Cubs Sign Marquis to 3/21

[BigbadB]

Interesting that when you view the similar players to Marquis at baseball-reference that these names can all be found there:

 

Jake Westbrook

Ted Lilly

Gil Meche

Jason Jennings

 

Others of note: Kip Wells, Joel Piniero, Adam Eaton

[JeffH]

I have it down that Guzman has to remain in the majors with the Cubs as he is out of options.

 

Guzman was granted an extra option year because of his time on the DL these past three seasons.

[CubinNY]

The combination of Marquis stubbornous and Lous tempor should make for some high entertainment next year. I cannot see this ending well.

 

Everything, and I mean everything, is going to have to break right for the Cubs to have a chance next year.

 

In this division, with the Astros regressing and the Cards not improving? No, the Cubs have as good a shot as anyone. In any other division you're right.

 

I would agree. The Cubs may have plenty of question marks, but I can't see anyone in the division that I can point to as better than this team right now either.

 

This is exactly how the Cubs seem to think. They want to compete within the division. I don't give a flying fig what Houston or the rest of the NL Central has done. Wining the divsion only means getting to the playoffs.

 

I'd like for my team that has a top 5 payroll to be a lock to be above .500.

 

I cannot understand how anyone could be happy with the Marquis signing when the Cubs have at least 2 guys under their control for the next two years that can be just as sucky.

[Flames24Rulz]

Seriously, if we were going to get a project, I'd have rather had Meche.

 

This move pisses me off, but our rotation could be in worse shape, such as Houston's. I'd have much rather wanted Suppan though...

[Rob]

Well, it's a good thing none of our young arms have enough talent to be potential top-of-the-rotation guys, cause they just got blocked by Jason Freaking Marquis.

 

Somebody at the cubs convention just needs to ask him whether he hates the cubs, or if he's just stupid.

[JWCUB]

I think Goony was on the right track. Hendry is "stockpiling" pitchers. What does eveyone need? Pitching. Lets not forget the Cotts trade. Hendry may be planning a big move soon. Who knows?

 

What would it take to get Manny?

 

What would it take to get ARod?

 

What would it take to get Cabrera?

[b_wiggy_66]

I'm really disspointed in this. Not really the Marquis part because he is durable and he can't be as bad as last year, but the fact that we (so far) did not get a #2 starter. The Cubs are getting guys but once again not using them right. Lilly is not a #2 and Soriano should not be batting leadoff he should be batting #2 or lower.

[da bears]

I think Goony was on the right track. Hendry is "stockpiling" pitchers. What does eveyone need? Pitching. Lets not forget the Cotts trade. Hendry may be planning a big move soon. Who knows?

 

What would it take to get Manny?

 

What would it take to get ARod?

 

What would it take to get Cabrera?

 

Talent, which most of the guys the Cubs have don't have all that much. I hope Hendry does have a plan here on making some trades, because most of the moves he's made so far have been underwhelming.

[jjgman21]

3 years? :shock:

 

I don't understand this at all. Are we done getting pitchers now then? If we are, then I'm definitely disappointed in what Hendry has done. We have Z, the potential in Hill, and then a bunch of 5th starters.

 

What healthy pitcher will sign for less than 3 years these days?

 

I hope we aren't done and that a trade for a better #2 option is still availabe (ie Brad Penny) but my fear is that it's not. And Lilly, Marquis and Cotts aren't exactly what I had in mind for strengthening our pitching staff. Sori OTOH I'm counting down the days before we can see him in Cubs pinstripes.

 

This is what pisses me off about this signing. We could have passed on Marquis and swung a trade for Penny, using that money to get him to rework his contract or even give it to the Dodgers. Instead, we sign a guy who completely sucks for more money than I'll ever make in 10 lifetimes.

 

you see, this is completely unnecessary. just look at the move for what it is. you don't need to claim trades that only exist in your fantasy were possible to criticize this move.

[Outshined_One]

Hendry's edging closer and closer to "Drunk Guy on eBay" status these days...

[jjgman21]

I think Goony was on the right track. Hendry is "stockpiling" pitchers. What does eveyone need? Pitching. Lets not forget the Cotts trade. Hendry may be planning a big move soon. Who knows?

 

What would it take to get Manny?

 

What would it take to get ARod?

 

What would it take to get Cabrera?

 

I think you should give credit where it is due if you agree with that assessment.

[BigbadB]

All this crazy spending is all well and good, but why didn't they do this when there was lots of talent available?

 

Vlady, Beltran, Tejada, etc.....

 

In 2003, we watched Alex Gonzalez bobble the World Series away. He was really only of any value for his glove, and he hasn't landed a decent job since 2003.

 

Miguel Tejada made so much sense that year, it isn't even funny.

 

Fast forward to 2007, the Cubs have Cesar Izturis and Ronny Cedeno 1/2 on the SS depth chart, meanwhile Baltimore dangles Tejada in trade rumors every offseason. :roll:

 

But hey, call me thrilled that we have Jason Marquis. Because I'd much rather we have someone like him than someone like Tejada. :cry:

[CubColtPacer]

The combination of Marquis stubbornous and Lous tempor should make for some high entertainment next year. I cannot see this ending well.

