After Marquis: How many wins are the Cubs getting in 2007

[UMFan83]

As the roster stands right now, assume slightly above replacement level players to fill out the bench. Also assume no Jones trade or any other major changes.

 

You can also make your own assumptions as to the health and ability of key players (such as Prior and Wood)

 

I say 75, my roommate says 90 and calls me a pathetic pessimist.

[Drew Doughty]

83

[E.J.]

Not enough to win the World Series...

[CubFanPhilly]

88 - DLee and Soriano boost the offense. The pen is strong, and the rotation should be average.

 

95+ - if Prior is healthy and pitching like 2003, Marquis and Lilly pitch to career averages, Hill progresses, Wood is healthy and productive, and either Theriot takes SS from Izturis or the Cubs add at least one more big bat to the lineup.

 

<75 - if 2 or 3 of: Prior, Wood, Hill, Marquis, Lilly go wrong.

 

This really is a team that could be anywhere from WS champs to as bad as last year. Much revolves around Prior, Hill, and Soriano.

[AR-Baseball-Fan]

About the same number of games if the Cubs did not have Marquis.

[Roast]

My guess is about 80.

 

Soriano and a healthy Lee boost the offense. But our pitching staff is bleh outside of Z and we lose a lot of 7-6 games.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

81. We're a 500 ball team unless Prior regains his 2003-2004 form.

[Balsa]

I'm going optimistic.

 

88-91

[Sarcastic]

88 - DLee and Soriano boost the offense. The pen is strong, and the rotation should be average.

 

95+ - if Prior is healthy and pitching like 2003, Marquis and Lilly pitch to career averages, Hill progresses, Wood is healthy and productive, and either Theriot takes SS from Izturis or the Cubs add at least one more big bat to the lineup.

 

<75 - if 2 or 3 of: Prior, Wood, Hill, Marquis, Lilly go wrong.

 

This really is a team that could be anywhere from WS champs to as bad as last year. Much revolves around Prior, Hill, and Soriano.

I agree. More than most teams, we have to wait and see how our players who were injured last year or are coming off abnormally good/bad years rebound.

[Guest]

I went with 86 - 90. I think we're better than 4 games above .500 over the course of 162 games. A fully healthy Prior would change things for the better, of course.

[soccer10k]

Where is the option for a negative number?

[Roast]

No option for 100+ games :)

[Ding Dong Johnson]

They'll get nothing and like it.

[TB_11]

80-85. Too many things need to go right (a la 1998) for this team to seriously compete for the playoffs.

[Soul]

I'll go 80-85 wins, keeping in mind that apparently the Marquis deal isn't done yet.

[wolf stansson]

81-85