Buster Olney on the Cubs

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

From Olney's chat today:

 

Derek, Tempe: Plain and simple Buster, Talk to me about the Cubs...

 

SportsNation Buster Olney: Derek: I actually like what the Cubs have done. They had to give themselves a chance in middle relief, and if Howry and Eyre throw as well as scouts say they did last year, the Cubs have a chance to have an excellent bullpen. You get the feeling Prior and Wood will never put it all together the way everybody in baseball had hoped, but with the Cardinals coming back to the back, with Clemens out until May or June (probably), with no great teams in the NL... Who knows? Wouldn't surprise me if the Cubs won the division. It seems pretty wide-open, and they have gotten better, I think.

[srbin84]

I agree with him that the team has improved significantly. I would have liked to see a better hitter in place of Jones, but other than that, I like everything they did.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What does it mean to "come back to the back"? Does he mean pack?

[snoodmonger]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

What does it mean to "come back to the back"? Does he mean pack?

 

Why are long pants long? Why are bushes bushy? If we start that we will be here all day!

[srbin84]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

 

Has Prior had any prolonged stretch (like more than a month) where he pitched like he did in 03?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

 

Has Prior had any prolonged stretch (like more than a month) where he pitched like he did in 03?

 

Prior before he got hurt(aka, hit with a line drive) at the end of May last year:

 

9 GS, 58.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 9.57 K/9, 3.44 K/BB

Edited February 28, 2006 by Transmogrified Tiger

[Andy]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

He's injury-prone. :roll:

[rawaction]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

 

Has Prior had any prolonged stretch (like more than a month) where he pitched like he did in 03?

 

7 of 8 quality starts to begin 2005 (month and a half). On his way to another before the line drive. This after a great final month in 04.

 

Yeah what TT said.

[srbin84]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

 

Has Prior had any prolonged stretch (like more than a month) where he pitched like he did in 03?

 

Prior before he got hurt(aka, hit with a line drive) at the end of May last year:

 

9 GS, 58.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 9.57 K/9, 3.44 K/BB

 

Those are great numbers but still a little below what he did in 03.

[Andy]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

 

Has Prior had any prolonged stretch (like more than a month) where he pitched like he did in 03?

 

Prior before he got hurt(aka, hit with a line drive) at the end of May last year:

 

9 GS, 58.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 9.57 K/9, 3.44 K/BB

 

Those are great numbers but still a little below what he did in 03.

Holy crap, I was about to rebuke you, but I had no idea that Prior had a 2.43 ERA in 2003. Now it's even more of a joke that he didn't win the Cy that year in my eyes.

 

While those numbers weren't 03-caliber, Prior hit his stride in the summer of 03, and he never got a chance to do that in 2005. Besides, it's unrealistic to expect a pitcher to post 2.40 ERAs year in and year out, no matter how good they are.

[Drew Doughty]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

 

Has Prior had any prolonged stretch (like more than a month) where he pitched like he did in 03?

 

Prior before he got hurt(aka, hit with a line drive) at the end of May last year:

 

9 GS, 58.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 9.57 K/9, 3.44 K/BB

 

Those are great numbers but still a little below what he did in 03.

 

Oh my god, he's not putting up Cy Young numbers every year.

 

BUST!!

 

Seriously, I think he's going to be very good this season, but who knows.

[UK1679666180]

If they get 60+ starts from Kerry and Prior and they'll have a shot, then you'll have regression, players coming back from a down year, unknowns like Cedeno/Murton as well as Baker's impact in how he manages the lineup and bullpen. Ramirez will also have to stay healthy, if this team has a below avg. #5 hitter, take the away the #3 or #4 hitter and see what happens.

[frostwyrm]

Olney is far more impressed with Eyre and Howry than I am.

[srbin84]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

 

Has Prior had any prolonged stretch (like more than a month) where he pitched like he did in 03?

 

Prior before he got hurt(aka, hit with a line drive) at the end of May last year:

 

9 GS, 58.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 9.57 K/9, 3.44 K/BB

 

Those are great numbers but still a little below what he did in 03.

 

Oh my god, he's not putting up Cy Young numbers every year.

 

BUST!!

 

Seriously, I think he's going to be very good this season, but who knows.

 

I still like Prior, but his potential is a guy who puts up Cy Young numbers every year. I don't think that can be disputed, so that would make Olney's statement valid.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

What's sad is that we could have run away with this division with a solid offseason.

[Drew Doughty]

He seems to think Prior has not/will not meet his potential. I'd like an explanation on that.

 

Has Prior had any prolonged stretch (like more than a month) where he pitched like he did in 03?

