The Holtonian

Baseball notes

Quick cardinals notes. I'm feeling ok with the cardinals moves this offseason. Frankly, I think it is nearly impossible in today's MLB to repeat as champions with the competiveness of the entire league. So I think the cards have realized this and done some addition by subtraction as well as just adding key pieces that will give a good foundation for a few years.

I'd be happier if they traded Encarnacion but they'd have to eat most of the salary and not get much in return for that to happen.

It will be funny to see how the birds match up with the cubs this year. I hope they shell Marquis, that would be classic.

The rotation is setup pretty well I think: Carp, Wells, Reyes, Wainright (I think Izz will be back and ready). They kind of gave Supp the Morris, Gruz, Sanders treatment, which was really disappointing. Granted Supp is a great number 3/4 guy and a soso number 2. I see him settling with Pittsburgh, though if I were him I'd take less to stay on a competitive team, but that’s me and I am not a major league baseball player. I hope they land Mulder too, after we gave up so much for him it would be nice to try and get something out of him.

I think the cardinals should make a play for Willy Taveras, who just got moved to Colorado. His speed and outfield prowess would be a great pick up. And maybe its just me, but I've always looked at Colorado as a team that you can just make an offer to and they'll take it, they never seem to be all that astute on the trades and additions. Granted they got the better end of the deal with Houston, but that's because Houston tends to make a lot of dumb decisions: Beltran, Petite, Clemens last year, and this latest one.

The cubs have made a few good moves but still lack pitching. Zambrano is their only really good pitcher, Lilly is overpriced average, and Marquis will be Marquis. Their lineup will be tougher for sure, especially if they all stay healthy, and I think the motivation will be up with Pinella but they need a few more pieces before they contend for the Central Division Championship.

The Astros really are not even close to the same team they were a few years ago. They still have Phil Garner who is probably one of the more under-rated managers and they still have Berkman who is just a great player. But no pitching will leave them close to the bottom this year.

I think its funny that the two most improved teams in the NL Central this past year--Brewers and Reds, did zilch this offseason. The reds have dismantled their once powerful line up to get more balance on pitching and what not but I think that will leave them right where they started. The Brewers… well they added Mr. Chorizo the new sausage mascot, which will be a great addition for the fans, other than that there isn't much else to watch there.

Pittsburgh? They have a team? Who knew? That's why I am like, "Suppan, go ahead and go there and have a nice time at the bottom of the barrel of the NL central.

So I think the cardinals have made the best moves in the NL central, granted they had the most to work with. The Dodgers got better and really will be this year's Mets, I think the Mets will struggle with pitching yet again unless they land Zito, who they apparently don't want. I don't get the Mets, they need pitching and really haven't gotten any. I think their old timers… Glavine and Pedro are just getting worse every year. Maine might get better which would help. I think with a closer the braves will give the mets a bigger challenge this year and

Posted by holtonian at December 14, 2006 09:22 AM | TrackBack