cubsfan26

Then later in the article.. Makes me wonder if he would take Randy Bush, leaving the Cubs without a worthwhile GM. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-081016-chicago-cubs-jim-hendry,0,582070.story Yeah I think there would be interest for Hendry then some think. I know many have not like some of his moves in the past, but even the best GM's make subpar moves.When it comes down to it Hendry has made alot more good moves then bad. Then when you consider he's put a competitive team on the field 5 of 6 years(05 team could have contended for playoff spot without all the injuries) he's been the GM, and has 3 division titles in 6 years. His resume is actually pretty solid, and I can see the Mariners, Blue Jays and a few other teams interested. But I would be surprised if Hendry isn't back, he seems to like it here, and the team is happy with him.

I'd probably offer Blanco 1.5m tops, and hopefully he takes it after overpaying him a bit the last few years, especially with him missing most of 07. I know saving 1.5m isn't a big deal, but that 1.5m could go towards signing a LH reliever or a 6th-7th inning RH reliever, that this team could use. If Blanco decides to go somewere else, then we can possibly sign one of these catchers for 1m or less. Johnny Estrada Toby Hall David Ross MIke Redmond Greg Zaun Vance Wilson

I agree we don't have to go crazy, and get a really good back up catcher. But if we don't bring Blanco back, we need to bring in someone else. Koyle Hill IMO, isn't really a major league player, and just a fill in guy if you have a injury. I'm fine with having a back up catcher who can hit 220-250, but I don't even think Hill can hit 200.

I hope the Cubs don't pick up Blanco 3m option, and kinda don't think they will. When they gave Blanco that deal, they had a subpar defensive catcher in Barrett behind the plate. So I think they felt it was important to have a good defensive catcher on the roster. Now that we have Soto who is a good defensive and offensive catcher, I don't think having a good back up catcher is as important. I do think they will try to resign him, but probably for closer to 1-2m tops.

I expected the Cubs to increase their payroll again, but really the question is how much. Even with losing Howry,Eyre,Lieber, Edmonds,Ward, Dempster, Wood and Blanco that payroll will still be around 120m(with picking up Harden option) right now. The payroll at the end of the season was 130m, so a realistic bump would probably be closer to the 140-142m range. That would probably only let us resign Dempster(or bring in another pitcher),Wood and a few minor pieces. I do expect the Cubs to dump Marquis contract, and that could save them 6-7m. So if they backload Dempster/Wood contracts a bit, that could give them 8-12m to spend on another hitter. So thats probably one LH bat, that will either be a middle infielder or outfielder. To add both or a player who makes 15m plus the payroll might have to be around 150-160m.

i am glad rocco is still playing ball...great story...but i would never want him to come to cubs...are you crazy? I don't see anything wrong with signing Baldelli to a one year deal. If he gets hurt or sucks we get rid of him, whats the worse that happens? The odds are he will never be a quality player or live up to his potential, but why not give it a shot. Who knows maybe he could turn into a good platoon player or more someday.

I would love to get Hermida, and think he's going to be a star hitter one day. If Hendry doesn't have much money to spend this offseason, I just hope he takes a flyer, on a talented young hitter, who has struggled. So if we can trade for Hermida that would be great, but I'd also be willing to give Mark Teahan or Rocco Baldelli a shot as well. Maybe we can get lucky like Kenny Williams did with Carlos Quentin. Just add them to the mix with Pie, Hoffpauir and Fukudome. If they all fail, we still could use Johnson in CF against LH pitching, and DeRosa in RF and play Fontenot at 2b.

Thats easy, because the veterans on the 03 team could hit in the postseason Here's what some guys did over those 12 games Mosies Alou-388/423/974- 2 HR and 8 RBI Kenny Lofton-308/368/714 Sammy Sosa-262/426/889- 2 HR and 7 RBI Eric Karros-310/355/872-2 HR and 2 RBI Randall Simon-333/333/916-1 HR and 6 RBI Alex Gonzalez-275/341/966-4 HR and 8 RBI Aramis Ramirez-250/353/944-4 HR and 10 RBI Everybody pretty much hit that postseason besides Mark Grudzielanek and Damian Miller. Now here's what the 07-08 Cubs did. Derrek Lee-435/480/1045-0 HR and 0 RBI-07/08 Mark DeRosa-333/391/1062-1 HR and 4 RBI-07/08 Then pretty much everybody else sucked in 07/08 Soriano-107/138/245-0 HR, 0 RBI-07/08 Ramirez-087/160/290-0 HR, 0 RBI-07/08 Theriot-261/320/587,0 HR, 0 RBI-07/08 Soto-176/300/712-1 HR, 2 RBI-07/08 Jacque Jones-222/417/750-0 HR, 0 RBI- 2007 Jim Edmonds-200/200/500-0 HR, 1 RBI- 2008 Cliff Floyd- 0 for 5, 2 Walks/ Matt Murton 1 for 4-2007 Kosuke Fukudome- 100/100/200-2008 It's very very hard to win a playoff series, when your line-up basically has two guys hitting. Ramirez/Soriano flopped last postseason, and were just as bad this postseason. Even Soto did poorly this postseason, but he might not have been 100 percent healthy either. IMO Soriano/Ramirez don't do well being the guys expected to come through in the playoffs, and try way too hard to make things happen and they struggle. Soriano did well in the playoffs in 01, hitting 9th for the Yankees, and Ramirez did well in 03, but he also had guys hitting around him, so he didn't have the pressure to carry the team either. So we either need to add another leadoff hitter and middle of the order hitter to play with these guys, or Soriano/Ramirez need to start hitting in the playoffs. If neither of those things happen, this team is going to have the same struggles every postseason.

