Could we contend with this team?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Let's assume the following roster moves:

 

A. Furcal is signed to 5/50 deal or something like that.

B. Milton Bradley is traded for.

C. Walker + Mitre is traded for Mench.

 

Here's the line-up:

 

SS Furcal

CF Bradley

1b Lee

3b Ramirez

RF Mench

LF Murton

C Barrett

2b Perez/Cedeno

 

Could we win with that line-up?

 

It's not great, but it might...just might be good enough.

[rocket]

Our corner outfielders are still way below league average. It's an improvement over last season, but not enough to take down the Cardinals.

[JeffH]

Sure, but I'd prefer Pierre to Mench and slide the wife beater over to RF.

[YearofDaCubs]

I personally would love to have that lineup. There's no doubt we would be able to contend with it. That by the way is a realistic and attainable lineup for us in 2006.

[mul21]

That is light years ahead of last season. Actual major league players at every position, as opposed to Holly and Patterson in the OF. That lineup would make me happy. Not necessarily the huge splash everyone wants, but it's solid all the way thru with no glaring weaknesses. You add another good SP and you've got yourself a contender.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Sure, but I'd prefer Pierre to Mench and slide the wife beater over to RF.

 

That's a possibility as well. Right now, I think Mench is a more likley possibility. If the Marlins move Delgado to the Mets, then they may not need to move Pierre. Right now, I don't think the Marlins know what they want to do.

 

Either way, that line-up is quite possible and plausible.

[YearofDaCubs]

Sure, but I'd prefer Pierre to Mench and slide the wife beater over to RF.

 

That's a possibility as well. Right now, I think Mench is a more likley possibility. If the Marlins move Delgado to the Mets, then they may not need to move Pierre. Right now, I don't think the Marlins know what they want to do.

 

Either way, that line-up is quite possible and plausible.

Your new avatar is funny :lol:

[CubfaninCA]

If Prior, Wood and Z remain healthy, that lineup can win 100 games.

[BigbadB]

If the pitching is better than last year, I think it's a pretty decent team.

 

But, I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea of having right handed hitters 3-8.

[YearofDaCubs]

If Prior, Wood and Z remain healthy, that lineup can win 100 games.

I think it would be possible as well. I think if healthy playoffs are def attainable.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If the pitching is better than last year, I think it's a pretty decent team.

 

But, I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea of having right handed hitters 3-8.

 

We could move Cedeno in the 2-spot then, and slide Bradley to sixth to give the line-up a little more balance.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Only with a healthy pitching staff...

[goonys evil twin]

Mench is spare parts. He's a pretty crappy option for RF, given his Burnitz like numbers away from Arlington. I'd no doubt be upset if he was a Cub. The lineup as a whole could contend, just like the mediocre lineups of 2003 and 2004 were able to contend, but they'd need lights out pitching.

[YearofDaCubs]

If we can get that lineup I would call the offseason a success.

[BigbadB]

If the pitching is better than last year, I think it's a pretty decent team.

 

But, I'm not exactly thrilled with the idea of having right handed hitters 3-8.

 

We could move Cedeno in the 2-spot then, and slide Bradley to sixth to give the line-up a little more balance.

 

We don't know if Cedeno will hit like Neifi Perez or Milton Bradley. Isn't Murton the better option to hit 2nd if you slid Bradley down?

 

If you are giving up prospects to get a RF, and Aubrey Huff is available, why not trade for a lefty bat rather than a righty?

[SouthSideRyan]

Pedro summed it up. With a healthy pitching staff performing to its full potential we coulda taken the wild card last year. It's just ridiculous that we have to get the absolute best case scenario out of our pitching staff because we're failing to get guys who can actually hit.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Also, with the above line-up you aren't adding much salary. Bradley likely won't make more than 5 million. Furcal is the only big additon salary wise. Mench will be a 3 million player.

 

The remaining roster would likley be:

SP's: Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Maddux, Rusch.

Bullpen: Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Novoa, Ohman and one of the remaining minor leaguers.

Bench: Neifi, Blanco + ?, ?, ?

