My most surprise, disappointing teams [Archive]

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BroadwayBomber55

07-12-04, 10:35 AM

What's your surprise, disappointing, and bonehad teams so far in the first-half of the season?

Here's my picks:

Surprise teams (there's a boatload of them):

Atlanta Braves, NY Mets, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox

And my disappointments:

Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays were supposed to cut the gap between the Yanks and the Red Sox, but it has been a walking' wounded performance. Their offense is anemic (Carlos Delgado hittin' .233), the defense is terrible, the pitching staff is woeful (Roy Halladay is 7-6 with 4.03 ERA and the bullpen is awful).

Baltimore Orioles: Peter Angelos spent his money on hitting, but not on pitching. He decided to use an inexperienced starting rotation and running-out-of-gas Sidney Ponson for pitching. Good hitting + Bad Pitching = Last Place in AL East. Ouch! They also have a pathetic farm system.

Kansas City Royals: From surprise team in 2003, to another rebuilding year in 2004. No pitching, Carlos Beltran gone, just tough for manager Tony Pena.

Houston Astros: The Astros bought Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens and recently acquired Beltran, but what got them in a huge hole was their bullpen. They really missed Billy Wagner. Octavio Dotel was supposed to be the stopper and Brad Lidge as the solid set-up man, but the bullpen has been poor.

Seattle Mariners: Any mariner has been in a rough spot in 2004's first-half. Freddy Garcia gone to the South Side White Sox. The veteran nucleus has aged.

Those are my picks for disappointments and surprises in the 2004 first-half.

RIyankee

07-12-04, 11:14 AM

Originally posted by BroadwayBomber55

Houston Astros: The Astros bought Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens and recently acquired Beltran, but what got them in a huge hole was their bullpen. They really missed Billy Wagner. Octavio Dotel was supposed to be the stopper and Brad Lidge as the solid set-up man, but the bullpen has been poor.

There's a tear in my eye. :evil:

Mattpat11

07-12-04, 11:18 AM

The poor Asstros.

RhodeyYankee2638

07-12-04, 11:19 AM

Mine is the Devil Rays. I love those guys (not when we are playing them of course). They are a young, fiery ballclub, and they are finally putting together some hitting and pitching to pull out wins. Once they get more pitching, they will be dangerous

RIyankee

07-12-04, 11:49 AM

I'm disappointed in the Yankees. I expect 173-0 (including playoffs). :D

Dooley Womack

07-12-04, 12:35 PM

Astros. I hope poor Andy and Roger are finally getting some needed relief and relaxation away from all that playoff pressure those poor guys had to endure each year with the Yanks.

BruceCampbellKG7

07-12-04, 01:08 PM

Yeah, Seattle and Houston have to be the biggest stinkers this year so far. 500 baseball for Houston? With that staff and lineup that's rediculous. Seattle? They just stink.

Woodshed42

07-12-04, 01:13 PM

Overachievers:
Brewers
Braves
Cardinals

Underachievers
Royals
Blue Jays
Astros

Few thoughts...Bobby Cox is an amazing manager. The fact that the Braves are in contention, for the 13th straight year, speaks volumes.

Yankees Empire

07-12-04, 01:20 PM

I wouldn't consider the Royals too much of a disappointment. They played way over their heads during the first part of last year and played more to their true level of talent as the year progressed.

With no significant additions, I think most observers thought they would struggle in 2004, and they have.

Yankees Empire

07-12-04, 01:21 PM

Originally posted by Woodshed42
Few thoughts...Bobby Cox is an amazing manager. The fact that the Braves are in contention, for the 13th straight year, speaks volumes.

It also speaks to the fact that the NL East is really mediocre and that nobody in that division has played really well.

wabio

07-12-04, 02:02 PM

Seattle. There shouldn't even be an argument.

WakefieldsCrewSox

07-12-04, 02:04 PM

Agreed that Seattle is the biggest disappointment.

I am also extremely disappointed in Boston. For all intensive purposes they should have finished with a better record over the first half, but they seemingly found new ways to lose games (re: ERRORS AND UNEARNED RUNS). I can't be too upset because all things considered and taking into account injuries, if the season ended today we would still make the playoffs. However, I look forward to a much more consistent and successful second half.

YankyDave

07-12-04, 02:14 PM

Originally posted by Yankees Empire

It also speaks to the fact that the NL East is really mediocre and that nobody in that division has played really well.

Enough people aren't mentioning that. All they comment on is how well the Mets and Braves are doing even though they'd be double digits out in the AL East.

caroline331

07-12-04, 02:49 PM

Originally posted by Yankees Empire
I wouldn't consider the Royals too much of a disappointment. They played way over their heads during the first part of last year and played more to their true level of talent as the year progressed.

With no significant additions, I think most observers thought they would struggle in 2004, and they have.

I think the lack of pitching really hurt KC. They signed Brian Anderson to be a #1 starter, and he's really hurting the team now.

.

Josey Wales

07-12-04, 04:58 PM

The biggest overachieving team in MLB this year has been the Texas Rangers.

