I'm just wondering what moves you would like to see your respective Chicago baseball team make this off season.
I'm just waiting to put my thoughts on the Sox until they are officially eliminated, it would just feel weird to talk about that before it is official.
lose fukudome, find a right fielder, and one more starter
If I had an unlimited budget, I'd sign OC, CC, and Teixeira and attempt to move Lee for a worthwhile CF.
Realistically:
Sign OC or Furcal
Move Lee for a worthwhile CF
Move Theriot for anything
Sign another big starter...at least go after CC, if you can't get him, try to get Hudson or Garland.
Let Dempster walk and use that money to go after Sabathia
Pitching and defense win in the playoffs. And I don't know why we somehow managed to forget the reason we were so dominant in 03 was because we had an insane top 3 in pitching. When Ryan Dempster is taking the ball for game 1, you know something isn't quite right.
Flames24Rulz Wrote:Pitching and defense win in the playoffs.
People always say that, yet you can't win if you CAN'T SCORE. Lou himself said so during the post-game. You can't win if you score a total of six runs in the series (12 if you count the last two series combined)
You want to win, here is how...
1. Your pitching has to beat their hitting
2. Your hitting has to beat their pitching
3. You must play good defense
4. Smart baserunning
5. Knowing when it is time to replace your pitcher...BEFORE he
gives up even MORE runs
6. Mental preparation
Spudskie Wrote:Flames24Rulz Wrote:Pitching and defense win in the playoffs.
People always say that, yet you can't win if you CAN'T SCORE. Lou himself said so during the post-game. You can't win if you score a total of six runs in the series (12 if you count the last two series combined)
You want to win, here is how...
1. Your pitching has to beat their hitting
2. Your hitting has to beat their pitching
3. You must play good defense
4. Smart baserunning
5. Knowing when it is time to replace your pitcher...BEFORE he
gives up even MORE runs
6. Mental preparation
Right, but game 2 is completely different if we don't give the Dodgers 5-6 outs in the 2nd inning. Theriot makes a play on that grounder that Manny hit in the 5th inning in Game 1, Loney doesn't even bat with the bases loaded.
Right now we have too many guys on this team that are built to win a marathon, but they are way too streaky to depend on in the playoffs. Soriano is the streakiest hitter in the majors and Lee and Ramirez each have insane streaks as well. Ramirez is the only one of those three that has shown that he has any clutch ability in the regular season and he falls apart in the playoffs (besides 03).
The reason I put signing OC or Furcal first is because IMO the SS is the most important position on the field, especially on defense. A good shortstop needs to have excellent range, needs to be able to turn double plays, and needs to have a good arm. Ryan Theriot exhibits NONE of that. Sure he's close to a .300 hitter and he'll get on base, but his SB % is really quite sad and he's only a singles hitter. He's a good #2 hitter, but he can't play on the defensive side. Meanwhile, you sign a guy like Cabrera (the perfect #2 hitter) or Furcal (the perfect leadoff hitter), not only do you get a good bat with either of them but you get one of the better defensive middle infielders in the game.
theroit has the 10th best range factor on baseball of shortstops that had over 100 games played. and the 8th best fielding % of SS who played over 100 games at .975. Theriot is not the problem, its getting singles but hes a SS, thats not a power position (except duting the 'roid era). Furcal has a better RF but a worse FP and only played in 35 games. What do you plan to do at 1st if you move Lee for a CF? Buy a CF, don't trade for one, or keep Johnson there.
nnhsniuhuskies37 Wrote:lose fukudome, find a right fielder, and one more starter
you expect the cubs to eat the remaining $36 million on his contract?
tough question. hard to find any glaring holes after winning 97 games. i dont think just because they sucked for 3 days we need to fire the roster. Going in to the DS Dempster looked like a nice start, who would have thought it would be the 1 game he would walk everyone in the park. I am willing to give Fuk another season, see how he handeles an off season and completes the transition to american baseball.
another solid starter would be great, but they arent going to drop 100+ million on CC, so you have theoretically 3 #1 pitchers (Z, Harden, CC). I see them moving Marshall back to the rotation and we have probabally seen the last of Marquis. We do need to look at middle relief. Howry is aging and had a terrible rollercoaster season, time to replace him. Resign Woody and your back end is solid with Marmol, Wood, and Smarj (if he continues to drow and improve).
