Rotoworld's Cubs 2007 Preview

[Post Count Padder]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=MLB&columnid=137&articleid=27784

[goonys evil twin]

My belief is that the Cubs' pitching will be slightly better, but their offense takes a big enough jump to get this team to 80 wins. Anything more must be considered gravy.

 

I'm no eternal optimist when it involves the Cubs (no, really, I'm not, seriously), but I think calling anything over 80 wins "gravy" is a bit glum. I'd say 80-85 should be reasonable, with 88 a possibility. I wouldn't talk about gravy until you get past that mark. If this team wins 83/84 games, calling those few wins gravy suggests we should all thank our lucky stars for that much success. And I can't agree with that.

[David]

IMHO, all bets are off with a healthy Mark Prior (assuming we get reasonable health and expected performance from the rest of the team).

 

I think they could jump into the 90's, if that one big 'X' factor comes through.

[goonys evil twin]

IMHO, all bets are off with a healthy Mark Prior (assuming we get reasonable health and expected performance from the rest of the team).

 

I think they could jump into the 90's, if that one big 'X' factor comes through.

 

I would agree with that. Prior anywhere near his best could push them over 90.

[USSoccer]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

[David]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

 

I hope we can pull a 2004 trade deadline and replace our biggest offensive black hole at SS with a superstar (or at least a solid player). Maybe Tejada'll be available.

 

That would probably only push the win total by a couple wins, considering the length of time he'd be on the team, but it would definitely make for a stronger lineup in the playoffs.

[Soul]

My belief is that the Cubs' pitching will be slightly better, but their offense takes a big enough jump to get this team to 80 wins. Anything more must be considered gravy.

 

I'm no eternal optimist when it involves the Cubs (no, really, I'm not, seriously), but I think calling anything over 80 wins "gravy" is a bit glum. I'd say 80-85 should be reasonable, with 88 a possibility. I wouldn't talk about gravy until you get past that mark. If this team wins 83/84 games, calling those few wins gravy suggests we should all thank our lucky stars for that much success. And I can't agree with that.

 

It's because of the low win total last year. Nobody feels comfortable giving the Cubs that much of a jump. He did predict a 14 game improvement, which is significant.

 

I've got us hovering around .500 -- hoping for that 85-win area.

 

I'm just jonesing for playoff-relevant baseball in September.

[goonys evil twin]

My belief is that the Cubs' pitching will be slightly better, but their offense takes a big enough jump to get this team to 80 wins. Anything more must be considered gravy.

 

I'm no eternal optimist when it involves the Cubs (no, really, I'm not, seriously), but I think calling anything over 80 wins "gravy" is a bit glum. I'd say 80-85 should be reasonable, with 88 a possibility. I wouldn't talk about gravy until you get past that mark. If this team wins 83/84 games, calling those few wins gravy suggests we should all thank our lucky stars for that much success. And I can't agree with that.

 

It's because of the low win total last year. Nobody feels comfortable giving the Cubs that much of a jump. He did predict a 14 game improvement, which is significant.

 

I understand that, but technically he's saying that an 81-81 season would be gravy. I don't see it that way.

[CuseCubFan69]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

 

Me too with injuries playing a big part in the sucess or failure.

[goonys evil twin]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

 

Me too with injuries playing a big part in the sucess or failure.

 

I don't believe in putting a floor on the Cubs season. They could find a way to lose 163 games.

[David]

For a while, it looked like they just might do it in 97.

[CuseCubFan69]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

 

Me too with injuries playing a big part in the sucess or failure.

 

I don't believe in putting a floor on the Cubs season. They could find a way to lose 163 games.

 

They have a playoff game for last?

 

I think 75 is a solid floor and if it gets worse then that then I suggest to drink heavily.

[Abe Frohman]

I suspect somewhere down the line, some outfielders are going to be moved. Jacques Jones, Matt Murton, and Cliff Floyd - one or two of them will be gone to make room for Pie, who I bet will get the call in the second half for good.

 

Hopefully, we can get a quality SS in the deal.

[goonys evil twin]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

 

Me too with injuries playing a big part in the sucess or failure.

 

I don't believe in putting a floor on the Cubs season. They could find a way to lose 163 games.

 

They have a playoff game for last?

 

I think 75 is a solid floor and if it gets worse then that then I suggest to drink heavily.

 

I don't need any suggestion to do that, nor do I need a sub 75 win season.

[hardcorecubfan]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

 

they said that last year and who won the WS?

 

I like the article emphasis that we paid. too much for mediocre players like Lilly and DeRosa

[HoopsCubs]

This author seems to think Ronny Cedeno is a bench option.

 

I have confidence in Piniella that he will come to the conclusion very soon that Cedeno doesn't belong anywhere near the major league club.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

TEH COBS WILL WIN 100 GAMEZ!!1!

[David]

Remember Z's 120 win prediction?

[David]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

 

they said that last year and who won the WS?

 

I like the article emphasis that we paid. too much for mediocre players like Lilly and DeRosa

 

A very average team that would've had no business being in the playoffs if not for a largely awful National League?

[Soul]

The success this team has is going to be helped by the fact that the NL is awful.

 

I see between 80-85 as likely, with a ceiling of about 93 and a floor of 75

 

they said that last year and who won the WS?

 

I like the article emphasis that we paid. too much for mediocre players like Lilly and DeRosa

 

A very average team that would've had no business being in the playoffs if not for a largely awful National League?

 

Exactly. And in the process, they became the least respected World Series champion in the history of baseball (and rightfully so).

[NewUserName]

These are some things that will have to go well, but if a couple of these things do work out I could easily see the Cubs winning 90 games.

 

1. Healthy and close to 05 DLee.

2. Murton and Floyd putting up a OPS of close to .900

3. Iszturius having an OBP of .330

4. Hill wins 17 games

5. Prior or Miller pitching well in the fifth spot or better both of them pitching well enough to run Marquis to PH role.

 

If all these things happen the Cubs will be a playoff team. If a couple happen then they will contend. If none happen then lucky to be .500.