Monday Morning Manager....Opening Day

“There is no sports event like Opening Day of baseball, the sense of beating back the forces of darkness and the National Football League” – George Vecsey

1.77-85 if the starting pitching holds up 82-80

2. Angels
Mariners
Rangers
A's

3. Josh Hamilton

4. C.J. Wilson

5. In order of concern: Brandon McCarthy, Kason Gabbard, Vincente Padilla, Kevin Millwood, Luis Mendoza and any other pitcher who makes a start for the Rangers this season.

6. 27 saves

7. 30 HR

8. 70 RBI

9. 22 HR - 20 SB

10. I don't think Michael Young will be the Rangers All-Star representative - I think there will only be one - and it will be Josh Hamilton

1. 80-82
2. Angels, Mariner, Rangers, A’s
3. Hank Blalock
4. Kevin Millwood
5. McCarthy, Bradley and Hamilton because of injury, Padilla because of attitude, Gabbard because I'm not sure he's a starter and Byrd because I have a hard time seeing him repeat his performance from last season. I hope David Murphy will hit enough to justify getting 400 at bats.
6. 34 Saves
7. 36 HR
8. 112
9. 27 HR 28 SB
10. Hank Joe Blalock

1. I'll say 72-90 because of the inevitable injuries
2. LAA, Sea, Oak, Tex
3. Josh Hamilton
4. JJennings
5. I'll give you my top 3 concerns (of many) - a frail Gabbard, an unpredictable Bradley, and a return to consistency from Millwood in 08.
6. 12 saves for CJ before Wash takes the job away from him and goes with a veteran
7. 25 in 125 games
8. 92 rbi for the Hammer, who is back.
9. 25HR/30steals
10. Josh Hamilton is the lone rep this year.
11. July 11 - My prediction of when the philosophical difference between JD and RW is resolved - with 'baseball man' looking for a new job. Bring on Matt Walbeck.

1) 86-76.

2) California Angels (I refuse to call them the long name presently they are calling themselves)--Seattle--Texas--Oakland

3) I think Josh Hamilton might be a good choice. (Sleeper: TIE--Kinsler and Mendoza)

4) Jason Jennings will win more than Padilla or Millwood.

5) Brandon McCarthy (health), Jason Botts (competence), Broussard (Salty should be playing first), Marlon Byrd (Spring Training avg.)

6) CJ gets about 24 saves (Sure wish Aki had been healthy and signed instead)

7) Josh Hamilton will get 42 dingers

8) Hank Blalock will get 96 RBI's

9) Ian Kinsler: 24 HR's/26 SB's

10) Josh Hamilton will join Michael Young on the All-Star Team. Possibility also of Hank Blalock-depending on how good a start he gets. One thing for sure--Jason Botts will not be on it. Book it.

OPENING DAY! We are tied for the diisional lead!

1. 79 -83
2. Seatle, Angels, Rangers, Oakland.
3. I would think Kinsler if he can stay healthy.
4. Kevin Millwood.
5. C.J. Wilson just based on minimal experience.
6. 31 for Wilson
7. 32 for Hamilton
8. 103 banking on a strong full season for Blalock.
9. 26 hr's and 29 steals.
10. Maybe Kinsler based on position.

I have a great idea. Let's have a championship for all the teams that are re-building. You know, like the NIT is to the NCAA tourny. We might win that. Then we would get the national publicity like the Cowboys get. Yeah, the Rangers could be perennial Champions of the RLofMLB (Re-building League of MLB).This would generate more revenue to pay more to these over-paid players. I hope Bud Selig reads this. TR, maybe you could pass along the word to ol' Bud. Don't forget, it was my idea.
Oh, okay, just dreaming. Now back to reality.

1-84-78 (gotta win more road games)
2-Angels 90-72
Mariners 88-74
Ranger (see 1 )
Athletics 78-84
It'll be a fun Sept.
3-Josh Hamilton
4-Medoza
5-Don't see Gabbard making it past the end of May. Maybe Feldman or Hurley to replace him. I wonder if Jason Jennings can handle a full season of the American League? I hope he can. Marlon Byrd will lose his popularity and Mench will replace him.
6-9
7-32
8-113
9-22 20 ( last one on game 162 for the 20-20 season )
10- Hamilton may be the only one.

