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Rock Climbing Shoes
Special shoes for rock climbing differ from mountaineering and hiking boots in many important aspects. Many types and styles of rock climbing shoes are available and are listed below with their features.
Rock Climbing Shoes for Sale
Natural Foot Deodorant and Shoe Deodorizer Spray for Athletes. Fights Odor and Stink on Feet and in Shoes Caused By Bacteria. Better Than Messy Powders, Antiperspirants, Insoles and Inserts. Spray Directly on Feet or in All Types of Shoes, Running Sneakers, Rock Climbing, Tennis and Sports Shoes. Made in the U.S.A. of Natural Ingredients by Rocket Pure. ((Packaging May Vary As We Switch To a New Recyclable Bottle))
Price: $16.99 !!Buy at Amazon.com
Rocket Pure Natural Mint Foot Deodorant Spray and Shoe Deodorizer • Use: Foot deodorant fights foot odor and deodorizes shoes. Freshens feet, and all types of sports shoes and sneakers. Helps eliminate bad odors caused by sweat and bacteria. • Directions: Shake well. We use natural ingredients...
Mad Monkey 2.0 Climbing Shoe - Kids
Price: $38.95 !!Buy at CampSaver.com
The Mad Rock Mad Monkey 2.0 is an upgrade of Mad Rock's ever popular Mad Monkey with two rear closure straps for even more adjustability. Mad Rock's new dual closure system prevents straps from scratching delicate ankles when cinching down for a tighter fit. Constructed with their stretch SynFlex...
Mad Rock Mad Monkey 2.0 Rock Shoes - Kids'
Price: $39.00 !!Buy at REI.com
Introduce your kids to the sport of rock climbing with the comfortable Mad Rock Mad Monkey 2.0 rock shoes.
Mad Rock Kids' Mad Monkey Climbing Shoe
Price: $39.95 !!Buy at Amazon.com
Inspired from cartoons, clowns, and cotton candy we have discovered the formula for the crag-hungry kid. The Mad Monkey has been engineered to match a junior climber's need for comfort, performance, and adjustability. With a gracious sized hook and loop opening and adjustable heel, this shoe has...
Evolv Venga Kid's Climbing Shoes
Price: $44.95 !!Buy at Amazon.com
The Venga unisex kids shoe sports a modern look and comfortable fit and a size adjusting heel strap for growing kids. FEATURES: Heel strap allows adjustment of one full size for growing into the shoe. Breathable mesh tongue and perforated upper to keep cool.
Venga Kid's Climbing Shoe
Price: $44.95 !!Buy at CampSaver.com
The Venga unisex kids shoe sports a modern look and comfortable fit and a size adjusting heel strap for growing kids.
Evolv Geshido Climbing Shoe
Price: $134.95 !!Buy at Backcountry.com
Perform at a higher level, and at a higher elevation, in the Evolv Geshido Climbing Shoe. A performance-oriented design manifests itself in the forms of a leather upper and super sticky Trax XT-5 high-friction rubber for intimidating adhering power. A molded midsole reduces deadspace underfoot for more...
Evolv Royale Climbing Shoe
Buy at Backcountry.com
Sale Price: $62.26
Whether you're cranking your first lead or looking for an all-day shoe for multi-pitch routes, the Evolv Royale Climbing Shoe gives you a super-comfortable fit without breaking the bank. The unlined leather upper stretches slightly over time to mold to your foot, and the double toe rand withstands...
Evolv Talon G2 Climbing Shoe
Price: $124.95 !!Buy at Backcountry.com
For the edge you need to send that problem, lace up the Evolv Talon G2. When you're white-knuckling a sliver of crimper, the highly adhesive TRAX XT-5 high friction rubber adheres to the rock while the aggressive toe and edge profile allows you to tiny-toe even the smallest nubs of foothold. When...
Bandit SC Climbing Shoe - Men's
Price: $129.95 !!Buy at CampSaver.com
The Bandit SC is a versatile medium stiff shoe with a chiseled toe box that offers responsive edging for all types of climbing. The combination of a non-stretch synthetic upper and comfortable microfiber lining make it a favorite for bouldering and sport climbing in comfort. The Bandit SC sports a convenient...
La Sportiva Tarantulace Climbing Shoe
Price: $80.00 !!Buy at Amazon.com
All around performer perfect for the climber looking for one shoe to do it all The TarantuLace is an unlined leather climbing shoe with asymmetric shape for advanced performance. The RN45 shoe shape is great for upper end performance without hurting your toes. The synthetic leather overlay lacing harness...
La Sportiva Tarantula Climbing Shoe - Men's
Price: $87.95 !!Buy at Amazon.com
Excellent all around hook and loop closure entry-level shoe that excels at gym climbing, cragging and is slightly more aggressive than the traditional beginner shoe This comfortable shoe is easy to use and easy to get on and off in a flash. The unlined upper is excellent for moisture management and super...
Royale Climbing Shoe
Price: $88.95 !!Buy at CampSaver.com
The Evolv Royale is a fantastic shoe to introduce an aspiring climber to any discipline of the sport. Super stiff for all day climbing support and rounded toe box with a leather lining for comfort.
Evolv Women's Elektra VTR Climbing Shoe
Price: $88.95 !!Buy at Amazon.com
The Elektra® VTR is the top selling women's climbing shoe in the USA. It offers an amazing combination of comfort, performance, and value. This shoe is ideal for beginners and intermediate climbers and performs exceptionally well in both the gym and on the rock.
Evolv Men's Defy Vtr Climbing Shoe
Price: $88.95 !!Buy at Amazon.com
Whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned pro, the Evolv Defy VTR rock climbing shoes give your feet the comfort and performance needed to master most styles of climbing. Product Features: Toe rands of varying thicknesses to enhance durability in high-wear zones, such as the front of the toe,...
LA SPORTIVA Nago Climbing Shoes
Price: $99.00 !!Buy at Eastern Mountain Sports
No excuses for not sticking it, the Vibram rubber and great fit of the Italian-made La Sportiva Nago will keep your feet on the edge as long as you can hold. Comfortable too, you can wear them all day, or until you solve that boulder problem.
La Sportiva Nago Rock Shoes - Men's
Price: $99.00 !!Buy at REI.com
Go from the climbing gym to the crag with the all-around La Sportiva Nago rock shoes.
Evolv Shaman Climbing Shoe
Buy at Backcountry.com
Sale Price: $104.96
Evolv's mad scientists melted down lightning bolts, kryptonite, pure attitude, and locks of Chris Sharma's hair to create the mold for the Shaman Climbing Shoe. At a top secret unveiling, several people were carried away on stretchers after fainting at the sight of the Shaman's revolutionary...
LA SPORTIVA Mythos Climbing Shoes
Price: $140.00 !!Buy at Eastern Mountain Sports
Whether in cracks or on slabs, the long-lasting La Sportiva Mythos Climbing Shoes are a fine, all-around choice for intermediate to expert-level climbers.
La Sportiva Mythos Rock Shoes
Price: $140.00 !!Buy at REI.com
One of the most popular climbing shoes around, the venerable La Sportiva Mythos rock shoes are adored by both beginners and pros.
LA SPORTIVA Miura Climbing Shoes
Price: $160.00 !!Buy at Eastern Mountain Sports
La Sportiva's Miura Climbing Shoe is for climbers who demand the highest level of small foothold performance. Excels at hard rock climbing, power edging, pockets, Yosemite granite... everything.
LA SPORTIVA Miura VS Climbing Shoes
Price: $170.00 !!Buy at Eastern Mountain Sports
For climbers that demand the highest level of small foothold performance from their climbing footwear. The La Sportiva Miura VS climbing shoes excel at hard rock climbing, power edging, pockets, Yosemite granite... and everything in between.
La Sportiva TC Pro Rock Shoes
Price: $180.00 !!Buy at REI.com
Designed for edging and crack climbing, the La Sportiva TC Pro rock shoes get you through sections of smearing on dime edges and jamming your feet in finger cracks.
CLIMB X Redpoint Climbing Shoe with FREE Climbing DVD ($30 Value)
Click for price.Buy at Amazon.com
The Redpoint is an award-winning, best-selling design for a reason: it does the job, and it does it very well. It's a perfect blend of comfort, durability, value and high performance. A great all-around climbing shoe for beginners and seasoned climbers alike. FREE Climbing DVD included!
Mad Rock Men's Flash 2.0 Climbing Shoe
Click for price.Buy at Amazon.com
Mad Rock's iconic Flash has finally gotten a total redesign. The Flash's blend of comfort, durability, and performance has lead to its embrace by multitude of climbers. Over the years, the flash has been the subject of raving reviews and has won many accolades. So what could possibly make it...
