Gazing into the crystal ball

[Omar]

Link

 

• NL Cy Young-in-waiting: Carlos Zambrano, Chicago Cubs – He showed better control of his pitches last season, hitting eight batters as opposed to 20 in 2004. If Zambrano can harness his emotions, too, he will be one of the five best pitchers in the game.

 

Okay, we already knew that... but something I found really interesting...

 

• First manager fired: Dusty Baker, Cubs – If Baker gets canned, does he knock on Steve Bartman's door and ask for unemployment? Just asking.

 

And of course...

4th in NL Central Chicago Cubs 81-81

Overview: Kerry Wood was hurt last year and Mark Prior is this year. The Cubs' lineup has the potential to be anemic. GM Jim Hendry and manager Dusty Baker are under fire. And to add insult, the White Sox won the World Series. Still, Derek Lee and Aramis Ramirez are at the corners, and Juan Pierre is bound to take enough pitches to again make him one of the game's best leadoff hitters. Average sounds about right.

 

Sorry if this has already been posted. Comments?

[badger1679666666]

I'm actually encouraged by the way the team has been with runners in scoring position and less than two outs. Alot of Sacrifices, timely base hits, good run scoring ground outs.

 

If we can just hang in there through April, we might be pleasantly surprised. As I noted on the game thread Eyre has been lights out this spring 3 hits in almost 9 scoreless innings (I know that doesn't mean awhole lot yet) and Howry has been very good except one appearance. I was never upset with Hendry for these signings, and with Williamson, Ohman, and Dempster Hendry might have assembled one of the best if not THE best bullpen in the National League. I think some of the skeptics may be proven wrong with the signings of Howry and Eyre (although they will probably just say the knew they'd do well but we shouldn't have focused on that area if they DO do well).

 

I'm still pissed about Jockstrap, Grissom (maybe getting the nod with his experience), and the signing of Neifi, but we might just be ok.

 

I am alot more optimistic now than I was 4 months ago. (Not sure if I answerd your question)

[soccer10k]

Obviously our season will depend on the pitching staff. I think Mark Prior is the key to the season. I've given up on Kerry Wood. If Prior can make 20-25 starts this year and the other guys can step up, that includes any minor leaguers that make spot starts early in the season, I think we'll be ok.

 

My main concern in the offseason was getting a leadoff hitter and getting better relief pitchers. That has been the problem for years. The Cubs usually hit a ton of home runs but they are solo or two run shots when they should be three run shots. They also have a problem holding leads late in the game. I felt that both of those problems were fixed this year.

 

Sure, Jacque Jones wasn't the greatest pickup ever, but would Jeromy Burnitz really have perfomed much better at 37 (almost)? If Matt Murton can hit like has been expected, I think our offense will be fine.

[Omar]

I'm still pissed about Jockstrap,

 

Hahaha... Wow... First time I read it used that way. Fad begins... NOW.

[badger1679666666]

Obviously our season will depend on the pitching staff. I think Mark Prior is the key to the season. I've given up on Kerry Wood. If Prior can make 20-25 starts this year and the other guys can step up, that includes any minor leaguers that make spot starts early in the season, I think we'll be ok.

 

My main concern in the offseason was getting a leadoff hitter and getting better relief pitchers. That has been the problem for years. The Cubs usually hit a ton of home runs but they are solo or two run shots when they should be three run shots. They also have a problem holding leads late in the game. I felt that both of those problems were fixed this year.

 

Sure, Jacque Jones wasn't the greatest pickup ever, but would Jeromy Burnitz really have perfomed much better at 37 (almost)? If Matt Murton can hit like has been expected, I think our offense will be fine.

 

Kerry will be starting before Prior. You heard it here first.

 

(oh and be prepared for the Giles argument re: Jones)

[soccer10k]

Obviously our season will depend on the pitching staff. I think Mark Prior is the key to the season. I've given up on Kerry Wood. If Prior can make 20-25 starts this year and the other guys can step up, that includes any minor leaguers that make spot starts early in the season, I think we'll be ok.

 

My main concern in the offseason was getting a leadoff hitter and getting better relief pitchers. That has been the problem for years. The Cubs usually hit a ton of home runs but they are solo or two run shots when they should be three run shots. They also have a problem holding leads late in the game. I felt that both of those problems were fixed this year.