1. 80-82
2. Angels, Mariners, Rangers, Oakland

3. Hamilton

4. Milwood is going to win 15+, comeback year.

5. Botts

6. 25

7. 38 HRs for Hamilton

8. 108 for Hank

9. 25-25 Big year for Ian

10. Young, Blalock, Hamilton all on the All-Star Roster

1. 88-74
2. Mariners, Rangers, LAA, A's
3. Blalock, healthy and on a mission
4. Jennings quietly does the job
5. Bradley and Millwood
6. 36
7. 42
8. 112
9. 20-32 I'm betting he plays to win and works more on OBP than HR.
10. CJ, MY, Hank, Josh, Kinsler. But since it is a popularity contest all of them will have it tough

1. 84-78
2. Mariners, Rangers, Angels, A's
3. Kinsler
4. Millwood
5. Broussard, Bradley
6. 34
7. 38
8. 103
9. 14, 19
10. Blalock

1. If Ron sticks full season 71-91. If he is fired early then 81-81.
2. Angels, Mariners, A's, Rangers

3. Hamilton

4. Millwood

5. Catalanotto

6. 23

7. 38

8 92 if healthy and plays whole season

9. 25/25

10. Hamilton
Now based on what happened last night, how can Washington keep his job very long. He first played just about a full left handed lineup against a dominant lefty. Only Murphy who i think is a player is the only left hander that did well. I just don't understand how a "manager" who was supposed to bring patience to the hitters and defense, skates when it doesn't happen. No hit and runs, no sacrifices, no bunts, nothing.....It is ridiculous. It is only one game but it is not looking good. When Millwood pitches the way he did last night, you have to win that game. If i were Washington, i would start trying to play the percentages, what he has been doing is not working. We have to get off to a good start, if we don't it is going to go south on him quickly. Bet on it.

1 for 11 with runners in scoring position? Clutch. When you having that kind of failure, don't you try to move runners over, hit and run, sacrifice. That was a one run game and Washington seemed to be playing for the 3 run homer. I thought he wanted our players to work the count, take pitches, move runners over, sacrifice. If he wants those types of things and can't get them, isn't it time for some "new leadership"? Bring on Hargrove before it is too late! As i watched that game last night, and they zoomed in on Washington, he appeared to be shell shocked, frozen, under sieze and he did nothing. He looks scared.

1. 77-85
2. Angels, Mariners, Rangers, A's
3. J. Hamilton
4. K. Millwood
5. Bradley, Botts, McCarthy
6. 20
7. 35
8. 110
9. 20-20
10. J. Hamilton, only one

“He first played just about a full left handed lineup against a dominant lefty.” – He sent 4 lefty swingers up there against Bedard. Lefties last year against Eric Bedard: .694 OPS. Righties last year against Eric Bedard: .593 OPS.

“…..who was supposed to bring patience to the hitters…..” “I thought he wanted our players to work the count, take pitches…” – Eric Bedard threw 106 pitches in 5 innings last night.

“No hit and runs, no sacrifices, no bunts, nothing.....It is ridiculous.” – Hitting and running isn’t a good idea against a pitcher who (a) is throwing a lot of balls and (b) is getting a lot of swings and misses. Ask Mike Hargrove.

I’m not a Washington apologist and I’m not sure he’s going to be here come August, but if you’re going to rip the guy you should at least try to make some sense.

I didn't ask Mr.; Washington why he played the lineup he did...and I still don't know him well enough to call him Ron or Wash... but wouldn't you guess he put his "best" olinup out there to do the job. Last I knew ranger's fans Mr. Washington did not play shortstop and make an error....he did not play third and make a play that should have been made. He did not have a relief outing from hell either. You had to get on base to score and the guys just didn't do it. When you're behind by three late in the game I might suggest it's not time for a bunt either when you're boppers are up. The guys on the field failed to execute last nigh. I suggest they'll do it again some other night....and other nights they'll hit the heck out of it.

78-84
Angels, Mariners, Rangers A's
Hamilton
Benoit
All of the starters (though I admit Millowod had a good game until he ran out of gas)
30 for Hamilton
30 for CJ
95 for Blaylock
20/20 for Kinsler
Michael will be our sole representative (for those of you who want Hamilton remember how much managers love Young)

See you all at the home opener

1. 80-82
2. angels 89-73
a's 86-76
mariners 82-80
rangers 80-82
3. Josh Hamilton will be the story of the American League this year, & the Rangers best player.
4. Jason Jennings
5. The entire Ranger ballclub, & im not being flip. MY is the only Ranger I have complete confidence in.
6. 34 saves
7. Hamilton will hit 32 home runs
8. 92 rbis
9. 21 homers, 26 sbs
10. MY will not be in the all-star game. Hamilton will be. Dark horses incl CJ Wilson, Jennings, & Ian Kinsler

1. 86 - 76
2. Angels, Rangers, Mariners, Oakland
3. Josh Hamilton or Hank Blaylock
4. Kevin Millwood
5. Ron Washington and Jon Daniels for the simple reason that we know what players like Ben Broussard and Gerald Laird are, but they will still be played more than they ought through no fault of their own, and instead of players like Salty, Botts and Catalanooto.
6. 26
7. 34
8. 112
9. 26 - 24
10. Blaylock, Millwood, Hamilton - probably not Young.