[Joe Morgan]

Because I've got like 40 PM's asking me what my thoughts are on the upcoming baseball season I thought I would do a season preview for everyone so that you could get a better understanding of what the upcoming season is going to look like. I get busy this time of year so it's going to take a while to get all of these done but I'll do every division one by one. You may post your thoughts and questions below and I'll try and help you better understand the game.

American League East

New York Yankees

The Yankees showed this off season that they don’t just spend money but they spend it wisely. They have made some terrific moves. They already have the best offense in the game which is only going to get better with the expected return of a healthy Jason Giambi but now they also have the best pitching staff in the game. New York like Boston is a town where you can’t just be good, you have to be good under pressure. That’s why Javier Vasquez had to go to make room for a veteran like Randy Johnson. Randy Johnson is one of the best big game pitchers and instantly makes the Yanks a heavy favorite to beat the Red Sox. But they didn’t stop there, they also got Pavano, an 18 game winner last year who has shown he can step it up when he needs to and Jaret Wright to fill out the rotation. It’s important to have a strong veteran clubhouse especially in a city like New York to be able to win and not crack under the pressure. The Yankees have that.


Boston Red Sox

Boston is a team that took major steps backward this off-season. They lost Pedro, that is going to really hurt them. There are few better big game pitchers than Pedro. In Boston it’s not just enough to be good, you have to pitch well under pressure and few can turn it up like Pedro can when the pressure is high. Losing Nomar/Cabrerra and picking up Renteria is another step back for this team. Signing Wells is going to be a disaster, he’s going to get murdered in Fenway. This is a team that got lucky to barely get past the Yankees last year and I don’t see any improvements this off season. It’s tough when you have all of the free agents that the Red Sox did but I they had the wrong priorities and it’s going to show this season.


Baltimore Orioles

They are still light on pitching but have a terrific offense. This is a team that will continue to improve. Their young staff will be shaky but with the power they’ve got it will help to give the pitching a cushion. Adding Sosa is a great move for this team. It will make their offense all that much more feared and fills a big hole in right field. It seems a lot of bad things have been said about Sammy since the end of last season. He had a bad day, it happens to everyone. What’s being missed is that Sammy has always been professional except for that one bad day. Joining a veteran clubhouse, Sammy should fit right in. The O’s are going to be a fun team to watch.


Tampa Bay Devil Rays

It’s always fun to watch an exciting young team like the Devil Rays. This is a team that has taken big steps forward in the last few years but they are still a ways from being a playoff contender. Especially in this division. I like the move of signing Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract. It costs them nearly nothing and gives them a chance to add a solid veteran arm to the rotation if Nomo can get over whatever was troubling him last year. It’s important for a young team to have the guidance of a veteran and Nomo could provide that.


Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays are going to be in for a rough couple of years and it’s not going to be any easier now that Carlos Delgado is gone. Toronto is one of the earlier examples of a “moneyball” GM taking over a team since Billy Beane started in Oakland. The Blue Jays have shown that it is not a very successful strategy and their fans are paying for it now. Hopefully they can get a real GM in there to fix the mistakes that have been made. It’s too bad Bowden already went to Washington because he would have been perfect for this team.

[Bobbuttons]

Originally Posted by Joe Morgan

Because I've got like 40 PM's asking me what my thoughts are on the upcoming baseball season I thought I would do a season preview for everyone so that you could get a better understanding of what the upcoming season is going to look like. I get busy this time of year so it's going to take a while to get all of these done but I'll do every division one by one. You may post your thoughts and questions below and I'll try and help you better understand the game.

American League East

New York Yankees

The Yankees showed this off season that they don’t just spend money but they spend it wisely. They have made some terrific moves. They already have the best offense in the game which is only going to get better with the expected return of a healthy Jason Giambi but now they also have the best pitching staff in the game. New York like Boston is a town where you can’t just be good, you have to be good under pressure. That’s why Javier Vasquez had to go to make room for a veteran like Randy Johnson. Randy Johnson is one of the best big game pitchers and instantly makes the Yanks a heavy favorite to beat the Red Sox. But they didn’t stop there, they also got Pavano, an 18 game winner last year who has shown he can step it up when he needs to and Jaret Wright to fill out the rotation. It’s important to have a strong veteran clubhouse especially in a city like New York to be able to win and not crack under the pressure. The Yankees have that.


