I've got wild card hopes for this team this year. If our bullpen holds up and we keep Josh Towers the fuck away from the mound, I think we'll be alright.

Also, I see another solid year for my two MLB man-crushes: Lyle Overbay and his 1B counterpart in Boston, Kevin Youkilis. But, of course, Youkilis has nothing to do with this thread, so carry on.

So, what are everyone elses thoughts on this years team?

dirty frank will be nasty (if healthy), but having him at DH means that glaus has to play 3rd everyday, which means he'll break down for sure (shoulders already hurting). a.j. is another "eggshells" guy, but can provide so much "if healthy." i think it will be just like last year, meaning that it would take a major collapse from Bos or NY for the birds to get in the playoffs

Been that way for a while, now.

But hey, this year looks better than it did five years ago. God, I love Spring.

I'm excited for this year, though I am every spring. I'm not all that worried about Towers... he fell apart last year, but he was really good before that. I think he just needs some confidence. The offense will be disturbing... Hill is a legitimate .300 hitter who will bat either 8th or 9th... Johnson is a perfect lead off hitter because he's always on, then it goes Overbay-Wells-Thomas-Glaus-Rios... wow... opposing pitch won't want to pitch to any of them, but they'll have no choice.

Like every year, I think they can make the playoffs, but even if they don't this is gonna be a lot of fun.

hopefully our patchwork pitching will work. our batters are deadly. can't wait for opening day on monday.

anyone know if the CBC contract ever panned out?

Well hopefully someone turns the game on at work tomorow... stupid 1:00 starts to start the season.

It would have been nice to win the first game of the season in 9 innings, but I'll take. Overbay was 2-4 with an RBI and (surprise, surprise) a double.

Yeah, nice first inning... Halladay was off and on... meh, a win's a win.

dont think they got any games, snet has 116, tsn 20 and the rest are mlb.tv

pretty good win today, glad i took the day off, the first innings was awesome but scarey how the bats went quiet after that, & i can see gibby pulling clayton for stairs in the late innings like that PH a lot

Yeah, that's the nice thing about having all those options at SS.

I'm lucky to be working somewhere I can watch the afternoon games.

Damn, rough way to lose today. If it weren't for Burnett and Marcum opening the flood gates, we would have had this game with our incredible comeback.

yeah wth, i just got home from work and saw that comeback via the boxscore

No, if Magglio Ordonez was a serviceable rightfielder, this game would have still been a blowout.

Hahaha, I'm stunned that he didn't get the last one (by Rios.) Meh, it happens... hopefully Chacin puts in a better performance tomorrow.

I suppose you have a point, but that wind was utterly brutal. I've played left and right field (and first and third) my whole life and here in Newfoundland, the wind is infinitely stronger than in Detroit. It's really tough to get a read on the ball, believe me.

You're absolutely right. And it's even worse when you have someone like Ordonez trying to make a play. If his gimpy knee doesn't prevent him from getting to the ball, surely his terrible glove (or judgment) will allow him to botch the play.

Nevertheless, Grilli gave up three straight bloop singles that could have been caught.

Burnett got lid up. He looked horrible. Toronto can thank Victor for making it a game.

That's true. Further reason for me to think that Ordonez is Detriot's answer to Manny - a big bush of hair flowing in the breeze as he struggles valiantly to make a play.

I say the Jays finish second to the Yanks and miss the playoffs.

We don't appreciate that kind of talk around these parts.

so no boxscore today it snowed ??!

i saw dave winfield on best damn a few nights ago, pretty interesting interview, he tip-toed around the bonds issue like a l337 politician

also what do you guys make of the frank thomas commercial being banned or whatever ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMdelLmvUf0

bob mcgowan had the vp or marketing from the jays on the show yesterday pretty funny stuff, basically the ''new'' version is the same w/out the kid falling off the bed