Predictions

Almost every baseball blog has its predictions up now. I would do the same but, really, I don't pay all that much attention to the standings of the other divisions; just the AL East. Fantasy baseball forces me to keep up with the rest of the league, but that's really on a player by player basis. In any event, the primary focus for me each baseball season is the Red Sox, and of course the Evil Empire

This year, I am prediciting a Red Sox divisional title. Here's why:

The Yankees pitching is at best shaky, and at worst a disaster. Too many Yankee fans, particulary those on the discussion boards, think a rotation with Randy Johnson (still excellent), Mike Mussina(average now, at best) and a cast of characters including Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Aaron Small, Chien-Ming Wang, and Shawn Chacon can be considered good. You simply cannot expect Aaron Small, a career journeyman, to be anywhere near as effective as he was last year. Pavano has had exactly 1 good year in his career and Wright has proven to be worthless when his pitching coach is not named Leo Mazzone.

Meanwhile, I think the Sox rotation is stronger than last year. Curt Schilling should bounce back to something more closely approaching his career norms. Josh Beckett is a stud starter who appears to be past his injuries. I think Matt Clement will revert to his career form, which disappeared for about three months last season. David Wells and Tim Wakefield are what they are: steady innings eaters who will keep the team in most games. While there are age concerns here, other than Schilling's season last year, the older guys have proven durability. And, just in case, the sox have some quality help in the system, particularly Jonathan Palpelbon, John Lester and Manny Delcarmen.

Both teams have sufficient offenses to score plenty of runs, and there are plenty of others writing about them on a postition by position basis. To me, it all comes down to the starting rotations. Clearly, the Yankees have some serious issues with age, injury and mediocrity.

Can't wait for this season to start.

Fantasy Baseball

A core group of us have a Yahoo! fantasy baseball league, which has been running for 4 years now. We have guys from Rhode Island, New York, Maryland and Virgina. We held out draft the other night, although I was unable to participate so I had Yahoo make my picks based on my player rankings.

Here then is my team heading in to the season.

2006 Montclair Maroon Sox

Batters
C Pudge Rodgiguez (DET)
1B Mark Texiera (TEX)
2B Jeff Kent (LAD)
3B Hank Blaylock (TEX)
SS Clint Barmes (COL)
OF Ichiro (SEA)
OF Scott Podsednick (CHW)
OF Brian Giles (SD)
DH Richie Sexon (SEA)

Bench Milton Bradley (OAK)
Bench Lyle Oberbay (TOR)
Bench Mark Lorretta (BOS)
Bench Garrett Atkins (COL)
Bench Mark Ellis (OAK)


Pitchers
Pedro Martinez (NYM)
Randy Johnson (NYY)
Dontrell Willis (FLA)
Jon Garland (CHW)
John Patterson (WAS)
Cliff Lee (CLE)
Derreck Lowe (LAD)
Joe Borowski (FLA)
Kerry Wood (CHC) DL
Mark Prior (CHC) DL


Pitching seems to be a strength, particularly of Wood and Prior show up at all this year. I've had one or the ohter of these guys every year of the league. This year I end up with both. Not expecting much, but who knows. Stolen bases and average will be fine, though I have a bit of a lack of power. I may need to address that with some trades.

Yet another attempt at a blog

I would like to chronicle my Red Sox fandom for a season. I have tried several blogs in the past, and like most folks end up with 10 or 12 posts and then nothing more.

Reading an article about the Yankees World Series drought (as if a 5 year spell could be remotely considered such by any Sox fan) was this terrific quote:

"In the first year of the drought, 2001, the Yankees' payroll crept over $100 million for the first time. Since that season, George Steinbrenner has spent $783,466,307 on players and has nothing to show for it."