Levine: Cubs are happy with what they got

[jersey cubs fan]

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

SS, C and RF remain problems. There are holes on this team. We get no SLG from RF, no anything from C and I'm not sold on a middle IF of Theriot and Fontenot.

 

Are you forgetting CF?

[Rusch33]

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

SS, C and RF remain problems. There are holes on this team. We get no SLG from RF, no anything from C and I'm not sold on a middle IF of Theriot and Fontenot.

 

Who's out there to get for those positions without getting totally fleeced?

[jersey cubs fan]

I just think this year is different from years past. Pretty much the only position that could use an upgrade is RF.

 

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

You are nuts.

 

The Cubs are getting bottom of the NL barrel production from SS, CF, C and RF, and you think there are no holes?

 

You should check Theriot's July stats and find me an NL shortstop who put up better numbers.

 

Are you kidding me? Check Neifi's April 2005 stats. You can't seriously think his July stats negate the need for improvement at SS. I will just assume you are kidding and not really thinking something like that.

[jersey cubs fan]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

[CubColtPacer]

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

SS, C and RF remain problems. There are holes on this team. We get no SLG from RF, no anything from C and I'm not sold on a middle IF of Theriot and Fontenot.

 

The middle infield won't be Theriot and Fontenot though-it will be Theriot/DeRosa. Now that Murton is up and hopefully DeRosa's time in RF will be diminishing in favor of Murton (although yesterday was not encouraging in that respect) the only time Fontenot will play is when Aramis or DeRosa get a day off. Other than that, DeRosa should be at second most everyday.

 

It would be nice if the team could upgrade at CF or RF, but I don't see it as absolutely necessary. The production should get at least slightly better at CF, RF, and SS just by the people playing there now.

[Bruno7481]

I just think this year is different from years past. Pretty much the only position that could use an upgrade is RF.

 

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

You are nuts.

 

The Cubs are getting bottom of the NL barrel production from SS, CF, C and RF, and you think there are no holes?

 

You should check Theriot's July stats and find me an NL shortstop who put up better numbers.

 

Are you kidding me? Check Neifi's April 2005 stats. You can't seriously think his July stats negate the need for improvement at SS. I will just assume you are kidding and not really thinking something like that.

 

I think Theriot does his job on this team quite well. He is very good defensively and is putting up a .350 OBP. Of course you are going to get zero power out of him. But hitting in the #2 hole he is a good fit with OBP and speed.

[Rusch33]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over?

[USSoccer]

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

SS, C and RF remain problems. There are holes on this team. We get no SLG from RF, no anything from C and I'm not sold on a middle IF of Theriot and Fontenot.

 

Are you forgetting CF?

 

Yeah, actually I did forget CF.

 

So there's half our everyday lineup that we could improve.

 

And it doesn't have to be marquee type players. You could get good platoon guys for RF and CF for very little cost.

[Electron Blue]

I just think this year is different from years past. Pretty much the only position that could use an upgrade is RF.

 

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

You are nuts.

 

The Cubs are getting bottom of the NL barrel production from SS, CF, C and RF, and you think there are no holes?

 

You should check Theriot's July stats and find me an NL shortstop who put up better numbers.

 

Are you kidding me? Check Neifi's April 2005 stats. You can't seriously think his July stats negate the need for improvement at SS. I will just assume you are kidding and not really thinking something like that.

 

It's not a flawless argument, but I think it's far from a joke.

 

A case can be made for Neifi being the worst player ever. Theriot, in his young career, has been nothing but solid. Do you really treat a great month by these two players the same? Honestly, that sounds more like hyperbole than the last post, IMO.

[pitchcs]

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

SS, C and RF remain problems. There are holes on this team. We get no SLG from RF, no anything from C and I'm not sold on a middle IF of Theriot and Fontenot.

 

Well, Fontenot is not going to be playing over DeRosa. And I'm fine with our catching situation if we can upgrade an OF spot.

[TheDude]

I just think this year is different from years past. Pretty much the only position that could use an upgrade is RF.

 

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

You are nuts.

 

The Cubs are getting bottom of the NL barrel production from SS, CF, C and RF, and you think there are no holes?

 

You should check Theriot's July stats and find me an NL shortstop who put up better numbers.

 

Theriot's season OPS is still just .706. That's low. Theriot's advantage is his energy and timeliness (which may read as luck), because he seems to be at the core of nearly all Cubs rallies. But that is an immeasurable anecdote at best.

[E.J.]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Yep. And what's with the talk about "being good enough to make it to the playoffs"? Shouldn't we be trying to win the World Series? We are not good enough. This team has huge holes at SS, C, CF, and RF. We need to upgrade at least one of them.

[USSoccer]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over?

 

Sosa and Pie or Payton could replace Jones and Pagan and we'd be a much better team, and neither guy costs much.

