Did We Just Blow Our Best Shot?

[Hosak8]

I have to ask the question... did we just waste our best (last) chance at a World Series for the foreseeable future? I realize that free agnecy makes this sort of thing very difficult to predict, but a quick scan around the league tells me that:

 

Milwaukee HAS to be seen as prohibitive favorites in the Central for the next 3 or 4 years. They are one pitcher and a healthy Sheets away from being LOADED. Their infield is sick.

 

Arizona is only going to get better... and that is scary for the rest of the NL. If they can sign a free agent starter to go with that young lineup... OUCH.

 

Colorado has a great young nucleus as well.

 

Does it look like we are going to be losing ground to these teams to anyone else?

[jersey cubs fan]

The core of this team isn't getting any better, but I think the Cubs can have a similar shot for the next couple years, unless ownership calls for cuts and they have to give away assets.

 

As nice as the Colorado and Arizona stories are, neither team was great, and I'm not sure Milwaukee is going to be much better, because all their talent is just going to get more expensive.

[Hosak8]

As nice as the Colorado and Arizona stories are, neither team was great, and I'm not sure Milwaukee is going to be much better, because all their talent is just going to get more expensive.

 

I disagree. Colorado is still possibly able to deal Helton for something young and usable, while Atkins will shift to 1st and Ian Stewart will take over at 3rd base. I think they have a great young core to build around.

 

Arizona won 90 games with the youngest team in the majors.

 

Milwaukee is still a couple years away from feeling the pinch of arbitration and post arbitration.

 

If any of these teams sign ONE key free agent, they all get better. They will all be looking at pitching, but even without it, they still look good for years to come. We have young guys who can play, and we have bigger payrolls, but we got lucky this year. We played in the worst division in baseball, and we barely pulled it out. I just don't see it for next year, short of signing ARod and finding a legit RF.

[Rooksports]

Take away the first two months of the season and we were the 2nd hottest team in baseball next to the spankmees.

 

Our core players are locked up next year. You would have to think Hendry will tinker to improve the holes that we have...i.e possible right handed outfielder, veteran starting pitcher, definetely some relief pitching.

 

I just don't think panic is in order...really. I know its been 99 years, but anyone who tells me that Arizona or colorado is better then we are is just fooling themselves. And Milwaukee won't win as long as they have Ned Yost as manager. LaRussa will more then likely not be back with the Cardnals, and I think they rebuild a bit so i'll take them off the radar.

 

We're pissed because we should have won. We were not happy to just be there as I think we were in 03. These are good signs.

 

As inconsistant as they were the last couple weeks....the free agent signing of Lilly and Marquis were huge acquisitions. Marquis might not be in the fold next year, but you know Lilly will.

 

We have an exciting winter ahead of us as we await spring training and the beginning of the 2008 season.

[USSoccer]

I don't know how great of a shot we had this year anyway.

 

You can look at 2003/2004 as "blowing our best shot". Then, we had payroll to burn, and still had assets in the system to go along with 4 really good starters. Hendry had a great hand with which to play, and played his hand horribly.

[jersey cubs fan]

I just don't think panic is in order...really. I know its been 99 years, but anyone who tells me that Arizona or colorado is better then we are is just fooling themselves.

 

We're pissed because we should have won.

 

I think you are foolish yourself. The Cubs aren't better than those teams. They were the 7th or 8th best team in the NL. But they continue to be one of the highest revenue teams in the league, which should allow them greater financial flexibility than those others team, so they maintain an important advantage.

[kente777]

I know its been 99 years, but anyone who tells me that Arizona or colorado is better then we are is just fooling themselves.

 

Ok, I will then. Arizona is better than us (can't speak for Colorado)

 

1) They won the regular season against us.

 

2) They had more wins than us in a better division.

 

3) They beat us handily in the NLDS.

 

Say what you want about how we have better talent and we were too tight in the playoffs -- yada, yada.....

 

...until the Cubs prove otherwise, Arizona is better than us. (one only needs to look at the difference in plate approach to see that).

[Soul]

As nice as the Colorado and Arizona stories are, neither team was great, and I'm not sure Milwaukee is going to be much better, because all their talent is just going to get more expensive.

 

I disagree. Colorado is still possibly able to deal Helton for something young and usable, while Atkins will shift to 1st and Ian Stewart will take over at 3rd base. I think they have a great young core to build around.

 

Arizona won 90 games with the youngest team in the majors.

 

Milwaukee is still a couple years away from feeling the pinch of arbitration and post arbitration.

 

If any of these teams sign ONE key free agent, they all get better. They will all be looking at pitching, but even without it, they still look good for years to come. We have young guys who can play, and we have bigger payrolls, but we got lucky this year. We played in the worst division in baseball, and we barely pulled it out. I just don't see it for next year, short of signing ARod and finding a legit RF.

 

One key signing doesn't always change things. Atlanta picked up the hottest player on the market and then promptly tanked. It happens quite a bit, actually.