I dont think you can find guys who will be better playoff players. Unfortunatley there isnt a stat that determines that. I dont understand how they completely implode that way, but it happens.
mrfdog558 Wrote:tough question. hard to find any glaring holes after winning 97 games. i dont think just because they sucked for 3 days we need to fire the roster. Going in to the DS Dempster looked like a nice start, who would have thought it would be the 1 game he would walk everyone in the park. I am willing to give Fuk another season, see how he handeles an off season and completes the transition to american baseball.
another solid starter would be great, but they arent going to drop 100+ million on CC, so you have theoretically 3 #1 pitchers (Z, Harden, CC). I see them moving Marshall back to the rotation and we have probabally seen the last of Marquis. We do need to look at middle relief. Howry is aging and had a terrible rollercoaster season, time to replace him. Resign Woody and your back end is solid with Marmol, Wood, and Smarj (if he continues to drow and improve).
I dont think you can find guys who will be better playoff players. Unfortunatley there isnt a stat that determines that. I dont understand how they completely implode that way, but it happens.
soriano in the postseason during his career is .213/.263/.299 (Avg/OBP/Slg), w/ 4 home runs in 44 games (w/ NYY & CHC). he is a good player, but so far he is hardly a "better playoff player". and i think at this point in his career, he is a "what you see is what you get" type player.
Gotta break up the righty power hitters some how....It proved this postseason that the Cubs need more lefties in there lineup.
A top FA choice for me would be Mark Teixiera. But it'll be a long shot. He'd be the lefty power hitter the Cubs been in search of for years. Then trade DLee for some more pitching (but he's got a notrade clause).
I'd love to see Brandon Lyon in a Cubs uni too. Can never have enough relief pitching, and if Wood isn't resigned, him and Marmol can battle it out for the closer role. This team needs middle relief as well. Cotts and Shark are definites for the team next year. Hopefully Guzman, Ceda and Ascanio can step up and fill some voids.
The most interesting position to be filled will be CF. I dont see Edmonds coming back. Maybe Johnson will be back, but I dont think Lou knows that he is on the team, so he'll just be on the bench.
But it all depends on who the new owners will be
its hard to believe that this season is over.....I watched season highlights and playoff lowlights all day today, and damn, that was a bad idea. Made me alot more depressed. Lundeens made a killing off of me this week.
HuskieRak Wrote:Gotta break up the righty power hitters some how....It proved this postseason that the Cubs need more lefties in there lineup.
A top FA choice for me would be Mark Teixiera. But it'll be a long shot. He'd be the lefty power hitter the Cubs been in search of for years. Then trade DLee for some more pitching (but he's got a notrade clause).
I'd love to see Brandon Lyon in a Cubs uni too. Can never have enough relief pitching, and if Wood isn't resigned, him and Marmol can battle it out for the closer role. This team needs middle relief as well. Cotts and Shark are definites for the team next year. Hopefully Guzman, Ceda and Ascanio can step up and fill some voids.
The most interesting position to be filled will be CF. I dont see Edmonds coming back. Maybe Johnson will be back, but I dont think Lou knows that he is on the team, so he'll just be on the bench.
But it all depends on who the new owners will be
its hard to believe that this season is over.....I watched season highlights and playoff lowlights all day today, and damn, that was a bad idea. Made me alot more depressed. Lundeens made a killing off of me this week.
Gotta re-sign Wood. He was one of the best closers in the league this year. Him and Marmol won us many games this year.