Looking Ahead to the 2004 MLB Season

[Bruiser Chong 0]

In all respect to the World Series and the teams involved, I like many of you baseball fans are already looking ahead to next year rather than focus on the WS. While I won't live my life for the next several months sitting on my hands and waiting for the 2004 season to begin, I'd be lying if I said that I hadn't been thinking about it, especially since last week. Because most of us who even watch baseball have a favorite team (or two), I thought perhaps we could take our respective favorite teams and talk about some of the changes that need to be made for a successful season to be possible.

 

It's no secret who I'll be talking about, the Cubs. Yes, they basically fell apart five outs away from the WS, but that doesn't change the fact that this is the same team that lost 95 games just one year ago. I think they'll actually be a competing team over the next few years, but obviously, changes are in order.

 

Let's start with the starting lineup. It's expected that Hee Sop Choi will be the top candidate for the starting first baseman role, as the futures of Eric Karros and Randall Simon are in question. Both were big players for the Cubs down the stretch, but everyone's expecting Choi to get back into the swing of things and become that breakout player most are figuring he'll become. I'm a fan of Simon, but I'd say give Choi the nod since he's younger, has more potential and his game is more refined than Simon's is, or Karros' for that matter. It'll be interesting to see what they do, since I doubt that all three will be back next year and I don't see Choi going anywhere.

 

Moving over to second, you have Mark Grudzielanek. Despite performing poorly in the postseason, he's one of the reasons the Cubs got to where they were, and even though he's a free agent, I expect to see him back next season.

 

The shortstop and third base positions seem to be set, barring some sort of move, which would be odd since Gonzalez is probably the best defensive shortstop in the NL despite the big error in Game 6 of the NLCS and Ramirez really started to come into his own once he joined the Cubs, not to mention his defense improved considered where it was before.

 

The catcher's position doesn't seem to be generating much talk, which would indicate they plan to stick with Miller and Bako. Both guys are usually as close to automatic outs as you get, but I really think they bring a lot to the team defensively, so I won't be damning the team if both are back next year.

 

Heading to the outfield, Alou exercised his option to return next season, although it's expected that he will not be an everyday guy. This may turn out to be a good thing, since Patterson will be back and looking for a big spot on the team. Lofton is a free agent and most expect him to be gone, although now that it's been made clear that Alou isn't expected to be an everyday guy, hanging on to Lofton may be a smart move, as he can be an assest in the case of either guy going down. I know Patterson's a CF, but you'd figure he'd fill in for Alou on his days off. We'll have to see how that turns out, but I'm all for keeping Lofton around, that is, if Patterson still gets the chance to shine. Sosa is also a free agent, I believe, but considering how well the Cubs did this season, most expect him to return with little hassle. Leaving the team after their first really good season since he's been around would be pretty silly.

 

Now we get to an area that's in definite need of change, and it's already been said that it will happen. Guys like Alfonseca, Veres, and Guthrie are all free agents and I'd say it'd be in their best interest to not hang on to any of them. They rarely did well and really cost the team in some important situations. Guys like Todd Wellemeyer, Sergio Mitre and Felix Sanchez all have a chance to be valuable in the bullpen and show potential. They've got a lot to learn, but having those three around instead of the potential free agents I named would be a good move, especially since Mitre has shown the potential to one day be a solid starting pitcher. Although they're not easy to come by, I think the Cubs need to go out and find a real closer. Borowski was great considering that he's not a real closer and basically voluntered to take on the undesirable task. He'd work well elsehwere in the pen, but I think it's time to go find a guy who would be more fit for the position.

 

Farnsworth and Remlinger are the only other two mainstays in the pen and I expect to see them both back next season, which isn't all bad, since they werent' nearly as terrible as some of the other guys in the pen. It's encouraging to know that they're already addressing the bullpen situation, since that's the area that was really lacking for the Cubs this season.

