cbssportsline w/ some kind words about the cubs' offseason

[stitchface]

I don't see how there is less lateral movement than 3b. The 1b is moving laterally on virtually every play. Less on the arm I could see, but overall I think 1b is more physically challenging to play well.

[TheRaven]

Big difference between nothing & major. The lineup is nothing special, but the Cubs have the pitching to win a world series. Like any other team besides the Yankees & Cardinals, the Cubs have to rely on good health & some lucky bounces. The Yankees can buy both. The Cards are the team of choice amongst the baseball gods.

 

I disagree..I don't think the pitching is as good as it was once perceived to be, and not quite on WS level yet. Zambrano is really the only proven commodity in the rotation at this point, and although we paid big money to improve the pen, I still reserve the right to see it in action first. That's also banking on Baker being able to actually use them correctly as well.

 

Sure, there is loads of talent, but thats been there for years. In 03, it almost got them to a WS, but every other year, it hasn't done anything for the Cub fans except give them another reason to hang their head in shame.

[CubfaninCA]

Big difference between nothing & major. The lineup is nothing special, but the Cubs have the pitching to win a world series. Like any other team besides the Yankees & Cardinals, the Cubs have to rely on good health & some lucky bounces. The Yankees can buy both. The Cards are the team of choice amongst the baseball gods.

 

I disagree..I don't think the pitching is as good as it was once perceived to be, and not quite on WS level yet. Zambrano is really the only proven commodity in the rotation at this point, and although we paid big money to improve the pen, I still reserve the right to see it in action first. That's also banking on Baker being able to actually use them correctly as well.

 

Sure, there is loads of talent, but thats been there for years. In 03, it almost got them to a WS, but every other year, it hasn't done anything for the Cub fans except give them another reason to hang their head in shame.

 

If Wood & Prior are 100% , the Cubs are serious contenders. The Cubs are due for some good luck for a change. Also, 1-2-3 would be better than 2003, when Zambrano wasn't on All Star level.

[CuseCubFan69]

Big difference between nothing & major. The lineup is nothing special, but the Cubs have the pitching to win a world series. Like any other team besides the Yankees & Cardinals, the Cubs have to rely on good health & some lucky bounces. The Yankees can buy both. The Cards are the team of choice amongst the baseball gods.

 

I disagree..I don't think the pitching is as good as it was once perceived to be, and not quite on WS level yet. Zambrano is really the only proven commodity in the rotation at this point, and although we paid big money to improve the pen, I still reserve the right to see it in action first. That's also banking on Baker being able to actually use them correctly as well.

 

Sure, there is loads of talent, but thats been there for years. In 03, it almost got them to a WS, but every other year, it hasn't done anything for the Cub fans except give them another reason to hang their head in shame.

 

If Wood & Prior are 100% , the Cubs are serious contenders. The Cubs are due for some good luck for a change. Also, 1-2-3 would be better than 2003, when Zambrano wasn't on All Star level.

 

I just can't see the Cubs staff staying healthy all year. What I want is when one of them does get hurt a kid like Guzman or Hill steps in and does the job until they come back.

[TheRaven]

I just can't see the Cubs staff staying healthy all year. What I want is when one of them does get hurt a kid like Guzman or Hill steps in and does the job until they come back.

 

Neither can I..if it happens, it will be a miracle, and I don't like to count on miracles to win baseball titles.

 

I would like to see some of the younger arms get a shot as well, even though the success rate has been low lately (Mitre, Welly). Guzman seems to be another talented and often hurt arm and Hill is still a big question mark unfortuantely. I am not usually one to ever want to trade young pitching, but I think while Hill was at his hottest, the Cubs probably should have struck a deal with someone and got some offensive help.

[Soul]

Ramirez is obviously a great hitter. That just makes it all the more disappointing when you see him go down year after year.

 

I hope he's ready to turn it around this year (health-wise---I always thought the talent was there).

 

Woody has to be a constant source of frustration for every Cub fan. The guy basically threw away one of the most promising careers in the history of major league baseball because he didn't commit himself in the offseason to keeping his body in top shape, and his mechanics seamless. Now he has chronic back problems (which he tried to alleviate last year by losing some weight----hopefully it isn't too late), and might not ever correct his mechanics.

 

CPatt: what might have been. When every person in the City knows what needs to be corrected, and you STILL won't take action, then there really is no choice but to say goodbye.

 

On a positive note, Derek Lee is always in top shape from day 1. Maybe some of these other guys should take a page from his daily workout routines. Hopefully they are. It's a 12 month job, not 6.

 

I don't mean to nitpick, Soul, but in 2004 Aramis didn't really miss any extended time beyond 5-6 games straight games due to injury, and in 2003 he was pretty healthy for both Pittsburgh and us.

