Levine: Cubs are happy with what they got

[erik316wttn]

We MAY be able to win this division by standing pat offensively, but I can guaran-damn-tee you that we won't get very far in the playoffs without another big bat.

[pitchcs]

My only point is using "power" stats to evaluate Theriot is never going to have a positive outcome. It clearly is not his game.

 

At the same time though, he is doing an adequate job and is very cheap. The production he gives makes him valuable.

 

And power isn't just HR's. It's XBH's. Theriot needs to hit more XBH's of any kind.

 

You CAN live with Theriot at SS if you upgrade the OF, or C.

 

Agreed. But again, who's out there that will significantly upgrade either of those positions?

 

Sosa in RF against LHP.

Church in CF

Payton/Pie platoon in CF

Ramon Hernandez C

 

There's also the argument to be made that you could find upgrades at nearly all of these spots in house; that a Murton/Floyd platoon in RF, a Pagan/Jones platoon in CF or a Pie CF, and a Soto/Hill combo at C would be better than what we have now. But the team has demostrated that Murton and Soto aren't going to get that opportunity.

 

 

No, no, no. This Jay Payton is worthwhile talk needs to stop.

[TysonCBulls423]

There isn't a realistic option for SS or C in the trading market. However the OF must be improved. If Griffey or Dunn aren't available, Cubs really need to grab a Torii Hunter. Sure we could make the playoffs without a move, but how far could we go compared to the Dodgers, Mets, or Braves?

[CubColtPacer]

Of the 6 likely NL playoff teams, the Cubs are

 

Behind Milwaukee and Atlanta in offense

Even with the Dodgers and Mets

Ahead of the Padres and Diamondbacks

 

And in Pitching:

 

Behind San Diego

Even with the Mets

Ahead of Arizona, Dodgers, Atlanta, Milwaukee

 

Yes, this team has significant holes that can be upgraded. People are talking like this team cannot be competitive in the playoffs with the current roster or that the Cubs will be taking the worst offense into the playoffs of all the teams, and that simply is not true. Would an upgrade make winning more likely? Of course, but the cost may be too high, and the Cubs have just as much chance as anybody else in the National League right now with their current roster.

[USSoccer]

My only point is using "power" stats to evaluate Theriot is never going to have a positive outcome. It clearly is not his game.

 

At the same time though, he is doing an adequate job and is very cheap. The production he gives makes him valuable.

 

And power isn't just HR's. It's XBH's. Theriot needs to hit more XBH's of any kind.

 

You CAN live with Theriot at SS if you upgrade the OF, or C.

 

Agreed. But again, who's out there that will significantly upgrade either of those positions?

 

Sosa in RF against LHP.

Church in CF

Payton/Pie platoon in CF

Ramon Hernandez C

 

There's also the argument to be made that you could find upgrades at nearly all of these spots in house; that a Murton/Floyd platoon in RF, a Pagan/Jones platoon in CF or a Pie CF, and a Soto/Hill combo at C would be better than what we have now. But the team has demostrated that Murton and Soto aren't going to get that opportunity.

 

 

No, no, no. This Jay Payton is worthwhile talk needs to stop.

 

It's better than what we have in CF.

[jersey cubs fan]

And I'm still not understanding people's problem with Theriot. Assuming we can add one bat, I think we are fine.

 

I don't have a problem with Theriot. I have a problem with being satisfied having 4 holes in the lineup. I'd be fine with Theriot, just as long as something happens to improve the lineup elsewhere. Just remember, the Cubs are 9th in the NL in OPS, they are, at best, an average lineup. Since it takes a lot more than average to be a great team, and I want the Cubs to be a great team, I'm not going to be happy with average, or worse, production.

[pitchcs]

Of the 6 likely NL playoff teams, the Cubs are

 

Behind Milwaukee and Atlanta in offense

Even with the Dodgers and Mets

Ahead of the Padres and Diamondbacks

 

And in Pitching:

 

Behind San Diego

Even with the Mets

Ahead of Arizona, Dodgers, Atlanta, Milwaukee

 

Yes, this team has significant holes that can be upgraded. People are talking like this team cannot be competitive in the playoffs with the current roster or that the Cubs will be taking the worst offense into the playoffs of all the teams, and that simply is not true. Would an upgrade make winning more likely? Of course, but the cost may be too high, and the Cubs have just as much chance as anybody else in the National League right now with their current roster.

 

Pretty good sum up.

[RynoRules]

Ryan Church!!!

I would love to see him be our starting CF.

 

Yup.

[soapy]

Wow, never realized how much faith some people put in short-term hot streaks.

this really can't be said enough. this team is not good enough to win a world series right now, and that's all that matters to me.

 

winning a weak division would be great, but not enough. they need another bat, or at the very least need to tinker with the pieces they already control (murton, cedeno, soto, pie, etc.).

