rawaction

I've been around here longer than you. Of your opponents, only CIN is better than 7th in the NL in runs scored. Chicken or the egg? Ausmus was the best hitter on the team after the break last year. Everett there for his glove, obviously, but his bat was unusually bad last year. I don’t think Everett hits this was all season, but Ausmus could outperform his norm, esp. if takes off where last season ended. So far he has. And I don’t think the ‘Stros will end up 3rd in the NL in runs. I was simply pointing out that this team has more than Berkman and Ensberg hitting. Either way, this is a much better offensive team to this point than what it was last year. First isn't a given, second almost certainly is. Cards have a more balanced rotation ,esp in the back end. But they, and nobody else in the majors can match a 1-2-3 of Oswalt, Clemens and Pettitte. Not to mention the fact that Rodriguez and Buckholtz have looked good so far. As is the same with some of the Cubs young arms, who knows what they’ll do over the course of a season? But if Clemens comes back, only a fool would argue that the Cubs or Cards can match that rotaion. I could tell you Maddux will start pitching like last year soon. Who’s right? Neither of us really know, pretty stupid statement to make. Against weaker hitting teams Stop. Rewind. Play. Who knows what those guys will do or how long they will be able to do it. You can’t assume they will give you ANYTHING at this point. How long has that happened, for like 3 consecutive months? Stop. Rewind. Play. Also, who is this coming from, the people inside the Cubs organization? They have always been so honest and forthcoming regarding Woods and Prior’s injury status. In your little world. First, you should probably tone down the harshness (I admit the show your face comment was unnecessary). Secondly, I must be a fool because I think Wood, Prior, Zambrano, Maddux and Williams/Miller can match Clemens (who will be 43 and having not pitched for as long as Wood and Prior if he comes back), Pettitte (who had a career year after several with an ERA around 4), Oswalt and the others. Third, what does injury status have to do with the Cubs saying Wood looks good? Do you think he really had Tommy John surgery and they are just completely lying about the situation? There's a difference between completely forthcoming and completely telling a boldfaced lie. Fourth, you have no proof that the Cubs lied about knowing how long Wood and Prior would be out last year.

Forgot about Eric Hinske. He'd be an OK pickup. Miggy would be a great pickup, obviously, but I would think the Cubs would have to give up at least 1 of their current ML regulars to make that happen....namely, Murton, Marshall, or Williams.

Other: Sammy Sosa and Solomon Torres' fastball

yeah, you may be right. Hafner's 100% and they are looking to get him in the field more. The Indians still have Perez and they could put Hollandsworth there at times. Also, they have some flexibility with Dubois (who could push Holla to a 1B platoon), Marte (who could push A. Boone to 1B) or like you said Garko could play there.

I'd look at Carlos Pena, Tony Clark, Robb Quinlan, and Eduardo Perez or Ben Broussard from Cleveland. Broussard is the only guy on the list with upside, and would be the best yet most expensive option. Quinlan and Perez can play mulitple positions. Quinlan is interesting. He absolutely murders LH pitching (.322 /.371/.542 3-year splits), he'd be the perfect compliment to Mabry off the bench when Lee gets back too.

Yeah, let's keep this thread non-personal, and not get the biggest news thread of the last couple years locked.

The Cubs gave up 34 runs in 4 of the 5 games vs. the Reds. They won't play an offense as good for the next 4 weeks. I don't know that you will see a big difference in the Cubs pitching, especially considering you'll have Marshall getting more experience, Williams getting more comfortable, and Wood and Prior coming back to take some of those innings.

I like Weber. He deserves a rotation spot. Also, the Ryu/Pinto matchup happened on opening day.

Change the first good to great, and change the second good to outside. Agreed. But the pitching has the potential to be great. And an outside shot while adding Lee and the financial ability to upgrade big midseason, is equal to a good shot to me.

Maybe :) Based on what, three starts? :D Based on what, three starts? :lol: OK, you lost ALL credibility there. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Maddux looks to be good based on 3 starts, based on a contract year, based on his extra work put in this offseason. And you of all people shouldn't doubt that a 40+ yo pitcher could have a big year. Dempster as Cubs closer last year. 58.1 IP, 46 hits, 12 ER, 53 Ks. 1.85 ERA. Lidge was not better than that.

