After last season's roller coaster ride, the only big change is bringing in Matt Holliday and finally cutting ties with the suddenly disasterous Carlos Marmol. It's like once I touched the team he became a balloon which someone blew up and let go without tying. So I didn't want any part of that. Shane Lindsay, the scapegoat of last year's playoff debacle, is by the grace of God still on this team. Although it's only because of the release of Marmol and the consequential need for bullpen (hint, hint to all you potential trade partners).
Here's the lineup and rotation
Lineup:
Num Position Name Age Bats Ratings 1 2B Ruben Tejeda 23 S 8-10-5-4-7 (8-10-6-7-7 talent), 9-9-9 speed 2 SS Brandon Wood 28 R 8-9-10-5-5 3 3B Aramis Ramirez 34 R 8-7-10-7-9 4 RF Matt Holliday 33 R 9-9-10-7-6 5 1B Carlos Pena 34 L 8-7-10-8-6 6 LF Fernando Martinez 24 L 8-8-10-6-5 7 CF Hunter Pence 29 R 9-10-10-5-6 8 C Jeff Mathis 30 R 8-7-9-6-6
Bench:
Position Name Age Bats Ratings CF Derrick Robinson 25 R 8-9-4-4-7, 10-9-9 speed INF/RF Ryan Theriot 33 R 7-7-4-7-8, 8-8-8 speed SS/3B Kevin Ahrens 23 S 9-8-7-5-7 OF/3B Dallas McPhearson 32 L 8-7-10-7-6
Notes on the batting:
-It's REALLY old
-It's all or nothing/will strike out a lot but pound out a lot of homers
-It lacks speed besides Robinson and Tejeda
Rotation:
Num Throws Name Age Ratings 1 L Cole Hamels 29 10-7-9, 91-94 MPH, 9 end, 52 GB% 2 R Carlos Zambrano 31 10-7-9, 93-96, 10 end, 53 GB% 3 R Brad Penny 34 8-9-8, 93-96 MPH, 7 end, 63 GB% 4 L Mark Buehrle 34 7-8-10, 88-91 MPH, 10 end, 51 GB% 5 R Willie Torkelson 25 6-6-10, 91-94 MPH, 10 end, 53 GB% (Knuckler)
Bullpen:
Pos Throws Name Age Ratings CL R Kerry Wood 35 10-7-8, 91-94 MPH, 5 end, 47 GB% SU L Cesar Jimenez 28 6-10-10, 91-94 MPH, 6 end, 58 GB% MR1 R Jon Huber 31 8-7-9, 88-91 MPH, 6 end, 68 GB% MR2 L Jiminez MR3 R Juan Cruz 34 8-4-8, 95-99 MPH, 7 end, 64 GB% MR4 R Jason Davis 32 8-8-7, 91-94 MPH, 5 end, 60 GB% MU1 R Shane Lindsay 28 9-5-9, 93-96 MPH, 8 end, 66 GB% MU2 R Justin Orenduff 29 8-9-7, 88-91 MPH, 7 end, 52 GB%
Notes on the pitching:
-It's REALLY old
-The bullpen won't be getting tired anytime soon
-I'm excited about some of the ground ball percentages, which are really improtant at Coors
-I relegated Shane Lindsay to mop-up until he gets himself out of the doghouse
-Kerry Wood is closing. Yay!
Any thoughts from outsiders on this team? Suggestions? Comments? Constructive criticism?