Philadelphia Freedom, I love you, yes I do..but the "Kings Of the Regular Season" will be in the mix, even in a state of transition.
If Burrell, Abreu, & Milton are back to top form, then the Phils should take the division in comfortable form. But then again we're talking about the Phillies, whom despite having WS win in '80, make the Red Sox & Cubs look like the Yankees when it comes to amount of losing seasons the last century.
NY Mets will contend in the the East/WC, and if avoid the horrible 25 game stretch that spiraled on them the last few years, may be in it in the end.
Fla, will have a letdown and finish third.
Braves GM John Shuerholz is no longer there, and the Braves seem reluctant to trade for quick fixes, as they will either contend with what they have or not, & will rebuild via farm system(which is what Montreal is, despite their overachieving every year).
Not necessarily a pretty division, yet one where the Phils should win it with 92 wins.
Phils-Stros in another marathon playoff series like '80?
If Burrell, Abreu, & Milton are back to top form, then the Phils should take the division in comfortable form. But then again we're talking about the Phillies, whom despite having WS win in '80, make the Red Sox & Cubs look like the Yankees when it comes to amount of losing seasons the last century.
NY Mets will contend in the the East/WC, and if avoid the horrible 25 game stretch that spiraled on them the last few years, may be in it in the end.
Fla, will have a letdown and finish third.
Braves GM John Shuerholz is no longer there, and the Braves seem reluctant to trade for quick fixes, as they will either contend with what they have or not, & will rebuild via farm system(which is what Montreal is, despite their overachieving every year).
Not necessarily a pretty division, yet one where the Phils should win it with 92 wins.
Phils-Stros in another marathon playoff series like '80?
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by TEASER GURU:
THEY HAVE HAD ENJOYED THE GREATEST RUN IN BASEBALL HISTORY. I AM SURE THERE ARE TEAMS THAT HAVE DONE BETTER, BUT I AM NOT SMART ENOUGH TO THINK OF WHO IT IS.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Great run.........with NO TRUE Championship.
They won the Series in a STRIKE YEAR!!
Having said that, I give them a shot to win the division.
They have the best pitching coach in the biz.
THEY HAVE HAD ENJOYED THE GREATEST RUN IN BASEBALL HISTORY. I AM SURE THERE ARE TEAMS THAT HAVE DONE BETTER, BUT I AM NOT SMART ENOUGH TO THINK OF WHO IT IS.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Great run.........with NO TRUE Championship.
They won the Series in a STRIKE YEAR!!
Having said that, I give them a shot to win the division.
They have the best pitching coach in the biz.
Didnt they win the series in 1995 and the strike year was 1994. someone correct me, if im wrong..
OK Jman, your on my Braves now,, im going to love this team -- this year, win or lose.. First off ive followed them everyday since 1975 in one form or another, first radio and then superstation WTBS. Awful years with a few exceptions thrown in 1982 for one.. Then we have the 12 division title run and man the first few years were great (nothing better for me than the first) with sid bream sliding across home plate to beat the pirates.. However the last few years the fans of atlanta and possibly the entire team and city has become complacent.. there is no excitement here for the braves, but that could change this year as the braves shift from favorite to underdog.. I like the fact that espn (gammons and reynolds) picked atlanta FOURTH in the division..
Solid rotation of: Ortiz, Hampton and Ramirez went 46-19 last year, not a bad first 3 in the order fellas. John Thompson (journeyman) should thrown in about 12 wins this year under Leo's tuteledge.. If we have a healthy Smoltz closing the games then this staff will be adequate, i think Ramirez is the next Tommy Glavine... We have the table setters at short and second with Furcal and Giles (these 2 are way above average). Our outfield of Jones, Jones and Drew should put up 100 homers and 300 rbi's.. The big key to this team is J.D. being able to play in 130-140 games,, if he trys to steal a base then they ought to shoot him.. Our corners are the weak link in derosa and Laroche, if we can get a combined .280 average and 150 rbi's from them... Catcher, boys i love Estrada, Lopez had a career year offensively and it wont happen again..
Any team led by Bobby, Leo and John Schuerholtz has a chance over the 162 games season.. Larry Bowa and the Phils will not win it.. Id say the marlins win it before the phils.. sorry for rambling..
OK Jman, your on my Braves now,, im going to love this team -- this year, win or lose.. First off ive followed them everyday since 1975 in one form or another, first radio and then superstation WTBS. Awful years with a few exceptions thrown in 1982 for one.. Then we have the 12 division title run and man the first few years were great (nothing better for me than the first) with sid bream sliding across home plate to beat the pirates.. However the last few years the fans of atlanta and possibly the entire team and city has become complacent.. there is no excitement here for the braves, but that could change this year as the braves shift from favorite to underdog.. I like the fact that espn (gammons and reynolds) picked atlanta FOURTH in the division..
Solid rotation of: Ortiz, Hampton and Ramirez went 46-19 last year, not a bad first 3 in the order fellas. John Thompson (journeyman) should thrown in about 12 wins this year under Leo's tuteledge.. If we have a healthy Smoltz closing the games then this staff will be adequate, i think Ramirez is the next Tommy Glavine... We have the table setters at short and second with Furcal and Giles (these 2 are way above average). Our outfield of Jones, Jones and Drew should put up 100 homers and 300 rbi's.. The big key to this team is J.D. being able to play in 130-140 games,, if he trys to steal a base then they ought to shoot him.. Our corners are the weak link in derosa and Laroche, if we can get a combined .280 average and 150 rbi's from them... Catcher, boys i love Estrada, Lopez had a career year offensively and it wont happen again..
Any team led by Bobby, Leo and John Schuerholtz has a chance over the 162 games season.. Larry Bowa and the Phils will not win it.. Id say the marlins win it before the phils.. sorry for rambling..