 

Prior before he got hurt(aka, hit with a line drive) at the end of May last year:

 

9 GS, 58.1 IP, 2.93 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 9.57 K/9, 3.44 K/BB

 

Those are great numbers but still a little below what he did in 03.

 

Oh my god, he's not putting up Cy Young numbers every year.

 

BUST!!

 

Seriously, I think he's going to be very good this season, but who knows.

 

I still like Prior, but his potential is a guy who puts up Cy Young numbers every year. I don't think that can be disputed, so that would make Olney's statement valid.

 

He's had 3 (not counting 02 when he came up middle of the season) chances at a full season. One of which he almost won the CY. He's 25 for most of this season. He's got plently of time to win a few CYs.

[srbin84]

Furcal was the difference between this being a decent offseason and a great one.

[Drew Doughty]

Furcal was the difference between this being a decent offseason and a great one.

 

Change Furcal to Giles and I agree. Furcal...meh. Would've been spending way too much money for a player that wouldn't have had a huge impact.

[srbin84]

Furcal was the difference between this being a decent offseason and a great one.

 

Change Furcal to Giles and I agree. Furcal...meh. Would've been spending way too much money for a player that wouldn't have had a huge impact.

 

I think a top 4 of Pierre, Furcal, Lee, Aram would have been pretty lethal.

[frostwyrm]

Furcal was the difference between this being a decent offseason and a great one.

 

Change Furcal to Giles and I agree. Furcal...meh. Would've been spending way too much money for a player that wouldn't have had a huge impact.

 

I think a top 4 of Pierre, Furcal, Lee, Aram would have been pretty lethal.

 

I'll take Cedeno at the MLB minimum.

[soccer10k]

What's sad is that we could have run away with this division with a solid offseason.

 

Not necessarily. The Cubs would have a good chance to win the division but the only team that has a chance to 'run away' with the division in 2006 is the Cardinals. Look at their resume

-they won the division last year

-they have a 1-2 starting punch that is as good as any in the league with Carpenter and Mulder

-they have a solid closer with Isringhausen

-Scott Rolen only played 56 games last year, and stunk it up when he was playing

-they still have Pujols and Edmonds as well

 

I'm not saying the Cardinals will win the division, and I do think the Cubs have a chance. But there is no way that the Cubs run away with the NL Central in 2006

[ThePenguin11]

What's sad is that we could have run away with this division with a solid offseason.

 

I have to disagree. Your offseason, no matter how successful, can never guarantee success in the postseason. Ask the Yankees, Mets or Dodgers of the past few years about that. There have been plenty of teams to spend and overspend only to find themselves on the outside looking in in October. The moves may look great at the time, but who's to say that Brian Giles doesn't bat .220 and completely lose it? It's not unprecedented for a guy to just lose it? Of course it's highly unlikely, but the only way you can make that statement is in retrospect.

 

That kind of defeats the purpose however since the statement is more of a prediction. The only way to say we could have run away with the division is if we added a bunch of all-stars who were guaranteed to stay healthy and perform at their normal level - which is pretty much impossible anyway. I'm sorry if I'm being a bit overcritical, but the moral of the story is you still always have to play the games first.

[Brian]

Do you think Marquis Grissom will make the team? If he does, will he help the team?

-- Gregory M., Chicago

 

Can't say for certain whether Grissom will make the team, but if he did, he could platoon in right field with Jones, whose numbers against lefties aren't very good (Jones is a career .227 hitter vs. left-handers, Grissom .285). Grissom could help Pierre read pitchers to help his base stealing, he has experience, and he's been to the postseason. That's good to have on the team.

 

Hey da muskat said something smart !?!?

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

What's sad is that we could have run away with this division with a solid offseason.

 

I have to disagree. Your offseason, no matter how successful, can never guarantee success in the postseason. Ask the Yankees, Mets or Dodgers of the past few years about that. There have been plenty of teams to spend and overspend only to find themselves on the outside looking in in October. The moves may look great at the time, but who's to say that Brian Giles doesn't bat .220 and completely lose it? It's not unprecedented for a guy to just lose it? Of course it's highly unlikely, but the only way you can make that statement is in retrospect.

 

That kind of defeats the purpose however since the statement is more of a prediction. The only way to say we could have run away with the division is if we added a bunch of all-stars who were guaranteed to stay healthy and perform at their normal level - which is pretty much impossible anyway. I'm sorry if I'm being a bit overcritical, but the moral of the story is you still always have to play the games first.

 

When did I guarantee anything? I said "could." :? I also only commented on winning the division and said nothing about the postseason.

 

I agree with what you wrote, I just didn't say what you think I said. :)

Edited February 28, 2006 by Meat&PotatoesMan