This team is just not very good

[dew1679666265]

As long as this team is only 4 games out of first, there's still a chance to win the division. As long as they win the division (or make the playoffs at all), they have a chance to win the World Series.

 

The team is not playing very well right now, no. But the offense must pick up at some point and the rotation will likely improve as Dempster's results begin to match his peripherals and Z and Harden get/stay healthy/unsuspended. The bullpen is a major concern, but there are always good bullpen arms available and Hendry has shown the ability to make good to very good deadline deals for needs.

 

Right now this team isn't very good, but it has the most potential for improvement of any team in the majors right now.

 

Yes hendry has but everything ive read is that his hands are tied by the sale so even if he could, he very well might not be able to

 

Bullpen arms generally aren't that expensive. And there might be payroll he can shed somewhere if he needs it for a certain player.

[CUBZ99]

This team, in its current state, is definitely bad.

 

This team, in its current state, is not good. I'd replace "bad" with underperforming. There will be some regression (up) by the offense, the starting rotation will be fine, but it definitely needs bullpen help.

 

I think it's absolutely insane to think this team is going anywhere this season. I said a month and a half ago, this team was a 75-80 win team.

 

Aramis is not going to come back and mash the ball. The bullpen is horrible, Wells will not pitch like this all season, Soriano sucks, Theriot is coming back to earth, and so is Fuku.

 

Soto is proving with every game that last season was an abberation and not the norm, Bradley sucks when he's on the field (which isn't very often). Zambrano is now deciding he doesn't need to catch the team flight, after getting suspended for 6 games, Piniella keeps making boneheaded decisions, we have gaping holes at this current time at 2nd, 3rd, catcher, RF, and the ENTIRE bullpen.

 

The list goes on and on. It's June - two months into the season. When do you finally sit back and say - "this team sucks"??

 

Now is the time to say that.

 

Just imagine if Hendry had sold high on Soto during the offseason.

[ragirag]

This team, in its current state, is definitely bad.

 

This team, in its current state, is not good. I'd replace "bad" with underperforming. There will be some regression (up) by the offense, the starting rotation will be fine, but it definitely needs bullpen help.

 

I think it's absolutely insane to think this team is going anywhere this season. I said a month and a half ago, this team was a 75-80 win team.

 

Aramis is not going to come back and mash the ball. The bullpen is horrible, Wells will not pitch like this all season, Soriano sucks, Theriot is coming back to earth, and so is Fuku.

 

Soto is proving with every game that last season was an abberation and not the norm, Bradley sucks when he's on the field (which isn't very often). Zambrano is now deciding he doesn't need to catch the team flight, after getting suspended for 6 games, Piniella keeps making boneheaded decisions, we have gaping holes at this current time at 2nd, 3rd, catcher, RF, and the ENTIRE bullpen.

 

The list goes on and on. It's June - two months into the season. When do you finally sit back and say - "this team sucks"??

Now is the time to say that.

 

I'll say it when players are producing to their career norms or normal trajectories, the offense still sucks at creating runs and the pitching staff still sucks at preventing runs. The bullpen was a question mark coming into the season, and it has taken a worse turn than expected. It is legitimately terrible. I'm not ready to say that about the offense quite yet, and I'm definitely not ready to say that about the rotation. Given the injuries and underperformances thus far, the fact that the team is still at .500 leaves me with plenty of reason to believe it will remain in contention, individual maddening losses notwithstanding. But as I said, changes need to be made for the bullpen for this team to not finish middle of the pack.

 

This team is 1-19, or something like that, when scoring under 4 runs. How does a team win, that CANNOT win the close pitching favored game?

 

The offense is terrible right now. If you think Aramis is going to come back and mash the ball after a 4-6 week layoff from seperating his shoulder, then you are sadly mistaken.

 

What do you have to base Soto's numbers off of? The one year in the minors and one season in the majors where be played well? Look up his numbers from August through October last season - I bet they weren't anything to write home about.