Climb X Icon Climbing Shoe with FREE Climbing DVD ($30 Value)
Click for price.Buy at Amazon.com
The Climb X Icon climbing shoe is the perfect all around shoe for bouldering, gym, sport, and multi-pitch climbing. The synthetic fabric allows for a comfortable low-stretch fit while the hemp footbed helps keep odors down. The Icon features a neoprene tongue for breathability and comfort. Size up for...
Breakdown and explanation of the sections of the rock climbing shoe
There are different features that would make a style or brand better suited for the different forms of rock found in mountaineering, and the different types of climbing.
1. Rubber. All rock climbing shoes have sticky rubber on the sole and rand. The qualities of rubber vary. The difference in rubber characteristics is minor. Hard rubber will perform better for edging and small ledges. Soft sticky rubber performs better on face climbs.
Climbing Gear
Bouldering Gear
Ice Gear


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Results tagged ' Giants '
How the Major Offseason Pickups Did On Opening Day
Opening Day is the most exciting day of the year as far as baseball fans are concerned. With it comes lofty expectations, of both individual players and teams, as well as predictions for how every team will fare. But the best part of Opening Day is that, being the first game of the year, it gives every team — no matter how good or bad they may turn out to be — the opportunity to have a great deal of optimism for the coming season.
While the hopes and dreams of certain teams and fans alike will dwindle as a given season goes on, game one of the long season provides fans their first look at the key pickups their team made during the offseason, with the hopes that the moves they made will lead them to a World Series title. Whether it be by a trade or a free agent signing, each and every team always does something in the offseason to attempt to improve their team for the following year.
With that in mind, I thought I'd go over how the major (non-pitching) offseason additions performed in their first game with their new team, and give my thoughts on each player. While not every name is listed, pretty much all of the major players are:
Jose Abreu: 2-4, with an RBI single
Yet another predicted future phenom to make his way over from Cuba, Jose Abreu impressed many people throughout Spring Training, and he continued to do so on Opening Day. Going 2-4, with one of his two hits scoring a run, Abreu didn't show off the power in his first big league game, however, the natural pop he has in his bat was evident. With the White Sox being somewhat of a question mark for the coming season, Abreu, if nothing else, will go a long way in bringing attention to the team.
Marlon Byrd: 2-6, with a solo homer
Part of a long list of player who've tested positive for performance enhancing drugs over the years, with his suspension coming in 2012 , Marlon Byrd is coming off a breakout season spent between the Mets and Pirates last year, and is looking to prove that he can continue to be that type of player moving forward. Hitting a career high 24 home runs last season, Byrd is well on his way to reaching the lofty total yet again, going 2-6 with a home run in his first game in a Phillies uniform since 2005.
Jhonny Peralta: 0-4
Moving from the Tigers to the Cardinals this past offseason, Jhonny Peralta can be an impact player on any club. Despite a performance enhancing drug suspension last season, Peralta was signed by the Cards to man the shortstop position for the coming season, and while he went hitless in his first game of the year (he looked solid defensively), many are looking for Peralta to have a great season. With an already fantastic team from top to bottom, Peralta could find himself apart of a very special season.
Nelson Cruz: 1-2, with a solo homer
Yet another player who served a suspension last season due to performance enhancing drug use, Nelson Cruz is a major power threat, nonetheless, and was a great pickup by the Orioles. He proved that threat first hand on Opening Day, blasting a solo home run in one of his two official at-bats of the game. With a lineup of several power sources already — Adam Jones, Chris Davis, and Manny Machado, once he returns — Cruz combines together to make for a very formidable Orioles lineup.
Michael Morse: 1-3, with a strikeout
Though he isn't the best power hitter in baseball, Michael Morse has the potential to go on hot streaks in which he can rack up a good amount of home runs in no time. Bouncing around between teams over the past few seasons, Morse wound up with the Giants this past offseason, and is sure to be a key part of their lineup moving forward. Going 1-3 on Opening Day, Morse is part of a very good Giants team, and if he can perform to his potential throughout the year, they could do very well.
Grady Sizemore: 2-4, with a solo homer
One of the best stories of the year, Grady Sizemore joined the Red Sox in January, after not having played in a major league game since 2011 due to a multitude of injuries. He was subsequently put up against promising prospect Jackie Bradley Jr. during Spring Training, having to prove himself worthy of the Opening Day center field spot. Sizemore wound up having a fantastic Spring, winning the job, and had a great return game in Baltimore, going 2-4, including a towering home run to right field.
Prince Fielder: 1-5
Part of a trade between the Tigers and Rangers, which sent Prince Fielder to the Rangers in return for Ian Kinsler, the Rangers definitely have a much better lineup than they did last season. While Fielder went just 1-5 on Opening Day, on a mere single, he possesses one of the biggest power bats in all of baseball. He should get things going and come close to, if not exceeding, his previous averages of over 30 homers and 100 RBI's a season. For the Rangers to beat out the Athletics in the division, they need Fielder to get hot.
Shin-Soo Choo: 0-4
Known for getting on base better than pretty much anyone all of last season, putting together a .423 on base percentage, the Rangers signed Shin-Soo Choo to a major deal this offseason, looking for him to continue to be the same type of player. But he didn't start his year off all that well, going 0-4 in game one, though he did reach first on a walk. Despite his poor debut with the Rangers, Choo should be fine. He's not going to hit you a ton of home runs, but if he can get on base, the rest of the lineup will take care of the runs.
Ian Kinsler: 0-4
The piece that the Tigers got in return for sending Prince Fielder to the Rangers, Ian Kinsler can contribute both offensively and defensively. Though the Tigers lost a major run producer in Fielder, and they will undoubtedly miss his presence throughout the long season (with Miguel Cabrera having to carry the Tigers more than ever), Kinsler, although he went hitless in his first game in a Tigers uniform, should make an impact for the Tigers, who are predicted by many to run away with the division.
Mark Trumbo: 3-5, with two RBI's
Coming over to the Diamondbacks from the Angels this offseason, Mark Trumbo can launch a baseball like very few others can. With that power threat comes a major impact player, as Trumbo played a big role in the Angles lineup and will undoubtedly be a big piece of the D-backs' lineup. Going 3-5, with a pair of RBI's, in his first game of the season, Trumbo certainly didn't disappoint in what could turn out to be a big year for him if he can get everything going from here on out.
Curtis Granderson: 0-5, with three strikeouts
Moving across town this past offseason, Curtis Granderson surprised many when he exchanged his Yankees pinstripes for those of the Mets. But although Granderson is supposed to be one of the top power threats in the Mets lineup — hitting over fourty home runs in both the 2011 and 2012 seasons — he disappointed in his Opening Day start. Striking out three times in a hitless five at-bats, Granderson certainly didn't show much of anything, but he should still get up around the thirty homer range when all is said and done.
Robinson Cano: 2-4
The top free agent of the offseason, many felt that Robinson Cano would remain a New York Yankee for the entire length of his career. But instead, Cano signed a mega deal with the Mariners keeping him in Seattle for the next ten seasons. In his first game with his new club, Cano went 2-4, including a double late in the game. Though many people are predicting a fall in Cano's power numbers, with him playing home games at Safeco Field, Cano proved that his consistency will likely remain.
David Freese: 0-4, with two strikeouts
With the loss of David Freese to the Angels in exchange for Peter Bourjos, the Cardinals are a slightly weaker team than they were last year. However, Matt Carpenter, previously their second baseman, took over Freese's spot at the hot corner, and is expected to do a great job. On the Angles end of the trade, they picked up what should be a decent upgrade at third. Freese didn't do much in his Angels debut, going hitless in four at-bats, but he looked good defensively, and his bat will surely come around to give the Angels a great overall lineup.
Justin Morneau: 1-4, with a strikeout
Having been moved from the Twins to the Pirates in the second half of last season, Justin Morneau found himself joining the Colorado Rockies this offseason, giving them some much needed pop in their lineup. While Morneau can be an impact player, the Rockies simply don't have a good enough team to put together all that great of a season. Therefore, even though Morneau went a mere 1-4 in his Rockies debut, he should continue to be consistent, with the Rockies' poor performance as a whole staying consistent as well.
National League Predicitions for 2014
For the third season in a row, I'm making predictions (you should too) as to how I feel each Major League Baseball team will fare throughout the coming season. Although I haven't come close yet to predicting the exact finishing order of each division (I picked the Red Sox to finish last in 2013 and they won the World Series), it's a new year, and with it comes a new chance to luck out and get everything right.
