Cubs Roster Basically Set - P & C Report in 12 Days

[CubsWin]

Since the Peavy deal seems to be finally and actually dead, we might as well start looking at the Cubs roster as it is now. There might still be some minor changes, but this is essentially it until the trade deadline, folks.

 

C- Soto

1B - Lee

2B - Fontenot (Platoon)

SS - Theriot

3B - Ramirez

LF - Soriano

CF - Fukudome (Likely platoon)

RF - Bradley

 

SP - Zambrano

SP - Harden

SP - Lilly

SP - Dempster

SP - Heilman

 

Marshall and Samardzjia have outside chances at winning the 5th spot in the rotation.

 

RP - Marmol

RP - Gregg

RP - Marshall

RP - Vizcaino

RP - Gaudin

RP - Cotts

 

Those are just possibles. With Guzman, Hart, Samardzjia, Stevens, Wuertz, Ascanio and others all in the picture.

 

C - Bako

1B - Hoffpauir

IF - Miles

OF - Johnson

OF - Gathright

 

That's 24. Lou will likely break camp with 12 pitchers so one of the possibles listed above will likely also be going north. That also means that they will only have a 5 man bench and this bench is pretty weak the way is stands right now. The Cubs are really going to miss DeRo this year if nothing changes.

 

I don't have much evidence to back up this notion, I just believe that Fukudome will produce well for a CFer this season. And Bradley will perform well while he's in there. So, when healthy, I expect the offense to be okay. But with certain players track records, how often will that starting 8 be on the field. It's looking more and more like the Cubs really hurt themselves by trading DeRosa. It got them no needed pieces for this season and didn't net them Jake Peavy.

 

The rotation looks good. Real good. The pen is okay. About the best thing it has going for it is Marmol at the top of it and a lot of depth at the bottom.

 

The bench scares me. Bradley ain't going play 150 games. Fukudome might not hit well enough to start. And there are no OF bats on the bench. Are the Cubs really planning on starting Micah Hoffpauir in the OF if Bradley is hurt and Fuku isn't hitting? And only one middle IFer on the bench? Hendry can't go into the season with this bench, can he?

[Mephistopheles]

Marshall will be the number five in the end.

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah i think marshall should be the #5. heilman has been a pretty good reliever in the past; i'd like to see him stay in the bullpen and then when harden/zambrano get hurt he can do some starting.

 

wuertz should be in the bullpen but lou hates him, so who knows.

[UMFan83]

I think Heilman will be the 5th starter. I have a feeling Lou wants Marshall as a lefty in the pen/swingman for injuries.

 

It might not matter though, I get the feeling that Harden will start the season on the DL.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think Rich Aurilia takes Hoff's spot.(murder me in my sleep please)

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Plan A is the only plan for the Cubs this season.

 

They kind of have the potential to remind me of the 2002 Cubs, who were both phenomenally unlucky and an amazing combination of valuable players and below-replacement dreck.

[inari]

The 2002 Cubs make me think of only one thing; Mark Bellhorn. He was so frigging good that year. On paper, that team really doesn't look that bad.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

The 2002 Cubs make me think of only one thing; Mark Bellhorn. He was so frigging good that year. On paper, that team really doesn't look that bad.

 

They really weren't, they were one of the unluckiest teams in history. Had their offensive contributions been turned into runs at a normal rate, and their runs turned into wins at a normal rate, they'd have been a 80+ win team.

[treebird]

there's no way miles/fontenot is the only non-1b if backup.

 

hoff's in trouble.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If Guzmans at all healthy, I have to think he gets a spot, probably that of Cotts or Vizcaino.

 

Also, I have to agree that they find a light hitting middle infielder and Hoff gets screwed again.

[hankp101]

The starting lineup and rotation are probably at least as good as last year, but the bench and the bullpen, not so much. Even though I haven't seen the Cubs linked to him at all, I'd love to see Wigginton occupy that last bench spot. I fear he might be looking for a guaranteed starting spot elsewhere, but he'd really solidify the bench in my opinion.

[SouthSideRyan]

there's no way miles/fontenot is the only non-1b if backup.

 

hoff's in trouble.

 

See that's the beauty of Rich Aurilia, he can be the backup 1B too!!

[PackLandVA]

When did Zambrano suddenly become injury prone???

[Hairyducked Idiot]

When did Zambrano suddenly become injury prone???

 

He's not. He's overworked.

 

Think about everything you are about to say about him being a horse or whatnot, then think about what was always said about Jon Lieber.

[dew1679666265]

The starting lineup and rotation are probably at least as good as last year

 

I disagree about the lineup. We're downgrading at second and center, but upgrading in RF. If Miles doesn't replicate his career season and repeats what he's done most of his career, second could be a significant downgrade.

 

but the bench and the bullpen, not so much. Even though I haven't seen the Cubs linked to him at all, I'd love to see Wigginton occupy that last bench spot. I fear he might be looking for a guaranteed starting spot elsewhere, but he'd really solidify the bench in my opinion.

