The recent moves could be REALLY good or they could be REALLY bad.... depending, of course, on how the team performs. I think the new guys are the type of players we need that do not have the "I am the franchise" mentality (read PayRod). And I think Boone needs to have a banner year to make it all come together offensively.

I think management is about done spending the big bucks... the current payroll is approximately where they topped out before unloading Kaz, Garcia and Olerud. I think they pretty much spent what they had on Sexton and Beltre.

Pitching is problematic. I think we have the arms to get the job done but everyone needs to stay healthy and make advances over last year. There may still be a trade ot two in the works before opening day in order to secure a solid starter. Shiggy has to get over his 2004 frump in order for the bullpen to do any good.

Maybe I am stating the obvious here but the bottom line is we need starting pitching that can hold the opposing team to 3 or 4 runs over 6 or 7 innings and we need relief pitchers to keep late inning runs to 1 or less... if that happens we will have the offense to kick some serious arse in 2005.