2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

[Motown]

According to , the #1 NL sleeper team is *drum roll*...

$




$




$




$




$ The Cincinnati Reds



Cincinnati Reds

First, the Reds have the structural advantage of playing in what figures to be baseball's weakest division. Second, they have substantial talent. Adam Dunn has turned in four straight 40-homer seasons, Ken Griffey Jr. enjoyed a nice renaissance in 2007, Edwin Encarnacion has promise going forward, Jay Bruce is the preseason favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year, Brandon Phillips is coming off a 30-30 campaign, and Joey Votto figures to be an immediate contributor. In other words, the Reds should score plenty of runs.

As for the pitching, it's improved, especially in the bullpen. They finally have a shutdown closer in Francisco Cordero, and Bill Bray should be healthy. The rotation is where Cincy's fate will be decided. More specifically, youngsters Homer Bailey and Edinson Volquez must step up. Both have strong minor league dossiers and excellent stuff, but both have thus far failed to transition to the highest level.

If Bailey and Volquez are able to realize their potential, then the Reds will have something more than a puncher's chance in the Central. Both the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers are better teams on paper, but the Reds can make some noise. In fact, they're the team best positioned to pull off a big surprise in 2008.

Your NL sleeper is...

[jake44np]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

I would agree with the Reds.
Many people dont realize how good Jay Bruce is going to be.
He is the best prospect in all of bball.
If Homer Bailey can live up to his potential they have a serious shot at winning the NL Central.
They would have been right in the mix last year but their bullpen blew 30 saves last year!
The signing of Cordero will fix alot of there bullpen issues, now Weathers can move to a set up role and Bill Bray is finally healthy and can be a great LH reliever.

Their offense could be great, check out there lineup.
1. Brandon Phillips 2B (30/30 man)
2. Jay Bruce CF (best prospect in baseball, was minor league POY in all of baseball last year)
3. Ken Griffey Jr RF (must stay healthy again)
4. Adam Dunn LF (count on another 40 hr 100 rbi season)
5. Edwin Encarnacion 3B (had a great second half last year, ended up at .289 16hr 76rbi)
6. Joey Votto (batted .321 4hr 17 rbi in 24 games last year)
7. Alex Gonzalez SS
8. David Ross C (must bounce back to his 2006 form)

I am not for sure if Phillips will bat 1st or not, same with Bruce I am not for sure where he will hit in the lineup.

[JBH3]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

According to , the #1 NL sleeper team is *drum roll*...

$ The Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati Reds

First, the Reds have the structural advantage of playing in what figures to be baseball's weakest division. Second, they have substantial talent. Adam Dunn has turned in four straight 40-homer seasons, Ken Griffey Jr. enjoyed a nice renaissance in 2007, Edwin Encarnacion has promise going forward, Jay Bruce is the preseason favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year, Brandon Phillips is coming off a 30-30 campaign, and Joey Votto figures to be an immediate contributor. In other words, the Reds should score plenty of runs.

As for the pitching, it's improved, especially in the bullpen. They finally have a shutdown closer in Francisco Cordero, and Bill Bray should be healthy. The rotation is where Cincy's fate will be decided. More specifically, youngsters Homer Bailey and Edinson Volquez must step up. Both have strong minor league dossiers and excellent stuff, but both have thus far failed to transition to the highest level.

If Bailey and Volquez are able to realize their potential, then the Reds will have something more than a puncher's chance in the Central. Both the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers are better teams on paper, but the Reds can make some noise. In fact, they're the team best positioned to pull off a big surprise in 2008.

Your NL sleeper is...

.

That's probably all they will do is make a little noise. Maybe the finish at .500, b ut I don't think they beat the Cubs or the Brewers in their division.

My NL sleeper is the Dodgers...I can see them improving by 10 wins w/ Joe Torre as the manager, and possibly winning the division. Acquiring Andruw Jones will help, and if Jason Schimdt is healthy along w/ the signing of Hiroki Kuroda they have a pretty good team on paper and some good young talent to boot...(Loney & Kemp).

[jake44np]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

.

That's probably all they will do is make a little noise. Maybe the finish at .500, b ut I don't think they beat the Cubs or the Brewers in their division.

My NL sleeper is the Dodgers...I can see them improving by 10 wins w/ Joe Torre as the manager, and possibly winning the division. Acquiring Andruw Jones will help, and if Jason Schimdt is healthy along w/ the signing of Hiroki Kuroda they have a pretty good team on paper and some good young talent to boot...(Loney & Kemp).

How can a team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball be a sleeper team?
They have won their division two out of the last 4 years.

[slickdtc]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

That's good to know someone has some faith in the team. We got off to an ugly start last year, but cleaned it up and played more like how we should've to finish out the year (right around .500 baseball after the All-Star break).

We have a very deep lineup. In September last year we gave guys like Jeff Keppinger, Norris Hopper, and Joey Votto playing time and they produced pretty well for us. Like a previous post, the lineup is pretty well off.

Then of course... the pitching and the question marks.

