So Richard Justice, in a column for the Sporting News, gave a very specific, not at all vague outlook for the St. Louis Cardinals:
The Cardinals might win 90 games or lose 90. They don't have as much money as the Cubs, so they have to count on more kids. Counting on kids is risky business. But if the kids don't get overwhelmed, they bring an energy to the clubhouse that a Milton Bradley simply can't. This is akin to writing "very" 60 times to fulfill your word count.
But that's after saying:
I still like the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. Who cares if the Cubs have spent like drunken sailors?
So if the Cardinals lose 90 games, does that mean 73 wins could take the NL Central? To Justice, the NL Central comes down to two teams - the Cubs and Cardinals. Because the Pirates and Reds are "still building," and the Astros and Brewers "have gotten worse."
Nothing like some happy cheer to spread around, 13 days before pitchers and catchers report. God bless us, everyone.
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
