Post by New Orleans GM on Mar 31, 2012 1:31:53 GMT -6
NL Central
1.(4) Chicago Cubs
I obviously do not rationally believe the Cubs will win the Central, but part of being a Cubs fan is the absurd irrational belief that this is the year. Also pride and stubbornness will not allow me to put the Cardinals, Reds, and Brewers ahead of the Cubs on any list. So I guess you could say much like AJ, Brian, Nick, Kevin, and Howie, “I Want It That Way.”
The Cubs are in an interesting position coming into the 2012 season, and I think in many respects, they will be better than people think. The problem projecting the Cubs season is that the roster will vastly different by the end of the season. The new management will be very active in taking the Cubs from where they are to where they want to be. The process of change began last season and continued to the offseason by getting rid of players and management that did not fit the new attitude needed to turn the franchise around. Players like Zambrano, Fukudome, and Aramis Ramirez were traded or not welcomed back in an attempt to get a new type of player in Chicago. Players like Bryan LaHair, Darwin Barney, Tony Campana, Travis Wood are guys that play hard every out, every time they are on the field. For too long in Wrigleyville the players have had too much leiniency and it was clearly evident a new direction was needed. The new management has brought about a fresh attitude and it will not be long until the Cubs are back at the level of 2008 when they won 97 games. The best thing that could possibly happen for the Cubs would be good starts to the season for Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza, Alfonso Soriano, and Carlos Marmol, so they can move them to contenders and bring in some talented young propects.
Key Additions: 1B Anthony Rizzo, 3B Ian Stewart
Key Losses: SP Carlos Zambrano, 3B Aramis Ramirez
Strength: New Leadership
Ever since Lou Pinella stopped giving a shit the Cubs have been a rudderless ship. There has been a complete lack of leadership and accountability. Mike Quade was a good advocate for his players and a solid x’s and o’s manager, but he needed a team full of veteran leaders and discipline wasn’t his strong suit. The front office has been severely lacking in recent years when developing young talent, and General Manager Jim Hendry was really good at writing big contracts for over rated players. New manager Dale Sveum and new front office leaders Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein have stressed accountability and a team first attitude coming into the 2012 season. A fresh new start is exactly what the Cubs need.
Weakness: Power
The 2012 Cubs will struggle to score runs at times because they lack powerful bats in the middle of the lineup. The Cubs have placed a lot of stock in turning Anthony Rizzo into a middle of the order threat, but his disappointing 2011 season means he will probably spend a good portion of 2012 in Iowa. Ian Stewart has shown good power, but he doesn’t make solid contact enough to be a real threat. Geovany Soto hit some bombs from time to time, and Alfonso Soriano hit one out every once in a while. The 2012 season may depend a lot on the full season of Bryan LaHair finally getting his chance and Starlin Castro continuing to develop. The lineup is not a major threat to knock in a bunch of runs. Marlon Byrd, Darwin Barney, and David DeJesus will all get on base quite a bit but the lack of power may fail to knock them in.
Fantasy MVP: SS Starlin Castro
If I asked which player led the NL in hits in 2011, what would your guess be? Matt Kemp? Ryan Braun? Albert Pujols? The correct answer is the 21 year old Starlin Castro. His 207 hits were the most in the NL and the fourth most in all of baseball. Castro will turn 22 a few weeks before the season starts, and he has the ability to become one of the best hitters in Cub history. His value is only likely to increase as he matures and turns his raw talent into reliable production. His power will eventually develop and new manager Dale Sveum is more likely to be aggressive on the base paths, increasing his base stealing potential. For now Castro is above average at a talent thin position, but in a few years he will be one of the best players in the game with possible 30/30 potential.
Player To Watch: P Jeff Samardzija
Samardzija is most famous for making Brady Quinn look remotely talented on the Notre Dame football team, but he has been somewhat vexing as a baseball prospect. There is no doubt he is talented with a fastball in the high 90’s and he has seen some success in a relief role. The Cubs will give him another shot in what may be his last chance to prove he can be a starter. He has bouts of wildness that have caused me to scream myself horse at the TV, but he corrected some issues in 2011 and was very good out of the pen. If he can learn to be effectively wild and harness his capabilities the Cubs may have a decent rotation. If he can earn a spot as a starter with Garza, Paul Maholm, Travis Wood, and an improved Ryan Dempster, the Cubs may pitch their way to more wins than expected.
Report Card:
Offense: C+
Defense: B-
Pitching: B
Intangibles: B
Farm System: B
Best Case Scenario: Garza, Soriano, Marmol, and Dempster are all moved by the deadline, prospects Rizzo and Jackson make an impact, Samardzija makes a successful transition to starting
Worst Case: There is no room for pessimism here.
Final Predication: The Cubs compete better than people expect hearing plenty of “Go Cubs Go” on the north side, but they ultimately come in fourth in the Central.
Just to piss Kyle off.
Lineups According to Me:
1. RF David Dejesus
2. 2B Darwin Barney
3. SS Starlin Castro
4. 1B/LF Bryan LaHair
5. CF Marlon Byrd
6. LF Alfonso Soriano/1B Anthony Rizzo
7. C Geovany Soto
8. 3B Ian Stewart
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Matt Garza
2. Ryan Dempster
3. Jeff Samardzija
4. Paul Maholm
5. Travis Wood
Chris Volstad
Randy Wells
Key Relievers:
James Russell
Kerry Wood
Rafael Dolis
Closer:
Carlos Marmol
Pictures:
The MLB leader in hits in the 1990's, Mark Fuckin Grace
Also Bill Fuckin Murray
And in case you were worried about having an erection at a bad time just picture this...
1. St. Louis Cardinals
The World Series champs lost the best player in baseball, but they still manage to bring back the best team in the Central. Losing Albert hurts a lot, but bringing in Beltran makes up for some of the offense lost, and improves the defense by moving Berkman to first. Having Adam Wainwright back makes the Cards rotation one of the best in baseball, and don’t forget about the emergence of David Freese and Allen Craig. They will still have plenty of offense and the pitching will be even better. The bullpen needs some help but the Cardinals will likely win the Central in 2012.
