And the calendar turns another day...

[Soul]

With no movement on several pressing issues with this team.

 

This is sooooo like last year, is it not? Do nothing, do nothing, do nothing. I understand it's difficult, but the silence is becoming very worrisome. I want competitive baseball next Summer. Don't we all?

 

We currently need:

 

SS

2B (assuming Walker's really gone)

RF

4th Starter (Williams not consistent enough)

5th Starter (Rusch really not good enough)

 

I count 5 real holes on this team. 2 more if you count these factors:

 

LF -- Murton's just a half-season removed from rookie status, not really a solid option no matter how good we hope he'll be. And I do have hopes for this kid.

 

3rd Starter -- Wood won't be ready until June, May if we pray and God grants a miracle.

 

So we can go ahead and say we've got 7 holes or positions we need to address. I'd be happy if we would just address RF and 2B, and consider us "competitive."

 

I guess at this point the question should be raised. Are Hendry and the Cubs brass going to address these issues? Because it sure feels like they aren't going to at all.

 

Before you all go jumping on me for being too negative, I certainly like the fact that Hendry signed a couple bullpen arms. Much needed, even if we did overpay. And Pierre, while not the greatest, at least gives us a someone who we can honestly say fits the mold of a leadoff guy, even if does have flaws.

 

It's not that there has been NO movement, it's just that we have so many holes all of a sudden, and I'm wondering if the Trib is privately conceeding that '06 is a lost cause. It does seem that way to me.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Step away from the ledge. If you started the season today you guys would only have a major hole in RF. Plus you forgot about Maddux as a SP and Ronnie Cedeno for SS.

[Soul]

I just don't see Maddux as a starter who will provide an entire season's worth of quality starts anymore. He's taking until July/August to ratchet it up now.

 

Don't get me wrong, I hope he does well. If we have to rely on Maddux as our 3rd starter though, I'm thinking it's trouble.

 

Thanks for trying to talk me off the ledge. I am very worried. Most people around here know be to be a worry-wart though :lol:

[CardsFanInChiTown]

I think Maddux will be serviceable. I also think you expect too much out of bottom of the rotation guys.

[VVMattVV]

I think Maddux will be serviceable. I also think you expect too much out of bottom of the rotation guys.

 

Thats the problem with having an inconsistent offense; we need all the good pitching we can get.

 

That being said, I think Jerome Williams is a fine 4th/5th starter option.

[Soul]

I think Maddux will be serviceable. I also think you expect too much out of bottom of the rotation guys.

 

Thats the problem with having an inconsistent offense; we need all the good pitching we can get.

 

That being said, I think Jerome Williams is a fine 4th/5th starter option.

 

I hope so. It makes me nervous though. If everything worked out perfectly, Wood would be back by May and be good in the 3rd spot, Prior/Z will be great, Maddux will have one more good year, and Williams will find his consistency and our starting rotation will be solid.

 

But that's alot of question marks. *sigh* I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out.

[E.J.]

I think Maddux will be serviceable. I also think you expect too much out of bottom of the rotation guys.

 

Thats the problem with having an inconsistent offense; we need all the good pitching we can get.

 

That being said, I think Jerome Williams is a fine 4th/5th starter option.

 

I hope so. It makes me nervous though. If everything worked out perfectly, Wood would be back by May and be good in the 3rd spot, Prior/Z will be great, Maddux will have one more good year, and Williams will find his consistency and our starting rotation will be solid.

 

But that's alot of question marks. *sigh* I guess we'll just have to see how it plays out.

 

I feel your pain Soul. We don't know what's going to happen with RF, and at this point it doesn't look very promising. Our offense is still pretty bad at this point without a big bat in RF, and we don't know what to expect out of Wood or from our 5th spot in the rotation. Cedeno might be the starting SS now, but we all know that he's a 3-game slump away from being benched for Neifi. And what will happen to Walker? Is he going to be traded? If so that's more offense we have to replace. A lot of question marks right now, and as far as we know there aren't a whole lot of viable solutions out there with FA and possible trades. I guess we shall see though.

[Southpaw191679666239]

3rd Starter -- Wood won't be ready until June, May if we pray and God grants a miracle.

 

Sez who?

[Soul]

3rd Starter -- Wood won't be ready until June, May if we pray and God grants a miracle.

 

Sez who?

 

Well, Baker said we can't count on him, although he also said he's making progress.