2014 Roster Discussion

[davell]

The big key this year will be getting off to a good start.... seems like we've had absolutely awful starts the past few years in April.

 

With 2 wild cards, if you're .500 you're probably going to be in the race at the deadline.

 

This team isn't a playoff team no matter what kind of start we get off to.

 

I get the fact that it's not likely, but it's not impossible.

 

Starts with Mike Olt putting up what North mentioned, a .220ish BA, lots of walks, 20-25 HR. Good defense at 3B. Which moves Valbuena into a utility role, strengthening the bench, especially since he's giving Barney plenty of rest.

 

Rizzo and Castro are both All Star candidates at midseason. Castillo puts up the same numbers, with the power expected as well. The OF isn't the WORST in the majors, but around 20th or so.

 

Shark takes a step forward and is also an All Star candidate. Wood plays close to the same level as last season. Edwin pitches to his peripherals and puts up much better numbers than last year. Arrieta proves he's worthy of a rotation spot and whoever we've got at 5, isn't awful.

 

The pen performs as we think it can, becomes a legit strength.

 

That could put us in the .500 range, at the ASB. Javy and KB could come up to play 2B and RF to give a boost in the 2nd half and Alcantara/Vogelbach could bring in an OFer or a SP thru trade and we compete in the 2nd half.

[illiniguy]

The big key this year will be getting off to a good start.... seems like we've had absolutely awful starts the past few years in April.

 

With 2 wild cards, if you're .500 you're probably going to be in the race at the deadline.

 

This team isn't a playoff team no matter what kind of start we get off to.

Said the 2012 Orioles.

[Backtobanks]

The big key this year will be getting off to a good start.... seems like we've had absolutely awful starts the past few years in April.

 

With 2 wild cards, if you're .500 you're probably going to be in the race at the deadline.

 

This team isn't a playoff team no matter what kind of start we get off to.

 

I get the fact that it's not likely, but it's not impossible.

 

Starts with Mike Olt putting up what North mentioned, a .220ish BA, lots of walks, 20-25 HR. Good defense at 3B. Which moves Valbuena into a utility role, strengthening the bench, especially since he's giving Barney plenty of rest.

 

Rizzo and Castro are both All Star candidates at midseason. Castillo puts up the same numbers, with the power expected as well. The OF isn't the WORST in the majors, but around 20th or so.

 

Shark takes a step forward and is also an All Star candidate. Wood plays close to the same level as last season. Edwin pitches to his peripherals and puts up much better numbers than last year. Arrieta proves he's worthy of a rotation spot and whoever we've got at 5, isn't awful.

 

The pen performs as we think it can, becomes a legit strength.

 

That could put us in the .500 range, at the ASB. Javy and KB could come up to play 2B and RF to give a boost in the 2nd half and Alcantara/Vogelbach could bring in an OFer or a SP thru trade and we compete in the 2nd half.

 

That's a whole lot of "what ifs".

[davell]

The big key this year will be getting off to a good start.... seems like we've had absolutely awful starts the past few years in April.

 

With 2 wild cards, if you're .500 you're probably going to be in the race at the deadline.

 

This team isn't a playoff team no matter what kind of start we get off to.

 

I get the fact that it's not likely, but it's not impossible.

 

Starts with Mike Olt putting up what North mentioned, a .220ish BA, lots of walks, 20-25 HR. Good defense at 3B. Which moves Valbuena into a utility role, strengthening the bench, especially since he's giving Barney plenty of rest.

 

Rizzo and Castro are both All Star candidates at midseason. Castillo puts up the same numbers, with the power expected as well. The OF isn't the WORST in the majors, but around 20th or so.

 

Shark takes a step forward and is also an All Star candidate. Wood plays close to the same level as last season. Edwin pitches to his peripherals and puts up much better numbers than last year. Arrieta proves he's worthy of a rotation spot and whoever we've got at 5, isn't awful.

 

The pen performs as we think it can, becomes a legit strength.