Key Additions: RF Carlos Beltran
Key Losses: SP Edwin Jackson, Some guy named Albert
Strength: Starting Rotation
The top three of the rotation stack up with anybody in the majors. Adam Wainwright was filthy before he got hurt, and 90% of pitchers that get Tommy John come back as strong as ever. He has a career ERA under 3 and he is just one season removed from winning 19 games. Jaime Garcia gives the Red Birds a very nice left handed presence and he is still pretty young at only 25 coming into the 2012 season. I will let everybody in a little secret when I say I have a man crush on Chris Carpenter. To me he exemplifies what a major league starter should be. He leaves everything he has on the field every time he takes the mound. If I had to win a one game playoff, Carpenter would be one of my top choices to take the mound. As far as the rest of the rotation is concerned, a fourth starter could be a whole lot worse than Kyle Lohse, and Jake Westbrook still has moments. I would expect either Lance Lynn or prospect Shelby Miller to find their way into the rotation.
Weakness: Loss Of Leadership
Losing Albert Pujols hurts because of what he brought production wise on the field, but just as big an impact could be his leadership in the clubhouse. Pujols was always considered an excellent clubhouse guy and the consummate teammate. Just as important will be retirement of legendary manager Tony LaRussa. Losing a manager with over 5000 games under his belt; with 2728 career wins, 6 pennants, and 3 World Series titles could have a major effect on the Cardinals. The Cardinals still have guys like Holliday, Berkman, Carpenter, and Molina so the clubhouse should be fine, but new manager Mike Matheny is untested. I think the Cards will be fine but the loss of leadership from LaRussa and Pujols could be a factor. Plus Tony LaRussa daughter an Oakland Raider cheerleader won't be around anymore.
Fantasy MVP: LF Matt Holliday
For better or worse this offense now rests on the shoulders of Holliday. Just to show how unlucky he was in 2011, he missed almost 40 games last year because of an appendectomy and a moth flying in his ear. Outside of these freak incidents Holliday has been pretty healthy throughout his career. He will probably never have another year like 2007 when he hit .340 with 36 bombs and 137 knocked in, but I think his time to shine has come. Holliday is in for a big season, and an MVP caliber season isn’t unrealistic.
Player To Watch: SP Adam Wainwright
In 2009 and 2010 he had 39 wins and 425 strikeouts and 463 innings pitched. Wainwright was one of the elite starters in the bigs, and it is hard to overestimate how good he was before the surgery. If he can come back and be close to as good as before the surgery, the Cards will win the Central easily. He may have some struggles early in the season as he rediscovers his off speed pitches and regains control, but he will get stronger as the season wears on.
Report Card:
Offense: B+
Defense: B
Pitching: A-
Intangibles: A-
Farm System: A-
Best Case Scenario: Carpenter comes back in a hurry, Beltran has a year like Berkman’s 2011, Craig and Freese keep getting better
Worst Case: Carpenter misses large amounts of time, Berkman .goes back to 2010, Wainwright can find a rhythm
Final Prediction: Wainwright regains his form by the All-Star break and Beltran picks up enough of the offense to take the defending champs back to the postseason.
Lineups According to Me:
1. SS Rafael Furcal
2. RF Carlos Beltran/Allen Craig
3. LF Matt Holliday
4. 1B Lance Berkman
5. 3B David Freese
6. 2B Allen Craig
7. C Yadier Molina
8. 2B Tyler Greene
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Adam Wainwright
2. Jaime Garcia
3. Chris Carpenter
4. Kyle Lohse
5. Jake Westbrook
Lance Lynn
Shelby Miller
Key Relievers:
Fernando Salas
J.C. Romero
Mark Rzepczynski
Closer:
Jason Motte
Pictures:
2. Milwaukee Brewers
Much like the Cardinals, losing a talented first baseman will hurt the Brew Crew in 2012. But they dodged a major bullet with Ryan Braun’s suspension being overturned, and they will be able stay competitive this season. While losing Prince will hurt their production from the first base position, they upgraded offensively at both short and third. Alex Gonzalez and Aramis Ramirez are major improvements with the bat over Casey McGehee and Yuniesky Betancourt. The pitching staff remains unchanged and will continue to keep the Brewers in games. The top three of Gallardo, Greinke, and Marcum are very good, and Randy Wolf is a pretty good number four. John Axford and K-Rod are as good as it gets in the eighth and ninth. The Brewers will fall off a bit in 2012, but they still have a competitive roster.
Key Additions: 3B Aramis Ramirez, SS Alex Gonzalez
Key Losses: RP Takashi Saito, 1B Prince Fielder
Strength: Pitching If They Are Healthy
If Yovani Gallardo played in Boston, L.A., or New York he would be a superstar. He has ridiculous stuff, and he is still young enough to keep getting better. Zack Greinke hasn’t repeated his 2009 Cy Young numbers lately, but he is still a very good pitcher. He still needs to pitch better on the road if he wants to be the go to guy for the Brewers. His ERA was almost a full run higher away from Miller Park. Shaun Marcum is always a concern health wise. Marcum is very good when he can make his starts, but he has been shut down with shoulder stiffness already this spring. Milwaukee needs a healthy Marcum if they want to compete. Randy Wolf is a nice fourth starter. He doesn’t overpower anybody but he competes every time he takes the mound. I will be interested to see how long the Brewers wait to give top prospect Wily Peralta a shot to crack the rotation. The Brewers have the advantage of knowing what they are going to get at the end of the game. Francisco Rodriguez has been very good for a decade, and John Axford has proved to be very adept at closing games.
Weakness: Defense
You have to worry about any team that relies on Aramis Ramirez to make plays. Ramirez’s days of making quality defensive plays are behind him. To compound to the problem Milwaukee also brought in Alex Gonzalez, who was a very good shortstop once upon a time. Now at 35 his range has decreased and his glove is suffering. Throw these guys on top of the subpar fielders they already have, and this defense could be very bad. Rickie Weeks is known more for his bat at second. Ryan Braun has always been a below average fielder, and Corey Hart is a douche. I’m not real sure if Hart is a quality fielder or not, but he just pisses me off, so I will take the opportunity to besmirch his name.
Fantasy MVP: LF Ryan Braun
This is a no brainer. The reigning NL MVP gets my vote as the best hitter in the game right now. He hits with power to all fields, and he does it while not sacrificing his average. Chemically enhanced or not I don’t care; it takes immense talent to hit over .300 for a career. Last season Braun hit .332, clubbed 33 bombs knocked in 111, and got on base almost 4 out of ten times. A .994 OPS for a full season is quite an accomplishment. But perhaps the most surprising aspect of Braun’s game is his 33 steals in 2011. Braun isn’t thought of as a speed threat, but he does it by picking the right time to run. 33 out of 39 attempts is a pretty remarkable number. I know a lot of people think Matt Kemp deserved the MVP over Braun, but when I look at the numbers Braun was absolutely deserving of the hardware.
This is the only person who knows if Braun's balls shrank.
