And then there was one!
One day until the Cub's pitchers and catchers report for duty.
I am excited for the Cubs, but I am still not predicting a World Series berth just yet. Personally, I think we are about two position players and a pitcher away from that. I could be wrong if (IF) Mark Prior actually pitches 180 + innings this year. If Lilly benefits from switching to the NL, like I think he will. If Rich Hill is the September Rich Hill and not the June Rich Hill. If Dempster throws like a closer, or someone else does. If Carlos Zambrano is Carlos Zambrano then maybe the pitching thing is there already. However, did you count the number of ifs there?
In terms of the team we are fielding there are way too many question marks. At SS we have Cesar (A-Gonz II) Iztiris. The other middle infield spot has DeRosa at 2B, but I am not counting on him repeating his contract year of 2006. However he is versatile. I would like to see Theriot get 300 ABs with DeRosa filling in around the infield and outfield as needed. I hope Pinella sticks to his plan for LF. How do you platoon with a rightie who hits right-handed pitching better than the left-handed batter? In RF I hope that Jones stays and puts up numbers similar to last year's. He may improve if we let Floyd hit lefties in right sometimes because Jones is one of the only players on the team who hits lefites worse than the "Hometown Hero"
Overall, I like the Soriano signing. I think he will fit in well in CF, but I don’t want him batting leadoff. Maybe I am just old fashion, but I like when my leadoff hitters get on base.
In terms of managing, I was disappointed that Rothschild is still wearing Cubs blue. Pinella will be fun, I hope the team plays fundamentally sound, but for the long-term I would have preferred Girardi. That said the Cubs are playing for the short term and if any manager could take the Cubs to the playoffs (other than the inexplicably unemployed Cito Gaston) it is Pinella.
I love how Jennie Craig has attacked our pen. Dempster dropped 35 pounds and Wood has dropped 30. This may help Wood stay healthy and while some people see Wood as a closer, I wouldn't fall of my chair due to shock if he works his way back into the rotation if there are injuries and pitching out of the pen is wearing on his shoulder.
I hope Pie stays in AAA and avoids being the next CPatt. Did I mention that I hope that Theriot gets at least 300 ABs. Finally, I really hope A-Ram doesn’t get the “just signed a big contract sleeps”. He seems like he has a bit more competitive drive than Adrian Beltre, but you never know.
Finally, I hope Ohman stays with the club and continues devastating left-handers across the league. I think he needs a monster spring training to do it and I guess we may know more tomorrow. (Spring Training FINALLY!!!)
All in all. I don't think this team will prevent the drought from reaching the 100 year plateau, but I wouldn't sell them short . . . well not at least until Spring Training starts. Did I mention that is tomorrow?
I am excited for the Cubs, but I am still not predicting a World Series berth just yet. Personally, I think we are about two position players and a pitcher away from that. I could be wrong if (IF) Mark Prior actually pitches 180 + innings this year. If Lilly benefits from switching to the NL, like I think he will. If Rich Hill is the September Rich Hill and not the June Rich Hill. If Dempster throws like a closer, or someone else does. If Carlos Zambrano is Carlos Zambrano then maybe the pitching thing is there already. However, did you count the number of ifs there?
In terms of the team we are fielding there are way too many question marks. At SS we have Cesar (A-Gonz II) Iztiris. The other middle infield spot has DeRosa at 2B, but I am not counting on him repeating his contract year of 2006. However he is versatile. I would like to see Theriot get 300 ABs with DeRosa filling in around the infield and outfield as needed. I hope Pinella sticks to his plan for LF. How do you platoon with a rightie who hits right-handed pitching better than the left-handed batter? In RF I hope that Jones stays and puts up numbers similar to last year's. He may improve if we let Floyd hit lefties in right sometimes because Jones is one of the only players on the team who hits lefites worse than the "Hometown Hero"
Overall, I like the Soriano signing. I think he will fit in well in CF, but I don’t want him batting leadoff. Maybe I am just old fashion, but I like when my leadoff hitters get on base.
In terms of managing, I was disappointed that Rothschild is still wearing Cubs blue. Pinella will be fun, I hope the team plays fundamentally sound, but for the long-term I would have preferred Girardi. That said the Cubs are playing for the short term and if any manager could take the Cubs to the playoffs (other than the inexplicably unemployed Cito Gaston) it is Pinella.
I love how Jennie Craig has attacked our pen. Dempster dropped 35 pounds and Wood has dropped 30. This may help Wood stay healthy and while some people see Wood as a closer, I wouldn't fall of my chair due to shock if he works his way back into the rotation if there are injuries and pitching out of the pen is wearing on his shoulder.
I hope Pie stays in AAA and avoids being the next CPatt. Did I mention that I hope that Theriot gets at least 300 ABs. Finally, I really hope A-Ram doesn’t get the “just signed a big contract sleeps”. He seems like he has a bit more competitive drive than Adrian Beltre, but you never know.
Finally, I hope Ohman stays with the club and continues devastating left-handers across the league. I think he needs a monster spring training to do it and I guess we may know more tomorrow. (Spring Training FINALLY!!!)
All in all. I don't think this team will prevent the drought from reaching the 100 year plateau, but I wouldn't sell them short . . . well not at least until Spring Training starts. Did I mention that is tomorrow?
posted by Matthew Perry at 10:11 AM
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