I'm sorry, most of the people who post on this website along with just about every single person in the national media thought the Rangers were major candidates to lose 100+ games this year after losing A-Rod.

The Rangers are still flying under the radar in anonymity which is just fine with all the fans down here because the Rangers are using that disrespect as fuel for their fire.

Mr. Maddux

07-12-04, 06:17 PM

Originally posted by YankyDave

Enough people aren't mentioning that. All they comment on is how well the Mets and Braves are doing even though they'd be double digits out in the AL East.

True. But, not every divison has a strong, dominating team in it, like the AL East. I certainly didn't expect NYM to play that well this year, no matter how bad the division is.

WebsterMulligan

07-12-04, 06:55 PM

NL: Houston Astros
AL: Baltimore Orioles

BoSox37

07-12-04, 10:40 PM

The Cardinals have really surprised me in the NL Central. I thought for sure that it would come down to the Cubbies or Astros, but St. Louis is running away with it. The Padres are also a surprise. Although the NL West is weak, I still did not expect them to be in contention.

NJASDJDH

07-12-04, 10:54 PM

Originally posted by wabio
Seattle. There shouldn't even be an argument.

Especially since if you go back to some of the offseason threads you will see that I predicted this. Thank you very much. (Pats self on back).

chanman7483

07-12-04, 11:02 PM

Originally posted by wabio
Seattle. There shouldn't even be an argument.

Why is that? They're old, slow, and have no pitching. We knew this going into the year - - pitchers have figured out Ichiro and he just can't make the adjustment.

stevethesoxfan

07-12-04, 11:13 PM

Originally posted by WakefieldsCrewSox
Agreed that Seattle is the biggest disappointment.

I am also extremely disappointed in Boston. For all intensive purposes they should have finished with a better record over the first half, but they seemingly found new ways to lose games (re: ERRORS AND UNEARNED RUNS). I can't be too upset because all things considered and taking into account injuries, if the season ended today we would still make the playoffs. However, I look forward to a much more consistent and successful second half.

I agree about the Sox. Given their major injuries, I thought they would be struggling a little. On the plus side they are 6-4 against NY and just swept Oakland. Butttttt they have played crappy against teams they should have beaten more easily. Obviously you will lose some of those games but they have blown more than they should have.

Given that they are in great position for at least a wild card slot, I am very upbeat about the 2nd half. I would be disappointed if they didn't play at least .600 ball the rest of the way, and they are certainly capable of finishing with 95-100 wins if they warm up.

BroadwayBomber55

07-13-04, 01:17 AM

Originally posted by Yankees Empire

It also speaks to the fact that the NL East is really mediocre and that nobody in that division has played really well.

Also, the NL East Divisional Crown is wide open.

stevethesoxfan

07-13-04, 01:28 AM

Originally posted by Yankees Empire

It also speaks to the fact that the NL East is really mediocre and that nobody in that division has played really well.

But it is still amazing that the Braves are still competing. Some writer online called them the Zombies of Baseball this week -- you can't kill them off no matter what you try.

flymick24

07-13-04, 01:51 AM

#7forever

07-13-04, 10:27 AM

Most surprising teams would have to be Tampa Bay and Texas.
Most disappointing teams are
ChiCubs, Houston and Baltimore.

WakefieldsCrewSox

07-13-04, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by flymick24

don't mean to nitpick, but the phrase is "for all intents and purposes."

sorry, just a personal pet peeve

:lol: Thanks for the correction. One of those things that I'd probably have kept on using incorrectly otherwise.

Yankees Empire

07-13-04, 10:47 AM

Originally posted by stevethesoxfan

But it is still amazing that the Braves are still competing. Some writer online called them the Zombies of Baseball this week -- you can't kill them off no matter what you try.

Agreed. You look at the Braves roster and you think "So what?" and yet, they are right there again.

Still, they're right there again because in the N.L. East this year, .500 ball puts you in contention. Most years that's not the case.

NJASDJDH

07-13-04, 10:50 AM

Originally posted by #7forever
Most surprising teams would have to be Tampa Bay and Texas.
Most disappointing teams are
ChiCubs, Houston and Baltimore.

The Cubs have been hurt, not disappointing, and Baltimore should have never been expected to compete.

LoveDaStros

07-13-04, 10:54 AM

Originally posted by Dooley Womack
Astros. I hope poor Andy and Roger are finally getting some needed relief and relaxation away from all that playoff pressure those poor guys had to endure each year with the Yanks.

Now that was funny. :lol:

caroline331

07-13-04, 12:23 PM

Originally posted by #7forever
Most surprising teams would have to be Tampa Bay and Texas.
Most disappointing teams are
ChiCubs, Houston and Baltimore.

About Baltimore. Everyone expected them to compete because of their FA acquisitions of Lopez, Palmiero, Tejada. They were advertising those 3 all over the city when I was down there in APril.

My prediction for them going into ST was that they would become the Texas Rangers of the AL East...... all offense no pitching.

How does that prediction look now?