WS Prediction.....

[OldHappyCubFan]

I think neither the White Sox, Cards, or Yanks win the WS.

 

My guess is the Red Sox, Angels, A's, or the winner of the NL East.

[Brian]

Red Sox have nowhere near the pitching they had last year. I'm thinking AL West, or sadly the Astros as a long shot (that pitching 3 starters with a slam the door closer can reek havoc in the playoffs).

[wolf stansson]

I'd love to see the A's finally get in. I think with their starters they could. Harden, Zito, Haren, and that shut down pen will be tough to beat and I see a lot of holes in all the other AL teams.

 

Walker plans to be back this week, Yadi later this week, Reggie September 1st, and Rolen has no timetable.

 

I don't see the Cardinals losing their NL crown this season. It all depends if Hudson and Hampton can be their old selves.

[Jazz]

Atlanta vs. Oakland or Anaheim..

[Tracer Bullet]

Oakland over Atlanta

[Havoc 23]

I figure it to be the A's over the Cards. I think the White Sox are going to have to play the A's at some point during the playoffs, and if my numbers are correct the Sox have only beating the A's twice in 9 games this season. I'd never pick Atlanta for the simple reason they never get to the Series, and whoever wins the NL West it is a given they won't get far. The Astros, while they do have good pitching, I don't think have a good enough offense. See their last 3 games not counting Monday's disaster.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I think the Red Sox have to at least be considered in this. They may not have the pitching they had last year. But they did at Clement to their staff. You only need three arms for the playoffs. I don't know what they plan to do with Schilling, but I can't see him closing the rest of the year. He's there to win games, not close them out.

 

The Cards are my pick to win it though. If they get healthy, that line up is too strong. Edmonds needs to find his groove though. He doesn't look like the same guy he was last year.

 

I'm gonna say the Cards beat Atlanta in the NLCS, and the Red Sox beat the A's or White Sox in the ALCS. Then the Cards beat the Red Sox in the world series, and we all cry and contemplate if there really is a God for a full year.

[1wizard]

BleedCubbieBlue81, I like the way you think. I too am going with the Cards in the NL and the Red Sox in the AL. The White Sox could greatly improve there chances with Griffey in their lineup though.

 

As for the Cards, they need Walker and Edmonds to swing the sticks. If healthy, those two guys give the Cardinals the edge. Rolen and Sanders are just a bonus. Yadi is due back in the next couple of days and Walker is taking bp. Walker said he will be back soon.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

BleedCubbieBlue81, I like the way you think. I too am going with the Cards in the NL and the Red Sox in the AL. The White Sox could greatly improve there chances with Griffey in their lineup though.

 

As for the Cards, they need Walker and Edmonds to swing the sticks. If healthy, those two guys give the Cardinals the edge. Rolen and Sanders are just a bonus. Yadi is due back in the next couple of days and Walker is taking bp. Walker said he will be back soon.

 

What I think is funny about this whole Griffey thing is that the White Sox said if they got him, they wouldn't have an everyday position for him. For Ken Griffey Jr.? I know they like their outfield, but give me a break. Not one of those guys is fit to carry Griffey's bag. When you get a guy like him, you make room for him.

[K-Town]

I think the Red Sox have to at least be considered in this. They may not have the pitching they had last year. But they did at Clement to their staff. You only need three arms for the playoffs. I don't know what they plan to do with Schilling, but I can't see him closing the rest of the year. He's there to win games, not close them out.

 

The Cards are my pick to win it though. If they get healthy, that line up is too strong. Edmonds needs to find his groove though. He doesn't look like the same guy he was last year.

 

I'm gonna say the Cards beat Atlanta in the NLCS, and the Red Sox beat the A's or White Sox in the ALCS. Then the Cards beat the Red Sox in the world series, and we all cry and contemplate if there really is a God for a full year.

 

I'm with you, mostly. But I've got to think that the Red Sox are the favorite until somebody proves otherwise. They just have too much firepower. I'm just not at all sold on the White Sox OR the A's.