I don't see how the Cubs have three favorable pitching matchups in Games 3-4-5. Game 3, certainly, but that's a no brainer. Game 4 the Cubs would if the Dodgers throw Maddux but Lilly-Lowe isn't in our favor. Same goes for Billingsley-Dempster/Z in Game 5. It could be (we'll see how Billingsley does tonight) but right now it doesn't look like a matchup in the Cubs' favor. I agree Lilly vs Lowe on short rest is in our favor or at least even, and even if we lose that game. I still like our chances with Dempster on the mound in game 5 vs Billingsley. Dempster has been too good this season to pitch crappy in back to back starts. Of course if Lou decides to pitch Zambrano vs Billingsley in game five, then I don't think we will be the favorites. Because Zambrano has been very inconsistent for months, luckly for tonight he's about due for a good game. But I wouldn't have the same confidence in him on Tuesday.

I think the winner of this game tonight will win the series. If the Dodgers win they will probably win the series in 3 or 4 games. If the Cubs win tonight, I like their chances of winning 2 of the next 3 games with Harden, Lilly and Dempster going. So IMO the season is on the line tonight, and we need Zambrano to step up big time. Personally I actually have confidence that he will step up and pitch good tonight. I think the rest will do him some good, and he's going to have his good stuff tonight. I'm feeling a 4-1 win, with 7 IP, 1 earned run from Zambrano, and getting 3 runs off Billingsley in 5 IP, and another run off their pen.

I thought the 03 Marlins lost game one on the road, and won the next three games to win the series.

This is the Cubs we are talking about right, not the Rays, Red Sox or Angels who are all better than them? When did Sabathia, Lincecum, Halladay or Santana get traded to the Cubs? Lilly has looked better lately, that is for sure Dont' see how this matters much Yeah the Cubs do well with a lead late. Who says the Rays, Angels or Red Sox are all better than them? Only the Angels have a better record then them and they play in a crap division. On paper/stat wise were the Cubs are best team in baseball. So obviously thats your opinion only, and a very poor one. But we can't expect a Brewers fan to know a good team when he see's one. The Cubs do have Rich Harden going, who might not be able to go as deep in games as Sabathia, Lincecum, Halladay or Santana, but his numbers are all better then those guys. So I'd take my chances with him going 6, and turning the game over to Marmol and Wood. Lilly has a 3.33 era in the second half, and is 17-6 with a 3.65 era since April 21st. So if Zambrano can pitch the way he's capable of pitching tomorrow and we can win, this series is far from over. :scratch: That was a little harsh... Your right that was a little harsh, and I'm sorry about that. I shouldn't have attacked all Brewers fans. But he picked the wrong night to come on the Cubs board, and say negative things about our team. It would be one thing if he actually had facts or stats to back up his comments, but they were his opinion only, and it's not needed when the Cubs just lost a big playoff game.

This is the Cubs we are talking about right, not the Rays, Red Sox or Angels who are all better than them? When did Sabathia, Lincecum, Halladay or Santana get traded to the Cubs? Lilly has looked better lately, that is for sure Dont' see how this matters much Yeah the Cubs do well with a lead late. Who says the Rays, Angels or Red Sox are all better than them? Only the Angels have a better record then them and they play in a crap division. On paper/stat wise were the Cubs are best team in baseball. So obviously thats your opinion only, and a very poor one. But we can't expect a Brewers fan to know a good team when he see's one. The Cubs do have Rich Harden going, who might not be able to go as deep in games as Sabathia, Lincecum, Halladay or Santana, but his numbers are all better then those guys. So I'd take my chances with him going 6, and turning the game over to Marmol and Wood. Lilly has a 3.33 era in the second half, and is 17-6 with a 3.65 era since April 21st. So if Zambrano can pitch the way he's capable of pitching tomorrow and we can win, this series is far from over.

Well one thing to keep in mind, is the Cubs actually hit Billingsley pretty well in one start this year. I believe he has 4.91 era against the Cubs in two starts.

I believe Zambrano has given up 4 runs or more in 10 of his 30 starts. The bad thing is 5 of those 10 games, happen since August 9th. Tomorrow is do or die for the Cubs, if Zambrano can get a win, you still feel ok about the series. I know the odds are bad for teams that lose game one. But most teams don't have pitchers like Harden and Lilly going in game 3 and 4 either.

23 of 26 teams(according to TBS) that won game 1 of the NLDS, ended up winning the series. So tonight is a huge game, please win Cubs!!

