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The team's leading hitter from last season, Terry Francona, also hit .333 this spring and should be a key contributor again. Also, the Expos top prospect from the past two seasons, Andres Galarraga, hit .333 and led the team with a .588 slugging percentage. Galarraga's performance will be key as first baseman Denny Walling will miss the first three weeks with a calf strain.
The Bad
Outside of David Cone and the newly acquired Jeff Russell, the Expos rotation was awful in the spring. John Dopson, the team's win leader last season and prononced ace, was 1-3 with a 7.02 ERA. Lee Tunnell, last year's ERA leader, was 2-2 with a 5.00 ERA. The rotation's fifth starter, Jim Deshaies, posted the worst ERA of the five with a 7.36
Starting catcher Craig Biggio, starting shortstop Al Newman and platoon left fielder Doug Jennings all hit below .200 this spring. While Biggio is likely to rebound, Newman and Jennings are big questions.
The Ugly
The Expos lost projected number three starter Floyd Youmans for the year to an elbow injury. Although the acquired Russell to fill that role, they are dangerously thin in the rotation, even sending last year's opening day closer, Chuck Finley, to the minors to get work as a starter.
Expos lost five games in a row twice this spring and only won two in a row once. The team was plagued by losing streaks last season and they desperately need to put together some winning streaks this season to keep the fans interested.
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