Player To Watch: 3B Aramis Ramirez
After being around for 14 years, it is easy to forget he is only 33 years old coming into the season. There is no doubt he has become a defensive liability, but he can still rake. The Brewers will need Aramis to pick up most of the offensive slack left by losing Prince. Ramirez had a great 2011 season, but it was under the radar because the Cubs were so bad. He hit .306 last year with 26 bombs, and he probably would have knocked in 100 if anybody was on base in front of him besides Starlin Castro. Fielder left a huge hole in the middle of the Brewers lineup, and Ramirez will have to be the one to try and fill it.
Report Card:
Offense: B+
Defense: C
Pitching: A-
Intangibles: B
Farm System: C+
Best Case Scenario: Ramirez hit enough to make up for his defense, pitching stays healthy
Worst Case: Gamel and Ramirez can’t make up the loss of Fielder, pitching staff doesn’t live up to expectations, Grienke and Marcum get hurt
Final Prediction: Ramirez and Gamel pick up most of Fielder’s slack, but the defense costs the Brewers the race with the Cards for the Central title.
Lineups According to Me:
1. RF Corey Hart
2. CF Nyjer Morgan
3. LF Ryan Braun
4. 2B Rickie Weeks
5.3B Aramis Ramirez
6. 1B Mat Gamel
7. SS Alex Gonzalez
8. C Jonathan Lucroy
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Yovani Gallardo
2. Zack Greinke
3. Shaun Marcum
4. Randy Wolf
5. Chris Narveson
Wily Peralta
Key Relievers:
Francisco Rodriguez
Kameron Loe
Brandon Kintzler
Closer:
John Axford
Pictures:
3. Cincinnati Reds
I have nothing nice to say. Cincinnati is the festering infected hemmoroid on the asshole of western civilization. That being said they have some talented players. Votto, Bruce, Cueto, and Rolen are all above average baseball players. Bringing in Latos and Madson makes the pitching better, until Madson went down for the year, and Mesoraco and Cozart are promising young prospects. The Reds fans think they are a World Series contender, and I can’t wait until their dreams are crushed by about June 1st.
I wish I could put the smell that accompanies this cesspool over the internet.
Key Additions: SP Mat Latos, RP Sean Marshall
Key Losses: 1B/OF Yonder Alonso, SP Travis Wood
Strength: Bullpen
For everything I hate about the Reds I do admire their bullpen. I loathe the fact that Sean Marshall ended up in Cincy because he is absolutely devastating, especially against lefties. Bill Bray dominates lefties as well, making Aroldis Chapman obsolete so they can attempt the ill-conceived plot to turn him into a starter. Ryan Madson was very good in Philly at shutting down games, and I think would have been just as effective in Cincy. When they have the lead the Reds should be able to hold it in the late innings.
Weakness: Manager Dusty Baker
As a Cubs fan I witnessed Dusty’s special brand of retardary first hand for four years. This guy makes baseball decisions with the grace of a fat chick on rollerskates.
He single handedly destroyed the career of Mark Prior with his insane pitching development techniques. He hit Drew Stubbs leadoff for the entire 2011 season even while he struck out 205 times. That was the third most in major league history. All the while Chris Heisey was sitting on the bench, yet he still managed to hit more homers, and had more rbis, with over 300 less at bats. Baker is a major liability whenever he gets to make a decision.
Why yes, that is a grown man wearing sweat bands.
Fantasy MVP: 1B Joey Votto
Votto is an above average hitter. That all the compliments I have for him. With his creepy unibrow, soulless rapist eyes, and pedophilish walk up music he has all the appeal of a sexual encounter with Rosie O’Donnell.
He's raping your soul with that 1000 yard stare.
Player to Watch: 3B Scott Rolen
I’m interested to see if Mat Latos is a product of Petco Park or if he can pitch in the tee-ball field they call Great American Ballpark, but the most important piece for the Reds is Rolen. Cincinnati has had two very different teams since Rolen has come to town. When Rolen plays they have a good middle of the lineup, and he provides solid leadership. When Rolen has spent time on the DL, the Reds are a lot weaker offensively, and Brandon Phillips doesn’t have anybody to call him on his bullshit. If Rolen stays healthy, the Reds are a much better team.
Report Card:
Offense: B
Defense: A-
Pitching: C
Intangibles: D
Farm System: B+
Best Case Scenario: Dusty Baker gets fired, Phillips, Stubbs, Bruce and Arroyo are traded for competent major leaguers
Worst Case: Rolen gets hurt, Latos can’t adjust to the launching pad, Bronson Arroyo continues to be in the rotation
Final Prediction: The Reds hang around .500 most of the year as the Cards and Brew Crew pull away in June.
Lineups According to Me:
1. SS Zack Cozart
2. LF Chris Heisey
3. 1B Joey Votto
4. 3B Scott Rolen
5. RF Jay Bruce
6. 2B Brandon Phillips
7. C Ryan Hanigan
8. P
9. CF Drew Stubbs
Starting Rotation:
1. Mat Latos
2. Johnny Cueto
3. Mike Leake
4. Bronson Arroyo
5. Sam LeCure
Key Relievers:
Nick Masset
Bill Bray
Logan Ondrusek
Closer:
Sean Marshall
Pictures:
Thom Brenaman demands children for molesting
The last Red I respected.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates had a fantastic first half of the season in 2011 before they came crashing back to Earth. Quite a few of the Pirates performed above expectations, especially the pitching staff, and it allowed them to stay in the hunt for quite a awhile. 2012 will be a year of disappointment in Pittsburgh, as they wait for promising prospects to arrive at the big league level. Prospects like Gerrit Cole Jameson Taillon and Starlng Marte will turn the Bucs around but it will be a few years. For now Pittsburgh will have to make do with the exciting play of Andrew McCutchen, Joel Hanrahan, and maybe Pedro Alvarez if he gets his shit together.
Key Additions: SS Clint Barmes, SP Erik Bedard, SP AJ Burnett
Key Losses: C/1B Ryan Doumit, SP Paul Maholm
Strength: Talented Young Outfieders
The Pirates don’t have a lot to look forward to in 2012, but they do have some talent roaming the outfield. Jose Tabata has tons of potential, and he showed good growth when he wasn’t injured last year. Another full season will give him a chance to further develop into a good major leaguer. Alex Presley will be the opening day starter in left, and while he doesn’t show a ton of power he has a history of hitting for a solid average and high on- base percentage. And of course they have the best centerfielder in the game this side of Matt Kemp and Curtis Granderson. Andrew McCutchen is one of the most exciting players in the game. I am particularly interested in the development of Starling Marte. Marte will likely start his 2012 at AAA, but I don’t expect him to stay there for long. All indications point to Marte being a dynamic big leaguer.
