Last Year . . .

[Angel_In_Germany]

We were 2-7 after 9 games . . . just helps me with some perspective . . .

[Erstad Grit]

Plus no team is really taking off.

[CanadianHalo]

They also started 1-0 last year.

Started 0-3 this year. So 4-2 in last 6. There's hope, not much but there is. Really trying to stay positive. Tired of having baseball season end by May.

[jangel7]

Plus no team is really taking off.

That's for sure 13 of the 15 A.L. teams have 3-5 losses, and Detroit leads the way at only 5-2.

[Stradling]

If we take 2 out of 3 against the Mets then we will be at .500 after 12 games, which is about the best you can expect when you start 0-3. I hate to say this but I fully expect to get beat by Colon. Man I hate that guy.

[wopphil]

Good thread. As frustrating as the first nine games have been at times, this is a much better start than last year.

[Chuck]

If we take 2 out of 3 against the Mets then we will be at .500 after 12 games, which is about the best you can expect when you start 0-3. I hate to say this but I fully expect to get beat by Colon. Man I hate that guy.

 

Yeah he owns us. 

[tdawg87]

If after the first 20 games they are 10-10 I will be happy.

[Torridd]

If we take 2 out of 3 against the Mets then we will be at .500 after 12 games, which is about the best you can expect when you start 0-3. I hate to say this but I fully expect to get beat by Colon. Man I hate that guy.

Who opposes Colon?

[Stradling]

Well we got blown out in the first three and have been very competitive since then. I know a lot of people say, "well we were playing Seattle and Houston". I don't really think it matters who we play if we play good baseball. I wish we had a better option that Ian Stewart but other than that I like our offensive and defensive team. McDonald has made a couple of errors, but on the defensive side of the ball he is the least of our worries. That play he made last night with his back to the infield (like a catcher on a pop up) was a very tough play. This team last year sucked defensively. I can only count, what four errors in the first nine games? Maybe its five, but to the naked eye it sure seems like we have played a lot better defensively. We give Shuck a hard time, but he is a perfect fifth outfielder, or now fourth outfielder. He can hit a little, not for power, but he will get his fair share of singles and get on base at about .320 percent of the time. He also can run the bases and while not stellar with the glove it looked like he improved as the season went on last year. Cowgill has a better arm and a better glove than Shuck, but doesn't get on base as much. He has a little more pop than Shuck, but runs the bases equally well. If it were up to me, I would probably give Ibanez all of April and maybe all of May depending on our play, and if a change is needed then bring up Cron. As it relates to Ian Stewart, I would rather have Jimenez or Green up here. If it is Green then let him play second a little bit and move Howie out to left, although this weakens us at two positions defensively. Or you play Howie at first on days where Albert needs a DH day. This team will succeed based solely on the play of Albert and Hamilton (when he comes back) and the bullpen. We need more than two guys that can do the job down there. <gets off soap box>

[Stradling]

Who opposes Colon?

I'm guessing CJ, so that isn't bad.

[tennischmp]

Surprised no one has pointed out who they played last year

[bloodbrother]

Pitching has rebounded quite nicely since that disastrous opening series

[Stradling]

I fully expect Weaver to be better, maybe not an Ace (he doesn't throw hard enough), but he pitches better at home. We just need our bats to come alive this weekend.

[jshep]

At least no one has brought up 2002!

Edited April 10, 2014 by jshep

[Angel Oracle]

The fortunate thing is Texas not doing much of anything either, a stark departure from their recent fast starts.

 

If Hamilton was out just 4 weeks instead of the probable 8 weeks (10-12 weeks actually, since it's the Halos), I could stomach having Shuck and Cowgill share LF. 

Edited April 10, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[sneaky_flute]

I don't think there's a correlation between a team's initial two-week record and the final record. Most teams go through slumps at various times during the season.