 

Everything, and I mean everything, is going to have to break right for the Cubs to have a chance next year.

 

In this division, with the Astros regressing and the Cards not improving? No, the Cubs have as good a shot as anyone. In any other division you're right.

 

I would agree. The Cubs may have plenty of question marks, but I can't see anyone in the division that I can point to as better than this team right now either.

 

This is exactly how the Cubs seem to think. They want to compete within the division. I don't give a flying fig what Houston or the rest of the NL Central has done. Wining the divsion only means getting to the playoffs.

 

I'd like for my team that has a top 5 payroll to be a lock to be above .500.

 

I cannot understand how anyone could be happy with the Marquis signing when the Cubs have at least 2 guys under their control for the next two years that can be just as sucky.

 

I'm not saying I don't want better, I'm just disputing the notion that we don't have a chance next year. Already, we have just as much of a chance as anyone in the division, and when you get in the playoffs anything could happen-so we most definitely have a chance. I would love if we could continue to improve so we become the clear-cut favorite in the division though and competing for the best in the league, but I am certainly not throwing in the towel already if this is close to it. I hope some of our young pitching and bullpen arms can fetch a little bit in a trade now and continue to improve the offense.

[UK1679666180]

 

But what is going to make him change if he wasn't receptive towards some of the best pitching coaches in the bigs? Greg Maddux and Mark DeRosa's word are nice and all, but I'm not sure I have faith in Marquis listening and improving much.

 

Three years? That sucks.

 

again, which is it? was he listening to Duncan in 04-05, or was that strictly his stubborn side putting up solid #3 numbers? and back in 01, was he listening to Cox, or was that his stubborn side?

 

where does this 'stubborn' / 'the best pitching coaches couldn't straighten him out' stuff come from other than looking at a situation and jumping to conclusions about cause and effect?

 

I think it goes in phases. Regardless of production, he has had a different view for how he can be most effective compared to Mazzone and Duncan. Moreso Duncan than Mazzone b/c Mazzone prefers the 4 seamer more than Duncan, which goes along with Marquis.

 

Imo, he's definitely a better pitcher using the sinker/slider combo. But his stubborn nature didn't lead to his struggling (that was more command/control and his slider went in the toilet). But, his stubbornness probably made it difficult to truly listen to advice rather than going out the other ear if he didn't agree with it.

[CubColtPacer]

All this crazy spending is all well and good, but why didn't they do this when there was lots of talent available?

 

Vlady, Beltran, Tejada, etc.....

 

In 2003, we watched Alex Gonzalez bobble the World Series away. He was really only of any value for his glove, and he hasn't landed a decent job since 2003.

 

Miguel Tejada made so much sense that year, it isn't even funny.

 

Fast forward to 2007, the Cubs have Cesar Izturis and Ronny Cedeno 1/2 on the SS depth chart, meanwhile Baltimore dangles Tejada in trade rumors every offseason. :roll:

 

But hey, call me thrilled that we have Jason Marquis. Because I'd much rather we have someone like him than someone like Tejada. :cry:

 

Tejada may be in trade rumors every offseason, but every time they go to make a deal it is rejected by Angelos. Tejada may be one of the most unavailable players in the major leagues, because Angelos continues to reject deals-he did it 2 or 3 times at the trading deadline alone with teams who were giving a great deal of talent back, something that the Orioles should never have rejected.

[b_wiggy_66]

One posititve thing is that I think a turn around with Marquis is very possible. He is a ground ball pitcher and last year he couldn't get the ball down and gave up a ton of homers. I think he could quickly get that ball down again and start getting those groundballs and letting Izturis do the rest :lol:. Players have good years and bad years and usually regress or progress to previous years performance which would be a good thing with Marquis. I also think that the two slaughters he had to stay in for really hurt his confidence and made him mad at the coaches for making him suffer through that twice. I look for him to have an ERA around 4.4 which is not that bad for a 4th starter.

[CubinNY]

One posititve thing is that I think a turn around with Marquis is very possible. He is a ground ball pitcher and last year he couldn't get the ball down and gave up a ton of homers. I think he could quickly get that ball down again and start getting those groundballs and letting Izturis do the rest :lol:. Players have good years and bad years and usually regress or progress to previous years performance which would be a good thing with Marquis. I also think that the two slaughters he had to stay in for really hurt his confidence and made him mad at the coaches for making him suffer through that twice. I look for him to have an ERA around 4.4 which is not that bad for a 4th starter.

 

Good points.

 

I have hope Larry will get him ironed out and Lou and Jason won't have a Lou/Dibble round two.

[cubs121]

is this a incentive laden deal? as Bruce Levine was saying on his show.

[Omar]

Marquis: 2007 Cy Young. You heard it here.

 

And of course, it will be nice to see guys on the same team battle it out for the NL batting title.

[jjgman21]

is this a incentive laden deal? as Bruce Levine was saying on his show.

 

I don't think there is confirmation on whether it is 20 or 28 M, much less other specifics.