 

By going with that line-up, there's likely 10-15 million left under budget. That money could be used to add a starter or spent on bench and bullpen.

 

I think the above is very plausible. I'd prefer Giles, but I'd take a long look at doing the above.

[fromthestretch]

Let's assume the following roster moves:

 

A. Furcal is signed to 5/50 deal or something like that.

B. Milton Bradley is traded for.

C. Walker + Mitre is traded for Mench.

 

Here's the line-up:

 

SS Furcal

CF Bradley

1b Lee

3b Ramirez

RF Mench

LF Murton

C Barrett

2b Perez/Cedeno

 

Could we win with that line-up?

 

It's not great, but it might...just might be good enough.

 

I'd be much happier with that lineup if Walker was at 2B.

[goonys evil twin]

Also, with the above line-up you aren't adding much salary. Bradley likely won't make more than 5 million. Furcal is the only big additon salary wise. Mench will be a 3 million player.

 

The remaining roster would likley be:

SP's: Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Maddux, Rusch.

Bullpen: Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Novoa, Ohman and one of the remaining minor leaguers.

Bench: Neifi, Blanco + ?, ?, ?

 

By going with that line-up, there's likely 10-15 million left under budget. That money could be used to add a starter or spent on bench and bullpen.

 

I think the above is very plausible. I'd prefer Giles, but I'd take a long look at doing the above.

 

But why Mench? He's not any good, his numbers away from Arlington are brutal, even when you don't consider he'd be your RF and hitting in the middle of the order.

[YearofDaCubs]

Also, with the above line-up you aren't adding much salary. Bradley likely won't make more than 5 million. Furcal is the only big additon salary wise. Mench will be a 3 million player.

 

The remaining roster would likley be:

SP's: Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Maddux, Rusch.

Bullpen: Dempster, Eyre, Williamson, Novoa, Ohman and one of the remaining minor leaguers.

Bench: Neifi, Blanco + ?, ?, ?

 

By going with that line-up, there's likely 10-15 million left under budget. That money could be used to add a starter or spent on bench and bullpen.

 

I think the above is very plausible. I'd prefer Giles, but I'd take a long look at doing the above.

 

But why Mench? He's not any good, his numbers away from Arlington are brutal, even when you don't consider he'd be your RF and hitting in the middle of the order.

What other options do we have for RF? Dunn would be better but realistically that wont happen. I prefer Mench over Kearns. Giles seems like a longshot at best. Not many options out there. I would probably take Huff over Mench.

[JeffH]

Bradley is probably the better player than either, but I'd prefer Pierre and Wilkerson, if they're available and we have the trade fodder to get them.

 

Assuming that there's no anecdotal evidence of Wilkerson having been a Steroid Boy.

 

Pierre and Wilkerson are good players who are reliable and tough and swing from the left handed batter's box.

 

Bradley is too much of a risk to count on, given the sorry state of our OF.

 

That said, Hendry should have acquired him yesterday as insurance, if the reports are true and he could get him for a ham-n-egger or two.

[JeffH]

I prefer Mench over Kearns.

 

Not me. Not even close.

[goonys evil twin]

What other options do we have for RF? Dunn would be better but realistically that wont happen. I prefer Mench over Kearns. Giles seems like a longshot at best. Not many options out there. I would probably take Huff over Mench.

 

Vance said there was $15m leftover after all was said and done. Add the $3m that Mench takes from you and I'll bet you could find a more productive RF.

[CubfaninCA]

Of course, that team could win 80 games too, as they have to rely on Wood, Prior and Dempster's health and Bradley's temperment.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

To answer why I included Mench:

 

First, he's reportedly available. Texas has some interest in what the Cubs could offer.

 

Secondly, he's 28 yrs old and fits the mold of the type of player Hendry would pursue.

 

Third, he has a decent slugging percentage that I think would make him a capable fifth place hitter.

 

Fourth, would I prefer a better option? Yes. And if a better option such as Wilkerson, Dunn, Abreu is available we should definitely pursue them.

 

My main goal was to put some touches on what could happen and discuss whether it would be enough.