Expos-02-24-03
February 24, 2003
LATEST TEAM INFO:
I, like most people, was not expecting to see another season of Expos baseball in Montreal, but having one more year is a pleasant surprise, to say the least. The Expos head into Spring Training this season with a pretty solid team, only missing a few components from last season's second place squad. Gone are pitching ace Bartolo Colon, starting pitcher Masato Yoshii, first baseman Andres Galarraga, and outfielder Troy O'Leary. The new faces to the club include Orlando Hernandez, Jeff Liefer, and pitcher Sun-Woo Kim.
POSSIBLE LINEUP:
SP: Javier Vazquez
SP: Tony Armas Jr.
SP: Orlando Hernandez
SP: Tomo Ohka
SP: Up for grabs
CL: Scott Stewart
RP: T.J. Tucker
RP: Joey Eischen
RP: Scott Downs
Rest of bullpen is not set
RF: Vladimir Guerrero
CF: Endy Chavez
LF: Brad Wilkerson
3B: Fernando Tatis
SS: Orlando Cabrera
2B: Jose Vidro
1B: Jeff Liefer
C: Michael Barrett
If Liefer faulters early on, look for Wilkerson to take over at first and Matt Cepicky or Peter Bergeron to take over in left.
INJURIES:
Scott Stewart will not pitch until mid-March, but he should be ready for opening day.
OVERVIEW:
The Expos are in a much more competitive division this season, as the Phillies and Mets have greatly improved. I'd say that the Expos are still a legitimate contender for the NL Wild Card this season, especially if guys like El Duque and Fernando Tatis can return to their past form. Vazquez will have to step up and earn the $6 million he will be making this season in order for the loss of Bartolo Colon to not be as hard. Young players such as Tim Drew, Seung Song, and Claudio Vargas have an opportunity to love up to their potential this season and will probably be given every opportunity to make this year's team. Endy Chavez is also penciled in as the starting centre fielders after a very strong September where he was names the NL's rookie of the month. All in all this young team should be that much better than last year and if this is in fact their final season in Montreal, they will give the few fans that attend their games something to remember them by.
