Who Would You Target?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Just for fun, let's suppose it's nearing the first of July. The Cubs are in the thick of it and looking to make a move. Assume the usual suspects of players are available, and the final assumption is that the Cubs have suffered no major injuries and the team is performing about how we would expect each one to perform.

 

Which of these do you think we should target?

[UMFan83]

Harden. I could be wrong but after the first few games of the season, I think the rotation will be a bigger issue than the offense come July. If Harden is still healthy in July, I think he's your best bet.

[Derwood]

either Harden or Burnett, assuming neither are in traction by then

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I also choose Harden with Greene a close second. I think our offense is good enough to overcome Theriot's shortcomings, but outside of Zambrano, I don't know that we have the dominant pitching staff that could lead us through the murky waters of the post season. Harden would give us a formidable one-two punch.

[javy knows my name]

Harden. I could be wrong but after the first few games of the season, I think the rotation will be a bigger issue than the offense come July. If Harden is still healthy in July, I think he's your best bet.

We already have a Rich Harden type. His name is Ryan Dempster.

Seriously, it's Greene and it isn't even close

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It's quite generous to Dempster to assume he will be as good as Harden.

[TruffleShuffle]

We already have a Rich Harden type. His name is Ryan Dempster.

 

my brain just exploded

[anabiono]

tough call...but if they are both available...i would go with burnett over greene

 

dempster can be the 5th man...or lieber...

 

hopefully someone is taking marquis

[javy knows my name]

We already have a Rich Harden type. His name is Ryan Dempster.

 

my brain just exploded

Did I not make my sarcasm clear there?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Harden. I could be wrong but after the first few games of the season, I think the rotation will be a bigger issue than the offense come July. If Harden is still healthy in July, I think he's your best bet.

 

While I agree that the rotation could be an issue, I dont know how you get that from the first 3 games. Z and Demp both had very solid outings, and while Lilly was horrible, I doubt hed be the one replaced if it came to it.

 

I would however go for a pitcher, as Marquis is sure to implode around that time regardless of how he does the first few months.

[TruffleShuffle]

We already have a Rich Harden type. His name is Ryan Dempster.

 

my brain just exploded

Did I not make my sarcasm clear there?

 

not really, but i should've realized you know better from the FJM quote in your sig. my bad.

 

 

adam dunn is the really puzzling name on this list. where on earth would he fit???

[UMFan83]

Harden. I could be wrong but after the first few games of the season, I think the rotation will be a bigger issue than the offense come July. If Harden is still healthy in July, I think he's your best bet.

 

While I agree that the rotation could be an issue, I dont know how you get that from the first 3 games. Z and Demp both had very solid outings, and while Lilly was horrible, I doubt hed be the one replaced if it came to it.

 

I would however go for a pitcher, as Marquis is sure to implode around that time regardless of how he does the first few months.

 

I meant more or less that I think the offense will be fine. The end result (runs) wasn't there, but I saw enough from the guys I had questions about (Soto, Pie, Fukudome) to tell me we will be fine on offense.

[TruffleShuffle]

Harden. I could be wrong but after the first few games of the season, I think the rotation will be a bigger issue than the offense come July. If Harden is still healthy in July, I think he's your best bet.

 

While I agree that the rotation could be an issue, I dont know how you get that from the first 3 games. Z and Demp both had very solid outings, and while Lilly was horrible, I doubt hed be the one replaced if it came to it.

 

I would however go for a pitcher, as Marquis is sure to implode around that time regardless of how he does the first few months.

 

I meant more or less that I think the offense will be fine. The end result (runs) wasn't there, but I saw enough from the guys I had questions about (Soto, Pie, Fukudome) to tell me we will be fine on offense.

 

fukudome will be, at worst, like mark kotsay during his a's years. i'm not worried about him. soto has continued to show good patience and has homered once, also put a charge into a ball yesterday. he's going to strike out a lot - probably 100+ times this year - but as long as he keeps showing the power threat, pitchers are going to keep pitching him somewhat carefully, and he'll draw his share of walks. pie, i'm not sure that his first three games have been good. he's already struck out four times, hasn't walked, and one of his hits was a ground out that turned into a hit because gagne got off the mound too slow and/or fielder was too fat to run to first. his instincts at the plate are still pretty disturbing to me.

[javy knows my name]

We already have a Rich Harden type. His name is Ryan Dempster.

 

my brain just exploded

Did I not make my sarcasm clear there?

 

not really, but i should've realized you know better from the FJM quote in your sig. my bad.

 

 

adam dunn is the really puzzling name on this list. where on earth would he fit???

I thought my rep around here was good enough to make that one fly. Guess I got some work to do :D

[Ding Dong Johnson]

we want a pitcher, not a belly itcher

 

actually, I want a SS & picked Greene

[CyHawk_Cub]

Very tough choice for me... ASSUMING health, it would be tough to not go after someone as dominant as Harden, but I don't agree the Cubs offense is fine. It's been mentioned ad nauseum, but Fuku in the 2-hole (or even led-off) makes the most sense, & Greene in the 5-hole would make that a realistic possibility. Greene would be my choice

[Balsa]

Brian Roberts.

 

He would force Lou to move him to the top of the lineup, eliminating either Theriot or Soriano from the front two spots, and allow for more OBP at the top of the lineup.

[RedFlash]

It's quite generous to Dempster to assume he will be as good as Harden.

 

 

But, but, but....there both Canadians?

 

 

Just kidding.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

Khalil will probably be lucky to have an obp over .300 this year... is his defense and slugging that good?

[TruffleShuffle]

Khalil will probably be lucky to have an obp over .300 this year... is his defense and slugging that good?

 

again - home/road splits. he is a much, much better hitter away from petco.

[dew1679666265]

Khalil will probably be lucky to have an obp over .300 this year... is his defense and slugging that good?

 

again - home/road splits. he is a much, much better hitter away from petco.

 

Taking the roster as it stands today, I went with Greene. If Lou makes the right move (and I actually think he might) and moves DeRosa over to short, I'd change my mind to Roberts.

 

I'm fairly confident that between Dempster, Lieber, Marquis, Gallagher, Marshall and Hart we can find two solid starters to go along with Z, Lilly and Hill - thus making it less important to go after a starting pitcher.

[Post Count Padder]

Greene out of necessity. He's better than Theriot and makes the lineup better. The OF is set fairly well and while Harden and Burnett would be nice, they both have injury histories and I'm fine with what we have at the moment with the exception of Marquis.

[jersey cubs fan]

Taking the roster as it stands today, I went with Greene. If Lou makes the right move (and I actually think he might) and moves DeRosa over to short, I'd change my mind to Roberts.

 

I would be shocked if Lou put DeRosa at SS for anything other than spot duty. I don't even think he likes him playing 2nd.

[MPrior]

Brian Roberts.

 

He would force Lou to move him to the top of the lineup, eliminating either Theriot or Soriano from the front two spots, and allow for more OBP at the top of the lineup.

 

But getting Greene would remove Theriot from the lineup entirely, which is a much bigger deal. Greene is also younger, plays a position of greater scarcity (and plays it very well), and likely - I stress likely - wouldn't cost as much as Roberts to acquire. At the very worst, he wouldn't cost much more.

[CoolHandLuke]

How about Greene AND Roberts?!

 

Sign me up for that.