Thread title says it all. Here’s my 5 for the Cardinals:
- Albert Pujols is Baseball Jesus. He’s the reincarnation of Joe DiMaggio.
- Sidney Ponson is hoping Anheuser-Busch will reward him for a WS win.
- The easiest way to pay off a new ballpark is to win. A lot.
- Roger Clemens: not an Astro this year.
- Scott Rolen is healthy.
[QUOTE=Asimovian]
- The rest of the NL West is too weak.
- Despite starting this season injured, Nomar Garciaparra will come back and have his best season in quite some time.
- When Izturis gets healthy, which should be soon, they will be in a position to make a trade for another valuable arm.
- Furcal.
- Did I mention the rest of the NL West is relatively weak?
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Still suffering from a chili dog coma, only now do I realize I just posted why we’ll win our division, rather than painting the bigger picture. :smack:
I’m having a hard time seriously getting us past the Cards this year, even with all the talent we have. With another solid starter…maybe. It will definitely take some luck, too.
- The other 31 teams die in a freakish accident.
- Jason Bay has the single greatest season of all time, with 300 RBIs and 100 dingers.
- The Steelers won, so shame will make the 'Rats play better.
- The Yankees suck.
- The last championship the Pirates won was in 1979. Before this year, the last Super Bowl the Steelers won was in…1979 (the 79-80 season). Coincidence? I think not.
Those notwithstanding, the Pirates are toast this year, as usual. .500 is the best we Pirate fans can hope for, and even that’s optimistic.
[QUOTE=Airman Doors, USAF]
- The other 31 teams die in a freakish accident.
- Jason Bay has the single greatest season of all time, with 300 RBIs and 100 dingers.
- The Steelers won, so shame will make the 'Rats play better.
- The Yankees suck.
- The last championship the Pirates won was in 1979. Before this year, the last Super Bowl the Steelers won was in…1979 (the 79-80 season). Coincidence? I think not.
Those notwithstanding, the Pirates are toast this year, as usual. .500 is the best we Pirate fans can hope for, and even that’s optimistic.
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I think Pirates fans have a good bit to hope for. Tracy’s a big improvement over Lloyd McClendon, and the nucleus of a good young team is there. I can see the Pirates and Brewers contending for a division title in a couple of years.
I forgot to add reason 5a: I’ll be sitting in the Right Field bleachers with my fellow Creatures for at least 8 games.
Jim {Sure Airman, pick on the Yanks, its just jealousy after all}
Uh, Dave, just noticed this: where did the 2 extra teams come from? Last I checked, there were only 30 teams total in the majors.
[QUOTE=brianjedi]
Uh, Dave, just noticed this: where did the 2 extra teams come from? Last I checked, there were only 30 teams total in the majors.
[/QUOTE]
That’s how much luck the Pirates need this year. They need two teams that don’t even exist to die in a freakish accident to win the Series. 
[QUOTE=tiny ham]
- Carlos Zambrano
- It’s the last curse available
- In accordance with the prophecy.
- I couldn’t get any tickets in September
- Last thing to do before Wrigley completely crumbles to the ground
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And, as I’m obligated to do:
5 reasons the Cubs have no hope of winning the World Series
- Simulated strikeouts don’t count, so Wood and Prior are useless.
- Two words: Dusty. Baker.
- Summer is still scheduled for June, July and August.
- Postseason play would interfere with modifications to Wrigley Field to earn Tribune Co. more money.
- St. Louis Cardinals not expected to change sports to field hockey this season.
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
3. Farm system is in much better shape, allowing for mid-season trades if any holes are exposed.
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Who’d they get? It’s been a while since I heard anything nice about the Yankees’ farm system.
You’ve got to like my Blue Jays:
- They had the best pitching staff in the division last year and they improved it.
- Troy Glaus adds a lot of offense.
- Bengie Molina’s a great defensive catcher.
- The Yankees are too old.
- Probably no other team in baseball has such a large number of its players in the prime years, and so few important players older than 32.
[QUOTE=What Exit?]
I forgot to add reason 5a: I’ll be sitting in the Right Field bleachers with my fellow Creatures for at least 8 games.
Jim {Sure Airman, pick on the Yanks, its just jealousy after all}
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Tch. And we were getting along so well up til now. 
- Vlad’s healthy
- Our new lefthander Romero is exactly the reliever we needed in our rotation. Man’s got a nasty curve.
- We have the AL Cy Young winner (I don’t care. Dispute it all you want, he still won it.)
- We slapped the Yanks like they wuz red headed step children last year, and we’ll do it this year, too.
- I have a bet with my husband that we’ll do better than his O’s. Not that that’s a chore.