Surprise team of next year?

[YankeeNut18]

Well every year there is a team that has been horrid for a few years and then outta nowhere, they become good. See: Royals, '02 Angels, '03 Marlins. Who's going to be next year's surprise team?


IMO, it will be the Padres. They are poised to make some big moves this season. They still have a relatively young pitching staff, albeit they traded Oliver Perez. Although Brian Lawrence, Jake Peavy, Adam Eaton, and Kevin Jarvis. If you throw Boomer in the mix, they might be a team to reckon with...


They've already re-signed Hoffman to close. They have a young kid named Brandon Villafuerte who is going to be their future closer. Nevin will be back healthy, they picked up Long and Hernandez from Oakland, Mark Loretta coming off a great season and hopefully Burroughs will heat up...


I think the Pads will make a run at the wild card, but their staff is still sort of young and might not be able to handle the pressure down the stretch...

Jusy MHO.



Who's your picks?

[Rich]

Toronto

[deranged2005]

Toronto was good last year. I wouldn't be "suprised" if they stayed highly competitive all season.

My pick is the Brewers.

[-tz]

Texas ... if they can move their "most valuable player."

[NDBoston]

don't laugh

Detroit will be much better

[ACPS]

Padres.

[WiffleWOOD]

toronto. they were decent the first half, not so decent the second half.

look for a big improvement...

[Mr. Maddux]

I'm thinking either Toronto or San Diego.

Maybe I'm insane, but the Pirates could shock some people next year..

[ring403]

Toronto will definitely be improved. They aquired some decent pitching to go along with a pretty good offense.

[pacewon]

San Diego Padres

[WIZ]

Toronto.Tampa Bay and Baltimore will also improve.

[jojos_2]

Pods, Blue Jays.

[YanksForLife]

San Diego was the first team that came to mind when I read the title of the thread, but if we all expect them to be the suprise team will it really be a suprise?

[Bozidar]

New


York



Mets

[YankyDave]

Good one Boz, you kill me

[junkman73]

Gotta like Toronto, the offense is there, need some help in the pitching department. Losing Escobar might hurt.

[Me]

Boston. opposite of up!

[35Knucklecurve]

I expect the AL east to be more competitive, with Toronto and
Baltimore improving the most. Should be very interesting....
and nerve wracking.

[YankyDave]

So far, Baltimore hasn't gotten any better and may actually have gotten worse. If all they pull off is Vlad, then it's obvious Angelos has no intention of winning while he's fighting D.C. baseball.

[derekjeter916]

Padres and Blue Jays.

[NJOBP36]

Blue Jays. Scary that the Yankees are in the same division as two of the best GM's in baseball.

[kamikaze]

padres......

[BombersBlvd]

Originally posted by NJOBP36
Blue Jays. Scary that the Yankees are in the same division as two of the best GM's in baseball.

Excellent point.

[SI Baseballman]

I've got to see how the rest of the offseason plays out. I definately think the Mets can crack .500 if they stay healthy. They played their best baseball when they had Reyes, Piazza, Phillips and Floyd in the same lineup. Add Matsui to the top of that lineup and they have a strong chance at success.

As for the other surprise team, I look to your division - The Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

[bonzo36]

I'm gonna go with Tampa Bay too. I know their record would say otherwise. But I live in St. Pete and I watch most of their home games and they have tremendous talent just waiting to bust out. Plus they got Tino now.

[SI Baseballman]

That's why I said Tampa. I wouldn't be surprised if they spent the money and put Lopez or Pudge behind the plate.