The Official 2008 Chicago Cubs Thread!!!!!

PJPAT

he still stands wrote:

He only bats 2nd in any particular inning ONE TIME. During the 2nd through 9th innings he could be the first player to bat in that inning, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and so on.

Get it?

I get it. Thanks for setting me straight. I thought the rules changed or something.

GO CUBS!

he still stands

Theriot leading off... not a prototypical leadoff hitter.

Pie batting in front of the pitcher... won't make life any easier for him.

Rich Hill can't throw strikes this spring.

D Lee is batting .187 with 1 home run.

Can Kerry Wood hold up as the closer?

Scott Eyre is the only LHP in the bullpen... he is 35 and was abhorrent during last year's first half.

Jon Lieber? Really??? Personally I think Sean Marshall should have a spot in the rotation in front of Lieber AND Jason Marquis.

Who backs up Pie in center? It doesn't look like there will be room for Sam Fuld on the roster. I guess its Matt Murton, who I respect immensely, but I don't think his defense is suitable for CF.



But hey... we should be able to get past all the other shitty teams in the Central Division. And anything can happen once you get to the playoffs!!!

he still stands

he still stands wrote:

Jon Lieber? Really??? Personally I think Sean Marshall should have a spot in the rotation in front of Lieber AND Jason Marquis.

Correction... Lou announced today that the rotation will be:

Big Z
Lilly
Dempster
Rich Hill
Marquis

Lieber will be the long-man in the bullpen. I'd rather see the Cubs trade Marquis for a utility outfielder (perhaps Marlon Byrd) and put Sean Marshall in the 5th spot.

YieldInHiding

I joined the I-Cubs "Mug Club" for $30. Got 5 GA tickets, a free beer on Thursday Mug Nights, and discounted beers at Principal Park and other various Des Moines establishments.

We'll miss Felix, Ryan, and Giovanny down on the farm here. :(

mca47

he still stands wrote:

Correction... Lou announced today that the rotation will be:

Big Z
Lilly
Dempster
Rich Hill
Marquis

Lieber will be the long-man in the bullpen. I'd rather see the Cubs trade Marquis for a utility outfielder (perhaps Marlon Byrd) and put Sean Marshall in the 5th spot.

Agreed. I'd take Marshall anyday over Marquis!
All in all, I like out starters this year. If anyone goes down we have Marshall and Lieber to step up who can do so very easily (we haven't had that in a long time!!). Also we have good long and middle relief this year (also something we haven't had).
I think Woody will be a great closer too! His fastball is in the upper 90's and he's got good command (lol, so far).
Can't wait!

SPEEDY MCCREADY

well let me see....

i can see theriot hitting .230-.240
i can see derosa hitting .240-.250(career year last year)
we have a rookie starting catcher????
pie in center???? who might just hit .240......

as i have always said.....in order for a team to contend they have to be strong up the middle.....

this team may win 70-80 games.....

frank coztansa

Speedy needs a cup of the Navy and Red Kool Aid

SPEEDY MCCREADY

frank coztansa wrote:

Speedy needs a cup of the Navy and Red Kool Aid

i dont get it....

hello Frank.....

he still stands

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

well let me see....

i can see theriot hitting .230-.240
i can see derosa hitting .240-.250(career year last year)
we have a rookie starting catcher????
pie in center???? who might just hit .240......

as i have always said.....in order for a team to contend they have to be strong up the middle.....

this team may win 70-80 games.....

Theriot hopefully will do a little better than that and more importantly should have a decent OBP. He is a hell of a baseball player with average talent.

The last two years DeRosa hit .293 and .296 --- so I would say .280 to .300 is more reasonable and a respectable number.

Soto should be pretty good... he was the player of the year last year in AAA and hit .389 last year in 54 at bats. As with any rookie, only time will tell.

Don't disagree with Pie's BA... hopefully he can hit .250 and provide stellar defense (and maybe even 30 SBs... can you imagine... a Cub stealing 30 bases!?!?)

Overall I think this team should win 85 - 95 games with their easy schedule. If they were in the AL they'd be a losing team.

PJPAT

SPEEDY MCCREADY wrote:

well let me see....

i can see theriot hitting .230-.240
i can see derosa hitting .240-.250(career year last year)
we have a rookie starting catcher????
pie in center???? who might just hit .240......

as i have always said.....in order for a team to contend they have to be strong up the middle.....

this team may win 70-80 games.....

Dont be so negative Speedy. Positive thinking brings positive results.