[pitchcs]

And I'm still not understanding people's problem with Theriot. Assuming we can add one bat, I think we are fine.

 

I don't have a problem with Theriot. I have a problem with being satisfied having 4 holes in the lineup. I'd be fine with Theriot, just as long as something happens to improve the lineup elsewhere. Just remember, the Cubs are 9th in the NL in OPS, they are, at best, an average lineup. Since it takes a lot more than average to be a great team, and I want the Cubs to be a great team, I'm not going to be happy with average, or worse, production.

 

True, but SS is not the realistic upgrade. We all know Hendry is not going to get another MI. We need to focus on an OF.

[jersey cubs fan]

We MAY be able to win this division by standing pat offensively, but I can guaran-damn-tee you that we won't get very far in the playoffs without another big bat.

 

I can't guarantee anything when it comes to the playoffs. But I'm all about increasing your chances, and with a mediocre offense and somewhat surprisingly strong pitching, I'd feel much better about the Cubs' chances if they got another bat to take the place of one of the underperformers.

[USSoccer]

Of the 6 likely NL playoff teams, the Cubs are

 

Behind Milwaukee and Atlanta in offense

Even with the Dodgers and Mets

Ahead of the Padres and Diamondbacks

 

And in Pitching:

 

Behind San Diego

Even with the Mets

Ahead of Arizona, Dodgers, Atlanta, Milwaukee

 

Yes, this team has significant holes that can be upgraded. People are talking like this team cannot be competitive in the playoffs with the current roster or that the Cubs will be taking the worst offense into the playoffs of all the teams, and that simply is not true. Would an upgrade make winning more likely? Of course, but the cost may be too high, and the Cubs have just as much chance as anybody else in the National League right now with their current roster.

 

An offensive upgrade worth a couple of wins would make a huge difference in our chances. Not only might we wrap up a playoff berth sooner, allowing us to set our pitchers up, but it increases the odds of postseason success.

 

How many more chances are we going to get with our core players? Lee, Ramirez and Soriano are not going to get any better. Z might not come back. We don't have a great minor league system to plug holes.

 

We need to play for this season. We might not get many more opportunities.

[anabiono]

felix pie is better than payton

 

if nothing happens

 

hopefully murton, pie, and soto all start to get significant time

 

if nothing happens

 

we are then about to really see what this team is made of because the august schedule definitely has the potential to slaughter us

[Bruno7481]

My only point is using "power" stats to evaluate Theriot is never going to have a positive outcome. It clearly is not his game.

 

At the same time though, he is doing an adequate job and is very cheap. The production he gives makes him valuable.

 

And power isn't just HR's. It's XBH's. Theriot needs to hit more XBH's of any kind.

 

You CAN live with Theriot at SS if you upgrade the OF, or C.

 

Agreed. But again, who's out there that will significantly upgrade either of those positions?

 

Sosa in RF against LHP.

Church in CF

Payton/Pie platoon in CF

Ramon Hernandez C

 

There's also the argument to be made that you could find upgrades at nearly all of these spots in house; that a Murton/Floyd platoon in RF, a Pagan/Jones platoon in CF or a Pie CF, and a Soto/Hill combo at C would be better than what we have now. But the team has demostrated that Murton and Soto aren't going to get that opportunity.

 

Sosa, will never happen for various reasons.

 

I wouldn't mind Church, but apparently Bowden asking price is way too high.

 

Payton is slugging .417 against lefties this year, Pagan is slugging .532 against lefties. There is no need for Payton. He's older, more expensive, slower, and more brittle.

 

The Cubs have committed money to Kendall and won't be dumping him. Blanco has another year on his contract. Adding Hernandex would be an upgrade but because of Kendall and Blanco I don't think its reasonable to expect that to happen.

[cjbucks]

Ryan Church!!!

I would love to see him be our starting CF.

 

Yup.

 

Church 755 OPS

 

Pagan 799 OPS

[RynoRules]

We MAY be able to win this division by standing pat offensively, but I can guaran-damn-tee you that we won't get very far in the playoffs without another big bat.

 

I don't agree. Our pitching could carry us through at least one round and perhaps to the WS depending on who we see in the NLCS. Playoffs is different from reg season. We need the extra bat mostly to win this diuvision, IMO.

[Electron Blue]

We MAY be able to win this division by standing pat offensively, but I can guaran-damn-tee you that we won't get very far in the playoffs without another big bat.

 

there's no such thing as a guaran-damn-tee in the playoffs. Look at the Cardinals last year, Marlins of 03. The playoffs are about getting hot at the right time and having decent pitching.

 

If anything, your statement is backwards, IMO.

[C.C.]

