I think the Rockies with their young hitters and semi decent rotation will surprise some people. I'm not saying they will be great, they just will surprise. So who, and why?
2007-03-12 07:00:30 · 28 answers · asked by Too Cool For Me 4 in Sports ➔ Baseball
The Royals. They aren't going to be making a playoff run or anything like that, but they will be the most improved team over last year. They have a realistic chance of being within 10-15 games of .500 as long as their bullpen improves from last year which I think it will. They overpaid for Gil Meche, but he is still a better starter than 3 out of the 5 guys they had last year. If Greinke can pull his head out og his butt and pitch like he did his rookie season thats another 12 wins right there. They also have a lot of good, young bats in the lineup. Mark Teahan, Esteban German, Andres Blanco, Alex Gordon (the second coming of Geroge Brett - watch out for him to make a really strong run at rookie of the year) and Billy Butler (he probably won't make the team out of spring training, but he would be one of the first guys called up and he can swing the bat). As long as the Royals don't blow the 30 some odd leads after the seventh inning like they did last year, expect to see a much better record out of them.
2007-03-12 08:45:15 · answer #1 · answered by DoReidos 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the Pirates will be a big surprise. Granted, I'm pretty biased being that I've been a Pittsburgh fan my whole life, but theres plenty of reason for optimism in Pittsburgh this year after such a long stretch of abysmal baseball. Going into the season, there arent nearly as many potential platoon situations as there have been. Almost every position is established. The young rotation will have a chance to step up and give the Pirates some opportunities to win. For the first time in years, they havent signed any "fill in's" during free agency as they did with Joe Rand and Jeromy Burnitz last season, and many others in seasons past.
They added LaRoche, who should benefit from the short RF porch at PNC Park, and add him to a lineup with last year NL batting champ Freddy Sanchez and Jason Bay, whos been an all star each of the past two years. They have a few more young guys who put up good numbers last season such as Ronny Paulino and Xavier Nady. They also have some speed at the top of the lineup with Chris Duffy.
In addition, they had the 2nd best record in the NL last year during the 2nd half of the season. If they can continue that pace, and hang around in the race at least until after the all star break, that would be a major step up! Last year, and for most of the past 15, they've been out of it since May!
2007-03-12 14:11:22 · answer #2 · answered by Xax Haus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Royals will sniff .500 in the toughest division in baseball. Young power hitters coming into their own (Teahen, Gordon, Shealy). Pitching staff is beefed up. No more bullpen full of 21 year olds who freak out in the last 2 innings. Solid defense up the middle with Gold Glove Grudzielanek and Dave DeJesus. They would surprise everybody if they are a middle-tier team at the end of the year.
2007-03-12 16:42:35 · answer #3 · answered by KC Slim 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that it will be the Atlanta Braves. Not only did they come off of their first dissapointing season in what seems like a lifetime, but this off season they made key acquisitions. They added depth to their bullpen, and their offense has always been there. Potentially, the braves have one of the best starting rotations in the game. The only question mark is the bullpen, as long as they hold, the Braves will go far this year. Also, having some vengeance on your side helps.
2007-03-12 15:42:16 · answer #4 · answered by bryan j 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that it will be the Atlanta Braves. Not only did they come off of their first dissapointing season in what seems like a lifetime, but this off season they made key acquisitions. They added depth to their bullpen, and their offense has always been there. Potentially, the braves have one of the best starting rotations in the game. The only question mark is the bullpen, as long as they hold, the Braves will go far this year. Also, having some vengeance on your side helps.
2007-03-12 15:05:48 · answer #5 · answered by Luke T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are a number of teams who I think are getting better or will compete whereas they haven't in a while:
Toronto Blue Jays
Texas Rangers
San Diego
Seattle (tight division this year)
That's just to name a few. I'm intrigued by the Rockies but that thin air sure will wear down a staff.
2007-03-12 16:54:54 · answer #6 · answered by dussin23 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Texas Rangers! Because the season after Buck Showalter has left as manager on his last 2 teams, they won the World Series. The Yankees back in 96 and the Diamondbacks in 01!
2007-03-12 16:07:25 · answer #7 · answered by Joshua W 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
definately the Colorado Rox. They still have Todd Helton, who is expected to stay on top of the game, Chris Iannetta might hold some suprises, Garrett Atkins is, since the Rockies stadium is in the Rockies, going to bust 40 HRs, Troy Tulowitzki will break out a truckload of steals, and Matt Holliday might be all-star material this year.
2007-03-12 14:08:54 · answer #8 · answered by J P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Over in the AL....I think if they're pitching stays healthy and the additions of Eric Gagne and Sammy Sosa who I think will have a big year.......the Rangers could surprise people this year.
Over in the NL......(and this is coming from a Braves fan) I think with all the additions of Marquis, Soriano, Sweet Lou, plus two or three others they added....the Cubs will surprise people this year.
2007-03-12 14:42:49 · answer #9 · answered by Frank 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Braves should have a good year after not making the playoffs. They want to prove that they are not a has-been team and will recover to take the NL East away from the Mets.
2007-03-12 14:16:00 · answer #10 · answered by Steve 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