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OK lads and lasses, after the Super Bowl this weekend, we'll have to endure an entire week with zero interesting sports on anywhere. But pitchers and catchers are due to report soon and with the Saints out of the playoffs for the last several weeks, I've been thinking only of baseball. I just couldn't wait until after the Super Bowl to get everyone's picks.
Now last year I was only off by one, as the Reds swapped places with the Cards. There have been lots of new additions, most particularly in Milwaukee, so here are my picks for this season:
1. Cards
Starting pitching more solid than I've ever seen it. Oddly, the old Card defense is suspect this year though. They'll need the closer to make it down the stretch and the left side of the infield has the hot corner man coming off surgery on both feet and a recycled coonarse Cub manning the hole. They have the best 1-2 punch in both pitching Carpenter-Wainright)and hitting (Pujols-Holliday) in the division.
2. Reds
I'm more than tempted to move these guys down to 3 given the sick amount of luck and late inning wins they had last year, but you can't argue with the job Jocketty has done here. Will Vatto have another MVP season? (Will he spike someone else in the head during a scrum?) Will the young pitchers come through? Lot of questions, but these guys are unquestionably contenders. Jocketty makes a lot happen, but Dusty Baker????? He'll find a way to muck it up.
3. Brew Crew
Many may disagree with me here, and to a certain degree, I almost disagree with myself. With the addition of Grienke and others, the Crew has made a big improvement in the pitching game. Their bullpen is most suspect, though the lineup can just plain mash.
4. Small Bears
The proverbial underachievers of the 20th century have squandered yet another decade of promise and talent. Classless "Leaders" like Zambrano will likely get you nowhere fast. It was enough to put Sweet Lou in the baseball grave. They're too talented to make it into the cellar and just plain not good enough to do anything else.
5. 'Stros
I can't say I've paid much attention, but with the team up for sale, they seem to be standing pat. The only reason they won't be cellar dwellers is I think the young kids have some spunk. The sad part is this is where they should have been several years ago, but they could have gotten a good deal of prospects for what they had in Oswalt/Berkman at the time. Spunk can do a lot, but it's tough when it's got to make up for talent. Who knows where they would be at this point had they done the smart thing back then.
6. Bucs
The Pirates are expected to contend for the NAIA crown this year. Naw, they couldn't even do that. Howard Payne has a better chance. I find it very difficult to write anything serious about these guys.
So let's hear y'all's picks.
Now last year I was only off by one, as the Reds swapped places with the Cards. There have been lots of new additions, most particularly in Milwaukee, so here are my picks for this season:
1. Cards
Starting pitching more solid than I've ever seen it. Oddly, the old Card defense is suspect this year though. They'll need the closer to make it down the stretch and the left side of the infield has the hot corner man coming off surgery on both feet and a recycled coonarse Cub manning the hole. They have the best 1-2 punch in both pitching Carpenter-Wainright)and hitting (Pujols-Holliday) in the division.
2. Reds
I'm more than tempted to move these guys down to 3 given the sick amount of luck and late inning wins they had last year, but you can't argue with the job Jocketty has done here. Will Vatto have another MVP season? (Will he spike someone else in the head during a scrum?) Will the young pitchers come through? Lot of questions, but these guys are unquestionably contenders. Jocketty makes a lot happen, but Dusty Baker????? He'll find a way to muck it up.
3. Brew Crew
Many may disagree with me here, and to a certain degree, I almost disagree with myself. With the addition of Grienke and others, the Crew has made a big improvement in the pitching game. Their bullpen is most suspect, though the lineup can just plain mash.
4. Small Bears
The proverbial underachievers of the 20th century have squandered yet another decade of promise and talent. Classless "Leaders" like Zambrano will likely get you nowhere fast. It was enough to put Sweet Lou in the baseball grave. They're too talented to make it into the cellar and just plain not good enough to do anything else.
5. 'Stros
I can't say I've paid much attention, but with the team up for sale, they seem to be standing pat. The only reason they won't be cellar dwellers is I think the young kids have some spunk. The sad part is this is where they should have been several years ago, but they could have gotten a good deal of prospects for what they had in Oswalt/Berkman at the time. Spunk can do a lot, but it's tough when it's got to make up for talent. Who knows where they would be at this point had they done the smart thing back then.
6. Bucs
The Pirates are expected to contend for the NAIA crown this year. Naw, they couldn't even do that. Howard Payne has a better chance. I find it very difficult to write anything serious about these guys.
So let's hear y'all's picks.
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