cbssportsline w/ some kind words about the cubs' offseason

[abuck1220]

listed under the category of "losers":

 

Chicago Cubs: OBP black hole Jacque Jones isn't worthy of prime real estate at the local landfill, much less in a major-league lineup. This was a poor offensive team last year and GM Jim Hendry did nothing to improve it, plus you know that Dusty Baker will somehow find a way to burn 400 at-bats at the altar of The Execrable Neifi Perez. The 2006 Cubs are about to find out what happens when you remove the "lovable" from "lovable losers." Basically, they're the Devil Rays with fewer prospects and a more vegetative outfield fence.

[Jon]

Ouch.

 

Well, I do like the outfield wall.

[Blueheart05]

listed under the category of "losers":

 

Chicago Cubs: OBP black hole Jacque Jones isn't worthy of prime real estate at the local landfill, much less in a major-league lineup. This was a poor offensive team last year and GM Jim Hendry did nothing to improve it, plus you know that Dusty Baker will somehow find a way to burn 400 at-bats at the altar of The Execrable Neifi Perez. The 2006 Cubs are about to find out what happens when you remove the "lovable" from "lovable losers." Basically, they're the Devil Rays with fewer prospects and a more vegetative outfield fence.

 

 

Interestingly, this was mentioned on Cards Talk and most posters actually thought the article was too harsh on the Cubs.

[wade]

Ouch!

 

So, are the writers at cbssportsline also notorious Cub-haters, or does most of the media just agree that Jones is the antithesis of what the club needed for 2006?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Wow. When it comes to the offseason they're on point for the most part, but the regular season carry over they predict ignores our pitching, which is ever so slightly above the Devil Rays caliber.

[abuck1220]

it's pretty clear the author was more interested in being funny than informative or accurate.

[UBlink]

it's pretty clear the author was more interested in being funny than informative or accurate.

 

Somehow I usually manage to avoid all three.

[ZMovieman]

Quoted from the article about the author:

 

Larry Dobrow is a freelance writer based in New York and Maxim Online's regular baseball columnist.

 

I don't put a ton of stock in his writing. He seems to be a sensationalist going for the outrageous comment.

[sethuel1]

Quoted from the article about the author:

 

Larry Dobrow is a freelance writer based in New York and Maxim Online's regular baseball columnist.

 

I don't put a ton of stock in his writing. He seems to be a sensationalist going for the outrageous comment.

 

Ding ding ding!

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

Personally I would rather have the media not give the Cubs a chance in 06. It seems as though the 2004 season everyone had the Cubbies as WS champs. I like the "under the radar" approach similar to the Astros and White Sox last year.

[Mark Priors Calves]

I'm not crazy of the offseason but saying the Cubs are Devil Rays with fewer prospects is ridiculous. The Cubs could very well contend for the division title, numerous things would have to fall into place but its not out of the realm of possibility.

[Mizzou]

Haha, this guy writes for Maxim? Credibility, goodbye.

[radarluv1]

Personally I would rather have the media not give the Cubs a chance in 06. It seems as though the 2004 season everyone had the Cubbies as WS champs. I like the "under the radar" approach similar to the Astros and White Sox last year.

 

that was supposed to work last year, though.

[CubfaninCA]

Well, if the guy from Maxim says so..... :roll:

[A New Era]

Personally I would rather have the media not give the Cubs a chance in 06. It seems as though the 2004 season everyone had the Cubbies as WS champs. I like the "under the radar" approach similar to the Astros and White Sox last year.

 

that was supposed to work last year, though.

 

Well we were the TOP CHOICE and it didn't work, we were UNDER THE RADAR and it didn't work. What else is there? It has to eventually work ONE way or the OTHER.

 

I'd rather be the underdogs again.

[rocket]

Personally I would rather have the media not give the Cubs a chance in 06. It seems as though the 2004 season everyone had the Cubbies as WS champs. I like the "under the radar" approach similar to the Astros and White Sox last year.

 

that was supposed to work last year, though.

 

Well we were the TOP CHOICE and it didn't work, we were UNDER THE RADAR and it didn't work. What else is there? It has to eventually work ONE way or the OTHER.

 

I'd rather be the underdogs again.

 

as long as the team has competent hitters and good pitching i don't care what they're labeled

[Balsa]

Yeah this article is more for laughs than a serious piece. He basically lampoons every club in baseball.

[Soul]

LMAO. Gotta love the "writes for Maxim" credential.

 

Somehow I don't think I'd want that under my name if I wanted to be taken seriously. Can U say pseudonym?? 8)

[Drew Doughty]

Personally I would rather have the media not give the Cubs a chance in 06. It seems as though the 2004 season everyone had the Cubbies as WS champs. I like the "under the radar" approach similar to the Astros and White Sox last year.

 

that was supposed to work last year, though.

 

Gammons had us and the Twins in the WS.

 

Gammons needs to pick the Cards & ChiSox this year.

 

:)

[MPrior]

I don't see why credentials matter that much when you're just stating an opinion, especially if it's mostly for laughs. And, other than the Devil Rays comment, I think an awful lot of posters here (myself included) would agree with his assessment of our offseason regardless of his credentials.

[CubfaninCA]

The "writer" says the Cubs did nothing to improve the offence. Pierre's quite an upgrade over Patterson, but this is the same guy who thinks comparing the Cubs to the D Rays is fresh. :roll:

[TheRaven]

The "writer" says the Cubs did nothing to improve the offence. Pierre's quite an upgrade over Patterson, but this is the same guy who thinks comparing the Cubs to the D Rays is fresh. :roll:

 

Well, nothing major was really done..