Top of the rotation is very solid. Aaron Harang, a top 10 pitcher in the NL and maybe in all of baseball. Probably the most underrated pitcher as well. And of course Bronson Arroyo, who should bounce back from '07 and have a good year. Then we have the question mark young guys. Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, and Matt Belisle look like the 3, 4, and 5 guys. But who knows who could emerge in spring training. If we could get a veteran in there, an innings eater, someone who can keep the score close, that would be key. Also, Bobby Livingston will be returning midseason. He pitched well for us before suffering a serious injury.

As for the bullpen, it might be a strong point after a disastrous '07. Cordero at the closer, Weathers at the set-up, Jared Burton, Billy Bray, and Todd Coffey. All have had success at some point recently. We have to hope they can string it together.

I'm actually feeling pretty good about '08. As long as the guys go out there and play carefree, fun baseball, we should be fine. No pressure. We're the Reds.

[Chief Illinimac]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

How can a team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball be a sleeper team?
They have won their division two out of the last 4 years.

Seriously, they've been a contender for a few years now.

[sportsdude]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

glad to see the Reds getting some recognition. I actually thought they were a sleeper team last year and they've improved from a pitching standpoint since then so who knows.

Still, I'm trying to be realistic and I know it's going to take some time to develop the younger pitchers and figure out a good bullpen order. Cincy still lacks a true leadoff hitter and I feel that Phillips shouldn't be forced into that role just because he's the closest we have to one. Joey Votto and Jay Bruce look legit but let's see them do it before anointing them as superstars.

[ehh]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

They should trade away Griffey and then they're a lock to win it all.

[jake44np]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

They should trade away Griffey and then they're a lock to win it all.

Why would you say that? He hit 30 hrs and drove in 93 runs last year.
The Mariners did not win it all when they traded Jr.

[ComfortablyLomb]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

They just don't have enough pitching.

It wouldn't be shocking for them to manage a .500 record though and the NL Central is putrid.

[JBH3]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

How can a team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball be a sleeper team?
They have won their division two out of the last 4 years.

I picked the Dodgers as a sleeper because the favorites in that division seem to be Arizona (who won it last yr), and Colorado (NL Champs). There has been no talk of them...that I've heard...winning the West or going to the World Series; which I think they have a good chance of doing. That's why I said the Dodgers.

Next time I'll be sure to contact you before posting to get your format of how to pick a sleeper.

Here's my AL Sleeper the Yankees...

The White Sox...according to ESPN... are 4th in MLB in team salary. But according to your format they could not be considered a sleeper because their salary is too high and they had success a few years ago winning a World Series correct?

We ALL know that the Tigers who are ranked 8th in salary and the Indians who are 23rd in salary (and had much success last yr) are the favorites in the Central. So according to YOUR format of a Sleeper we are to say that the Indians are the sleeper since their salary is lower? Or the Tigers even since they didn't go anywhere last year and have a lower salary than the Sox?

[JBH3]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

How can a team with one of the highest payrolls in baseball be a sleeper team?
They have won their division two out of the last 4 years.

Short answer...Because I said so.

[sportsdude]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

JBH, I don't think the argument is about payroll, I think it's about expectations.

A lot of people expect Arizona and Colorado to be the top two teams, but they also acknowledge that the Dodgers are a pretty good team. LA is a team that a lot of people picked to win the division last year (myself included) and having them sign Andruw Jones and Joe Torre only boosts expectations.

So I think that just because a team is a not favorite does not mean they're a sleeper. Teams that are not expected to do much and then make noise in the final two months at possibly being a playoff team are sleepers. LA is expected to win, Cincy, by and large, is not.

[PhantomPain]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

The triple A coach for the Reds said he had Griffey his first year and he said that Jay Bruce is on his level...very similar players. Throw in the fact that most of the previous Minor League POY award winners were either studs, or hall of famer's and I think there is a good chance he will be something special. I also think Votto is going to compete for Rookie of the Year award.

Obviously starting pitching is where it all boils down to and the Reds have a chance to be very good or very bad in that regard. We know Harang will be good. Arroyo had a weird year last year but I am hoping he bounces back. Belisle seems to have good stuff and it seemed like he was finally starting to "get it" at the end of the season, so I am hoping he starts off strong. Bailey has great potential and he is a big question mark. As well as Volquez, Cueto (projected as #1 starter) and Maloney. So it will be interesting.

I like the Reds chances this year but I liked them last year too and we see where that got us! I still wish Hamilton wasn't traded. I would loved to have seen him in right field with Bruce in Center and Dunn in left. But that won't happen now so I need to get over it. I truly hope Griffey puts out another good year, but last year I grew tired of him and while he has been my favorite player the past 17 years, I am not sure what I think of him anymore.

I also think that what some of you might not realize or aren't taking into consideration is the Dusty Baker effect. I know he has a rep for running pitchers into the ground, or favoring veterans over young talent, but his last two jobs has seen a major turnaround in the first season. So that might play into Cincy's first season with him as well.

[GiantKing]

Re: 2008 #1 NL Sleeper Team is...

Giants are going all the way...