 

Every team seems to have a weakness in the NL, except for the Cards and Braves, so I expect them to battle it out for the NL crown. Whichever team is healthier could be the team to beat.

 

Once you're in the playoffs, virtually anything can happen. It should be interesting.

[1wizard]

What I think is funny about this whole Griffey thing is that the White Sox said if they got him, they wouldn't have an everyday position for him. For Ken Griffey Jr.? I know they like their outfield, but give me a break. Not one of those guys is fit to carry Griffey's bag. When you get a guy like him, you make room for him.

 

 

I wonder how much of that is positioning for the possiblity that they will not be able to obtain him. From everything I have read, the Reds do not seem all that eager to move him. I would have a hard time believing that he would not be a regular OF for the White Sox. Of course, I could understand if they said they would like for him to move to Left, Right or DH every so often to save on his body. (huge investment)

 

If I was the White Sox, I would be very hesitant to give up prospect and pay over $6 million a year for Grif.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

I wonder how much of that is positioning for the possiblity that they will not be able to obtain him. From everything I have read, the Reds do not seem all that eager to move him. I would have a hard time believing that he would not be a regular OF for the White Sox. Of course, I could understand if they said they would like for him to move to Left, Right or DH every so often to save on his body. (huge investment)

 

If I was the White Sox, I would be very hesitant to give up prospect and pay over $6 million a year for Grif.

 

If Griffey does end up on the Sox, they'd be nuts to play him anywhere but center field. He can DH from time to time to save some energy, but he's better than any outfielder they have.

 

I think it'd be great for Chicago to have another big name superstar in town, but from what I hear about the Reds, they aren't going to move him.

[OldHappyCubFan]

Not to offend the Card fans here, but how can anybody pick the Cards to win the WS?

 

Their team is basically the same as it was last year, and the ENTIRE team choked it up in the WS.

 

It was bad offense, bad baserunning, bad defense, and shaky pitching.

 

The regular season is a different mountain to climb, then is the playoffs/WS. Throw out all the regular season stats.

 

I don't think the Cards will win it.

[K-Town]

Not to offend the Card fans here, but how can anybody pick the Cards to win the WS?

 

Their team is basically the same as it was last year, and the ENTIRE team choked it up in the WS.

 

It was bad offense, bad baserunning, bad defense, and shaky pitching.

 

The regular season is a different mountain to climb, then is the playoffs/WS. Throw out all the regular season stats.

 

I don't think the Cards will win it.

 

As a Cards fan, I'm not going to totally disagree with you (and I'm not offended). They didn't play well in the World Series last year. Until the Cards prove that they CAN win it, then you have to assume that they won't.

 

One difference would be that they'll have a true "ace" to take with them this year (barring injury). Carpenter wasn't available for the WS last year, and it was pretty apparent that the Cards didn't have a single pitcher who could stop the bleeding for them. Carpenter is that guy.

 

And keep in mind that anything can happen in the playoffs. Just because something happens in one series of games doesn't mean that the same thing will happen in the next. The Cubs' recent losing streak is a good example. No offense, but the Cubs were just awful, in every aspect of the game, for a week and a half. Then, when the Cards came to town the Cubs looked great. Baseball is a funny game, and you never know what will happen in any 4 or 7 game stretch.

[RationalSoxFan]

If Griffey does end up on the Sox, they'd be nuts to play him anywhere but center field. He can DH from time to time to save some energy, but he's better than any outfielder they have.

 

He's an awful center fielder these days. Maybe 5 years ago, but not now. Rowand has him in every single department.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Not to offend the Card fans here, but how can anybody pick the Cards to win the WS?

 

Their team is basically the same as it was last year, and the ENTIRE team choked it up in the WS.

 

It was bad offense, bad baserunning, bad defense, and shaky pitching.

 

The regular season is a different mountain to climb, then is the playoffs/WS. Throw out all the regular season stats.

 

I don't think the Cards will win it.