I posted my predictions for the American League a few days ago, and today I'm going to give my predictions for the National League (along with my reasoning), starting with the National League East:
1. Braves
2. Nationals
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Mets
I predicted that the Braves would win their division last season, but I didn't see them doing so in such massive fashion. This season, I have them finishing first again, but not by nearly as much. They lost their All-Star catcher, Brian McCann, but top prospect, Christian Bethancourt, should do a good job of filling that role once he arrives at some point this season. Admittedly, they have several players — Dan Uggla, B.J. Upton, etc. — who need to bounce back this year, but having finished so high in 2013 even with those players doing poorly, if those players can be healthy, the Braves should be really good; with Andrelton Simmons and Freddie Freeman being better than ever. Their bullpen, topped of by one of the best closers in the game, Craig Kimbrel, is good, as is their starting pitching, with Mike Minor and Julio Teheran. Everything put together, they should win the NL east.
The Nationals are the only team in the division that I see as having a legitimate shot at beating out the Braves for the division title, but I just don't think it will happen. Despite the addition of Doug Fister this past offseason to an already fantastic starting rotation of Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez and Jordan Zimmermann, making their pitching staff one of the best in the division, to go along with a good bullpen, their overall lineup isn't really that great. The Nationals have a good leadoff hitter in Denard Span, as well as showstoppers Bryce Harper and Ryan Zimmerman, who are predicted to have great seasons, but I simply don't feel they will be consistent enough as a whole to get the job done night after night. If their offense can produce on a regular basis, they could, potentially, win the NL East, but I still have them coming in second.
As far as the Phillies go, they'll be a much better team than they were last season, but I just can't envision them beating out the Nationals or the Braves for either the first or second spot. Although they should have Ryan Howard back to his old self, after a couple of injury plagued seasons, as well as their All-Star second baseman, Chase Utley, those players alone won't get the job done. They lost Roy Halladay to retirement, and that will definitely impact their starting rotation depth, however, the pickup of A.J. Burnett will do a good job of filling that hole in the starting staff. The Phillies are a relatively old team, with a lot of veterans, but they also have some young talent that will help them out this season. If young stars Ben Revere, Darin Ruf and Cody Asche can have good seasons, the Phillies should be competitive again this year, coming up just short of the postseason.
The Marlins are another team that will be better this season than the previous year, however, they aren't even close to having all the pieces they need to make a run at the top of the NL East division. They have a fantastic pitching ace, Jose Fernandez, a great power hitting slugger, Giancarlo Stanton, as well as an underrated closer, Steve Cishek, but their team doesn't really extend beyond that. The acquisition of Jarrod Saltalamacchia from the Red Sox will be an improvement for them behind the plate, but the Marlins didn't do much more than that to improve their team this offseason. Their future lies with all of the young talent they currently have at the big league level — Christian Yelich, Jake Marisnick, etc. — and the talent they have on the way over the course of the next few seasons from the minor leagues. Until then, the Marlins will have to settle for fourth.
Despite the few good winning streaks that the Mets had last season, I expect them to fall back down a bit in 2014. One of the biggest reasons for their success in 2013 was Matt Harvey, who they'll be without for the entire season. Although they have a decent starting rotation regardless, in Zach Wheeler, Dillon Gee, Jon Niese and Bartolo Colon, who they picked up from the Athletics this offseason, it still won't be enough to finish any better than last, in my opinion. By far, their biggest addition of the winter was Curtis Granderson from the Yankees, as he should provide the Mets with some much needed power. Combined with the always consistent David Wright, Chris Young and Eric Young Jr., the Mets could very well go on some runs again this season. But with a lot of their players being question marks for how they'll perform, last place will be where the Mets wind up.
1. Cardinals
2. Reds
3. Pirates
4. Brewers
5. Cubs
After making it to the World Series in 2013, losing to the Red Sox, I look for the Cardinals to have another fantastic season, winning the NL Central division for the second straight year. They have a great rotation of Adam Wainwright, Michael Wacha, and Shelby Miller, among others, as well as a power throwing closer, Trevor Rosenthal. The Cardinals' lineup is just as excellent, ranging from a great defensive and hitting catcher, Yadier Molina, who's a great leader of their pitching staff, to an infield of Matt Adams, Kolten Wong, and newly signed Jhonny Peralta. Although they lost their above average third baseman, David Freese, Matt Carpenter should do a great job in his place, as he had a breakout season last year. Keeping with the theme, the Cards also have a great outfield which contributes both with their bats and their gloves. There are truly no weak spot for the entire team.
Competition for the second place spot in the division will be between the Reds and the Pirates, but I think the Reds will have the overall better team and will be able to overtake the Pirates. They have a great lineup of Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier, among many others, with the speedy Billy Hamilton being their biggest make or break piece this season. With the loss of Shin-Soo Choo, the Reds need Hamilton to produce from the leadoff spot. He can be a major difference maker in a ballgame, but there's still concern with how often he'll be able to get on base. As far as their pitching goes, it's arguably the second best rotation after the Cardinals in the entire division. With Homer Bailey, Johnny Cueto and Tony Cingrani, to go along with a strong bullpen and missle throwing closer, Aroldis Chapman, the Reds should have a really good team.
Making the playoffs for the first time in 20 years, the Pirates brought a ton of attention to themselves last season. And therefore, I'm sure many people are placing them better than third, but I can't bring myself to. Both the Reds and Cardinals have a better starting rotation, though the Pirates still have a good one, with Gerrit Cole, Jeff Locke, and Francisco Liriano, who broke out last season. Their bullpen is more of the same, being good but not great, although they did have some good relief appearances in 2013. What it will come down to is how well the Pirates' offense does, and how consistent each player on the team will be. As always, it's a given that Andrew McCutchen will be fantastic, as will Pedro Alvarez. But Neil Walker, Russell Martin and Starling Marte will each have to have a breakout year for the Pirates to place any better than where I have them.
The Brewers are an interesting club, as they had a playoff contending team just a few years ago, but now don't really have all that many star players remaining. Ryan Braun is by far their best player, and coming of a PED suspension to end last season, you have to figure he'll produce a great season again, having something to prove to many people around the baseball world. Besides Braun, the Brewers have veteran Aramis Ramirez, who can be somewhat of an impact player, as well as Jean Segura and Carlos Gomez, who both had breakout seasons in 2013. But the Brewers' pitching isn't all that great, with Yovani Gallardo needing to have a good year, as well as Matt Garza and their entire bullpen being average at best. Meaning, despite any record breaking runs or major breakout seasons, the Brewers are destined to finish next to last, at best.
As with the Astros of the American League, the Cubs are a team that's accustomed to bad seasons, not having won a World Series title in 106 years. The Cubs have an average pitching staff, with Travis Wood, Jeff Samardzija and Edwin Jackson being the strong points. For their lineup, Anthony Rizzo is their best player, with Starling Castro, Brett Jackson and Michael Olt all having star potential, but they need to prove their abilities in the coming season. With a last place season likely on the way, all the Cubs can do is look down the road, when they have numerous prospects coming that will have a major impact on their team. Kris Bryant, who has absurd power, Albert Almora, C.J. Edwards and Jorge Soler will all be arriving to the big leagues over the next few seasons, and once they arrive, the Cubs could begin making some noise in the division.
1. Dodgers
2. Diamondbacks
3. Giants
4. Padres
5. Rockies
The Dodgers have a team similar to the one the Tigers have in the American League. If they don't win their division, then something went horribly wrong. With one of the best starting rotations in all of baseball, made up of a 1-2-3 of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Dodgers should be a lot better than any other team in their division. Their great pitching continues into the bullpen, where they have some great relief options, including the always entertaining Brian Wilson as their closer. When it comes to the Dodgers' lineup, it's also one of the best. With a great defensive infield of Juan Uribe, Hanley Ramirez, Dee Gordon and Adrian Gonzalez, combined with a great defensive outfield of Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig, with Matt Kemp coming along at some point later in the season, the Dodgers have no weak spots on their team.
After making a lot of key moves this offseason, the Diamondbacks look to be a very good team heading into the season; possibly being the only team that could, potentially, put some pressure on the Dodgers. They picked up a veteran starting pitcher, Bronson Arroyo, to add to their already good rotation of Patrick Corbin, Trevor Cahill, etc., with the possibility that Archie Bradley plays some sort of role this season. With a decent bullpen to go along with their rotation, including newly acquired closer, Addison Russell, who will be an impact player, the D-backs have their pitching in pretty good shape. And their lineup isn't all that bad either. Although they're not terribly strong at some positions, they have their All-Star first baseman, Paul Goldschmidt, who is sure to post stellar numbers, as well as new pickup, Mark Trumbo. The D-backs should have a decent season.
While the Giants likely won't place any better than third, with teams such as the Dodgers and Diamondbacks in the division, they should still be a really good team regardless. They have the best starting rotation in the division behind the Dodgers, with players such as Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, newcomer Tommy Hanson, and Tim Lincecum, who needs to turn things around this year after a couple of poor seasons. Their bullpen, however, isn't all that fantastic, with their closer, Sergio Romo, being the only standout. But they have a fairly good lineup, especially with the pickup of Michael Morse, who will provide them some power. Their catcher, Buster Posey, will be amazing as usual, and with an infield of Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt, among others, the Giants have a shot at taking on the D-backs if they struggle. But I see them having a middle of the pack finish.
The Padres went on a good run last season, and I feel they will have a fairly decent run this year, but it won't be enough to get them very far in the standings. Though the pickup of Josh Johnson will help out their starting rotation a bit, adding him to an already decent rotation that includes Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy, as well as a good closer in Huston Street, it won't be quite good enough to overcome the lack of run support the Padres hitters will be providing on a consistent basis. Playing in one of the worst hitters ballparks in all of baseball, the Padres always seem to have a tough time scoring runs, despite the big dimensions aiding their pitchers. The Padres have some decent players, such as Chase Headley, Jed Gyorko and Yonder Alonso, who will certainly contribute their fair share, but it won't be enough to place any better than fourth.
As with a lot of teams throughout baseball, the Rockies did several great things this offseason to improve their ball club, but they'll still likely finish in last place, yet again. They have a couple of pitchers, in Rex Brothers and Juan Nicasio, who broke out in 2013, but there's no guarantee that they can repeat that success, and the remainder of their pitching isn't too good. That includes the Rockies' bullpen, where there aren't a lot of bright spots to speak of. But their lineup isn't all that terrible. They have a great power hitting catcher in Wilin Rosario, a decent outfield with standout Carlos Gonzalez, as well as an all around great infield of Nolan Arenado, Troy Tulowitzki and Justin Morneau, who are all great both offensively and defensively. All of that will make the Rockies a team worth watching, but with pretty much no pitching, the Rockies will find themselves at the bottom.
Leave a comment below with whether or not you agree with my predictions.
Home Run Milestones that Should Occur In 2014
Below you'll find a list of the home run milestones that *should* occur in 2014. I say should because there's no guarantee that any given player on the list will reach the milestone; they could get injured, have a bad season, or whatever. I've made the same type of list the past two seasons, and they have been well-received, so I figured I'd post another one for this season.
You can't be a pitcher. Although there are some pitchers that can hit home runs, you won't find any on my list. Reason being is that they're not everyday players.
You have to have hit at least one home run in the major leagues. There are several dozen players going into 2014 that haven't hit an MLB home run, but adding them to the below list just didn't make sense.
You have to be closing in on an even milestone, like 100, 200, 300, etc. I didn't include anyone that's a few homers away from number 50, 75, 125, etc. It just didn't seem necessary.
The list is organized by player name, team, milestone they're going for, and how many home runs they are from that particular milestone:
2014 Home Run Milestones
Ryan Doumit, Braves — Home Run Number 100 (1 home run away)
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox — Home Run Number 100 (1 home run away)
Colby Rasmus, Blue Jays — Home Run Number 100 (2 home runs away)
Mark Trumbo, Diamondbacks — Home Run Number 100 (5 home runs away)
Brian Roberts, Yankees — Home Run Number 100 (8 home runs away)
Geovany Soto, Rangers — Home Run Number 100 (9 home runs away)
Pablo Sandoval, Giants — Home Run Number 100 (10 home runs away)
Yadier Molina, Cardinals — Home Run Number 100 (11 home runs away)
Matt Wieters, Orioles — Home Run Number 100 (13 home runs away)
Pedro Alvarez, Pirates — Home Run Number 100 (14 home runs away)
James Loney, Rays — Home Run Number 100 (14 home runs away)
David Murphy, Indians — Home Run Number 100 (14 home runs away)
Jimmy Rollins, Phillies — Home Run Number 200 (1 home run away)
Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays — Home Run Number 200 (5 home runs away)
Josh Hamilton, Angels — Home Run Number 200 (18 home runs away)
Josh Willingham, Twins — Home Run Number 200 (19 home runs away)
Ryan Zimmerman, Nationals — Home Run Number 200 (21 home runs away)
Hanley Ramirez, Dodgers — Home Run Number 200 (22 home runs away)
Brian McCann, Yankees — Home Run Number 200 (24 home runs away)
Prince Fielder, Rangers — Home Run Number 300 (15 home runs away)
Adrian Beltre, Rangers — Home Run Number 400 (24 home runs away)
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers — Home Run Number 400 (35 home runs away)
Albert Pujols, Angels –Home Run Number 500 (8 home runs away)
Ten Players Who Need to Have A Good 2014 Season
Spring Training is well underway, and many players are beginning to find their grooves that they hope will carry over into the coming regular season. With just over three weeks until Opening Day, on March 31st, there's not too much time remaining for players who struggled last season to get things back on track for this year. With that said, some players certainly need to have a good year more than others.
While every player, obviously, wants to have a good, healthy season, there are numerous players who pretty much have to produce a good 2014 for one reason or another — whether it's personal reasons, statistical reasons, or for team success as a whole. Although there are more players than those in my list below, here are the top ten players (in no particular order) that I feel need to have a really good 2014 season:
1.) Albert Pujols
After recording twelve straight seasons of 30 or more home runs (all but one of which included 100+ RBI's) Albert Pujols faced the first bit of adversity of his career in 2013. Dealing with a nagging foot injury, Pujols only managed to post 17 home runs and 64 RBI's, along with a .258 batting average — absolutely terrible by his standards — in 99 games played. With the down year coming as a shock to many people, especially after the acquisition of him led many to predict playoff pushes for the Angels, there will be many eyes on Pujols from his very first at-bat of the season to see if he can bounce back. I personally feel that if Pujols is healthy, the numbers will be there, and he will be a top candidate for American League comeback player of the year, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.
2.) Ryan Braun
In January of 2013, a list was made public by the biogenesis clinic in Miami, Florida, connecting numerous players to performance enhancing drugs, including Ryan Braun. After being connected to PED's back in 2011, the list raised many red flags, but Braun denied any drug use, yet again. But finally, after a 65-game suspension by Major League Baseball, Braun came clean and admitted to having used PED's, upsetting many people around the league. Therefore, unlike anyone else on my list, Braun (who had a good season, batting .298 with 9 homers and 38 RBI's in 61 games) needs to have a good 2014 more for his personal image rather than his talent level image. Everyone knows he's a great player, but it will take some time for fans to get over Braun's consistent denial of PED use — and a great season would certainly help with that.
3.) Ryan Howard
Battling injuries over the course of the past two seasons, Ryan Howard needs to have a bounce back year for him to once again be considered the major power threat that he once was. Playing in only 80 games in 2013, Howard batted a mere .266 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI's. Considering the fact that Howard hit 33 home runs just two years prior, making it the sixth 30+ home run season of his career, the Phillies' former star first baseman really needs to show signs of his former self this season. If Howard can perform anywhere near his previous level by staying healthy and putting many a ball into the outfield seats, not only could he very well win the 2014 National League comeback player of the year award, but the Phillies could have a real shot at having a memorable year.
4.) Derek Jeter
Announcing that 2014 would be his final season playing Major League Baseball last month, Derek Jeter needs to have a good final season to top off an already incredible career. In 2013, Jeter struggled with injury after injury, managing to play in only 17 games, and posting a .190 batting average, to go along with a single homer and 7 runs batted in. After accumulating over 3,300 hits in the big leagues over the course of his career, Jeter doesn't need to have a good final season to be remembered as one of the best players of all-time — he's already on that list for many people — but rather to finish out his career in Jeter fashion, going out on top of his game. I truly hope he can have a great 2014 season, and I feel he will do just that.
When David Price won the 2012 American League Cy Young award, recording 20 wins and posting a 2.56 ERA, many (myself included) felt he had a good chance at doing the same again last season. But instead, Price was faced with a midseason injury that caused his numbers to take a tumble. Posting a win-loss record of 10-8 with a 3.33 ERA — not too terrible, but somewhat disappointing for him — Price needs to bounce back in 2014 for both his sake and the sake of the Rays. Price truly can be the key for the Rays, who always seem to be on the brink of playoff baseball every season. With an improved American League East division for the coming year, Price's season could be the difference maker for if the Rays are able to make the postseason or not.
