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Who will lead MLB in home runs in 2008? (Current total shown.)

Chase Utley (20) 0 (0.00%)
Lance Berkman (17) 1 (20.00%)
Adrian Gonzalez (16) 0 (0.00%)
Dan Uggla (16) 0 (0.00%)
Josh Hamilton (15) 0 (0.00%)
Adam Dunn (15) 2 (40.00%)
Ryan Howard (15) 1 (20.00%)
Ryan Braun (15) 0 (0.00%)
Matt Stairs (6, leads TOR) 1 (20.00%)
Other (who?) 0 (0.00%)
Who will lead MLB in home runs in 2008? (Current total shown.) | 13 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Mylegacy - Saturday, November 10 2007 @ 04:10 PM EST (#176000) #

I voted for Glaus, but deep, deep, deep inside me, where some silly person lurks - I wanted to vote for "other" and plug Johnny Mac to have a break out year and hit 40 dingers. BUT, I just couldn't bring myself to it. Chickenin' out in my old age.

Seriously: Glaus 42, Thomas 36, Wells and Rios 31 each, Overbay 24, Stairs and Hill 20 each, Johnson 12 and Zaunnie 12.  And oh yea, Johnny Mac hits an inside the park homer on a very, very foggy day in April.

AWeb - Saturday, November 10 2007 @ 05:20 PM EST (#176002) #
Best case for the offense is Glaus or Wells leading the way, since that would assumably indicate at least one of them came back into fine power hitting form. I voted Rios, however...colour me pessimistic I guess. If 26 HRs leads the team again, then the offense will have failed. The Jays are built to score via the longball, they just  didn't do it very well last year.

If Mylegacy is right, or even in the ballpark of right (230+ homers?), it'd be a shock. A pleasant shock, to be sure, but a shock nonetheless. It happened before, in 2000, when the Jays hit 244 HRs on a series of career HR years. That year the team's starting lineup averaged 27-28 years old...it hurts to remember that they never got better, but they did basically peak when they should have been expected to. The 2008 Jays (barring major changes) don't look nearly as likely to manage something like that, being a fairly old team. Also, 2000 was the peak of the HR era, so 230 HRs this year would be way more impressive than 244 back then.
timpinder - Saturday, November 10 2007 @ 05:38 PM EST (#176003) #

With the surgery on his foot a success, Glaus will go back to hitting dingers and will finish the year with 39.  Thomas and Wells will rebound and hit 34 and 32 respectively, Rios will belt 28, and Overbay and his healed hand will launch 22.  Stairs won't get the at-bats to break 20, and unless Johnson is non-tendered, niether will Lind.

That's my prediction. 

CaramonLS - Saturday, November 10 2007 @ 07:34 PM EST (#176004) #

Rios (32), Glaus (31), Thomas (24), Overbay (24), Wells (20).  Healthy seasons for Glaus [well, no more healthy than usual], Thomas, and Wells.  But overall downward spikes from their career norms.  All 3 have already peaked.

timpinder - Saturday, November 10 2007 @ 07:52 PM EST (#176005) #
Well, Glaus and Thomas may have "peaked", but I sure hope Wells hasn't.  In fact, I'd bet that he hasn't.  If I'm wrong, his contract may be the worst ever given by a Toronto GM.  I expect 2006 numbers from Wells in 2008, and in his career year, perhaps 2010, he'll hit 35-40 homers.
CaramonLS - Saturday, November 10 2007 @ 08:01 PM EST (#176006) #

I like your optimism, but I don't see it happening for 2 major reasons - coming off major shoulder surgery and 'the book' is out on Vernon Wells. 

Injuries aside last year, I saw some of the worst plate approaches from an established major league hitter in my time watching baseball.  Consistantly swinging at bad pitches and the EXACT SAME ONES - High, hard and inside, and low breaking stuff away.  Wells is going to have to show that he can reestablish himself and not swing at those pitches - like he did ALL last year.  You just didn't see the marked improvement that you should from a major league hitter.  Blaming Brantley isn't the answer either.  If the Average fan was noticing it in the first quarter of the season, you bet Brantley was.

