Who is going to come out of the gates HOT this year in baseball?

Allen · February 13, 2008 10:58AM

There is always a player who comes out slugging as soon as the season stars. Who will it be this year? I am guessing A-Rod or Ryan Braun. For some reason I think A-rod has taken a lot of pressure off himself and is just letting the game come to him. Or it could be one of the young stars who showed some talent toward the end of last season, Tulowitzki, Jacoby, Joba or Jay Bruce.

Who do you guys think?

swartz1 · February 13, 2008 10:59AM

JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA - you heard it here second!

SportsItUpCards · February 13, 2008 11:01AM

Mickey Mantle!

Giovanni

larryallen73 · February 13, 2008 11:09AM

All the Dodger's I hope!

perkdog · February 13, 2008 11:12AM

AL- Kevin Youkilis I think he is going to come into his own this year and smash 40hrs!
NL- Prince Fielder 60hrs?

Darin · February 13, 2008 11:16AM

I think Billy Butler of the Royals at some point in his career will flirt with the .400 mark. Maybe even this year.

samspop · February 13, 2008 11:23AM

I think Billy Butler of the Royals at some point in his career will flirt with the .400 mark. Maybe even this year.

I hope so...I have 3 autographs of his from a lame case of '04 Upper Deck SP Prospects...one being a gold #'d 1/10.

GO BILLY!!

Goot · February 13, 2008 11:26AM

Prince is gonna go DEEP at least 45 times this year. Also, I think BJ Upton could have a great season and hopefully he'll add some power and become a consistent 30 HR guy like he's supposed to be.

samspop · February 13, 2008 11:46AM

I hope so...I have 3 autographs of his from a lame case of '04 Upper Deck SP Prospects...one being a gold #'d 1/10.

Dang...still a lame case...it's Billy BUCKNER, not Butler. Shucks!!

JackWESQ · February 13, 2008 11:48AM

To LarryAllen73,

All of the S.F. Giants ... I hope. But very unlikely.

/s/ JackWESQ

Carew29 · February 13, 2008 11:49AM

Congress????

perkdog · February 13, 2008 11:55AM

Allen, you think Braun is going to be the real deal ? Very curious where he falls in my Fantasy draft this year. I dont think he will make it past the second round. Im skeptical that he might have a sophomore slump.

hofautos · February 13, 2008 12:08PM

HANLEY RAMIREZ I HOPE!

Bosox1976 · February 13, 2008 12:11PM

HRamirez is my choice too.

gosteelers · February 13, 2008 12:19PM

Delmon Young of the Minnesota Twins...

artistlost · February 13, 2008 12:23PM

I will agree with Braun, Fielder and Hanley Rameriz and throw out the names Nick Markakis and Ryan Zimmerman

mathew

ryaneversole · February 13, 2008 12:24PM

brandon phillips is getting better each year. 30/30 last season

Stone193 · February 13, 2008 12:30PM

Allen

I like to wait till they produce something substantial during spring training - then read on the prospects - who rehabed over the winter and stuff.

I used to get really excited and involved at this time only to be very disappointed.

I know some like to "predict" who's gonna be hot and pick up their RCs cheap - but under the new rules - they have to play before they get to be called a true rookie. Tho I do know some auto prospect cards can bring some righteous bucks!

mike

gosteelers · February 13, 2008 12:33PM

<< Delmon Young of the Minnesota Twins... >>

I meant to say Chase Utley, as well

ripkenintheminors · February 13, 2008 12:57PM

As much as I would like to say that a guy from the Cubs will come out hot, conditions at the start of the season make it tough to put up huge numbers early on the offensive front.

gosteelers · February 13, 2008 12:59PM

<< As much as I would like to say that a guy from the Cubs will come out hot, conditions at the start of the season make it tough to put up huge numbers early on the offensive front. >>

Karl 'Tuffy' Rhodes might...

bigwilli · February 13, 2008 12:59PM

Not sure who will be HOT , but I hope the Mets go into a season long slump.....

TheVon · February 13, 2008 1:17PM

I think Miguel Cabrera is going to start off hot now that he's finally in a lineup with some protection behind him.

MooseDog · February 13, 2008 1:37PM

I wouldn't be surprised if Alex Gordon, with a year under his belt, comes out banging. He's got the tools, but I think he got rushed into the big time with too much pressure last year.

My more obvious picks would be Mark Texiera and James Loney, with mention that a healthy Hank Blalock might hit 40 HRs as well.

BunchOBull · February 13, 2008 1:45PM

I think Big Frank is going to have a heck of a (final?) season. He's trained harder this offseason than he has ever, taking batting practice as often as possible. I wouldn't be surprised to see him knock 40+ dingers and flirt with .300 for the first time in several seasons. This is of course assuming he stays healthy, which, under normal conditions, he should.

BobaFett72 · February 13, 2008 2:15PM

Chase Utley, what a stud!
New scenery for Delmon Young will be good for him...
I'd love to see Hafner bust out early..