 

Speaking of pitching, let's look at the starting rotation. At the moment, you've got Wood, Prior, Zambrano, and Clement who are more or less sure to be back next season, barring an injury or transaction. Unless Zambrano gets hurt, I expect him to start to become as effective, if not more so, than Prior. That fifth spot belonged to Estes most of the season, with Juan Cruz taking over near the end of the season. Although neither guy is that great, I'd go with Cruz who's still young enough and shows more promise than Estes, who's never going to be a really good pitcher. If Mitre comes around, he may just get that fifth spot, as he didn't do too badly in his two starts for the Cubs this season.

 

The bench is also an area in need of some attention. The Cubs pinch-hitters were just piss poor this season. It's expected that it will be an area that's given much attention in the off season, and hopefully, they'll get some more reliable guys on there. As much as people dislike him, I don't mind Tommy Goodwin and thought he stepped up after Patterson got hurt, and did a nice job until Lofton was brought it. He came through with a lot of big hits in pinch hitting roles, as well. Whether Doug Glanville will be back next season remains to be seen, but if he were kept around, he wouldn't be a bad bat to come off the bench. Other than that, they've got Troy O'Leary, who's a good power guy, and to a lesser extent, Augie Ojeda. Aside from the pen, the Cubs bench was the worst area for the Cubs this season.

 

The coaches will most likely be back next season, but I can't help but think that a new hitting coach would help. Not to slam Gary Matthews, but considering that the Cubs had some pretty solid bats in their lineup, they never really went on a hot streak for too long. Surely it's not all his fault, but you look at teams that have the same caliber players and they're hitting much better most of the time than the Cubs, and you can't help but think.

 

Ok, that was pretty lengthy, especially for those who read it that aren't Cubs fans, but the whole idea of this here thread is do what I just did, only using your favorite team. Feel free to make comments on other teams that posters may mention, too. This may seem like a bit of work, but I thought it could be an fun thing to do.

[Cartman 0]

...and all Boston needs to do is be smart and give Grady at least one more year with some real starting pitching as opposed to that mess of a rotation that was the 2003 Boston red Sox.

 

Oh yea and maybe fix the bullpen too.

[the pinjockey 0]

Not going to be any changes in the Phillies lineup.

 

Lieberthal

Thome

Polanco

Rollins

Bell

Abreu

Byrd

Burrell

 

They need to add a left handed bench bat in the offseason, but with Utley (provided they don't trade him), Tomas Perez, Todd Pratt (they better resign him), and Ricky Ledee they have a solid remaining bench.

 

The pitching needs some additions in the offseason.

 

3/5ths of the starting rotation is set with Padilla, Wolf, and Myers. I would like to see them bring up a kid from the minors for the 5 slot (Ryan Madson or Taylor Buckholz). No need to go nutty for a 5th when they are stocked on arms in the minors.

 

For an ace, I would love to see them make a run at Javier Vazquez. I don't care how much it costs to get him.

 

For the bullpen they need to sign Keith Foulke. I don't trust Tom Gordon's health enough, to proclaim him a top priority like Wade has. If Foulke goes somewhere else, they could trade for Billy Wagner or Troy Percival. I would also run at Ricardo Rincon and one more solid bullpen arm.

 

Then hopefully they can convince Pleasac to come back. I would resign Terry Adams, because he found a niche in the set up role. I would gamble on him recovering from his injury

 

A set up of:

Closer - Foulke

Set up men - Cormier, Adams, Rincon

Lefty ace - Pleasac

Round out - FA (the other arm), Silva, Geoff Geary, Eric Junge (two guys I would bring up), Duckworth (if they don't trade him)

 

With the money they are losing from Mesa, Williams, and Millwood, I think it is a reasonable plan to get (Vazquez, Foulke, Rincon, another bullpen arm, and a left handed bench bat).

[treble 0]

BOLD PREDICTION: The Jays are going to win the AL Wild Card, finishing 2nd in the division to the Red Sox.

[Guest Choken One]

The REDS still stuck with a hole at third, unable to find the Larkin replacement and a still shitty pitching staff won't able to rely on the offensive power of Jr, Dunn, Casey, Kearns next season and finish 5th again.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

...and all Boston needs to do is be smart and give Grady at least one more year with some real starting pitching as opposed to that mess of a rotation that was the 2003 Boston red Sox.