Boston Red Sox

Boston is a team that took major steps backward this off-season. They lost Pedro, that is going to really hurt them. There are few better big game pitchers than Pedro. In Boston it’s not just enough to be good, you have to pitch well under pressure and few can turn it up like Pedro can when the pressure is high. Losing Nomar/Cabrerra and picking up Renteria is another step back for this team. Signing Wells is going to be a disaster, he’s going to get murdered in Fenway. This is a team that got lucky to barely get past the Yankees last year and I don’t see any improvements this off season. It’s tough when you have all of the free agents that the Red Sox did but I they had the wrong priorities and it’s going to show this season.


Baltimore Orioles

They are still light on pitching but have a terrific offense. This is a team that will continue to improve. Their young staff will be shaky but with the power they’ve got it will help to give the pitching a cushion. Adding Sosa is a great move for this team. It will make their offense all that much more feared and fills a big hole in right field. It seems a lot of bad things have been said about Sammy since the end of last season. He had a bad day, it happens to everyone. What’s being missed is that Sammy has always been professional except for that one bad day. Joining a veteran clubhouse, Sammy should fit right in. The O’s are going to be a fun team to watch.


Tampa Bay Devil Rays

It’s always fun to watch an exciting young team like the Devil Rays. This is a team that has taken big steps forward in the last few years but they are still a ways from being a playoff contender. Especially in this division. I like the move of signing Hideo Nomo to a minor league contract. It costs them nearly nothing and gives them a chance to add a solid veteran arm to the rotation if Nomo can get over whatever was troubling him last year. It’s important for a young team to have the guidance of a veteran and Nomo could provide that.


Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays are going to be in for a rough couple of years and it’s not going to be any easier now that Carlos Delgado is gone. Toronto is one of the earlier examples of a “moneyball” GM taking over a team since Billy Beane started in Oakland. The Blue Jays have shown that it is not a very successful strategy and their fans are paying for it now. Hopefully they can get a real GM in there to fix the mistakes that have been made. It’s too bad Bowden already went to Washington because he would have been perfect for this team.

D00d, who cares about the AL East? Get the AL Central.

[keenejee]

Originally Posted by Joe Morgan

American League East

New York Yankees
They already have the best offense in the game which is only going to get better with the expected return of a healthy Jason Giambi but now they also have the best pitching staff in the game.

Where did you get these facts?
--Boston has the best offense in the league. New York just has a bunch of guys who used to be offensive beasts, and some overrated players.
i.e-see last years playoffs
--RJ + Pavano makes them the best pitching staff? Pavano had 1 good year, so to argue that he's even a good pitcher is rediculous. Boston showed last year, that when it mattered most, and when the game was on the line who had the BEST PITCHING, who had the best HITTING.

[Gastric ReFlux]

Mr. Morgan, what would happen if Steinbrenner is able to pry Gload out of the grip of the White Sox?

[attackemu]

Not to mention Clutchville.

[Joe Morgan]

Originally Posted by keenejee

Where did you get these facts?
--Boston has the best offense in the league. New York just has a bunch of guys who used to be offensive beasts, and some overrated players.
i.e-see last years playoffs
--RJ + Pavano makes them the best pitching staff? Pavano had 1 good year, so to argue that he's even a good pitcher is rediculous. Boston showed last year, that when it mattered most, and when the game was on the line who had the BEST PITCHING, who had the best HITTING.

Boston may have had the best offense in the league last season but it's unlikely they will again this season. A healthy Giambi will be a huge boost for that team. So will A-Rod coming out of that slump he had last year. New York is a team that top to bottom with the possible exception of 2B looks scary. Boston over achieved last season while New York under achieved. Boston won't have the better offense this year.

What you need to understand about these pitching staffs is that they are built for October. The Sox lost two great clutch pitchers in Pedro and Lowe and replaced them with an untested kid (although they did get a steal in Wade Miller), Matt Clement (who while good is no replacement for Pedro) and David Wells. I like Wells as a pitcher and I don't doubt that he will be solid come the playoffs but he also brings less to the team than they lost.

The Yankees on the other hand have added one of the games best big game pitchers in Randy Johnson. He's a guy that is fearless and if I could choose anyone to put on the mound for a game seven he would be one of my top choices. The Yanks also got Pavano who you don't seem too big on but don't forget how great he was in the 2003 World Series. Here is a guy who obviously elevates his game in the playoffs. I expect big things from him.

I understand you're probably a Red Sox fan but you need to be more objective and not let your bias get in the way. Just look at the facts and you'll see that the Yankees are the better team.

[Joe Morgan]

Originally Posted by Gastric ReFlux

Mr. Morgan, what would happen if Steinbrenner is able to pry Gload out of the grip of the White Sox?

Ross Gload is one of those special players. A guy who plays like a veteran and always seems to come up big in clutch situations. He would make a great fourth outfielder for the Yankees. He's the type of guy I would want coming in to pitch hit in game seven of the World Series with the bases loaded, 2 outs and down by three. He's just that good!

