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- Jul 23, 2007
Well, with pitchers, catchers, and select position players arriving to camp league wide....Spring Training 2008 has begun. I've missed baseball, and bygolly, i cant wait for the regular season to begin.
This has always been one of my favorite threads and I hope that we can continue the fun this season. Everyone in here is always passionate about their teams,and that's what makes this thread what it is. As long as we keep things cool and classy, things should go smoothly. As much as I hate the Cardinals, i willnever insult a Cardinal fan on this forum. Respect is to earned just as it's given. With that said........
[h2]CUBS[/h2]Last year: 85-77, 1st; lost to Arizona in first round.
Manager: Lou Piniella.
Payroll: $120 million.
Headliners: Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee.
Additions: Kosuke Fukudome, Jon Lieber.
Losses: Jacque Jones, Cliff Floyd, Jason Kendall, Mark Prior, Will Ohman, Angel Pagan.
Health watch: Fukudome is expected to be recovered from elbow surgery.
X-factor: Piniella, who can be demanding on catchers, is a big believer in rookie Geovany Soto, who was MVPof the Pacific Coast League in2007. He doesn't seem as sold on center fielder Felix Pie.
Tipping point: After a bad start, Cubs went 63-46 to reach playoffs. They could improve on even that level if lineup moves toward the top ofthe league in scoring.
[h2]Milwaukee Brewers[/h2]Last year: 83-79, 2nd.
Manager: Ned Yost.
Payroll: $73 million.
Headliners: Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Ryan Braun.
Additions: Eric Gagne, Jason Kendall, Mike Cameron, David Riske, Salomon Torres, Guillermo Mota.
Losses: Francisco Cordero, Scott Linebrink, Johnny Estrada, Geoff Jenkins, Matt Wise, Ray King, Kevin Mench.
Health watch: No known concerns.
X-factor: Following Rookie of the Year season, Braun moves from third to left field in a domino chain that has Bill Hall moving to third andCameron replacing Hall in center. Braun's adjustment in the field could hurt his hitting.
Tipping point: The pitching staff is deep but built around guys with major question marks: the durability of Ben Sheets, effectiveness of JeffSuppan and reliability of Gagne.
[h2]St. Louis Cardinals[/h2]Last year: 78-84, 3rd.
Manager: Tony La Russa.
Payroll: $97 million.
Headliners: Albert Pujols, Troy Glaus, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright.
Additions: Glaus, Cesar Izturis, Matt Clement.
Losses: Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, David Eckstein, Kip Wells, Troy Percival, Preston Wilson.
Health watch: Ace Chris Carpenter and supposed No. 2 starter Mark Mulder both could be sidelined until the second half of the season as theyrecover from surgeries.
X-factor: Rick Ankiel provided a huge lift after his arrival last August but will be challenged by pitchers who will be prepared for him.
Tipping point: No team in the majors is losing more established talent than St. Louis. The Cardinals' biggest loss could be GM WaltJocketty, whose firing signaled an end to the franchise's stay among the NL's elite.
[h2]Houston Astros[/h2]Last year: 73-89, 4th.
Manager: Cecil Cooper.
Payroll: $87 million.
Headliners: Roy Oswalt, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman.
Additions: Tejada, Jose Valverde, Kaz Matsui, Michael Bourn, Geoff Blum, Darin Erstad.
Losses: Craig Biggio, Brad Lidge, Jason Jennings, Luke Scott, Orlando Palmeiro, Matt Albers, Troy Patton.
X-factor: Tejada was added in an effort to help a thin pitching staff win games 8-7 but could face a long suspension after his prominentinclusion in the Mitchell report.
Tipping point: Owner Drayton McLane declined to commit to rebuilding after the end of the Bagwell-Biggio era. It's hard to see howthere's enough pitching here to succeed, but leaps forward by guys like Felipe Paulino and Fernando Nieve could help produce a first-division finish.
[h2]Cincinnati Reds[/h2]Last year: 72-90, 5th.
Manager: Dusty Baker.
Payroll: $70 million.
Headliners: Aaron Harang, Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr., Francisco Cordero.
Additions: Cordero, Jeremy Affeldt, Edinson Volquez.
Losses: Josh Hamilton, Eddie Guardado, Eric Milton.
Health watch: A devastating run of injuries contributed to a late fade in 2007, but all hands are expected on deck, including Dunn (kneesurgery) and Griffey (torn groin).
X-factor: Jay Bruce was Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year but could be blocked by Dunn and Griffey.
Tipping point: Ownership's ability to hire an expensive manager in Baker and lure a widely pursued free agent in Cordero signals a renewedchance to compete. But GM Wayne Krivsky may have to deal Dunn or Griffey for pitching.
[h2]Pittsburgh Pirates[/h2]Last year: 68-94, 6th.
Manager: John Russell.
Payroll: $50 million.
Headliners: Adam LaRoche, Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez, Tom Gorzelanny.
Additions: Chris Gomez, Elmer Dessens.
Losses: Salomon Torres, Tony Armas Jr., Jose Castillo.
Health watch: Lefty Zach Duke is expected to be OK after missing three months with elbow problems.
X-factor: Catcher Ronny Paulino was an All-Star in 2006 and disappointing in '07. He has lost weight and been put on notice that he needsto re-establish himself.
Tipping point: Veteran players are frustrated at management's relative inaction. Jack Wilson was unhappy in 2007 and Bay recently has beencritical in interviews. Bay could be traded to open a spot for Steve Pearce.
