The 25 Man Roster

[Handlebar McSkullet]

So this would be the final roster out of s.t.:

 

pitchers:

Big Z

Maddux

Rusch

Marshall

Dempster

Howry

Eyre

Ohman

Wuertz

Williamson

Williams

 

Hitters:

Pierre

Murton

Jones

ARam

DLee

Cedeno

Walker

Barrett

Blanco

Mabry

Pagan

Hairston

Perez

Bynum

 

I think that is it.

[abuck1220]

that's a bad bench.

[Guest]

that's a bad bench.

But flexible!

[abuck1220]

that's a bad bench.

But flexible!

 

because you never know when you're going to win or lose a game based on how many guys you have that can play middle infield and the outfield.

 

 

and they're fast!

[CubinNY]

that's a bad bench.

But flexible!

and they're fast!

and they can catch the ball.

Hitting, now that is a horse of a different color.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

dusty can pinch run now till his heart contents, but how are we getting on base?

[Jehrico]

that's a bad bench.

 

It's not that bad. Blanco is as good as any other backup catcher. Mabry is a respectable pinch hitter. Neifi is an ideal backup SS off of the bench, especially if he can hit .270 again and keep up his defense. Hairston and Bynum are decent backup guys. We'll see how Pagan does, but at least we know we have plenty of speed off of the bench. The only thing we're missing is that Glenallen Hill type of RH bat off of the bench.

[Neuby]

honestly this might be the best the Cubs have had in years. The only thing the bench lacks is right handed power. Mabry is a fine left handed power bat off the bench and can play four postions. Nefi is a Gold Glover caliber fielder that can play three postions. Jerry Hairston can all over the diamond and get on base. Pagean has a load of talent . Bynum can play everywhere and run the hell out of the ball. On MLB radio they had some scouts on that where raving about the talent that both Bynum and Pagean have. Blanco is fine defensive catcher with some pop. Remember guys this isn't playstation your bench is a place for role players.

[CuseCubFan69]

What kind of arm does Pagan have? Jones might be the only guy that could throw a runner out this year from the OF.

[rawaction]

honestly this might be the best the Cubs have had in years. The only thing the bench lacks is right handed power. Mabry is a fine left handed power bat off the bench and can play four postions. Nefi is a Gold Glover caliber fielder that can play three postions. Jerry Hairston can all over the diamond and get on base. Pagean has a load of talent . Bynum can play everywhere and run the hell out of the ball. On MLB radio they had some scouts on that where raving about the talent that both Bynum and Pagean have. Blanco is fine defensive catcher with some pop. Remember guys this isn't playstation your bench is a place for role players.

 

Mabry does not have very much power. And this is not the best Cubs team in years. The 2003 team had much more talent, especially when they added Aramis mid-season. The team that went into 04, with Sosa, Alou, Aram, Lee, Walker, Barrett, Patterson (off a good 1/2 season), and got even more talented adding Nomar.

 

That being said, I think this is the weakest the NL Central has been in a while, and the weakest the NL as a whole has been.

[XZero771679666304]

that's a bad bench.

 

It's not that bad. Blanco is as good as any other backup catcher. Mabry is a respectable pinch hitter. Neifi is an ideal backup SS off of the bench, especially if he can hit .270 again and keep up his defense. Hairston and Bynum are decent backup guys. We'll see how Pagan does, but at least we know we have plenty of speed off of the bench. The only thing we're missing is that Glenallen Hill type of RH bat off of the bench.

 

I agree that it's not good. But sadly, it's better than last year's version.

[Roast]

Not too bad. Better than last year. It'll be better when Wood & Prior are there though.

[WrigleyField 22]

honestly this might be the best the Cubs have had in years. The only thing the bench lacks is right handed power. Mabry is a fine left handed power bat off the bench and can play four postions. Nefi is a Gold Glover caliber fielder that can play three postions. Jerry Hairston can all over the diamond and get on base. Pagean has a load of talent . Bynum can play everywhere and run the hell out of the ball. On MLB radio they had some scouts on that where raving about the talent that both Bynum and Pagean have. Blanco is fine defensive catcher with some pop. Remember guys this isn't playstation your bench is a place for role players.

 

Mabry does not have very much power. And this is not the best Cubs team in years. The 2003 team had much more talent, especially when they added Aramis mid-season. The team that went into 04, with Sosa, Alou, Aram, Lee, Walker, Barrett, Patterson (off a good 1/2 season), and got even more talented adding Nomar.

 

When he said the best we have had in years I think he was referring to just the bench. So using the starters as an example doesn't help the argument.

