KingCubsFan

I know this is popular sentiment but there is really no reason this team can't contend for the division in 2011. There's a lot to be done. They're not particularly good at anything, besides quality starts. As bad as this division is they really don't need to "do" much in terms of how the team is constructed right now. Adding someone like Dunn would go a long way. Dunn would be a good start, but he's not going to make us a 90 win team. He doesn't do anything to a pitching staff that was one of the worst in the league.

I know this is popular sentiment but there is really no reason this team can't contend for the division in 2011. There's a lot to be done. They're not particularly good at anything, besides quality starts.

Just out of curiosity, what do you think Quade did to garner us that record that Lou did not? I don't really believe managers have much impact on the win/loss record, but these types of changes may have had a short-term effect (from Bruce Levine's article):

Minor league players, preferably.

At this point, it's inevitable he's just going to be a setup man with us, as stupid as it is. We might as well trade him now.

Why?

I would hope that any new coach would not object to those two guys for the simple fact of wanting to bring in his own. I would hope the Cubs wouldn't allow it either, since the pitching coach and hitting coach are both more important than the manager.

you could write 4 sentences about improving the offense and defense that satisfy the ticket holders without identifying specifically maybe the dumbest stats you could identify. Not all Cubs ticket holders are this stupid about baseball and I would venture to guess that most either think what Ricketts wrote was stupid or didn't read it. I can't believe you wouldn't read this in combination with his not firing Hendry and be a little concerned. I disagree. I bet most totally agreed with everything he wrote, as would most baseball fans.

And your point is? An owner appeasing his fans is going to talk about making the team better, getting better players, investing in the team, etc. Writing nonsense about batting with RISP (something his untouchable GM has repeatedly tried to focus on) after hiring a strange stat dude who is all about needless situational statistics is a strong indication he is directing the organization to be focused on things they should not be focused on. My point is that you're picking apart a glorified form letter in order to justify your preconceived notions about how terribly the team is run. I mean seriously, you think lower error totals and better RISP numbers are going to be the focus of the offseason? While it is certainly possible that the letter is intended to simply say things that "appease the constituency", it's pretty specific wording that leads me to believe there is a good chance he believes it. He could be far more vague about improving on fundementals and being more efficient offensively without singling out things like focusing on errors, moving runners, and hitting w/RISP. To the bolded, you think there's no way that happens? I can see it, particularly the hitting with RISP. My guess is that those comments are directly related to comments he heard from season ticket holders at the meetings he mentioned a few paragraphs beforehand. Regardless, even if he does believe it, our offseason will be shaped by Hendry, not Ricketts.

Who would be insurance for Harden? And wasn't he throwing in the mid-80's at times in Texas? No one. The idea is that you get a couple of these great stuff, high injury risk guys, and you hope for 1 good season among them. I wouldn't do it unless he'd take the minimum. With the Cubs budget, and the amount of capable arms in the high minors, we really shouldn't be spending significant money on guys with his injury history.

Who would be insurance for Harden? And wasn't he throwing in the mid-80's at times in Texas?

Like MacPhail?

That's one of the most correct questions yet. The Ricketts have no experience running a ballclub, and they have the former legal counsel for the Tribune Company doing it for them. This guy should have been out the door the minute he had a Greek Orthodox minister spray holy water in the dugout before the 08 playoffs. I wonder what kind of job Hendry would be able to do if he had someone with a baseball knowledge base as his boss. At least someone who has the authority to tell him whether he can go in a given direction. An appropriate president may have prevented Hendry from viewing the off-season with tunnel vision on a particular aspect of the team. Kenney's job is to build the business, and he's really good at it. He's probably the only one good at his job in the entire front office.

i know it's cool to hate on simmons, but when it comes to basketball he knows what he's talking about, and he actually does get good info. hopefully the bulls stand pat, because that's way too much to give up for melo imo I'd seriously think about it. As much as I hate him, I wonder if Denver would throw in Chris Andersen for that package. Andersen is not an offensive threat or a great defender, but he is a good shot blocker, runs the floor, etc. I'd rather have Kenyon Martin or Nene, but the Bulls can't afford them. I'd even throw in James Johnson. Noah, Deng, Johnson, 2011 #1 pick, 2013 #1 pick. for Melo and Andersen. Rose Brewer Melo Boozer Gibson w/ Korver, Andersen, Kurt Thomas, and Bogans coming off the bench would be slightly better than the current roster to me. That's a horrible bench, we'd have no center, and we're basically just the poor man's Heat in that scenario. If Noah really wants 70 million over 5 years and won't budge, we should trade him. Otherwise, Gar should just hold out and let Anthony force the Nuggets hand.

At this point, it seems more like 2001, when we went 12-4 and got demolished by the Eagles in the playoffs.

I don't see how Noah and Favors are at all similar.

He really doesn't though, and that's probably why casual fans may not like him.

So far in his career, he hasn't really shown an ability to have a high OBP unless it's tied to his average. I have no problem with him focusing on having a high batting average (considering his doubles power has actually increased during his hot streak), but I agree "First rookie to win a batting title" could end up really increasing his salary demands down the road.

2008: .257/.359/.379 2009: .259/.375/.421 2010: .269/.375/.434 Given how consistent he's been, I'm not sure how much playing Fukudome all year would have helped. A team that's interested in him should know what they're going to get by now, and the increased at bats likely wouldn't have impacted his rate stats very much.

That type of info is definitely encouraging. The problem I have with Colvin is that even with that incredible HR/FB rate and some good slugging numbers, he's still not much more than an average hitter. Striking out and hitting the ball on the ground are not ways to be successful as a hitter and Colvin seems prone to both. I think the best improvement we could see from him would be to start hitting more balls in the air and take advantage of the Wrigley Field HR environment. Nobody is asking him to be a superstar. The fact that he could be a starter making almost nothing for the next few years will help this team immensely considering the financial hole they're in with terrible contracts. Given his minor league numbers, it's hard to predict what the Cubs could be getting from him the next few years, but the fact that he can even be considered a starter is a huge improvement from where he was at this time last year.

Why do they have to wait until the end of the year to start making a position switch? are you saying that if they were moving soriano to first, they #1. wouldn't call up a position player to take lee's spot and just go with 24 and #2. put soriano at first immediately? No. But if they want to move someone to first base, it would be smart to start having them take grounders and eventually have them play a few games at first before the season ends. Looks like they're doing that with Colvin.

based on what? His straight as an arrow 99mph heater and his unhittable (read no where near the strike zone) off-speed pitches. How is that worse than a straight as an arrow 95 mph heater with no off-speed pitches?

Why do they have to wait until the end of the year to start making a position switch?

Or, perhaps the Cubs planned all along that the bullpen gig would be temporary. What would make you think that? They talked about him as though he was a starter when they drafted him, and they've groomed him in the minors to be a starter. Seems perfectly reasonable that the longterm plan is still to use him as a starter. Then why do they keep throwing him out as a reliever in a lost season when he clearly needs innings? One of two things will happen: a) he starts next year, and then risks blowing out his arm in 2012, or b) he is in the bullpen for the foreseeable future. Plans involving easing him into the rotation over a few years are simply unrealistic for this organization.

Any hard-throwing relievers with control problems in Low-A?