Quick Padres thought: Wells and Maddux are friends? That's like the jerk captain of the wrestling team being friends with the captain of the chess team. Their age concerns me, even if thus far they seem to defy it. I picked them to win the division last year, but I'm more hesitant this season.
Chicago Cubs
Pitching: Watch out for the Cubbies. If they're in contention, I place them in the lead for the top starter come the trade deadline. And since by the end of June all but three teams will be in contention in the National League, they will make that move. With Lou Piniella in charge of a team that is actually willing to spend money - and did - this team can contend right away in a wide-open division. Their chance for success, however, depends on signing a #2 starter (assuming Mark Prior gets injured, and he will). Ted Lilly is not good enough to be a #2, nor is Rich Hill good enough for #3. Their depth isn't terrible with Wade Miller as an extra starter, but you can almost count on an injury between these six starters.
Their bullpen will have the pleasure of having one of baseball top 5 closers, they're just going to have to wait a few months before they try Kerry Wood out there. This moves the serviceable Ryan Dempster to the 8th inning, strengthening the back of their bullpen. Dempster will begin the year as their closer, but will hand the job off to Wood, as well as be available to close when Wood pitches too often. After these two, however, the bullpen is the team's biggest weakness.
Hitting: This offense is going to be scary good when Alex Rodriguez is playing short stop for them next year. Until then, they'll just have to settle for having, along with the New York Mets, the scariest middle of the order in the National league. Do you think opposing pitchers want to face Soriano, Lee, and Ramirez in an inning? (I hope they won't be silly and bat Soriano's 40 hr potential at leadoff.) They'd rather be accused of giving a wet willy to teammate Daryle Ward. Jacque Jones is no slouch with 27 roundtrippers out of the 6 hole. DeRosa and Barret are .300 hitters at the worst offensive positions in baseball (second base and catcher), while Matt Murton and Cesar Izturiz are good, young defensive players, with Murton having some upside offensively. Frankly, an all around solid team.
Miscellaneous: And don't underestimate Lou Piniella. His teams have the penchant for overachieving. Tampa Bay made some good runs before running out of gas in the uber-competitive (read: expensive) American League East. Seattle set the record for most games won in a season. Chicago has the talent, the money, and the division to be a competitor. Worst-to-First is NOT out of the question.
Cub-related Ridiculous Proposition Bet: Number of Illinois goats slaughtered to break the Curse of the Billy Goat: 1908
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San Diego Padres
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