 

Oh yea and maybe fix the bullpen too.

Grady was given a starting staff that had 3 pitchers who in the previous year were 1, 2, and 4 in ERA for the AL. I don't know why you're so hung up on him, he really is a dumbass.

 

I'd still like to see Rick Peterson given a shot at managing the Red Sox. We need a pitching minded manager as our offense is killer (which means Ron "Papa" Jackson should be keeping his job). Also a new bullpen coach is needed IMHO...I'd like to see Eck given a shot at it.

 

I'd like to see 3 key additions

Colon, Milwood, or Livian Hernandez...we only need one(although I wouldn't fuss if we got 2)

Tim Worrell who San Fran has said they won't resign

Keith Foulke whom Oakland probably won't be able to resign

 

Starters

Pedro

Colon/Milwood/Livian

Lowe

Wakes

Arroyo

 

Bullpen

Worrell

Timlin

Embree

Sauerbeck(he's signed through next year)

Williamson

Foulke (closer)

 

Kim won't be back since he chucked the bird...he'll probably be shipped back to some NL team

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Hoping that Cinncy finds a way to ditch Griffey and spend the money on some decent pitching.

[Lightning Flik 0]

BOLD PREDICTION:  The Jays are going to win the AL Wild Card, finishing 2nd in the division to the Red Sox.

Actually, I'd change Red Sox with Yankees.

 

If the Sox fire Little, I do believe an implosion in that team will happen and they'll be battling the Jays for a playoff spot.

 

Oh, and remember, the Jays are no longer the Blue Jays this coming season. It's just Jays. Edit: I'm just mentioning this, it's not to downplay anyone or anything. Just a faint reminder.

 

But seriously, I think they'll win the Wild Card and we'll get past at least the first round. Seriously, I can see the Jays doing that much.

[geniusMoment 0]

Reds will go 161-1 this season. Losing only opening day against the cubs.

I would seriously mark out if Bartman threw out the ceremonial first pitch on opening day. Ideas like that make me what I am.

[Guest Choken One]

bARTMAN can be the new Mr. Baseball get rid of that new rodent looking mascot they had

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Pinjockey pretty much made all the Phillie comments I had. I think he's been paying attention to my posts. Good job.

 

Oh yeah, FIRE BOWA. He's never achieved anything as a manager, and he just creates tension on the team. Time to find a more laid back manager, and let the players handle themselves.

[the max 0]

Who do you suggest, al?

[Guest undisputedjericho]

New York Yankees

 

The entire infield will be back next year. Jeter is Jeter, Giambi is Giambi, Boone has another year, Posada just had his best overall season, and Soriano needs to learn better patience at the plate ala a Nick Johnson.

 

The outfield right now is a big question mark heading into next year. Rumors abound that Bernie Williams will move to left and Matsui will go to center, with Juan Rivera taking over full time in right field. Rumor two is that they will try to move Soriano to center, Matsui to right, and Bernie to left, which I'm pretty sure is the least likely option. And third, George being George, Vladimir Guerrero may be platrolling right for the Yanks next year, with the possible Bernie/Matsui flip flop.

 

The pitching as a whole is in doubt as well. Andy Pettitte's contract is up and talk of him going to either Texas or Houston is a big possibility, although I'm sure he'll be back. Clemens is retiring, and Wells is likely not returning either. If those three all go, then the rotation for 2004 reads: Mussina, Contreras, Weaver, Jon Lieber, and a fifth starter, barring any free agent aquisitions. Doesn't look too pretty there. I expect them to heavily persue Bartolo Colon, though his weight is too much of an issue for me and I'm not too high on him.

 

The bullpen is another mess. Jeff Nelson, Felix Heredia, Chris Hammond, Gabe White have all been ineffective. I could see them going after Foulke and any other big time closers who may be avalible and try to build the Rivera bridge that way.