I dunno why, but for whatever reason I think Fukudome might do ok in the postseason. I'm curious why Lou made the line-up switch, I wonder if Fukudome hit Lowe well earlier in the season, and Theriot has struggled against him? I'm sure Lou must have some type of reason.

I heard the line-up is Soriano Fukudome Lee Ramirez Soto Edmonds DeRosa Theriot Dempster

I'm putting all my cards on the table here. If the Cubs let me down this season, I dunno if I will ever be as excited for another Cubs season again. This is the best Cubs team and most complete Cubs team I have ever seen. They have had a great regular season and a ton of things have gone well for them. Realisticly that type of success will be very hard to repeat next season and beyond. So this will most likely be their best shot at it for a while. So if they end up losing in the NLDS or even NLCS, I think it will take a few seasons for me to get over it, and probably a while before I get really excited about another Cubs team. SO PLEASE Cubs don't let me down.

I understand people are upset that Ward is on the roster over Hoffpauir. But there was almost no way that Lou was gonna put Hoffpauir on the roster over Ward. The battle was always between Pie and Hoffpauir. Ward spot was almost a lock, because Lou likes his experience, and that he is use to pinch hitting, while Hoffpauir is use to playing everyday with very little amount of experience. I'm not saying it was the right move, and as others pointed out Ward is overrated as a pinch hitter in his career, but this is the kinda move Piniella is gonna make with his bench.

The Dodgers went into September 67-70, and went on to go 17-8 in September to finsh 84-78. This is a huge reason why it happen, and probably the reason why their offensive numbers improved so much with Manny. Pitchers starting in games they won in Padres-Cha Seung Baek Padres-Wade LeBlanc-three times Padres-Chris Young Diamondbacks-Dan Haren Diamondbacks-Brandon Webb Diamondbakcs-Max Scherezer Padres-Shawn Estes- twice Rockies-Jeff Francis Rockies-Jorge De La Rosa Pirates-Ross Ohlendorff Pirates-Jeff Karstens Pirates-Paul Maholm- beat Pirates pen Giants-Brad Hennessey- beat Giants pen Giants-Matt Cain(won 2-1) Pitchers starting in games they lost in Padres-Cha Seung Baek Rockies-Aaron Cook- Rockies pen got win Pirates-Zach Duke- Pirates pen got the win Giants-Barry Zito Padres-Jake Peavy Giants-Matt Cain- Giants pen got the win Giants-Brad Hennessey- Giants pen got the win Giants-Tim Lincecum So other then beating Haren and Webb, the Dodgers have beat up on crap pitching or struggling pitchers. But other then Haren/Webb they still haven't hit good pitching very well recently. So that could be a good sign with Dempster, Zambrano, Harden and Lilly going.

It would be different if Sheets was healthy. The thought of Sabathia - Sheets - Gallardo all 100% healthy in a playoff series is still disturbing to me. That's like Prior - Wood - Zambrano from 2003, except twice as good. Lucky for us, that won't be the case this year. Sheets said he's out for the season. Sabathia is gonna run out of gas at some point, and Gallardo probably won't be back at full strength to the NLCS or World Series. I don't think Sabathia/Sheets/Gallardo is twice as good as Prior/Wood/Zambrano either. Prior was every bit as good as Sabathia is right now. Sheets and Wood were pretty simliar, and Gallardo might be as good as Zambrano was then. But we don't really know yet, because he hasn't had a fullseason in the majors yet.

If Lohse is getting 4 year at 41m, the cheapest we will probably get Dempster back at is for something like 4 year at 48m. For Dempster to sign that type of contract he would probably have to be giving the Cubs a home town discount(which I think he would be willing to do). But on the open market Dempster will get alot more then that, especially if he pitches well in the postseason. Right now I'm pretty 50/50 about Dempster coming back next year. I'm concerned that this could be a fluke season, but at the same time the guy always had good stuff, so many he finally figured it out. But the main reason why I want him, back is because letting him go would weaken our rotation alot. Rich Harden can get hurt at anytime, and Zambrano has had two non ace like seasons in a row now.

I think the starting pitching will be good, and Marmol/Wood should be just fine. This series is gonna depend on how well we hit the ball, and if our starters don't go 7, who pitches the 6th and 7th. So if we hit like we did against the D-backs last year, we could easily get beat by this team. It never really mattered who we played in the playoffs, because were better then everybody in the NL. It all depends on how we play.

Dodgers Pros: Mediocre offense outside of Manny, only 84 wins in a bad division. Cons: Derek Lowe is red hot, and the Cubs have struggled against him this year. Chad Billingsley is pretty good as well, and the Cubs struggled against Kuroda in two starts this year. Plus they have a pretty good bullpen, with good depth. Mets Pros: Bad bullpen with no closer, Pelfrey, Perez and Martinez are beatable. Cons: Jonah Santana is very good and you might have to face him in twice in a five game series. Line-up is pretty strong 1-6. The Mets looked pretty crappy against us this week, so I'm kinda leaning towards wanting to play them. Plus that will also knock the Brewers out of the playoffs which is good. The Dodgers just scare me a little bit right now, we haven't hit their starters very well. They have a good bullpen, and Manny is just awesome right now. I'm scared of possibly losing a three low scoring games to them.