First, don't misinterpret my focus on 2006 to mean that the team has no shot imo for 2005... rather, as Garner made the point, the Cardinals were everyone's 3rd choice for the CD crown last year, and we certainly are in a competitive position... BUT... for the time being, Purp's hands are tied to actually improve the club without doing significant damage to the team beyond 05.
I like our 06 team, but for three question marks.
First, the obvious. Will Taveras be as popular next off-season as he's been this off-season?
Then, a second obvious point... Purp will have no choice but to acquire a new catcher, short of some miraculous ascension by Gimenez. Does he go get a front-line catcher, though, or a stop-gap? Gimenez' progress this season is important to answer that question.
Third, no pun intended, we seem to be covered at all of the other positions unless Ensberg fails in his third attempt to turn-in a full solid season at... third.
Can Whiteman step up and claim it? Can Lamb continue his late 04 trend and prove himself "consistently adequate?" (My gut is that Lamb is going to be getting more and more time at 1B and in LF.) Or will Purp need to fish for a permanent solution there?
Taveras... Gimenez... Whiteman. Their play at Round Rock is going to have everything to do with our 06 success.
I like our 06 team, but for three question marks.
First, the obvious. Will Taveras be as popular next off-season as he's been this off-season?
Then, a second obvious point... Purp will have no choice but to acquire a new catcher, short of some miraculous ascension by Gimenez. Does he go get a front-line catcher, though, or a stop-gap? Gimenez' progress this season is important to answer that question.
Third, no pun intended, we seem to be covered at all of the other positions unless Ensberg fails in his third attempt to turn-in a full solid season at... third.
Can Whiteman step up and claim it? Can Lamb continue his late 04 trend and prove himself "consistently adequate?" (My gut is that Lamb is going to be getting more and more time at 1B and in LF.) Or will Purp need to fish for a permanent solution there?
Taveras... Gimenez... Whiteman. Their play at Round Rock is going to have everything to do with our 06 success.
