[sportsline.com] Astros have worst offseason in central

[sportsline.com] Astros picked sixth in Central as of now

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/story/8141257

St. Louis' World Series appearance last fall marked the end of the Miss Congeniality run for the NL Central. Bad news is Miss Congeniality II, starring Sandra Bullock, is opening soon at a theater near you.


NL Central teams can only hope that, a year after the Cardinals finally won the NL beauty contest and advanced to the World Series, the congeniality stuff doesn't return in full force.

It's likely, though, unless the Cardinals compensate fully for losing their catcher and middle infielders. Houston clearly has regressed this winter, the Chicago Cubs lost two-thirds of their starting outfield and Pittsburgh and Milwaukee are too far away to make an impact. That leaves ... Cincinnati? Hmmm, the Reds did an impressive job adding pitching over the winter

Let's see what new ownership does with the Brewers.


Winter Power Rankings
Disclaimer: These rankings are solely based on what clubs have done from Nov. 1 through now and are in no way predictions for the upcoming season. They are simply impressions of winter, not anticipation of the 2005 standings. So as our friend David Letterman would say, "Please, no wagering."

1. Cincinnati -- Smart offseason moves, but what's this year's over-under for Ken Griffey Jr. staying healthy?

2. Chicago Cubs -- As far as the Cubs are concerned, Sammy Sosa can leave after the third inning of every game. He isn't their problem anymore.

3. Milwaukee -- No longer controlled by any part of the Selig family, Brewers immediately announce those seasons will be available on DVD for half price.

4. St. Louis -- NL champions made like a Krispy Kreme donut and lost their entire middle.

5. Pittsburgh -- Free at last, free at last! Jason Kendall no longer is a Pirate.

6. Houston -- Only Frosty the Snowman (who melted, yet again) had a worse winter than the Astros.

Breaking it down
Best moves: Cincinnati adding left-hander Eric Milton and Milwaukee adding outfielder Carlos Lee and catcher Damian Miller. The Reds surprised everybody with free agent Milton, who at one time this winter was ticketed for the Yankees, but signed a three-year, $25.5 million deal with the Reds instead. With a potent offense, it's a terrific move for a team that ranked 15th in the NL in ERA last season. Health -- always a concern in Cincinnati, where Ken Griffey Jr., Sean Casey, Adam Dunn and Austin Kearns have been banged up more often than not -- remains a key, but if the Reds get that, Milton will do wonders in the NL Central. The Brewers, meanwhile, needed a thumper in the middle of their lineup and got him in Lee, and they added one of the best defensive/game-calling catchers in baseball in Miller.

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Best move II: Pittsburgh trading Jason Kendall. Look, he was one of the Pirates' few remaining marquee players (only remaining marquee player?), but his contract has been an anchor dragging the organization down. You watch the Pittsburgh Steelers and you pull for the Pirates, because Pittsburgh deserves better than baseball has given them lately. Now, with most of Kendall's contract unloaded (the Pirates are still paying part of it), GM David Littlefield can work. They were never going anywhere with Kendall. Now, it's time for the rebuilding process to move to the next level.

Worst moves: Houston losing Carlos Beltran and offering arbitration to Roger Clemens. The Rocket wasn't going to pitch for the hometown discount $5 million he pitched for last year, but the Astros never should have let it get far enough where arbitration figures were exchanged and Clemens asked for $22 million in 2005. Shortly thereafter he agreed to pitch another season for a record $18 million. They let both the Beltran and Clemens situations drag too far into the winter, and now they're paying for it. They should have set a deadline to sign Beltran for far earlier than Jan. 8, which would have given them time to move in another direction if they lost him (now, the best free agents are off the board), and they should have negotiated something with Clemens long ago.




Worst move II: Houston's Lance Berkman playing flag football. As if things weren't bad enough elsewhere with the Astros, in a Rocco Baldelli-type of move, Berkman, who is eligible for free agency after next season, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in November playing flag football at his church and is expected to miss the start of the season. Losing Beltran from the outfield was bad enough. Losing Beltran and Berkman, for at least the first month of the '05 season (and perhaps more), is a tough blow to absorb.

Most off-the-wall move: The Reds considering moving Austin Kearns to third base before signing Joe Randa. Kearns, at 6-3, 220, might look like Clifford the Big Red Dog at third, but even in the wake of the Randa signing, the club has asked Kearns to keep working out at third base. The deal is, with Wily Mo Pena's emergence in right field, the Reds need versatility. Right now they've got an outfield of Adam Dunn in left, Ken Griffey Jr. in center and either Pena or Kearns in right. Unless, of course, the Reds' traditional injuries start early this year.

Goodbye, Gille's: Milwaukee was sold, and for the first time in 35 years, the Brewers are no longer in the Selig family. Say what you will about the Selig stewardship -- and yes, the Brewers suffered through more trying seasons than not -- but when one family pours 35 years of blood, sweat and love into a life's work, it deserves at least a card of thanks for the effort. Now when Commissioner Bud Selig stops by Gille's for his hot dog and Diet Coke and the locals complain about a Brewers decision, he can join right in with them.

Nice recovery: St. Louis landed on its feet by signing David Eckstein to replace Edgar Renteria at shortstop and Mark Grudzielanek to replace Tony Womack at second base. Meanwhile, youngster Yadier Molina (brother of Anaheim catchers Bengie and Jose) will replace Mike Matheny behind the plate. Renteria leaves big cleats to fill. Womack had a good year in '04, better than he's likely to have in '05. And in dealing for Mark Mulder, the Cardinals' staff is better than it was last year. End result: They'll go to spring training as division favorites again.

Get the ink ready: Milton's arrival in Cincinnati is expected to be a boon for some lucky tattoo parlor. Milton had a Yankees logo tattooed on a shoulder blade after being drafted by them, then added a Minnesota Twins logo on an ankle after being traded and a Philadelphia Phillies' logo after the Twins shipped him there a year ago. We can only imagine where the Reds' logo will go, though we're concerned ink poisoning will set in if he eventually matches Mike Morgan's record of pitching for 13 major league clubs.

Most underrated move: Cincinnati signing Ramon Ortiz. The guy never did fulfill expectations in Anaheim, though he was very good at times. That might be enough in Cincinnati -- and it's surely better than what the Reds had last season. With Ortiz and Milton joining the rotation, the Reds are staring at respectability and have an outside chance at contending for a wild-card slot.

Most important comeback: Andy Pettitte, Houston Astros. His homecoming season ruined by elbow surgery, Pettitte, barring setbacks, is expected to be ready by spring. If Pettitte returns as the Pettitte of old, it will be terrific news for an organization that needs terrific news. And it will be loads of fun watching Clemens and Pettitte together again for an entire season.

On the rise: Cincinnati and Milwaukee. In adding Milton, Ortiz, Randa and reliever Kent Mercker, the Reds arguably had as good a winter as anybody in the division. Their pitching is respectable enough to help a potent lineup. Now, can Kearns, Dunn, Griffey and the rest stay healthy? And in Milwaukee, a Brewers club that flirted with .500 for a surprising part of last season is better with Lee and Miller.

On the decline: Houston. Without Beltran and with Berkman out early, the Astros have lost some punch. Plus, Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio are another year older.

Keep an eye on: Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in Chicago. Remember all those NL pennant and World Series predictions from a year ago? They went up in smoke just as soon as Prior, and then Wood, landed on the disabled list. If these two stay healthy, with Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux behind them and Nomar Garciaparra and Todd Walker back and a healthy Aramis Ramirez, the Cubs can wipe out the disappointment of 2004. But only if Prior and Wood are at the top of their games.

 

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