Realistically what can we do?

[cuubs4life]

What trade can the cubs make that wil improve the team? (obviously trade/DFA Jones, Izzy, eyre)

 

 

I think we need another Big Bat, and another lefty in the pen with the ineffectiveness of eyre. I like Griffy and Dunn, but if we cant take on salary those moves seem very unlikely.

 

any thoughts?

[killthegoat06]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes (other than the trifecta of suckage.) We can certainly improve by adding a solid bullpen pitcher, an ace starting pitcher, or a big bat, but I'm not sure as to which one we need more than the others.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes

 

we don't?

[killthegoat06]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes

 

we don't?

 

We have areas where we can improve, but none of our key positions are below average, imo. I guess it depends on how you define a hole.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes

 

we don't?

 

We have areas where we can improve, but none of our key positions are below average, imo. I guess it depends on how you define a hole.

 

C, SS, and CF are good places to look for that definition

[Schwarber Fan]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes

 

I'd say we need a starting catcher... Bowen and Hill aren't cut out to start

 

The other dilemma is DeRosa/Fontenot... neither really have a lot of experience at SS, yet both should be in the everyday lineup. I would try making DeRo the everyday SS

 

CF is a bit of a problem too... Pie is really struggling but I don't think starting Pagan is the answer, but Jones certainly isn't.

 

1B, 3B, LF, and RF (Floyd with Pagan every now and then) are really our only set positions.

 

As for out problem guys:

 

Izturis - he's wasting a roster spot. He has shown nothing with the bat and an average glove this year

 

Jones - another wasted spot. We have 4 other outfielders that can at least make contact

 

Eyre - Lou keeps running him out there but he ALWAYS struggles, he needs to go to. Everyone is looking for bullpen help and hopefully Eyre's reputation lures some team into interest.

 

So it's not that we have holes, we just need to solidify a roster.

[killthegoat06]

So it's not that we have holes, we just need to solidify a roster.

 

Bingo.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes

 

we don't?

 

We have areas where we can improve, but none of our key positions are below average, imo. I guess it depends on how you define a hole.

 

C, SS, and CF are good places to look for that definition

 

True. Of course more than half the league has holes in at least 2 of those spots.

 

I'd really like the team to wait until closer to the deadline to try to figure out their needs. Give DeRosa a look at SS, and if he can't handle it bring up Cedeno and try him a week or two (before you decide to trade for a SS).

I also think Soto coming up would be as good as any likely trade for a C (Salty is really the only one available, and he's likely way out of the Cubs price range).

As for CF, I doubt they want to upgrade there. They are trying to keep Pie's confidence up, but they don't want to completely block him for the rest of the year.

RF is a possibility to upgrade as well-it just depends on the cost to see if it's worth it as an upgrade to Floyd/Pagan or later in the year Floyd/Murton.

 

I don't think the Cubs need anything on the pitching side-their 5 starters are fine, and their top 4 in the bullpen of Dempster, Marmol, Howry, and Wuertz with plenty of possibilities to fill the last 3 slots is becoming a good bullpen as well.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes

 

 

The other dilemma is DeRosa/Fontenot... neither really have a lot of experience at SS, yet both should be in the everyday lineup. I would try making DeRo the everyday SS

 

DeRosa actually has a decent amount of experience at SS-138 games there. While most of that came early in his career, he had 11 games there in 2004, 16 in 05, and 7 in 06.

[Schwarber Fan]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes

 

 

The other dilemma is DeRosa/Fontenot... neither really have a lot of experience at SS, yet both should be in the everyday lineup. I would try making DeRo the everyday SS

 

DeRosa actually has a decent amount of experience at SS-138 games there. While most of that came early in his career, he had 11 games there in 2004, 16 in 05, and 7 in 06.

 

I figured that - I wonder why Lou doesn't try him there?

[killthegoat06]

I don't think we necessarily have any holes

 

 

The other dilemma is DeRosa/Fontenot... neither really have a lot of experience at SS, yet both should be in the everyday lineup. I would try making DeRo the everyday SS

 

DeRosa actually has a decent amount of experience at SS-138 games there. While most of that came early in his career, he had 11 games there in 2004, 16 in 05, and 7 in 06.

 

I figured that - I wonder why Lou doesn't try him there?

 

On saturday Lou put him there in the 2nd inning after Fontenot made his 2nd error in 2 games. Then yesterday Derosa played RF. If Floyd plays today, Lou will probably put Derosa at SS (I hope).

[gerby23]

Just to try something, I would send K. Hill down and bring up Soto if he is finally healthy. Also either DFA Izzy or send down Theriot and see if Ronny is ready. Minus Eyre, our bullpen is looking very good considering the amount of work lately. I think these two moves could help us, but if not, we are left returning to status quo with no worries as all involved have options left.

