OK, so Fonso can't run anymore, Theriot and de Rosa flat out suck, Ramirez only plays when he feels like it, D-Lee has lost all the power he ever had, Fuck You Dome will probably not transition well to America and Pie can't hit a barn door from three yards away. Soto is too young and not talented enough, big Z is too emotional, Lilly will be found out this year, Hill isn't as good as he's made out to be, the others competing for the rotation are Dumpster, Lieber and Marquis, FFFFS and the relief is Woody (pitch two days and his arm spontaneously combusts), Howry (average), Eyre (sucky), Wuertz (miserable) and possible Neal Cotts (oh my god). Cubs to miss the playoffs.
Man, how does someone from another country, with no emotional investment in a team thanks to locality, become a Jets and Cubs fan? I feel really bad for you bro. Start drinking now, it's going to be a long year.
I forget where I heard it, but there was a great comparison between the Jets and the Cubs... went something like this: The Jets... all the tragedy of the Cubs, with none of the likability. :rofl2: hmy: :sad:
It's just the luck of the draw. Both teams had a high profile over here when I started following the sports - 2002 for the NFL and 2003ish for the Cubs (Bartman, etc). At the time I was enamoured by Herm Edwards and Dusty Baker. More fool me. It gets worse, my NBA team is the Cavs and my NHL side is the Predators. Quadruple the futility!
They have to be the favorites in that division, though. Houston can't pitch, the Pirates stink, and the Cardinals might be worse than all of them. I also don't believe in the Reds yet (so tough to pitch in that ballpark). The Brewers have serious pitching problems, especially if Gagne continues to be Gagne. Add in the NL West eating itself alive and the Mets, Phillies, and Braves smacking each other around and the Cubbies have to end up with the wild card, at least.
I'd have to disagree as far the the wild card goes. IMO it is division or bust for the Cubs, as well as any other team from the central division. I dont think any of the teams from the central can keep up with the best teams in the east and west. I do agree that the Cubs are likely to win the division though for the reasons you mentioned.
I think an NL Central team could step up and win the Wild Card just because the NL West is deep (except for SF), and a team like Milwaukee could beat up on the bottom feeders of the NL Central and make the playoffs. I don't predict that, but it could definitely happen.
what a game yesterday. glad we ended up winning despite that horrid outing by mr.gagne. almost had flashbacks to that rameriez game winner last year but we came through this year. anyways, I really dont see how everyone is picking the cubs to be run away winners of the division, nl champs, and even world series champs. yes, i admit, that fukudome guy might be alright, but the rotation to me overachieved last year and soriano, lee, and rameriez aint getting any younger. as far as gagne closing, he'll get his head on straight. if not, we got riske and my favorite player, derrick turnbow. getting to the point, it should be a fun year. good luck cubs, your going to need it....
Yup, cubs are going to struggle all year. I mean, FFS, the last time we made the playoffs in back to back years was 1908, we haven't done it for 100 years, so how can anyone expect that we will do it now? It's insanity. Ramirez has his money and doesn't care, Lee is done as a star and Soriano looks almost entirely disinterested and has a gammy leg. We're not winning the division, unless Milwaukee's manager hands it to us.
Also, any team starting Dumpster and Jason "That Shitty Pitcher" Marquis is fucked, pitching-wise. This is not a winning ballclub.
