Five teams with best chance to go from losing record to...

[Old Style]

...postseason.

 

4. Chicago Cubs

2010: 75-87, fifth in NL Central

 

MLB Network recently ranked the top 100 players in baseball. Only one Cubs player made the list -- and not until you got all the way to 61, closer Carlos Marmol. (Disclaimer: I appear on the network but was not involved in the list.) You can argue with the list, but not with the problem it highlights about the Cubs: They don't have elite talent. So where is the room for growth? They will need shortstop Starlin Castro, 21, outfielder Tyler Colvin, 25, and pitcher Andrew Cashner, 24, to blossom into top 100 stars.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/tom_verducci/03/15/playoff.surprises/index.html?xid=cnnbin&hpt=Sbin

[bukie]

Poor, neglected Soto.

 

Although, if Tyler Colvin blossoms into a top 100 star, the Cubs are set.

[Guest]

Aramis is a top 100 talent for sure. He's just been injured. We'll have to wait and see if he can rebound.

[Sammy Sofa]

If Tyler Colvin becomes a "top 100 talent" I will violently murder one poster at random here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It wouldn't be random.

[UMFan83]

Lack of "elite talent" has been evident on this team for awhile. How many top 100 players would you say we had in 2008 even?

[CubColtPacer]

Lack of "elite talent" has been evident on this team for awhile. How many top 100 players would you say we had in 2008 even?

 

Probably 4. Lee, Ramirez, and Zambrano, and Soriano would have probably been seen as top 100 players. Probably none of them in the top 30 or 35 though.

[rawaction]

Lack of "elite talent" has been evident on this team for awhile. How many top 100 players would you say we had in 2008 even?

 

2008 players who were or had an argument to be in the top 100:

 

Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, and Rich Harden.

 

Plus, guys like DeRosa, Theriot, Soto, Edmonds, Dempster, Fontenot, and Marmol had amazing seasons.

 

2011 players who may have an argument for top 100.

 

Marmol, Soto, and Ramirez.

 

Pena, Soriano, Zambrano Dempster and Wood have had good enough seasons in the last 3 years that if they can repeat them can get in the conversation, but it's a stretch that they will.

[UMFan83]

Lack of "elite talent" has been evident on this team for awhile. How many top 100 players would you say we had in 2008 even?

 

2008 players who were or had an argument to be in the top 100:

 

Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, and Rich Harden.

 

Plus, guys like DeRosa, Theriot, Soto, Edmonds, Dempster, Fontenot, and Marmol had amazing seasons.

 

2011 players who may have an argument for top 100.

 

Marmol, Soto, and Ramirez.

 

Pena, Soriano, Zambrano Dempster and Wood have had good enough seasons in the last 3 years that if they can repeat them can get in the conversation, but it's a stretch that they will.

 

Not people who had an argument, people who were in the top 100. In 2008 I'm guessing the only people who would have been in the top 100 were Lee, Ramirez and Z. Those other guys had amazing seasons, and that is why we won 97 games, but we did it without a lot of top end talent. That was the one thing, we were a fantastic team and had a great season but we didn't really have that hitter that pitchers were petrified to face. We had a lot great hitters, 6 of our 8 starters had an .823+ OPS, but only 1 was over .900. Pitching wise, again we had a lot of very good pitchers, but none of the starters were really ace quality. They all were good but had one flaw, whether it was Dempsters control, Zambrano's inconsistency, Harden's high pitch counts that limited his IPs, Lilly's 32 HR allowed, Marquis's lack of ability.

[Sammy Sofa]

How many good teams typically have more than 3-5 top 100 guys?

 

I'm really asking. Having 3 up there and then a bunch on the cusp seems about right if you're not the Yankees or Red Sox (or sometimes the Phillies).

[rawaction]

Lack of "elite talent" has been evident on this team for awhile. How many top 100 players would you say we had in 2008 even?

 

2008 players who were or had an argument to be in the top 100:

 

Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, and Rich Harden.

 

Plus, guys like DeRosa, Theriot, Soto, Edmonds, Dempster, Fontenot, and Marmol had amazing seasons.

 

2011 players who may have an argument for top 100.

 

Marmol, Soto, and Ramirez.

 

Pena, Soriano, Zambrano Dempster and Wood have had good enough seasons in the last 3 years that if they can repeat them can get in the conversation, but it's a stretch that they will.

 

Not people who had an argument, people who were in the top 100. In 2008 I'm guessing the only people who would have been in the top 100 were Lee, Ramirez and Z. Those other guys had amazing seasons, and that is why we won 97 games, but we did it without a lot of top end talent. That was the one thing, we were a fantastic team and had a great season but we didn't really have that hitter that pitchers were petrified to face. We had a lot great hitters, 6 of our 8 starters had an .823+ OPS, but only 1 was over .900. Pitching wise, again we had a lot of very good pitchers, but none of the starters were really ace quality. They all were good but had one flaw, whether it was Dempsters control, Zambrano's inconsistency, Harden's high pitch counts that limited his IPs, Lilly's 32 HR allowed, Marquis's lack of ability.

