PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH:
Chicago Cubs
Milwaukee Brewers
Cincinnati Reds
Houston Astros
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals
Cubs and the Brew Crew battle it out throughout the summer, with the Cubs prevailing late. You can only be bad for a century or so before things turn your way. Brewers are young and strong but Ben Sheets brittleness and the bullpen catch up to Milwaukee. Dusty Baker makes the Reds organization respectable again. Pirates surprise by poking their heads out of the cellar and the Cardinals surprisingly take up residence there.
Chicago Cubs
Pitching - Surprisingly deep starting rotation. Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill will be joined by former closer Ryan Dempster and either Jason Marquis Sean Marshall or Jon Lieber. One of the latter may be traded for a bat or bench help.
Bobby Howry will close to start the season, but he could be keeping the spot warm for Carlos Marmol. Marmol is electric, a shorter version of Ocatavio Dotel. Kerry Wood will likely be a set up man.
Lineup - Very solid. Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome is a cross between Ichiro and Matsui. Not a bad combo. He will add versatility to an offense headed by boppers Alphonso Soriano LF, Derrek Lee 1B and Aramis Ramirez 3B. Geovany Soto is a decent young bat with some pop behind the plate. Mark Derosa 2B and Ryan Theriot SS are reliable. CF could be a question mark if perennial prospect Felix Pie doesn't settle in. The backups are Sam Fuld and prospect Tyler Colvin from Clemson. Daryle Ward and Matt Murton provide bench help. Ronny Cedeno SS is getting a look in Cf as well.
Prospects - Tyler Colvin CF and Josh Vitters C could be mainstays for years to come. Both are ready to hit at the major league level. Geovany Soto C and Felix Pie CF got a taste last year, but are both still in the prospect category. Donald Veal LHP and Sean Gallagher RHP are the top pitching prospects. Jeff Samardzija RHP-WR from Notre Dame may be ready as well.
Milwaukee Brewers
Pitching - Ben Sheets, Jeff Suppan and David Bush will steady the rotation. Yovani Gallardo showed well in a half-season. Prospect Manny Parrs LHP 95 MPH could join the rotation shortly. The bullpen could be a Achilles heel. Eric Gagne was brought in to be the closer. 'Nuf said. Derrick Turnbow will set up. David Riske and the well-traveled Salomon Torres provide depth.
Lineup - Young and strong and long n power led by Prince Fielder 1B, Ryan Braun LF, J.J. Hardy SS, Corey Hart RF and Rickie Weeks 2B all provide double digit HR potential. Bill Hall 3B and Mike Cameron provide veteran leadership. Craig Counsell IF, Gabe Gross OF and Tony Gwynn, Jr. OF provide depth. Jason Kendall and Eric Muncon will platoon at catcher.
Prospects - Manny Parra LHP has top of the rotation potential. Matt LaPorta OF is a power prospect who is being moved from 1B to the OF due t the presence of Prince Fielder.
Cincinnati Reds
Pitching - Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo anchor the top of the rotation. Both have to have good years. The rotation will be filled out by a combination of Matt Belisle, Jeremy Affeldt and prospect Homer Bailey. Francisco Cordero (44 saves last year) will close. David Weathers is the set up man. Bullpen could use more depth.
Lineup - Brandon Phillips 2B (30-94-.288) is an underrated star. Edwin Encarcion 3B and Alex Gonzalez SS are solid. Scott Hatteberg 1B is keeping the spot warm for prospect Joey Votto. In the outfield, Adam Dunn LF and Ken Griffey RF provide the fireworks while rookie Jay Bruce CF may take over in CF over Ryan Freel. David Ross and Javier Valentin split the catching duties.
Prospects - Homer Bailey RHP is a ROY prospect. Jay Bruce CF may start and Joey Votto 1B may only be a year away. Todd Frazier SS from the LLWS is another to watch, maybe not this year.
Houston Astros
Pitching - Roy Oswalt, Woody Williams and Brandon Backe lead the rotation. Wandy Rodriguez should be the fourth starter. Jose Valverde comes in from Arizona (47 saves) to close. Doug Brocail will setup. Not much depth here, prospect Felipe Paulino RHP could step up into the rotation if there are injuries.
Lineup - Carlos Lee LF and Hunter Pence RF ignite the offense. Michael Bourn from the Phillies battles for the CF spot with veteran Darin Erstad who was brought in from the White Sox. The infield has been revamped with Miguel Tejeda SS coming over from Baltimore and Kaz Matsui 2B from the Rockies. They will join holdovers Ty Wiggington 3B and Lance Nerkmann 1B. Mark Loretta and Geoff Blum provide veteran depth. Rookie J.R. Towles will take over the catching duties over veteran Brad Ausmus.
Propsects - J.R. Towles should start at catcher. Felipe Paulino RHP is a power arm who should contribute this year. Brad James RHP could also contribute in the bullpen.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pitching - Ian Snell, Ton Gorzelanny, Zach Duke and veterans Matt Morris and Paul Maholm should be a solid rotation. Matt Capps and Damaso Marte are the early leaders out of the bullpen. Need some depth here. Prospects Brian Bullington and John Van Benschoten will have to step up.
Lineup - Adam LaRoche 1B, Jason Bay LF and Xavier Nady RF provide the pop, along with 370 K's between them. Freddy Sanchez 2B and Jack Wilson SS set the table. Jose Bautista 3B lends come pop. Nyjer Morgan CF could provide some speed to the order. Ronny Paulino and Ryan Doutmit share the catching duties.
Prospects - Nyjer Morgan CF (27 years old is a late bloomer. He may only keep the CF spot warm for super prospect Andrew McCutchen. Steve Pearce 1B-OF has hit at every level.
St. Louis Cardinals
Pitching - Adam Wainwright, Braden Looper and Joel Piniero anchor the top of the rotation. Matt Clement and Anthony Reyes should repleace injured Mark Mulder and Chris Carpenter. Jason Isringhausen (32 saves) showing signs of wearing down. Ryan Franklin sets up along with Russ Springer.
Lineup - Albert Pujols 1B would anchor any lineup. Chris Duncan LF and Rick Ankiel CF-RF only needs to reduce K's to be legitimate superstars. Major decision will be made on fve-tool prospect Colby Rasmus in CF, if he's ready, Ankile likely moves to RF. Otherwise, Ryan Ludwick may take RF and push Ankiel to CF. Juan Encarcion could also start. Troy Glaus 3B will have to stay healthy to protect Pujols in the order. Adam Kennedy 2B and Cesar Izturis SS steady the middle of the diamond. Aaron Miles and Scott Spezio (between bouts of steroid-alcohol-road rage) provide depth. Yadier Molina and Jason LaRue should split time behind the dish.
Prospects - Colby Rasmus is a five tooler in CF. He could play this year. Chris Perez RHP is being groomed as a future closer. He needs to polish his electric stuff.
No comments:
Post a Comment