[killthegoat06]

Just to try something, I would send K. Hill down and bring up Soto if he is finally healthy. Also either DFA Izzy or send down Theriot and see if Ronny is ready. Minus Eyre, our bullpen is looking very good considering the amount of work lately. I think these two moves could help us, but if not, we are left returning to status quo with no worries as all involved have options left.

 

Hill is out of options.

[Rob]

We could fix SS and C just by bringing up Cedeno and Soto.

 

But we wont do that.

[weis21]

Just to try something, I would send K. Hill down and bring up Soto if he is finally healthy. Also either DFA Izzy or send down Theriot and see if Ronny is ready. Minus Eyre, our bullpen is looking very good considering the amount of work lately. I think these two moves could help us, but if not, we are left returning to status quo with no worries as all involved have options left.

 

Hill is out of options.

 

This is why I don't understand getting Bowen for Barett. I wasn't completely against trading Barett, but I would have rather gotten some kind of serviceable arm or a decent prospect for him. Hill is a fine backup cather, but this platoon thing with him and bowen hasn't been pretty. Of course if Soto were to come up and struggle we're in the same boat. Soto deserves a shot, I say package Hill along with one of the other 3 crappy players that need to be traded.

[Brian]

Hill is out of options.

 

Losing Hill shouldn't be a concern.

[inari]

Hill is out of options.

 

Losing Hill shouldn't be a concern.

 

But he kept the rally going against Colorado. :lol:

[Roast]

realistically, i dont know how much we can do. That all depends if its true or not that we're not allowed to put forth any more money. It's hard to get contracts to even out when you're trading, especially when you are trying to upgrade.

 

However, if we can take on some more money, then I think if we are willing to trade Pie/Murton/Marshall/etc. we have enough pieces to complete a very good deal.

 

But, it's all about the money at this point, imo.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If we're not allowed to take on payroll, we won't make any moves of significance.

 

Now, if we can move payroll around, I think we'll add a bat somewhere along the way.

[gerby23]

Just to try something, I would send K. Hill down and bring up Soto if he is finally healthy. Also either DFA Izzy or send down Theriot and see if Ronny is ready. Minus Eyre, our bullpen is looking very good considering the amount of work lately. I think these two moves could help us, but if not, we are left returning to status quo with no worries as all involved have options left.

 

Hill is out of options.

Ahh well the my mistake. Didn't realize that.

[Illini Iceman]

Just to try something, I would send K. Hill down and bring up Soto if he is finally healthy. Also either DFA Izzy or send down Theriot and see if Ronny is ready. Minus Eyre, our bullpen is looking very good considering the amount of work lately. I think these two moves could help us, but if not, we are left returning to status quo with no worries as all involved have options left.

 

Hill is out of options.

 

This is why I don't understand getting Bowen for Barett. I wasn't completely against trading Barett, but I would have rather gotten some kind of serviceable arm or a decent prospect for him. Hill is a fine backup cather, but this platoon thing with him and bowen hasn't been pretty. Of course if Soto were to come up and struggle we're in the same boat. Soto deserves a shot, I say package Hill along with one of the other 3 crappy players that need to be traded.

 

Wow, that's going to be quite an attractive package.

[baseball7897]

If we're not allowed to take on payroll, we won't make any moves of significance.

 

Now, if we can move payroll around, I think we'll add a bat somewhere along the way.

 

Ya think.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If we're not allowed to take on payroll, we won't make any moves of significance.

 

Now, if we can move payroll around, I think we'll add a bat somewhere along the way.

 

Ya think.

 

I do. Do you?

[weis21]

Just to try something, I would send K. Hill down and bring up Soto if he is finally healthy. Also either DFA Izzy or send down Theriot and see if Ronny is ready. Minus Eyre, our bullpen is looking very good considering the amount of work lately. I think these two moves could help us, but if not, we are left returning to status quo with no worries as all involved have options left.

 

Hill is out of options.

 

This is why I don't understand getting Bowen for Barett. I wasn't completely against trading Barett, but I would have rather gotten some kind of serviceable arm or a decent prospect for him. Hill is a fine backup cather, but this platoon thing with him and bowen hasn't been pretty. Of course if Soto were to come up and struggle we're in the same boat. Soto deserves a shot, I say package Hill along with one of the other 3 crappy players that need to be traded.

 

Wow, that's going to be quite an attractive package.

 

the asking price won't be high. more less a dump (if MLB will allow)

[Elrhino]

The problem with the Cubs lineup is they have two black holes in the bottom of the lineup at C and CF, and three blackholes in the lineup when Zambrano isn't pitching (and Marquis to a lesser extent) and four blackholes in the bottom of the lineup with Itzturis starts. Its almost impossible for them to be anything more than a slightly above average team with automatic outs comprising almost half of the lineup.

 

They could eliminate one of those holes if Soriano would move to CF, but that will never happen.

Edited July 3, 2007 by Elrhino