 

The coaching staff is in big time trouble. Zimmer said he's done after this year, but that won't matter if Torre is fired, because pretty much all the coaches will be gone with him anyway. I can see Willie Randolph, Lee Mazilli, or someone out of left field like Bobby Valentine coming in to manage next year.

 

All I can say is, Steinbrenner is likely going to tear the team apart, and we're about to go into a 1980's like era as a result.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Depends who's available. Chris Chambliss is passed around as a good candidate with minor league managing success. Among familiar names, I wouldn't mind seeing Larry Dierker as manager. My first pick would be Davy Johnson, but I don't think he'd be interested.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Soriano needs to learn better patience at the plate ala a Nick Johnson.

 

Nick Johnson is a plate disipline freak of nature. How many players draw a .500+ OBP in the minors? Soriano will almost certainly never learn to take a pitch.

 

All I can say is, Steinbrenner is likely going to tear the team apart, and we're about to go into a 1980's like era as a result.

 

Little known fact. The Yankees were actually the winningest team of the 80s. They just never won the division.

[Bored 0]

Actually the Yankees won the division in '80 and I guess '81 goes down as a division title. People always do associate the 80s as the down time for them but really it was '89 thru '92 when they were truly down.

 

I'd do a breakdown of the A's but ugh there are too many "what ifs?" to take into consideration right now as to what is going to happen in the offseason.

[Cartman 0]

There are only 2 guys out there that I could deal with Besides grady as Manager of the Sox next year.

 

Bruce Bochy

Jerry Remy!

 

Remy knows the game better than most of the other managers in the league, no question.

 

The reason I am hung up on that moron Grady is b ecause as much of a moron he may or may not be, he got that team together without letting problems divide them like every other god damn Red Sox team I wasted my summer's watching every night. People can claim that this team has the hitting and the personalities to stay together and be competitive without Grady all they want, yet that fact is, if you bring a new manager in he is going to want to run things differently and the players won't like that. Once these primadonna's like Nomar, Pedro, and Manny find a guy they like, they won't just jump on the new guy's bandwagon because Ownership says so. If the Sox bring in a new Manager they may as well just dump some players and start over again.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

The outfield right now is a big question mark heading into next year. Rumors abound that Bernie Williams will move to left and Matsui will go to center, with Juan Rivera taking over full time in right field. Rumor two is that they will try to move Soriano to center, Matsui to right, and Bernie to left, which I'm pretty sure is the least likely option. And third, George being George, Vladimir Guerrero may be platrolling right for the Yanks next year, with the possible Bernie/Matsui flip flop.

 

All I can say is, Steinbrenner is likely going to tear the team apart, and we're about to go into a 1980's like era as a result.

Vlad has said he doesn't want to play in a big spotlight like atmosphere, and if Montreal lets him go they can probably wave good-bye to anybody looking to buy the franchise

 

As a Red Sox fan I can only hope you go back to an 80's era

 

Also in your sig that guy is about to drop a red thingie when he has already connected 4 diagnally...WHY ARE THEY STILL PLAYING?!

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

The Orioles are going to be in the running for several FA's and the hope is that they can coax Vlad away from the money of NY to play in front of the big scoreboard in right field at Camden Yards. They are also looking at getting a #1/2 starting pitcher although there are few pitchers of that calibre that will be available (Colon,Pettite,Millwood and Escobar). They are also looking at Tejada and Javy Lopez as options to replace Deivi Cruz and Brook Fordyce.

 

I think if the end up with Vlad and any one of SP/Tejada/Lopez that they should at least be in contention for the AL Wild Card. No more of this stuck in 4th place crap.

 

There is also A TON of rumors (eminating from Peter Gammons saying it..) that Grady Little will probably be the O's manager in 2004 IF he's not back in Boston (which looks possible). Personally I think Grady Little is no more better/worse than Hargrove, but if the O's get the FA's he'll probably have the team in the playoffs if not this year than no later than 2005.

[Guest Anglesault]

I can't say anything on the Yankees until the WS is over.