 

We need to be better against LHP. We need more power in the OF. We can't keep this pace up without some sort of boost to the offense.

[jersey cubs fan]

Seriously, the Cubs are perfect, no room for improvement, they averaged 6 runs per game in Cincy so no reason to try and get better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I was afraid I was getting a little carried away with my hopes for this team.

[soapy]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over?

 

Griffey? Dunn? Renteria? Probably forgetting a few others.

[Bruno7481]

I just think this year is different from years past. Pretty much the only position that could use an upgrade is RF.

 

 

I just don't see many holes.

 

You are nuts.

 

The Cubs are getting bottom of the NL barrel production from SS, CF, C and RF, and you think there are no holes?

 

You should check Theriot's July stats and find me an NL shortstop who put up better numbers.

 

Theriot's season OPS is still just .706. That's low. Theriot's advantage is his energy and timeliness (which may read as luck), because he seems to be at the core of nearly all Cubs rallies. But that is an immeasurable anecdote at best.

 

I think using OPS to grade Theriot is a bad idea. Everyone knows he sin't going to have any power numbers, so his OPS is going to be low. His OBP is very good though. He palys good defense and has had tremendous success stealing bases. That is his role on this team and I think he does it well.

[pitchcs]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over?

 

Sosa and Pie or Payton could replace Jones and Pagan and we'd be a much better team, and neither guy costs much.

 

We need to be better against LHP. We need more power in the OF. We can't keep this pace up without some sort of boost to the offense.

 

 

Is Payton really better than Pagan? No.

[Banedon]

Seriously, the Cubs are perfect, no room for improvement, they averaged 6 runs per game in Cincy so no reason to try and get better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I was afraid I was getting a little carried away with my hopes for this team.

 

I don't think anyone said that. But if Pie for Laird and Mahay are the kind of deals that are out there, then standing pat may not be the worst possibility.

[RegulusBlue]

I think we'll trade for Laird, now.

 

The Rangers got Salty, so they are +1 in the legitimate catcher department.

 

Trade for Laird, DFA Kendall or Hill. Or just [expletive] play Soto.

 

Play Murton always.

 

Play DeRosa at 2B, or elsewhere to give guys a rest.

 

Try Fontenot at SS again, use as a backup if that doesn't work out.

 

We can fill two huge holes without trades, but Lou doesn't see it.

 

God...

[Bruno7481]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over?

 

Sosa and Pie or Payton could replace Jones and Pagan and we'd be a much better team, and neither guy costs much.

 

.

 

You do realize Pagan is out slugging Sosa and Payton, right?

[USSoccer]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over?

 

Sosa and Pie or Payton could replace Jones and Pagan and we'd be a much better team, and neither guy costs much.

 

We need to be better against LHP. We need more power in the OF. We can't keep this pace up without some sort of boost to the offense.

 

 

Is Payton really better than Pagan? No.

 

Against RHP? He absolutely is.

 

Pagan is a nice 5th OF. He's not even close to a guy you want getting meaningful AB's in September.

[Rusch33]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over?

 

Griffey? Dunn? Renteria? Probably forgetting a few others.

 

You think Atlanta won't fleece the Cubs considering they're in the playoff race with us?

 

Do you think Cincinnati isn't going to ask for the moon for both Dunn and Griffey? Are you sure you want to give Hill possibly for one of those guys because that might be one of the pitchers that goes.

Edited July 30, 2007 by Rusch33

[Bruno7481]

Seriously, the Cubs are perfect, no room for improvement, they averaged 6 runs per game in Cincy so no reason to try and get better.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I was afraid I was getting a little carried away with my hopes for this team.

 

Keep throwing out the hyperbole if that makes you feel better. That is not what I said. I just don't think are reasonable pgrades available without giving up way too much.

[TheDude]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Yep. And what's with the talk about "being good enough to make it to the playoffs"? Shouldn't we be trying to win the World Series? We are not good enough. This team has huge holes at SS, C, CF, and RF. We need to upgrade at least one of them.

 

Guess what? The majority of teams the Cubs play the rest of the way have more holes and are susceptible to dominant pitching, which is the Cubs primary strength. The Cubs play a lot of bad teams the rest of the way.

 

Yes the Cubs should make a move to improve one of the holes. No question. But the team is good enough to make the playoffs as is, because they play bad teams a lot. Though I question its ability to make it past the divisional series as constructed. They would need dominate with pitching to stand a chance.

[nilodnayr]

Wow, this hot steak really has people closing their eyes to flaws on this team.

 

Who's out there to get that we won't get fleeced over?

 

Griffey? Dunn? Renteria? Probably forgetting a few others.

 

Julio Lugo, Ramon Hernandez, Torii Hunter...