The Cubs will win the World Series this year!!!!

eddievedder1977

he still stands wrote:

Theriot leading off... not a prototypical leadoff hitter.

Pie batting in front of the pitcher... won't make life any easier for him.

Rich Hill can't throw strikes this spring.

D Lee is batting .187 with 1 home run.

Can Kerry Wood hold up as the closer?

Scott Eyre is the only LHP in the bullpen... he is 35 and was abhorrent during last year's first half.

Jon Lieber? Really??? Personally I think Sean Marshall should have a spot in the rotation in front of Lieber AND Jason Marquis.

Who backs up Pie in center? It doesn't look like there will be room for Sam Fuld on the roster. I guess its Matt Murton, who I respect immensely, but I don't think his defense is suitable for CF.

But hey... we should be able to get past all the other shitty teams in the Central Division. And anything can happen once you get to the playoffs!!!

Pie - There was a rumor going around that Lou was supposedly setting Pie up to fail, batting him in front of the pitcher, so he can force Hendry into trading for Roberts. I think thats bullshit, where else can you put Pie until he proves he can actually hit big league pitching. I don't want to pencil him in at the leadoff spot, or any run producing spots just so he sees better pitches than he would in the 8th spot. Take a fucking walk and steal a base if they aren't going to give you much to hit in front of the pitchers. I'd rather have Zambrano batting anyways! By the way, I'm a pessimist when it comes to cubs prospects if you can't tell, he hasn't proven shit, so I'm not giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Theriot - I love this guy. He wasn't even supposed to make the team last year, and he ended up being a huge contributor. Would I rather have him batting 7th or 8th? Of course, but for the guys on the team right now, I can't think of anyone better to put at leadoff than Theriot.

Rotation - Does it really matter what Lou says the rotation is to start things out? Someone will get hurt regardless, and that opens a spot right there. I don't think Dumpster will make it to the 6th inning many times in April/May. If Marshall isn't traded, I can guarantee he'll be in the rotation sooner rather than later. Whether its for an injury, or just a guy tanking like Dumpster or Marquis....or Hill for that matter with as shitty as he's been so far. All be it spring training.

Pen - I'd say its a huge mistake having Wood close, but again, does it matter who is the closer right now, cause we all know this guy is getting hurt and Lou will have to move Marmol or Howry to the closer. And possibly Dumpster back to the pen. Lieber is in the pen now, but he'll start a few games I'm sure. Eyre is out, which opens a spot for Marshall or that other lefty that I always forget how to spell his name. Pignatetopigfucker?

Lineup - Lou used 125 different lineups last year, and I suspect we'll get more of the same this year. Especially with so many unknown factors. He will bounce Fukudome all over the lineup trying to find the "right place for him". I've heard 3 hole, 5 spot, 2 spot, and now fucking leadoff. This guy is more of a proven talent than Pie, but there is still a huge difference between Japan and MLB. I'd much rather have him batting 5th or 6th even, but again I see Lou changing the lineup daily. We'll see Theriot, Fukudome, Soriano, Pie all leading off at some point in the first half of the season.

With that said, I still haven't decided my prediction for this year. They should be better than 500, and can easily contend for the Central.

PJPAT

eddievedder1977

Please see my post to Speedy. Same goes for you!


This is going to be a great year!!!!

eddievedder1977

PJPAT wrote:

eddievedder1977

Please see my post to Speedy. Same goes for you!

This is going to be a great year!!!!

Comon man, I said they should be better than 500 and can easily contend for the Central. How is that negative man? Granted I don't have the best things to say about the rotation, lineup, or bullpen. I'm just trying to be realistic. Not optimistic, not pessimistic, just realistic!

PJPAT

eddievedder1977 wrote:

Comon man, I said they should be better than 500 and can easily contend for the Central. How is that negative man? Granted I don't have the best things to say about the rotation, lineup, or bullpen. I'm just trying to be realistic. Not optimistic, not pessimistic, just realistic!

There was a lot of negativity last year too when I had said they would make the playoffs. They started off slow and the pessimism got worse.

They turned a 66 win season (2006) to an 85 win season (2007)
I can see 90 wins this year and I am being realistic. They should run away with the Central and should have done so last year.

eddievedder1977

PJPAT wrote:

There was a lot of negativity last year too when I had said they would make the playoffs. They started off slow and the pessimism got worse.

They turned a 66 win season (2006) to an 85 win season (2007)
I can see 90 wins this year and I am being realistic. They should run away with the Central and should have done so last year.