Weakness: Starting Rotation
The Pirates stayed around in the playoff hunt in 2011 in large part because their rotation outperformed their ability. This season, don’t expect the Pirates questionable rotation to be quite as good. Relying on Erik Bedard to be healthy and effective is never a good idea. Over the last five years he has made just 82 starts. Jeff Karstens pitched way over his expected level in 2011 with an ERA of 3.38, over a full run lower than his career ERA of 4.52. I think his stats will correct themselves this year. James McDonald is a shaky option at best with his questionable command, and Charlie Morton doesn’t exactly inspire a bunch of confidence either. The Pirates big off-season move was to bring in AJ Burnett, who inexplicably turned down a trade to the Angels, and then promptly fouled a bunt off of his eye when he arrived at camp.
Kevin Correia may be the Pirates best starter be his numbers don’t exactly scream number one starter. Unless all of the Pirates starters pitch well above expectations, they will be worse in 2012.
Fantasy MVP: CF Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen took a big step forward in his power development in 2011, although it came with a little damage to his batting average. He jumped from 16 homers in 2010 to 23 in 2011 and he knocked in 33 more runs. His batting average did drop a bit, however McCutchen improved his plate discipline and took many more walks keeping his on base percentage basically the same. In addition to what he does at the plate, he also steals a fair amount of bases and scores quite a few runs even on a bad team. He is just now entering his power prime, and he still has room to fill out his frame even more without sacrificing speed. McCutchen could continue to be a dual threat at the plate and on the base paths for a long time.
Player To Watch: 3B Pedro Alvarez
To say Alvarez has been a disappointment so far in his career is an understatement. His .191 batting average in 2011 must have been very troubling to the Pirates. With that said he is only 25 years old, and he could still make the important adjustments to become a good hitter. If Alvarez can find a way to reach his potential, when combined with McCuthen and Marte, it could give the Pirates a good core group of hitters by the time Gerrit Cole and Jamseon Taillon arrive and the Pirates may become relevant again.
Report Card:
Offense: C-
Defense: B
Pitching: D+
Intangibles: B-
Farm System: B+
Best Case Scenario: Alvarez turns his career around, Tabata stays healthy, McCutchen develops more power, pitching is better than normal
Worst Case: They play like the 2010 Pirates
Final Prediction: McCutchen and the soon to arrive Starling Marte are the lone bright spots and the Bucs finish fifth in the Central.
Lineups According to Me:
1. RF Jose Tabata
2. 3B Pedro Alvarez
3. CF Andrew McCutchen
4. 2B Neil Walker
5. 1B Garrett Jones
6. C Rod Barajas
7. LF Alex Presley/ Starling Marte
8. SS Clint Barmes
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Erik Bedard
2. Jeff Karstens
3. AJ Burnett
4. Kevin Correia
5. Charlie Morton
Key Relievers:
Jason Grilli
Evan Meek
Closer:
Joel Hanrahan
Pictures:
This last one is meant for a few people. One of our teachers was a huge douche and Pirates fan.
6. Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an abject failure. They are an embarrassment to the game of baseball. They are far and away the worst team in the bigs, and their farm system isn’t going to help anytime soon. It is hard to believe this franchise was in the World Series just seven years ago. They have three players on the roster that could be considered a success at any point in their career. Carlos Lee was at one time a feared slugger, but he has lost most of his power and speed. Brett Myers was a solid starter at one point in time, and his move back to the closer role is the best move the Astros have made in years. Wandy Rodriguez is a decent pitcher at times, but he has some really really bad games that distort his stats to make him look even worse. Outside of these three, the team taking the field in Houston is a minor league level of talent.
Key Additions: SS Jed Lowrie, SP Livan Hernandez
Key Losses: SS Clint Barmes, RP Mark Melancon
Strength: Bullpen
For some inexplicable reason, the Astros have a quality bullpen, Fernando Rodriguez, Juan Abreu, and Wilton Lopez are not a Hispanic singing trio, but three solid relivers for the Astros. Who knew? Someone named David Carpenter will be the setup man and apparently he isn’t the worst pitcher ever. Brandon Lyon has had some decent seasons during his career, and Brett Myers has been a good closer in the past as well. This mish mash group could give the Astros some trade pieces when the deadline comes around.
Weakness: Lineup
Carlos Lee used to be good. The rest of the lineup is god awful. Jed Lowrie has had potential for about 5 years, and it has never amounted to anything. Brian Bogusevic sounds like a venereal disease. Jose Altuve J.D. Martinez, Jason Castro, and Jimmy Paredes have 12 career home runs, and Jordan Shafer has never reached his potential because hes been too busy being awesome. These guys may be one of the worst hitting teams of all time.
Fantasy MVP: SP Bud Norris
Norris is the victim of some really bad circumstances. Houston is a terrible place to play baseball right now, but Norris has been really good. He only won 6 games in 2011, but his numbers would have got him at least 10 wins on any other team. His progress is all trending upward with a better ER, WHIP, and walk rate last year. He is still at the age where the Astros will hold onto him, and hope he can be a piece to build with in the future. His numbers will likely stay around the same level or even improve, but his situation will not be better any time soon.
Player To Watch: SS Jed Lowrie
Lowrie was supposed to be the shortstop of the future for several years, but his big league shot never really happened. He has had some injuries, and had to compete with established veteran Marco Scutaro, and as a result he never got his shot to start for the Sox. Moving to Houston where he is a lock to be the starter at short, and playing in a low pressure environment may be just what Lowrie needs. He could have a chance to become a very good player in a location with absolutely no expectations.
Report Card:
Offense: D-
Defense: B-
Pitching: C
Intangibles: D
Farm System: C+
Best Case Scenario: They finish with not the worst record of all-time.
Worst Case: It cannot be worse than playing for the Astros
Final Prediction: This may be the worst team of all-time as they finish dead last in the league.
Lineups According to Me:
1. CF Jordan Schafer
2. SS Jed Lowrie
3. 1B Carlos Lee
4. LF JD Martinez
5. RF Brian Bogusevic
6. C Jason Castro
7. 3B Chris Johnson/ Jimmy Paredes
8. 2B Jose Altuve
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Bud Norris
2. Wandy Rodriguez
3. JA Happ
4. Jordan Lyles
5. Livan Hernandez
Key Relievers:
Wilton Lopez
Fernando Rodriguez
Juan Abreu
Closer:
Brett Myers
Pictures:
1.(4) Chicago Cubs
I obviously do not rationally believe the Cubs will win the Central, but part of being a Cubs fan is the absurd irrational belief that this is the year. Also pride and stubbornness will not allow me to put the Cardinals, Reds, and Brewers ahead of the Cubs on any list. So I guess you could say much like AJ, Brian, Nick, Kevin, and Howie, “I Want It That Way.”