 

Sure, Jacque Jones wasn't the greatest pickup ever, but would Jeromy Burnitz really have perfomed much better at 37 (almost)? If Matt Murton can hit like has been expected, I think our offense will be fine.

 

Kerry will be starting before Prior. You heard it here first.

 

(oh and be prepared for the Giles argument re: Jones)

 

I don't think Giles is a much better player than Jones and he's four years older as well meaning he's much more prone for a big dropoff and injuries. I'm not saying I think Jones is a better player, I just don't know why so many people on this board worship Giles like a god.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Obviously our season will depend on the pitching staff. I think Mark Prior is the key to the season. I've given up on Kerry Wood. If Prior can make 20-25 starts this year and the other guys can step up, that includes any minor leaguers that make spot starts early in the season, I think we'll be ok.

 

My main concern in the offseason was getting a leadoff hitter and getting better relief pitchers. That has been the problem for years. The Cubs usually hit a ton of home runs but they are solo or two run shots when they should be three run shots. They also have a problem holding leads late in the game. I felt that both of those problems were fixed this year.

 

Sure, Jacque Jones wasn't the greatest pickup ever, but would Jeromy Burnitz really have perfomed much better at 37 (almost)? If Matt Murton can hit like has been expected, I think our offense will be fine.

 

Kerry will be starting before Prior. You heard it here first.

 

(oh and be prepared for the Giles argument re: Jones)

 

I don't think Giles is a much better player than Jones and he's four years older as well meaning he's much more prone for a big dropoff and injuries. I'm not saying I think Jones is a better player, I just don't know why so many people on this board worship Giles like a god.

 

Giles is very good at not making outs. Almost better than anyone. He also hits for a good deal of power, masked somewhat in recent years by Petco's spacious dimensions. On the other hand, Jones has a quite low OBP for an outfielder, and he hasn't put up decent offensive numbers in several years.

[Gunned]

Obviously our season will depend on the pitching staff. I think Mark Prior is the key to the season. I've given up on Kerry Wood. If Prior can make 20-25 starts this year and the other guys can step up, that includes any minor leaguers that make spot starts early in the season, I think we'll be ok.

 

My main concern in the offseason was getting a leadoff hitter and getting better relief pitchers. That has been the problem for years. The Cubs usually hit a ton of home runs but they are solo or two run shots when they should be three run shots. They also have a problem holding leads late in the game. I felt that both of those problems were fixed this year.

 

Sure, Jacque Jones wasn't the greatest pickup ever, but would Jeromy Burnitz really have perfomed much better at 37 (almost)? If Matt Murton can hit like has been expected, I think our offense will be fine.

 

Kerry will be starting before Prior. You heard it here first.

 

(oh and be prepared for the Giles argument re: Jones)

 

I don't think Giles is a much better player than Jones and he's four years older as well meaning he's much more prone for a big dropoff and injuries. I'm not saying I think Jones is a better player, I just don't know why so many people on this board worship Giles like a god.

 

Jones OBP last season: .319

Giles OBP last season: .423

[Brian]

I don't understand why people are still upset about Giles, to believe that he was truly available to any team but SD is not likely. All they needed to do was give hum a respectable offer and he was going to take it.

[soccer10k]

I don't understand why people are still upset about Giles, to believe that he was truly available to any team but SD is not likely. All they needed to do was give hum a respectable offer and he was going to take it.

 

Exactly. I'm sure Hendry knew that Giles wasn't too available and didn't waste his time on going after Giles. If Hendry thought he had a reasonable shot at getting Giles, he would have gone after him like Rafael Furcal.

[sethuel1]

I don't understand why people are still upset about Giles, to believe that he was truly available to any team but SD is not likely. All they needed to do was give hum a respectable offer and he was going to take it.

 

Exactly. I'm sure Hendry knew that Giles wasn't too available and didn't waste his time on going after Giles. If Hendry thought he had a reasonable shot at getting Giles, he would have gone after him like Rafael Furcal.

 

Besides, he's not that much better than Jacque Jones anyway.

[bhogg]

This season reminds me of some of the late 80s / early 90s teams. There is potential. There's not a whole lot of pressure on the team (always pressure on management).

