|
Post by jackbauer on Feb 21, 2007 0:33:41 GMT -5
This should be fun for any baseball fans around here...
NL EAST: Philadelphia Phillies NL CENTRAL: Chicago Cubs NL WEST: Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles NL WILD CARD: New York Mets
AL EAST: Boston Red Sox AL CENTRAL: Detroit Tigers AL WEST: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim AL WILD CARD: New York Yankees
NL MVP: Philadelphia Phillies 1B Ryan Howard AL MVP: Boston Red Sox DH David Ortiz
NL CY YOUNG: Chicago Cubs SP Carlos Zambrano AL CY YOUNG: Minnesota Twins SP Johan Santana
NL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Chicago Cubs 1B Derrek Lee AL COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Oakland Athletics SP Rich Harden
WORLD SERIES: Chicago Cubs vs. Boston Red Sox CHAMPION: Chicago Cubs
|
|
SlyFox
2 star recruit
Liberty Alum
Posts: 49
|
Post by SlyFox on Feb 22, 2007 11:47:25 GMT -5
You've got to be kidding. This is the Cubs you are lauding. The Cubs. They always find a way to screw things up. I could very easily see them 5th in the NL Central.
|
|
|
Post by jackbauer on Feb 22, 2007 18:32:21 GMT -5
The Cardinals are set to take a major tumble. They're going into 2007 with a mish-mosh rotation, a lineup made up of basically Pujols and Rolen (Edmonds is continuing to age and weaken) as well as a stretched bullpen that is missing some of its better pitchers because they were sent to the rotation. Let's also not forget their closer who had injury troubles last season and struggled a lot when he was healthy.
The Astros have weakened a bit as well, especially with Clemens and Pettitte gone and Jennings and Williams expected to fill into the rotation in their stead. Sure, adding Lee was nice but I just see this team being another tumbler in 07.
The Reds have major holes and I think the Brewers are the only real challenge for Chicago in the division. Even Milwaukee has weaknesses.
Sure, I may be high on the Cubs Kool-Aid, but there's a good number of reasons to be drinking it too. The additions Hendry has made to the team should help out the problems the Cubs had last season and with Lee returning fully healthy, their lineup is even more dangerous. It also helps a great deal that Chicago is not banking on the health of Prior and Wood. And let's not forget how much the replacement of Dusty Baker will end up doing for the Cubs. No more blantantly poor decision-making, no more refusing to battle for calls and for his team and (thank God) no more "walks clog up the bases."
|
|
SlyFox
2 star recruit
Liberty Alum
Posts: 49
|
Post by SlyFox on Feb 23, 2007 15:47:19 GMT -5
Other than the loss of Pettitte, explain how the Astros have weakened. Clemens is likely back in June just like last year. Adding Carlos Lee will help Berkman's numbers. If Lidge can bounce back at all they should be better than last season.
|
|
|
Post by RUFresh on Feb 23, 2007 18:22:18 GMT -5
Sly - - -
great point. Adding Carlos Lee is going to improve Berkman's numbers. Look for a drastic change in Ensberg's numbers this season as well. Good things for Astros fans.
|
|
|
Post by jackbauer on Feb 24, 2007 13:22:25 GMT -5
Other than the loss of Pettitte, explain how the Astros have weakened. Clemens is likely back in June just like last year. Adding Carlos Lee will help Berkman's numbers. If Lidge can bounce back at all they should be better than last season. I'm pretty sure that Clemens will not be back this season. Personally, I don't get why he keeps up with this "will he or will he not" game and just plain decide. If he does come back, I think he'll end up going to New York or Boston instead. He learned his lesson last season by joining up with an Astro team that was clearly going nowhere instead of a Red Sox or Yankee team that had a legit shot at the playoffs and a potential title. The addition of Lee is swell but the rotation is where Houston will falter. Behind Oswalt and Jennings, who I have little faith in, there isn't much. Woody Williams is moving from a spacious ballpark in San Diego to a hitter's park that should cause his ERA and numbers to climb a great deal. Let's not forget his age, either. Backe isn't expected to be much of a factor this season as he's still injured. That leaves guys like Wandy Rodriguez, Fernando Nieve, Chris Sampson and Ezequiel Astacio to hold down the no. 4 and 5 spots in the rotation. Granted, Rodriguez won nine games for the Astros last season and seemed to show signs of being able to be a passable middle-of-the-rotation guy but struggled as the season went on and I doubt he'll be making any major steps this season as I just don't think he has the stuff. The Houston bullpen doesn't impress me much, either. If Lidge struggles like he did in 2006, Garner is going to be in quite a predicament in finding someone who can hold down the spot because Houston has very few proven guys in the pen. Beyond Qualls, Wheeler and Miller, there isn't much. Personally, I think Houston should never have done the Jason Jennings deal. They lost a promising starter in Hirsch and a good leadoff man with a pretty good glove in Taveras for a guy with a career ERA around 5 who had a career year last season in a Humidor-adjusted Coors Field.
|
|
SlyFox
2 star recruit
Liberty Alum
Posts: 49
|
Post by SlyFox on Feb 25, 2007 8:31:46 GMT -5
I didn't intend to turn this thread into an Astros discussion. Much less a thread that would have more action on this board than the Highlanders wrapping up their regular season.
First off, Clemens is all likelihood is back with the Astros in June. The only thing that could change that fact is for the Astros to be so far in the tank by Mid-May that he'd have no other choice but to go with the Bosox or Yanks. And can you explain why the Red Sox would give him a better shot at the postseason than the Astros. Houston finished 1.5 games out and were in the pennant race heading into the final game of the season. The Red Sox? They finished 3rd in the AL East 11 games back and were nearly as far back in the wildcard. Your argument does apply to New York.
Last season the Astros essentially had Oswalt & Pettitte at the top fot he rotation for half the season until Rocket arrived for the second half. After that it was a bunch of unproven young guys and yet they still nearly won the division. While Pettitte for Jennings is perhaps a slight downgrade based on Andy's 2nd half last season, Woody is a decent arm in the rotation.
As for the trade, the only reason why it looks suspect to me is because their is no guarantee they'll have Jennings beyond this season. Taveras is a nice defensive CF but his offense killed the top of the order nearly all season except for a nice run late in the season. Having Burke's stick in the lineup everyday should offset his defensive liabilities.
While Hirsh is promising, he's still an unproven commodity. It might wind up being a mistake but Hirsh has yet to prove he's even a solid end of the rotation guy. That's part of the gamble you make in this business. Down here in Houston they still bemoan leaving Johan Santana available for Rule V.
As for the bullpen, what you listed is stronger than most 'pens these days. If Lidge shows any residual impact from '06 then Wheeler is the closer. He did a nice job in that role down the stretch last season when the club made the playoff push.
As for the Cubs, every year we hear how all these offseason acquisitions are going to push them to the top of the division. And by September 1 the Cubs are battling the Reds for the cellar. I guess I'm supposed to believe Lou is going to change all of that based on his tremendous track record over the past 15 years.
For the record, I grew up in Cincy as a diehard Reds fan. They still are my team but I'm no longer a diehard for any team in any sport outside of the Flames.
|
|