Post by Atlanta Braves GM on Aug 24, 2005 13:19:53 GMT -5
vs.
John Smoltz vs. Unknown
Kenny Rogers vs. Unknown
David Wells vs. Unknown
The Boston Red Sox will travel to Yankee Stadium to being the 2005 season. The Red Sox and Yankees both exceeded the new Salary Cap implementation by Bud Selig at the start of the off-season, and both teams worked hard to get under the limit. The Red sox acheived their goal, while the Yankees did not in the end but were granted a leniency. This matchup may well determine who takes the AL East.
Prediction: Yankees take 2 of 3 to open the series, despite the play of Cabrera and Damon.
vs.
Ben Sheets vs. Oliver Perez
Doug Davis vs. Brad Penny
The Brewers really did nothing this off-season, in contrast to Pittsburgh, who was involved in a plethora of trades. The Pirates held onto a few core players in Bay and Perez, while adding Bradley and Posada, and they should provide the spark for the Pirates.
Prediction: Sheets outduels Perez in game one, but Penny comes up shining in the second match of this 2-game seriers.
vs.
C.C. Sabathia vs. Jon Garland
Jake Westbrook vs. Mark Buehrle
Kevin Millwood vs. Freddy Garcia
Another team invisible in the flurry of trades this off-season, the Indians match up against the White Sox to begin the season. The Sox added Garciaparra and Todd Walker to their crew, but it is unlikely they will have the effect that Tadahito Iguchi and Joe Crede had on this team. The White Sox have to win by pitching in this one.
Prediction: Indians take 2 of 3, with Buehrle the only winner for the Sox.
vs.
Rich Harden vs. Curt Schilling
Tony Armas Jr. vs. Jeff Weaver
Ryan Drese vs. Derek Lowe
Two teams who traded so much in the offseason that they are hardly distinguishable. The Reds added a lot of pitching while sacrificing some of their offense. The Mets, despite some questionable trades in the leagues eyes, have on of the most potent lineups in the game. Their only downfall may be that they are playing in the East and their pitching.
Prediction: The Mets will walk away handily against Schilling, but expect the Dodger bros. in Weaver and Lowe to shut down the Mets and take the series' last 2 games.
vs.
Pedro Martinez vs. Randy Johnson
Barry Zito vs. Rodrigo Lopez
A.J. Burnett vs. Erik Bedard
Prediction: We're gonna go out on a limb here. Athletics take all 3 games to open the season based solely on pitching.
vs.
Unknown vs. Unknown
Unknown vs. Unknown
Unknown vs. Unknown
The Expos, or now the Nationals will open off the 2005 campaign against division foe Philadelphia.
Prediction : Phillies take 2 of 3 thanks to late game heroics by Abreu.
vs.
Roy Halladay vs. Joe Mays
Ted Lilly vs. Joaquin Benoit
Dave Bush vs. Casey Fossum
The Blue Jays were inactive for most of the off season, as were the D-Rays. But in a recent few days, a flurry of deals shook these two teams quite a bit.
Prediction: Halladay and Lilly take the first two games, but Bush drops sweep to Fossum.
vs.
Jake Peavy vs. Unknown
Woody Williams vs. Unknown
Prediction: Padres pitching takes the bats out of the Rockies Coors hands.
vs.
Johan Santana vs. Jamie Moyer
Javier Vasquez vs. Joel Pineiro
Jaret Wright vs. Gil Meche
The Twins may have the most potent all-around lineups in the game, and it was be tested against a stellar for in Seattle to open the season. Expect high offensive output by the Twins, and the Mariners may not be able to catch up.
Prediction: Twins take 2 of 3, with Pineiro showing signs of life in game 2.
vs.
Mark Prior vs. Matt Clement
Kerry Wood vs. Greg Maddux
Carlos Zambrano vs. Chris Young
Greg Maddix will return to action, but this time, against the Cubbies. The Big Three is still in tact, and this may prove some problems for the D-Backs without a noticeable big bat.
Prediction:Maddux comes back big against the Cubs, but that is the only high note with the Cubs winning 2 of 3.
vs.
