Dunn vs. Bradley (so far)

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=33775:date=Apr 28 2009, 07:55 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 28 2009, 07:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33773:date=Apr 28 2009, 07:48 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 07:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33752:date=Apr 28 2009, 06:09 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 28 2009, 06:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33726:date=Apr 28 2009, 04:05 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 28 2009, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33724:date=Apr 28 2009, 04:01 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 28 2009, 04:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=33722:date=Apr 28 2009, 03:00 PM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 28 2009, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->The Cards, Reds, and Pirates are all better than last season.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

No they're not.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah, I'm not sure any of those teams are better than last year.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm pretty sure of it.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Well, you're wrong. List their opening day rosters from last year, then list their opening day rosters from this year, put them side by side, then tell me with a straight face that they are better. If you can do that, you'd make a hell of a poker player.

Every team in the NL Central got worse or stayed the about the same talent-wise(Cubs included), I find it impossible to think otherwise and in your heart, you know it too.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'm not expecting them to be better because of any changes to their roster -- as I mentioned before. I expect them to be better because the core of their talent; Votto, Bruce, Volquez, and Cueto are all 25 years old or younger. I'm expecting them to be better than they were last year. I also think Harang is going to bounce back (unless his arm falls off). Encarnacion and Phillips are both developing talents, too. The Reds could take a huge step forward this season.

So yes -- I expect them to be better. And there isn't a trace of a smile on my face as I type this.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
2008: Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn (greatest player in the world, see your thread about 2 threads down), Jeff Keppinger, Ryan Freel, David Ross all on the opening day roster. This team is not better.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yeah?

Griffey Jr hasn't been good in quite some time (.245/.355/.432). Dunn is good. Keppinger? .266/.310/.346 Freel? He was OK. .298/.340/.359 (He's Theriot with less power). Ross? .231/.381/.366.

None of the guys you mentioned are going to be hard to replace and improve on (except for Dunn's OPS).