 

I'd love Wigginton as well at this point, but I haven't heard a thing about him.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Anything we lose at 2b and CF in the lineup, we make up a fair bit on defense. Not sure about RF.

[dew1679666265]

Anything we lose at 2b and CF in the lineup, we make up a fair bit on defense. Not sure about RF.

 

I don't buy that Fontenot is that much better than DeRosa and Fuku is that much better than Edmonds defensively. I'm hoping Fuku can make some big strides this year (and generally like him), but I don't see any way we match the overall production at second that we had last year (or likely would have had this year had we been smart and kept DeRo).

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Anything we lose at 2b and CF in the lineup, we make up a fair bit on defense. Not sure about RF.

 

I don't buy that Fontenot is that much better than DeRosa and Fuku is that much better than Edmonds defensively. I'm hoping Fuku can make some big strides this year (and generally like him), but I don't see any way we match the overall production at second that we had last year (or likely would have had this year had we been smart and kept DeRo).

 

I don't buy that a Fontenot/Miles platoon is that much worse than DeRosa offensively, and *I* am worth half a win in CF over Edmonds.

[hankp101]

Anything we lose at 2b and CF in the lineup, we make up a fair bit on defense. Not sure about RF.

 

Agreed. Our OF defense on most days of Soriano-Fukudome-Bradley should be quite a bit better than Soriano-Edmonds-Fukudome. I definitely think the Bradley>Fukudome upgrade trumps any downgrade that Edmonds>Fukudome creates. As far as 2B, I think when you factor in defense, I think DeRosa=Fontentot, or very nearly so. The big problem is that last year when anyone was injured, DeRo could fill in for that player and Fontenot could be plugged in at 2B without losing much. This year we don't have that luxury. On days that the entire starting lineup is in there, I think the team behind the pitcher will be better, but one injury has the potential to hurt this team (as currently constructed) quite a bit more than last year.

[dew1679666265]

Anything we lose at 2b and CF in the lineup, we make up a fair bit on defense. Not sure about RF.

 

I don't buy that Fontenot is that much better than DeRosa and Fuku is that much better than Edmonds defensively. I'm hoping Fuku can make some big strides this year (and generally like him), but I don't see any way we match the overall production at second that we had last year (or likely would have had this year had we been smart and kept DeRo).

 

I don't buy that a Fontenot/Miles platoon is that much worse than DeRosa offensively, and *I* am worth half a win in CF over Edmonds.

 

If Miles continues his career year into this one and what Fontenot has done in limited time is what he'll do as a starter, it won't be much of a downgrade. I don't like those chances, though.

 

I'll agree that the downgrade in center is much, much less, however.

[dew1679666265]

The big problem is that last year when anyone was injured, DeRo could fill in for that player and Fontenot could be plugged in at 2B without losing much. This year we don't have that luxury. On days that the entire starting lineup is in there, I think the team behind the pitcher will be better, but one injury has the potential to hurt this team (as currently constructed) quite a bit more than last year.

 

With our awful looking bench, I think this is a pretty significant issue for this team. I think Hendry will sign one more IF backup, and I'm hoping that backup can actually hit.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'll takes Miles' career .352 OBP against lefties for his half of the platoon. If we stick to a *very* strict platoon, then it should be pretty close.

[dew1679666265]

I'll takes Miles' career .352 OBP against lefties for his half of the platoon. If we stick to a *very* strict platoon, then it should be pretty close.

 

Has Lou ever stuck to a very strict platoon (or even a strict platoon at all)? I really don't remember.

 

And it's a sign of a bad move when you make one and end up hoping that - at best - you can match your production from last year.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I'll takes Miles' career .352 OBP against lefties for his half of the platoon. If we stick to a *very* strict platoon, then it should be pretty close.

 

Has Lou ever stuck to a very strict platoon (or even a strict platoon at all)? I really don't remember.

 

And it's a sign of a bad move when you make one and end up hoping that - at best - you can match your production from last year.

 

It's kind of inevitable for a team with 97-wins, a lot of top-notch seasons and a ton of backloaded contracts.

[dew1679666265]

I'll takes Miles' career .352 OBP against lefties for his half of the platoon. If we stick to a *very* strict platoon, then it should be pretty close.

 

Has Lou ever stuck to a very strict platoon (or even a strict platoon at all)? I really don't remember.

 

And it's a sign of a bad move when you make one and end up hoping that - at best - you can match your production from last year.

 

It's kind of inevitable for a team with 97-wins, a lot of top-notch seasons and a ton of backloaded contracts.

 

I didn't expect the overall team to be as good this year as last, but the second base move in particular is still frustrating. DeRosa's likely production is probably the best we can hope for from the Fontenot/Miles platoon. Had we kept DeRo, we'd have a chance, at least, that he'd replicate last year.