Tim Hudson vs. Dontrelle Willis
Victor Zambrano vs. Kris Benson
Sidney Ponson vs. Daniel Cabrera
Two teams that changed quite a bit, the Braves and Marlins open up against one another. This series could be a glimpse of a battle between the two teams for the NL East, but know that the Braves have won quite a few in a row.
Prediction: Braves take first 2 games, but drop the third on Ponson's poor pitching and Cabrera's dynamite performance.
vs.
Odalis Perez vs. Jason Schmidt
Jason Johnson vs. Kurt Reuter
Kazuhisa Ishii vs. Noah Lowry
The Dodgers gave up 3 of their top pitchers from last year, but they held on to Perez and he should put up good numbers for the Dodgers. The Giants remained the Giants in the off-season.
Prediction: Dodgers win game one on Perez, but Bonds overpowers the Dodgers the rest of the way.
vs.
Chris Carpenter vs. Roy Oswalt
Matt Morris vs. Andy Pettite
A battle of NL Central foes, this series should be a flashforward to some heated games late in the season for central supremacy. Expect some good games here.
Prediction: Split this series in half. Oswalt takes down Carpenter, but Morris takes the bats out of the Astros hands.
vs.
Roger Clemens vs. Bartolo Colon
Josh Beckett vs. Kelvim Escobar
Kyle Davies vs. Jarrod Washburn
This series should be quite a battle. The Angels added some offseason punch in Jose Guillen and Adrian Beltre, while it seems every major leaguer had a stint in Texas before most likely returning to his old team. Texas' focus on youth may pay off in the future, but expect this season to be another painful experience.
Prediction: The Angels sweep the series on the bats of Vlad, Jose and Adrian.
vs
Unknown vs. Jeremy Bonderman
Unknown vs. Mike Maroth
Unknown vs. Mark Redman
The Detroit Tigers may find this season as a turn around and a potential postseason trip may just be in the cards. In order to do so, the Tigers need to beat down on weaker teams like the Royals. A slew of young gunners on the mound could make or break this team.
Prediction: Tigers play solid ball and take 2 from the Royals but can't win game 3.
John Smoltz vs. Unknown
Kenny Rogers vs. Unknown
David Wells vs. Unknown
The Boston Red Sox will travel to Yankee Stadium to being the 2005 season. The Red Sox and Yankees both exceeded the new Salary Cap implementation by Bud Selig at the start of the off-season, and both teams worked hard to get under the limit. The Red sox acheived their goal, while the Yankees did not in the end but were granted a leniency. This matchup may well determine who takes the AL East.
Prediction: Yankees take 2 of 3 to open the series, despite the play of Cabrera and Damon.
vs.
Ben Sheets vs. Oliver Perez
Doug Davis vs. Brad Penny
The Brewers really did nothing this off-season, in contrast to Pittsburgh, who was involved in a plethora of trades. The Pirates held onto a few core players in Bay and Perez, while adding Bradley and Posada, and they should provide the spark for the Pirates.
Prediction: Sheets outduels Perez in game one, but Penny comes up shining in the second match of this 2-game seriers.
vs.
C.C. Sabathia vs. Jon Garland
Jake Westbrook vs. Mark Buehrle
Kevin Millwood vs. Freddy Garcia
Another team invisible in the flurry of trades this off-season, the Indians match up against the White Sox to begin the season. The Sox added Garciaparra and Todd Walker to their crew, but it is unlikely they will have the effect that Tadahito Iguchi and Joe Crede had on this team. The White Sox have to win by pitching in this one.
Prediction: Indians take 2 of 3, with Buehrle the only winner for the Sox.
vs.
Rich Harden vs. Curt Schilling
Tony Armas Jr. vs. Jeff Weaver
Ryan Drese vs. Derek Lowe
Two teams who traded so much in the offseason that they are hardly distinguishable. The Reds added a lot of pitching while sacrificing some of their offense. The Mets, despite some questionable trades in the leagues eyes, have on of the most potent lineups in the game. Their only downfall may be that they are playing in the East and their pitching.