 

2003 Bench

Bako, Karros/Choi/Simon, Harris, O'Leary, Goodwin, Martinez

2004

Bako, Goodwin, Maritnez, Macias, Hollandsworth, Walker/Grudz

2005

Blanco, Macias, Hairston, Dubious/Hollandsworth, Perez

2006

Blanco, Perez, Mabry, Hairston, Pagan, Bynum

 

I'd say thats the best we've had the past few years. In 2003 and 2005 we had RH and LH power bats, but that was through platoons so we really only had one available on the bench at a time becuase the other was starting. That beng said a power RH woluld be better than Bynum. I assume we go back to a 5 man bench soon anyway though so someone is gone. Still better than we've had.

[Guest]

I'll take that 2004 bench anyday, even with Macias.

[bc2k]

Is Williamson healthy enough to start the season? I'm out of the loop about his back pain.

[Blueheart05]

Is Williamson healthy enough to start the season? I'm out of the loop about his back pain.

 

Yes, he's pitched twice since leaving the game with back discomfort. He is fine.

[Andy]

Is Williamson healthy enough to start the season? I'm out of the loop about his back pain.

I haven't heard anything about him so I'm guessing he's good to go.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'll take that 2004 bench anyday, even with Macias.

 

Actually that 2004 bench looked ok going into the year but that bench didnt turn out as great.

 

Hollandsworth was great, but got hurt. Martinez and Goodwin's production dropped significantly and Martinez battled some nagging injuries, if I recall. The AGONZ injury brought along the likes of Rey Ordonez and Damian Jackson.

 

So even though going into 2004 looked okay going into the season, it turned out pretty bad. Maybe this years bench will turn out the same, looks good, but doesn't live up to expectations. With most of the guys being young they hopefully will improve and not decline.

[Guest]

I'll take that 2004 bench anyday, even with Macias.

 

Actually that 2004 bench looked ok going into the year but that bench didnt turn out as great.

 

Hollandsworth was great, but got hurt. Martinez and Goodwin's production dropped significantly and Martinez battled some nagging injuries, if I recall. The AGONZ injury brought along the likes of Rey Ordonez and Damian Jackson.

 

So even though going into 2004 looked okay going into the season, it turned out pretty bad. Maybe this years bench will turn out the same, looks good, but doesn't live up to expectations. With most of the guys being young they hopefully will improve and not decline.

It would surprise me greatly if this bench ended up being good. the six players on this bench may get out-homered by the pitching staff.

[WrigleyField 22]

the six players on this bench may get out-homered by the pitching staff.

 

Not with all the time Wood and Prior will miss :( With them missing a bunch of time Z is our only big HR threat from the staff.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

the six players on this bench may get out-homered by the pitching staff.

 

Not with all the time Wood and Prior will miss :( With them missing a bunch of time Z is our only big HR threat from the staff.

 

I dunno, Maddux and Rusch can both swing the bat pretty well. On the other hand, Marshall doesn't inspire much confidence with his career .322 OPS(15 PA's, but still...)

[baseball7897]

The bench is very versitle.

[CubinNY]

The bench is very versitle.

 

What does that mean? They can play many positions? Not one of those guys is a deep threat or has much of a bat at all. What are they going to do with 1 out and a man on third in a tie game in the eight inning?

 

I don't know that it would change the outcome of many games, but I would like to see at least a few guys on the bench who have the possibility to take a guy deep. That is why I wanted Sing or Restovich in one of those slots.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

The bench is very versitle.

 

What does that mean? They can play many positions? Not one of those guys is a deep threat or has much of a bat at all. What are they going to do with 1 out and a man on third in a tie game in the eight inning?

 

I don't know that it would change the outcome of many games, but I would like to see at least a few guys on the bench who have the possibility to take a guy deep. That is why I wanted Sing or Restovich in one of those slots.

 

Wait, our bench options aren't capable of hitting it reasonably deep to the OF? Darn near every ML player is capable of that. Our bench is strong defensively and has speed.

 

I don't know if you've looked at the A's lately, but those are the bargain qualities available today - prime for sticking on your bench.

[CubinNY]

The bench is very versitle.

 

What does that mean? They can play many positions? Not one of those guys is a deep threat or has much of a bat at all. What are they going to do with 1 out and a man on third in a tie game in the eight inning?

 

I don't know that it would change the outcome of many games, but I would like to see at least a few guys on the bench who have the possibility to take a guy deep. That is why I wanted Sing or Restovich in one of those slots.

 

Our bench is strong defensively and has speed.

 

And can't hit. The Cubs are supposed to have an improved bullpen. If that is ture (and I'm not saying it is), then it seems much more prudent to find at least one guy with deep threat capabilities. As it stand now they have exactly 0 guys who fit that description.

 

I don't think this is worth arguing over, so I leave it at that.