Which last place baseball team from the '06 year do you think will turn out to be a big suuprise this season?

Answer 1

Cubs...definitely the Cubs.

Answer 2

A short discussion on each of the last place teams from last year:

Tampa Bay- Poor pitching (beyond Kazmir) and an offense that is still a year away. They'll show flashes of brilliance on offense, but I don't think there will be any consistancy this year.
Probobly back to the cellar, unless Baltimore implodes.

Kansas City- Some interesting young players in Butler, Shealy and Gordon. Poor pitching though. They may not be an absolute pushover, but in that division, there is no way they can climb out of the celler.

Seattle- A lineup that can be pretty good. A starting staff that is at least made up of legit major leaguer starters, though they are all back of the rotation guys behind King Felix. JJ putz is for real, but the rest of the bullpen is shaky. (Rafael Soriano for Horatio Ramirez!?! Are you kidding me? I still can't get over that one). I wouldn't be surprised if they ended up .500, possibly even as high as second place, if Oakland and Texas collapse.

Washington- Dreadful. Probobly the worst team in the MLB. Some decent arms in the pen, and a couple of solid everyday players, but a rotation that may be decent in AAA. No chance.

Chicago- They spent a ton of money last offseason, so I don't think they are going to "surprise" anyone per se, but they should be the best team among the last place finishers. On the other hand, they are the Cubs, soo...

Arizona/ Colorodo- If things break right, either one could take the division. I don't think it will be because they are that good, just that the entire division is made up of flawed but solid 80-85 win teams (the Dodgers could go as high as 87, or so, but they could also be back with the rest of the pack), and the team that ends up with 85+ will win it. The D-backs are better than the Rockies, especially in the starting rotation, but the Rockies offense can be potent, especially if Troy Tulowitzki ends up being the ROY candidate that many experts are predicting.

When all is said and done, I don't think that Arizona or Chicago will "surprise" anyone. I think people expect them to be decent or better. Therefore, I'm going to say Seattle and Colorado as the "surprise" last place teams that could be competing for a playoff spot come August.

Answer 3

The two last-place teams that will have big years are the Cubs and the D-Backs. They won't "surprise" anyone but they will have big years. the Cubs dealt out plenty of money for Soriano and pitching help. Also, Pinella will help the team. Zambrano is in his contract year so he'll have a big season so he can make huge money in the off-season. I see the Cubs finishing 2nd in the division behind the Cardinals. The D-Backs play in one of the three weakest divisions in baseball, for starters. Then, the one-two punch of Webb and Johnson will be comparable to the tandem of Schilling and Johnson during the 2001 championship year. Look for Stephen Drew to step up and have a huge year for them. In the end, I see the D-Backs being in the top three in the NL West, because they are just about equal to both the Dodgers and the Padres. The D-Rays and the Royals are playing in divisions way too good for either of them to go .500, the Mariners don't look to have the pitching behind Hernandez (or whatever the young kid's name is), and the Nationals are just BAD.

Answer 4

I think the Rockies are going to be a huge surprise. I personally know most of the players on the Colorado Rockies, and all of them have trained incredibly hard this off season. Holiday, and Atkins are going to have a good year like last year, and Clint Barmes is going to have an amazing season. Last year Barmes was just kinda weird for Barmes, I talked to him, and he said that "He was just trying to hard at the wrong times." This same kinda thing happened in AAA but the next year was just a breakout year for him, and he turned into a real leader in the clubhouse. So just watch the Rockies, and when they stun the diamond backs and dodgers don't be suprised!

Answer 5

Royals last again in the best division in baseball, Tampa has a lot of talent but nothing to bring it together yet, Seattle is in a weak divisions and could suprise, Wahsington is stuck in last place, The Cubbies have added alot, they could make a run, Colorado and Arizona mite make a real run at the west, think the DBacks are the closest to being a real surprise

Answer 6

The D-backs. With a solid rotation (Webb-Johnson-Davis-Hernandez) and many talented young players, they will contend in the weak NL West.

They'll finish ahead of the Giants and the Rockies, for sure, and will challenge the Dodgers and the Padres right down to the wire.

Answer 7

how's this for an answer...none of them! all of the last place teams will be poor again, but the teams with the best chance are the cubs and d-backs...however, the cubs do not have the pitching to go anywhere, and i think arizona's pitching is overrated as well, johnson is old and brandon webb is coming off a career year that he will find difficult to match

Answer 8

The Royals are going to surprise everyone. They have 2 great young prospects in Alex Gordon and Billy Butler that will do great this year. They will move Teahen to outfield and he will still be good. The only thing that worries me is shortstop, second base, and there pitchers.

Answer 9

I think the Royals are going t be the surprise of the league this year. Big names and changes in the front office will show-up this year.

Answer 10

I think KC will have a decent year. Close to .500 (maybe) and I see them in 4th place while the chicgao whinny sux end up dead last. whinny sux will soon find out 2005 was a fluke, and it will be ANOTHER 88 years before they win a world series again.