And you guys are going to win somathing with this?

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"Woof Woof"

Dempster as the 3rd starter doesn't reflect his rating in the rotation - it's the desire to split up two lefties (Lilly, Hill) in the rotation.

who is you guys?

Cubs might though.

Thanks for the intelligent post. For the record, something is spelled with an "E" and not an "A". Asshole is spelled with an "A" however...but you probably already knew that.

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

Yeah, Hill is the 3rd started based on ability. If I'm somewhat disappointed in the idea of Dempster as a "3rd", I'm overjoyed at the idea of Hill as a "4th". So I'll split the difference: it's a back-of-the-rotation that's about average, all things considered.

Zambrano
Lilly
Dempster
Lieber
Marquis

I don't know how anyone could pick the Cubs to win the Central with that 3 through 5.

Im pretty sure Hill will be in there somewhere. Pineilla has already said Lieber will start out as long relief, but he will definitely see starting time at some point.

I think the Cubs rotation is fine. Not great, but above average. I still think Z is very overrated. If they cant get a consistent closer that will be a much bigger issue.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Because the Central overall is pretty bad.

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Did you have Dusty kill Rich Hill?

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My Maserati does 186.

Because you have the following 3-5 for the other central teams:

Astros: Backe, Woody Williams and Shawn Chacon
Reds: Johnny Cueto, Edinson Veloquez, Josh Fogg
Cards: Kyle Lohse, Todd Wellermeyer, Brad Thompson
Pirates: Paul Maholm, Matt Morris, Zach Duke
Brewers: Dave Bush, Claudio Vargas, Carlos Villanueva/Gallardo

The only back three that is even close is the Brewers once Gallardo comes back.

Screwed that one up.

Holy crap if that doesn't scream 100 losses..

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The Cards are bad but no way they approach 100 losses in that division.

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

So the question is, what team in the Central comes even close to competing with a back three of Hill, Dempster and Lieber/Marquis?

The Astros, but moreso because they'll knock the cover off the ball rather than have awesome pitching.

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the way marquis has been pitching, and pitched early last year, id be tempted to start him 3rd. take advantage of him when the weather is cold before he totally blows up and start giving up homers in big bunches when the weather warms up.

Now that is a quality post my friend. SOLID!

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

that post, more than any other i have read on the cubs this spring, makes me feel REAL good about the cubs chances in the central this season. what a pick-me-up!

The Brewers will still be formidible. They made some moves that have me shaking my head. For example, I don't get them signing Kendall to be their catcher. Their defense won't exactly be awesome, but they have enough bats to compete in the central with Braun, Fielder, Hart, Weeks(who I think will have a very good year), Hall. Sheets is comparable to Big Z with more injury issues, but Jeff Suppan as a number 2? That's reaching.

The other big question mark is the back end of their bullpen. I think Gagne's best days are behind him, but in the central he could get 30 saves. They also have Turnbow to turn to if Gagne sucks. The rest of the bullpen is made of retreads - Mota, Riske, Salomon Torres

I thought the Gagne signing was awful. Once with the Red Sox, wasnt he like the worst RP in the league, or close?

_________________
Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

Pretty darn close FF.

I can see the Pirates maybe making a step up this season. The team is young and some of the players are starting to peak a bit. I don't see them in the divisional race, but 500 would not be a surprise. They have a very underrated bullpen and the starting staff I'd place in the middle of the division (though calling Ian Snell your #1 will get alot of laughs)

Let's check back in on Cueto and Volquez in June.

bah...the reds are the reds.

im sure the reds fans are all saying "bah...the cubs are the cubs". its not like the cubs have along tradition of winning.

the cubs should win this division on paper, hard to see otherwise in my opinion, but strange things happen. the reds and brewers could contend. im just not buying into the astros at all.

The Brew, St. Louis and the Cubs are going to be pretty good this year, and I have a feeling the 'Stros will be decent too. Frank, it's not 2002 anymore.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I don't believe your assertion will be challenged.

My issues with the Astros is much like the Brewers - the starting rotation is bad. After Roy Oswalt, you are starting a bunch of 4th and 5th starters for the remaining spots. Backe has not been healthy for a full season since 2005. Wandy Rodriguez hasn't improved enough in the last few seasons to think he's anything more than a 10 win pitcher. Woody Williams is 42 - what more can you expect than 10 wins and a 5 ERA and lastly Shawn Chacon who has never made anyone believe he's nothing more than a 5th starter.

The bullpen for the Stros is a bit of addition by subtraction (bye bye Lidge) and good moves (hello Jose Valverde, Geoff Geary). They will lack a strong setup man to get to Valverde but if Geary or Brocail can do a good enough job doing that, Valverde could get 40+ saves again.

The everyday lineup will be tough with Berkman - Lee - Tejada - Pence going 3 through 6. Kaz Matsui is a nice addition, but will he duplicate his numbers outside of Colorado? Ty Wigginton will hit seventh and anytime you can have a 20HR guy hitting 7th, you are pretty stacked.

maybe not, but i do have a feeling this could be the year...

a team of destiny, perhaps. it just feels right.

Please. I heard that enough on AM1000 last season.

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yeah, i'm thinking my sarcasm didn't come across well in my last post.

No respect.

Being good and being competitive are 2 different things. 86 or 87 wins is probably gonna take that division again. The Stros and Brewers could win 85 or 86 games...but that doesn't mean they're good teams.

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