 

That could put us in the .500 range, at the ASB. Javy and KB could come up to play 2B and RF to give a boost in the 2nd half and Alcantara/Vogelbach could bring in an OFer or a SP thru trade and we compete in the 2nd half.

 

That's a whole lot of "what ifs".

 

No [expletive]? Really, I had no idea. But you said no way, in your typical negative way, so I showed you a way, acknowledging it's not likely. The 2012 Orioles were brought up as a great example too. Staying in the hunt until the midway point isn't unheard of. Plenty of teams not expected to contend, get that far. And if we DID, we've certainly got guys that can help in the 2nd half and trade chips to bring in additional help.

[WrigleyField 22]

While they're not a playoff team with a good start maybe a good start is enough to avoid a trade deadline sell off

[NOLA]

There is a way that this team could hover around .500 for awhile. Sure there's a lot of "ifs" but it is not impossible. How many leads did the bullpen blow early last season, spoiling quality starts? This season, the bullpen goes from a weakness to a strength. Theo has said he's going after another starter. Rizzo and Castro are bound to rebound, at least somewhat. Let's say Olt becomes serviceable, or at least a threat at the plate. We manage to stay around .500 and then KB and/or Javy gets called up and suddenly we could have a very interesting lineup. It's not that far fetched. Unlikely, sure.

[SouthSideRyan]

The biggest benefits of hovering around .500 would be convincing Samardzija that this team won't be awful forever and convincing the fans they won't be awful forever. Preventing a 2nd half full of half-empty stadiums could make the difference when it comes to trying to sign somebody next year.

[davell]

The biggest benefits of hovering around .500 would be convincing Samardzija that this team won't be awful forever and convincing the fans they won't be awful forever. Preventing a 2nd half full of half-empty stadiums could make the difference when it comes to trying to sign somebody next year.

 

True, but even with a selloff, a midseason callup of Javy, KB, Alcantara, Villanueva, Hendricks, Vizcaino(obviously not all, but some) could keep people coming out. Javy coming up and going 1 for a 100 or so would obviously be disastrous for morale, but short of him being completely pitiful, I think the youngsters would keep people coming out. Even an increase, if some play well.

[Backtobanks]

The big key this year will be getting off to a good start.... seems like we've had absolutely awful starts the past few years in April.

 

With 2 wild cards, if you're .500 you're probably going to be in the race at the deadline.

 

This team isn't a playoff team no matter what kind of start we get off to.

 

I get the fact that it's not likely, but it's not impossible.

 

Starts with Mike Olt putting up what North mentioned, a .220ish BA, lots of walks, 20-25 HR. Good defense at 3B. Which moves Valbuena into a utility role, strengthening the bench, especially since he's giving Barney plenty of rest.

 

Rizzo and Castro are both All Star candidates at midseason. Castillo puts up the same numbers, with the power expected as well. The OF isn't the WORST in the majors, but around 20th or so.

 

Shark takes a step forward and is also an All Star candidate. Wood plays close to the same level as last season. Edwin pitches to his peripherals and puts up much better numbers than last year. Arrieta proves he's worthy of a rotation spot and whoever we've got at 5, isn't awful.

 

The pen performs as we think it can, becomes a legit strength.

 

That could put us in the .500 range, at the ASB. Javy and KB could come up to play 2B and RF to give a boost in the 2nd half and Alcantara/Vogelbach could bring in an OFer or a SP thru trade and we compete in the 2nd half.

 

That's a whole lot of "what ifs".

 

No [expletive]? Really, I had no idea. But you said no way, in your typical negative way, so I showed you a way, acknowledging it's not likely. The 2012 Orioles were brought up as a great example too. Staying in the hunt until the midway point isn't unheard of. Plenty of teams not expected to contend, get that far. And if we DID, we've certainly got guys that can help in the 2nd half and trade chips to bring in additional help.

 

I'm not being "typically negative", but being realistic. Of course anything is possible as long as you add the disclaimer that it's not likely. In addition to the 2012 Orioles having a great season, they were aided by the total collapse of the Red Sox and a bad season by the Blue Jays. Let's put it this way, which 2 teams from the Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates are we going to pass this year to be a wild card?

