Batting Order: Brian Giles was the perfect FA signing for this club's triumphant return to Montreal, providing a rock in the three hole and allowing the rest of this phenomenal cast to settle into their natural positions. Harper should be an effective lead-off man, countering a lower OB with more extra base hits, with Jayson Werth ready to step off the bench and into that role if needed. Vidro and Guerrero surround Giles, giving the Expos a solid 2-3-4. The 5 through 8 slots are crammed with power. While final hitter Pudge is a punt, his low cost and +11 arm is well worth the lack of pop. A good order that could ruin many a pitcher's day.
Rotation: Strasburg and Gonzalez are a good pair to build on, with free agent signee David Wells bookending the rotation with experience and a high IP. Their two aces should rack up the strikeouts, hopefully keeping Montreal competitive against the division's other great staffs.
Bullpen: The strongest in the NL East, four quality pitchers that should allow the staff to stay at comfortable IP counts. Stammen's 2 IP is a God send and the Expos have a great closer in Tyler Clippard. If the Expos have a lead after 6, expect them to win with this collection of talent.
Overall: The computers are very high on Montreal, projecting a wild card berth. While they still appear to be a step behind Atlanta and Philadelphia, they are clearly a potential playoff contender. The depth at pitching equates for long-term success and they've got a deep lineup. The ability of Pudge to neutralize base stealers is critical too, especially against speedy teams like the Mets. The more I think about this team, the more I like them.
No comments:
Post a Comment