The Rockville Rubble…Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.

The Rockville Rubble…Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.
Two seasons. Two playoff appearances. Make it three this year. But once again, Rabbit Ray thinks they’ll fall just short.

What could work: A big investment in pitchers. Mathewson and Clemens will win twenty games. Strong middle relievers Henry, Shantz and McMahon will help K-Rod could match his record saves total from 2008 MLB. Dan Foutz can play first base and is a decent pitcher. The hitters will also fare well. Gabby Hartnett, stolen from the Monroes, will continue to hit homers in the Metrodome, as well as the recently Hall-of-Famed Joe Gordon. Sammy Sosa could hit fifty homeruns playing in the dome on a regular basis. The Dome is more neutral to lefties, but that won’t stop Homerun Baker, Todd Helton and Willie McCovey from putting up big numbers.

What could fail: The field. A balanced squad with a third of the money tied up in two great pitchers would have done better with a field like Griffith Stadium or Petco Field. Not that the Metrodome is bad, it just is too neutral for the other pitchers on the squad. No complete-package leadoff hitter in the crew. Outfield depth is a little thin. Look for this squad to pick up Carl Crawford on Amnesty Day.

Result: 83-79. A winning season. A playoff appearance. Pitch the big two every other game in the playoffs and the championship belongs to the Rubble. Of course, that’s not allowed.