6.) B.J. Upton
Arguably the biggest disappointment of the 2013 season, batting .184 with just 9 home runs and 26 RBI's after a 2012 season of 28 homers and 78 runs driven in, B.J. Upton has to have a good season this year for him not to be considered a trade bust by the Braves. The Braves managed to win their division last season by a rather large margin without much production from Upton, and if they can get Upton back to his former self, the Braves could have an even better year. It will be interesting to see how B.J. Upton does in the coming year with so much negative criticism surrounding him from the 2013 season. If he can have another good season, the down year he experience will be a forgotten aspect of the past.
7.) Stephen Strasburg
There are some players that are tagged with a major amount of hype from their first appearance in the big leagues, and Stephen Strasburg is one of them. While he hasn't disappointed for the most part, going 8-9 with a 3.00 ERA last season, Strasburg also hasn't managed to blow everyone away and completely dominate like many believe he can. It's been reported that Strasburg has added a new pitch to his arsenal and is throwing better than ever, and that could mean good things for both him and the Nationals. If Strasburg can find a way to tally even ten more wins than he did this past year, the Nat's could find themselves in the running for the National League East division title, assuming everything else goes right for the rest of the team.
Having the potential to be an All-Star third baseman season after season, Mike Moustakas has yet to post an exceptional season at the major league level. Batting only .233, with 12 homers and 42 RBI's last season, Moustakas needs to have a good season this year for him to be seen as the above average player he can be moving forward. The Royals still have several holes in their lineup, but Moustakas performing well each year would go a long way in helping them move back into contention. He's still fairly young, at just 25 years old, and therefore has time left to live out his former hype, but Moustakas could use a strong statistical season to prove to many that he's one of the top third baseman in the game of baseball today.
9.) Matt Kemp
Although he's still not fully healthy, Matt Kemp is already on the radar of many people who think he will have a good 2014 season. The only question mark being his health, playing in only 73 games last year. If healthy, as with many players on this list, the numbers will be there, as Kemp is one of the premier talents in the game today, possessing 40 home run, 40 stolen base ability (coming one home run shy of doing just that in 2011, when he placed second in MVP voting). Although there is great depth in the Dodgers' current outfield, which includes players such as Carl Crawford, Andre Ethier and Yasiel Puig, if Kemp can show signs that he's healthy, he will certainly get plenty of playing time in the coming season. He's too good of a player to count out.
10.) Tim Lincecum
Once a Cy Young caliber pitcher, having won back-to-back awards in 2008 and 2009, Tim Lincecum has really fallen off as of late. Each of the past two seasons, Lincecum has posted an ERA over 4.00, and in addition had losing records. While the win-loss record isn't the most important thing when evaluating a pitcher's season, an ERA anywhere above 3.50 usually means they had a disappointing year. But with the talent that Lincecum has shown in the past, I'm not giving up on a turnaround just yet. He just really needs to have a good 2014 season — perhaps more than most of the players on this list — for him to become 'The Freak' pitcher he once was considered. I truly hope he can, because when Lincecum is on, he's one of the most fun pitchers to watch in all of baseball.
There are a few players who need to have a good 2014 season who just barely missed my above list because their stats were slightly too good. One of those being Josh Hamilton, who was a major disappointment after signing with the Angles, but when you check the stats, he actually had a decent year, hitting 21 home runs and driving in 79 runs. Another example of that being Yoenis Cespedes, who had a down year average wise, hitting just .240, but posted 26 homers and 80 RBI's. Not too bad of a season for most players.
Joining those two on the list of just misses are Giancarlo Stanton, who was injured in 2013 but still managed to hit 24 home runs and amass 62 RBI's, along with Dan Uggla, whose .179 batting included 22 homers and 55 RBI's, which really isn't all that terrible. While all the players listed under the just missed category had down seasons by their standards, they managed to have somewhat decent years as far as the major league average goes. Even so, they could each use a good 2014 season to prove what they're capable of.
Which player needs to have a good 2014 season the most? Leave a comment below.
2014 Final MLB Standings Predictions
We're quickly approaching the opening-series of the 2014 Major League Baseball season, down in Australia on March 22nd, and so begins the predictions of where each team will finish in the coming year. Most of the time there's a team or two that comes along and completely throws off your predictions, but that's what makes it fun.
I'm going to be doing a separate couple of blog posts on my predictions for how I feel each team will fare this season sometime in the next week or two, but for now, I want to hear what you all think. Cast your vote below for which team you feel is most likely to win each division in 2014:
Voting ends on March 22nd.
Baseball Returns With Spring Training Action
Although Spring Training baseball isn't as meaningful as the regular season, and despite the fact that most of the stars on the team are removed by the fifth inning, this time of year is exciting, nonetheless, for baseball fans all around the country.
The first regular season games of the year aren't set to take place for another few weeks, with the opening-series being played in Australia on March 22nd, but even so, today marked the first official professional baseball games of the year.
And therefore, things are finally starting to get going again.
The Phillies, Blue Jays, Pirates, Yankees, Tigers, Braves, Dodgers, D-backs, Athletics, Giants, Reds and Indians all saw action on Wednesday, with the remaining teams playing their first games of the year against another big league organization over the course of the next two days. While things are still fairly early, several players are already looking promising.
One of the biggest question marks for the 2014 season, after a couple of injured years, is Ryan Howard. Once one of the games biggest power threats, Howard hasn't been himself as of late. But out of the gate so far this spring, including practice games, Howard looks healthy and like he's seeing the ball really well.
Jose Bautista is another player who has had injuries hurt his stats each of the past two seasons but is looking good to bounce back this year. In his first at-bat of Wednesday's game, Bautista crushed a ball completely out of the ballpark off the Phillies' Roberto Hernandez. If the Blue Jays have Bautista going, he could help lead them higher up in the rankings than they finished last year.
As far as teams go, the Athletics look as though they could pick up where they left off in 2013, once their season begins on March 31st. They did extremely well against the Giants in their first matchup of the year, and with the additions they made in the offseason, they should really make some noise in the talented American League West.
It's far too early to say for sure whether or not these trends will continue, with there still a being ton of baseball left to be played before things begin to count towards the standings. But, as stated earlier, things are looking promising for an exciting 2014 season.
New MLB Rule Attempts to Rid Home Plate Collisions
You've seen it a hundred times: A player rounds third, heading for home; a strong throw from the outfield beats him to the plate; and the runner finds himself confronted with a catcher blocking his path, leaving him with no other choice but to plow over the catcher in hopes of dislodging the ball and subsequently being called safe. But due to a new rule (rule 7.13) instituted by Major League Baseball on Monday, you may never see that again.
An agreement to form some kind of rule to prevent home plate collisions was formed back in December at the Winter Meetings, however, it wasn't until Monday that an official rule was released highlighting what will be allowed and what will not in 2014 (and beyond if the rule is successful).
The official rule is as follows:
A runner attempting to score may not deviate from his direct pathway to the plate in order to initiate contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate). If, in the judgment of the umpire, a runner attempting to score initiates contact with the catcher (or other player covering home plate) in such a manner, the umpire shall declare the runner out (even if the player covering home plate loses possession of the ball). In such circumstances, the umpire shall call the ball dead, and all other base runners shall return to the last base touched at the time of the collision.
Rule 7.13 comment: The failure by the runner to make an effort to touch the plate, the runner's lowering of the shoulder, or the runner's pushing through with his hands, elbows or arms, would support a determination that the runner deviated from the pathway in order to initiate contact with the catcher in violation of Rule 7.13. If the runner slides into the plate in an appropriate manner, he shall not be adjudged to have violated Rule 7.13. A slide shall be deemed appropriate, in the case of a feet first slide, if the runner's buttocks and legs should hit the ground before contact with the catcher. In the case of a head first slide, a runner shall be deemed to have slid appropriately if his body should hit the ground before contact with the catcher.
Unless the catcher is in possession of the ball, the catcher cannot block the pathway of the runner as he is attempting to score. If, in the judgment of the umpire, the catcher without possession of the ball blocks the pathway of the runner, the umpire shall call or signal the runner safe. Notwithstanding the above, it shall not be considered a violation of this Rule 7.13 if the catcher blocks the pathway of the runner in order to field a throw, and the umpire determines that the catcher could not have fielded the ball without blocking the pathway of the runner and that contact with the runner was unavoidable.
While the rule will take some time to get used to, for both the players and the umpires, for the most part, it's being accepted around the baseball world. Nearly everyone agrees that the major injury to Buster Posey back in 2011 likely began the discussion for a rule of this nature to be put into place, and Posey's manager, Bruce Bochy, has been one of the biggest advocators. Not wanting to lose a player of Posey's magnitude in such a way again, Bochy made the statement in response to the new rule that he's "all for it".
