Sportswriter for Montgomery Media
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| Follow me on Twitter @amarcus515 |
To help pass the time between now and the start of the 2011 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Pirates, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, biggest spring training question and top prospect.
PROJECTED LINEUP
PROJECTED LINEUP
CF Chris B. Young
2B Kelly Johnson
RF Justin Upton
C Miguel Montero
SS Stephen Drew
LF Xaiver Nady
3B Melvin Mora
1B Juan Miranda
P Joe Saunders
PROJECTED ROTATION
Joe Saunders
Daniel Hudson
Ian Kenndey
Armando Galaragga
Zach Duke
PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - JJ Putz
Set-up - Juan Gutierrez
Top Prospect - Jarrod Parker (RHP)
Breakout
Justin Upton - Justin Upton will be my breakout candidate every year until he does it. I know he has the ability to become one of the most feared hitters in baseball and I confident one of these years he will put a complete seaosn together and win a silver slugger, if not an MVP award if his team is in reach of the playoffs.
Bust
Chris B. Young - This free swinger should be the poster for why Balls in Play Batting Average. Sure, he only fanned 145 times and he was no Mark Reynolds, but I'm calling it luck. I think Young falls back to his dismal 2009 numbers and flirts with the Mendoza line and not another 2nd straight all-star game appearance.
Biggest Spring Training Question
Ace up their sleeve? - In order to compete in the majors, especially in the NL West, especially in the this era of the pitcher, you need a guy you can run out every five days and feel confident you are coming away with a win. The D'Backs don't care who that guy is, but they sure did need a guy. Joe Saunders is a former all-star, but Daniel Hudson may be the brightest hope. Hudson was insane after getting traded over from the White Sox and if he could do it for a full season he would become the ace in Zona. They are also are hoping top prospect Jarrod Parker can return from Tommy John surgery and have some impact on the major league level this season.
Breakout
Justin Upton - Justin Upton will be my breakout candidate every year until he does it. I know he has the ability to become one of the most feared hitters in baseball and I confident one of these years he will put a complete seaosn together and win a silver slugger, if not an MVP award if his team is in reach of the playoffs.
Bust
Chris B. Young - This free swinger should be the poster for why Balls in Play Batting Average. Sure, he only fanned 145 times and he was no Mark Reynolds, but I'm calling it luck. I think Young falls back to his dismal 2009 numbers and flirts with the Mendoza line and not another 2nd straight all-star game appearance.
Biggest Spring Training Question
Ace up their sleeve? - In order to compete in the majors, especially in the NL West, especially in the this era of the pitcher, you need a guy you can run out every five days and feel confident you are coming away with a win. The D'Backs don't care who that guy is, but they sure did need a guy. Joe Saunders is a former all-star, but Daniel Hudson may be the brightest hope. Hudson was insane after getting traded over from the White Sox and if he could do it for a full season he would become the ace in Zona. They are also are hoping top prospect Jarrod Parker can return from Tommy John surgery and have some impact on the major league level this season.
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 65-97
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| Is this the year Upton becomes elite? |
PROJECTED FINISH: 5th in the National League West
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
Check back tomorrow for the Baltimore Orioles
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