Probably more so because the Bears and Bulls sucked. I know it could be a bad year. I also know this team has talent. They could do well.

I'm encouraged by the performances of Anderson and Ramirez in Spring training. Those are the "out of the blue type guys" every surprise team needs.

Baseball is weird. That's why I love it. The Indians and Tigers are good but hey, they could start slow. Maybe the Sox start well and get confidence. Tigers have bullpen trouble. Indians starting 5 aren't studs. Maybe the Sox win 1 run games and the Tigers and Indians don't win as many. That's the way seasons go sometimes.

I think it could be a fun season. Maybe Kenny trades for that starting pitcher by the deadline if they're close. I think they could be within 4 games come September. I'll take my chances at that point.

***I'm scared this post will be drug up if the Sox are 20 games out in September***

Im excited too. I dont like baseball all that much, but I always love opening day of MLB. Its the unofficial start of spring for me and Im looking forward to following the Sox after the superdissapointing Bulls team. Im quietly optimistic about this year. I still think Beurhle is one of the most underrated Pitchers in MLB.

_________________
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

There will be postseason baseball in this city. Fortunately, it'll be at Wrigley!

Absolutely they are the favorites over the Sox.

Good team + weak division = Cubs have a better chance than the Sox.

If the Cubs don't make the playoffs it's a major disappointment. If the Sox don't it was expected by many.

I'm just looking for a cool breeze blowing in off the concourse, drunk half naked girls in T shirts filling the stands, and eating a hot dog with the smell of grass...


Shit, I sound like a Cubs fan!

I'm just ready to get rid of this fucking avatar.

I am also looking forward to opening day, but I'm overly excited about the White Sox competing in that division. The Cubs should be fine, but if there's a team that can screw up an ideal spot, it's them.

Go Brew Crew.

yep...probably just as many games as there were last year

_________________

Much like snowdrops poking their blossoms through the melting snow, the sighting of the first fanwhore truly denotes Spring's arrival.

_________________
Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Who knows about the Sox. I posted in another thread that a win total of 92 or 71 would not surprise me at all.

The Cubs look good, but they are one injury away from a .500 ballclub. They are not as deep as lots would have it seem.

_________________

On that we agree. The Cubs have Aramis, DLee (already seen that movie), or Z go down, and they are in deep Kim Chee. <sets out bait for a certain troll>
The Cubs aren't unique in that position, but you're right. They're not as deep as some would think, especially in their pitching staff.

_________________
Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Right, injuries hurt any team, but if one of the boppers in the lineup go down (as Lee, Soriano, and Rameirez all have in recent years), or they have to dip into Iowa for pitching, they could be in deep shit real quick.

_________________

I think the Cubs will compete with the Reds for the title until at least September, but if, as Frank points out, one of these guys loses more than a month, it will be over by July/Aug.

In Dusty Cincy trusties!

_________________

Shouldn't that be the other way around - the Cubs competing with the Reds ?

_________________
Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

At least Red fans don't have to worry about Dusty winning a World Series.

I'm sure that there are many in Wrigleyville who believe the Central is theirs to lose. I don't feel that way. I believe the Reds hold the head to head edge vs. the Cubs the past several years, with the worst pitching in history.

Last year the Reds' had the worst pen in the league and the starting five were:

Harang
Arroyo
Klye Lohse
Erick Milton
Elizardo Ramirez

They replaced the bottom three with Volquez, Cueto and Fogg and added Cordero as the closer.

We'll see. I do believe the Cubs will be able to compete with the Reds, but the question will be which team remains healthy.

You have nothing to base the comparison of Cueto and Volquez on yet. Both are rookies - Volquez made 6 appearances last year and has had a good spring, but no idea how he will do. He's a career 3-11 with a 7.20 ERA. Plus the most innings he's thrown in his career is 140. How will he fare in August and September when the innings are up there?

As for Cueto, he's never pitched in the majors and had good long term success primarily at the A ball level. He did pitch half the year at the AA/AAA levels last year and was pretty successful at the AA level, but he only made 4 starts at AAA. He's thrown in upwards of 160 innings in a year.

I hope you're not serious that Josh Fogg is a good pitcher.

I won't disagree. . . Everything you said is true. But Volquez and Cueto have unbelievable fastballs and change-ups. We'll see what happens. Fogg as a #5 is better than the Reds have had as #3-#5 since they won the World Series.

It's cool J. Volquez does have electric stuff. I think he hits the radar at 97 or so. That will win alot of games. I've heard comparisons to Pedro.

As for Cueto, the most interesting thing about him is that he was actually a non-roster invitee meaning he wasn't on their 40 man roster before the spring.

im gonna go out on a limb i think the sox might be able to slip in with the wild card. detroits bullpen is extremly thin and theyre starting pitching isnt amazing. miguel cabrea will also struggle to carry his hat ass around the bases.

I've heard of fat ass and asshat... hat ass?
Cabrera is going to get huge now that he has guaranteed coin.

_________________
Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

Going to?

_________________

I stand corrected.
As someone who has lost 44 pounds since last August, I know it ain't easy, but it can be done. He's not even trying.
Cabrera is going to get even larger now that he has guaranteed coin. A callous waste of talent is infuriating for any fan base. I feel some sympathy for the Tigers fans who will watch this black hole develop.

_________________
Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

yeah i know its hard to lose wieght to because ive been doing it. but he is the biggest waiste of talent maybe in the last 5 years. he may ave been just south of arod if he pulled his head out of his hat ass ( thats for you
kerchungathunk)

Duly noted and appreciated.

_________________
Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

We'll see how he does against a tough Phillies lineup today.

I've been trying to trade for Cueto but his value is ridiculously inflated now..

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