However, some people aren't completely on board, including Brewers' catcher, Jonathan Lucroy, saying, "I'm a conservative-type guy. I like keeping things the way they are, although I do understand where they're coming from . . . I understand the importance of [avoiding] concussions. I get it. It's just really hard to break old habits."
But the executive director of the MLB Players' Association, Tony Clark, stands by the new rule. "We believe the new experimental rule allows for the play at the plate to retain its place as one of the most exciting plays in the game while providing an increased level of protection to both the runner and the catcher," said Clark on Monday. "We will monitor the rule closely this season before discussing with the Commissioner's Office whether the rule should become permanent."
For me, I'm not fully for or against the rule. Collision plays at the plate can be extremely exciting, especially when it's the potential game winning run, but I also don't like seeing anyone get injured on an avoidable play. Although I feel that catchers have done a fantastic job in the last few years of making an attempt to move out of the base runners path and instead use a swipe tag for the out, this new rule will go a long way in ensuring that a rogue player with an altercation to settle doesn't get away with going out of their way to knock over a catcher. I'm certainly all for that.
Maddux, Glavine & Thomas Elected to Hall of Fame
For the first time since 1971, there will be six living Hall of Fame inductees enshrined in Cooperstown on July 27th, in this the 75th anniversary of the museum. It was announced on Wednesday that Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and Frank Thomas would be joining Bobby Cox, Tony La Russa and Joe Torre, who were elected in December, as part of the 2014 Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class.
Maddux, Glavine and Thomas — the first player elected to have played the majority of their games as a designated hitter — all received above 80 percent of the vote, and each were elected on their first time on the ballot. This marks the first time since 1999 that three first-ballot nominees (Nolan Ryan, George Brett and Robin Yount) were elected, and just the second time in history.
Maddux saw the most votes, earning 97.2 percent of the 571 voters' approval, making him the eighth highest vote getter in Hall of Fame voting history, behind Tony Gwynn (97.61), Hank Aaron (97.83), George Brett (98.19), Ty Cobb (98.23), Cal Ripken Jr.(98.53), Nolan Ryan (98.79) and Tom Seaver (98.84).
All three players were extremely deserving, no doubt about it, but many people feel that a couple of players who were just as "deserving" didn't get enough recognition.
None more so than Craig Biggio, who received 74.8 percent of the vote, falling a mere two votes shy of the 75 percent necessary for induction. Biggio becomes the third player to miss getting in by two or fewer votes, joining Pie Traynor and Nellie Fox, who both eventually made it into the Hall of Fame.
Mike Piazza is another player that didn't earn enough of the vote to be elected, but could've easily been elected in. Piazza's percentage, as with Biggio, was likely hurt by the great amount of talent on this year's ballot, but it's still surprising to me that he didn't come a bit closer.
Nonetheless, both Biggio and Piazza will likely be voted in next year.
Players who may not ever be elected, however, include Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, who all saw drops in percentages from last year, and are all linked in one way or another to performance enhancing drugs (PED's). Clemens was the top vote getter of them all, but received just 35.4 percent of the vote, down from 37.6 percent in 2013 — no where near the percentage needed. Rafael Palmeiro, who is also associated to PED's, didn't even receive the necessary 5 percent to remain on the ballot for next year, getting just 4.4 percent.
Palmeiro is one of 16 players from this year who will not be on the ballot for next year. Those players include the likes of Eric Gagne and Kenny Rogers, among others, who were good players but not good enough for the Hall of Fame. Jack Morris will also not be returning next year, as although he received 61.5 percent of the vote, this was his 15th and final year of eligibility.
Looking forward to the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, John Smoltz, Gary Sheffield and Nomar Garciaparra will all be making their first appearance, and that could make it tough for really good players such as Mike Mussina and Jeff Kent, who received 20.3 percent and 15.2 percent of the vote this year, respectively, to make much progress. Only time will tell how the voters decide.
But one thing is for sure: Next year's Hall of Fame class has the potential to be even more exciting than this one. And that's truly saying a lot after the memorable class of 2014.
My Vote for National League Cy Young
As I stated in my American League Cy Young post, each season there are usually several pitchers from each league that have incredible seasons, making it difficult to choose between them for who most deserves the Cy Young award. This year, however, it really wasn't all that close. Matt Harvey, Madison Bumgarner, Zack Greinke, Jose Fernandez and Clayton Kershaw all had great years, but only one of them truly stood above the rest. Regardless, I'll take the time to go over all of the top candidates anyway.
Matt Harvey was a having a Cy Young year until he was shut down in August, due to an arm injuy — an injury that's resulting in Harvey having to undergo Tommy John surgery this offseason. Regardless of him getting inured, and therefore not receiving the stats necessary to win the award, going 9-5 with a 2.27 ERA, along with getting the start for the NL in the All-Star game, Harvey had a great year.
Madison Bumgarner went 13-9 on the year, with a 2.77 ERA and an opponent batting average of just .203. Still fairly young, Bumgarner is sure to be near the front of the Giants' rotation for many years to come. Although he didn't post good enough stats for the Cy Young this season, Bumgarner will likely win one or two at some point during his career.
Zack Greinke had a dominant year for the Dodgers this season — a big part of their successful year. Posting a record of 15-4 with a 2.63 ERA, Greinke is easily one of the top candidates for NL Cy Young. But a mid-season injury that cost him a few starts worth of stats will be enough to keep him from receiving the award, in my opinion.
Jose Fernandez had one of the best rookie seasons for a pitcher in MLB history, going 12-6 with a 2.19 ERA — 9-0 with a 1.19 ERA in home starts — and a .182 batting average against. At just 21 years old, Fernandez is going to be a great player for an extremely long time, and will undoubtedly start an All-Star game or two, in addition to picking up a few Cy Young awards along the way in his career. It just won't be this season.
The only pitcher that remains is Clayton Kershaw, who is my vote for the National League Cy Young award.
Clayton Kershaw's 16-9 and MLB-leading 1.83 ERA doesn't do justice to the season he had. Everytime Kershaw was on the mound the Dodgers liked their chances, and the majority of the time their confidence held true, as Kershaw dominated all year long. Kershaw may not pick up a World Series ring this season — the Dodgers are currently down 2-0 to the Cardinals in the NLCS — but he's likely to pick up the National League Cy Young award.
National League Predictions for 2013
Last year was the first time I ever made actual predictions as to how the MLB standings would look at the end of the regular season. To say I did poorly would be an understatement, but this is a new year, and with it comes a new shot at getting the predictions right. So I'm up for the challenge once again.
Unlike 2012, when I posted both my American League and National League predictions in the same blog entry, this year I'm doing separate posts for each league. I did my American League predictions on Thursday (if you'd like to check them out, CLICK HERE), so today, as the title states, I'm giving my 2013 National League standings predictions, starting with the NL East:
1. Braves
2. Nationals
3. Phillies
4. Marlins
5. Mets
With all of the offseason additions, including both Justin Upton and B.J. Upton, the Braves have a really good chance to win their division, in the minds of many baseball fans, myself included. Their starting rotation is somewhat of a question mark, being good, but not great, however, I think the lineup they currently possess will be more than enough to get the job done. This will be the first season in more than a decade in which Chipper Jones isn't in the dugout, but I think it's going to be an exciting year for Braves fans nonetheless.
The Nationals had a breakout season last year, bringing playoff baseball back to Washington D.C. for the first time since 1933, and all signs point to them having another great season. The only reason I have them finishing behind the Braves is that their lineup isn't quite as lethal, although their pitching staff can compete with nearly any team in baseball. Stephen Strasburg isn't going to be on an innings limit, as he was last season, and the loss of that stress should allow for him to thrive. I fully see the Nat's making the playoffs yet again in 2013.
For the Phillies, I'm still yet to be convinced that they're going to do much of anything this year. Unlike last year, the Phillies should have a healthy Ryan Howard for the entire season, who will undoubtedly improve their lineup, but with Roy Halladay struggling a bit in spring training–given it's just spring training–and the remainder of the rotation being merely decent, I can't see them finishing any higher than third; being that the Braves and Nationals are in the division. But the Phillies certainly have the potential to prove me wrong.
Adding tons of big name players to their roster in the offseason of 2011, everyone thought it would help the Marlins win a few more games than they did the previous year. But things didn't go as planned for the Marlins, as they finished 2012 with even fewer wins than in 2011, and in a questionable move, decided to redo nearly the entire team during this past offseason. With the loss of so many players, combined with the way the remainder of the team–with the exception of Giancarlo Stanton–played last season, they aren't predicted to do much in the coming year.