Of the 6 likely NL playoff teams, the Cubs are

 

Behind Milwaukee and Atlanta in offense

Even with the Dodgers and Mets

Ahead of the Padres and Diamondbacks

 

And in Pitching:

 

Behind San Diego

Even with the Mets

Ahead of Arizona, Dodgers, Atlanta, Milwaukee

 

Yes, this team has significant holes that can be upgraded. People are talking like this team cannot be competitive in the playoffs with the current roster or that the Cubs will be taking the worst offense into the playoffs of all the teams, and that simply is not true. Would an upgrade make winning more likely? Of course, but the cost may be too high, and the Cubs have just as much chance as anybody else in the National League right now with their current roster.

 

Pretty good sum up.

 

Agreed.

[anabiono]

Of the 6 likely NL playoff teams, the Cubs are

 

Behind Milwaukee and Atlanta in offense

Even with the Dodgers and Mets

Ahead of the Padres and Diamondbacks

 

And in Pitching:

 

Behind San Diego

Even with the Mets

Ahead of Arizona, Dodgers, Atlanta, Milwaukee

 

Yes, this team has significant holes that can be upgraded. People are talking like this team cannot be competitive in the playoffs with the current roster or that the Cubs will be taking the worst offense into the playoffs of all the teams, and that simply is not true. Would an upgrade make winning more likely? Of course, but the cost may be too high, and the Cubs have just as much chance as anybody else in the National League right now with their current roster.

 

An offensive upgrade worth a couple of wins would make a huge difference in our chances. Not only might we wrap up a playoff berth sooner, allowing us to set our pitchers up, but it increases the odds of postseason success.

 

How many more chances are we going to get with our core players? Lee, Ramirez and Soriano are not going to get any better. Z might not come back. We don't have a great minor league system to plug holes.

 

We need to play for this season. We might not get many more opportunities.

 

this is terribly true

 

with the right addition...this team DOES have what it takes to go the distance

 

but

 

i guess we will see

[TysonCBulls423]

Z said yesterday he's 97% percent sure he comes back next year :lol:

[jersey cubs fan]

And I'm still not understanding people's problem with Theriot. Assuming we can add one bat, I think we are fine.

 

I don't have a problem with Theriot. I have a problem with being satisfied having 4 holes in the lineup. I'd be fine with Theriot, just as long as something happens to improve the lineup elsewhere. Just remember, the Cubs are 9th in the NL in OPS, they are, at best, an average lineup. Since it takes a lot more than average to be a great team, and I want the Cubs to be a great team, I'm not going to be happy with average, or worse, production.

 

True, but SS is not the realistic upgrade. We all know Hendry is not going to get another MI. We need to focus on an OF.

 

I don't buy much of the "realistic upgrade" talk. The Cubs have 4 holes, on the plus side, that leaves them with several options to find improvements. A good GM should be able to find something out there to improve what is 4 good sized holes in the lineup. I don't care where it comes from at this point, I just feel like they have to get it.

[Derwood]

Hooray for competing within the division!

[Bruno7481]

My only point is using "power" stats to evaluate Theriot is never going to have a positive outcome. It clearly is not his game.

 

At the same time though, he is doing an adequate job and is very cheap. The production he gives makes him valuable.

 

And power isn't just HR's. It's XBH's. Theriot needs to hit more XBH's of any kind.

 

You CAN live with Theriot at SS if you upgrade the OF, or C.

 

Agreed. But again, who's out there that will significantly upgrade either of those positions?

 

Sosa in RF against LHP.

Church in CF

Payton/Pie platoon in CF

Ramon Hernandez C

 

There's also the argument to be made that you could find upgrades at nearly all of these spots in house; that a Murton/Floyd platoon in RF, a Pagan/Jones platoon in CF or a Pie CF, and a Soto/Hill combo at C would be better than what we have now. But the team has demostrated that Murton and Soto aren't going to get that opportunity.

 

 

No, no, no. This Jay Payton is worthwhile talk needs to stop.

 

It's better than what we have in CF.

 

He's 34 years old and currently has an under .700 OPS. Why would you want him and jones on the same team?

[C.C.]

We MAY be able to win this division by standing pat offensively, but I can guaran-damn-tee you that we won't get very far in the playoffs without another big bat.

 

Do you honestly think that the Cardinals where the best team last year? The Marlins in 2003? Let's just get to the playoffs and take our chances.

[Irrelevant Dude]

What do you think they are going to say. Of course they are happy with what they have, they are surging and on the verge of taking over the top spot in the central. Just because they are happy with what they have doesn't mean they aren't open to making the team better. That is just GM speak so as not to offend any player that might eventually be dealt, and to cover their own $*%*( if something doesn't get done.

 

It's also Bruce Levine. He hasn't been right about trade rumors or Chicago baseball moves since he reported Brock for Broglio in 2002 (had to wait for official confirmation).

You mean the same Bruce Levine who rather emphatically insisted that Ryan Theriot wasn't and couldn't play Shortstop on an every day basis?