01 SS Theriot 02 RF Fukudome 09 ?F X Nady 03 1B Lee 04 3B A Ram 10 3B C Tracy 05 LF Soriano 11 OF T Colvin 06 RF Byrd 07 CA Soto 12 CA K Hill 08 2B Fontenot 13 2B J Baker 14 SP Z! 19 RP S Marshall 15 SP Dempster 20 RP J Samardzija 16 SP Wells 21 RP J Russell 17 SP Silva 22 RP J Berg 18 SP Gorzelanny 23 RP E Caridad 24 RP J Grabow 25 RP C Marmol DL Lilly DL? Jeff Gray - running a few weeks behind, and they had plans of using him; keeping him on ML DL saves an option for now 60DL Guzman
Yep. I don’t remember what projections I was looking at; there are many out by now, and I’ve looked at a lot of them. Which ever one it was (the one that was a sum of many projections, run many times?), they pegged the Cubs for about 83 wins, with a range of 72-90. That’s exactly where I’d have them based on this roster. They’re low 80s with a 10 game swing either way. It’s a fault of management to be that low, but at least there’s a chance.
The more I think about it, the less concerned I am about the inexperience of the bullpen. If you believe the vast majority of bullpen arms are unpredictable and unreliable from season to season – which I do, because otherwise they wouldn’t be bullpen pitchers – then you might as well go cheap and promising with it than expensive and flawed. There are going to be some games blown because the rookies blow a lead, and it will be the roster mistake which will get Hendry in the most trouble (because there’s nothing more dramatic than a game lost you should’ve won), but it’s hardly the worst thing here. This is a sounder move than 2010’s Scott Eyre and Bobby Howry.
Making decisions on 40 ABs in spring training is a great way to screw yourself up, but if everyone believes Tyler Colvin’s true upside is major league fourth outfielder, what’s so horrible about using him in that role?
Xavier Nady playing outfield despite being unable to throw the ball is the underplayed story of the season. Really, he shouldn’t be doing anything more than pinch hitting, but they’re making noise as if he’s going to actually start and platoon with Fukudome a little bit. Runners taking extra bases are going to get old quick.
This team kinda shifted to the back of my mind the last couple weeks, but I’m exicited to get this started now (and kinda disappointed I didn’t figure out a way to join a fantasy league I wouldn’t hate.) Maybe it’s the 80 degree weather that’s making it feel like baseball should already be here – probably won’t feel it quite the same in a couple weeks when it’s freezing again.