mocat, much of the optimism is from the way it appears the team is being put back together. Last year's team was still a good team, but injuries and exhaustion just ground the team down. I mentioned it before but Dom, Benny, Zus, Besler, and Seth is a solid enough core that the team is going to be in contention no matter who is surrounding them. Now it sounds like Opara is getting back healthy, Espinoza is expected to return, and Robb made it sound like we have a new DP on the way (at least one).