2015 Season MLB thread

We are about six weeks away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training.

I for one am pretty excited about the moves the White Sox have made so far. It caught me a little off guard, because I thought they were probably at least one more season from really trying to compete. Especially with how good the Tigers have been the last few years. But they got serious, and they have some young talent in the mix (Abreu anyone?) that should make for a fun year.

Also, tomorrow the 2015 HoF class is announced. Randy Johnson and Pedro Martinez are no brainers to be in IMO. I think Biggio and Smoltz will probably get the votes too. I'd love to see Tim Raines get in on what (IIRC) is his last chance, but I'm guessing he won't. It's a shame, he's maybe the second best lead-off hitter of the last 50 years. Piazza has an outside chance as well, so this could be a big class.

Anyone else already starting to anticipate the season?

Anything your team that has you excited? Or disappointed?

 

Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, and Craig Biggio all elected to the HoF. Piazza had the most votes of those that missed this year.

 

I agree that where a player ended up has a definite impact on their perception.

Go look in detail at Biggio's numbers and Jeter's numbers.

One guy had a .796 OPS, 291 HRs, 668 doubles, 414 steals, 3060 hits, and a total of 65 WAR.
The other had a .817 OPS, 260 HRs, 544 doubles, 358 steals, 3465 hits, and a total of 72 WAR.

All in all, fairly similar stats. Yet one guy is going to get on 95%+ of the HoF ballots his first year eligible. The other guy took a couple of years to squeak over the 75% threshold.

Maybe playing in NY for the Yankees had an impact on that?

Not hating on Jeter. He deserves almost all of the accolades he's gotten (at least for everything but defense). But put him in Cleveland or Kansas City or San Diego and it wouldn't be so epic, eh?

 

Max Scherzer closing in on new multiyear contract - ESPN

Good for my White Sox, just getting him out of the division.

I'm not sure that the Nationals plan on keeping that entire rotation in place. I'm guessing a guy or two will be moved for other pieces, but that rotation, has some serious potential there if they all stay healthy.

 

You do know Kirby has been dead for about 9 years, right?

I always loved watching him.



While the Mariners haven't been to great recently, they look to be improved in 2015. They also benefit from playing in the same division as two teams (Rangers and Astros) that look to be pretty bad. Early projections have them just behind the Angels, and maybe neck-and-neck with the A's for second place in the division. For what that is worth in January.

 

He retired early due to glaucoma (kind of important to be able to see to hit a 96mph baseball). But he died of a massive stroke brought on by hypertension.


I was with you though, I knew it had been a few years, but had no clue it'd been almost a decade. Time flies.

 

I have a buddy in Houston who is a die hard Astros fan.

As a White Sox fan, very few months I am sure to get a dig in reminding him about 2005. I try to make sure it comes completely out of the blue so it has the most impact.

 

I think we'd be within a beer or two of each other with the improvements the Sox made.


How about we do it. The loser keeps the money in hand for the day if/when we get to say hello in person, and then he gets to buy the first beer or three.

 

Ernie Banks just passed away at 83.
--- merged: Jan 24, 2015 at 12:21 AM ---
Some sources are saying he did NOT die of natural causes. But no other info yet.