 

Fontenot has done nothing in the majors. What makes you think he'll suddently find it?

 

Fuku started like this last season, and started to tail off right around now. I see the same pattern developing.

 

Soriano - If he doesn't hit a homer, he's striking out..

 

Theriot is slumping pretty bad right now.

 

Lee has picked it up a bit lately (thus being the only real bright spot on the team, outside of Wells).

 

The bullpen is in shambles.

 

The starting rotation is our only real bright spot right now, and how lomg do you think it'll hold that way? How long do you think it'll be before Zambrano combusts, wait - that's already happened. How long till Harden sees the DL - wait - that's also already happened. How long till Dempster proves 2008 was an off (by off I mean good) year, which isn't the norm?

 

I mean c'mon! how long do you continue to make excuses for EVERYONE who is slumping?

[chasinf5s]

This team, in its current state, is definitely bad.

 

This team, in its current state, is not good. I'd replace "bad" with underperforming. There will be some regression (up) by the offense, the starting rotation will be fine, but it definitely needs bullpen help.

 

I think it's absolutely insane to think this team is going anywhere this season. I said a month and a half ago, this team was a 75-80 win team.

 

Aramis is not going to come back and mash the ball. The bullpen is horrible, Wells will not pitch like this all season, Soriano sucks, Theriot is coming back to earth, and so is Fuku.

 

Soto is proving with every game that last season was an abberation and not the norm, Bradley sucks when he's on the field (which isn't very often). Zambrano is now deciding he doesn't need to catch the team flight, after getting suspended for 6 games, Piniella keeps making boneheaded decisions, we have gaping holes at this current time at 2nd, 3rd, catcher, RF, and the ENTIRE bullpen.

 

The list goes on and on. It's June - two months into the season. When do you finally sit back and say - "this team sucks"??

Now is the time to say that.

 

I'll say it when players are producing to their career norms or normal trajectories, the offense still sucks at creating runs and the pitching staff still sucks at preventing runs. The bullpen was a question mark coming into the season, and it has taken a worse turn than expected. It is legitimately terrible. I'm not ready to say that about the offense quite yet, and I'm definitely not ready to say that about the rotation. Given the injuries and underperformances thus far, the fact that the team is still at .500 leaves me with plenty of reason to believe it will remain in contention, individual maddening losses notwithstanding. But as I said, changes need to be made for the bullpen for this team to not finish middle of the pack.

 

This team is 1-19, or something like that, when scoring under 4 runs. How does a team win, that CANNOT win the close pitching favored game?

 

The offense is terrible right now. If you think Aramis is going to come back and mash the ball after a 4-6 week layoff from seperating his shoulder, then you are sadly mistaken.

 

What do you have to base Soto's numbers off of? The one year in the minors and one season in the majors where be played well? Look up his numbers from August through October last season - I bet they weren't anything to write home about.

 

Fontenot has done nothing in the majors. What makes you think he'll suddently find it?

 

Fuku started like this last season, and started to tail off right around now. I see the same pattern developing.

 

Soriano - If he doesn't hit a homer, he's striking out..

 

Theriot is slumping pretty bad right now.

 

Lee has picked it up a bit lately (thus being the only real bright spot on the team, outside of Wells).

 

The bullpen is in shambles.

 

The starting rotation is our only real bright spot right now, and how lomg do you think it'll hold that way? How long do you think it'll be before Zambrano combusts, wait - that's already happened. How long till Harden sees the DL - wait - that's also already happened. How long till Dempster proves 2008 was an off (by off I mean good) year, which isn't the norm?

 

I mean c'mon! how long do you continue to make excuses for EVERYONE who is slumping?

 

 

I HATE how everyone keeps ragging on Fukudome

 

its funny considering the guy has a .309 average, .439 OBP and a .946 ops

 

Fukudome is the least of this teams problems

[Three Finger]

I HATE how everyone keeps ragging on Fukudome

 

its funny considering the guy has a .309 average, .439 OBP and a .946 ops

 

Fukudome is the least of this teams problems

 

Agreed. Last I checked Fukudome was something like 4th in the NL in OBP. Fuku is our only player performing as well as he should be.