The only team I'm predicting to do worse than the Marlins are the Mets. Although they resigned their superstar third baseman, David Wright, for the next seven years, they traded away their 2012 Cy Young award winner, in R.A. Dickey. While that move alone isn't going to be the make or break point for the Mets, I don't see them winning an awful lot of games this year. I do, however, like their chances down the road, as some of their key prospects are knocking on the door. As soon as next season, I can see the Mets making some noise in the NL East.
1. Reds
2. Cardinals
3. Pirates
4. Brewers
5. Cubs
After an extremely successful 2012 season, in which the Reds finished first in their division on 97 games won, there's no reason they shouldn't be able to have an equally impressive, if not slightly better, 2013. They have the same basic roster, which includes one of the best closers in all of baseball, however, the one major difference is a healthy Joey Votto, which is why I see the Reds having an even better season this year. If they acquire the speedy Billy Hamilton, who stole 155 bases in the minors last year, towards the end of the season, I could see them going very deep into the playoffs, as well.
The Cardinals are a team that's good enough to give the Reds a run for their money, but I'm not predicting for them to win the division. The Card's have an extremely good pitching staff, when it comes to both starters and the bullpen–though their stellar closer, Jason Motte, is expected to begin the year on the disabled list–,however, their lineup isn't quite as good as the Reds. It's certainly going to be fun to watch to see how it all plays out, but regardless, I don't see them being good enough to earn even the second wild card spot, as I feel the Nat's and Giants are going to have better seasons.
This is going to finally be the year for the Pirates, in my mind. They started off incredibly last season, with their All-Star, Andrew McCutchen, leading the way with a batting average in the high .300's, however, when McCutchen began to struggle following the midsummer classic, the rest of the team followed suit. If the entire team can rally together and play to their full potential, for the entire season, while I don't see them making the playoffs, I could easily see them finishing with a winning record for the first time since 1992.
If it wasn't for Ryan Braun, the Brewers arguably wouldn't have won nearly as many games last season, which is why I feel they're bound to flip spots with the Pirates in the coming year. Their pitching staff isn't what you would expect out of an above .500 ball club, but it gets the job done, nonetheless. Even so, their lineup is missing a few key components–some of which just aren't there, and some players that are injured–for the Brewers to have any sort of a chance at a playoff run, as far as I can foresee.
All signs point to the Cubs' streak of 104 seasons without a World Series title continuing yet another season, with there not being much chance for a successful season in 2013. They have some good, young prospects working their way up the ranks, but until they make it to Wrigley field, a few years down the road, all the Cubs can do is make it through another subpar 162 game season.
1. Dodgers
2. Giants
3. Padres
4. Diamondbacks
5. Rockies
It's pretty much going to be either the Dodgers or Giants winning the NL West division, and if the Dodgers can play to their fullest potential, I have a good feeling they're going to win their division. They have one of the best rotations in all of baseball, which includes former Cy Young winner, Clayton Kershaw, along with Zack Greinke and newcomer Hyun-Jin Ryu, from Korea, and that, combined with one of the best lineups in baseball, should be enough to prevail them past the 2012 World Champion Giants, in the NL West division.
With the Dodgers winning the division, I have the Giants coming in a close second. Coming off their second World Series title in three years, the Giants are one of those teams that doesn't have an incredible team, but make the very most of what they have. Last season, Tim Lincecum really struggled to find his groove, posting a career worse 5.18 ERA, but I see Lincecum having a bounce-back 2013 season. While a healthy Lincecum will help keep the Giants in the running for the division title, I still predict them coming up just short.
The Padres made some noise towards the end of last season, and I look for them to play more of the same type of intensity baseball for the entire 2013 season. They don't get a lot of recognition, just because of who they are, not having made the playoffs since 2006, but that doesn't mean they couldn't possibly be the shockers of the 2013 season. While I don't see them finishing higher than third, with the Dodgers and Giants in the division, I'm predicting they're going to be a lot better than most people are expecting.
Having finished with a record of 81-81, exactly .500, in 2012, I don't see the Diamondbacks improving at all in the coming season, especially with the offseason trade of Justin Upton to the Braves, as well as promising young pitching prospect, Trevor Bauer, to the Indians. By losing a couple of players who would've likely made a noticeable impact for the D-back's in the coming season, I see them finishing next to last in the division. Both their pitching staff and lineup are decent, but I just can't bring myself to place them any higher in the standings for my predictions.
Playing in one of the best hitters ballparks in all of baseball, with the high altitude, doesn't help out the Rockies when their pitching rotation is one of the weakest in all of baseball. Although they'll have their star short stop, Troy Tulowitzki, back healthy–Tulowitzki only played in 47 games last year–along with veteran, Todd Helton, the Rockies' lineup isn't nearly strong enough to overcome their below average pithing staff. Therefore, I'm predicting a second straight last place season, in the NL West division, for the Rockies.
Leave a comment below with whether or not you agree with my predictions.

subset: commoncrawl


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Large tiles. Master Bathroom Shower contemporary bathroom
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His and her's master bathroom vanity with double sinks and ample storage
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Love this classy transparent method of storage. Especially the bar soap! I'm doing this in my upstairs guest bathroom. Hobby Lobby always has their glass ware on sale!
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This a great way to display a chandelier. It has become very popular to use this type of lighting in a master room and bath setting. It not only provides great lighting, but it can turn an otherwise dull room into a showpiece.
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2014.11.19 Success of The Sweetest Coton
On International show in Poland ( Kielce ) Enigma the sweetest Coton win Best Junior and also Best Of Breed. On this show this cute girl finish Junior champion of Poland. BIG CONGRATULATION
On International show in Romania. Charlie The Sweetest Coton win in two days BOB and also Cacib.
The youngest of The Sweetest Coton are also on show. And we are very proud from FUCHSIA The Sweetest Coton and her winning BEST PUPPY.
Thank you to all the owners of The Sweetest Coton puppies for beautiful presentation in the ring
2014.10.26 EDS Brno
European Dog Show in BRNO (Czech Republic)
It is next to the World Dog very prestigious exhibition takes place only once a year, each time in a different country.
For this exhibition we went with our five cotons and our kennel was represented by two other females.
It should be noted that the rates for such exhibitions are very strong and large
The results were great here are the results
ESPRIT The Sweetest Coton - the junior class excellent lok 2
ELEKTRA The Sweetest Coton - junior class lok 3 (owner Beata and Tomek)
Fuschia The Sweetest Coton - puppy class -Very promising lok 1 (owner Eli)
Bellezza Bianco The Sweetest Coton - intermediate class, excellent lok 2
Deluxe The Sweetest Coton - intermediate class, excellent lok 3
Darling The Sweetest Coton White pearl of Madagascar - champion class, excellent - lok 2
Cotonbrie CavalliJust Cavalli - champion class, excellent lok3
Thank you Beata and Tom and Eli for coming to the exhibition and the beautiful results CONGRATULATIONS
I invite you to photos from show
2014.10.18 & 19 CACIB Poznań
International dog show in Poznań it was a great moment for our Kennel
First day
ESPRIT The Sweetest Coton - CAJC, Najlepszy Junior
Bellezza Bianco The Sweetest Coton - CAC i res.CACIB
Second day was a title POLISH WINNER also this day was amaze for us
ESPRIT The Sweetest Coton - CAJC, BEST JUNIOR, JUNIOR POLAND WINNER and finish JUNIR CHAMPION OF POLAND
ENIGMA The Sweetest Coton ( owner Beata i Tomek) -CAJC, JUNIOR POLAND WINNER
BELLEZZA BIANCO The Sweetest Coton - CAC,CACIB i BOB. POLAND WINNER
This is so great show where we guest friends from France and Germany
enjoy a photos from both day
2014.10.07.Wrocław - International dog show
At the CACIB-show our kennel was represented by ENIGMA The Sweetest Coton.
For the first time shown in the junior class in big style won and not only young class but also Best of Breed (BOB) Congratulations to owners Beata and Tomek, bravo for great care !!!
2014.09.21 Bytom & Roma ( Italy)
what a great weekend it was !!!!
I'm so thankful and happy from all result of my dogs in the world ! Thank you owner for great care and so great showing of my dogs !!!!!
This weekend was also great for my own dogs
Its a big day for me and Sandra we decide to go alone ( without daddy ) for the first time to show in Bytom
And Sandra for the first time get her own dog to show- it was Esprit. How they do ???? AMAZING !!!! Sandra get BOB with Esprit !!! She was so so happy and me was so proud from my little girl !
We also take a part in show competition "baby and dog" she was so happy on the ring and Esprit also ( later I will add Video from this )
So result from this show :
Esprit The Sweetest Coton in junior class Best Junior and BOB ( all with Sandra) and later me get BOG3 !!!!!
Elektra The Sweetest Coton CAJC and BOS
on this show we also meet puppy from our kennel
Forsythia The Sweetest Coton Very Promising puppy and Best PUPPY !!!
In ROMA ( Italy)
Fuchsia The Sweetest Coton showed in double show Club and International show was BEST PUPPY !!! BIG congratulation to owner THANK YOU !!!
2014.09.07 CAC Radom
On the Sunday show in Radom presented our youngest and oldest cotons.
The youngest in the junior class Elektra was the second of the evaluation excelent.
Crazy girl Deluxe The Sweetest Coton in the intermediate class: exc. CAC, Best Female and BOS
And in the classroom Veterans our oldest Coton Elvis (aka Skubi) which received excellent, Best Veteran and Best Of Breed !!!(BOB)
Special congratulations to my beloved daughter who bravely helped me at the show and presented DELUXE compared with a race :)
BEST Veteran and BOB - Elvis
On Sunday at the Hippodrome in Sopot was International dog show.
The exhibition we went with three our Cotons
The oldest ELVIS (in the house known as Skubi) - this is our first Coton one of the most successful coton in Europe - it is now a veteran and the first time after a long break he took part in exhibitions. He won Best Veteran and BOS
The exhibition for the first time we show our youngest female ELEKTRA The Sweetest Coton. In spite of great stress presented beautifully and won EXC1, CAJC and then compared with junior dog she win - Best Junior
Most of the day enthused judge DELUXE The Sweetest Coton our little female shown in open class to beat their opponents won EXC 1, CAC and CACIB. Then, in comparison with our other dogs won BOB (Best of Breed ) It was a day full of success.
The Sweetest Coton with judge Jose Juan Vidal Montero (E)
2014.08.18 DOUBLE CACIB Show Bratislava
16-17.08 went to the international dog show Bratislava (Slovakia)
The exhibition showed:
in junior class - ESPRIT The Sweetest Coton -first day he get CAJC and BOB and CAJC & BOS second day
DELUX The Sweetest Coton CAC and Res. CACIB both days
Bellezza Bianco first day CAC, CACIB and BOS second day CAC, CACIB and BOB
The exhibition was a success :)
more photos ....
2014.08.10 Don't worry be happy
A dog is man's best friend ... but Coton is a dog on dogs. Only Coton loves so much and so well understands the emotions of his owner. See a video (turn on sound!) that shows how our puppies cheer sad Sandra.
2014.06.29 News from our offspring
We get news from our offspring
Firebush ( STAN) win Best Baby Puppy in Group HUGE Congratulation great beginning! Congratulation to Annie who prepare his so fast to the show ring
Enigma The Sweetest Coton on her first show in Wrocław win Best Puppy in Breed. Huge Congratulation to Owners Tomasz & Beata
And huge congratulation to new Junior Champion of Romania And photos is made after show on the beach great fun for owner and coton !!!
Big Big congratulation The Sweetest Coton puppies


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I spent some time at school this morning after dropping off my girls and as I was heading out the door, I picked up a kindergarten registration packet.
When I got home, I saw the news.
A tragedy like this one isn't something we can process quickly or easily. Twenty parents kissed their children goodbye this morning, never knowing it would be for the last time.
Twenty children. Gone.
I live in a place where tragedies happen. Colorado, the home to Columbine and a movie theater and a little girl who disappeared on the way to school. The place where schools are designed in a world where massacres dictate building layouts. A place where we know and understand that as much as we try, we cannot protect our children from all the evil in the world.
And yet, when things like this happen, it's impossible to accept that evil this deep and reaching exists. Impossible.
Disbelief. Heads shaking.
I sat in the waiting room at the county clerk's office today, waiting to pick up my son's birth certificate so I can kiss him goodbye and turn him over to a school every day, when my brother sent me a message about the President's speech. The speech that I watched on my phone in the car. And I cried.
Then I drove past the school twice, wanting with everything in my being to get out of the car and scoop up my babies and take them home and keep them safe. I didn't.
I came home and twiddled my thumbs for a while.
Then, this.
This is what I do. This is how I process. This is how I struggle to make sense of the senseless.
At least with this most recent tragedy, there aren't people blaming the victims for watching a movie at midnight. These were the most defenseless victims possible. A classroom of kindergarteners. Five year olds. Up against a bullet-proof vest wearing masked gunman.
I wonder why when anything like this happens, people automatically start arguing about the second amendment.
This isn't the time to talk about gun control.
Today isn't the day to talk about it, but we need to.
Today is the day to mourn the loss of all those babies, the teachers, the staff members.
Today is the day to reach our arms all the way to Connecticut and hold them tight.
Today is the day to think about the birthdays and the Christmases and the milestones that will never come.
Tomorrow, we can be angry and we can argue.
Today, we are sad.
Look for the helpers.
"When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." To this day, especially in times of "disaster," I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." - Fred Rogers
Friday, December 14, 2012
Posted by Kelly DeBie at 3:02 PM
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Pastime Adventuresby Upper Room Administrator on Saturday, November 29, 2014
By nature, I like to explore new and different ways of doing things. Sometimes the outcomes are encouraging and fulfilling, while in other cases, there is nothing much to show or rejoice about in undertaking the new venture. At such times, I look back and wish that I had not ...read more
Thanksgivingby Upper Room Administrator on Thursday, November 27, 2014
Today, Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. In simpler times we might imagine a multi-generational family enjoying a feast from the harvest. Throughout the country today, families gather enjoying each other, turkey dinners, naps, and for one day, maybe sharing a tradition as a farm family might have done years ago. It is ...read more
Link2Life for November 27, 2014by Upper Room Administrator on Wednesday, November 26, 2014
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Boyce Gire
Seven Years Laterby Upper Room Administrator on Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Hello Upper Room readers. I want to introduce myself. For many years I was the director of publishing for The Upper Room, so my name appeared in the front of the daily devotional guide. Now I am retired, and the only way my name can appear in the magazine is ...read more
The Next Chapterby Upper Room Administrator on Saturday, November 22, 2014
At the time of writing this meditation, I had started praying that God would give me an appetite for the Word, and that I would grow in my faith. All glory to God for granting the desire of my heart! I started reading the Bible wanting to learn what God ...read more
The Little Thingsby Upper Room Administrator on Friday, November 21, 2014
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The value of doing little things to draw near to God is found also in service activities. Here is a picture of me with two grand daughters and a close friend holding up our harvest of picking blueberries. I am the tall guy ...
Playing with Old Friendsby Upper Room Administrator on Wednesday, November 19, 2014
"Ogún ọmọdé kìí ṣeré ogún ọdún."
This is a Yoruba proverb which translated into English says, "Twenty children cannot play together for twenty years." But what does it mean? The Yoruba people are native to the country of Nigeria, West Africa where I was born and spent my ...


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Many thanks to I-MOVIX, the Ultra Slow Motion Systems Supplier for Broadcast for providing this clip.
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Morgan Stanley gets spectrum grab bag gig
Ofcom, the UK regulator, has appointed the investment bank Morgan Stanley to promote international interest in the digital dividend, ahead of the auction planned for 18 months' time. The bank won the contract on the grounds of their contacts at telecoms companies in the US and Asia, who might be encouraged to snap up a chunk of …
Lets sell off some more of our bandwidth midway through a recession! Hopefully we can shift this lot for a record low!
Oh wait, we wanted high prices? SNAP
Doing my calculations, a population of slightly over 60 million means I own just under a 60 millionth of it, so if the 4 billion price is right then that makes my share either £66 or £66,666 depending on if you used short or long scale (I hope the latter). I can take cash but I'd prefer a cheque.
record low
well, selling it off for a record low will perhaps mean that whoever ends up buying it won't have to pass the costs along to their customers! £4 billion is a bit much!
assume it's bought up by some ISPs to provide wireless internet access (a likely option), let's pretend they do really really well and they get not far off of a million customers (unlikely, as many will have multiple people in the house on the connection, and most will be on other ISPs, but assume this as absolute best case) that's an extra £1,000 per customer, before they've even started putting in any equipment - bare in mind it's unlikely they would get anywhere near that many customers so realistically you're looking at much more per customer...
let's hope it sells for 50p, I want my 100Mbit while driving down the motorway to be cheap!
Let's completely bollox the future expansion of Freeview by selling off large chunks of the spectrum it would use.
Thank you Ofcom, I'm so glad you're looking after our interests there, and aren't just out to make a quick buck flogging off the family silver...
off con
"whats that sir, free use of your own spectrum?, you obviously didn't get the memo we sent to the radio hams and cb radio users......it went something like this.....get off our spectrum!....the citizens don't own it anymore, we the government own it so we can sell it to private companies who will then sell it back to you to make a profit."
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