Pitchers and Catchers reporting wouldnt be complete without a meatball thread in which I greatly over value the Cubs and their chances.

Garza, after a blistering start, gets signed long term and wins the NL Cy Young.
Castro settles in and is much improved defensively.
Shark regresses and is just meh.
Soriano continues playing well and people continue bitching about his contract even though it is pointless to do so.

Probably not good enough to win the division but maybe can sneak into the wild card.

This is the most meatball I can get this year. Normally I would be prediciting a division title or at the least a trip to the World Series.... Not this season. Last year beat me into submission.

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Ian Stewart = All-star

That's the spirit BC! Let's all get real weird with it.

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Things that must happen for the 2014-15 contending plan:

-Castro continues to improve defensively and increases his power
-Rizzo must be a star. +900 OPS
-Garza and Shark prove they are starting playoff games in 2 years.
-Jackson's swing enhancements actually work and he shows he is a starting quality player
-A couple Vets good off to good starts and are able to be traded for close to MLB ready pitching prospects because the Cubs have zero, literally.

I'm sure there's more but I've got to poop


73-75 wins, but watchable all year with the young guys.

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Team Cutler.

That isnt the spirit Dan. There will be time to look to 2014 (probably around Apr 28th or so). It is now time to be joyous and embrace the fact that this team is going to be much better than everyone thinks.

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Looks like everyone's too afraid to say it. The Cubs will grab one of the wild card spots this year. NL Central is weak even without the 'Stros.
Garza-Sammie-Jackson trio will each have 10+ wins.

Rizzo-Soriano-Castro will be the N.L.'s best 3-4-5 combo.

This is the year!

No chance.

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

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My scouting sources indicated he's the next Mike Trout.

Always a chance. I'm always very pessimistic about these best shape of life/swing change fluff pieces in Spring Training. It will really determine whether he's a starter or a super sub. Every other tool is great other than the pesky bat on ball thing.

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Team Cutler.

The world is filled with toolsy outfielders who have no idea how to play the game.


Just look at the White Sox minor league system..

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1926-1931-1934-1942-1944-1946-1964-1967-1982-2006-2011

Bret Jackson will be a valuable 4th outfielder someday

It's only a matter of time before Lillbridge is starting over the stewert/valbuena shit sandwich at 3rd base.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

I love the radio commercial they're running for 6/9 game ticket plans. Idk what freebies/discounts they toss in for committing to 6/9 games, but I reckon it's not that much when you can be there to "see samardzija toss a gem"

Seriously, don't go see him pitch. Go see him toss shiny minerals around; totally worth a multi-game commitment.

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That 6/9 game plan is pretty nice because they are offering all Friday afternoon or Sunday games. I'd be more than happy to watch shitty baseball on a nice Friday afternoon.

I think the Cubs will start out relatively hot. I see .500 for April and early May. They will then tank once interleague starts and never recover leading to a fire sale in late July. 75 wins.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Easily the nicest post you've made about the Cubs ever. I feel icky.

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Team Cutler.

The meatball in me says 71-91:
* Pitching is decent but not as good (starter wise) as last year(before trades).
* Hitting might be a little better,still nothing to get excited about.
* Offensively,glaring hole at 3rd,catching,second base and at least one OF position.
Positive note:
* No Houston will hurt other teams W-L records in the division. (Cubs had it tough with Houston)

I'm just predicting a better record because it's hard to lose 100,two years in a row.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

My bold prediction is Josh Vitters may someday be as good as Brent Morel

Good to see you are consistent, bad but consistent.

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

What excuse will Braun use this year for taking PEDs? Did someone from the drug testing lab tie him up and inject him full of steroids?

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He wrote the book on excuses, all hail Braunie!!!

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2018
#ExtendLafleur
10 More Wins

He wont

But they signed the missing piece in Scott Hairston! I'm very excited.

Take a look at their April schedule and get back to me on that one.

Cubs challenge for the Wildcard(s).

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wild card...book it.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Fuck.

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You've already looked at the cubs schedule?

Booked for 2014

Knock Knock...anyone home..... 15 teams in each league...

Interleague starts April 1 when the Angels play in Cincinnati and it ends Sept 29 when the Tigers visit the Marlins

White Sox first interleague game is April 9 at Washington
Cubs first interleague game is April 16 when the Rangers visit Wrigley

So Dolpphin when does the tank start April 1? or April 16?

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