Cubs' Greatest Need

[Laura]

power

[TruffleShuffle]

as my defense, i present a video of today's game.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm going to guess cubs.com people voted for relief pitching, because it seems to be the lowest common denominator for "where can we get better" discussions. I guess it's because there are 6-7 positions to fill and you don't necessarily have to say something specific replace Ryan Theriot with a quality SS. It allows people to avoid criticizing their own guys.

 

The Cubs don't need starting pitching, although if they get to the playoffs, they might wind up wishing they had somebody a little more stable and dominant in the 2 spot.

 

The obvious answer is offense. Not sure why it has to be broken down into things like power or speed. They need to get better production. Preferably go from bottom of the barrel production at SS to top of the heap in ARod. Improve from very little out of CF to something near the top of the league, or figure out how to get better RF production when Floyd isn't 100%. Maybe find a way to get a do over in the catching department and find somebody that isn't a black hole.

 

The best thing this team could do would be to get better offensively. Get out of the cellar in one of the black hole positions and/or improve on the positions that are in flux, and we're probably talking about giving this team the best chance to succeed.

[NCCubFan]

I'm going to guess cubs.com people voted for relief pitching, because it seems to be the lowest common denominator for "where can we get better" discussions.

Yes, overwhelmingly (44%). More votes for relief pitching than the next two combined.

[CyHawk_Cub]

I'm going to guess cubs.com people voted for relief pitching, because it seems to be the lowest common denominator for "where can we get better" discussions. I guess it's because there are 6-7 positions to fill and you don't necessarily have to say something specific replace Ryan Theriot with a quality SS. It allows people to avoid criticizing their own guys.

 

The Cubs don't need starting pitching, although if they get to the playoffs, they might wind up wishing they had somebody a little more stable and dominant in the 2 spot.

 

The obvious answer is offense. Not sure why it has to be broken down into things like power or speed. They need to get better production. Preferably go from bottom of the barrel production at SS to top of the heap in ARod. Improve from very little out of CF to something near the top of the league, or figure out how to get better RF production when Floyd isn't 100%. Maybe find a way to get a do over in the catching department and find somebody that isn't a black hole.

 

The best thing this team could do would be to get better offensively. Get out of the cellar in one of the black hole positions and/or improve on the positions that are in flux, and we're probably talking about giving this team the best chance to succeed.

 

I agree w/ that. I voted for power when the poll was posted. Come playoffs, having a solid 3 man rotation would be preferred, but b/c of the hole we dug ourselves early, we can't afford to have a black hole as a 5th starter (of course I'm assuming a trade for another starter would require giving up Hill/Marshall)...we need to have a chance to win every game possible the rest of the way.

[CubmanPi]

I've got a concern or two about the rotation as well as the bullpen, but I really can't fathom JH spending much effort on anything other than offensive upgrade, and an upgrade which does not take speed into consideration.

 

Starters will have bad outings and relievers will blow leads. Looking at what the Cubs have done this year and what the options are for upgrade, standing pat in those two areas is easily the best choice. A quick look at the available lineup combinations should be enough to scare anyone into making a huge push at a true impact bat or two.

[Mizzou]

I don't see how anyone can possibly think that a starter is the biggest need, let alone even a need to begin with.

Have you seen some of the pitching performances by Marquis this year and Marshall and Hill in my mind are going through growing pains. Let's hope that Hill has the kind of September this year he did last year. The Cubs can hit a homer ever inning but if the pitcher can't hold the lead what good is that. That's my thought.

Yeah, every pitcher has bad outings. Every one.

 

But when every one of our 5 starters sports an ERA in the 3's, I'm not going to be asking for another starter.