 

IF they pull it off, alls well, I think.

 

If they should lose-to a team from Florida-(The three George no-nos, Mets, BoSox and a Floridian team) may God have mercy on us all.

[MrRant 0]

My only prediction for the M's is that I have an odd feeling Griffey will be back in Seattle by the All-Star Break.

 

That and they need to retool the team quite a bit because what they have just isn't enough to get over the hump.

[Guest Anglesault]

My only prediction for the M's is that I have an odd feeling Griffey will be back in Seattle by the All-Star Break.

An oft-injured, whiney ass prima donna is just what they need.

[MrRant 0]

I never said I wanted him back. But I wouldn't be suprised for some odd reason his game came back to him.

[Guest Choken One]

I think 2004 will be the final Litmus test for Junior...

 

I strongly believe Junior never got used to the grass at Cinergy/GABP after 10 years on turf and that caused those knee injuries...He has shown he can still hit the shit outta the ball when he is at the plate and can still play solid Defense as seen from some great plays he made before going down.

 

The problem is well, Running. Once a tremendous hitter with speed has become a old man rather quickly.

 

It's no mystery that Cincy had looked to trade him and are trying to shave him off...

 

The REAL important thing for the REDS to do is to finally find the Larkin replacement because three years they have been incapable of finding him (Boone seemed like a good idea but well he can play ANY infield position and is gone now anyways).

 

They have amazing hitting offensive but once again it's the pitching that has become our achilles heel and that's not good in a Proverbial launching pad that is GABP.

 

Lindner needs to stop saving his money for profit and just do what Marge did, SPEND TO WIN. This will not happen though of course...because He doesn't give a fuck about the team.

[the max 0]

I can't say anything on the Yankees until the WS is over.

 

IF they pull it off, alls well, I think.

 

If they should lose-to a team from Florida-(The three George no-nos, Mets, BoSox and a Floridian team) may God have mercy on us all.

Do you have shame in losing to the Marlins this year, AS?

 

I ask that in a completely unbiased way.

[Guest Smell the ratings!!!]

I think what he's saying is if the Yanks don't win with the biggest payroll ever, Steinbrenner will basically have a meltdown and fire everything with a pulse. That's the popular theory I hear from New Yorkers

[the max 0]

I think what he's saying is if the Yanks don't win with the biggest payroll ever, Steinbrenner will basically have a meltdown and fire everything with a pulse. That's the popular theory I hear from New Yorkers

That's all well and good, but do/would Yankee fans feel shame losing to the Marlins, knowing that they are actually a pretty good team?

[Guest Anglesault]

I can't say anything on the Yankees until the WS is over.

 

IF they pull it off, alls well, I think.

 

If they should lose-to a team from Florida-(The three George no-nos, Mets, BoSox and a Floridian team) may God have mercy on us all.

Do you have shame in losing to the Marlins this year, AS?

 

I ask that in a completely unbiased way.

Personally, I subscribe to a slightly less eccentric version of the ideology of George.

 

All or nothing.

 

If they don't win the World Series, I don't find a silver lining in "well, at least they won the ALCS" because, lets face it, no one gives a fuck about the league championship.

 

That being said, I, personally, think the Yankees are a better team than Florida, so I'd be hugely disappointed if they can't win these two games.

 

However, the only time I was "embarassed" or "ashamed" was when I watched Brad fucking Penny of all people totally shut them down...twice!

 

But, in short, while I'll be furious and see absolutely no good in this season, I won't be looking at it as "how the fuck did they lose to THEM?"

[the max 0]

OK, I get it.

 

You think that the Yankees are a good team (which they are), but you don't slight Florida?

[Guest Anglesault]

OK, I get it.

 

You think that the Yankees are a good team (which they are), but you don't slight Florida?

Correct

Florida is a good team.

 

I just feel the Yankees are better.

 

I also feel that if Wells back didn't act up, we'd be in the driver's seat.

 

Hopefully we rectify that.

 

And Jeff Weaver sucks.

 

That is all.