Well, there are three questions of varying degrees:
1) Small - Will Schilling be ENTIRELY ready on opening day? Even if he's in shape to pitch he might not be at the top of his game. 2) Medium - Will Clement make the adjustment well? He has problems now and then, but when he's on he's dominating. Tek's guidance will help tremendously. 3) Large - Will Wade Miller both be healthy this season AND adjust well? This is probably the difference between a 100-win season and a 90-win season. No worries waiting until June, as he's just a bonus over an already solid rotation. Even with the ifs surrounding Miller, it's an incredible bit of luck that Theo picked him up so cheap.
I'm expecting Arroyo to improve somewhat, with his experience last year, and Wakefield and Wells to pitch as well as they have been. Given a smooth transition Clement will be more than a replacement for Lowe, and there's some speculation that he might have the possibility to pull a season like D-Lowe did in 2002.
With Renteria, our lineup is even more frightening than it was last year. Seriously, the number of guys in the lineup who can both hit for power AND work a count is almost mean. I'm thinking something like:
1. JD 2. Renteria 3. Manny 4. Ortiz 5. Trot 6. Millar 7. Tek 8. Youks/Mueller 9. Bellhorn (not out of disrespect, but sheer ability to hit here)
Just thinking about the amount of pitches thrown between our 7, 8, and 9, and 1 guys hurts my arm. Talk about your hellish third inning...
Oh, if you're bored one day, try explaining baseball to a European. Only the Italians seem to understand the game.
I think I agree on the batting order. Having bellhorn in 9 is like having two number 1 hitters... rockin'... and I am really really psyched for renteria.
I think my number one concern for the season is matt clement... he may just shine and that would be great, but I am really petrified about his adjustment. For some reason he just doesn't strike me as a mature-enough pitcher to do that smoothly. I think he might end well, but I think he'll start slow. As for Arroyo, I agree - I don't think that guy's ceiling is astronomical, but I think that for this season he'll continue to slowly improve.
Actually, it seems that a few French people know about baseball... but not too many of them have any liking for the game.
1) Small - Will Schilling be ENTIRELY ready on opening day? Even if he's in shape to pitch he might not be at the top of his game.
2) Medium - Will Clement make the adjustment well? He has problems now and then, but when he's on he's dominating. Tek's guidance will help tremendously.
3) Large - Will Wade Miller both be healthy this season AND adjust well? This is probably the difference between a 100-win season and a 90-win season. No worries waiting until June, as he's just a bonus over an already solid rotation. Even with the ifs surrounding Miller, it's an incredible bit of luck that Theo picked him up so cheap.
I'm expecting Arroyo to improve somewhat, with his experience last year, and Wakefield and Wells to pitch as well as they have been. Given a smooth transition Clement will be more than a replacement for Lowe, and there's some speculation that he might have the possibility to pull a season like D-Lowe did in 2002.
With Renteria, our lineup is even more frightening than it was last year. Seriously, the number of guys in the lineup who can both hit for power AND work a count is almost mean. I'm thinking something like:
1. JD
2. Renteria
3. Manny
4. Ortiz
5. Trot
6. Millar
7. Tek
8. Youks/Mueller
9. Bellhorn (not out of disrespect, but sheer ability to hit here)
Just thinking about the amount of pitches thrown between our 7, 8, and 9, and 1 guys hurts my arm. Talk about your hellish third inning...
Oh, if you're bored one day, try explaining baseball to a European. Only the Italians seem to understand the game.
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I think my number one concern for the season is matt clement... he may just shine and that would be great, but I am really petrified about his adjustment. For some reason he just doesn't strike me as a mature-enough pitcher to do that smoothly. I think he might end well, but I think he'll start slow. As for Arroyo, I agree - I don't think that guy's ceiling is astronomical, but I think that for this season he'll continue to slowly improve.
Actually, it seems that a few French people know about baseball... but not too many of them have any liking for the game.
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