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Kingdom

I ask you..

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Predictions are much like opinions, in that they're like assholes, everyone has 'em. So I'm not going to give you any predictions for the 2011 season, because roughly 5 billion people have done so already. Instead, I'm giving you questions to sink your teeth into as the rest of the season plays. We're about a week into the season, and we've seen Manny Ramirez's official demise, the Baltimore Orioles caring about baseball again, and two sluggers going down to have appendectomies. So far, no -no hitters- or perfect games. Only a matter time for them to happen, right? Or is this the season where we have a grand total of.. zero?



Question 1: Did we overrated Boston?
Before they even began 0-6. is it entirely possible we jumped on this ship way too soon? Sure, they weren't far out from being a playoff team last season despite a 25 man roster worth of injuries. They went and added impact players in Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez. But is it possible we over looked their pitching? Jon Lester is about the only guy that you're not concerned about. You simply cannot trust Beckett, Matszusaka, or obviously, John Lackey. And no matter how low Buchholz ERA was, all the advanced statistics point to things going south for him. Maybe they have fewer pitching questions than New York, or Texas, but they exist and they exist prominently.

Question 2: Has Edwin Jackson finally found a home?
He might be one of the most enigmatic talents in the league. He's shown flashes of brilliance at every stop, including being an all-star in Detroit and throwing a no hitter in Arizona. But he's been dealt at all the previous locations as well. When Jackson was moved for Daniel Hudson, inexplicably, both pitchers took off for their respective teams. Is entirely possible that Ozzie Guillen's own borderline crazy personality is the key to lighting the fire under Jackson's consistency? When he's on, he's an ace caliber pitcher. And if he's on in 2011, he can help lead a very solid pitching staff in what could be the White Sox's year to win the division with so many questions and concerns clouding Minnesota.

Question 3: Did the front office for St. Louis finally screw up?
Looking beyond everything that happened with Albert Pujols and Adam Wainwright, the fact remains that the lineup for the Cardinals is really not that good. At least, at the moment. Before the season began, they're were notable questions regarding the offense outside of Pujols, Matt Holliday, and Colby Rasmus. They're not going to generate much pop in the infield outside of first base. And you wonder how much stock they're put in Lance Berkman. Not only has he been on a downward trend offensively, you're asking a man with bad wheels to field in right. The front office seemed content on mostly what they had from 2010. The cardinals are an organization that typically gets the most out of players on a yearly basis, but it's really hard to do that when there's not much around in the first place.

Question 4: Jose Bautista, fluke or not to fluke?
I fully admit I thought he'd be a fluke after the all-star break. Color me shocked when he didn't slow up one bit. We live in the steroid ERA, so it's easy to assume he was juicing right? But he just doesn't seem like he's changed physically from when he was a utility journeyman at best, however, the most obviously change has been his approach at the plate and his swing. So it leads to how much of a fluke was he, or is he going to put together a great belated career? He also got paid handsomely, so he has a lot in favor of a down year. But since I doubted this man once before, doubting him again can only mean another monster power year.

Question 5: Are you completely disheartened by how the generation of stars we grew up with are going out as sadly as they are?
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Rafael Palmeiro, Manny Ramirez.. some of the best players from the generation I have grown up watching and following continue to be wrapped up in scandals and bowing out of the game in disrespecting manners, you begin to wonder how much there was to really enjoy? And who's next? Alex Rodriguez has already been caught up in controversy, but how will his story ultimately end? Is it possible that the next big names we hear being a "disgrace" to the game are Vladimir Guerrero, Mariano Rivera, Jim Thome, perhaps even the golden child Derek Jeter or the machine Albert Pujols? For the love of the game, I hope not. I can only hope as the next couple of decades play out, we can rid ourselves of steroid controversy and embarrassment to the game. I hope that we can sit back and enjoy class acts or seemingly quiet exits from the game as they wait for the Hall's call like Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Ken Griffey Jr., Trevor Hoffman, Mike Piazza, and so forth and so on. I am putting faith in the exciting class of stars we have, the Lincecums, Vottos, Heywards, Howards, Hanley Ramirezes, Felix Hernandezes, and Trevor Cahills to carry the torch on without scrutiny. Take back the game from crime, from shady and crooked pharmacists and trainers, and prove that this is still America's game.
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  1. love_that_reefer's Avatar
    1. I was not impressed with the Red Sox staff but did think they would score 1,000+ runs this season to overcome their questionable pitching. So far, we have not seen this offense but this team will hit its stride and take off like a rocket.

    2. I bet White Sox think and pray he has found a home. Jackson is part of a very good rotation and I see the White Sox winning the Central. I'm sure if that happens, Jackson would love to call Chicago home.

    3. They screwed up by not giving Pujols his extension and that's the only way I saw them screwing up. They couldn't really spend a lot of money and traded Hawksworth for an upgrade offensively over Brendan Ryan, signed Berkman who still has good OB skills and brought back Jake Westbrook. I'd say that is an ok job considering they couldn't spend much because of the whole Pujols saga. David Freese possesses a good stick at third so the infield has more offense than you give it credit for.

    4. I say fluke..to a degree. I don't see him hitting 35+ HRs.

    5. I think David Ortiz will be the next one to break our hearts.
  2. realmofotalk's Avatar
    1. Pitching certainly was a red flag for the Red Sox to begin the season, but it's not like their division foes were superior in that department, either.
  3. Porter's Avatar
    1. The Red Sox's pitching staff is very overrated. That will hurt them. The question I counter with. Are the O's scrappy enough to stay around.

    2. Edwin Jackson's wild inconsistency fits with Ozzie's wildly unstable personality. That's pretty much how I view that.

    3. I think we have to wait till Mid May for the Cards. It is not looking good though.

    4. Bautista's adjustments at the plate have helped him grately. He reminds me of Jay Buhner who was also a late bloomer.

    5. I think it falls on a guy like Adrian Beltre. It would be his luck.