Originally Posted by The Miz

I don't understand your logic. So because Tejada, Byrnes, and Mulder have played poorly in the playoffs in the past, that means Crosby, Swisher, and Blanton will? It's a completely different team than the ones that choked wearing the same colored uniform.

As far as why they should be better this year:

1. Part of their awful April/May was Blanton/Haren/Saarloos adjusting to being an MLB starter. After those 2 months they were lights out. They shoud all be much better in their second year.
2. They only had Crosby for 84 games last year, sure he could get injured again, but you can't assume that.
3. Swisher, Johnson now have experience under their belt
4. Jason Kendall sucked last year, there's no guarantee of a bounce-back but most guys do in their second year of AL play after spending alot of time in the NL
5. Hatteberg, the most useless hitter of all time, is gone from the 5 hole
6. Milton Bradley and Jay Payton are so much better than Byrnes
7. Full season of Huston Street, some early Dotel fuckups killed them last year
8. Improved bullpen with addition of Gaudin and subtraction of Rincon
9. They still have the pitching and defense, with these two things you can always contend