The Cubs are in an interesting position coming into the 2012 season, and I think in many respects, they will be better than people think. The problem projecting the Cubs season is that the roster will vastly different by the end of the season. The new management will be very active in taking the Cubs from where they are to where they want to be. The process of change began last season and continued to the offseason by getting rid of players and management that did not fit the new attitude needed to turn the franchise around. Players like Zambrano, Fukudome, and Aramis Ramirez were traded or not welcomed back in an attempt to get a new type of player in Chicago. Players like Bryan LaHair, Darwin Barney, Tony Campana, Travis Wood are guys that play hard every out, every time they are on the field. For too long in Wrigleyville the players have had too much leiniency and it was clearly evident a new direction was needed. The new management has brought about a fresh attitude and it will not be long until the Cubs are back at the level of 2008 when they won 97 games. The best thing that could possibly happen for the Cubs would be good starts to the season for Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza, Alfonso Soriano, and Carlos Marmol, so they can move them to contenders and bring in some talented young propects.
Key Additions: 1B Anthony Rizzo, 3B Ian Stewart
Key Losses: SP Carlos Zambrano, 3B Aramis Ramirez
Strength: New Leadership
Ever since Lou Pinella stopped giving a shit the Cubs have been a rudderless ship. There has been a complete lack of leadership and accountability. Mike Quade was a good advocate for his players and a solid x’s and o’s manager, but he needed a team full of veteran leaders and discipline wasn’t his strong suit. The front office has been severely lacking in recent years when developing young talent, and General Manager Jim Hendry was really good at writing big contracts for over rated players. New manager Dale Sveum and new front office leaders Jed Hoyer and Theo Epstein have stressed accountability and a team first attitude coming into the 2012 season. A fresh new start is exactly what the Cubs need.
Weakness: Power
The 2012 Cubs will struggle to score runs at times because they lack powerful bats in the middle of the lineup. The Cubs have placed a lot of stock in turning Anthony Rizzo into a middle of the order threat, but his disappointing 2011 season means he will probably spend a good portion of 2012 in Iowa. Ian Stewart has shown good power, but he doesn’t make solid contact enough to be a real threat. Geovany Soto hit some bombs from time to time, and Alfonso Soriano hit one out every once in a while. The 2012 season may depend a lot on the full season of Bryan LaHair finally getting his chance and Starlin Castro continuing to develop. The lineup is not a major threat to knock in a bunch of runs. Marlon Byrd, Darwin Barney, and David DeJesus will all get on base quite a bit but the lack of power may fail to knock them in.
Fantasy MVP: SS Starlin Castro
If I asked which player led the NL in hits in 2011, what would your guess be? Matt Kemp? Ryan Braun? Albert Pujols? The correct answer is the 21 year old Starlin Castro. His 207 hits were the most in the NL and the fourth most in all of baseball. Castro will turn 22 a few weeks before the season starts, and he has the ability to become one of the best hitters in Cub history. His value is only likely to increase as he matures and turns his raw talent into reliable production. His power will eventually develop and new manager Dale Sveum is more likely to be aggressive on the base paths, increasing his base stealing potential. For now Castro is above average at a talent thin position, but in a few years he will be one of the best players in the game with possible 30/30 potential.
Player To Watch: P Jeff Samardzija
Samardzija is most famous for making Brady Quinn look remotely talented on the Notre Dame football team, but he has been somewhat vexing as a baseball prospect. There is no doubt he is talented with a fastball in the high 90’s and he has seen some success in a relief role. The Cubs will give him another shot in what may be his last chance to prove he can be a starter. He has bouts of wildness that have caused me to scream myself horse at the TV, but he corrected some issues in 2011 and was very good out of the pen. If he can learn to be effectively wild and harness his capabilities the Cubs may have a decent rotation. If he can earn a spot as a starter with Garza, Paul Maholm, Travis Wood, and an improved Ryan Dempster, the Cubs may pitch their way to more wins than expected.
Report Card:
Offense: C+
Defense: B-
Pitching: B
Intangibles: B
Farm System: B
Best Case Scenario: Garza, Soriano, Marmol, and Dempster are all moved by the deadline, prospects Rizzo and Jackson make an impact, Samardzija makes a successful transition to starting
Worst Case: There is no room for pessimism here.
Final Predication: The Cubs compete better than people expect hearing plenty of “Go Cubs Go” on the north side, but they ultimately come in fourth in the Central.
Just to piss Kyle off.
Lineups According to Me:
1. RF David Dejesus
2. 2B Darwin Barney
3. SS Starlin Castro
4. 1B/LF Bryan LaHair
5. CF Marlon Byrd
6. LF Alfonso Soriano/1B Anthony Rizzo
7. C Geovany Soto
8. 3B Ian Stewart
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Matt Garza
2. Ryan Dempster
3. Jeff Samardzija
4. Paul Maholm
5. Travis Wood
Chris Volstad
Randy Wells
Key Relievers:
James Russell
Kerry Wood
Rafael Dolis
Closer:
Carlos Marmol
Pictures:
The MLB leader in hits in the 1990's, Mark Fuckin Grace
Also Bill Fuckin Murray
And in case you were worried about having an erection at a bad time just picture this...
1. St. Louis Cardinals
The World Series champs lost the best player in baseball, but they still manage to bring back the best team in the Central. Losing Albert hurts a lot, but bringing in Beltran makes up for some of the offense lost, and improves the defense by moving Berkman to first. Having Adam Wainwright back makes the Cards rotation one of the best in baseball, and don’t forget about the emergence of David Freese and Allen Craig. They will still have plenty of offense and the pitching will be even better. The bullpen needs some help but the Cardinals will likely win the Central in 2012.
Key Additions: RF Carlos Beltran
Key Losses: SP Edwin Jackson, Some guy named Albert
Strength: Starting Rotation
The top three of the rotation stack up with anybody in the majors. Adam Wainwright was filthy before he got hurt, and 90% of pitchers that get Tommy John come back as strong as ever. He has a career ERA under 3 and he is just one season removed from winning 19 games. Jaime Garcia gives the Red Birds a very nice left handed presence and he is still pretty young at only 25 coming into the 2012 season. I will let everybody in a little secret when I say I have a man crush on Chris Carpenter. To me he exemplifies what a major league starter should be. He leaves everything he has on the field every time he takes the mound. If I had to win a one game playoff, Carpenter would be one of my top choices to take the mound. As far as the rest of the rotation is concerned, a fourth starter could be a whole lot worse than Kyle Lohse, and Jake Westbrook still has moments. I would expect either Lance Lynn or prospect Shelby Miller to find their way into the rotation.
