Ace or Big Bat?

[killthegoat06]

Scoring 3 runs per game? against washington added to my worries about our lineup. We have holes in CF and C with a questionable situation at SS. There are a few different options. Vance mentioned Posada. This board seems to like Dunn and Griffey. Arod is a dream but not likely.

 

The last couple of weeks, however, have also shown me that our starting pitching is too inconsistent. Z has been wonderful since his "2nd season" started, but his tendency to work up a high pitch count early in the game worries me. Marquis, Lilly, and Hill can be both lights-out and horrific, and Marshall can be very solid or horrific. I'd like to add an ace to the top of the rotation so that I could feel more comfortable.

 

Ideally we could add both, but if Hendry is somehow able to get one of the two, there is no way that he is getting another. It obviously matters who is available and at what cost, but which do you guys think is our biggest need going into the deadline: a pitching ace or a big bat?

[anabiono]

having 3 lefties in the rotation and one pitch rich makes me very nervous

 

i would love to add another right handed pitcher if possible

 

i don't know

 

if i was hendry...haha

 

bring up soto...bring up cedeno

 

then...weigh your best options at RF and RHP

 

that's what i would do

[CubColtPacer]

The biggest reason why they should get a big bat before a starting pitcher is that there is no clear pitcher to really replace. They've all been up and down, while there are clear positions in the field where there can be a massive upgrade. So sure, you could upgrade and get an ace that would help, but the upgrade from one of Lilly/Marquis/Marshall/Hill to the new ace wouldn't be nearly as much as an upgrade at C, SS, CF, or RF. That doesn't even begin to address the fact that a great starting pitcher is the absolute hardest thing to trade for.

[salukifudd]

I wish Guzman was healthy, I thought this was going to be his breakout year. We wouldn't have to worry about that RHP with good health. Any news on him, I haven't heard any for quite some time.

[anabiono]

i think we can place guzman with prior and wood

 

dream a little dream for me

[Tracer Bullet]

having 3 lefties in the rotation and one pitch rich makes me very nervous

 

i would love to add another right handed pitcher if possible

 

i don't know

 

if i was hendry...haha

 

bring up soto...bring up cedeno

 

then...weigh your best options at RF and RHP

 

that's what i would do

 

your posts...have

 

an...interesting

 

flow

[anabiono]

having 3 lefties in the rotation and one pitch rich makes me very nervous

 

i would love to add another right handed pitcher if possible

 

i don't know

 

if i was hendry...haha

 

bring up soto...bring up cedeno

 

then...weigh your best options at RF and RHP

 

that's what i would do

 

your posts...have

 

an...interesting

 

flow

 

lol...sorry, on message boards and emails, i rarely type in proper format...i leave that for school papers...once those are finished...i am usually spent...

[baseball7897]

Matt Morris might be available.

[Guest]

I wish Guzman was healthy, I thought this was going to be his breakout year. We wouldn't have to worry about that RHP with good health. Any news on him, I haven't heard any for quite some time.

 

Funny you should mention Gooz today because he started for the Mesa Cubs in his first outing since the injury, and he looked good per the box score.

[salukifudd]

Good to hear Raisin, thanks for the update.

[Jon]

I don't think the Cubs will add either, but they're in a position where they need offense and are going to just have to hope that the rotation continues to over-perform.

[NCCubFan]

Definitely a big bat. They already have a pitching ace who is finally performing like an ace.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd go for a bat, probably more than one.

 

1.Posada is my preference, but I think there's less than a 20% chance that he's traded. He's 10-5, so he'd have to approve any trade. I'd kick the tires on him, but I don't think it would happen. I think if he were available, he's a Hendry type of acquisition. I just don't think the situations needed to fall into place will happen quickly enough for Posada to hit the market.

 

2. If Posada isn't available, an upgrade at catcher is still needed. Ausmus is no great shakes, but he's better than what we have. Ramon Hernandez is also a possibility.

 

3. Griffey or Dunn would fix RF. Both are going to be expensive.

 

4. Lofton would help the anemic production in CF. While he may be costly to acquire now, I'm guessing his price drops considerably as the deadline approaches. We could likely get him for a mid-level prospect.

 

5. I just don't see starters coming cheaply enough to acquire. Buerle is out there, but not much else. At least not anyone that could be counted on to be any better than what we have.