I look forward to whooping it up with familiar faces, but also seeing new people in the thread. The more the merrier...as long as you aren'tStL. fans
This has always been one of my favorite threads and I hope that we can continue the fun this season. Everyone in here is always passionate about their teams,and that's what makes this thread what it is. As long as we keep things cool and classy, things should go smoothly. As much as I hate the Cardinals, i willnever insult a Cardinal fan on this forum. Respect is to earned just as it's given. With that said........
[h2]CUBS[/h2]Last year: 85-77, 1st; lost to Arizona in first round.
Manager: Lou Piniella.
Payroll: $120 million.
Headliners: Carlos Zambrano, Alfonso Soriano, Aramis Ramirez, Derrek Lee.
Additions: Kosuke Fukudome, Jon Lieber.
Losses: Jacque Jones, Cliff Floyd, Jason Kendall, Mark Prior, Will Ohman, Angel Pagan.
Health watch: Fukudome is expected to be recovered from elbow surgery.
X-factor: Piniella, who can be demanding on catchers, is a big believer in rookie Geovany Soto, who was MVPof the Pacific Coast League in2007. He doesn't seem as sold on center fielder Felix Pie.
Tipping point: After a bad start, Cubs went 63-46 to reach playoffs. They could improve on even that level if lineup moves toward the top ofthe league in scoring.
[h2]Milwaukee Brewers[/h2]Last year: 83-79, 2nd.
Manager: Ned Yost.
Payroll: $73 million.
Headliners: Prince Fielder, J.J. Hardy, Ryan Braun.
Additions: Eric Gagne, Jason Kendall, Mike Cameron, David Riske, Salomon Torres, Guillermo Mota.
Losses: Francisco Cordero, Scott Linebrink, Johnny Estrada, Geoff Jenkins, Matt Wise, Ray King, Kevin Mench.
Health watch: No known concerns.
X-factor: Following Rookie of the Year season, Braun moves from third to left field in a domino chain that has Bill Hall moving to third andCameron replacing Hall in center. Braun's adjustment in the field could hurt his hitting.
Tipping point: The pitching staff is deep but built around guys with major question marks: the durability of Ben Sheets, effectiveness of JeffSuppan and reliability of Gagne.
[h2]St. Louis Cardinals[/h2]Last year: 78-84, 3rd.
Manager: Tony La Russa.
Payroll: $97 million.
Headliners: Albert Pujols, Troy Glaus, Yadier Molina, Adam Wainwright.
Additions: Glaus, Cesar Izturis, Matt Clement.
Losses: Scott Rolen, Jim Edmonds, David Eckstein, Kip Wells, Troy Percival, Preston Wilson.
Health watch: Ace Chris Carpenter and supposed No. 2 starter Mark Mulder both could be sidelined until the second half of the season as theyrecover from surgeries.
X-factor: Rick Ankiel provided a huge lift after his arrival last August but will be challenged by pitchers who will be prepared for him.
Tipping point: No team in the majors is losing more established talent than St. Louis. The Cardinals' biggest loss could be GM WaltJocketty, whose firing signaled an end to the franchise's stay among the NL's elite.
[h2]Houston Astros[/h2]Last year: 73-89, 4th.
Manager: Cecil Cooper.
Payroll: $87 million.
Headliners: Roy Oswalt, Miguel Tejada, Carlos Lee, Lance Berkman.
Additions: Tejada, Jose Valverde, Kaz Matsui, Michael Bourn, Geoff Blum, Darin Erstad.
Losses: Craig Biggio, Brad Lidge, Jason Jennings, Luke Scott, Orlando Palmeiro, Matt Albers, Troy Patton.
X-factor: Tejada was added in an effort to help a thin pitching staff win games 8-7 but could face a long suspension after his prominentinclusion in the Mitchell report.
Tipping point: Owner Drayton McLane declined to commit to rebuilding after the end of the Bagwell-Biggio era. It's hard to see howthere's enough pitching here to succeed, but leaps forward by guys like Felipe Paulino and Fernando Nieve could help produce a first-division finish.
[h2]Cincinnati Reds[/h2]Last year: 72-90, 5th.
Manager: Dusty Baker.
Payroll: $70 million.
Headliners: Aaron Harang, Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey Jr., Francisco Cordero.
Additions: Cordero, Jeremy Affeldt, Edinson Volquez.
Losses: Josh Hamilton, Eddie Guardado, Eric Milton.
Health watch: A devastating run of injuries contributed to a late fade in 2007, but all hands are expected on deck, including Dunn (kneesurgery) and Griffey (torn groin).
X-factor: Jay Bruce was Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year but could be blocked by Dunn and Griffey.
Tipping point: Ownership's ability to hire an expensive manager in Baker and lure a widely pursued free agent in Cordero signals a renewedchance to compete. But GM Wayne Krivsky may have to deal Dunn or Griffey for pitching.
[h2]Pittsburgh Pirates[/h2]Last year: 68-94, 6th.
Manager: John Russell.
Payroll: $50 million.
Headliners: Adam LaRoche, Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez, Tom Gorzelanny.
Additions: Chris Gomez, Elmer Dessens.
Losses: Salomon Torres, Tony Armas Jr., Jose Castillo.
Health watch: Lefty Zach Duke is expected to be OK after missing three months with elbow problems.
X-factor: Catcher Ronny Paulino was an All-Star in 2006 and disappointing in '07. He has lost weight and been put on notice that he needsto re-establish himself.
Tipping point: Veteran players are frustrated at management's relative inaction. Jack Wilson was unhappy in 2007 and Bay recently has beencritical in interviews. Bay could be traded to open a spot for Steve Pearce.
I look forward to whooping it up with familiar faces, but also seeing new people in the thread. The more the merrier...as long as you aren'tStL. fans
