Odd Thoughts

2004 Montreal Expos Preview

The Bottom Line:
The names are different, but the song remains the same in Montreal: they can’t draw fans, they can’t raise payroll, they are supposed to be relocated by the beginning of next season, and their best players have been shipped off to the highest bidder. Despite all these problems, they continually do more with less. Manager Frank Robinson keeps them within smelling distance of the wild card until August. Unfortunately, the NL East is a little better this year, so climbing above fourth place will be practically impossible. The Expos have been among the best teams in all of baseball during the last fifteen years, at least from a management standpoint. They’ve provided quality players for several teams during that time, and unless new ownership and relocation comes along soon, we’ll probably be adding Vidro and Cabrera to the growing list of stars that the Expos have provided for the rest of the league.

Line Up:

Omar Minaya and Frank Robinson are doing the best they can,
but the current ownership group (Major League Baseball) is doing the best the
can to make sure this team stinks.  They’re a year late finding them a place to
move even though there are four ownership conglomerates around the country that
want to have them.  As a result, this is all you get.

 

1. Brad Wilkerson, LF: He’s not a typical leadoff
   hitter - strikes out a lot, but somehow he finds his way on base (.380
   OBP).  He got some pop too (19 home runs).


2. Jose Vidro, 2B: Still among the best second
   basemen in the game; still completely ignored in Montreal.


3. Nick Johnson, 1B: This guy will be a big, big
   star.  All the numbers are there.  Only nagging injuries have kept him from
   being the next Jason Giambi.


4. Carl Everett, RF: Everett could have been a
   Hall of Fame caliber player if he wasn’t such a head case.  It hard to say
   if he’ll produce from game to game, let alone season to season.


5. Orlando Cabrera, SS: He’s so good it’s almost
   impossible to believe he’s still an Expo.


6. Tony Batista, 3B: The final link in a very
   powerful infield.  He has the power to compare with Lowell, Rolen, and
   Chavez, but the comparison ends with his .235 batting average.


7. Endy Chavez, CF: A leadoff hitter with a .291
   OBP – yikes.  They should promote rookie Turrmel Sledge to take this spot. 
   On a side, what a great baseball name – Turrmell Sledge.


8. Brian Schneider, C: If you’re looking for the
   next Brad Ausmus, here he is.

 

Pitching:

Despite the loss of Javier Vazquez, the Expos still have
some good young arms.  Health is the key.

 

1. Livan Hernandez, R: He led the NL in innings
   (233.1) and complete games (8), and he won 15 games.  The pattern of his
   career suggests this is an aberration – not a trend.  By the way, what ever
   happened to his brother “El Duque”?  I can’t even find him on a list of
   non-roster invitees.


2. Tomo Ohka, R: Can be brilliant one minute and
   frustrating the next. 


3. Tony Armas Jr., R: Armas looked great in five
   starts last April, but went down with an injury.  It’s easy to see what he
   might do; it’s hard to say he will.


4. Claudio Vargas, R: He went 3 and 1 with a 1.43
   ERA in six starts in June, but succumbed to injury after that.  A rotator
   cuff problem is not the best way to start your pitching career.


5. Zach Day, R: Another promising rookie; another
   huge injury risk.

Closer Rocky Biddle, R:
The job appears to be his, but his second half struggles create a lot of
questions.   

 

Remarkably Similar
	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	BB	BA	OPS
Jose Vidro (7)	3073	473	940	87	411	17	276	.306	.840
Charlie Gerhinger (7*)	3228	627	1025	44	441	101	315	.318	.844

 

This was the best I could do.

 

Fantasy Top 5:

1. Nick Johnson


2. Jose Vidro


3. Orlando Cabrera


4. Livan Hernandez


5. Carl Everett

A Little Extra - All-Time Expo Stars for Other Teams:

C, Daren Fletcher: had three great years in Toronto.

1B, Brad Fullmer & Andres Galaraga:
Galaraga went to Colorado to win a batting title and later starred for the
Braves.

2B, Delino Deshields: had a few good years for LA
and Baltimore.

SS, Mark Grudzielanek: All-Star appearance in 1996
and he always seems to find a spot at the top of the order wherever he goes.

3B, Vacant

LF, Cliff Floyd & Moises Alou: Alou has obvious
accolades for Marlins, Astros, and Cubs.

CF, Rondell White & Marquis Grissom: Grissom starred
for the Braves in many a post season.

RF, Vladimir Guerrero & Larry Walker: Walker has won
several batting titles, Gold Gloves and an MVP in Colorado.

SP1, Randy Johnson: became Randy Johnson in Seattle
and Arizona

SP2, Pedro Martinez: became perennial Cy Young
candidate in Boston

SP3, Javier Vazquez: will win his first Cy Young in
2004 as a member of the Yankees

SP4, Jeff Fassero: had several good years for Seattle

SP5, Kirk Rueter: seven straight solid seasons in San
Francisco

Closer John Wetteland, won World Series MVP for
Yanks in 1996

Closer Ugueth Urbina, the league’s ace closer for
hire.

Closer Jeff Shaw, had five 30+ save season in
Cincinnati and LA

 

Here’s the combined accomplishments for the group:

1 All-Star Game MVP

1 NL MVP

2 hits leaders

2 stolen base leaders

2 home run leaders

2 RBI leaders

2 win leaders

3 saves leaders

3 Postseason series MVP’s

4 Batting Titles

8 Cy Young Awards

9 ERA titles

11 Strikeout leaders

13 Gold Gloves

39 Postseason Appearances

45 All-Star Appearances

 

Posted by at March 29, 2004 10:47 PM