 

Soriano was easily top 100. He had an .876 OPS that year, coming off of a 30-30 season, which followed a HUGE season in Washington.

 

Wood was one of the top closers in baseball. He may not have been in the top 100 before the season because he had his injury issues, but he always had the talent. Same w/ Rich Harden who was very highly sought after on the trade market.

[rawaction]

How many good teams typically have more than 3-5 top 100 guys?

 

I'm really asking. Having 3 up there and then a bunch on the cusp seems about right if you're not the Yankees or Red Sox (or sometimes the Phillies).

 

Giants had Lincecum and maybe Cain and they won it last year. Nobody really on the cusp. Who did the Padres have last year? Heath Bell, and nobody on the cusp. I don't think it's a requirement to have multiple guys in the top 100.

[Sammy Sofa]

How many good teams typically have more than 3-5 top 100 guys?

 

I'm really asking. Having 3 up there and then a bunch on the cusp seems about right if you're not the Yankees or Red Sox (or sometimes the Phillies).

 

Giants had Lincecum and maybe Cain and they won it last year. Nobody really on the cusp. Who did the Padres have last year? Heath Bell, and nobody on the cusp. I don't think it's a requirement to have multiple guys in the top 100.

 

Yeah, that's what I was leaning towards. Having 3 top 100 guys is pretty damn good, and having more than that is pretty damn great.

[Keener98]

How many good teams typically have more than 3-5 top 100 guys?

 

I'm really asking. Having 3 up there and then a bunch on the cusp seems about right if you're not the Yankees or Red Sox (or sometimes the Phillies).

 

Giants had Lincecum and maybe Cain and they won it last year. Nobody really on the cusp. Who did the Padres have last year? Heath Bell, and nobody on the cusp. I don't think it's a requirement to have multiple guys in the top 100.

Buster Posey could definitely be on the cusp for the Giants. And the Padres had a pretty good 1st baseman

[shnsajax]

How many good teams typically have more than 3-5 top 100 guys?

 

I'm really asking. Having 3 up there and then a bunch on the cusp seems about right if you're not the Yankees or Red Sox (or sometimes the Phillies).

 

Giants had Lincecum and maybe Cain and they won it last year. Nobody really on the cusp. Who did the Padres have last year? Heath Bell, and nobody on the cusp. I don't think it's a requirement to have multiple guys in the top 100.

Buster Posey could definitely be on the cusp for the Giants. And the Padres had a pretty good 1st baseman

 

Brian Wilson is overflowing with too much awesome not to be listed in the top 100.

[UMFan83]

Here, I broke down the MLB network list by team.

 

 

Yankees: 9

Red Sox: 8

Phillies: 7

Rangers: 7

Cardinals: 5

Tigers: 5

Reds: 5

Braves: 5

Giants: 4

Brewers: 4

Mets: 4

Angels: 4

Orioles: 4

Marlins: 3

Rockies: 3

Indians: 3

Dodgers: 3

Twins: 2

Mariners: 2

Rays: 2

Nationals: 2

Athletics: 2

White Sox: 2

Royals: 1

Blue Jays: 1

Pirates: 1

Padres: 1

Diamondbacks: 1

Cubs: 1

Astros: 0

 

Cubs were the 26th team listed in terms of when their first top 100 player was listed.

[UMFan83]

How many good teams typically have more than 3-5 top 100 guys?

 

I'm really asking. Having 3 up there and then a bunch on the cusp seems about right if you're not the Yankees or Red Sox (or sometimes the Phillies).

 

Giants had Lincecum and maybe Cain and they won it last year. Nobody really on the cusp. Who did the Padres have last year? Heath Bell, and nobody on the cusp. I don't think it's a requirement to have multiple guys in the top 100.

Buster Posey could definitely be on the cusp for the Giants. And the Padres had a pretty good 1st baseman

 

The thing that discredits this mlb network list is that they have Buster Posey not on the crusp, but actually 16th in their rankings. Padres also had AGonz last year and you could probably put Latos on the crusp.

[pitchcs]

Seems like a stretch for the Rangers:

 

Hamilton

Kinsler

N. Feliz

N. Cruz

A. Beltre

Andrus

CJ Wilson

 

Are those the 7? Seems like a high number but mostly lower tier guys

[UMFan83]

Seems like a stretch for the Rangers:

 

Hamilton

Kinsler

N. Feliz

N. Cruz

A. Beltre

Andrus

CJ Wilson

 

Are those the 7? Seems like a high number but mostly lower tier guys

 

Michael Young instead of CJ Wilson and the rest is right.

 

5. Hamilton

51. Beltre

47. Feliz

63. Kinsler

67. Cruz

90. Young

95. Andrus

[treebird]

Seems like a stretch for the Rangers:

 

Hamilton

Kinsler

N. Feliz

N. Cruz

A. Beltre

Andrus

CJ Wilson

 

Are those the 7? Seems like a high number but mostly lower tier guys

 

Michael Young instead of CJ Wilson and the rest is right.

