State of the Chicago Cubs Address

[Sosa21MVP]

I know, with such a bold title people will expect extremely witty and insightful observation. Well be prepared to be disappointed! 8)

 

No but as a very silent member of the board and one who hasn't seen as much Cubs baseball as I'd like, now is the time I want to throw my thoughts against the wall and see what y'all think. Been a Cubs fan since 1986 and unwavering in my support and not completely jaded even after the 2003 NLCS meltdown; as 1984-esque as that may have been.

 

I think the Jim Hendry has generally done a good job as GM. He has pulled off some trades that have excited the senses (even though the Lofton/Ramirez deal was looked upon with a negative eye at the time). And the Nomar trade at the brink the deadline last season was purely ANTI-CUB! I mean how often have the Cubs pulled out the last minute BIG DEAL even if it didn't end up pushing them over the top? I'll take a Nomar-type deadline deal over bringing about Felix Heredia and Matt Karchner ala 1998. Wow, 2 relief pitchers with 4+ ERAs!!!! WOOHOO! :roll:

 

As my name indicates, a big Sosa fan. But it was time for him to go. And his struggles in Baltimore offer more proof of that than anything. So no bitterness there but my username shall remain because regardless of what anyone says about Sosa (steroids, corked bat, etc) the guy have me a lot of genuine joy as a Cub. Overall, I'd rank the likes of Ryno and Dawon's Army above Sammy on my favorite player totem poll but I'll choose to remember the good times.

 

Currently, I feel like the Cubs have a good window of opportunity to become a pennant winner. The 2003 team will almost got there ahead of time. I think most of the pieces are in place. Enough pieces in place that a major overhaul or expenditure of money is not needed. Is Dusty holding back the process? Perhaps. I respect Dusty's body of work overall as a manager but also realize his shortcomings.

 

Right now, we have about the best corner combo the Cubs could ever ask for in DLEE and ARAM. Barrett is solid behind the plate. So up the middle lies the infield question marks. Nomar is fragile enough to warrant much doubt about his future. Love Todd Walker but the Cubs could upgrade at 2B. Mainly I'd like to see stability at SS and I think the Cubs would be okay. But is Cedeno talented enough to start at SS in the near future? I won't pretend to know, just asking.

 

So overall, I think the Cubs have more answers than questions on the infield.

 

Outfield - here is where it gets tricky. Going into the season, I had CPatt marked down as a solid, reliable source of production. Now, I'm not sure. Kid has every tool in the world except one - the ability to read the strike zone. His wild flailing away at pitches nowhere near the strike zone bring about many evil thoughts! :evil:

 

And the corner outfield positions have not been addressed adequately yet. I hated Moises Alou and his piss poor attitude and knew Sosa had to go. I could accept Dubois, Hollandsworth, Burnitz, etc as short-term gapstops until the better could be found, but now I'm not sure. We bring in the kid from Cleveland (Gerut) then deal him away for Lawton. I don't think Lawton is worth the salary he earns. I mean the guy is homegrown as in played for my hometown Fort Wayne Wizards and like many former Wizards (LaTroy Hawkins, AJ Pierzynski, Torii Hunter, Corey Koskie, Sean Burroughsetc) has made a decent MLB living but not really a guy who I think should be a starting corner OF on this team. Just my feeling. I love Matt Murton and want to see more of him.

 

Starting pitching: Zambrano is the man. Prior too, although he has had mucho bad luck with injuries. Kerry Wood.....hate to say it but I don't think the guy will ever get over the injury bug. Maddux, just the crafty old veteran doing his thing, glad he could get win #300 and strikeout #3000 in the Cubbies blue. I think you have to build the starting rotation around Zambrano & Prior and not really count on Wood.

 

Relievers: To me, middle relief is like the flavor of the week. Most middle relievers are guys not good enough to start or close so guess what? They become MIDDLE relievers and the fact their results fluctuate should not be too surprising. If they were THAT good, they would not be pitching the middle innings for a living IMO.

 

My main concern is closer. Dempster seems to be doing an acceptable job. Personally, I think Wood could be a dominating closer ala John Smoltz the past couple years but like Smoltz, I don't see Kerry settling for that role.

 

To me, the Cubs are maybe 2-3 players away from being a World Series contender. I think at least one of those players needs to be a corner OF, plus a healthy reliable 3rd starter behind Zambrano & Prior and then that last spot is up for grabs (middle INF, closer).

 

What do you think? :?: :wink:

[nilodnayr]

Love Todd Walker but the Cubs could upgrade at 2B.