 

It's a little more complicated that you are making it out to be. Every year is a different year. Nobody knows what will happen in '08, standing here in Oct '07.

[BigbadB]

I know its been 99 years, but anyone who tells me that Arizona or colorado is better then we are is just fooling themselves.

 

Ok, I will then. Arizona is better than us (can't speak for Colorado)

 

1) They won the regular season against us.

 

2) They had more wins than us in a better division.

 

3) They beat us handily in the NLDS.

 

Say what you want about how we have better talent and we were too tight in the playoffs -- yada, yada.....

 

...until the Cubs prove otherwise, Arizona is better than us. (one only needs to look at the difference in plate approach to see that).

 

Don't forget that Arizona did this without Randy Johnson, Orlando Hudson and Chad Tracy. Justin Upton is only going to get better. Chris Young and Stephen Drew are going to get better.

 

Colorado now has pitching to go with a great offense. And they haven't brought up all their talent yet.

 

Be very afraid of young teams with that kind of talent.

[d_money]

Yes, we blew a great opportunity. Milwaukee, Colorado and Arizona has been mentioned for next year, but don't forget about the remaining NL teams who also will be better LA Dodgers, NY Mets, San Diego and Atlanta to name some.

[biittner77]

Realistically, this team had no chance of winning a 7 games series against any of the AL teams.

 

Soto proves he's the real deal, Pie lives up to expectations and Mark prior wins comeback POTY = the Cubs win the NL Central again. That's just one scenario which gives them a much better chance than this season.

 

The Cubs have fewer holes to fill this offseason than they have in recent memory. Hendry has shown that he can address 1 or 2 problems in an offseason. If he gets a real SS and 1 more pitcher they'd have a better chance of winning the Central than anyone else.

[kente777]

Realistically, this team had no chance of winning a 7 games series against any of the AL teams.

 

 

Agreed. An early exit just saved us fans from greater heartbreak.

[USSoccer]

 

Don't forget that Arizona did this without Randy Johnson, Orlando Hudson and Chad Tracy. Justin Upton is only going to get better. Chris Young and Stephen Drew are going to get better.

 

Colorado now has pitching to go with a great offense. And they haven't brought up all their talent yet.

 

Be very afraid of young teams with that kind of talent.

 

Yes, Drew and Upton will get better. I'm not impressed with Young. Why anyone would ever throw him a fastball is beyond me.

 

I don't know if Randy Johnson does anything for them ever again. Orlando Hudson isn't anything special. Livan Hernandez isn't going to pitch forever. Doug Davis? Really? Eric Byrnes will regress.

 

They're good, but I don't fear them. Yeah, they beat us, but we weren't that good, and we played as badly as we could have.

 

Milwaukee, I'd fear. They have a good 2-3 years before the arbitration years hit for their core.

[soonercub]

Usually with teams that make the playoffs you have to have certain players have career years. I don't think anyone on the Cubs had a career year, buy I think a couple had below average years in some aspects. Soriano, Ramirez, Jones and Lee all had below their normal power numbers. Soriano had below his normal year in steals. Lilly had a better year in wins, but he is a weaker division then what he pitched against in the past.

 

Look at Phili and Colorado, they were paced by Holiday and Rollins whom both had the best years of their career. They both might be able to reproduce it, but you never know.

 

I really have no great explanation on how Arizona accomplished what it did. They could get scary good in the next couple of years! We will have to see what kinda pitching they can put together.

 

The Brewers infield is great and should be good for a while, I doubt Hardy has a year like this again. Braun and Fielder are for real. They have question marks with the depth and health of their rotation and bullpen. Remember they traded some great arms in the Linebrink deal. Their outfield in not that great and their defense is terrible.

 

The Cubs would compete for the Central again by not doing anything over the winter, but to progress in the playoffs they need a #2 starter and a run producer in right field.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

if this was our best shot, buckle up for a long and bumpy ride

[Backtobanks]

Yes, we blew a great opportunity. Milwaukee, Colorado and Arizona has been mentioned for next year, but don't forget about the remaining NL teams who also will be better LA Dodgers, NY Mets, San Diego and Atlanta to name some.

 

Please notice that the only team mentioned in the NL Central is the Brewers. The Cubs will continue to be contenders in the NL Central with the Brewers and what happens in the playoffs is always a crapshoot. This year's playoffs proved that again. So, if the Cubs can win the Central it doesn't matter which is the best team (on paper).

[SouthSideRyan]

Any team looking to add a starting pitcher this offseson is goign to have some trouble. There's nothing out there. And as Ender has constantly harped on, it's not so much the pitching that is Milwaukee's problem, but their horrendous fielding. They're going to have a tough time improving that based on their current makeup, which I think is going to keep them from becoming truly great for now.

