DOUG MELVIN CHAT ON MLB.COM
Check out the entire transcript here.

On the bullpen...
"The difference between our bullpen this year is that we have more guys capable of longer performances, longer innings. We broke camp last year with five guys who would give you one inning. This year's cub, with Hernandez and Dave Burba and Ben Ford and Jeff Bennett, we have guys capable of giving you three innings."

Ned Yost and Doug Melvin have mentioned that they like the make-up of the bullpen this year because they have more pitchers available to go more than an inning. Sheets is the only real horse on the staff, so quite often the bullpen is going to have to work from the 6th inning on.

About the absence of a lefty in the pen...
"We feel that we will probably go without a left-hander, but do feel confident that a few of our right-handers are capable of getting left-handed hitters out. Unless we are going to add a quality left-hander, we need to go with the seven best arms we have in the bullpen."

In my opinion too much is made of a lefty vs. righty matchup sometimes. I like what Melvin says here. Why keep a lefty in the pen just for the sake of keeping a lefty? I throw left-handed...I don't think any clubs are going to be calling me in to face Jason Giambi anytime soon over whatever righty is available. I'll take a good righty vs. a left-handed hitter over a bad lefty vs. lefty everytime.

On playing "small ball"...
"Not necessarily. The lineup will be somewhat different than in the past, but we are not a team blessed with a lot of speed. Our offensive strengths are that we have selective hitters who use the whole field. I think you will see a lot of doubles this year as opposed to the home runs we have hit in the past. "

Other than Podsednik, who on this team can steal bases consistantly? It's nice to know that the organization understands that just because you don't have a lot of homerun hitters, that it doesn't mean you have to take unneccesary risks on the bases to make up for that lack of power.

On the club's chances in 2004...
"Baseball people view our division as a two-tier division, placing the Cubs, Cardinals and Astros in the first tier and the Reds, Brewers and Pirates in the second tier. We obviously want to be the best team in that second tier with a chance to jump up. I feel comfortable that our club has shown improvement, but what separates tier 1 from tier 2 is the pitching."

I figured that finishing "1st" in the second tier of teams in the NL Central was a goal (that is why I stated it as my goal for the club with my MLB Predictions on Mar 26). I plan on listing the "NL Central Second Division" Standings on this blog during the season.