[illiniguy]

The Reds got a lot worse in losing Choo. I also think the Pirates could easily regress.

[NOLA]

The Reds got a lot worse in losing Choo. I also think the Pirates could easily regress.

Not to mention that everything went right for the Cardinals last year, plus some of their guys may come back to Earth a little, ala David Freese.

[Backtobanks]

Not to mention that everything went right for the Cardinals last year, plus some of their guys may come back to Earth a little, ala David Freese.

 

If Freese comes back to Earth it will be in Anaheim, not St. Louis.

 

The Reds got a lot worse in losing Choo. I also think the Pirates could easily regress.

 

Possible, but not likely. The bottom line is that if you compare our roster with the other three, we're not even close. Of course baseball isn't played on paper and there's always things you can't predict (injuries, someone unexpected having a career year, a decent player having a horrendous year, etc.), but I don't see anything at this point to make up the 24 games that seperated us from the wild card last year.

[Guest]

Unless they go after Ubaldo The Cubs starting pitching will not be as good as last year. But without Sveum's miserable decisions and the added bullpen pitcher perhaps it will be a wash.

 

I'm really, really hoping the target Ubaldo. He was overused and abused for a long time, but his arm is now healthy. I think he's going to be a very solid starter. Maybe not worth all the contract, but at this point is that really important?

[NOLA]

Not to mention that everything went right for the Cardinals last year, plus some of their guys may come back to Earth a little, ala David Freese.

 

If Freese comes back to Earth it will be in Anaheim, not St. Louis.

I am aware of that. I was just stating that many Cardinals could easily come back to Earth next season, much the way Freese did last year.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Unfortunately, all three of those are graduating some interesting young players to full-time duty in 2014, which should definitely help alleviate some of their regression to the mean.

[Cubswin11]

Not to mention that everything went right for the Cardinals last year, plus some of their guys may come back to Earth a little, ala David Freese.

 

If Freese comes back to Earth it will be in Anaheim, not St. Louis.

I am aware of that. I was just stating that many Cardinals could easily come back to Earth next season, much the way Freese did last year.

Oscar Taveras is gonna be Beltran 2.0, so he will pick up the slack from those who regress and Martinez will get a shot in the rotation and will win the CY Young. While Wacha and Miller continue being TOR starters as well.

[treebird]

the cardinals have been under .500 one time since 1999. we can safely assume they will be solid or (more likely) better until they prove otherwise.

[illiniguy]

Unfortunately, all three of those are graduating some interesting young players to full-time duty in 2014, which should definitely help alleviate some of their regression to the mean.

Are you thinking Hamilton will be decent?

[pitchcs]

The Reds got a lot worse in losing Choo. I also think the Pirates could easily regress.

 

They got a LOT worse by losing Choo? I don't think so.

[Guest]

The Reds got a lot worse in losing Choo. I also think the Pirates could easily regress.

 

They got a LOT worse by losing Choo? I don't think so.

 

Well, he was worth over 5 wins last year so it's definitely a sizable hit that they'll need to make up for.

[Tangled Up in Plaid]

Hamilton will steal 180 bases so it's cool.

[Boris]

the cardinals have been under .500 one time since 1999. we can safely assume they will be solid or (more likely) better until they prove otherwise.

 

 

I did not know this. Good lord.

[Soul]

the cardinals have been under .500 one time since 1999. we can safely assume they will be solid or (more likely) better until they prove otherwise.

 

 

I did not know this. Good lord.

 

They don't require a half-decade to rebuild either.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Unfortunately, all three of those are graduating some interesting young players to full-time duty in 2014, which should definitely help alleviate some of their regression to the mean.

Are you thinking Hamilton will be decent?

 

I think they'll get some value out of him. And Cingrani should be full-time in the rotation this year.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If anyone falls apart, my guess would be the Pirates. No Burnett apparently, and having the most amazingest bullpen performance in the league can be very fickle year to year.