It's getting close

[riverside sluggers]

Rolen has said that he will be at full strength for the 2006 season. I expect them to easily win the Central again but to fall in the 1st or 2nd round of the playoffs.

 

So basically wouldnt they be along the lines of the "Colts" of the MLB? They got the weapons to get things done easily in the regular season, but as of right now cant seem to get anything done. I dont know, just something Ive been thinking about :dunno:

[schillingouttheks]

Well, they actually made the World Series 2 years ago...

[adam123]

so ..i think coco will be good for us so whats everyone saying about a gonzales i think he will be good.... does anyone have any thoughts

[Manny Goes Boom]

they will be good but they will not win 100 games....i think 95 is pushing it as well. edmonds is getting older and rolen is not fully healthy.

 

Please tell me where your getting this information on "Rolen is not fully healthy..." I agree 100 wins might be a hard thing to do, but when you have Albert Pujols and Edmonds (age is a factor, true but he can still swing it) and Rolen in the lineup, along with Eckstein getting on ahead of them, they should be fine in the runs department. And they still have Mulder, he's a cash pitcher and I see them winning the Central again.

[seabeachfred]

MC Hammer, I didn't know you were a Pirates fan, so I concede you know more about them than I do. Hard to believe Tracy could be worse than the guy you had, but, then again, Jim was sort of hemmed in by their stupid owner, Frank McCheap and his squirty wife Jamie, and GM Paul dePodesta who was just in it over his head. I think Littlefield is a much better GM and he knows Tracy very well. Besides, Littlefield was a star baseball player about five miles from where I live and remember him as a great high school pitcher.

[jsinger121]

Please tell me where your getting this information on "Rolen is not fully healthy..." I agree 100 wins might be a hard thing to do, but when you have Albert Pujols and Edmonds (age is a factor, true but he can still swing it) and Rolen in the lineup, along with Eckstein getting on ahead of them, they should be fine in the runs department. And they still have Mulder, he's a cash pitcher and I see them winning the Central again.

 

Walt Jocketty said that he shoulder is still of some concern.

 

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20060209&content_id=1309215&vkey=spt2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=stl

 

i have also heard other baseball writers say that he may not be fully healthy either.

[schillingouttheks]

Both of you are talking about two different things. jsinger, you're talking about his current status, and MGB is talking about opening day a month and a half from now. By that time, I wouldn't be surprised to see him 100% after all this rehab time.

[jsinger121]

im just saying it is a concern and if rolen is not all the way back along with edmonds showing some decline the cardinals won't be as good as they were in the past. If everything breaks right for the Cubs i can see them easily challenging the cardinals for the division.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Amazing how a thread about the Sox equiptment truck leaving turns into a debate of how healthy Scott Rolen is...

 

Oh yeah, and don't count out the Stros either, you know, just in case no one noticed, they were in the WS last year and have the best pitching staff in the MLB...

[jsinger121]

i will put them back in the mix if they get clemens back but they still don't have an offense.

[Cityofchampions33]

...and have the best pitching staff in the MLB...

 

I still like the ChiSox over them, especially if Jenks can turn into a big time closer, plus the ChiSox gained Vazquez who should be solid and the Stros lost Rojah.

[jsinger121]

don't forget oakland with zito, harden, haren, blanton

[KeepTheFaith1229]

i will put them back in the mix if they get clemens back but they still don't have an offense.

 

1) They went to the World Series last year "without an offense," and now they have Preston Wilson.

 

2)

Source: Clemens To Return To Astros

A source out of Houston close to former Astros GM Gerry Hunsicker tells me that Roger Clemens will return to pitch for the Astros after May 1st. The word is that Clemens has a handshake deal with Astros owner Drayton McLane to either return to the Astros or retire. My source says that Clemens will not choose retirement.

 

This report gels with an independent source who informed me in December that Clemens was choosing between Houston and retirement. Of course, Clemens was noncommital in yesterday's conference call, mentioning that his mother had urged him to retire before she passed away.

 

mlbtraderumors.com

[Cityofchampions33]

don't forget oakland with zito, harden, haren, blanton

 

Yeha, their rotation is nasty, I even like ours if Schill does 80% of what he did in 4 and Beckett does well.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Yeha, their rotation is nasty, I even like ours if Schill does 80% of what he did in 4 and Beckett does well.

 

I like our rotation too man, but it doesnt' compare to Clemens(?), Oswalt, Pettitte and Backe

[jsinger121]

backe should not even be included in with those 3 as he is nowhere near their level

[Cityofchampions33]

Yea, there's no question its better then ours, but theres also no way its tops in MLB, I'd but best in NL though, maybe.

[KeepTheFaith1229]

backe should not even be included in with those 3 as he is nowhere near their level

 

He's amazing for your #4 starter...

[KeepTheFaith1229]

Yea, there's no question its better then ours, but theres also no way its tops in MLB, I'd but best in NL though, maybe.

 

I still think it is MLB top.

[Cityofchampions33]

Yeah, everyone is entitled to their opinion, and also theres no point in arguin over it so whatever.

[jsinger121]

and so is bronson arroyo who posts basically the same numbers as him

 

backe....10-8 4.76 era 97 k's 67 bb's 149.3 innings

arroyo....14-10 4.51 era 100 k's 54 bb's 205.3 innings

 

i wouldn't saying amazing...arroyo is much better than him

backe is putting up average stats in the NL while arroyo has better stats in the AL

[Redguitar985]

im just saying it is a concern and if rolen is not all the way back along with edmonds showing some decline the cardinals won't be as good as they were in the past. If everything breaks right for the Cubs i can see them easily challenging the cardinals for the division.

 

With Prior's and Wood's injury history, I just don't see all the cards falling for the Cubs, at least not this year. Zambrano is their only reliable pitcher. Pierre and Jones are alright, but not spectacular. They don't have enough to beat the Cards or the 'Stros. Bet if they got rid of Dusty they could turn things around.

[mar_022]

Speaking of the NL Central, watch out for the brewers. I live near Milwaukee, and excitement is "brewing" (lol) after their first .500 season in over a decade. They made some solid offseason acquisitions, and their youngsters are only going to get better.

[ksushi]

Speaking of the NL Central, watch out for the brewers. I live near Milwaukee, and excitement is "brewing" (lol) after their first .500 season in over a decade. They made some solid offseason acquisitions, and their youngsters are only going to get better.

 

Yes, thank you, i am such a brewers guy right now. You just made me happy.

[Redguitar985]

Yes, thank you, i am such a brewers guy right now. You just made me happy.

 

Maybe Bernie Mac motivated them. lol

[Cityofchampions33]

Lol, that movie was hillarious

 

"You have a hole in your ass"

"Son of my dick"

[jsinger121]

Peter Gammons and Jason Stark have both joined Buster Olney and have created Blogs. Don't know if they will be daily like Buster's but it gives us insiders more of a chance to read peter.

[riverside sluggers]

For those that are interested, NESN has a clip of talking with newcomers Beckett & Riske, it also shows brifely doing bullpen sessions. A special edition of "Red Sox Now" this Sunday at 930 pm on NESN, they will be reporting live from Ft Myers. A long & frustrating offseason is inching closer to being over

 

http://www.boston.com/sports/nesn/

[jsinger121]

papelbon has reported along with beckett yesterday.

[kreinbihl34]

papelbon has reported along with beckett yesterday.

 

Sweet :thumbsup: