MLB 2018 Season

[Joker]

Well, yesterday saw the first games of Spring Training, so I guess it's time for a thread.

Who you got? Who you excited for/bummed about?

[Comic Book Addict]

As a huge Yankees fan, I am very excited for this year. Judge, Stanton, a very good bullpen, and enough of a farm to make a move at the deadline if all goes well.

[The Whovian]

I'm excited to see my Cubbies, watch Ohtani and several other rookie prospects.

[The Whovian]

As a huge Yankees fan, I am very excited for this year. Judge, Stanton, a very good bullpen, and enough of a farm to make a move at the deadline if all goes well.

Yankees lineup is ridiculous. I would be surprised if they didn't break the record for most runs scored in a season.

[Comic Book Addict]

Yankees lineup is ridiculous. I would be surprised if they didn't break the record for most runs scored in a season.

I can certainly hope they will

[Scott Taylor]

Rooting for the A's - as long as they stick around in Oakland.

They might have solved their bullpen issues, I sure hope so.

[Jackmando7]

Go Pirates!!!

[MRP]

Yankees lineup is ridiculous. I would be surprised if they didn't break the record for most runs scored in a season.

They might also break the record for most strikeouts for a season, especially if Judge has the typical sophomore slump and can't make adjustments after scouts and opposing pitchers have figured out the holes in his swing and exploit them like they did in July and August of last year. He only broke out of it in September when rosters expanded and he feasted on AAA pitches on September call ups. The Yanks should be good, but as a whole that line up strikes out way too much which kills too many rallies and can be exploited by teams with good deep pitching staffs and power pitchers, which every contender in both league has now. The AL East is a two team contest between them and the Sox, so I doubt they miss the playoffs, but it could be tough for them to make another extended run in the playoffs. It should be fun to watch though.

-M

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Yankees lineup is ridiculous. I would be surprised if they didn't break the record for most runs scored in a season.

And the 2001 Seattle Mariners won 116 games, but never made it to the World Series. To paraphrase a saying from golf, you hit for show and pitch for dough, and come the postseason, teams with strong pitching will shut down slugger laden teams.

[C_Miller]

Gun to my head, I'd probably say that I'm a fan of the Blue Jays, but with baseball I'm more a fan of the sport as a whole. There are a couple other teams I like to see do well like the Twins, Indians, Mets and Dodgers, but the Blue Jays are definitely the one that I follow. I'm not anticipating a great season, but I could end up surprised. I just think the rest of the AL East is way more talented, maybe not the Orioles. I think the Jays could get better in the next 2-3 years, but I think it's a tall order for this year.

[Joker]

Blue Jays fans are the worst. Nothing personal, you might be fine, but as a whole? The Worst.

Mariners got a decent shot at a wild card this year, if they can stay healthy. Last year had to be an anomaly, right? RIGHT?!

[WestPhillyPunisher]

NL East has already been won by the Nationals, and the season hasn’t even started yet. I mean, look at the rest of the division, Atlanta, the Mets and my Phillies are all in rebuilding mode while Derek Jeter dynamited the Marlins locker room, trading everyone of consequence save for the mascot and will be damn lucky to win 60 games. If the Nats win the division by less than 15 games, I’ll be shocked.

[DungeonmasterJim]

Being a Red Sox fan I think they'll make a run at the play-offs unless Chris Sale goes down with a significant injury. Unfortunately, the Red Sox have been washing out of the first round of play-offs in the past few appearances so a play-off appearance is my 'high water mark' for them. I'm not expecting a World Series appearance for the Red Sox.

[The Whovian]

Being a Red Sox fan I think they'll make a run at the play-offs unless Chris Sale goes down with a significant injury. Unfortunately, the Red Sox have been washing out of the first round of play-offs in the past few appearances so a play-off appearance is my 'high water mark' for them. I'm not expecting a World Series appearance for the Red Sox.

The problem with the Red Sox is Price not living up to his contract. If he was pitching like he was before they got him, they would be the favorites to win their division.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

The problem with the Red Sox is Price not living up to his contract. If he was pitching like he was before they got him, they would be the favorites to win their division.

And having a public hissy fit with Hall of Famer turned broadcaster Dennis Ecklersley hasn’t endeared Price with the Red Sox faithful.