 

I think if I were the Cubs, I'd look to upgrade the offense by adding one big piece (Griffey/Dunn/Posada) and one complementary part (Ausmus/Lofton) rather than rolling the dice on another pitcher.

[Bruno7481]

Where is this "big bat" going to play and who will have to be given up? I don't think getting rid of Jones is going to net a big bat.

[TruffleShuffle]

Matt Morris might be available.

 

unfortunately for the purposes of this thread, he's neither an ace nor a big bat

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Matt Morris might be available.

 

unfortunately for the purposes of this thread, he's neither an ace nor a big bat

 

but he is an ass.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

Matt Morris might be available.

 

unfortunately for the purposes of this thread, he's neither an ace nor a big bat

 

but he is an ass.

 

lol, Morris thought Josh Hamilton was stealing signs from 2B the other night and walked off the mound and started arguing with him. Douche.

 

I remember him talking a lot of crap about the Cubs back in '03 as well

[TruffleShuffle]

I can't believe the tally is even as close as it is. The Cubs don't have a starter who deserves to be moved out of the rotation - each of their starters have been above-average; Zambrano has the worst numbers, but has been pitching like an ace over the past few outings. Meanwhile, the Cubs are probably one of the worst offensive teams in baseball up the middle. You know what you're going to get from ARam and Soriano, but Lee can't seem to hit homers any more. DeRosa has been good, but isn't guaranteed to keep producing at this level. Floyd is aging and will continue to get hurt in the second half, Fontenot is coming back to earth. The need for a big bat is much, much greater than the need for a great starter. Not to mention that big bats tend to come more cheaply than aces at the deadline.

[Drew Doughty]

Matt Morris might be available.

 

unfortunately for the purposes of this thread, he's neither an ace nor a big bat

 

but he is an ass.

 

lol, Morris thought Josh Hamilton was stealing signs from 2B the other night and walked off the mound and started arguing with him. Douche.

 

I remember him talking a lot of crap about the Cubs back in '03 as well

 

who cares if he talked crap about the cubs? mark prior talked a lot of crap about the cardinals that year too, none of us are complaining about it. it is a rivalry, by the way.

 

still, no morris please. his numbers are a complete house of cards.

[TruffleShuffle]

still, no morris please. his numbers are a complete house of cards.

 

Fun fact - Matt Morris' WHIP is higher than any of the Cubs' starters. The fact that his name came up in a discussion about acquiring an "ace" is comical.

[Laura]

Matt Morris might be available.

 

unfortunately for the purposes of this thread, he's neither an ace nor a big bat

 

but he is an ass.

 

lol, Morris thought Josh Hamilton was stealing signs from 2B the other night and walked off the mound and started arguing with him. Douche.

 

I remember him talking a lot of crap about the Cubs back in '03 as well

 

who cares if he talked crap about the cubs? mark prior talked a lot of crap about the cardinals that year too, none of us are complaining about it. it is a rivalry, by the way.

 

still, no morris please. his numbers are a complete house of cards.

 

Why would anyone here complain about Prior talking crap about the Cardinals in 2003?

 

I rather enjoyed it.

[Guest]

Quite frankly, he should have talked more trash about that douche lefty reliever who's name I've thankfully forgotten.

 

Ugh, I just remembered...Steve Kline.

[CubmanPi]

I went with ace. Yea, this team has experienced some issues with offense, especially with the power numbers, but I think pitching will turn out to be more of an issue. Hill and Marshall and Marquis can all be good, but they can all crap the bed on any given day.

 

I think it's more realistic to add a bat, and Ithink it will do wonders for the team as well, but I think a bonafide number 2 starter would do this team much better than hitting would.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

Matt Morris might be available.

 

unfortunately for the purposes of this thread, he's neither an ace nor a big bat

 

but he is an ass.

 

lol, Morris thought Josh Hamilton was stealing signs from 2B the other night and walked off the mound and started arguing with him. Douche.

 

I remember him talking a lot of crap about the Cubs back in '03 as well

 

who cares if he talked crap about the cubs? mark prior talked a lot of crap about the cardinals that year too, none of us are complaining about it. it is a rivalry, by the way.

 

still, no morris please. his numbers are a complete house of cards.

 

I'm not complaining, I'm simply pointing out that Matt Morris is a douche. Along with Steve "I hope Mark Prior gets hit in the head with a line drive" Kline.

[soccer10k]

Without question it has to be a big bat.