By Andrew Marcus
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 2012 Major League Baseball season I am going to be examining a different team every day. Starting with the Astros, working toward the Phillies. I will give you my projected starters, breakout and bust players, each team's X-Factor and top prospect.
PROJECTED LINEUP
2B Brandon Phillips
SS Zack Cozart
1B Joey Votto
3B Scott Rolen
RF Jay Bruce
CF Drew Stubbs
LF Chris Heisey
C Ryan Hanigan
P Johnny Cueto
PROJECTED ROTATION
Johnny Cueto
Mat Latos
Bronson Arroyo
Mike Leake
Homer Bailey
Mike Leake
Homer Bailey
PROJECTED BULLPEN
Closer - Sean Marshall
Set-up - Nick Masset
**Ryan Madson (out for the season)
Closer - Sean Marshall
Set-up - Nick Masset
**Ryan Madson (out for the season)
Top Prospect - Devin Mesoraco (C)
Breakout
Jay Bruce - He has increased his home run total in every season yet we still have not seen the best of Bruce. The biggest stat to jump off the page is the increase in walks from 33 in his rookie season to 71 a year ago. That should help the average approach .290 and with 35 homers and 110 RBIs he could be in the MVP conversation in 2012.
Bust
Jay Bruce - He has increased his home run total in every season yet we still have not seen the best of Bruce. The biggest stat to jump off the page is the increase in walks from 33 in his rookie season to 71 a year ago. That should help the average approach .290 and with 35 homers and 110 RBIs he could be in the MVP conversation in 2012.
Bust
Scott Rolen - I guess when you are trying to win now you want to play the proven player, but in the Reds case I think they have hurt some youngsters by sticking with Rolen at the hot corner. I thought Juan Francisco had a chance to be an impact hitter, but he never got the chance and is still expected to come off the bench. Rolen is a day-to-day player all season battling injuries and only time will tell is he can be a run producer in his 17th major league season.
X-FACTOR
Sean Marshall - The news that closer Ryan Madson needs Tommy John Surgery really sent shock waves through Cincy. Not only did it mean Marshall, who has seven career saves will be the closer, it also meant everyone's role slightly alters. Mid-relievers are now seventh and eighth inning guys and so on. Aroldis Chapman was being molded to start, but with the news that Madson is out could shift those plans. It is Marshall's job to lose now.
Sean Marshall - The news that closer Ryan Madson needs Tommy John Surgery really sent shock waves through Cincy. Not only did it mean Marshall, who has seven career saves will be the closer, it also meant everyone's role slightly alters. Mid-relievers are now seventh and eighth inning guys and so on. Aroldis Chapman was being molded to start, but with the news that Madson is out could shift those plans. It is Marshall's job to lose now.
LAST YEAR'S RECORD: 79-83
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| How will Mat Latos handle the move east? |
PROJECTED FINISH: 1st in the National League Central
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
***THANKS FOR READING MY TEAM BY TEAM OUTLOOKS TO HELP PASS THE TIME
Check back tomorrow for the Philadelphia Phillies
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