 

2001-158 games

2002-142 games

2003-159 games

2004-145 games

2005-123 games

 

It's not like he's a china doll. If he's worked on his flexibility and lower body this winter, you shouldn't see any nagging injuries this year.

 

No, I totally agree. And he's still young, too. Alot of times a young ballplayer will pick up the offseason discipline as his career progresses. There's definitely alot to look forward to with ARam as long as he plays his cards right.

 

I remember 2004, and he did play. But I remember many of those games he was in pretty bad shape. He tried to tough it out which is a good sign as well. I just want to see the kid take the next step and become the perennial superstar he has the talent to be.

 

I think it's time for him to make that move. He's too young to be this slow, too-----men in their late 20's need not become slow pokes no matter what they do for a living.

[frostwyrm]

Ramirez is obviously a great hitter. That just makes it all the more disappointing when you see him go down year after year.

 

I hope he's ready to turn it around this year (health-wise---I always thought the talent was there).

 

Woody has to be a constant source of frustration for every Cub fan. The guy basically threw away one of the most promising careers in the history of major league baseball because he didn't commit himself in the offseason to keeping his body in top shape, and his mechanics seamless. Now he has chronic back problems (which he tried to alleviate last year by losing some weight----hopefully it isn't too late), and might not ever correct his mechanics.

 

CPatt: what might have been. When every person in the City knows what needs to be corrected, and you STILL won't take action, then there really is no choice but to say goodbye.

 

On a positive note, Derek Lee is always in top shape from day 1. Maybe some of these other guys should take a page from his daily workout routines. Hopefully they are. It's a 12 month job, not 6.

 

I don't mean to nitpick, Soul, but in 2004 Aramis didn't really miss any extended time beyond 5-6 games straight games due to injury, and in 2003 he was pretty healthy for both Pittsburgh and us.

 

2001-158 games

2002-142 games

2003-159 games

2004-145 games

2005-123 games

 

It's not like he's a china doll. If he's worked on his flexibility and lower body this winter, you shouldn't see any nagging injuries this year.

 

No, I totally agree. And he's still young, too. Alot of times a young ballplayer will pick up the offseason discipline as his career progresses. There's definitely alot to look forward to with ARam as long as he plays his cards right.

 

I remember 2004, and he did play. But I remember many of those games he was in pretty bad shape. He tried to tough it out which is a good sign as well. I just want to see the kid take the next step and become the perennial superstar he has the talent to be.

 

I think it's time for him to make that move. He's too young to be this slow, too-----men in their late 20's need not become slow pokes no matter what they do for a living.

 

Im 2005 he ran slower than Fred McGriff in a lot of games. In the really bad ones he didn't even run, he just jogged, and his defense was lame too.

[CarolinaCubFan]

Ramirez is obviously a great hitter. That just makes it all the more disappointing when you see him go down year after year.

 

I hope he's ready to turn it around this year (health-wise---I always thought the talent was there).

 

Woody has to be a constant source of frustration for every Cub fan. The guy basically threw away one of the most promising careers in the history of major league baseball because he didn't commit himself in the offseason to keeping his body in top shape, and his mechanics seamless. Now he has chronic back problems (which he tried to alleviate last year by losing some weight----hopefully it isn't too late), and might not ever correct his mechanics.

 

CPatt: what might have been. When every person in the City knows what needs to be corrected, and you STILL won't take action, then there really is no choice but to say goodbye.

 

On a positive note, Derek Lee is always in top shape from day 1. Maybe some of these other guys should take a page from his daily workout routines. Hopefully they are. It's a 12 month job, not 6.

 

I don't mean to nitpick, Soul, but in 2004 Aramis didn't really miss any extended time beyond 5-6 games straight games due to injury, and in 2003 he was pretty healthy for both Pittsburgh and us.

 

2001-158 games

2002-142 games

2003-159 games

2004-145 games

2005-123 games

 

It's not like he's a china doll. If he's worked on his flexibility and lower body this winter, you shouldn't see any nagging injuries this year.

 

No, I totally agree. And he's still young, too. Alot of times a young ballplayer will pick up the offseason discipline as his career progresses. There's definitely alot to look forward to with ARam as long as he plays his cards right.

 

I remember 2004, and he did play. But I remember many of those games he was in pretty bad shape. He tried to tough it out which is a good sign as well. I just want to see the kid take the next step and become the perennial superstar he has the talent to be.

 

I think it's time for him to make that move. He's too young to be this slow, too-----men in their late 20's need not become slow pokes no matter what they do for a living.

 

Im 2005 he ran slower than Fred McGriff in a lot of games. In the really bad ones he didn't even run, he just jogged, and his defense was lame too.