[third eye]

This team, in its current state, is definitely bad.

 

This team, in its current state, is not good. I'd replace "bad" with underperforming. There will be some regression (up) by the offense, the starting rotation will be fine, but it definitely needs bullpen help.

 

I think it's absolutely insane to think this team is going anywhere this season. I said a month and a half ago, this team was a 75-80 win team.

 

Aramis is not going to come back and mash the ball. The bullpen is horrible, Wells will not pitch like this all season, Soriano sucks, Theriot is coming back to earth, and so is Fuku.

 

Soto is proving with every game that last season was an abberation and not the norm, Bradley sucks when he's on the field (which isn't very often). Zambrano is now deciding he doesn't need to catch the team flight, after getting suspended for 6 games, Piniella keeps making boneheaded decisions, we have gaping holes at this current time at 2nd, 3rd, catcher, RF, and the ENTIRE bullpen.

 

The list goes on and on. It's June - two months into the season. When do you finally sit back and say - "this team sucks"??

Now is the time to say that.

 

I'll say it when players are producing to their career norms or normal trajectories, the offense still sucks at creating runs and the pitching staff still sucks at preventing runs. The bullpen was a question mark coming into the season, and it has taken a worse turn than expected. It is legitimately terrible. I'm not ready to say that about the offense quite yet, and I'm definitely not ready to say that about the rotation. Given the injuries and underperformances thus far, the fact that the team is still at .500 leaves me with plenty of reason to believe it will remain in contention, individual maddening losses notwithstanding. But as I said, changes need to be made for the bullpen for this team to not finish middle of the pack.

 

This team is 1-19, or something like that, when scoring under 4 runs. How does a team win, that CANNOT win the close pitching favored game?

 

The offense is terrible right now. If you think Aramis is going to come back and mash the ball after a 4-6 week layoff from seperating his shoulder, then you are sadly mistaken.

 

What do you have to base Soto's numbers off of? The one year in the minors and one season in the majors where be played well? Look up his numbers from August through October last season - I bet they weren't anything to write home about.

 

Fontenot has done nothing in the majors. What makes you think he'll suddently find it?

 

Fuku started like this last season, and started to tail off right around now. I see the same pattern developing.

 

Soriano - If he doesn't hit a homer, he's striking out..

 

Theriot is slumping pretty bad right now.

 

Lee has picked it up a bit lately (thus being the only real bright spot on the team, outside of Wells).

 

The bullpen is in shambles.

 

The starting rotation is our only real bright spot right now, and how lomg do you think it'll hold that way? How long do you think it'll be before Zambrano combusts, wait - that's already happened. How long till Harden sees the DL - wait - that's also already happened. How long till Dempster proves 2008 was an off (by off I mean good) year, which isn't the norm?

 

I mean c'mon! how long do you continue to make excuses for EVERYONE who is slumping?

 

I don't need to make excuses for anyone. You made the point yourself. Plenty of key players are slumping. If you think their numbers at the end of the year will look exactly like they do right now, then great, you'll have a 75 win team on your hands. Soto may or may not rebound. A lot will depend on whether he can get healthy/back in better shape over the course of the season. He is certainly a risk, but there is very little chance he will end the season with the rate stats he has now. I do still expect Lee to end up at an .800-.850 OPS, not great shakes for a 1B, but not a disaster. Soriano is below an .800 OPS right now after a prolonged slump. Do you really want to bet he won't improve on that significantly? Bradley, while an injury risk has NEVER performed this poorly, and he has really started to hit well over the last week. I'd be shocked at anything less than an .850 out of him when the year is done. Aram won't come back and hit as well as he did before getting injured, but you can bet that he will outproduce his replacement in the lineup (Miles, not Fontenot). If you really believe the offense will perform exactly as it has throughout the year, then great. I don't. The bullpen is what could make or break the season.