[Dagrims]

Originally Posted by Joe Morgan

What you need to understand about these pitching staffs is that they are built for October....

Here is a guy who obviously elevates his game in the playoffs. I expect big things from him....

I understand you're probably a Red Sox fan but you need to be more objective and not let your bias get in the way. Just look at the facts and you'll see that the Yankees are the better team.

One more reason why this may be the best alias around.

[CommishJoe]

best.alias.ever.

[jaxmagicman]

I agree, best.alias.evah

[Joshv02]

A lot of energy went into this. Well done.

[keenejee]

Originally Posted by Joe Morgan

I understand you're probably a Red Sox fan but you need to be more objective and not let your bias get in the way. Just look at the facts and you'll see that the Yankees are the better team.

I understand that you're completely wrong. I'm not a red sox fan. I'm an Indians and Braves fan....same thing, yah know. Sox=Indians, close enough.

Just look at the facts? I DID, AND YOU EVEN PROVED ME RIGHT WHEN YOU ADMITTED IT.

I posted facts, and you posted opinions. Whether they overachieved or underachieved, they had bettero offense, and better pitching....FACT. Your "facts" of them overachieving actually is not a "fact", that's nothing but an OPINION.

So while you're attempting to look cool calmed demenered over there telling me to get my bias out of the way. How about you do some research before you start babling on about stuff you only have opinions on and not FACTS.

You're like Mike Tyson in a boxing match. Keep on getting knocked down, but sooner or later you come back for more of the same result.

[Crapshoot]

What's sadder ? That Keenjee's arguing with an alias, or that he's getting p\/\/ned by it ?

[Joshv02]

Originally Posted by Aadik

What's sadder ? That Keenjee's arguing with an alias, or that he's getting p\/\/ned by it ?

[Joe Morgan]

Originally Posted by keenejee

I understand that you're completely wrong. I'm not a red sox fan. I'm an Indians and Braves fan....same thing, yah know. Sox=Indians, close enough.

Just look at the facts? I DID, AND YOU EVEN PROVED ME RIGHT WHEN YOU ADMITTED IT.

I posted facts, and you posted opinions. Whether they overachieved or underachieved, they had bettero offense, and better pitching....FACT. Your "facts" of them overachieving actually is not a "fact", that's nothing but an OPINION.

So while you're attempting to look cool calmed demenered over there telling me to get my bias out of the way. How about you do some research before you start babling on about stuff you only have opinions on and not FACTS.

You're like Mike Tyson in a boxing match. Keep on getting knocked down, but sooner or later you come back for more of the same result.

I think the problem here is that you are talking in terms of the past I am talking about the present and future. I understand that last season was a great one for Sox fans like you but the 2005 season is about to start and it's important to look forward now. I'm not stating my opinion, I'm stating facts. The Yankees have a better pitching staff and better lineup than the Red Sox. That's fact. You can argue it all you want but you're simply letting your bias get in the way.

Do I know for sure that the season is going to end with the Yankees scoring more runs and giving up fewer? No, no one does. But I'm smart enough to look at the facts objectively and see that there is a much better cahnce that is how it's going to end up.

[keenejee]

Originally Posted by Joe Morgan

I think the problem here is that you are talking in terms of the past I am talking about the present and future. I understand that last season was a great one for Sox fans like you but the 2005 season is about to start and it's important to look forward now. I'm not stating my opinion, I'm stating facts. The Yankees have a better pitching staff and better lineup than the Red Sox. That's fact. You can argue it all you want but you're simply letting your bias get in the way.

Do I know for sure that the season is going to end with the Yankees scoring more runs and giving up fewer? No, no one does. But I'm smart enough to look at the facts objectively and see that there is a much better cahnce that is how it's going to end up.

Post facts, because all you've posted were opinions. Do you need a damn dictionary son?

You really are ignorant

1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9!......10, down for the count?

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Originally Posted by Aadik

What's sadder ? That Keenjee's arguing with an alias, or that he's getting p\/\/ned by it ?

OTB.... score one for the Woo Woo Woo.

[SoxWin]

Originally Posted by keenejee

Post facts, because all you've posted were opinions. Do you need a damn dictionary son?

You really are ignorant

1! 2! 3! 4! 5! 6! 7! 8! 9!......10, down for the count?

Clearly not getting it.

[Eckstein 4 Prez]

Originally Posted by SoxWin

Clearly not getting it.

D00d, this "same avatar" thing is freaking me out.

I thought I'd posted again or something....

[SoxWin]

Maybe you did.....