It's cold and dark outside, and summer seems an age away so what better time to start looking ahead to the 2016 season.
I write as a Red Sox fan still trying to get my head around $217m for David Price. The rotation certainly needed it, but thats a lot of eggs in one basket. Now with Chris Young adding to the outfield options, there are rumours they could shift out JBJ to try and make room for Greinke or Cueto on the roster.
Where will the big prize go next year......
- Cubs will likely make another marquee signing
- Cards are always in it
- Mets and Royals are still strong
- Dodgers have the talent
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It was always going to be fascinating with the free agent pitching talent on the market.
Lester came good and the rest of the pitching staff kept doing their thing, with improvements across the board (Except Arrieta I suppose, but he was never going to keep up with last year's performances!)
Heyward, Fowler and Soler are a solid outfield. Heyward has had a shaky start to life as a Cub with the bat, but has shown his value defensively
And how about that infield? There's not a lot more to say when the whole NL infield in the all star game comes from one team. Rizzo, Zobrist, Russell and Bryant. Superb.
Add to all this that the bench is decent too. Szczur, LaStella, Baez and the rest. The whole team has contributed.
One final thing though - David Ross. I honestly think he's one of those guys in a sports team whose contribution is far more than the stats suggest. The cheerleader on the bench and in the clubhouse and the wise old head who keeps the younger players focused and motivated. I got the impression he was a bit of an unsung hero when the Beardy Redsox won the lot in 2013. When he signed for the Cubs it seemed to be purely to appease Lester (who worked with him at Boston) and since then, Lester pretty much always pitches to Ross. It's telling when a pitcher wants a particular catcher, even if his numbers don't match the established first choice (and very decent) catcher's (Montero).
Ross's retirement has gone under the radar of some - understandably I suppose, seeing as he's never been one of the 'superstars' and a certain David Ortiz is also retiring and taking a lot of the 'Final Season' limelight.
I'd love to see the Cubs finally break their duck this year. (Cubs v Redsox in the WS would be perfect!) They're good enough - they've proved that already - but can they sustain it? Maybe more importantly, will they have the mental strength to cope with the pressure if they start to get close? The Cubs have snatched tragic defeat from the jaws of victory before, be it bad luck, loss of form, choking when it came down to the nitty gritty or maybe it's the curse! But, if they're going to do it, this year looks like their best opportunity in years. And David Ross could well be a vital ingredient in that success.
I've only been to three baseball grounds (Wrigley, Fenway and the Mets' old Shea Stadium) and I loved them all, but these two in particular. In fact, my one and only trip to the US was in 2004, so I actually saw the Redsox in the year they broke their duck!
A real promising talent too.
RIP.
Terrible.
R.I.P.
Just a terrible loss.