I really don't see how the team's pitching is any worse than last year... Aside from Oswalt, we had Pettite who was shaky for more than half the season, inconsistant Wandy, Backe was lost for the season, Clemens was here for only the second half, and a combo of Buchholz/Hirsch/Sampson. So this year we have Oswalt...I think you could argue that Jennings would offer a little more during the regular season than Pettite did last year, Woody who'll probably be on par with Pettite's performance last season (10 or so wins), Wandy again, Backe is again lost, Clemens may come back and a combo of Nieve/Sampson/Moehler maybe. Then add a more potent lineup and how could you not believe this team will improve upon last year and make a serious run at the division.
CENTRAL STANDINGS Team W L Cubs 92 70 Cardinals 81 81 Astros 79 83 Brewers 78 84 Reds 76 86 Pirates 72 90 Team Leaders Average Lance Berkman .305 Home Runs carlos lee 42 RBI Lance Berkman 126 Runs Lance Berkman 110 Stolen Bases 3 tied for 20 Wins Roy Oswalt 18 Saves Dan Wheeler 34 ERA Roy Oswalt 3.48 Why I picked the Cubs to win they spent alot of money this offseason they look good why 79-83 we have only 1 good starter even with Lee we will have dry spells hitting our relief piching will get used to much, and wear down in August and September, MAN I HOPE I'M WRONG
You are. You're underestimating Jennings. This team has two glaring needs to make it to the playoffs: somebody to emerge as a fourth starter and production out of 3B. Purpura wisely has a few options at both of those spots. I'm a bit concerned about Moehler's strong spring. He might be a serviceable 5th, but somebody needs to leapfrog Wandy. That'll have to be Sampson, Nieve or Albers.
you will be... the cubs winning 92??? they'll win 80-85 if they stay healthy, which means we gotta do better than .500
I think this is a good starting point. The Stros can go anywhere from being in the hunt to the last week of the season to winning the division. Some question marks will have to be answered for us ... 1. Will our 4th/5th starters give us enough consistency to keep from taxing our bullpen constantly? 2. How will Lidge be for us this year? 3. Ensberg & Lane put up or shut up? 4. How good can Pence be for us? I think we will find out that by midseason. 5. Is Luke Scott the real deal? Finally, with at least 3 or more of these questions adequately answered, coupled with our NEW dynamic duo of Carlos Lee and Sir Big Puma, I think we can definitely make some real noise in this division once again! STL lost a lot in their offseason especially pitching wise but they're always a pain for us irregardless as long as Pujols is there. The Cubs are well, the Cubs even with Soriano but who is going to deliver for them pitching wise outside of Zambrano? A darkhorse in our division don't laugh could be the Pirates. Probably not enough to win our division but, I bet they make things interesting potentially. Then there's the Brewers and the Reds ho hum ... So yeah, I agree with RM95 perhaps in addition a deal at the trade deadline perhaps, Rocket wants to go out with us winning it all-hey why not us?
i voted for world series champs. i wouldn't put money on it, but coming out of spring training and looking down the lineups, we have as good of a shot to get there as anyone else. i love baseball.
3rd place behind milwaukee. I dont see how wandy, lidge and woody are going to help this team. Sorry, I just dont see our pitching holding up this year. The cubs are the cubs, and the reds MIGHT give us a battle for third.
i completely agree with this. we're letting names stand in the way. jennings > pettitte at this point. pettitte and clemens won 21 games combined last season. i recognize run support was an issue. this year, i don't think run support will be an issue. certainly not like it has been. as with last year, if clemens comes back, the rotation will be fine. next offseason you need to add another jennings-type pitcher, assuming one of the young guys doesn't step up. patton will eventually find his way here, hopefully. we need to stay healthy....and we need brad lidge to be brad lidge again. every team has question marks...particularly in the Central. i like our chances.
No doubt everyone has question marks, heck even the Yanks have question marks but I really keep searching for a reason to belive that this team can do it and I don't see how it's gonna happen. I will say this, the Astros are close enough that if things break the right way they will be in it, the problem is they need many things to break right. You got to get more from your 3rd baseman, catcher and second baseman than last season. I am not too worried about bench production or the outfield as a whole. Of course I am not worried about first base nor am I really concerned about the bullpen as a whole. Still three everyday players with HUGE question marks plus a very shaky rotation not to mention sub par team speed and average overall defense it just does not look like a championship team. Still can't wait for Monday, I got my tickets on first base down low and I'm taking the day off like I have every year since I can remember.
if you "can't find a reason to believe that this team can do it" with the improvements that they made and on the heels of a season where a team with 83 wins won the World Series, then your glass is half empty.
Besides Roy O, extremely suspect pitching. Should have some "pop" in the hitting, but, unless they get more pitching, they are not going to the postseason. This team will need some surprices like breakthroughs of young players. Pitching just looks grim.
I'm going to peg them at 86 wins and second place in the division. I really think Woody is going to implode. PETCO and a weak hitting division have helped him stay above water the past two seasons. I also have very low hopes for Jennings. I know his bad years are written off as "Coors," but I'm not sure that's the case. We'll see. I think he's a fine #3 but a bad #2. And for those who talk about Andy being bad last year, he was bad in the first half. Then he got fully healthy, got his velocity back up, and went on a tear in the second half. There was also a lot of luck involved to keep them in the playoff hunt including injuries to other teams and the Cardinals collapsing. I just don't see it all coming together this year.
