Are you nervous about the Oakland starters???

[Madison]

I wouldn't worry. Worrying causes stress and stress causes brain anerysims.

Not to mention ulcers!

So that's why my head always hurts. Lol.

[MikeeDee]

I wouldn't bump them down. Is anyone bumping down Wood and Prior over Cubs offense, which likely won't be much better?

Hootie, i usually agree with you, but the Cubs have Sosa, Lee, Ramirez, Walker and Alou. Not the best lineup, but good enough to be in the top ten in their league. the A's have Chavez and a whole lotta nothing, if it weren't for the Indians and the Tigers they very well could be the worst in Runs in the league in 2004.

[Pedantic]

I wouldn't bump them down. Is anyone bumping down Wood and Prior over Cubs offense, which likely won't be much better?

Hootie, i usually agree with you, but the Cubs have Sosa, Lee, Ramirez, Walker and Alou. Not the best lineup, but good enough to be in the top ten in their league. the A's have Chavez and a whole lotta nothing, if it weren't for the Indians and the Tigers they very well could be the worst in Runs in the league in 2004.

With that lineup, the Cubs won't need anything to keep cool over the summer with all the fans they'll have going.

[pkarr5000]

the A's have Chavez and a whole lotta nothing, if it weren't for the Indians and the Tigers they very well could be the worst in Runs in the league in 2004.

if getting on base and wearing out opposing pitchers, hence their obp %, and allowed, even including free swingers such as tejada who led the a's in at bats, is "a whole lotta nothing" then I have another reason to believe the cubs wont even have a chance against any other serious playoff team

[HOOTIE]

MIKE Probably true. The Cubs will score more. But run support is alot luck, and i wouldn't bump a extremely talented sp down for it. Hudson got a full run more then Zito and Mulder. Mike Maroth ranked a astonishing 33rd in support. I guess what i'm saying, it's very possible any of Oaklands top 3 could get just as much support as the Cubs big guys.

[mikcou]

I wouldn't bump them down. Is anyone bumping down Wood and Prior over Cubs offense, which likely won't be much better?

Hootie, i usually agree with you, but the Cubs have Sosa, Lee, Ramirez, Walker and Alou. Not the best lineup, but good enough to be in the top ten in their league. the A's have Chavez and a whole lotta nothing, if it weren't for the Indians and the Tigers they very well could be the worst in Runs in the league in 2004.

I agree with you the Cubs have a better offense than the A's right now and will probably put up more runs than the A's.

[Transmogrifier]

Something that hasn't been mentioned: The A's lost their pitching coach, who was instrumental in their biomechanics program. Do you think the pitchers might not be managed as well?

[Sox FANatic001]

only thing i'm worried about is the offense getting them wins. They'll still post good ERAs and WHIPs and Ks

[rolledupace]

[quote="Sox FANatic001"]only thing i'm worried about is the offense getting them wins. They'll still post good ERAs and WHIPs and Ks[/quote]


I'm in 100% agreement. W/L is only one category. You can't take an average starter on a good offensive team over an ace with a weak hitting lineup.

[Erboes]

I think everyone fretting about Oakland's offense is wasting time. They weren't very good last season with the bats and their pitchers won plenty of games. I think Chavez will have a monster season and they have enough bats elsewhere to equal last season's numbers. That is, of course, only my humble opinion.