 

Who exactly can we upgrade to? Walker is one of the best offensive secondbasemen in the game and among FA eligible players by far the best value. His defense is average, definitely way underrated.

 

 

Mainly I'd like to see stability at SS and I think the Cubs would be okay. But is Cedeno talented enough to start at SS in the near future? I won't pretend to know, just asking.

 

Unfortunately because dusty is a baffoon, none of us can really pretend to know. He absolutely had a 100 game chance to see if Cedeno could step up and man the starting position for 2006. His numbers the past two years suggest he just might be, but for the cubs thats too big of a risk to take. You have to resign nomar and work cedeno into the lineup as much as possible to see if the starting job can be handed over to him in 2007. What do people think about platooning him with Walker and having him sub for Nomar once a week. Get him about 75 starts or so. Would playing him at second screw him up defensively?

 

I don't think Lawton is worth the salary he earns. I mean the guy is homegrown as in played for my hometown Fort Wayne Wizards and like many former Wizards (LaTroy Hawkins, AJ Pierzynski, Torii Hunter, Corey Koskie, Sean Burroughsetc) has made a decent MLB living but not really a guy who I think should be a starting corner OF on this team. Just my feeling. I love Matt Murton and want to see more of him.

 

He definitely is not worth the salary he earns and thats why hes been traded twice this season. However, his contract is up at the end of this year and he will have to sign a contract with much less value. I'd sign him to a contract the same as Burnitz, 1 yr 5M with a 7M club option. Lawton is one of the better leadoff men in the NL and that is something this team has sorely been lacking. OBP is such a concern and Lawton at the top of the order definitely adresses that. I love Matt Murton too but am very suspect of his ability to come close to what he is doing now over a full season at this point in his career. I would love to sign Giles to a 2 yr contract and would outbid the card and stros to do so. With all the money coming off the books, I wouldnt mind overpaying a bit for a guy like Giles. Yes he is getting up there in age, but has shown that he definitely still has it. A 1.024 road OPS is... well just plain :shock: Platoon Murton and Lawton and bat Murton leadoff when he plays.

 

Starting pitching: Zambrano is the man. Prior too, although he has had mucho bad luck with injuries. Kerry Wood.....hate to say it but I don't think the guy will ever get over the injury bug. Maddux, just the crafty old veteran doing his thing, glad he could get win #300 and strikeout #3000 in the Cubbies blue. I think you have to build the starting rotation around Zambrano & Prior and not really count on Wood.

Given the FA class I would not advocate going out and overpaying for a pitcher this winter in such a weak class. If wood is back and can start then we have a very very good starter, if not then we have a very very very good reliever. Either way we are done with him after 2006 and can either resign him for less money or decide to use it elsewhere. Prior, Z, Maddux and Williams are definites. At this point I would say Wood is probable. If everything looks like it goes OK with Wood during surgery and in his immediate recovery then I would not try to sign another pitcher.

 

Relievers: To me, middle relief is like the flavor of the week. Most middle relievers are guys not good enough to start or close so guess what? They become MIDDLE relievers and the fact their results fluctuate should not be too surprising. If they were THAT good, they would not be pitching the middle innings for a living IMO.

 

We have a slew of young guys who should be fine in the roles. Wuertz if not overused is extremely good. Novoa has shown he could be quite effective. Welly is out of options and has been doing well in AAA, Ohman will be a fine LOOGY, Williamson will be an extremely good 8th inning guy and I think Dempster will be resigned as a closer. Hopefully he actually wants that role, otherwise he will most likely go elsewhere. Thats 7, more than enough. Thats a 2.5M middle relief...very nice. And I just realized that Rusch has a 2M PLAYER option. Hopefully he doesnt opt for it, but he probably will, can we waive him? He could be our plan B for Wood. Also forgot about Mitre, does he still have another year of options? I guess too many players isnt a bad problem.

 

To me, the Cubs are maybe 2-3 players away from being a World Series contender. I think at least one of those players needs to be a corner OF, plus a healthy reliable 3rd starter behind Zambrano & Prior and then that last spot is up for grabs (middle INF, closer).

 

What do you think? :?: :wink:

 

I think in 2 or 3 years its going to be very difficult for the cubs unless some of their Golden arms in the minor really step it up. Thats when Z and Prior start to become extremely expensive as well as all the cornerstones (Lee, ARAM, Barrett) contracts run out. I think the cubs window is 2003-2007. After that its impossible to predict.

[NewUserName]

Funny how 3 years ago Cleveland went with a youth movement and they past the Cubs tthis year in being a better team. Next year they are going to be alot better, while we fart around with those 2 or 3 guys to put us over the top only to end up right at 500 again