Lee, Walker, & now Maddux? Are Andy & Rog & John Valentin enough?

Oh, wait... That's my cue, right?

[Insert Drayton bashing here]
[Insert Biggio retirement tomfoolery here]
[Insert "(NL Central team) just signed X, Y, and Z" talk here]
[Insert more Drayton bashing here]
[Insert "Trade Bagwell!" irrational statement here]
[Insert Jimy Williams-hating sentiments here]
[Insert backhanded insult to apathetic Astros fans here]
[Insert ridiculous trade scenario involving Hidalgo here]
[Insert Piazza gay rumor here]
[Insert even more Drayton bashing here]
[Insert optimism about new Astros-Rockets cable channel here]
[Insert parting shot about "Scrooge McClane" here]

Have I covered all the bases?


Oh, BTW, I do think the Cubs will be a force to be reckoned with. Their pitching is awesome. But, just remember this:

THEY'RE THE FREAKING CUBS. THEY'LL FIND A WAY TO SCREW THINGS UP. IT'S WHAT THEY DO. THEY'RE LOVABLE LOSERS.

If Miller can return the form, if Oswalt can continue to dominate, if Pettitte is as good as advertised, if Clemens finally signs on the dotted line, if Kent can step up production, if Hidalgo stays the course following his good 2003 campaign, if Biggo isn't a liability in centerfield, if Lane does well in the majors, if Bagwell continues to hit... I can honestly say the Astros can beat the Cubs next year.

 

I think our current roster is plenty to win the division and do damage in the postseason...assuming it stays relatively healthy. If we get another good year out of Hidalgo (the way Lane was playing last season, even if we don't he might could pick up the slack offensively) and Roy/Wade can keep their bodies and minds together, we should be plenty solid in all facets of the game.

I look for a slightly better season offensively from Everett as he seemed to make more and more solid contact as the season progressed last year. His defense will be stellar as usual with occasional brainfarts on throws to first. Ensberg will be good, Bagwell will continue to slowly decline but will still command enough respect from pitchers to post a pretty good OPS, and Kent and Berkman will both hit well.

I'm also not worried about the bullpen despite the Wagner loss. If Lidge doesn't run out of gas at the end of the season like he did last year, the pen will be fine with guys like Stone and company taking care of things until the Lidge/Dotel combo comes in.

Besides, I'm not too worried about the Cubs this season, because they have in the past, and continue to show a blatant disregard for the healthy of young pitcher arms, and I have no doubt that they will ruin Prior and Wood before it is all said and done (maybe Zambrano too).

 

Sounds like the Cubs are becoming the Yankees in the NL division. They've made a ton of money being a below .500 team and never really had a need to upgrade their team with quality players. It seems now that they've actually built up their young pitching staff and since Sosa threatened becoming a free agent, the Cubs owner has decided to go on a spending spree to acquire whoever the hell he wants. The Cubs more then make enough money to practically sign anyone they want, and now that they've got a winning attitude it looks like they are. They'll definitely be a scary team next year.

 

The Cubs have an awesome pitching staff. They are probably the best team in the majors. They were probably the best team last year too. They just couldn't finish.

 

Some one else noticed that there is not a lot of speed on this team.But they still manged to waive a player that has speed and maybe could have played CF as a backup.

 

Yeah this team has a ton of power and homerun hitters, but an offense needs balance. All championship teams had great pitching, clutch hitting, and a balanced offense. Homeruns are great but if there's no one on base to take advantage of those long balls, it's not that beneficial. In close games, speed gets those crucial manufactured runs that result in whether your going to advance in the playoffs or go home. As much power and hitting this team has, the fact that we don't have very much speed or balance worries me.

 

I agree!

 

Well, we could package one or more of our pitchers (of which we have a plethora of) and try to trade for speed. So, who's out there that can be had? By chance, do we have any speedsters languishing in the minors right now?

 

Namely Chris Burke 2B will be up within the next year or two who has great speed and OBP and average. there are also a few others but havent looked it up in a minute.

 

and what have the astros accomplished??

 

Chicago Cubs (since 1962, when the Astros came into the league):

1984 - Division champs - NL Championship series - lost 2-3
1989 - Division champs - NL Championship series - lost 1-4
1998 - Wild card - NL Division series - lost 0-3
2003 - Division champs - NL Championship series - lost 3-4 (in a heartbreak)

Houston Astros

1980 - Division champs - NL Championship series - lost 2-3
1981 - Division champs - NL Division series - lost 3-2
1986 - Division champs - NL Championship series - lost 2-4
1997 - Division champs - NL Division series - lost 0-3
1998 - Division champs - NL Division series - lost 1-3
1999 - Division champs - NL Division series - lost 1-3
2001 - Division champs - NL Division series - lost 0-3


Considering the fact that neither team has made it to the World Series in that time (1962 - present), I'd say the Astros have the upper hand here with all the division championships. Also, the Cubs went 39-40 years without even a divisional champ title (1945-1984). Lovable losers, indeed.

... But that's just my opinion.

 

Damn.....I heard that sizzle.

insert-[/sound "tsssss" /sound]

 

The Cubs have made some great moves this offseason. The Pudge signing could be the biggest in the NL. But the Astros aren't slouches either. The Oswalt/Miller/Pettitte trio can go toe-to-toe with any in the majors. Berkman will likely bounce back from a relatively sub-par season, and Kent may be the best offensive 2B in the NL. They still need to move Hidalgo (for just about anything, at this point), but they are going to be strong in 2004.

The Cubs definitely improved themselves, but it's still a wide-open three-team race.