 

The Cards are the best team, that's why I think they'll win it all. They were the best team last year too, they just caught a team with the momentum of Cecil Fielder riding a freight train.

 

They played well throughout the playoffs, and then just didn't execute in the series. But that doesn't give me any reason to believe that it will happen again just because it's the same guys on the team.

 

The Red Sox had the same team last year as they had in '03. (with a few slight changes) But they didn't collapse like they did in '03.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Stoney had a great comment about the White Sox.

 

"The nightmare scenario for the Sox would be to finish with the best record in baseball, and then have to face Oakland as the wild card team."

 

That couldn't be more true.

[gus_dog]

Not to offend the Card fans here, but how can anybody pick the Cards to win the WS?

 

Their team is basically the same as it was last year, and the ENTIRE team choked it up in the WS.

 

It was bad offense, bad baserunning, bad defense, and shaky pitching.

 

The regular season is a different mountain to climb, then is the playoffs/WS. Throw out all the regular season stats.

 

I don't think the Cards will win it.

 

As a Cards fan, I'm not going to totally disagree with you (and I'm not offended). They didn't play well in the World Series last year. Until the Cards prove that they CAN win it, then you have to assume that they won't.

 

One difference would be that they'll have a true "ace" to take with them this year (barring injury). Carpenter wasn't available for the WS last year, and it was pretty apparent that the Cards didn't have a single pitcher who could stop the bleeding for them. Carpenter is that guy.

 

And keep in mind that anything can happen in the playoffs. Just because something happens in one series of games doesn't mean that the same thing will happen in the next. The Cubs' recent losing streak is a good example. No offense, but the Cubs were just awful, in every aspect of the game, for a week and a half. Then, when the Cards came to town the Cubs looked great. Baseball is a funny game, and you never know what will happen in any 4 or 7 game stretch.

 

I agree with K-Town. Anything can happen, and last year doesn't mean jack for this year, IMO.

 

One thing though - they have to get there first, which in and of itself is no small feat these days.

[ManEatingTarp]

Not to offend the Card fans here, but how can anybody pick the Cards to win the WS?

 

Their team is basically the same as it was last year, and the ENTIRE team choked it up in the WS.

 

It was bad offense, bad baserunning, bad defense, and shaky pitching.

 

The regular season is a different mountain to climb, then is the playoffs/WS. Throw out all the regular season stats.

 

I don't think the Cards will win it.

 

You're entitled to your opinion...

 

even it's wrong.

 

Basically the same?

Molina

Grudz

Eckstein

Mulder

Nunez

 

A healthy Chris Carpenter!

A healthier Matt Morris.

 

If any 2 of Walker, Sanders, Molina or Rolen come back healthy, I think they win the World Series.

 

To say they're the same team as last year shows me that you haven't seen a single Cardinals game this year.

[DesMoinesCub]

I was listening to the local sports radio show in Des Moines and the two people doing the show (one a Cards fan, the other a Royals fan) were discussing the possiblity of the Cards making the World Series. I was surprised when one of them (I believe the Cards fan, but am not sure) suggested the Cards would never win a World Series with La Russa as manager. He then went on to say that with all of the World Series appearances Oakland made, and all of the Division crowns won by the Cards and A's that La Russa has only 1 World Series title (coming in 1989). I found this to be very surprising considering the power house teams Oakland had in the late 80's and early 90's.

[ManEatingTarp]

I was listening to the local sports radio show in Des Moines and the two people doing the show (one a Cards fan, the other a Royals fan) were discussing the possiblity of the Cards making the World Series. I was surprised when one of them (I believe the Cards fan, but am not sure) suggested the Cards would never win a World Series with La Russa as manager. He then went on to say that with all of the World Series appearances Oakland made, and all of the Division crowns won by the Cards and A's that La Russa has only 1 World Series title (coming in 1989). I found this to be very surprising considering the power house teams Oakland had in the late 80's and early 90's.

 

The same thing can be said for Bobby Cox.

I don't agree with either.