[d_money]

Yes, we blew a great opportunity. Milwaukee, Colorado and Arizona has been mentioned for next year, but don't forget about the remaining NL teams who also will be better LA Dodgers, NY Mets, San Diego and Atlanta to name some.

 

Please notice that the only team mentioned in the NL Central is the Brewers. The Cubs will continue to be contenders in the NL Central with the Brewers and what happens in the playoffs is always a crapshoot. This year's playoffs proved that again. So, if the Cubs can win the Central it doesn't matter which is the best team (on paper).

 

Crap and shoot is about right. Thats only the NL teams mentioned, if you want, we can list the AL's as well. The 06 Cards winning was one in a million and it will always be something that is referred to when talking about an underdog. I'd rather not be the underdog.

[SouthSideRyan]

Yes, we blew a great opportunity. Milwaukee, Colorado and Arizona has been mentioned for next year, but don't forget about the remaining NL teams who also will be better LA Dodgers, NY Mets, San Diego and Atlanta to name some.

 

Please notice that the only team mentioned in the NL Central is the Brewers. The Cubs will continue to be contenders in the NL Central with the Brewers and what happens in the playoffs is always a crapshoot. This year's playoffs proved that again. So, if the Cubs can win the Central it doesn't matter which is the best team (on paper).

 

Crap and shoot is about right. Thats only the NL teams mentioned, if you want, we can list the AL's as well. The 06 Cards winning was one in a million and it will always be something that is referred to when talking about an underdog. I'd rather not be the underdog.

 

Okay, how bout the '05 White Sox, the '03 Marlins, the '02 Angels, the '01 Diamondbacks as far as the best team not winning it all. Don't get me wrong I hate the "contend within the division" mantra that had become Cubs standard for the better part of my life, but to pretend that underdogs never win it all is foolish.

[CuseCubFan69]

if this was our best shot, buckle up for a long and bumpy ride

 

You ain't kidding. A sense of humor is going to be needed for quite awhile if that's the case.

[d_money]

Yes, we blew a great opportunity. Milwaukee, Colorado and Arizona has been mentioned for next year, but don't forget about the remaining NL teams who also will be better LA Dodgers, NY Mets, San Diego and Atlanta to name some.

 

Please notice that the only team mentioned in the NL Central is the Brewers. The Cubs will continue to be contenders in the NL Central with the Brewers and what happens in the playoffs is always a crapshoot. This year's playoffs proved that again. So, if the Cubs can win the Central it doesn't matter which is the best team (on paper).

 

Crap and shoot is about right. Thats only the NL teams mentioned, if you want, we can list the AL's as well. The 06 Cards winning was one in a million and it will always be something that is referred to when talking about an underdog. I'd rather not be the underdog.

 

Okay, how bout the '05 White Sox, the '03 Marlins, the '02 Angels, the '01 Diamondbacks as far as the best team not winning it all. Don't get me wrong I hate the "contend within the division" mantra that had become Cubs standard for the better part of my life, but to pretend that underdogs never win it all is foolish.

 

But, this IS the Cubs we are talking about. We'll either be the underdog and win the hearts of all rooting for us, or we'll be the favorites and choke.

 

I realize I just contradicted myself entirely, but I guess I can't figure these guys out.

[illiniguy]

Arizona could only get better. Carlos Gonzalez, Max Scherzer, Brett Anderson, and the pitcher they drafted this year(can't remember his name) are only going to help a young improving team. That said a lot can happen.

[Backtobanks]

Yes, we blew a great opportunity. Milwaukee, Colorado and Arizona has been mentioned for next year, but don't forget about the remaining NL teams who also will be better LA Dodgers, NY Mets, San Diego and Atlanta to name some.

 

Please notice that the only team mentioned in the NL Central is the Brewers. The Cubs will continue to be contenders in the NL Central with the Brewers and what happens in the playoffs is always a crapshoot. This year's playoffs proved that again. So, if the Cubs can win the Central it doesn't matter which is the best team (on paper).

 

Crap and shoot is about right. Thats only the NL teams mentioned, if you want, we can list the AL's as well. The 06 Cards winning was one in a million and it will always be something that is referred to when talking about an underdog. I'd rather not be the underdog.

 

I rather not be the underdog either, but as long as the Yankees and Red Sox spend the way they spend, any other team is going to be considered an underdog. Being the favorite or the underdog is strictly based "on paper".

[Guest]

Arizona could only get better. Carlos Gonzalez, Max Scherzer, Brett Anderson, and the pitcher they drafted this year(can't remember his name) are only going to help a young improving team. That said a lot can happen.

 

Jarrod Parker.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I dont know if anyones noticed, but the Cubs are still one of the best teams on paper in the NL, and this group has played together for the first time. A lot of them are in long contracts, and whoever becomes the new owner will surely want to make a splash and add some more big names.

 

Im not worried about the Brewers. They're streaky and the team doesnt have the revenue to to fill the neccessary holes properly. Im quite confident that the Brewers will take care of themselves as Wisconsin teams always do.