 

I'd love to see Aram get his legs back under him. It's constantly argued speed has little affect on the game, Aram has the OBP and SLG, but I personally feel his game would move to the next level with healthy wheels.

 

I'm sure someone will try to argue something about Aram and SB's, speed is speed.

[frostwyrm]

I'd love to see Aram get his legs back under him. It's constantly argued speed has little affect on the game, Aram has the OBP and SLG, but I personally feel his game would move to the next level with healthy wheels.

 

I'm sure someone will try to argue something about Aram and SB's, speed is speed.

 

We joke about base-clogging but it's true that an exceptionally slow runner such as McGriff or a hobbled Aram actually does clog the bases. IMO as long as you keep the true slugs off the team then speed is not a big factor is determining how much you score. A roster full of good hitters with mostly average speed and a few slightly below average is fine by me.

[Diffusion]

I fear AZ in a few years, though. I like the guys they have at the top end of their system much more than LA's more vaunted system. I'll take Stephen Drew, Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin, Chris Young and Carlos Gonzalez against any team's top 6 in baseball. In fact, I'll take that top six against any team's top six in the past five years.

 

It doesn't necessarily invalidate your point, but, after 2004, BA ranked the Angels' top nine as Kotchman, McPherson, Aybar, Mathis, Morales, Wood, Santana, Kendrick and Callaspo. Wrong order maybe, but that's that's a nice bundle.

 

I know BJ Upton and Edwin Jackson aren't rookie eligible any more, but neither's broken into the big leagues really, so as far as I'm concerned they're still prospects. Include those two, plus BA's top eight from this year, Delmon Young, Jeff Niemann, Jason Hammel, Reid Brignac, Elijah Dukes, Wade Davis, Wes Bankston and Chad Orvella, plus Chuck Tiffany, and that is one amazing farm system.

 

The Dodgers have simply ridiculous depth. I mean, check out some of the players that didn't even make their top 10 this year (and they were all eligible). Chuck Tiffany, Justin Orenduff and Delwyn Young. Hong-Chih Kuo. Willy Aybar. Cory Dunlap. Luke Hochevar could still sign. James Loney's star has fallen but he's still a decent prospect, Greg Miller likewise. And there's my personal favourite: Travis Denker, the second baseman that aged 18 hit .311/.372/.556 in the Pioneer League, and aged 19 hit .310/.417/.556 in the Sally League, yet still can't get any love just because he's short. Anyway, there you have it, ten Dodger prospects that'd crack the top 10 of just about every other major league team, if not the top 5 in some cases. Ridiculous.

[Tim]

I fear AZ in a few years, though. I like the guys they have at the top end of their system much more than LA's more vaunted system. I'll take Stephen Drew, Justin Upton, Conor Jackson, Carlos Quentin, Chris Young and Carlos Gonzalez against any team's top 6 in baseball. In fact, I'll take that top six against any team's top six in the past five years.

 

It doesn't necessarily invalidate your point, but, after 2004, BA ranked the Angels' top nine as Kotchman, McPherson, Aybar, Mathis, Morales, Wood, Santana, Kendrick and Callaspo. Wrong order maybe, but that's that's a nice bundle.

 

I know BJ Upton and Edwin Jackson aren't rookie eligible any more, but neither's broken into the big leagues really, so as far as I'm concerned they're still prospects. Include those two, plus BA's top eight from this year, Delmon Young, Jeff Niemann, Jason Hammel, Reid Brignac, Elijah Dukes, Wade Davis, Wes Bankston and Chad Orvella, plus Chuck Tiffany, and that is one amazing farm system.

 

The Dodgers have simply ridiculous depth. I mean, check out some of the players that didn't even make their top 10 this year (and they were all eligible). Chuck Tiffany, Justin Orenduff and Delwyn Young. Hong-Chih Kuo. Willy Aybar. Cory Dunlap. Luke Hochevar could still sign. James Loney's star has fallen but he's still a decent prospect, Greg Miller likewise. And there's my personal favourite: Travis Denker, the second baseman that aged 18 hit .311/.372/.556 in the Pioneer League, and aged 19 hit .310/.417/.556 in the Sally League, yet still can't get any love just because he's short. Anyway, there you have it, ten Dodger prospects that'd crack the top 10 of just about every other major league team, if not the top 5 in some cases. Ridiculous.

I certainly like the Dodgers depth more than AZ's. But I'll take Arizona's top six.

 

I remember having a great farm system. :(

[goonys evil twin]

I remember having a great farm system. :(

 

I remember thinking the Cubs had a great farm system.

[CuseCubFan69]

I remember having a great farm system. :(

 

I remember thinking the Cubs had a great farm system.

 

I agree with you. Other than Wood, Z and Prior I see nothing from this system in the MacPhail era.