 

5. Hamilton

51. Beltre

47. Feliz

63. Kinsler

67. Cruz

90. Young

95. Andrus

 

a 33 year old third baseman who has ops'ed over 800 once in the last four years should probably not be considered a top 100 player.

[Guest]

Yeah, the Top 100 list is bogus to begin with. Young was 14th in WAR for his own position last year.

[pitchcs]

Probably because average fans know who he is

[ChiCubsFan]

But not Aramis Ramirez? WTF?

[UMFan83]

But not Aramis Ramirez? WTF?

 

Based on their wacky evaluations, maybe. But Ramirez did have like a .740 OPS last year, so I can understand him not making the cut.

[bukie]

Going by the top 100 in WAR in 2010, the Cubs still only had one player: Marlon Byrd. Soto, Dempster and Marmol were just outside the top 100.

 

In case someone else is curious...

Josh Hamilton	Rangers
Joey Votto	Reds
Albert Pujols	Cardinals
Ryan Zimmerman	Nationals
Cliff Lee	- - -
Adrian Beltre	Red Sox
Jose Bautista	Blue Jays
Evan Longoria	Rays
Matt Holliday	Cardinals
Carl Crawford	Rays
Roy Halladay	Phillies
Troy Tulowitzki	Rockies
Robinson Cano	Yankees
Justin Verlander	Tigers
Josh Johnson	Marlins
Ubaldo Jimenez	Rockies
Felix Hernandez	Mariners
Miguel Cabrera	Tigers
Adam Wainwright	Cardinals
Rickie Weeks	Brewers
Francisco Liriano	Twins
Andres Torres	Giants
Kelly Johnson	Diamondbacks
Carlos Gonzalez	Rockies
Jered Weaver	Angels
Aubrey Huff	Giants
Jon Lester	Red Sox
Shin-Soo Choo	Indians
Brett Gardner	Yankees
Brian McCann	Braves
Jay Bruce	Reds
Adrian Gonzalez	Padres
Justin Morneau	Twins
Zack Greinke	Royals
Chase Utley	Phillies
Tim Lincecum	Giants
CC Sabathia	Yankees
Stephen Drew	Diamondbacks
Dan Uggla	Marlins
Joe Mauer	Twins
Nelson Cruz	Rangers
Scott Rolen	Reds
Jayson Werth	Phillies
Jason Heyward	Braves
Angel Pagan	Mets
Daric Barton	Athletics
Clayton Kershaw	Dodgers
Ichiro Suzuki	Mariners
Roy Oswalt	- - -
Yovani Gallardo	Brewers
Chad Billingsley	Dodgers
Chase Headley	Padres
Dan Haren	- - -
C.J. Wilson	Rangers
Colby Lewis	Rangers
Hanley Ramirez	Marlins
John Danks	White Sox
Gavin Floyd	White Sox
Anibal Sanchez	Marlins
Tommy Hanson	Braves
David Price	Rays
Chris Young	Diamondbacks
Hiroki Kuroda	Dodgers
Paul Konerko	White Sox
Michael Bourn	Astros
Kevin Youkilis	Red Sox
Ryan Braun	Brewers
Carlos Ruiz	Phillies
Marlon Byrd	Cubs
Nick Swisher	Yankees
Rafael Furcal	Dodgers
Prince Fielder	Brewers
David Wright	Mets
Mat Latos	Padres
Ricky Romero	Blue Jays
Matt Cain	Giants
Brett Myers	Astros
John Lackey	Red Sox
Brandon Phillips	Reds
Victor Martinez	Red Sox
Vernon Wells	Blue Jays
Buster Posey	Giants
Adam Dunn	Nationals
Martin Prado	Braves
Alex Rodriguez	Yankees
Edwin Jackson	- - -
Mark Buehrle	White Sox
Cole Hamels	Phillies
Alexei Ramirez	White Sox
Austin Jackson	Tigers
Chris Carpenter	Cardinals
Jason Hammel	Rockies
Max Scherzer	Tigers
Clay Buchholz	Red Sox
Brandon Morrow	Blue Jays
Placido Polanco	Phillies
Alex Rios	White Sox
Cliff Pennington	Athletics
Wandy Rodriguez	Astros
Jim Thome	Twins

[Little Slide Rooter]

Here, I broke down the MLB network list by team.

 

 

Yankees: 9

Red Sox: 8

Phillies: 7

Rangers: 7

Cardinals: 5

Tigers: 5

Reds: 5

Braves: 5

Giants: 4

Brewers: 4

Mets: 4

Angels: 4

Orioles: 4

Marlins: 3

Rockies: 3

Indians: 3

Dodgers: 3

Twins: 2

Mariners: 2

Rays: 2

Nationals: 2

Athletics: 2

White Sox: 2

Royals: 1

Blue Jays: 1

Pirates: 1

Padres: 1

Diamondbacks: 1

Cubs: 1

Astros: 0

 

Cubs were the 26th team listed in terms of when their first top 100 player was listed.

 

We really are in awful company in the 1 or less club. If they were going by overall career and not just 2010, Aramis and Z would be on it.