If you had used stats to prove your hypothetical, it would have been even more out there. Now you're asking me to use stats to "prove" mine? Use your common sense. The Cubs are 61 years out from their last World Series. Yet you believe *THIS* ballclub, with Prior & Wood on the shelf, would have gone to the World Series last year where all others have failed? Come on. Who are you trying to kid? If all the Cubs players repeat what they did last year in 06 vs. Astros in 05. CF- Tavarez (.666 OPS) vs. Pierre (.688 OPS, career .729) SS- Everett (.654 OPS) vs. Cedeno (1st year, but fair to say he should surpass that) 2B- Biggio (.793 OPS) vs. Walker (.829) C- Ausmus (.682 OPS) vs. Barrett (.824) LF- including 46 games by Berkman out there (.698 OPS) vs. Murton (1st full year, but again, should easily surpass) Houston's starters had a 3.46 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 6.81 K/9, thanks to a very weak 4-5. Zambrano has been better than that for the last few years. Prior has better career numbers than that. Wood is likely to be at least within striking distance of that. Maddux still should be just behind Wood. Jerome Williams just behind that. And as good as the Houston bullpen was in 05 (3.63 ERA, 8.39 K/9, 1.25 WHIP), the guys that the Cubs currently have in the pen (minus Aardsma, and using career averages for Williamson) combined to put up a 2.57 ERA, 8.38 K/9, and a 1.14 WHIP. That's enough to allow for lesser years and a mediocre 6th reliever (Aardsma, Wuertz, Novoa) and still be better than Houston.

I don't think he was suggesting trading Walker for Wilson. He was just pointing out who will be at 1B in Lee's abscence. The Wilson comment was to show interest in acquiring him to go along with those 2, Wilson was the PTBNL.

It did for the Astros. I know people don't want to compare the teams, but they are pretty similar (I have said exactly this in other threads). Obviously, no Cubs pitchers will be as good as Clemens was most of last year. Heck, none may even come close to Pettitte either, nor be as good as Oswalt. But Zambrano will be very good. Prior and Wood will be very good WHEN they are able to pitch. Maddux looks to be primed for a good season. Every single spot in the Cubs rotation should easily be better than Backe, who was a run better than what Houston threw out in the 5th starter's role, helping to make up the difference. And Lidge is possibly the best Closer in the NL, but Dempster was better, in the closer's role, last season. He's not slowing down so far. I think the Cubs bullpen is also deeper and just as strong as the Astros were in setup (Wheeler, Qualls, Gallo = Howry, Williamson, Eyre). As for the offense, I think there's a very good chance, almost a given that Walker, Pierre, Barrett, Cedeno, Murton will be better to a man than Biggio, Tavarez, Ausmus, Everett, and the combo in LF were for Houston last year. Ramirez 06 and Ensberg 05 will be pretty close. Jones 06 and Lane 05 will also be similar. Then you have Berkman vs. Lee and his replacements. Lee will miss twice as much time as Berkman did last year (30 games), but when he's back he will outproduce what Berkman did last year. So, I think you have a similar team. Of course, with the way the Astros have started, they look to be better than the 05 version, also. That's insanity. We're nowhere near the '05 Stros. It's not even close. Back it up. Stros went the World Series last year. You think this year's Cub team would have made the World Series last year? I'm not going to argue about it-----that's insane. Prove that it's insane. I didn't mention stats in my post, but I used them. Just because you think it wouldn't have happened is not proof to me.

It did for the Astros. I know people don't want to compare the teams, but they are pretty similar (I have said exactly this in other threads). Obviously, no Cubs pitchers will be as good as Clemens was most of last year. Heck, none may even come close to Pettitte either, nor be as good as Oswalt. But Zambrano will be very good. Prior and Wood will be very good WHEN they are able to pitch. Maddux looks to be primed for a good season. Every single spot in the Cubs rotation should easily be better than Backe, who was a run better than what Houston threw out in the 5th starter's role, helping to make up the difference. And Lidge is possibly the best Closer in the NL, but Dempster was better, in the closer's role, last season. He's not slowing down so far. I think the Cubs bullpen is also deeper and just as strong as the Astros were in setup (Wheeler, Qualls, Gallo = Howry, Williamson, Eyre). As for the offense, I think there's a very good chance, almost a given that Walker, Pierre, Barrett, Cedeno, Murton will be better to a man than Biggio, Tavarez, Ausmus, Everett, and the combo in LF were for Houston last year. Ramirez 06 and Ensberg 05 will be pretty close. Jones 06 and Lane 05 will also be similar. Then you have Berkman vs. Lee and his replacements. Lee will miss twice as much time as Berkman did last year (30 games), but when he's back he will outproduce what Berkman did last year. So, I think you have a similar team. Of course, with the way the Astros have started, they look to be better than the 05 version, also. That's insanity. We're nowhere near the '05 Stros. It's not even close. Back it up.

May be not. But your team has survived without some of its best players for extended periods. There is no reason we cannot do the same. I have said it several times since Wed.: The way they won that game in L.A. (coming back after Lee got hurt) is a very good sign. That's b/c the Astros have usually had very good, proven and healthy arms. A luxury the Cubs do not have. But they will. The Astros got pretty lucky last year, with their staff, you have to admit. They got an amazing season out of a 42-year old (Cubs look to be getting similar so far). They got a career year out of 32 year old Pettitte, who wasn't very good or healthy in 04. He's not been good this year either, btw. Oswalt I will give you, as he is one of the best in the NL.