Weakness: Loss Of Leadership
Losing Albert Pujols hurts because of what he brought production wise on the field, but just as big an impact could be his leadership in the clubhouse. Pujols was always considered an excellent clubhouse guy and the consummate teammate. Just as important will be retirement of legendary manager Tony LaRussa. Losing a manager with over 5000 games under his belt; with 2728 career wins, 6 pennants, and 3 World Series titles could have a major effect on the Cardinals. The Cardinals still have guys like Holliday, Berkman, Carpenter, and Molina so the clubhouse should be fine, but new manager Mike Matheny is untested. I think the Cards will be fine but the loss of leadership from LaRussa and Pujols could be a factor. Plus Tony LaRussa daughter an Oakland Raider cheerleader won't be around anymore.
Fantasy MVP: LF Matt Holliday
For better or worse this offense now rests on the shoulders of Holliday. Just to show how unlucky he was in 2011, he missed almost 40 games last year because of an appendectomy and a moth flying in his ear. Outside of these freak incidents Holliday has been pretty healthy throughout his career. He will probably never have another year like 2007 when he hit .340 with 36 bombs and 137 knocked in, but I think his time to shine has come. Holliday is in for a big season, and an MVP caliber season isn’t unrealistic.
Player To Watch: SP Adam Wainwright
In 2009 and 2010 he had 39 wins and 425 strikeouts and 463 innings pitched. Wainwright was one of the elite starters in the bigs, and it is hard to overestimate how good he was before the surgery. If he can come back and be close to as good as before the surgery, the Cards will win the Central easily. He may have some struggles early in the season as he rediscovers his off speed pitches and regains control, but he will get stronger as the season wears on.
Report Card:
Offense: B+
Defense: B
Pitching: A-
Intangibles: A-
Farm System: A-
Best Case Scenario: Carpenter comes back in a hurry, Beltran has a year like Berkman’s 2011, Craig and Freese keep getting better
Worst Case: Carpenter misses large amounts of time, Berkman .goes back to 2010, Wainwright can find a rhythm
Final Prediction: Wainwright regains his form by the All-Star break and Beltran picks up enough of the offense to take the defending champs back to the postseason.
Lineups According to Me:
1. SS Rafael Furcal
2. RF Carlos Beltran/Allen Craig
3. LF Matt Holliday
4. 1B Lance Berkman
5. 3B David Freese
6. 2B Allen Craig
7. C Yadier Molina
8. 2B Tyler Greene
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Adam Wainwright
2. Jaime Garcia
3. Chris Carpenter
4. Kyle Lohse
5. Jake Westbrook
Lance Lynn
Shelby Miller
Key Relievers:
Fernando Salas
J.C. Romero
Mark Rzepczynski
Closer:
Jason Motte
Pictures:
2. Milwaukee Brewers
Much like the Cardinals, losing a talented first baseman will hurt the Brew Crew in 2012. But they dodged a major bullet with Ryan Braun’s suspension being overturned, and they will be able stay competitive this season. While losing Prince will hurt their production from the first base position, they upgraded offensively at both short and third. Alex Gonzalez and Aramis Ramirez are major improvements with the bat over Casey McGehee and Yuniesky Betancourt. The pitching staff remains unchanged and will continue to keep the Brewers in games. The top three of Gallardo, Greinke, and Marcum are very good, and Randy Wolf is a pretty good number four. John Axford and K-Rod are as good as it gets in the eighth and ninth. The Brewers will fall off a bit in 2012, but they still have a competitive roster.
Key Additions: 3B Aramis Ramirez, SS Alex Gonzalez
Key Losses: RP Takashi Saito, 1B Prince Fielder
Strength: Pitching If They Are Healthy
If Yovani Gallardo played in Boston, L.A., or New York he would be a superstar. He has ridiculous stuff, and he is still young enough to keep getting better. Zack Greinke hasn’t repeated his 2009 Cy Young numbers lately, but he is still a very good pitcher. He still needs to pitch better on the road if he wants to be the go to guy for the Brewers. His ERA was almost a full run higher away from Miller Park. Shaun Marcum is always a concern health wise. Marcum is very good when he can make his starts, but he has been shut down with shoulder stiffness already this spring. Milwaukee needs a healthy Marcum if they want to compete. Randy Wolf is a nice fourth starter. He doesn’t overpower anybody but he competes every time he takes the mound. I will be interested to see how long the Brewers wait to give top prospect Wily Peralta a shot to crack the rotation. The Brewers have the advantage of knowing what they are going to get at the end of the game. Francisco Rodriguez has been very good for a decade, and John Axford has proved to be very adept at closing games.
Weakness: Defense
You have to worry about any team that relies on Aramis Ramirez to make plays. Ramirez’s days of making quality defensive plays are behind him. To compound to the problem Milwaukee also brought in Alex Gonzalez, who was a very good shortstop once upon a time. Now at 35 his range has decreased and his glove is suffering. Throw these guys on top of the subpar fielders they already have, and this defense could be very bad. Rickie Weeks is known more for his bat at second. Ryan Braun has always been a below average fielder, and Corey Hart is a douche. I’m not real sure if Hart is a quality fielder or not, but he just pisses me off, so I will take the opportunity to besmirch his name.
Fantasy MVP: LF Ryan Braun
This is a no brainer. The reigning NL MVP gets my vote as the best hitter in the game right now. He hits with power to all fields, and he does it while not sacrificing his average. Chemically enhanced or not I don’t care; it takes immense talent to hit over .300 for a career. Last season Braun hit .332, clubbed 33 bombs knocked in 111, and got on base almost 4 out of ten times. A .994 OPS for a full season is quite an accomplishment. But perhaps the most surprising aspect of Braun’s game is his 33 steals in 2011. Braun isn’t thought of as a speed threat, but he does it by picking the right time to run. 33 out of 39 attempts is a pretty remarkable number. I know a lot of people think Matt Kemp deserved the MVP over Braun, but when I look at the numbers Braun was absolutely deserving of the hardware.
This is the only person who knows if Braun's balls shrank.
