Category Archives: 2013 MLB Team Preview

2014 MLB Team Preview: Tampa Bay Rays

All offseason we talk about the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, but the Tampa Bay Rays always end up in the discussion at the end of the season. They build through the draft and develop their own, so they stay quiet while the Sox and Yanks throw around big money.

The Rays were second in the AL East, just behind the World Series champs. Matt Moore had a career year with 17 wins and they called up their gem prospect, Wil Myers. With all the young arms in the rotation, it’s hard to predict a win total this season. They could all have double-digit wins and lead the team to a 100-win season or a few could implode. I think it’s fair to say the Rays will land somewhere in the middle

Here is the 2014 MLB season preview for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Seattle Mariners

Seattle made a few headlines this offseason. They paid Felix Hernandez the most paid to a pitcher in Major League history and made two different trades to acquire much-needed power.

The three best teams in the AL West got much better, so Seattle had to make a decision. Do they stand pat and slowly build their team back up or make some big moves in hopes stealing a Wild Card spot? They went with the second option.

Did Seattle make a smart move by acquiring talent to win right now?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Seattle Mariners. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants did the improbably in today’s game. They won two World Series in the last three seasons. They did this one after overcoming Melky Cabrera’s PED scandal and without ace closer Brian Wilson.

Buster Posey had a breakout season in returning from a scary injury that happened during a collision at the plate.

Can the Giants win three out of four?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the San Francisco Giants. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: San Diego Padres

The biggest news to come out of San Diego this offseason is the Padres moving in the walls at PETCO Park. I’m not sure if doing that is a good move strategically. The team has been built around pitching since the park opened (13 of their top 20 prospects are pitching). Is this move a not-so-subtle way of increasing attendance?

Chase Headley and Carlos Quentin will benefit from the walls being moved in, but can their pitching hold up?

Can San Diego keep up with the Dodgers and Giants in the NL West?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the San Diego Padres. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: St. Louis Cardinals

The St. Louis Cardinals did the impossible last season. They lost Albert Pujols to the Angels and their longtime manager Tony LaRussa retired. Most people wrote them off, but they scratched and clawed their way into a Wild Card spot.

The Cardinals didn’t do much this offseason. Was standing pat a poor decision? Can they catch lightning in a bottle for a second year in a row?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the St. Louis Cardinals.

(Yes, that is Nelly wearing some Cardinals gear….excuse me while I go listen to “Air Force Ones”.) Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Pittsburgh Pirates

The last time the Pirates ended the season with a record better than .500 was 1992. I included a picture of Russell Crowe wearing a Pirates jacket, because it he’s had a streak of bad movies to rival the Pirates futility.

I picked Pittsburgh to win more than 81 games last season, but they fell just shy of that. They are headed in the right direction, but they are still a few players away from being on the same level as Cincinnati and St. Louis.

Can Andrew McCutchen repeat his MVP-level 2012 season?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have been perennial World Series contenders since Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley were in their first years in the Majors. The Phillies have spent a king’s ransom on pitching, yet the rest of the lineup have aged poorly. Could Philadelphia become sellers at the trade deadline this season?

Will Philly regret signing Cole Hamels to a superstar contract when he is the team’s third best starter?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Philadelphia Phillies. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Oakland Athletics

The Oakland A’s were one of the major surprises in 2012. Not only did “Moneyball” do well at the box office, but the A’s made their first playoff appearance since 2001.

The A’s have a few breakout performances last season. Josh Reddick, Yoenis Cespedes, Jarrod Parker and Ryan Cook pushed Oakland to the next level. Manager Bob Melvin really outdone himself with his roster.

Can Oakland repeat last year’s performance or was it a case of being lucky in one-run games?

Are the Los Angeles Angels and Texas Rangers too talented to surpass in the AL West?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Oakland A’s. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: New York Yankees

It is impossible for the New York Yankees to have a scandal-free offseason.

First, you have a New York Post picture of an overweight Derek Jeter. Second, you have a report linking Alex Rodriguez to BioGenesis PED scandal.

The Blue Jays and Rays improved their rosters with big trades and the Yankees, besides signing Kevin Youkilis, they did not sign any top free agents.

Can the Yankees win another AL East crown?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the New York Yankees. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: New York Mets

A pitcher on the New York Mets won a Cy Young in 2012. Unfortunately for Mets fans, he’s no longer on the team. R.A. Dickey was shipped to Toronto for “hopefully” the Mets future franchise catcher, Travis d’Arnaud.

Will the Mets survive without R.A. Dickey anchoring their rotation?

Is the Mets financial woes still occurring or is the team still looking to dump more salary?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the New York Mets. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins are in pretty bad shape…in the short-term. Joe Mauer and Trevor Plouffe had great years last season,

Denard Span and Ben Revere are no longer on the team and their outfield replacements don’t replace their speed and the defensive outputs. Aaron Hicks could proven me wrong, but the jump from Double-A to the Majors is a lot to ask of him this season.

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Minnesota Twins. Continue reading →

2013 MLB Team Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

Many believed the loss of Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun’s ~~steroid suspension~~ (almost suspension) and the eventually trading Zack Greinke away, would push the Brewers down a few spots in the NL Central. They finished the season over .500 and one could argue if they had a competent closer, they could have received a Wild Card spot.

Are the Brewers still on the same level as the Reds and Cardinals?

Will Milwaukee overachieve again or will they come back down to Earth?

Here is the 2013 MLB season preview for the Milwaukee Brewers. Continue reading →