All Entries Tagged With: "off Season Report"
San Francisco Giants Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
2008 saw the Bond-less Giants tied for the 6th worst record in baseball at 72-90, but I actually thought they had a chance of reaching 100 losses so they did better than I thought they would. They went into the year without a solid closer, which effects the rest of the bullpen, and [...]
San Diego Padres Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Like most of the NL West, the Padres had a disappointing 2008 season going 63-99, the third worst record in baseball last season! Who would have thought that the Giants would finish higher than San Diego at Spring Training last year? I for one did not even think it possible. Granted, 2008 saw [...]
Colorado Rockies Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Like most of the NL West, the Rockies had a disappointing 2008 season going 74 and 88 after being in the World Series the previous October. On top of that, they lost second year SS Troy Tulowitzki to injury for a big part of the year, missing 61 games and 1B Todd Helton [...]
Arizona Diamondbacks Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
After a red hot start to the 2008 season, the team in the desert cooled off come June and never really struck fear into anyone in the NL West from that point forward, but theacquisition of LF Adam Dunn must have turned a few heads though. April did show a look into the [...]
Los Angeles Dodgers Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Although the Dodgers had the worst record in the 2008 playoffs it was mainly a byproduct of their poor first half. The acquisition of Manny Ramirez from Boston in a three way deal at the deadline rejuvenated this young team, giving them the experience and the potent bat they were missing up to [...]
Washington Nationals Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
One word describes the 2008 Washington Nationals record: abysmal. They lost 102 games! Granted, they had injuries to both first basemen (Johnson and Young) and most if not all of their outfielders (Wily Mo Pena, Lastings Milledge, Austin Kearns and Elijah Dukes) at one time or another and 3B Zimmerman. Then they did [...]
Florida Marlins Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Although the Marlins finished 7.5 games out in the NL East in 2008, they didn’t have a bad season. After trading away Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera to the Tigers last off season, no one expected a lot from them in 2008. For starters, second baseman Dan Uggla had a monster first half [...]
Los Angeles Angles of Anaheim off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
The Angels no doubt have the blue print for making the playoffs memorized. The only problem is that in the past few seasons, when they get there, they are unable to get out of the Divisional round where they were the victim of the Boston Red Sox this season in just four games. [...]
Atlanta Braves Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Another year without postseason play after all of those consecutive years in it makes for unhappy Braves fans. But this time, I would have to say that a lot of the problem was caused by the myriad of injuries sustained, but especially those to their pitching staff, both starters and relievers alike. Beyond [...]
Texas Rangers off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Despite finishing under .500, the Rangers still finished second in the American League West, although they were about a mile behind the Angels at the top of the division. Their 79-83 record was not by any means impressive, but with the expectations that were in place for the Rangers before the season, it’s [...]
Seattle Mariners off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Despite having the ninth ranked payroll in the major leagues at $118 million (and bringing the face of their franchise, Ichiro Suzuki, back in the off season), the Mariners still managed to lose 101 games and finish in last place in 2008. Prior to the season, many believed that the Mariners had the [...]
New York Mets Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
For the second straight year, the Mets had the right tools to make the playoffs, but in the end, failed to reach that goal. 2008 saw the firing of manager Willie Randolph and the tired arm of aging closer Billy Wagner. It also saw a renewed spark from 1B Carlos Delgado, who just [...]
Oakland Athletics off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
It seems that general manager Billy Beane has no problem finding pitching for his team and even when he trades away his best pitchers, he always has some waiting in the wings. The problem for Beane is finding proven hitting that can produce on a daily basis without needing much in the way [...]
Philadelphia Phillies Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
The Phillies beat the Tampa Bay Rays, MLB’s Cinderella story of 2008, to become the World Series Champs! What more needs to be said about 2008 except that Cole Hamels proved that he IS a # 1 starter with his performance in the playoffs. Just in case anyone was questioning his ability on [...]
St. Louis Cardinals off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
The Cardinals won as many games in 2008 as they did when they won the World Series just two seasons earlier, but they found themselves outside of the playoff picture when the season ended. With an 86-76 record, the Cards once again had a very solid season with Tony La Russa at the [...]
Houston Astros off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
The Astros last left us by missing the playoffs with an 86-75 record to finish third in the National League Central. Although they were in the heat of the race for a while, they dropped off at the end when they were forced to play home games in Milwaukee because of the hurricanes [...]
Baltimore Orioles Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
The O’s finished right about where I expected them to, but there was a silver lining to look forward towards. That is CF Adam Jones, who looks like he might become a decent everyday player once he matures at the plate and becomes a more patient hitter. Then there was the great year [...]
Cincinnati Reds off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Cincinnati had a dismal season once again, going 74-88 and finishing fifth in the National league Central. After the hire of manager Dusty Baker in the off season, many believed the Reds would improve this year and while they received some good individual performances from some young talent, they were still disappointing in [...]
Toronto Blue Jays Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
The 2008 season found the Jays in 4th place behind the Rays, Red Sox and Yankees, but was not without its highlights. The pitching staff, despite injuries toJanssen and Halladay (to begin the year) and McGowan for good parts of the year, were still the best in the MLB with a 3.49 ERA [...]
Chicago Cubs off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
The team from the North Side of Chicago acted like they were finally going to break the all encompassing Billy Goat Curse last season, but that all ended when they got to the playoffs. While they were the darlings of analysts during the regular season, once the post season game around, they were [...]
New York Yankees Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
The Yankees failed to make the playoffs for the first time since the 90’s due to injuries, age and the less than expected performance out of some of their up and coming pitchers Kennedy and Hughes, not to mention CF Cabrera. They finished in third place just 3 games ahead of the Blue [...]
Tampa Bay Rays Off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Who would have imagined that the newly renamed Rays would have made history in 2008? After finishing last in the AL East in 2007, they finished first in 2008, surpassing the mighty Yankees and Red Sox with their 97 wins. Not only did they win the AL East, but they also won the [...]
Kansas City Royals off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
For many other teams, posting a 75 win season isn’t exactly a cause for excitement, but for the first time in a while, the Royals were able to dig themselves out of the bottom spot in the American League Central. They finished fourth, but some improvement is better than none. The good thing [...]
Minnesota Twins off Season Report
Season Wrap Up
Baseball fans last saw the Twins in a one game playoff with the Chicago White Sox for the Central Division crown and a spot in the playoffs. Although they did not win that game, they still had an impressive season. After losing Torii Hunter to free agency and trading away Johan Santana, the [...]
Chicago White Sox off Season Report
Season Wrap-up
Baseball fans last saw the White Sox lose to the Rays in the divisional round of the playoffs. They were by no means a power during the season, but they play in a weak division and were able to stay above water enough to make it to the playoffs.
Holes to Fill
Their most obvious needs [...]