[Little Slide Rooter]

As long as this team is only 4 games out of first, there's still a chance to win the division. As long as they win the division (or make the playoffs at all), they have a chance to win the World Series.

 

The team is not playing very well right now, no. But the offense must pick up at some point and the rotation will likely improve as Dempster's results begin to match his peripherals and Z and Harden get/stay healthy/unsuspended. The bullpen is a major concern, but there are always good bullpen arms available and Hendry has shown the ability to make good to very good deadline deals for needs.

 

Right now this team isn't very good, but it has the most potential for improvement of any team in the majors right now.

 

Yes hendry has but everything ive read is that his hands are tied by the sale so even if he could, he very well might not be able to

 

Bullpen arms generally aren't that expensive. And there might be payroll he can shed somewhere if he needs it for a certain player.

 

Right now, Hendry just needs to think like a GM without and endless pit of money. Go after Russel Branyan. Go after a solid reliever. Thats what we need right now. Id like to see a move like that done sooner than later. I honestly think that Jake Fox and Kevin Hart could land Branyan.

[Irrelevant Dude]

And im going to Cincy for all 3 games, man that was a goof 2 month ago

You think that's bad... I already have tickets and my hotel room bought and paid for the series in Pittsburgh in September. It's looking like that might turn out to be a downer of a trip.

[dew1679666265]

Right now, Hendry just needs to think like a GM without and endless pit of money. Go after Russel Branyan. Go after a solid reliever. Thats what we need right now. Id like to see a move like that done sooner than later. I honestly think that Jake Fox and Kevin Hart could land Branyan.

 

I'd feel good about getting Branyan and a good reliever by the deadline. There's a chance Fox could be the "centerpiece" of the deal, but I think it would take more than just Hart to go with him after how well Branyan has been doing.

[chasinf5s]

As long as this team is only 4 games out of first, there's still a chance to win the division. As long as they win the division (or make the playoffs at all), they have a chance to win the World Series.

 

The team is not playing very well right now, no. But the offense must pick up at some point and the rotation will likely improve as Dempster's results begin to match his peripherals and Z and Harden get/stay healthy/unsuspended. The bullpen is a major concern, but there are always good bullpen arms available and Hendry has shown the ability to make good to very good deadline deals for needs.

 

Right now this team isn't very good, but it has the most potential for improvement of any team in the majors right now.

 

Yes hendry has but everything ive read is that his hands are tied by the sale so even if he could, he very well might not be able to

 

Bullpen arms generally aren't that expensive. And there might be payroll he can shed somewhere if he needs it for a certain player.

 

Right now, Hendry just needs to think like a GM without and endless pit of money. Go after Russel Branyan. Go after a solid reliever. Thats what we need right now. Id like to see a move like that done sooner than later. I honestly think that Jake Fox and Kevin Hart could land Branyan.

 

A few solid relievers is more like it

[Little Slide Rooter]

Right now, Hendry just needs to think like a GM without and endless pit of money. Go after Russel Branyan. Go after a solid reliever. Thats what we need right now. Id like to see a move like that done sooner than later. I honestly think that Jake Fox and Kevin Hart could land Branyan.

 

I'd feel good about getting Branyan and a good reliever by the deadline. There's a chance Fox could be the "centerpiece" of the deal, but I think it would take more than just Hart to go with him after how well Branyan has been doing.

 

The thing about Branyan is hes Russel Branyan and teams know that. Theyre not going to give up top prospects for him. Fox and Hart would probably be selling high on him. Hart is a guy who if he has a future in the majors it will be as a number 5 starter for a bad team, and Fox is a guy who the Mariners could try out at 1st base and see how it works, if not, he could be a DH for years to come. Branyan is 1 of those guys who will probably never spend more than more than 1 year on 1 team. hes a journeyman. If Aramis wasnt injured, Id have no interest in him, but at this time, hed be exactly the kind of stop gap we need. If they want another fringe prospect, so be it. I just feel that Branyan is not only the ideal guy for the situation the Cubs are in at this moment, but hes someone we could conceivably aquire sooner than later rather than waiting until the deadline for someone like Huff or Blalock who we hopefuly wouldnt need much longer. A quality reliever would likely cost more than Branyan, as that is what most teams are really looking for down the stretch.