I won $350 last year cause I said the Cubs would win 84 games, only off by 1 game. Not that 85 wins is that far over 500, but it was enough to make the playoffs. No reason they can't better that record this year.

he still stands

eddievedder1977 wrote:

Lineup - Lou used 125 different lineups last year, and I suspect we'll get more of the same this year. Especially with so many unknown factors. He will bounce Fukudome all over the lineup trying to find the "right place for him". I've heard 3 hole, 5 spot, 2 spot, and now fucking leadoff. This guy is more of a proven talent than Pie, but there is still a huge difference between Japan and MLB. I'd much rather have him batting 5th or 6th even, but again I see Lou changing the lineup daily. We'll see Theriot, Fukudome, Soriano, Pie all leading off at some point in the first half of the season.

Lou has said he will tinker much less with the lineup this year. Of course only time will tell whether he is serious or just trying to appease the fans. I really don't think Soriano or Fukudome will be leading off for the Cubs much. They got Fukudome to have a lefty in the middle of the lineup and to protect D Lee and Ramirez... and I don't see them straying from that strategy. Soriano won't bat leadoff in the foreseeable future (according to Lou) so he doesn't have to worry about running and potential injury. Right now... Theriot is the man leading off, and I don't think they'll change the lineup as often as last year. Maybe Pie could lead off if he proves himself early on... which he is currently doing in Mesa.

Theriot
Soriano
D Lee
Ramirez
Fukudome
DeRosa
Soto
Pie

he still stands

eddievedder1977... as far as Lou setting up Pie to fail, I don't believe Lou Piniella would do that to ANY player on his roster let alone the best young player in the entire organization. He is an honest man plus he isn't retarded.

PJPAT

Cubs, outfielder Reed Johnson agree to one-year contract


Johnson, 31, is a career .281 hitter (585-for-2083) with 114 doubles, 14 triples, 42 home runs, and a .342 on-base percentage in all or part of five Major League seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (2003-07) covering 610 games. He has excelled in his career vs. left-handed pitching, batting .308 (216-for-701) with a .371 on-base percentage and a .462 slugging percentage vs. southpaws.

The right-handed batter and thrower has batted in the leadoff spot in 394 games, batting .290 (443-for-1526) with a .353 on-base percentage, and batted in the second spot in the order in 104 games, posting a .273 batting average. He has seen action in 398 games in left field, 197 games in right and 64 games in center.

In his last full Major League season with the Blue Jays in 2006, Johnson batted .319 (147-for-461) with 86 runs scored, 34 doubles, 12 home runs, a .390 on-base percentage and a .479 slugging percentage in 134 games, all career bests. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder missed more than three months last season due to surgery on April 17 to correct a herniated disc in his lower back. He batted .236 in only 79 contests, though still hit .325 (25-for-77) with a .381 on-base percentage vs. left-handed pitching.

he still stands

PJPAT wrote:

Cubs, outfielder Reed Johnson agree to one-year contract


Johnson, 31, is a career .281 hitter (585-for-2083) with 114 doubles, 14 triples, 42 home runs, and a .342 on-base percentage in all or part of five Major League seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (2003-07) covering 610 games. He has excelled in his career vs. left-handed pitching, batting .308 (216-for-701) with a .371 on-base percentage and a .462 slugging percentage vs. southpaws.

The right-handed batter and thrower has batted in the leadoff spot in 394 games, batting .290 (443-for-1526) with a .353 on-base percentage, and batted in the second spot in the order in 104 games, posting a .273 batting average. He has seen action in 398 games in left field, 197 games in right and 64 games in center.

In his last full Major League season with the Blue Jays in 2006, Johnson batted .319 (147-for-461) with 86 runs scored, 34 doubles, 12 home runs, a .390 on-base percentage and a .479 slugging percentage in 134 games, all career bests. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder missed more than three months last season due to surgery on April 17 to correct a herniated disc in his lower back. He batted .236 in only 79 contests, though still hit .325 (25-for-77) with a .381 on-base percentage vs. left-handed pitching.

Interesting... this guy isn't too bad of a pick up... if he can come back from his back injury. Johnson has played quite a bit of CF in his career so he fills that backup CF problem we were talking about yesterday.

PJPAT

he still stands wrote:

Interesting... this guy isn't too bad of a pick up... if he can come back from his back injury. Johnson has played quite a bit of CF in his career so he fills that backup CF problem we were talking about yesterday.

He bats at the top of the order too.