Conclusions

[stitchface]

The White Sox were the best team in baseball this year. The AL is stronger than the NL. The Cubs have a lot of work to do to catch up with Houston and St. Louis (and Milwaukee).

 

Ultimately, the Cubs need a healthy pitching staff and some relievers that throw strikes. I think the Sox show you can win with a mediocre offense if you have dominating pitching. Given the Cubs management lack of understanding of offense, I think going for dominating pitching makes more sense. Go get Wagner.

[abuck1220]

i have no problem going after wagner/ryan. people seem suspect of wagner's age, but i'm more suspect of dempster's mediocre pre-2005 career. people seem sold on dempster, but iffy on wagner...i can't figure that out. i hope the cubs don't regret giving dempster three years...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

i have no problem going after wagner/ryan. people seem suspect of wagner's age, but i'm more suspect of dempster's mediocre pre-2005 career. people seem sold on dempster, but iffy on wagner...i can't figure that out. i hope the cubs don't regret giving dempster three years...

 

I'm not sold on either. I wanted BJ all along, still wouldn't mind getting him. It's just not going to happen though. Might as well go after Howry and Eyre/Sauerbeck.

[stitchface]

It seems pretty clear over the last several seasons that a deep bullpen is major part of postseason success. Having flexibility in the pen is a huge advantage (though I doubt Dusty has the wherewithal to take advantage anyway).

[UK1679666180]

I think 3 dominant relievers is almost a must at this stage. The Cubs have 3 pitchers who can rack up 120 pitches by the 6 and a manager who'll leave them out there.

 

I agree with Raisin. You get a dominant set-up guy and a LOOGY and hope Dusty doesn't run them into the ground. I think the Cubs can find lightning in a bottle from Williamson and I expect Wuertz to do well.

 

I'd feel more comfortable if the Cubs had Williams as the fallback option as the #5, instead of Rusch at this.

 

Hendry still likely goes under the assumption that Wood it'll get him 30 starts per and it just isn't likely, especially with the potential of him just getting recovered in time to go every 4 days.

 

I like Jerome Williams, but they'll need a #5 starter or a #4 starter once an injury occurs.

[rawaction]

The shorter you can make a game, the better. I know Baker doesn't have the history behind him, but if you have 3-4 strong options to go to in the 7th, you don't have to run Zambrano out there with 122 pitches. Sometimes I just couldn't completely blame him when his only options sucked. Of course, if he used the bullpen more wisely, maybe they wouldn't have sucked so much. I think the best way to get around this would be to get a bunch of quality arms out there. If you have a few $3-5M relievers, you are gonna get them regular work. If guys like Wuertz and Ohman are performing, you are gonna get them work.

 

But yeah, the bottom line is to throw more strikes as a pitching staff. Especially in relief. The starters who have had the occassional problems with the walks are good enough to limit the damage. The pen is not.