Joanna - Saturday, November 10 2007 @ 11:50 PM EST (#176007) #

CLS, buddy, you sound like you have November bitterness.  I'll buy the surgery excuse for a below average Vernon 08 season, but not the book being out.  The dude has been a big leaguer for 8 years and they only figured him out in '07?  I think it has more to do with anxiety, pain and pressing.  He's only 29 in next summer and I think he'll bounce back.

I think some go up (Thomas more, Vernon more, Rios more, Lyle more) and hopefully Glaus more.

 

 

Excalabur - Sunday, November 11 2007 @ 12:11 AM EST (#176010) #
Even if he hasn't, there's a good chance that his contract is the worst long term contract ever given out by a Toronto GM. 

Then again, it may also be true that it's later seen as a good job by JP.  Time will tell the tale.

timpinder - Sunday, November 11 2007 @ 04:06 AM EST (#176013) #

I don't think Wells' troubles last year were a result of pitchers finally figuring him out.  His 2003 season was his best to date, and three years later in 2006, he finished the season with a .899 OPS.  I think his struggles were a combination of injury and pressing too much after signing his new contract. 

Denoit - Sunday, November 11 2007 @ 09:23 PM EST (#176031) #
I voted Glaus, I still don't beleive we have fully witnessed what he is capable of doing over a full healthy season. My prediction is 42. Thomas(34), Wells(31), Rios(26),Overbay(20) will follow. I definatly do not see Stairs coming close to his totals last year, he will be lucky to hit 15 in his platoon role. Hill, and Zaun could be solid contributors if they have good seasons, both I feel are capable of hitting 20 when they are at their best.
HollywoodHartman - Sunday, November 11 2007 @ 10:07 PM EST (#176032) #
I'm going to give the Big Hurt some love. He's been quite good the 2nd half of the last 2 years, and this year he is going to full speed in spring training (Insert joke about Thomas' speed). Also... That man is ENORMOUS. He is a sight to see in person. It's quite impressive.
HollywoodHartman - Sunday, November 11 2007 @ 10:14 PM EST (#176033) #

Until I saw this poll I didn't know that Hill our HR'd Wells this year. With that as a stat how can our offence not be better. Rundown by position

  • C: Should improve: Zaun's healthy, and if he goes down we should have a better backup than Phillips.
  • 1b: Should improve: Assuming Overbay's healthy and returns to anything even remotely near career norms.
  • 2b: Should stay where it is: Hill had an up and down season, I'd expect any upgrade or decline to be minimal.
  • SS: Sigh... Stay the same: Unless we get Tejada, or Pronky teaches J-Mac a thing or two.
  • 3b: A real wild card but in my opinion should improve: All of this bank's on Glaus being remotely healthy. I think he will because of the surgery.
  • LF: Should stay where it is: Any decline by Stairs should negate Reed's improvement.
  • CF: Should improve: I mean... Wells can't be worse than last year... Right?
  • RF: Should stay where it is: Just a conservative guess, could explode to be even better.
  • DH: Should stay where it is: I assume it'll be a bit better but not by too much.

So we don't see a real decline in any position and hopefully we'll stay more healthy.

 

alex 1313 - Monday, November 12 2007 @ 02:31 PM EST (#176050) #

Guy's come on we can't expect a 40 home run season from Wells he's just not that type of player. What we should come to expect from Vernon is a solid .270avg/26 home runs/around 100 rbi and stellar defence. It's the same thing with Rios, he is not a big time power hitter as he's improving on taking the ball the other way we should expect around 28-30 homeruns and a .300 plus average.

 

Who will lead MLB in home runs in 2008? (Current total shown.) | 13 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.