Darin · February 13, 2008 2:33PM

I know some like to "predict" who's gonna be hot and pick up their RCs cheap - but under the new rules - they have to play before they get to be called a true rookie. Tho I do know some auto prospect cards can bring some righteous bucks!
Stone,
Is this a Billy Butler rookie card I just impulsively bought? I don't understand what you're saying about new rules, I don't follow the newer cards so can you explain?

Text

mrbecker712 · February 13, 2008 3:02PM

Yunel Escobar, starting SS for the Braves. Keep an eye on him. He'll be one of the best infielders in the NL by season's end.

bigfische · February 13, 2008 3:58PM

<< JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA - you heard it here second! >>

He is a stud. Atl will miss him.

RoarIn84 · February 13, 2008 8:48PM

the Tigers bullpen......if not, we're in trouble!

zippy · February 13, 2008 10:18PM

roger clemens

Morgoth · February 13, 2008 10:19PM

Matt Holliday, Nick Swisher, Ordonez, McCann, Kendall and Russel Martin.

Slumps out of the gate Bay, Howard, Rollins, Cabrera, Ivan Rodriguez, David Wright.

gumbyfan · February 13, 2008 10:35PM

Whoever hits 3rd in the Brewers' lineup this year is going to have one heck of a year. It'll be either Braun or Fielder - and I believe they're leaning toward Braun at 3, Fielder cleanup. Castrol GTX doesn't offer that much protection!

Last season, when Braun was hitting 3rd, he was a monster. He only cooled off when they moved him to cleanup and had (insert Ned's 5th hitter of the day here) not protecting him. Of course, when Ned made that switch to put Fielder 3rd in the lineup, his numbers started to go up again.

It's a good problem to have.

onlyanumber · February 13, 2008 11:01PM

Jarrod Saltalamacchia as others have said.

Matt Kemp in LA is getting better with more time under his belt. Raw talent there that Mattingly/Torre should be able to develop.

Ian Kinsler always starts out hot and gets hurt...

Adam Jones should be decent in Baltimore if he can fulfill his potential.

Jeter is going to start off strong this year

fandango · February 13, 2008 11:13PM

<< Jarrod Saltalamacchia as others have said.

Matt Kemp in LA is getting better with more time under his belt. Raw talent there that Mattingly/Torre should be able to develop.

Ian Kinsler always starts out hot and gets hurt...

Adam Jones should be decent in Baltimore if he can fulfill his potential.

Jeter is going to start off strong this year >>

Kemp not assured playing time yet, A Ethier is there also.....

Adam jones may hit some HRs and steal some bases but his avg may be around the Mendoza line....

was the OP asking about a fast start relative to Baseball cards, or Fantasy Leagues, because the answers are usually different...

TNTonPMS · February 13, 2008 11:33PM

I'm hoping for Shelly Duncan to be hot and Rob Cano ,

A-Rod is always hot and I don't see any signs of him slowing down any time soon.

gosteelers · February 13, 2008 11:42PM

Where did Renteria go? I'm too lazy to look it up!

prscott933 · February 13, 2008 11:44PM

Ankiel is gonna be ridiculous at the start

BunchOBull · February 14, 2008 12:41AM

<< 

<< JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA - you heard it here second! >>

He is a stud. Atl will miss him. >>

Yes they will, I remember watching Salty play for the Rome Braves (Rome, GA, my hometown) several years ago, you could tell he'd play in the majors one day. He's quickly becoming one of my new favorite players.

bigfische · February 14, 2008 12:51AM

<< Where did Renteria go? I'm too lazy to look it up! >>

To detroit, to make room for Yunel Escobar, who will be big this season.

rube26105 · February 14, 2008 1:02AM

jenny finch

clydecoolidge · February 14, 2008 2:12AM

<< Allen, you think Braun is going to be the real deal ? Very curious where he falls in my Fantasy draft this year. I dont think he will make it past the second round. Im skeptical that he might have a sophomore slump. >>

I hope that's not the case, but yeah, he sure was on fire last year, and only played 3/4 of a season. It's gonna be hard to keep that up. Luckily he's got Prince there to take some heat off of him.

CDsNuts · February 14, 2008 2:41AM

Herm Lamanchek

WeekendHacker · February 14, 2008 8:43AM

<< HRamirez is my choice too. >>

Isn't he recovering from a shoulder injury? A dislocation if my memory is correct?

F1ferrari · February 14, 2008 9:29AM

We can only hope that ARod stays hot for a few more seasons, to take the HR record back from drugs.

Since the Orioles have traded for 1/3 the Mariners and 1/2 of the Astros, maybe they'll have the right people to put a decent season together.

Cubby · February 14, 2008 4:11PM

Just a guess, but I'd say Mark Prior.

gotsparks09 · February 14, 2008 5:26PM

Be on the lookout for Nyjer Morgan, CF for PIT

Who is going to come out of the gates HOT this year in baseball?

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