Prediction: The Mets will walk away handily against Schilling, but expect the Dodger bros. in Weaver and Lowe to shut down the Mets and take the series' last 2 games.
vs.
Pedro Martinez vs. Randy Johnson
Barry Zito vs. Rodrigo Lopez
A.J. Burnett vs. Erik Bedard
Prediction: We're gonna go out on a limb here. Athletics take all 3 games to open the season based solely on pitching.
vs.
Unknown vs. Unknown
Unknown vs. Unknown
Unknown vs. Unknown
The Expos, or now the Nationals will open off the 2005 campaign against division foe Philadelphia.
Prediction : Phillies take 2 of 3 thanks to late game heroics by Abreu.
vs.
Roy Halladay vs. Joe Mays
Ted Lilly vs. Joaquin Benoit
Dave Bush vs. Casey Fossum
The Blue Jays were inactive for most of the off season, as were the D-Rays. But in a recent few days, a flurry of deals shook these two teams quite a bit.
Prediction: Halladay and Lilly take the first two games, but Bush drops sweep to Fossum.
vs.
Jake Peavy vs. Unknown
Woody Williams vs. Unknown
Prediction: Padres pitching takes the bats out of the Rockies Coors hands.
vs.
Johan Santana vs. Jamie Moyer
Javier Vasquez vs. Joel Pineiro
Jaret Wright vs. Gil Meche
The Twins may have the most potent all-around lineups in the game, and it was be tested against a stellar for in Seattle to open the season. Expect high offensive output by the Twins, and the Mariners may not be able to catch up.
Prediction: Twins take 2 of 3, with Pineiro showing signs of life in game 2.
vs.
Mark Prior vs. Matt Clement
Kerry Wood vs. Greg Maddux
Carlos Zambrano vs. Chris Young
Greg Maddix will return to action, but this time, against the Cubbies. The Big Three is still in tact, and this may prove some problems for the D-Backs without a noticeable big bat.
Prediction:Maddux comes back big against the Cubs, but that is the only high note with the Cubs winning 2 of 3.
vs.
Tim Hudson vs. Dontrelle Willis
Victor Zambrano vs. Kris Benson
Sidney Ponson vs. Daniel Cabrera
Two teams that changed quite a bit, the Braves and Marlins open up against one another. This series could be a glimpse of a battle between the two teams for the NL East, but know that the Braves have won quite a few in a row.
Prediction: Braves take first 2 games, but drop the third on Ponson's poor pitching and Cabrera's dynamite performance.
vs.
Odalis Perez vs. Jason Schmidt
Jason Johnson vs. Kurt Reuter
Kazuhisa Ishii vs. Noah Lowry
The Dodgers gave up 3 of their top pitchers from last year, but they held on to Perez and he should put up good numbers for the Dodgers. The Giants remained the Giants in the off-season.
Prediction: Dodgers win game one on Perez, but Bonds overpowers the Dodgers the rest of the way.
vs.
Chris Carpenter vs. Roy Oswalt
Matt Morris vs. Andy Pettite
A battle of NL Central foes, this series should be a flashforward to some heated games late in the season for central supremacy. Expect some good games here.
Prediction: Split this series in half. Oswalt takes down Carpenter, but Morris takes the bats out of the Astros hands.
vs.
Roger Clemens vs. Bartolo Colon
Josh Beckett vs. Kelvim Escobar
Kyle Davies vs. Jarrod Washburn
This series should be quite a battle. The Angels added some offseason punch in Jose Guillen and Adrian Beltre, while it seems every major leaguer had a stint in Texas before most likely returning to his old team. Texas' focus on youth may pay off in the future, but expect this season to be another painful experience.
Prediction: The Angels sweep the series on the bats of Vlad, Jose and Adrian.
vs
Unknown vs. Jeremy Bonderman
Unknown vs. Mike Maroth
Unknown vs. Mark Redman
The Detroit Tigers may find this season as a turn around and a potential postseason trip may just be in the cards. In order to do so, the Tigers need to beat down on weaker teams like the Royals. A slew of young gunners on the mound could make or break this team.
Prediction: Tigers play solid ball and take 2 from the Royals but can't win game 3.