It did for the Astros. I know people don't want to compare the teams, but they are pretty similar (I have said exactly this in other threads). Obviously, no Cubs pitchers will be as good as Clemens was most of last year. Heck, none may even come close to Pettitte either, nor be as good as Oswalt. But Zambrano will be very good. Prior and Wood will be very good WHEN they are able to pitch. Maddux looks to be primed for a good season. Every single spot in the Cubs rotation should easily be better than Backe, who was a run better than what Houston threw out in the 5th starter's role, helping to make up the difference. And Lidge is possibly the best Closer in the NL, but Dempster was better, in the closer's role, last season. He's not slowing down so far. I think the Cubs bullpen is also deeper and just as strong as the Astros were in setup (Wheeler, Qualls, Gallo = Howry, Williamson, Eyre). As for the offense, I think there's a very good chance, almost a given that Walker, Pierre, Barrett, Cedeno, Murton will be better to a man than Biggio, Tavarez, Ausmus, Everett, and the combo in LF were for Houston last year. Ramirez 06 and Ensberg 05 will be pretty close. Jones 06 and Lane 05 will also be similar. Then you have Berkman vs. Lee and his replacements. Lee will miss twice as much time as Berkman did last year (30 games), but when he's back he will outproduce what Berkman did last year. So, I think you have a similar team. Of course, with the way the Astros have started, they look to be better than the 05 version, also.

If I lose this week, I'm gonna be open to all kinds of personnel changes. My team has underachieved to this point.

I believe Rapada has the Lugnuts record for relief innings in a season with 83 1/3 in 04. He didn't start 05 until mid-June and went 42 1/3 innings. Not saying it's good for him, but he's been a workhorse everywhere he's been.

Pierre Hairston Walker Ramirez Barrett Jones Murton Cedeno

His son is great. My story. A few years back I went to the Cubs/Rangers interleague game (ARod's last year in TX), and sat in the bleachers. The Rangers were taking batting practice and the bat boys were all shagging balls in the OF. Well, some people in the bleachers were already pretty drunk (at a 1:20 game, whoda thunk it?) and were begging for the ball boys to throw balls into the stands. The yells ranged from, "hey, Kid! Throw me a ball" to "I love you batboy! I came here to see you today, not the players. I would love a baseball that you've touched." to "Throw me a _____ ball you little ____." Well, one of the kids got really tired of being heckled and gunned a ball into the stands drilling a guy in the chest. The guy (who wasn't one of the hecklers by the way) threw the ball back and was kicked out of Wrigley. The kid is laughing the entire time at the guy. So, I check the program. I recognized 2 of the 3 batboys as Rafael Palmeiro's kids. But the 3rd I didn't know. Come to find out....his last name was Acosta. Oscar's son had the same take no crap attitude. So you're saying he was the one who hit the innocent man in the crowd and that's commendable? yeah, that's exactly what I said.

His son is great. My story. A few years back I went to the Cubs/Rangers interleague game (ARod's last year in TX), and sat in the bleachers. The Rangers were taking batting practice and the bat boys were all shagging balls in the OF. Well, some people in the bleachers were already pretty drunk (at a 1:20 game, whoda thunk it?) and were begging for the ball boys to throw balls into the stands. The yells ranged from, "hey, Kid! Throw me a ball" to "I love you batboy! I came here to see you today, not the players. I would love a baseball that you've touched." to "Throw me a _____ ball you little ____." Well, one of the kids got really tired of being heckled and gunned a ball into the stands drilling a guy in the chest. The guy (who wasn't one of the hecklers by the way) threw the ball back and was kicked out of Wrigley. The kid is laughing the entire time at the guy. So, I check the program. I recognized 2 of the 3 batboys as Rafael Palmeiro's kids. But the 3rd I didn't know. Come to find out....his last name was Acosta. Oscar's son had the same take no crap attitude.

Haha...good one It'll be intersting to see if DLEE is out for a period of time if the Cubs try to get Choi from Boston? If I remember right didn't Choi have a good glove? No, not really. He projected to be a pretty good defender in the minors, but never really developed that part of his game. BP has him slightly above average for his career, so does PMR(2005 season). Yeah, I figured he was right around average. But I figured he was slightly below rather than above.

Haha...good one It'll be intersting to see if DLEE is out for a period of time if the Cubs try to get Choi from Boston? If I remember right didn't Choi have a good glove? No, not really. He projected to be a pretty good defender in the minors, but never really developed that part of his game.

Robby Chirinos having a big day 2-2, BB, 2 doubles, 3 runs. Peoria putting on a small ball clinic. 10 hits, 8 singles. 3 stolen bases. 2 walks. 2 advances on wild pitches bunch of guys getting advanced on groundball outs.

Walking and singling them to death.