[dew1679666265]

What do you have to base Soto's numbers off of? The one year in the minors and one season in the majors where be played well? Look up his numbers from August through October last season - I bet they weren't anything to write home about.

 

In August Soto posted a 1.010 OPS and in September and October he posted a .778 OPS. Terrific in August and decent in the final month is not that bad.

 

Keep in mind Soto is only 26 and has shown to be very good in the majors. I'm willing to give him more time to re-adjust to major league pitching.

 

Fontenot has done nothing in the majors. What makes you think he'll suddently find it?

 

"Done nothing in the majors" is not a very fair assessment. He hasn't been good this season, but he had a 131 OPS+ last year in limited time. He's playing pretty much every day now and is facing much more left handed pitching than he's used to. It's no real surprise that he's a little slow adjusting.

 

I don't know if he'll pan out, but he has enough of a history of hitting in the minors that it's likely too early to give up.

 

Fuku started like this last season, and started to tail off right around now. I see the same pattern developing.

 

Care to elaborate on how he's tailing off? A .949 OPS over the course of the year and a .925 OPS over the past month is very good. The last couple weeks he's cooled a bit (.828 OPS last 14 days), but that's bound to happen.

 

I don't see a pattern in a couple weeks of stats, though.

 

Soriano - If he doesn't hit a homer, he's striking out..

 

That's Soriano. He's proven he'll be a good to very good left fielder when it's all said and done. No reason to be overly concerned about him - he's about the most sure thing to be good that you listed.

 

Theriot is slumping pretty bad right now.

 

1.138 OPS over the past week. .746 over the past two weeks, but if anything that's a sign that he's starting to pick it up again after a short slump.

Edited June 3, 2009 by dew

[E.J.]

It's always going to be tough when your best player goes down for a long stretch of games. We are definitely hurting without Aramis. That being said, Hendry put together one of the worst offseasons I've ever seen in my lifetime. Just awful. Nothing is working out for us so far. And you knew it was going to be awful before the season even started.

[dew1679666265]

Right now, Hendry just needs to think like a GM without and endless pit of money. Go after Russel Branyan. Go after a solid reliever. Thats what we need right now. Id like to see a move like that done sooner than later. I honestly think that Jake Fox and Kevin Hart could land Branyan.

 

I'd feel good about getting Branyan and a good reliever by the deadline. There's a chance Fox could be the "centerpiece" of the deal, but I think it would take more than just Hart to go with him after how well Branyan has been doing.

 

The thing about Branyan is hes Russel Branyan and teams know that. Theyre not going to give up top prospects for him. Fox and Hart would probably be selling high on him. Hart is a guy who if he has a future in the majors it will be as a number 5 starter for a bad team, and Fox is a guy who the Mariners could try out at 1st base and see how it works, if not, he could be a DH for years to come. Branyan is 1 of those guys who will probably never spend more than more than 1 year on 1 team. hes a journeyman. If Aramis wasnt injured, Id have no interest in him, but at this time, hed be exactly the kind of stop gap we need. If they want another fringe prospect, so be it. I just feel that Branyan is not only the ideal guy for the situation the Cubs are in at this moment, but hes someone we could conceivably aquire sooner than later rather than waiting until the deadline for someone like Huff or Blalock who we hopefuly wouldnt need much longer. A quality reliever would likely cost more than Branyan, as that is what most teams are really looking for down the stretch.

 

I would be interested in Branyan even if Aramis was healthy. He's a very good bat off the bench.