[Backtobanks]

The combination of Marquis stubbornous and Lous tempor should make for some high entertainment next year. I cannot see this ending well.

 

Everything, and I mean everything, is going to have to break right for the Cubs to have a chance next year.

 

In this division, with the Astros regressing and the Cards not improving? No, the Cubs have as good a shot as anyone. In any other division you're right.

 

I would agree. The Cubs may have plenty of question marks, but I can't see anyone in the division that I can point to as better than this team right now either.

 

This is exactly how the Cubs seem to think. They want to compete within the division. I don't give a flying fig what Houston or the rest of the NL Central has done. Wining the divsion only means getting to the playoffs.

 

I'd like for my team that has a top 5 payroll to be a lock to be above .500.

 

I cannot understand how anyone could be happy with the Marquis signing when the Cubs have at least 2 guys under their control for the next two years that can be just as sucky.

 

Everyone would love to have the best team in baseball, but winning your division and getting to the playoffs is what it's all about. The playoffs and the WS are a crapshoot. It's a matter of who gets hot at the right time. How often has "the best" team won in the playoffs and the WS? Look at all the wild card winners. Look at the "mediocre" 2006 Cards.

[cubs121]

Marquis: 2007 Cy Young. You heard it here.

 

And of course, it will be nice to see guys on the same team battle it out for the NL batting title.

 

hey.... how bout have Z and Marquis battle it out for Cy young?

[jjgman21]

he sucks...good luck. It wasn't just his era, he led the league in long balls for a reason and with all the pitching questions the Cards had going into the post season everyone knew the Cards did not trust him to pitch...he is a headcase that arguably the 2 best pitching coaches in the game had to give up on. He will show some flashes of what could be, and you think man this guy can pitch and then bam...it is like he forgets what he is doing out there...

 

you know, all I heard (not necessarily from you of course) when the Braves traded him to the Cards was what a coup it was to get all this great young pitching talent for that bum JD Drew. I also heard so much 'Duncan was able to straighten him out' talk for his first two years as a Card when Cubs fans all predicted his eminant decline.

 

now Cox and Duncan couldn't straighten him out? will someone provide me with a link to anybody ever saying that Cox and/or Duncan couldn't straighten him out? or is this all just a conclusion reached without any exploration of cause and effect?

 

well the Cards do still have Wainwright from that trade(that will probably end up being the best coup) Marquis did decent the first couple of years and he was young and CHEAP. There is nothing wrong with him mechanically he just shakes off pitches and does not trust his sinker enough...his worst trait last year was that he did not keep the Cards in the game...he gave up a lot of runs early and just looks defeated. Like I said you will see flashes of hope but no consistency in his quality of starts...

 

actually there was much talk about a problem in Marquis' mechanics last year and reports that he already worked it out. Rothschild was on WGN last night saying Marquis additioned for him shortly after the season and demonstarted he knew what the flaw was and it had already been worked out. FWIW.

[baseball7897]

Scouting Report on Marquis:

 

http://graphics.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Third_Party_Graphic/2004/10/22/1098461689_3159.gif

[jjgman21]

The combination of Marquis stubbornous and Lous tempor should make for some high entertainment next year. I cannot see this ending well.

 

Everything, and I mean everything, is going to have to break right for the Cubs to have a chance next year.

 

In this division, with the Astros regressing and the Cards not improving? No, the Cubs have as good a shot as anyone. In any other division you're right.

 

I would agree. The Cubs may have plenty of question marks, but I can't see anyone in the division that I can point to as better than this team right now either.

 

This is exactly how the Cubs seem to think. They want to compete within the division. I don't give a flying fig what Houston or the rest of the NL Central has done. Wining the divsion only means getting to the playoffs.

 

I'd like for my team that has a top 5 payroll to be a lock to be above .500.

 

I cannot understand how anyone could be happy with the Marquis signing when the Cubs have at least 2 guys under their control for the next two years that can be just as sucky.

 

Everyone would love to have the best team in baseball, but winning your division and getting to the playoffs is what it's all about. The playoffs and the WS are a crapshoot. It's a matter of who gets hot at the right time. How often has "the best" team won in the playoffs and the WS? Look at all the wild card winners. Look at the "mediocre" 2006 Cards.

 

I agree with your statement about the playoffs and find it weird that fact escpaes many who raise the same argument in other contexts. I do think a team with this payroll should be better and have fewer question marks, but what everyone needs to keep in mind is every team, no matter what the payroll, has question marks going into the season.

 

for instance look at the Mets last year. it's easy to imagine the Mets fans saying "if Glavine can sustain at 40, if Pedro is healthy, if Floyd stays healthy, if Trachsel can just be a #4, if Heilman steps up, if Wright is the real deal, if Reyes lives up to his potential, if we can plug secondbase, if we can patch together a bullpen, and if Beltran returns to form, we might win the division." even so, most of the prognosticators picked a team with so many 'ifs' to win the division.

 

and as I've said many times the past couple of weeks, no team goes into October with the same roster they had in April. "World Series caliber" teams are built throughout the season, not in December.