champaignchris
-
Posts
1,682 -
Joined
-
Last visited
-
Days Won
1
Content Type
Profiles
Joomla Posts 1
Chicago Cubs Videos
Chicago Cubs Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits
2026 Chicago Cubs Top Prospects Ranking
News
2023 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks
Guides & Resources
2024 Chicago Cubs Draft Picks
The Chicago Cubs Players Project
2025 Chicago Cubs Draft Pick Tracker
2026 Chicago Cubs Draft Tracker: Picks & Bonuses
Blogs
Events
Forums
Store
Gallery
Everything posted by champaignchris
-
I'm not trying to rag on Pie, Theriot or anyone else. I'm thinking more long term than that. In the mid- to late-eighties the Cubs actually did a pretty good job of developing major league starter caliber position players, highlighted by Shawon Dunston, Rafael Palmeiro, Mark Grace, and Joe Girardi. Since 1990 they have managed to develope nobody. I'm not exaggerating. Nobody. All of their good position players have been acquired through trade or free agency. Seriously, take a look back at the rosters... Rey Sanchez, who came up with the Cubs in 1991 (but was actually a Rangers draft pick) is pretty easily the best of the bunch. After him, you have Corey Patterson and Doug Glanville. And then who? Rick Wilkens? Derrick May? I can't even think of anyone that came up through the Cubs system and then went on to be good for another team. As it stands, Soto, Pie, Cedeno, Fontenot, Theriot and Murton are probably the most impressive group of position prospects the Cubs have had in close to 20 years (to the extent that Fontenot and Murton can even be considered Cubs' prospects). How sad is that! CHUMP EDIT - 1993>1991
-
Before the 1993 season, after years of bungling a great crop of young talent culminating in Maddux signing with the Braves, I said I was done with the Cubs. I went out and bought a Braves hat and swore I'd never root for the jokers again. That lasted about until Spring training broke. Who'd have thunk that Ric Wilkens and Jaimme Navarro would eventually lead the Cubs to a scintilating 84-78 season! I say that sarcastically, but 84-78 probably makes the playoffs in 2008. Hope springs eternal!!! Other people might be able to convert to other teams. I cannot. I will always be a Cubs fan, for better or worse. Usually worse.
-
As for Wagner, he's #7 in saves, with some years left. If he can get 60 more saves before he retires, he'll get up to #5. The only guy with a better career ERA among the top 65 in career saves is Rivera. Wagner's got 30 more saves (and counting), a better winning percentage, and an ERA .6 better in 120 more innings pitched than Percival. With the recent additions of Sutter and Gossage, and assuming Hoffman and Rivera are absolute locks, the next reliever in would have to be either Wagner or Quisenberry (who would have to be a veteran committee addition). I also think Wagner will get some bonus points for being a relatively diminutive left handed fire-baller. Don't see too many of those. As for Omar Vizquel... 2600 hits and 11 Gold Gloves. He compares pretty favorably to Aparicio, Reese, and Ozzie Smith. Rizzuto doesn't hold a candle to him.
-
First post! My favorite barroom game to play with my baseball watchin' friends is "Who's in?" Here's my list of those who were active last year... Clemons (assuming steroids don't keep him out) Maddux Glavine R. Johnson Smoltz Pedro Hoffman M. Rivera B. Wagner C. Biggio B. Bonds (assuming steroids don't keep him out) Omar Vizquel K. Griffey G. Sheffield I. Rodriguez F. Thomas S. Sosa D. Jeter J. Kent A Rod M. Ramirez M. Piazza V. Guerrerro Pujols and Ichiro each need about 3 more years of play at the level they've shown over the last three or four years. If Ichiro can get 3 more years of 200 hits, that'd be 10 straight years of at least 200 hits at age 37. With a career batting average in the .330's, that'd have to make him a mortal lock. Mussina could have a really nice win total before his career is over. But his ERA wouldn't be all that impressive. He'd basically be a Jack Morris kind of candidate.