When players (like Manny Ramirez) don't show up...what makes them still think they can win a championship?
96606
Three words. Schilling,Beckett,Clement. Pitching wins championships not Manny. The red sox will live or die on the health of those 3 starters.
1018460
Well, in the NL (and if he can recover from his recent injury) Albert Pujols is definitely the MVP favorite.  No one else even comes remotely close, except for maybe Derrek Lee of Chicago, but his broken wrist earlier this year really makes it difficult for him to put up MVP numbers.  One player to watch out for is Alfonso Soriano.  He's been putting up huge numbers for the Nats so far, despite his bad attitude in the offseason.\n\nIt's a tougher situation in the AL, where Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz probably lead the pack at this point, although cases could be made for Jim Thome, the rookie Joe Mauer in Minnesota, or the Jays' Troy Glaus.  I'll go out on a limb and take Glaus for the AL MVP.\n\nNow the World Series is an entirely different matter.  Just making it to the playoffs is hard, especially with all of the quality teams out there.  In the AL, I'd say that Oakland, the White Sox, and the Yankees will win their respective divisions with Toronto making it as a wild card.  I know all of the BoSox fans won't like it, but they'll be in the race down to the last week of the season.  I'm really hoping that Toronto comes out of nowhere to take the division crown because I get really sick of hearing about the New York-Boston rivalry, but I think the Yankees will turn up their game against the teams in their division.\n\nIn the NL, it's a little easier.  St. Louis hasn't exactly run off with their division, with the Reds right behind them, but they've got the depth to make it to the playoffs and probably the Series again, especially if they find a way to get rid of that no-talent hack Isringhausen.  Atlanta's sinking fast, but I find it difficult to think that the Mets won't roll over after the break.  And it's still a slugfest in the West, but the Dodgers have the offense and solid pitching to outlast everyone else.  So I'll take the Cards, the Dodgers, and (why not?) the Mets to win take their divisions with Houston riding the Rocket's arm to the wild card.\n\nAnd here's another gamble:  Toronto and St. Louis face off in the Series, with Pujols guiding the Cardinals to a hard-won victory in 6.
266837
Who knows.  They picked up a lot of young, solid players.  Potentially, these guys could come together and play great.  It's unlikely because the entire team is going to be so young, however, nobody expected them to be a serious contender in 2003... and they came together, played great, and won the series.\n\nAnything is possible in sports.
631495
Well, I hope so(I am a Mets fan, but live in Atlanta) but I don't think they are ready with the pitching staff they have now, but to make the playoffs they will have to win their division. The player who I hope will contribute the most is David Wright. But if they win I would let any of them be the main contributor.
452990
Minor league players are as good if not in some cases better than major league players. The problem is pressure. Many guys stay in the minors because everytime they are brought up, they freek out, can't handle it and do poorly. So when they are ready is the best answer. To be determined.
684522
Anything is possible. They have a shot. Another team to look out for is the White Sox, last years World Series champions (It's like hell as a Cubs fan plus White Sox fans are super annoying without winning the World Series. I have to route for my home town, none the less). They average as a team batting .300 . That has to account for something. The Tigers are up now, but I predict the Sox getting their record back up. The funny thing is that the White Sox always lose to the worse teams (Cubs, D-Rays, Blue Jays).
17138
If they're given enough time, eventually. It probably won't happen anytime in the extremely new future, but trades and talent can turn any franchise around. It's just that it's taking the Cubs longer than anyone to turn it around. Eventually, rest assured.
379438
Oh yeah... The Blue Jays have a solid young team and can pick up a few key pieces to the puzzle with the way free agency is set up. I could see them winning in a year or two. And we know it's possible, the Marlins won the World Series 6 years after they were even created. That right there should mean that it is feasible for any decent team to win it in 4.
137690
They will struggle in their division. They have the defending champs and two other teams over 80 games won last season. Pudge will have another season past his prime, but Magglio Ordonez will be a solid pick up. Their starting pitchers are questionable, but I like Kenny Rogers, Jeremy Bonderman, and Nate Robinson combining for over 30 of their(here comes my prediction)78 wins this season. And 84 losses.
1150053
C'mon. Can we tame the excitement just a hair. I like Alay too, I'm originally from Cuba. But the guy is 2-1 in 6 Starts. Please chill. Prince Fielder ( .298 BA 14 HR 40 RBI 35 R 5 SB) is out there in the NL. Hanley Ramirez (.262 BA 3 HR 20 RBI 53 R 20 SB). Ryan Zimmerman (.274 BA 10 HR 46 RBI 37 R 5 SB) Dan Uggla .313 BA 13 HR 43 RBI 49 R 4 SB). Plus they've all been starters on their teams since opening day. All or any of these guys are far more deserving of the NL Rookie of the Year.
391214
The Mets will be lucky to make it to the playoffs.  They always fade down the stretch.  If they advance it will be as the wild card and they will be one and done.  No World Series this year.
845268
What happened to them? They don't show up at their games. The Browns play to lose and are the joke of the NFL.I've watched a few of their games this season and they always find a way to lose even if they have a team beat.San Diego played horribly against them and still won.maybe they can beat Detroit or something, MAYBE.
244498
I think they will get into the playoffs, but by the wild card.  They have good new talent, but the team never really worked together, so they will not be too good at the beginning of the season, but will be great by the end to the season!  And I think that Brian Roberts will be able to play on opening day too!  I think that they will be able to beat the Red Sox, but probably not the Yankees with all their new talent :(:(:(:(:(:(!
521603
One player can't win an NBA championship.  The answer is zero.  Maybe if he joined a good team and became a team player for a change.
633807
Scott Proctor man. I just want to see Proctor gain some confidence and win over some of those intimidation presence Roger clemence has; maybe it ll help his pitching some. But it ll also be funny as hell if proctor all of sudden drills Ramirez just to get back at him for that homer yesterday or something. \nBut the better odds is leaning toward Big Unit; he is got to lose some command again this start, and he just might drill ramirez tonite.
547820
Child: "Mommy, CAN I go to the store?"\nMommy: "Child, I do not know weather or not you CAN,\n        But, you MAY not."\n\nSo, "Can the red sox, etc."\nWhy of course, they CAN - no team has yet been mathematically eliminated.\nBut, they WILL NOT.
496458
If your team isn't winning and your players aren't performing then you have to look at one of three things.  It's either the coach, the office or the players.  You can blame the coach if they are unproven or incompetent, but we all know Dusty Baker is neither of those things.  Dusty Baker has proven himself a winner year after year.  So, given that you have to put the blame on either the players if they aren't performing or the office if they aren't bringing in the people they need in order to build a contending team.  I think that where the Cubs are concerned, you have to evenly spread the blame between the players and the office.