Player To Watch: 3B Aramis Ramirez
After being around for 14 years, it is easy to forget he is only 33 years old coming into the season. There is no doubt he has become a defensive liability, but he can still rake. The Brewers will need Aramis to pick up most of the offensive slack left by losing Prince. Ramirez had a great 2011 season, but it was under the radar because the Cubs were so bad. He hit .306 last year with 26 bombs, and he probably would have knocked in 100 if anybody was on base in front of him besides Starlin Castro. Fielder left a huge hole in the middle of the Brewers lineup, and Ramirez will have to be the one to try and fill it.
Report Card:
Offense: B+
Defense: C
Pitching: A-
Intangibles: B
Farm System: C+
Best Case Scenario: Ramirez hit enough to make up for his defense, pitching stays healthy
Worst Case: Gamel and Ramirez can’t make up the loss of Fielder, pitching staff doesn’t live up to expectations, Grienke and Marcum get hurt
Final Prediction: Ramirez and Gamel pick up most of Fielder’s slack, but the defense costs the Brewers the race with the Cards for the Central title.
Lineups According to Me:
1. RF Corey Hart
2. CF Nyjer Morgan
3. LF Ryan Braun
4. 2B Rickie Weeks
5.3B Aramis Ramirez
6. 1B Mat Gamel
7. SS Alex Gonzalez
8. C Jonathan Lucroy
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Yovani Gallardo
2. Zack Greinke
3. Shaun Marcum
4. Randy Wolf
5. Chris Narveson
Wily Peralta
Key Relievers:
Francisco Rodriguez
Kameron Loe
Brandon Kintzler
Closer:
John Axford
Pictures:
3. Cincinnati Reds
I have nothing nice to say. Cincinnati is the festering infected hemmoroid on the asshole of western civilization. That being said they have some talented players. Votto, Bruce, Cueto, and Rolen are all above average baseball players. Bringing in Latos and Madson makes the pitching better, until Madson went down for the year, and Mesoraco and Cozart are promising young prospects. The Reds fans think they are a World Series contender, and I can’t wait until their dreams are crushed by about June 1st.
I wish I could put the smell that accompanies this cesspool over the internet.
Key Additions: SP Mat Latos, RP Sean Marshall
Key Losses: 1B/OF Yonder Alonso, SP Travis Wood
Strength: Bullpen
For everything I hate about the Reds I do admire their bullpen. I loathe the fact that Sean Marshall ended up in Cincy because he is absolutely devastating, especially against lefties. Bill Bray dominates lefties as well, making Aroldis Chapman obsolete so they can attempt the ill-conceived plot to turn him into a starter. Ryan Madson was very good in Philly at shutting down games, and I think would have been just as effective in Cincy. When they have the lead the Reds should be able to hold it in the late innings.
Weakness: Manager Dusty Baker
As a Cubs fan I witnessed Dusty’s special brand of retardary first hand for four years. This guy makes baseball decisions with the grace of a fat chick on rollerskates.
He single handedly destroyed the career of Mark Prior with his insane pitching development techniques. He hit Drew Stubbs leadoff for the entire 2011 season even while he struck out 205 times. That was the third most in major league history. All the while Chris Heisey was sitting on the bench, yet he still managed to hit more homers, and had more rbis, with over 300 less at bats. Baker is a major liability whenever he gets to make a decision.
Why yes, that is a grown man wearing sweat bands.
Fantasy MVP: 1B Joey Votto
Votto is an above average hitter. That all the compliments I have for him. With his creepy unibrow, soulless rapist eyes, and pedophilish walk up music he has all the appeal of a sexual encounter with Rosie O’Donnell.
He's raping your soul with that 1000 yard stare.
Player to Watch: 3B Scott Rolen
I’m interested to see if Mat Latos is a product of Petco Park or if he can pitch in the tee-ball field they call Great American Ballpark, but the most important piece for the Reds is Rolen. Cincinnati has had two very different teams since Rolen has come to town. When Rolen plays they have a good middle of the lineup, and he provides solid leadership. When Rolen has spent time on the DL, the Reds are a lot weaker offensively, and Brandon Phillips doesn’t have anybody to call him on his bullshit. If Rolen stays healthy, the Reds are a much better team.
Report Card:
Offense: B
Defense: A-
Pitching: C
Intangibles: D
Farm System: B+
Best Case Scenario: Dusty Baker gets fired, Phillips, Stubbs, Bruce and Arroyo are traded for competent major leaguers
Worst Case: Rolen gets hurt, Latos can’t adjust to the launching pad, Bronson Arroyo continues to be in the rotation
Final Prediction: The Reds hang around .500 most of the year as the Cards and Brew Crew pull away in June.
Lineups According to Me:
1. SS Zack Cozart
2. LF Chris Heisey
3. 1B Joey Votto
4. 3B Scott Rolen
5. RF Jay Bruce
6. 2B Brandon Phillips
7. C Ryan Hanigan
8. P
9. CF Drew Stubbs
Starting Rotation:
1. Mat Latos
2. Johnny Cueto
3. Mike Leake
4. Bronson Arroyo
5. Sam LeCure
Key Relievers:
Nick Masset
Bill Bray
Logan Ondrusek
Closer:
Sean Marshall
Pictures:
Thom Brenaman demands children for molesting
The last Red I respected.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates had a fantastic first half of the season in 2011 before they came crashing back to Earth. Quite a few of the Pirates performed above expectations, especially the pitching staff, and it allowed them to stay in the hunt for quite a awhile. 2012 will be a year of disappointment in Pittsburgh, as they wait for promising prospects to arrive at the big league level. Prospects like Gerrit Cole Jameson Taillon and Starlng Marte will turn the Bucs around but it will be a few years. For now Pittsburgh will have to make do with the exciting play of Andrew McCutchen, Joel Hanrahan, and maybe Pedro Alvarez if he gets his shit together.
Key Additions: SS Clint Barmes, SP Erik Bedard, SP AJ Burnett
Key Losses: C/1B Ryan Doumit, SP Paul Maholm
Strength: Talented Young Outfieders
The Pirates don’t have a lot to look forward to in 2012, but they do have some talent roaming the outfield. Jose Tabata has tons of potential, and he showed good growth when he wasn’t injured last year. Another full season will give him a chance to further develop into a good major leaguer. Alex Presley will be the opening day starter in left, and while he doesn’t show a ton of power he has a history of hitting for a solid average and high on- base percentage. And of course they have the best centerfielder in the game this side of Matt Kemp and Curtis Granderson. Andrew McCutchen is one of the most exciting players in the game. I am particularly interested in the development of Starling Marte. Marte will likely start his 2012 at AAA, but I don’t expect him to stay there for long. All indications point to Marte being a dynamic big leaguer.
