Quote:
Originally Posted by duncan_idaho
And how does that comparison look if you go the past five years or project through the next five?
Unless the Cardinals find a true middle of the order bat, I have a hard time seeing them overtake the Cubs in the next 3 years.
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Sure, how did it look right after 2016 for the Cubs. Much better than it does now. He made the point that the Cards went to shit after LaRussa, and of course that isn't the case.
The Cubs have a good nucleus (of position players) for sure, but that perpetual dynasty lineup looks much more pedestrian than one would have guessed 3 years ago. One big difference 5 years ago and now was their pipeline of youth. They have exhausted or frittered away a ton of talent and the cupboard is pretty bare. If 2018 Bryant is the norm going forward, that lineup is much different. Baez saved their asses this year. He finally came into his own.
Also, which group of pitchers projects better over the next 5 years? Mikolas, Reyes, Martinez, Flaherty, Wacha, Gomber/Gant/Hudson average about 25 years old.