 

Say what you want about where the guy writes for, but the real reason people are hurt by it is because its true.

 

A lineup of Pierre, Walker, Lee, ARam, Jones, Murton, Barrett and Perez/Cedeno exactly wasn't what I had in mind when the offseason began.

 

That is the lineup of a 4th place team, not a contender. Who's going to hit for Jones against lefties? Why did we end up with Jones in the first place? Whos going to be there in case Murton isn't a MLB calibur starter? Even if Ronnie beats out Perez, is that even really an upgrade? And if Walker gets traded or injured, then are they just left with a Perez, Cedeno combo?

 

The pitching staff really isn't that much better. There's Zambrano, Prior and...well, not much else worth mentioning at this point, at least, not as a positive point. Wood is obviously someone I am not counting on. Maddux, though I love the guy, is on his last legs, Williams is hardly going to scare anyone. The pen has Dempster as our closer..it will be interesting to see if he can duplicate his success. Then we have Howry and Eyre, who could be great, or could be busts. The rest are pretty much the same ragtag group from last tear.

 

Was the DRay comment harsh? Yea, it was. But it's just not as far off as people here are taking it.

[CubinNY]

The "writer" says the Cubs did nothing to improve the offence. Pierre's quite an upgrade over Patterson, but this is the same guy who thinks comparing the Cubs to the D Rays is fresh. :roll:

 

Well, nothing major was really done..

 

Say what you want about where the guy writes for, but the real reason people are hurt by it is because its true.

 

A lineup of Pierre, Walker, Lee, ARam, Jones, Murton, Barrett and Perez/Cedeno exactly wasn't what I had in mind when the offseason began.

 

That is the lineup of a 4th place team, not a contender. Who's going to hit for Jones against lefties? Why did we end up with Jones in the first place? Whos going to be there in case Murton isn't a MLB calibur starter? Even if Ronnie beats out Perez, is that even really an upgrade? And if Walker gets traded or injured, then are they just left with a Perez, Cedeno combo?

 

The pitching staff really isn't that much better. There's Zambrano, Prior and...well, not much else worth mentioning at this point, at least, not as a positive point. Wood is obviously someone I am not counting on. Maddux, though I love the guy, is on his last legs, Williams is hardly going to scare anyone. The pen has Dempster as our closer..it will be interesting to see if he can duplicate his success. Then we have Howry and Eyre, who could be great, or could be busts. The rest are pretty much the same ragtag group from last tear.

 

Was the DRay comment harsh? Yea, it was. But it's just not as far off as people here are taking it.

 

[sarcasm]Hey, you haven't been here long enough to be a group thinking pessimsist[/sarcasm]

 

I agree with every word you wrote.

[mul21]

The "writer" says the Cubs did nothing to improve the offence. Pierre's quite an upgrade over Patterson, but this is the same guy who thinks comparing the Cubs to the D Rays is fresh. :roll:

 

Well, nothing major was really done..

 

Say what you want about where the guy writes for, but the real reason people are hurt by it is because its true.

 

A lineup of Pierre, Walker, Lee, ARam, Jones, Murton, Barrett and Perez/Cedeno exactly wasn't what I had in mind when the offseason began.

 

That is the lineup of a 4th place team, not a contender. Who's going to hit for Jones against lefties? Why did we end up with Jones in the first place? Whos going to be there in case Murton isn't a MLB calibur starter? Even if Ronnie beats out Perez, is that even really an upgrade? And if Walker gets traded or injured, then are they just left with a Perez, Cedeno combo?

 

The pitching staff really isn't that much better. There's Zambrano, Prior and...well, not much else worth mentioning at this point, at least, not as a positive point. Wood is obviously someone I am not counting on. Maddux, though I love the guy, is on his last legs, Williams is hardly going to scare anyone. The pen has Dempster as our closer..it will be interesting to see if he can duplicate his success. Then we have Howry and Eyre, who could be great, or could be busts. The rest are pretty much the same ragtag group from last tear.

 

Was the DRay comment harsh? Yea, it was. But it's just not as far off as people here are taking it.

 

While I agree with much of what you said, the bullpen is the exception. Just having a couple of more guys down there that Baker feels comfortable going to should be a huge plus. It will result in guys pitching in spots they're accustomed to (hopefullly) and also guys like Wuertz not being sent out there every day for 2 weeks straight so they'll be fresh. The Cubs lost at least 10 games (estimating) last year because of an inadequate BP.

[neely crenshaw]

basg our whole offseason on the fact that we seemed to have improved our bullpen seems kinda foolish. it should be better but set up men come and go. every year can be an adventure. there is a reason they are set up men/relievers not starters or closers. they can be great one year and awful the next.

good pierre may be an improvement on bad corey but if he has a year like last year...it'snot that much better. sme with jones vs burnitz and murton and leftfield ensemble.

we are also potentially worse at short/third,catcher and first. just because it will be tough to match those offensive years.

we are very injured at pitcher while last year we were healthy in the beginning.

the fact is the devil rays hitting is much,much better and if our staff implodes we will be hoping to be as good as the devil rays.

we have one sure starter(knock on wood for z) prior was terrible...TERRIBLE after july(5.00 plus era) wood is wood. rusch went 6-7 weeks with an 8.00 era. williams is young and up and down. none of the young'ns showed that they could consistently get people out.

we will have a 100 million payroll...we should never fly under the radar. right now we have to be picked even with cincy(or behind) we finished ahead of them but they whipped our butts head to head last year.

this is like the 80-90's if ever player has a career year we might make the playoffs.