Weakness: Starting Rotation
The Pirates stayed around in the playoff hunt in 2011 in large part because their rotation outperformed their ability. This season, don’t expect the Pirates questionable rotation to be quite as good. Relying on Erik Bedard to be healthy and effective is never a good idea. Over the last five years he has made just 82 starts. Jeff Karstens pitched way over his expected level in 2011 with an ERA of 3.38, over a full run lower than his career ERA of 4.52. I think his stats will correct themselves this year. James McDonald is a shaky option at best with his questionable command, and Charlie Morton doesn’t exactly inspire a bunch of confidence either. The Pirates big off-season move was to bring in AJ Burnett, who inexplicably turned down a trade to the Angels, and then promptly fouled a bunt off of his eye when he arrived at camp.
Kevin Correia may be the Pirates best starter be his numbers don’t exactly scream number one starter. Unless all of the Pirates starters pitch well above expectations, they will be worse in 2012.
Fantasy MVP: CF Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen took a big step forward in his power development in 2011, although it came with a little damage to his batting average. He jumped from 16 homers in 2010 to 23 in 2011 and he knocked in 33 more runs. His batting average did drop a bit, however McCutchen improved his plate discipline and took many more walks keeping his on base percentage basically the same. In addition to what he does at the plate, he also steals a fair amount of bases and scores quite a few runs even on a bad team. He is just now entering his power prime, and he still has room to fill out his frame even more without sacrificing speed. McCutchen could continue to be a dual threat at the plate and on the base paths for a long time.
Player To Watch: 3B Pedro Alvarez
To say Alvarez has been a disappointment so far in his career is an understatement. His .191 batting average in 2011 must have been very troubling to the Pirates. With that said he is only 25 years old, and he could still make the important adjustments to become a good hitter. If Alvarez can find a way to reach his potential, when combined with McCuthen and Marte, it could give the Pirates a good core group of hitters by the time Gerrit Cole and Jamseon Taillon arrive and the Pirates may become relevant again.
Report Card:
Offense: C-
Defense: B
Pitching: D+
Intangibles: B-
Farm System: B+
Best Case Scenario: Alvarez turns his career around, Tabata stays healthy, McCutchen develops more power, pitching is better than normal
Worst Case: They play like the 2010 Pirates
Final Prediction: McCutchen and the soon to arrive Starling Marte are the lone bright spots and the Bucs finish fifth in the Central.
Lineups According to Me:
1. RF Jose Tabata
2. 3B Pedro Alvarez
3. CF Andrew McCutchen
4. 2B Neil Walker
5. 1B Garrett Jones
6. C Rod Barajas
7. LF Alex Presley/ Starling Marte
8. SS Clint Barmes
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Erik Bedard
2. Jeff Karstens
3. AJ Burnett
4. Kevin Correia
5. Charlie Morton
Key Relievers:
Jason Grilli
Evan Meek
Closer:
Joel Hanrahan
Pictures:
This last one is meant for a few people. One of our teachers was a huge douche and Pirates fan.
6. Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are an abject failure. They are an embarrassment to the game of baseball. They are far and away the worst team in the bigs, and their farm system isn’t going to help anytime soon. It is hard to believe this franchise was in the World Series just seven years ago. They have three players on the roster that could be considered a success at any point in their career. Carlos Lee was at one time a feared slugger, but he has lost most of his power and speed. Brett Myers was a solid starter at one point in time, and his move back to the closer role is the best move the Astros have made in years. Wandy Rodriguez is a decent pitcher at times, but he has some really really bad games that distort his stats to make him look even worse. Outside of these three, the team taking the field in Houston is a minor league level of talent.
Key Additions: SS Jed Lowrie, SP Livan Hernandez
Key Losses: SS Clint Barmes, RP Mark Melancon
Strength: Bullpen
For some inexplicable reason, the Astros have a quality bullpen, Fernando Rodriguez, Juan Abreu, and Wilton Lopez are not a Hispanic singing trio, but three solid relivers for the Astros. Who knew? Someone named David Carpenter will be the setup man and apparently he isn’t the worst pitcher ever. Brandon Lyon has had some decent seasons during his career, and Brett Myers has been a good closer in the past as well. This mish mash group could give the Astros some trade pieces when the deadline comes around.
Weakness: Lineup
Carlos Lee used to be good. The rest of the lineup is god awful. Jed Lowrie has had potential for about 5 years, and it has never amounted to anything. Brian Bogusevic sounds like a venereal disease. Jose Altuve J.D. Martinez, Jason Castro, and Jimmy Paredes have 12 career home runs, and Jordan Shafer has never reached his potential because hes been too busy being awesome. These guys may be one of the worst hitting teams of all time.
Fantasy MVP: SP Bud Norris
Norris is the victim of some really bad circumstances. Houston is a terrible place to play baseball right now, but Norris has been really good. He only won 6 games in 2011, but his numbers would have got him at least 10 wins on any other team. His progress is all trending upward with a better ER, WHIP, and walk rate last year. He is still at the age where the Astros will hold onto him, and hope he can be a piece to build with in the future. His numbers will likely stay around the same level or even improve, but his situation will not be better any time soon.
Player To Watch: SS Jed Lowrie
Lowrie was supposed to be the shortstop of the future for several years, but his big league shot never really happened. He has had some injuries, and had to compete with established veteran Marco Scutaro, and as a result he never got his shot to start for the Sox. Moving to Houston where he is a lock to be the starter at short, and playing in a low pressure environment may be just what Lowrie needs. He could have a chance to become a very good player in a location with absolutely no expectations.
Report Card:
Offense: D-
Defense: B-
Pitching: C
Intangibles: D
Farm System: C+
Best Case Scenario: They finish with not the worst record of all-time.
Worst Case: It cannot be worse than playing for the Astros
Final Prediction: This may be the worst team of all-time as they finish dead last in the league.
Lineups According to Me:
1. CF Jordan Schafer
2. SS Jed Lowrie
3. 1B Carlos Lee
4. LF JD Martinez
5. RF Brian Bogusevic
6. C Jason Castro
7. 3B Chris Johnson/ Jimmy Paredes
8. 2B Jose Altuve
9. P
Starting Rotation:
1. Bud Norris
2. Wandy Rodriguez
3. JA Happ
4. Jordan Lyles
5. Livan Hernandez
Key Relievers:
Wilton Lopez
Fernando Rodriguez
Juan Abreu
Closer:
Brett Myers
Pictures:
