Bad Cubs news is good news

[kmeyer]

Just listening to SportsNite on Comcast SportsNet (Chicago) and they just said that their only lefty in the bullpen (Scott Eyre) will start the season on the DL....

Also, they were having an orgasm about the signing of Reid Johnson and how he might take Pie's job in CF.....

There is no f-ing way these guys are going to win the Central....

[TTB]

Just listening to SportsNite on Comcast SportsNet (Chicago) and they just said that their only lefty in the bullpen (Scott Eyre) will start the season on the DL....

Also, they were having an orgasm about the signing of Reid Johnson and how he might take Pie's job in CF.....

There is no f-ing way these guys are going to win the Central....

Who do you predict then?

All the teams are flawed in one way or another.

Maybe the Brewers can beat them out. They have plenty offense. I'm just not sure about their pitching. Especially if Sheets goes down again as he is almost certain to do.

Can't see Houston doing it. Nor the three mutts aka Cards, Reds and Pirates.

[kmeyer]

Who do you predict then?

All the teams are flawed in one way or another.

Maybe the Brewers can beat them out. They have plenty offense. I'm just not sure about their pitching. Especially if Sheets goes down again as he is almost certain to do.

Can't see Houston doing it. Nor the three mutts aka Cards, Reds and Pirates.

I do think the Brewers will beat them out...a potent offense and a much improved bullpen will help pull them past the Cubs...it may come down to which of those two teams is healthier though....

I think the Astros and Pirates will be the cellar dwellars of the NL Central this season...we will battle Cincy for 3rd....

[007]

they might as well have two wildcards this year...

[Sheriff Blaylock]

Who do you predict then?

All the teams are flawed in one way or another.

Maybe the Brewers can beat them out. They have plenty offense. I'm just not sure about their pitching. Especially if Sheets goes down again as he is almost certain to do.

Can't see Houston doing it. Nor the three mutts aka Cards, Reds and Pirates.

It ain't going to be Houston. This is the worst starting pitching I've ever seen from this team going into a season. It is Oswalt and then 4 guys who at best may be good enough to be the 5th starter on most teams.

Also, it now appears Matsui is going to be out longer than expected with his asshole problem. Middle of April.

[TTB]

I think the Astros and Pirates will be the cellar dwellars of the NL Central this season...we will battle Cincy for 3rd....

Hope so...but I'm not real optimistic.

If only Carpenter and Mulder were 100% to go with an improving Wainright...hell 80%. Then I'd be pretty psyched.

[TTB]

It ain't going to be Houston. This is the worst starting pitching I've ever seen from this team going into a season. It is Oswalt and then 4 guys who at best may be good enough to the 5th starter on most teams.

Also, it now appears Matsui is going to be out longer than expected with his asshole problem. Middle of April.

We have Wainwright and pray for 4 days of rain.

[kah]

I'd bet the house that Carpenter will not make a start in 2008. Too much on the line for the team in the future. If he comes back, it will be in relief.

[kmeyer]

Hope so...but I'm not real optimistic.

If only Carpenter and Mulder were 100% to go with an improving Wainright...hell 80%. Then I'd be pretty psyched.

If the starting rotation at the beginning of the season can hold their own until those two get back, I could be understating my prediction.....I am not as worried about Carpenter bouncing back as Mulder.....

[kmeyer]

I'd bet the house that Carpenter will not make a start in 2008. Too much on the line for the team in the future. If he comes back, it will be in relief.

Wow...that's a big statement....some insider info you found?

[kah]

Wow...that's a big statement....some insider info you found?

Not at all. Just a guess, based on the fact that Carp's not going to be back until the season's well underway, that the team's probably not going to be all that great, that coming back from TJ surgery is not something to fuck around with, and that they have $44.5 million committed to Chris Carpenter for 2009-2011. They will pull a 2000 Matt Morris, and use him out of the pen, if they use him at all. Watch and see.

[kmeyer]

Not at all. Just a guess, based on the fact that Carp's not going to be back until the season's well underway, that the team's probably not going to be all that great, that coming back from TJ surgery is not something to fuck around with, and that they have $44.5 million committed to Chris Carpenter for 2009-2011. They will pull a 2000 Matt Morris, and use him out of the pen, if they use him at all. Watch and see.

I just hope he doesn't end up like Kerry Wood.....

[kah]

I just hope he doesn't end up like Kerry Wood.....

There's a difference between TJ surgery and a torn-up shoulder. Pitchers can and do come back strong from TJ surgery, as we saw with Morris in 2000-02.

I just can't see them taking any chances in 2008. In 2000 Morris was back by the end of May and they didn't start him in a game all year, not even in the playoffs when the rotation was coming apart.

[kmeyer]

There's a difference between TJ surgery and a torn-up shoulder. Pitchers can and do come back strong from TJ surgery, as we saw with Morris in 2000-02.

I just can't see them taking any chances in 2008. In 2000 Morris was back by the end of May and they didn't start him in a game all year, not even in the playoffs when the rotation was coming apart.

Speaking of Morris, I just saw today while watching the Twins-Pirates telecast that he will be the #4 starter going into opening day for the Bucs...

[Cardz82]

Hope so...but I'm not real optimistic.

If only Carpenter and Mulder were 100% to go with an improving Wainright...hell 80%. Then I'd be pretty psyched.

If Carp and Mulder were 100% right now with Wainwright we'd be clear cut favorites to win the division with, or without Izturis and Kennedy up the middle.