Too early to talk MLB?

[mwitt]

Sensing jealousy and more jealousy, I am.

Jealous of the Cubs? No...my team has seen a World Series in my lifetime. It's just that winning the NL Central the last few years has been like being awarded the tallest midget.

[mike4cy]

There is always a surprise: how crappy the Cards were after winning the WS, the Brewers run last year. Ya just never know, man. But go Cubs anyways.

[tejasclone]

I think the Phillies will pull it out this year. Feliz is one of the best players that nobody has heard of. The Alou, Church, Beltran outfield doesn't scare me, it might of a few years ago, but not anymore. Neither team has a spectacular bullpen but the Phillies get a huge edge there, that tells you how BAD the Mets pen will be. I think the Mets have some major question marks in their rotation though; Is Pedro back? Can El Duque hold up? Is Mayne who they thought he was? Can Perez throw strikes?

The Marlins and Nationals won't be pushovers, the Nats have gotten better and they were close to a .500 team last year. Sure the Marlins got rid of two stars but Willis was dead weight last year and they have brought in a TON of great prospects the last few years and could be pretty dangerous.

The thing about the Marlins as a franchise that bugs me is that even though they are usually very competitive even with all their turnover and constant influx of young, unproven players, there are absolutely no fans that show up at their games. It is painful to watch a game in that stadium. There's about 4,000 fans attending each game. Despite that, they're already won 2 World Series.

[mike4cy]

Jealous of the Cubs? No...my team has seen a World Series in my lifetime. It's just that winning the NL Central the last few years has been like being awarded the tallest midget.

Oooo BURN, haha.

[mwitt]

He's right, though. The Cubs should be able to plow through the Central with ease. I will be delighted if they don't, but they really really should. The Central will be very weak once again. Ripe for the taking.

Ding, ding, ding. Who else in the Central can you actually make the case is a competitor? The Brewers have talent, but as someone alluded to, it's very young talent, and they probably don't have enough depth to last a 162 game season. The Cubs spent $300 million last offseason -- they sure as hell better be able to beat the small market Brewers. If the Cubs add Brian Roberts and especially Joe Nathan, they'll look like a very serious threat -- probably moreso than the Mets.

[cybsball20]

The thing about the Marlins as a franchise that bugs me is that even though they are usually very competitive even with all their turnover and constant influx of young, unproven players, there are absolutely no fans that show up at their games. It is painful to watch a game in that stadium. There's about 4,000 fans attending each game. Despite that, they're already won 2 World Series.

IF they are ever able to get a new stadium I think they will draw VERY well. The problem with Dolphins Stadium is that it is LITERALLY in the middle of nowhere, almost an hour from Miami and Ft. Lauderdale. This works for Football because you only go to 8 games, on a weekend, and have all day. With baseball you are talking 82 home games, most of which are at night. If you live in Miami you work untill five, fight south Florida traffic and if you are lucky get home at 6. Now youhave to turn around and drive another hour to a game? It's a setup destined for failure...

[isuarch80]

If the Cubs add Brian Roberts and especially Joe Nathan,

Where have you heard his name as a potential get? Because that would be amazingly huge for them. Roberts I like for them for his bat and speed, but Nathan would be awesome to have coming in at the 9th!

[CloneFan65]

My predictions for the playoffs would be Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers, and Mets as the wild card.

Dodgers? My D-Backs won the division last year and should be healthy, the rookies have a year under their belts, and with Dan Haren added to the rotation the D-Backs have the best pair of pitchers at the top of their rotation in the National League.

[mwitt]

Where have you heard his name as a potential get? Because that would be amazingly huge for them. Roberts I like for them for his bat and speed, but Nathan would be awesome to have coming in at the 9th!

I read it on a message board somewhere. I don't know if it has much merit. For the Twins fans out there, isn't it true that there's a good possibility of Nathan being moved?

You're right though, it would be a huge get for the Cubs. Brian Roberts would be very good for them too. It would allow them to move Soriano down in the lineup where he can be a more productive player for thtem.

[jdoggivjc]

I read it on a message board somewhere. I don't know if it has much merit. For the Twins fans out there, isn't it true that there's a good possibility of Nathan being moved?

You're right though, it would be a huge get for the Cubs. Brian Roberts would be very good for them too. It would allow them to move Soriano down in the lineup where he can be a more productive player for thtem.

There is quite the possibility that Nathan is going to get moved, but it'll be towards the trade deadline if:
1. the Twins are out of it (and that's likely)
2. they can't resign him for a reasonable price
3. the can get good value out of trading him.

Being that Nathan's one of the top 5 closers in the game, he's not going to come cheap, so if the Twins are looking to retool for 2010, the year they open their new stadium, yeah, it looks like Nathan could get moved.

[mwitt]

Dodgers? My D-Backs won the division last year and should be healthy, the rookies have a year under their belts, and with Dan Haren added to the rotation the D-Backs have the best pair of pitchers at the top of their rotation in the National League.

It's fair for people not to completely be on the D-Back bandwagon. They're out of this world young on offense, and they gave up more runs last year than they scored -- not many playoff teams can say that. That's not a recipe for sustained success. They do have a very good rotation, which will keep them competitive for sure. You just don't know what you're getting from the everyday lineup.

[mwitt]

Being that Nathan's one of the top 5 closers in the game, he's not going to come cheap

I figured they'd get a huge return on Santana, too. Maybe their new GM will redeem himself.

[isuarch80]

I read it on a message board somewhere. I don't know if it has much merit. For the Twins fans out there, isn't it true that there's a good possibility of Nathan being moved?

You're right though, it would be a huge get for the Cubs. Brian Roberts would be very good for them too. It would allow them to move Soriano down in the lineup where he can be a more productive player for thtem.

I think it's just message board fodder. I read all of the different website journalist blogs, as well as the Cubs' site info, and I've never seen his name mentioned in discussions. However, I have heard that he'd be a person the Twins might have to trade as well. And if so, I'd love the Cubs to go and try to get him. We'll see.

Soriano would not move down, i don't think. From what Piniella says and what I've heard, Soriano loves leading off the game, and he's a rare power hitter that can get extra bases. I think Roberts would be a great #2 for the Cubs to follow Soriano, be that lefty bat, and be the mr. everything for the Cubs: move Soriano along, create a big inning for Lee, Ramirez, Foku, etc, and create more speed at the top of the lineup. We'll see though.

[mwitt]

Soriano would not move down, i don't think.

I know Lou likes him in the leadoff spot, and I think it is a monumental waste. Home runs are much better when there is someone on base. There is rarely someone on base in the NL for the leadoff hitter.

[isuarch80]

He only is guaranteed to leadoff ONE time per game :)