That's the gamble you take when you depend on young prospects as the core of your team. Wild flictuations in daily performance of rookies learning the game, and no established elite players in the lineup spell trouble for the Cubs. You guys are atleast two years away from contending unless more moves are made.
I don't know about trouble.. they played most of last season with a dysfunctional lineup and rotation, and ended the last month or so with those kids in line up struggling for the most part and held their own ending with what 73 wins.. now they have a better established rotation and a steady line up though young but talented.. then toss in a well established elite manager to run them its not as troubled as you think...
though I agree they need to add another hitter , preferably in LF.. you cant assume it going to take 2 years for the core 4 kids to produce...
they could just as easily post solid numbers as they could struggle all year.. it a wait and see scenario.....
Rizzo and Castro are established hitters, with Rizzo on the verge of becoming elite level...
The Sox have stronger pitching and a better hitting lineup. They are good enough to challenge for the division crown, which means playoffs.
lets see stronger pitching ...
Sales Quintana shark noesi danks VS Lester Arrieta Hammels Hendricks Wada
id give an edge to sox on top 3 but not as a whole with the 4 and 5 starters.. so no I wouldn't say sox are stronger, their close overall
line up...
sox have the overall edge now because their more established and their top 4 is strong.. this is one we will have to look at again come July and we see more of what the kids on the cubs are doing..
I want to add this.. I do think Abreu is a good hitter but it wouldn't surprise me if his numbers were down from last year as the league now has a full year and an off season to study him.. just looking at his 2nd half numbers, he shows how good a hitter he is as his AVG sky rocketed but his power numbers went way down with only 7 2nd half homers.. I honestly hope he succeeds because I enjoy watching hitters who can hit .300 and smack 40 homers..
I fond it funny how Cubs fans question Shark. He will be a stud SP with the run support he'll get.
the question on shark is basically how will he fair as a AL starter for a full season and he notorious for having a bad 2nd half
I like shark and I hope he wins 20 games, I just have my doubts with him against tougher AL line ups
We also have Rodon making his way to the rotation next year, giving us four stud arms in the rotation.
So Rodon with just 9 minor league games under his belt will automatically become a STUD in the white sox rotation this year but the cubs core 4 kids who have hundreds of MINOR lgue ABs and have a few months of Major Lgue experience under their belt are a gamble and will struggle as they learn the game and spell trouble for the cubs..
lol..
Sox haters will always be skeptical, but the pundits who understand the game know the Sox can be as good as anyone IN THE AL.
ive heard even from sox fans I know and the pundits who know the game that the sox may be the 3rd best team in their division alone behind the tigers and royals..
this will all make for a good conversation come July when we see how both teams are doing with different type of rosters...