 

I truly hope this is one of those years where we, as fans, sit back and just enjoy the ride --- wherever it may lead.

 

 

Look at it this way. If they set the league on fire, that's a good thing.

 

If they don't take off and play great, Dusty will run the risk of getting the boot, and there aren't too many folks around here that would call that "bad."

 

 

Good things will happen this year, Cub fans, good things will happen.

 

 

Oh, and I'm takin' out my pimpin stick and leading the first game thread, therefore the Cubs will most likely go 173-0 this year. Better call your bookie now.

[USSoccer]

I don't see the Cubs going into the tank. There is too much talent to be awful, but too much has to go right for them to be great.

 

IF Wood comes back quickly and stays on the mound all season, and IF Ramirez and Lee play well, we'll contend in the Central, since I don't see St Louis being as good.

 

Too many questions marks to be confident, though. Too many ifs.

[ltb]

oh man that article is awful

 

i hope the first manager canned thing is right, though.

[soapy]

I guess I don't see anything in those articles that I would strongly disagree with (other then the Astros going 94-68 ). I don't see any reason to believe (not hope, but believe) that the Cubs will be any better then average. Wood and Prior are both major concerns. If they miss a lot of games between them, the Cubs will be in trouble. Their offense doesn't offer a lot of optimism either. Ramirez and Lee are both studs, but Lee may very well regress (I hope not) and Ramirez can probably be considered an injury risk as well. Barrett will also need to duplicate a career year. Jones and Pierre are both coming off of very disapointing years and will need to improve. Murton looks great, but he and Cedeno are both question marks at this point and who knows how the 2B situation will play out? Honestly, average sounds about right if one is trying to guess how the Cubs will fair this season.

 

Again, I hope that I'm wrong and all these things break the way of the Cubs. If so, then they could be much better then average.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

BA predicted we would finish 4th in the central (top 4 was Cards, Brewers, Astros, Cubs) and called us baseball's most dysfunctional team. I hate to agree with that but I do...

[Monco]

How dare they think with their heads and not their hearts!

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

BA predicted we would finish 4th in the central (top 4 was Cards, Brewers, Astros, Cubs) and called us baseball's most dysfunctional team. I hate to agree with that but I do...

 

When/where was this?

[sethuel1]

BA predicted we would finish 4th in the central (top 4 was Cards, Brewers, Astros, Cubs) and called us baseball's most dysfunctional team. I hate to agree with that but I do...

 

When/where was this?

BA

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

BA predicted we would finish 4th in the central (top 4 was Cards, Brewers, Astros, Cubs) and called us baseball's most dysfunctional team. I hate to agree with that but I do...

 

When/where was this?

BA

 

i meant where at like on the BA website, in what issue of the magazine, etc. :D

[Soul]

.500 sounds about right.

 

3rd or 4th place.

 

I wish I could be more optimistic, but this baseball team needs to do something to justify that optimism such as putting together a roster that can stay healthy, hiring a manager with a clue, and either picking up more top FA or developing more & better talent in the minors.

[rawaction]

 

(oh and be prepared for the Giles argument re: Jones)

 

Unnecessary bait.

 

 

I don't think Giles is a much better player than Jones and he's four years older as well meaning he's much more prone for a big dropoff and injuries. I'm not saying I think Jones is a better player, I just don't know why so many people on this board worship Giles like a god.

 

Unnecessary pile on.

 

 

With all due respect guys, this is complete BS. You guys are two of the main culprits that complain about people bashing the moves the Cubs front office and management has or has not made. But this is a prime example of how it usually works. You are the ones who start arguments. There was no need to bring Giles into the post. The only reason I can see for bringing him up is to start an argument. I can guarantee you anyone that wanted Giles signed this offseason WOULD NOT have brought it up, because it had absolutely no relevance in the gist of this thread which is to project how the Cubs would do in 2006.

 

And for the record, baiting people into arguments with inflammatory comments is not be allowed on this board.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

BA predicted we would finish 4th in the central (top 4 was Cards, Brewers, Astros, Cubs) and called us baseball's most dysfunctional team. I hate to agree with that but I do...

 

When/where was this?

BA

 

i meant where at like on the BA website, in what issue of the magazine, etc. :D

In the latest magazine. It was part of the major league preview that hasn't been posted on the site yet.