 

And I don't think Fox/Hart is buying high on him. I'd even be willing to go Fox/Wells for him and I don't think that's really buying high. It's also why I think the Ms would hold out for more from another team if that were our offer. He's a valuable piece that will give you better than an .800 OPS from any corner spot. That's not worth a top prospect, but we're not coming close to a top prospect with either deal I've mentioned.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Right now, Hendry just needs to think like a GM without and endless pit of money. Go after Russel Branyan. Go after a solid reliever. Thats what we need right now. Id like to see a move like that done sooner than later. I honestly think that Jake Fox and Kevin Hart could land Branyan.

 

I'd feel good about getting Branyan and a good reliever by the deadline. There's a chance Fox could be the "centerpiece" of the deal, but I think it would take more than just Hart to go with him after how well Branyan has been doing.

 

The thing about Branyan is hes Russel Branyan and teams know that. Theyre not going to give up top prospects for him. Fox and Hart would probably be selling high on him. Hart is a guy who if he has a future in the majors it will be as a number 5 starter for a bad team, and Fox is a guy who the Mariners could try out at 1st base and see how it works, if not, he could be a DH for years to come. Branyan is 1 of those guys who will probably never spend more than more than 1 year on 1 team. hes a journeyman. If Aramis wasnt injured, Id have no interest in him, but at this time, hed be exactly the kind of stop gap we need. If they want another fringe prospect, so be it. I just feel that Branyan is not only the ideal guy for the situation the Cubs are in at this moment, but hes someone we could conceivably aquire sooner than later rather than waiting until the deadline for someone like Huff or Blalock who we hopefuly wouldnt need much longer. A quality reliever would likely cost more than Branyan, as that is what most teams are really looking for down the stretch.

 

I would be interested in Branyan even if Aramis was healthy. He's a very good bat off the bench.

 

And I don't think Fox/Hart is buying high on him. I'd even be willing to go Fox/Wells for him and I don't think that's really buying high. It's also why I think the Ms would hold out for more from another team if that were our offer. He's a valuable piece that will give you better than an .800 OPS from any corner spot. That's not worth a top prospect, but we're not coming close to a top prospect with either deal I've mentioned.

 

When the dealine rolls around, theres a good chance guys like Huff, Blalock, DeRosa and maybe even Holliday and Dunn will be available, and teams looking to fill holes will be going after those types of players, and they could conceivably net top prospects. If Seattle were to try moving Branyan sooner, they could get a better return for him than if they waited until more desireable players become available.

 

Also, its doubtfull that Seattle is going anywhere this year, so wouldnt they rather have guy like Fox, who could not only potentially put up the same kind of numbers as Branyan, but also is under team control for the next few years? Theres also the chance that theyd prefer Hoffpauir whose a lefty and plays better defense, who again, could potentially put up similar numbers.

Edited June 3, 2009 by Little Slide Rooter

[UMFan83]

I seriously think that every season that I'm confident that one of my teams will make the playoffs, they fall on their faces and don't.

 

Examples include the 2004 Cubs, the 07-08 Bulls, the 07 Bears. I didn't feel confident that the 08 Cubs, 06-07 Bulls or 06 Bears would make the playoffs for various reasons, but then I got cocky after playoff appearances and this is where it led me.

 

That said, I still think this team has a great shot at the playoffs, but can't deny that we seem to be snakebit this year with injuries, down years, controversies, etc.

[JeffH]

It's always going to be tough when your best player goes down for a long stretch of games. We are definitely hurting without Aramis. That being said, Hendry put together one of the worst offseasons I've ever seen in my lifetime. Just awful. Nothing is working out for us so far. And you knew it was going to be awful before the season even started.

 

Actually, as Hendry is one of MLB's worst GMs, you knew that it was going to be awful before the OFFSEASON even started.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I seriously think that every season that I'm confident that one of my teams will make the playoffs, they fall on their faces and don't.

 

Examples include the 2004 Cubs, the 07-08 Bulls, the 07 Bears. I didn't feel confident that the 08 Cubs, 06-07 Bulls or 06 Bears would make the playoffs for various reasons, but then I got cocky after playoff appearances and this is where it led me.

