Congratulations Cubs on 2008 NL Central title

[haltz]

Jenkins is gone ($9 mil), I'll bet they try to get rid of Mench ($3.4), maybe Bush (arby eligible), Vargas (about $3 mil), possibly Bill Hall ($4-6 mil).

I read somewhere else where someone was speculating that Bill Hall was on his way out. Maybe BTF, but I'm not sure. Anyway, what do you think it would take to get him? Or are the Brewers mainly interested in unloading his contract? I guess it depends on what kind of market there is for him if they made him available, but I'm just wondering what your thoughts are, or the prevailing Brewer fan opinion is.

[jersey cubs fan]

Also, don't forget how woefully under productive the Cubs lineup was pre-September, or what a bad start the Cubs got off to.

 

The Cubs aren't going to start 22-31 again, and barring something totally weird, are going to score a lot more runs.

 

They may or may not start that low, but the only possible way they score "a lot more runs" is if they go out and get a stud somewhere. This lineup is what it is. I really don't understand how anybody could say they were "under productive". They weren't productive because they aren't productive, not because of some fluke.

[brewfandave]

Re: Bill Hall: I don't know what it would take to get him. I read a little rumor blurb on SI saying teams were interested in him for SS, and that got me thinking.

 

In return, the big needs are relief pitchers, possibly a solid starter, a catcher, and what Doug Melvin called "professional hitters" (OBP guys, specifically - http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071003&content_id=2247917&vkey=news_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil).

 

I'd lean toward relievers. I think the Brewers are going to push to trade for relievers. I would love to see some OBP-heavy guys, though, especially in front of Braun, Fielder, Hart - that could be a lot of damage.

 

Re: Corey Hart - I also believe that they should play Sunglasses at Night whenever he bats, and I have said so many times.

[Guest]

well, the power numbers were low, weren't they?

 

I had forgotten about Capuano. He is likely to be considerably better - unless of course it was the defense that killed him - which is quite possible.

[jaydee]

Braun ended up with a 994 OPS this year... if he ends up within 50 of that next year, I'll wear a stupid Brewers av

 

no way he comes close to repeating this year

[XZero771679666304]

Also, don't forget how woefully under productive the Cubs lineup was pre-September, or what a bad start the Cubs got off to.

 

The Cubs aren't going to start 22-31 again, and barring something totally weird, are going to score a lot more runs.

 

They may or may not start that low, but the only possible way they score "a lot more runs" is if they go out and get a stud somewhere. This lineup is what it is. I really don't understand how anybody could say they were "under productive". They weren't productive because they aren't productive, not because of some fluke.

 

Lee, Soriano and Ramirez are all guys with track records, all guys who performed below expectation and past performance (in the power department) for the vast majority of the season. If someone showed you the team's 2007 power totals before the season, there's no way you would believe it.

 

Sure, the OPS was good for the big three, but the run production wasn't very good due to the relative lack of power.

 

If you can honestly say you think that Soriano and Lee combining for 8 homers and 42 RBI in the first 2 months of the season wasn't a fluke, then you're crazy. And that had a whole lot to do with the Cubs' poor start.

 

Or Ramirez's power disappearing during june, july and august (which have historically been his best power months).

 

No one expected these things to happen, and there's no rational reason to expect them to again.

[DiamondMind]

 

No one expected these things to happen, and there's no rational reason to expect them to again.

 

Actually, I'm concerned about injuries to all three affecting last year, now and the future; Derrek's wrist, aRam in general, and Sori's quad.

[abuck1220]

Also, don't forget how woefully under productive the Cubs lineup was pre-September, or what a bad start the Cubs got off to.

 

The Cubs aren't going to start 22-31 again, and barring something totally weird, are going to score a lot more runs.

 

They may or may not start that low, but the only possible way they score "a lot more runs" is if they go out and get a stud somewhere. This lineup is what it is. I really don't understand how anybody could say they were "under productive". They weren't productive because they aren't productive, not because of some fluke.

 

Lee, Soriano and Ramirez are all guys with track records, all guys who performed below expectation and past performance (in the power department) for the vast majority of the season. If someone showed you the team's 2007 power totals before the season, there's no way you would believe it.

 

Sure, the OPS was good for the big three, but the run production wasn't very good due to the relative lack of power.

 

If you can honestly say you think that Soriano and Lee combining for 8 homers and 42 RBI in the first 2 months of the season wasn't a fluke, then you're crazy. And that had a whole lot to do with the Cubs' poor start.

 

Or Ramirez's power disappearing during june, july and august (which have historically been his best power months).

 

No one expected these things to happen, and there's no rational reason to expect them to again.

 

we're not stuck in some kind of perpetual 2004. those guys are all getting older and more injury prone. i don't know why everyone expects guys like soriano to "bounce back" as he gets older. we're not guaranteed 2006 soriano for the next seven years.

[jersey cubs fan]

Also, don't forget how woefully under productive the Cubs lineup was pre-September, or what a bad start the Cubs got off to.

 

The Cubs aren't going to start 22-31 again, and barring something totally weird, are going to score a lot more runs.

 

They may or may not start that low, but the only possible way they score "a lot more runs" is if they go out and get a stud somewhere. This lineup is what it is. I really don't understand how anybody could say they were "under productive". They weren't productive because they aren't productive, not because of some fluke.

 

Lee, Soriano and Ramirez are all guys with track records, all guys who performed below expectation and past performance (in the power department) for the vast majority of the season. If someone showed you the team's 2007 power totals before the season, there's no way you would believe it.

 

Sure, the OPS was good for the big three, but the run production wasn't very good due to the relative lack of power.

 

If you can honestly say you think that Soriano and Lee combining for 8 homers and 42 RBI in the first 2 months of the season wasn't a fluke, then you're crazy. And that had a whole lot to do with the Cubs' poor start.

 

Or Ramirez's power disappearing during june, july and august (which have historically been his best power months).

 

No one expected these things to happen, and there's no rational reason to expect them to again.

 

This same group isn't going to score a lot more runs. It would be insane to think so.