What have our enemies been up to?

What a difference a championship makes.

During the past month and 12 days, we’ve watched the chief rivals of the Birds sign Carlos Lee and Woody Williams. Meanwhile, the Cubbies bought Alfonzo Soriano (to play centerfield), Mark DeRosa, and Ted Lilly. The latter to a 4-year $40 million deal that led to the classic ESPN.COM headline, “CUBS SIGN LILLY FOR $40 MILLION—HENDRY HAS HEART SURGERY.”

With Hendry still under anesthesia, the small bears signed Marquis, Jason. For $21 million. To pitch.

Ladies and Gentlemen, your Chicago Cubs.

During that same period of time, the Birds signed Kip Wells, Adam Kennedy and Russ Springer. Had the Cards failed in the playoffs, we’d all be going nuts. Instead, we’re taking on the attitude of a sixteen year-old who just put on his first smoking jacket. Feels nice.

But there is another reason to refrain from panicking. Actually two reasons. One, it’s December, not April.

Two, we’re still in better shape than any team in our division.

We’re better than the rest in our bullpen. We have two legitimate closers. No one this side of Milwaukee has one. We have three legitimate lefties. No one else has two.

I said it last year here, two years ago on the radio, and three years ago to whomever would listen. Your bullpen pitches roughly the final third of every game of the season. IT MUST NOT SUCK.

The Cardinals figured out that, if you have a reliable pen, Jeff Suppan, Woody Williams, and Jason Marquis can win 15 games while pitching only 6 innings per start. Ask one of the above to go 7 innings per start, and you’re asking for trouble.

Let’s look at the Competition.

THE ASTROS

The Astros have a good start to their pen, with Wheeler, Lidge and Qualls. Trevor Miller is a decent lefty. But they lack options after that. Their starters are Oswalt and Woody. After that, they have Backe (injured), Wandy Rodriguez (injured and not good yet), Jason Hirsch (prospect), and Ezekiel Astacio.

Now, if they trade for Jon Garland, well, they look a lot better. But for now, that’s not enough.

The addition of Lee helps the offense. However, they are still a bat away, assuming Jason Lane doesn’t ressurect himself this year.

Are they better? Sure. Are they running away from the Cards? Nope.

THE CUBS

I loved the Neil Cotts trade, and I actually like the Lilly signing. He has good strikeout numbers, and could drop his ERA in the NL significantly (Fantasy alert.)

Then they went out and got Marquis. On the plus side, he never gets hurt. On the downside, he never gets hurt. I assume their rotation will feature Zambrano, Lilly, Miller, Cotts and Marquis, with Prior starting when and if he’s able.

Their pen has Dempster, Eyre and Howry as their headliners. Their starting staff lacks depth, but if either Miller, Cotts, Prior or Marshall can come through for the rotation, the Cubs could be dangerous.

Now if they could only hit and/or field. Soriano is a great hitter, so long as you don’t mind you just spent $18 million for a guy with a .325 OBP. Petey Gammons says Soriano became a really good outfielder by the end of 2006, so transitioning to centerfield should be “no problem.” Hey, it’s December. No one worries about defense in December.

Again, I like Soriano, but when you have a guy hitting 40+ homers, you gotta bat him fifth. Don’t you? With Lee back, and Soriano at the top of the order, this is a better lineup. But don’t expect an offensive juggernaut.

I’ll hit on the Cards in the next post.