the wild card is wide open this year so they might slip in.


Who's really bad?

Denver....sorry Carlos.


Whats do you think about your own team?

While I appreciate the love we're getting I'm not quite as optimistic. We already improved 30 games last season I don't see another 20 games in one more season. I could see us winning about 86 games. The caveat is if JJ Caplan plays to his ratings. If he breaks out into a star then I'll believe our hype a little more.

[Z]

What team will improve the most?
WC is the obvious candidate, and it's ridiculous how good they could be over the next few years, but unlike the OOTP world, I think Maine is going to be really good this year. Love the addition of Manhos, wasn't crazy about Warren but he's very solid, Nelson Reyes is very nice, and Paulsen could/should be better. Kind of stayed pat on offense, little downgrade at 1st with Munoz but he looks like he might perform in Maine.

See, that's what I think. Except that I think our offense will be better because Shumway should bounce back, Suarez, Dapson, and Lebron are still developing, Reynolds could win New Brew, and Munoz will hit in our park.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

[Delandis]

We had one of the worst records in 1-run games last year. I lost Coates, Martinez, and Rodriquez all for extended time last year. Our morale was shot.

Barring another rash of injuries, I do not expect the same result this year.

[fsquid]

Carolina. Too many players traded away.

Too many? How about not enough?

[Jimmy]

What team will improve the most?

I'm going with the sneaky Dino's. I like their pitching. Any time you can pitch you can win. Last year was a little hard luck for them. If they get some timely hitting I think they can easily win the Lager and then upset the Pawtucket's since they will probably be confused as to which uniform they should wear. In a Civil War you throw out the records.

These would have been fighting words last year...

[funclown]

So...no one wants to do the DL preview?

Slackers.

[BradZ]

So...no one wants to do the DL preview?

Slackers.

Sure, here goes:

The DL sucks.

How's that?

[funclown]

Sure, here goes:

The DL sucks.

How's that?

So this is our replacement to Shavermetrics?

[Jimmy]

So...no one wants to do the DL preview?

Slackers.

Afraid to put some bad juju on yourself? lol

[funclown]

Its simple: They do us, we do them.

[Delandis]

What team will improve the most?

I'm going with Morgantown. I've always believed they were a big bat away from making the playoffs and I think Feliciano fits the bill. Combined with the fall of VA, I think he's going to be a game changer in the Stout and the IL as a whole.

What team will disappoint?

I'm going with Philly. I know it's a death sentence to say anything bad about a commish team, but I think their age in the rotation will catch up with them sooner than later. Also for whatever reason, they just never seem to be 100%.

Who's really bad?
Denver. Just think, not too long ago I bragged on how Denver and Baltimore were the two best teams to never have won a title. Times can change very quickly.

Whats do you think about your own team?

I've already commented, but we could easily be the team that disappoints. I think last year was just a shock since we entered the season without our glue guy, Franklin Martinez and The Greek God was hurt. Add to that we moved our offensive leader in Bornstein plus Coates and Rodriquez were out for the majority of the season.

Now I don't know if adding guys like Hamilton or Leyva should be described as "patchwork" but I can see some of the concerns in our rotation. However, I think Vleugel bounces back with a stellar season and we earn a spot in the playoffs.

What if c.a.t really spells dog?
Ummm yea.

[Jimmy]

The Pilsner

Syracuse Slammers- Easily the favorites in the Pilsner division. Offense is the name of the game in SYR country. These guys are littered with great contact hitters and anchored by "the Beast". Luna, Pepe, up and coming Adame can all go yard at any moment. This offense is completely offensive. The starting pitching may not be filled with aces, but they are effective and backed by a solid defense. I expect that newly acquired Jody Richards will have a career year for the Slammers. But, even if you have enough hitting to get within 1 of these guys, their BP will shut you DOWN! These guys are filled with lights out, flame-throwers. Anchored by a kid nicknamed "the Gargoyle" (isn't the name scary enough?), your hopes and dreams of a comeback win will turn into farts in the wind. 100+ wins

Indianapolis Clowns- Home of one of the most electric pitchers in the BLB, SP Pat Bryant. He is followed by a great group of starters that can dominate a series in an instant. Gonzalez, Gutierrez, Jackson, all veterans who can get the job done. Hopefully they can go the distance in most games because the BP seems a little short this year. The sudden ratings drop of Fukuda Takanori may cause a few problems that will have to be addressed. Don't expect the bats to wow you at any point this year, with OF Jimmy Jones being a huge exception. He didn't have the greatest avg last year but this kid is only 25 and about to blow up. Expect a huge year from him. Where the hitting may be a little less than desirable, the defense is not. Filled with some of the best defensive players you can get, expect this to work in his pitchers favor, game in and game out. 89 wins

Dallas Snappers - The Snappers organization was great, several years ago. SP Pat Dimmick seems to be losing his Ace qualifications and the rest of the team is one more year older. It doesn't help that Indy and SYR are in his division, beating the hell out of his team. I've always found that Jim was an above average GM who will take advantage of the assuming. He just doesn't have the talent to work his magic. 75 wins

Denver Bulls - Denver has been the whipping boys of the Pilsner for some time and I don't expect things to change much this year. I liked the move for SP J Rob, who may help out a rotation that is young and not so talented. Mueller, now 25, could take a step in the right direction but injuries to SP Tom Gentner and defensive OF Chris Valenzuela are going to hurt an already mediocre talent base. Overall his pitchers show a lack of movement and that is going to translate into a TON of HRs. They feature a few hitters with some pop(Knight, Roberson, Schraeder), but their contact is a little weak and the opposing pitching a little too strong. 65 wins

[BradZ]

What team will disappoint?

I'm going with Philly. I know it's a death sentence to say anything bad about a commish team, but I think their age in the rotation will catch up with them sooner than later. Also for whatever reason, they just never seem to be 100%.

I think you are probably right. We gambled in the offseason on giving this group another chance, but Miles is really starting to show signs of wearing down. I dread every SIM at this point because I see small ratings hits almost every time. We're hoping he can just go out and gut his way to a decent/average season. As long as Fitz is Fitz and Soto is Soto, we may be Ok, but in this division that's probably not going to be good enough.

[Z]

I think you are probably right. We gambled in the offseason on giving this group another chance, but Miles is really starting to show signs of wearing down. I dread every SIM at this point because I see small ratings hits almost every time. We're hoping he can just go out and gut his way to a decent/average season. As long as Fitz is Fitz and Soto is Soto, we may be Ok, but in this division that's probably not going to be good enough.

I hear you. That's how I felt watching Tino Suarez close out his career.