 

That said, I still think this team has a great shot at the playoffs, but can't deny that we seem to be snakebit this year with injuries, down years, controversies, etc.

 

Thats how a Cubs season is supposed to be. None of that 97 win mumbo jumbo.

[dew1679666265]

When the dealine rolls around, theres a good chance guys like Huff, Blalock, DeRosa and maybe even Holliday and Dunn will be available, and teams looking to fill holes will be going after those types of players, and they could conceivably net top prospects. If Seattle were to try moving Branyan sooner, they could get a better return for him than if they waited until more desireable players become available.

 

Also, its doubtfull that Seattle is going anywhere this year, so wouldnt they rather have guy like Fox, who could not only potentially put up the same kind of numbers as Branyan, but also is under team control for the next few years? Theres also the chance that theyd prefer Hoffpauir whose a lefty and plays better defense, who again, could potentially put up similar numbers.

 

I do think the Ms would rather have Fox and a young pitcher than Branyan, but they would also prefer to have a better player than Fox and/or a better young pitcher than Hart/Wells. And that's the catch - a Fox/Hart offer really isn't that strong, so it's not like a team will have to overwhelm the Ms to top our deal.

 

Branyan is also better than Huff, Mora, etc., so he'll likely garner more interest than them. And he'll also be a more cost effective option than guys like Holliday, Dunn, DeRosa and Blalock. Smaller market teams and teams without much to spend (like us) will go after Branyan before they go after high-priced guys.

[17 Seconds]

Branyan seems like one of those guys who gets hot, becomes trade bait, and then goes back to being like a .780 OPS guy as soon as he gets traded. I'd only want him if he were really cheap.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Here's the hitters with the 8 most PA's on the team, compared to their ZiPS projections.

 

Player-Projected OPS-Actual OPS

 

Soto - .888 - .599

Lee - .837 - .770

Hoffpauir - .828 - .804

Fontenot - .758 - .698

Theriot - .705 - .789

Soriano - .859 - .791

Fukudome - .757 - .951

Bradley - .907 - .728

 

The Cubs hitters are AVERAGING 50 points in OPS below projected at each spot in the order. They aren't going to be very good(like any team) with such wholesale underachievement.

[third eye]

Here's the hitters with the 8 most PA's on the team, compared to their ZiPS projections.

 

Player-Projected OPS-Actual OPS

 

Soto - .888 - .599

Lee - .837 - .770

Hoffpauir - .828 - .804

Fontenot - .758 - .698

Theriot - .705 - .789

Soriano - .859 - .791

Fukudome - .757 - .951

Bradley - .907 - .728

 

The Cubs hitters are AVERAGING 50 points in OPS below projected at each spot in the order. They aren't going to be very good(like any team) with such wholesale underachievement.

 

Verdad. Do you have the bullpen performances relative to Zips?

[third eye]

Here's the hitters with the 8 most PA's on the team, compared to their ZiPS projections.

 

Player-Projected OPS-Actual OPS

 

Soto - .888 - .599

Lee - .837 - .770

Hoffpauir - .828 - .804

Fontenot - .758 - .698

Theriot - .705 - .789

Soriano - .859 - .791

Fukudome - .757 - .951

Bradley - .907 - .728

 

The Cubs hitters are AVERAGING 50 points in OPS below projected at each spot in the order. They aren't going to be very good(like any team) with such wholesale underachievement.

 

Verdad. Do you have the bullpen performances relative to Zips?

[Larry Horse]

As long as this team is only 4 games out of first, there's still a chance to win the division. As long as they win the division (or make the playoffs at all), they have a chance to win the World Series.

 

Even if they win the division, this team is not winning the World Series.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Branyan seems like one of those guys who gets hot, becomes trade bait, and then goes back to being like a .780 OPS guy as soon as he gets traded. I'd only want him if he were really cheap.

 

We dont need the guy to be our savior, just some offense until Aramis comes back. Then that .780 OPS will be just fine off the bench.