Roster Moves 2003-2006: How does the '06 team stack up?

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Marlins '03 - White Sox '05

 

2003 Marlins:

15th in MLB with 333 OBP. Pierre had 65 steals, but he was also caught 20 times. They had 150 SBs as a team.

 

2005 Sox:

They were 24th in baseball last year with a 322 OBP. Podsednik had 59 steals, caught 23 times. Aside from him, they really didn't have a whole lot of speed.

 

I really wish that I had time to get into this now (at work and going into a meeting) - thanks for the stats. I do not agree though that speed is only calculated in stolen bases. Not even sure is there is another category.

 

My entire point of saying what I said is that the Cubs in the past have relied on the home run. Now they are planning on relying on 'small ball' (for lack of a better term). And speed certainly does have influence in that - the manufacturing of runs. Something that the Cubs traditionally at least in the recent past have not been good at.

 

That being said, I hope they are going to try and manufacture runs, because if we go into games hoping to hit the 3-run homer to win, we are in BIG TROUBLE...you must agree with that... :?:

 

The White Sox hit more home runs than the Cubs last year. In fact, they were in the top 5 in baseball.

 

The 05 White Sox won because of pitching, defense, and the home run.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Marlins '03 - White Sox '05

 

2003 Marlins:

15th in MLB with 333 OBP. Pierre had 65 steals, but he was also caught 20 times. They had 150 SBs as a team.

 

2005 Sox:

They were 24th in baseball last year with a 322 OBP. Podsednik had 59 steals, caught 23 times. Aside from him, they really didn't have a whole lot of speed.

That being said, I hope they are going to try and manufacture runs, because if we go into games hoping to hit the 3-run homer to win, we are in BIG TROUBLE...you must agree with that... :?:

 

I'll be waiting for at least one 3 run home run every game. Pierre and Walker get on base and Lee rips a bomb. No need to run into outs ahead of Lee and Ramirez.

 

What if Pierre is on 1st and Perez is up with 2 outs?

 

I would expect the usual swinging bunt dribbler to 1st base.

[Balsa]

Jesus sometimes this forum has the mindset of Marvin the robot from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It wouldn't kill you to have a little optimism.

[rawaction]

Jesus sometimes this forum has the mindset of Marvin the robot from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It wouldn't kill you to have a little optimism.

 

It wouldn't kill you to stop putting down people because of their opinions. Personal attacks are not welcomed, and I believe this is an underhanded way of attacking somone. It's not direct, but anyone who is pessimistic could take exception to it.

[Balsa]

I thought it was funny and a brilliant work of allusion, but yes, I will lay off and leave the thread.

[JC]

Thanks for the compilation, Philly. Nice to see you around a little more.

[CubFanPhilly]

Jesus sometimes this forum has the mindset of Marvin the robot from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It wouldn't kill you to have a little optimism.

 

I'll take a shot:

 

-The 2006 roster is slightly more talented than the roster the Cubs opened 2003 with.

 

-Angel Guzman reportedly regained his velocity.

 

-Macais is not on this team.

 

-Maybe there really is no correlation between injury history and probability of future injury.

 

-Baker won't have the lack of a LEGITMATE lead-off hitter crutch.

 

-It's the last year of Baker's contract.

 

-Hendry and Baker so undermined Walker's value that he is now untradeable.

 

-Maddux is probably embarassed enough about his rapid decline that he'll do something about it. (And it might not be too late for hard work to matter.)

 

-Aramis had a nice 3/4ths of a season in '05. Maybe he'll have one over 150+ games this year?

 

-1,800 more bleacher bums can't hurt.

 

-Cub hitters might find tinted green glass is a far superior backdrop to Juniper cover.

 

-Aramis might be motivated to make exercising his option pay off big in FA.

 

-Wood might be motivated enough to convince the Cubs that exercising his option wouldn't be ridiculuously foolish.

 

-Prior might avoid line drives, second basemen, achilles strains, and athletes foot and compete with Z for the Cy Young.

 

-Murton put up nice numbers over 140 ABs. He might even put up acceptable numbers over 500 ABs. If not, at least Grissom adds the ridiculous batting stance this team has been lacking since Alou's departure.

 

-Cendeno was born in Carabobo! (Don't know why that'll help, but it can't hurt, right?)

 

 

Better?

[Mark Priors Calves]

Jesus sometimes this forum has the mindset of Marvin the robot from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. It wouldn't kill you to have a little optimism.

 

Give me a break. Get off your high horse.

[Bergy92]

That being said, I hope they are going to try and manufacture runs, because if we go into games hoping to hit the 3-run homer to win, we are in BIG TROUBLE...you must agree with that... :?:

 

What does that mean?

 

I apologize if this was unclear....the point being that if our only hope of winning is to hit the home run, then it might be a long year (however it might be a long year nonetheless).

 

I guess I am confused, and apparently disoriented in thinking this. This team (outside of Lee and Aram) is really a different path than the Cubs have tried to go in the past, at least it seems that way to me. Gone are the days of the big HR hitting LF & RF. Gone are the days of simply sitting back and not making things happen on the basepaths.

 

And yes, the White Sox did hit more HR than the Cubs last year, sorry for that mistake - but only 6 more. The Cubs were still 7th in baseball. By the way, we were 20th in runs - that seems like sort of a discrepancy. We only scored when we hit HR's

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/aggregate?statType=batting&group=9&seasonType=2&type=type1&sort=homeRuns&split=0&season=2005

 

The point is, if you think the Cubs are going to hit 194 HR this year, we are probably kidding ourselves. If that happens, then the opponents are hitting just as many, for that means the wind is really blowing out...

 

Now, I know that I might be rambling now - but if the hopes of Pierre might help us, just note this stat. We were next to last in MLB (29th) in runs from our leadoff guy - The Marlins were 11th.