 

If a Tony LaRussa team loses a series, it's not because of Tony. Last year as an example, they just stopped hitting.

[TruffleShuffle]

The AL is a mess, but as for the NL I think the Cards are easily the most complete team in the NL. Carpenter has pitched like a top of the rotation starter, and if Rolen is able to come back and even be a shadow of his former self, I think they win the NL.... as much as it pains me to say that.

[1wizard]

Truffle Shuffle Wrote:

The AL is a mess, but as for the NL I think the Cards are easily the most complete team in the NL. Carpenter has pitched like a top of the rotation starter, and if Rolen is able to come back and even be a shadow of his former self, I think they win the NL.... as much as it pains me to say that.

 

Rolen probably will not be a major contributor the rest of the season from all the reports I have read and heard. Moreover, I don't think he is the one that the Cardinals need back thanks to Nunez. The Cardinals need Larry Walker and Molina back. Those two guys, the pitching staff, and offensive contributions from Edmonds are the keys to the playoffs. If any one of those do not fall into place, it will be extremely difficult for them to get back to the WS.

 

 

CCF Wrote:

DesMoinesCub wrote:

I was listening to the local sports radio show in Des Moines and the two people doing the show (one a Cards fan, the other a Royals fan) were discussing the possiblity of the Cards making the World Series. I was surprised when one of them (I believe the Cards fan, but am not sure) suggested the Cards would never win a World Series with La Russa as manager. He then went on to say that with all of the World Series appearances Oakland made, and all of the Division crowns won by the Cards and A's that La Russa has only 1 World Series title (coming in 1989). I found this to be very surprising considering the power house teams Oakland had in the late 80's and early 90's.

 

 

The same thing can be said for Bobby Cox.

I don't agree with either.

 

If a Tony LaRussa team loses a series, it's not because of Tony. Last year as an example, they just stopped hitting.

 

I have never been a big fan of TLR, but I have gained a great deal of respect for the guy. He works extremely hard, and he always has his team prepared. I don't think it is fair to judge a manager or player based on WS Championships. If it were as easy has having talent than the Yankees would win every year. There are a lot of factors that go into being a World Champion: healthy players, favorable matchups (guarentee the WS do not want to face the A's), momentum of the teams (Red Sox were on fire last year), home field advantage, players getting hot or struggling, etc...

 

Moreover, I find it funny how people make a statement like this player or manager will never win a championship. How do they know what that player or manager is capable of? Is that person in the locker room every night. Or do they really know what drives that person or team. Case in point, I remember when sports writers assumed that Michael Jordan will never win an NBA Championship. :roll: I guess they were right he won 6 of them. :lol:

[OldHappyCubFan]

I think the highly offensive explosion of the AL, will dominate the Cards pitching staff, which is simply what happened last year.

 

The Cards ran into Houston, which gave them a big run for their money. While Carpenter is a good pitcher, he isn't a big playoff pitcher. I'd rather have El Duque in the playoffs over Carpenter.

 

In fact, how many playoff starts does he even have? He didnt pitch in last years playoffs, and he was with the Blue Jays before that.

 

Theres too many "ifs" with the Cards. Edmonds isn't doing squat, hes having a down year. I know that much for having him on my fantasy team.

 

Pujols IS the Cards offense. It should be interesting, but I highly doubt they'll win it. If Houston makes it, I pick them over the Cards.

 

To say they're the same team as last year shows me that you haven't seen a single Cardinals game this year.

 

Statistically, I think they were better last season. Theres a month left, and their roster is pretty banged up and inconsistent. The bullpen isn't as good. The pitching troubles of Mulder and Morris are the same, throw in Suppan and Marquis, and you have a team on the brink of failure come playoff time.

 

I think the Angels have a better team then the Cards, but their win/loss column doesen't show it, because the AL is a tougher league imo.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

While Carpenter is a good pitcher, he isn't a big playoff pitcher. I'd rather have El Duque in the playoffs over Carpenter.

 

:shock:

 

Dusty, is that you? :lol: