Man, they couldn't' wait to take us down a peg. Wait till you see who's number 1.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?p...rrank2006_early

dude, the indians could be phenomenal next year.

 

or, they could start out slow and finish hot. plus, i dont think millwood will re-sign there.

 

cubs 22nd... how the (somewhat) mighty have fallen

dude, the indians could be phenomenal next year.

 

or, they could start out slow and finish hot.  plus, i dont think millwood will re-sign there.

 

cubs 22nd... how the (somewhat) mighty have fallen

 

Hard to gauge next year's Jndjan team. If Millwood is gone, that's a pretty big loss. They'll have to sign a good starter if they lose him. I think they'll re-sign him, though. Their payroll is way low.

 

I love the Sox, but damn the Jndjans are going to be tough competition next year. Hopefully their bullpen - populated by a bunch of old guys - falls apart.

Hard to gauge next year's Jndjan team.  If Millwood is gone, that's a pretty big loss.  They'll have to sign a good starter if they lose him.  I think they'll re-sign him, though.  Their payroll is way low.

 

I love the Sox, but damn the Jndjans are going to be tough competition next year.  Hopefully their bullpen - populated by a bunch of old guys - falls apart.

Howry is also a FA and was a huge part of their pen.

the tribe? c'mon! man, espn never says die.

 

that said, i think the sox and tribe should simply be switched around in those rankings.

 

besides that, all the rankings look good to me, especially all the other AL central teams. twins #14...haha!

Um, I actually think this is pretty realistic.

I know people are gonna say "who f***ing cares"

 

but guys...ONE WEEK after we win the world series ESPN can't wait to get a poll up there saying we're number 2.

dude, the indians could be phenomenal next year.

 

or, they could start out slow and finish hot.  plus, i dont think millwood will re-sign there.

 

cubs 22nd... how the (somewhat) mighty have fallen

 

Or Wickman and Millwood could leave for much greener pastures and they would be in some trouble.

I know people are gonna say "who f***ing cares"

 

but guys...ONE WEEK after we win the world series ESPN can't wait to get a poll up there saying we're number 2.

 

 

Who effing cares...

 

 

I know people are gonna say "who f***ing cares"

 

but guys...ONE WEEK after we win the world series ESPN can't wait to get a poll up there saying we're number 2.

and yet........i still don't care.

"who f***ing cares"

 

 

^

Um, I actually think this is pretty realistic.

 

yeah, i agree. the indians came back from a 15.5 game deficit to make it interesting for us, and have one of the youngest offenses in the league.

 

geez, i remember how impossible it was to get travis hafner and the rest of the tribe out when the indjuns visited the cell at the end of the year...

 

but then we went up to their place and they were a different team, they freaked out and pressed to hard, and thank God for that. AJ Pierzynski pointed out that seeing the Indians pressing made them realize they were pressing, and they only lost 1 game from then until the World Series.

 

White Sox own the Tribe though, and that ain't changin!

White Sox own the Tribe though, and that ain't changin!

 

i agree. it's a tradition that i dont see changing anytime soon.

ESPN HATES US....................OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

they did all of this just to piss off sox fans, yep

The last time we were on the field with Cleveland, the no. 1 team in these "rankings" we swept them with our AAAA team.

 

We just won the World Series.

 

Give me a f***ing break.

I thought people would be happy.

 

AL Central have the 1,2 teams.

 

Pretty drastic change from last year where the White Sox were generally picked in the middle or bottom half of both leagues.

 

I think its pretty fair, all things being considered the Indians and White Sox are very good objective picks.

 

SB

definitely good for AL Central and will look good when we beat them next year. Sox will get Paulie, Indians (like the end of last year) wont win the big ones.

Guys if you look at these rankings these are the "pre-preseason" rankings going into next season. Ranking us second should be something to be excited about...it's something to applaud KW for and the entire organization. They did not factor what happened last season into these rankings. They are predictions for NEXT YEAR. The fact we are second is something to hang your hat on.

I know people are gonna say "who f***ing cares"

 

but guys...ONE WEEK after we win the world series ESPN can't wait to get a poll up there saying we're number 2.

Thats exactly what I thought when I saw it on EPSN's MLB page

i agree. it's a tradition that i dont see changing anytime soon.

 

Indians fans will very, very, very quickly remind you of 1995-99, and 01.

 

Of course, Sox fans then get to ask Cleveland how many World Series titles they won in that time frame.

 

Personally...I don't see Cleveland being better next year. They'll be very good...I just think the Sox advantage is pitching is big enough to overcome the Indians advantage offensively.

 

I will also say to watch out for the Sox offensively next year. You have a lot of guys coming off career low years...Rowand was quite mediocre, Uribe was bad until September, Pierzynski hit for the lowest average he's ever hit for in a regular season, Iguchi was in his first year in America...if the Sox resign Konerko, I see them being very solid offensively. In the same juncture, watch out for Cleveland's pitching staff.

 

It will be a fun division next year, and I wouldn't even be surprised if Minnesota shocked the f***in world and won the division. The AL Central is probably the best division, all around talent wise, in the MLB right now. Cleveland is a powerhouse offensively, the Twins have a plethora of young pitching, and the Sox are solid up and down. If only KC and Detroit could ever get s*** figured out.

How does a team that just won the World Series a week ago get ranked 2? I know the Indians are good, but c'mon now.

The Eastern Sports Promotional Network puts Cleveland over us.

 

Not at all surprised. It's a matter of geography--Cleveland is closer to the edge of ESPN's scope of New York and Boston.

 

Seriously, they couldn't shut up about the Yankees and Red Sox even after they were eliminated from the playoffs.

 

"The White Sox have just won four straight to win their first AL pennant since 1959, let's cut to Yawkey Way and Johnny Damon's hairstylist."

#2 in the preseason rankings? That's way too high for us. I want Harold & Co. picking us to finish 4th in the division again please. What about the poor Astros fans who have seen their team that finished the season #2 all the way down at 12. Does anyone think we'll seem them in the World Series again this century?

 

Also, can the Indians really choke away a late season surge three years in a row?

Detroit may be the best 4th place team in baseball though, imo. I really think they are a better team than they showed last year and they should be better this year, assuming they continue to spend money (like they have been).

 

The Al Central is a very, very tough division.