After a 2nd consecutive choke job in the NLCS the team returns largely in tact, with Cliff Floyd, Edgar Renteria, and Doug Davis (darn you Boston giving him the extra year) being the only significant losses.
(new acquisitions in red on first mention)
Lineup vs LHP
# Pos Name Bat 1 Jesse Garcia 2b RH 2 Kevin Youkilis 3b RH 3 Albert Pujols LF RH 4 Jose Guillen RF RH 5 Prince Fielder 1b LH 6 Jason Michaels CF RH 7 Khalil Greene SS RH 8 Francisco Hernandez Ca SH 9 Pitchers
Lineup vs RHP
# Pos Name Bat 1 Francisco Hernandez Ca SH 2 Kevin Youkilis 3b RH 3 Albert Pujols LF RH 4 Prince Fielder 1b LH 5 Jose Guillen CF RH 6 Garrett Anderson RF LH 7 Khalil Greene SS RH 8 Jason Romano 2b RH 9 Pitchers
Rest of the bench
# Name Role Bat 18 Chao Wu Ca LH 7 Hector Luna UT RH 31 Jay Gibbons 1b-RF LH
The rotation was one of the strongest top to bottom last year. Doug Davis is gone but Brandon McCarthy was brought in to replace him. McCarthy is the Biggest unknown of all the starters after struggling so badly last year for Chicago White Sox.
Rotation
# Name Throw 2009 Results 1 Johan Santana LH 18-6, 2.32 ERA and .91 WHIP. 2 David Bush RH 14-10, 3.88 ERA and 1.23 WHIP. 3 Brandon McCarthy RH 10-13, 5.90 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. 4 Kirk Saarloos RH 10-5, 4.16 ERA and 1.41 WHIP. 5 Will Inman RH 13-10, 3.99 ERA and 1.33 WHIP split between AAA and MLB.
Lights Out after 5
The best part of my team last year. I am legitimately 5-7 deep in the pen. If the starters get a lead, the vast majority of the time you can mark it in the W column.
Role Name Throw 2009 Results CL Adam "Name" Brandt LH 7-5 4 saves, 2.17 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. SU1 Bill Bray LH 5-1 4 saves, 2.58 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. SU2 Derrick Turnbow RH 6-10 with 38 saves, 5.89 ERA and 1.53 WHIP. MR1 Rusty Tucker LH 7-1 with 2 saves, 2.29 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. MR2 Robbie Wooley RH 2-0 with 2 saves, 4.69 ERA and 1.66 WHIP in AAA, 4.1 IP in the playoffs last year. MR3 Mitch "Stuttering" Stetter LH 3-2, 2.54 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 26 app. MR4 Sam "NOT Jerry" Narron LH 3-2 with 2 saves, 3.88 ERA and 1.43 WHIP.
Eric Smith is the likeliest of the spects to make an appearance in the Majors. But I just want him to get as many at bats at AAA and be ready for everyday action rather than platoon action. Joshua Sanderlin and Ricky Romero are two others I expect to take their games to the majors this season.
Thoughts and opinions appreciated.