I apologize in advance for the potential jinxing this post might cause.

I believe that even one injury to a regular starter could derail this season. I think we need to first acknowledge that all of our "top" prospects are not in AAA with one exception-Neftali Soto. Soto is not performing real well in AAA at the moment, and realistically is a least a year away from being ML ready anyways. Some of the guys on the 40 man roster that are in Louisville are not performing real well, are injured or are both. Dennis Phipps has not had the season in AAA like a man that could be our 4/5 outfielder, not to mention he recently got injured. Paul Janish was doing well at the plate before he broke his wrist over a month ago and still hasn't returned to action. The Chris's (Negron and Valaika) are not batting real well in AAA and Valaika has struggled in his short stints in the Majors. The rest of the position players on the 40 man roster are in the lower levels of the minors (AA and below) and I believe would only be called up in an emergency situation.

Let's look at the pitching situations. This is the part I am extremely concerned about. We are already at our "Depth" 2 months into the season. Madson is gone for the year and Masset doesn't seem to be close to returning yet and Bray has not been effective and he has been hurt. Our starting pitching would have more depth without the injuries at the back of the bullpen. Chapman might have been considered for the rotation without losing Madson and Masset, but let's all be honest, Chapman will effect more games as a closer than he will a starter. Chapman has already appeared in 20 games while our starters wont have reached double digits starts until tonight when Cueto takes the hill. Chapman is more valuable in the pen right now and for the rest of this season. I believe Sam LeCure could make a spot start if necessary but he is not a long term option as a starting pitcher. Bret Tomko is 39 years old and isn't going to be a savior and neither is Francis, although they might be able to give us some quality innings before the 'pen takes over. Specifically looking at the bullpen. Jordan Smith and Carlos Fisher have ML experience, but they are not performing real well in AAA right now and their recent stints at the ML level leave a lot to be desired.

I don't think that there are any prospects left that we would want to sacrifice in a mid-season trade to replace a starter at any position. I do not believe that this is something that I am being paranoid about. Phillips has a propensity for DL stints and we are only in the month of May, we haven't hit the dog days of summer yet. I believe this is very important because of the recent success we have had and the fact the the NL Central is really ours for the taking. What do you guys think?