The Cubs offense, even with Garciaparra is disjointed--free swingers with no set up men. No leadoff man. Too many holes. Wood is average, Prior isn't close to what is was last year, Zambrano is a time bomb. Clement is best pitcher, but they never score runs for him. No closer. They can't even buy a pennant.
Wood has looked great lately,Prior is still in spring training,he'll be all right by Sept. I don't know of a pitching staff I'd take over the Cubs.Lineup might be abunch of swingers but the results I believe will improve. Not that many good Nl offenses besides Cards. Pitching wins Cubs wing
One of the factors that I believe may help the Cubs this year verses last year is that the Cub Aces Wood and Prior were kinda worn down by the end of last year's playoffs with a lot of innings pitched late in the season. This year they have been protected more because of their injuries and just might be fresh for the playoffs ! Like I said earlier,.... Start printing those WS tickets now ! I will try to make it to the WS if they ever get that far. We should have a contest for a giveaway of tickets to a WS game if the Cubs ever make it to one ! LOL Pretty safe offer for some Sports Book !
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by arnie's army:
The Cubs offense, even with Garciaparra is disjointed--free swingers with no set up men. No leadoff man. Too many holes. Wood is average, Prior isn't close to what is was last year, Zambrano is a time bomb. Clement is best pitcher, but they never score runs for him. No closer. They can't even buy a pennant. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wood is average? I've seen many descriptions of Kerry Wood, but "average" is not one of them. When he brings his stuff, he is the single most dominant pitcher in the game today. Bar none. After he settled last night, Colorado had no shot.
Disjointed lineup? I dunno. I'll take a collection of bombers. Nomar/Sosa/Ramirez/Lee/Alou -- find me a better 2-6. Add in Patterson, Walker and Barrett and they're ALL cpable of 20+ HR. And all better than .270 hitters. I'll take it.
The Cubs offense, even with Garciaparra is disjointed--free swingers with no set up men. No leadoff man. Too many holes. Wood is average, Prior isn't close to what is was last year, Zambrano is a time bomb. Clement is best pitcher, but they never score runs for him. No closer. They can't even buy a pennant. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Wood is average? I've seen many descriptions of Kerry Wood, but "average" is not one of them. When he brings his stuff, he is the single most dominant pitcher in the game today. Bar none. After he settled last night, Colorado had no shot.
Disjointed lineup? I dunno. I'll take a collection of bombers. Nomar/Sosa/Ramirez/Lee/Alou -- find me a better 2-6. Add in Patterson, Walker and Barrett and they're ALL cpable of 20+ HR. And all better than .270 hitters. I'll take it.
And he has more K's than any pitcher ever after....not sure...I think maybe it was their first 100 starts, or something like that. Or maybe it was fastest to 1000 K's. In any case, numbers aside, he has devastating stuff. Ask some of the hitters around the NL of who has the nastiest stuff, Wood is going to be right at the top of the list.
here is why the cubs won't win:
1) lineup is too right-handed. a good righty can hold this team down.
2) while there is a lot of pop in the lineup, no one can take a walk. this team has no leadoff hitter and a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. they could hit 4 homers and lose 5-4.
3) the starters are the best in baseball...no question. but, the bullpen is average at best. this will bite them in the ass at some point...just watch.
4) dusty baker. has there ever been a more overrated manager? if so, i'd love to hear it.
1) lineup is too right-handed. a good righty can hold this team down.
2) while there is a lot of pop in the lineup, no one can take a walk. this team has no leadoff hitter and a bunch of guys who swing for the fences. they could hit 4 homers and lose 5-4.
3) the starters are the best in baseball...no question. but, the bullpen is average at best. this will bite them in the ass at some point...just watch.
4) dusty baker. has there ever been a more overrated manager? if so, i'd love to hear it.
Getting Nomar and keeping Clement did not hurt their chances. I think Dodgers screwed up big time. Cubs most likely have to get in as wild card. They have a unbalanced lineup, as far as hitting, not a lot of speed and obp. I did not see a post above that even mentioned Greg Maddux. You know that soon to be 300 game winner, hall of fame first ballot guy. Zambrano, Wood, Prior, Maddux with plenty of depth. Probably best staff in NL. Only problem, they cannot beat the Cards. If they can somehow sidestep or avoid them, would be easier. 10-1 to win it all is good at this juncture. Problem is, 9 1/2 games back of own division. As far as Yankees, they could blow up at any time, and not even make series. I still say A's rotation is the best. Except for Sarloos
. Might be opportunity to get decent odds on world series winner, again. Best Wishes...OF
lefties: remlinger, rusch, mercker
righties: hawkins, farnsworth, leicester (or dempster or borowski
It's not bad. Plus, I suppose at least one of the starters will be pushed to the pen in the playoffs. More than sufficient. Was Florida's pen anything special last year? Nahhh. Lots of teams have bullpen issues. Oakland certainly does, but they still may overcome it.
Blue, as to (1), it's odd. I see people say that the Cubs suck against lefties. Now, you say a good righty holds them down. Well, it can't be both. We know this team can hit, and it's gotta either be against righties or lefties or both. Good righties can hit righties. The left/right thing is overrated unless you are lefty-dominant team with hitters that have trouble vs. those lefties.
As for taking a walk, that's true to an extent. But it's just one component. It's also why I like Walker in there at the top of the lineup, and why D. Lee would be my #2. The most patient hitters on the team.
Dusty? I dunno. I curse him all the time, but his teams have always performed best in the 2nd half of seasons and in general he's had good success. Not saying he's the best manager around, but he's definitely not the worst either.
righties: hawkins, farnsworth, leicester (or dempster or borowski
It's not bad. Plus, I suppose at least one of the starters will be pushed to the pen in the playoffs. More than sufficient. Was Florida's pen anything special last year? Nahhh. Lots of teams have bullpen issues. Oakland certainly does, but they still may overcome it.
Blue, as to (1), it's odd. I see people say that the Cubs suck against lefties. Now, you say a good righty holds them down. Well, it can't be both. We know this team can hit, and it's gotta either be against righties or lefties or both. Good righties can hit righties. The left/right thing is overrated unless you are lefty-dominant team with hitters that have trouble vs. those lefties.
As for taking a walk, that's true to an extent. But it's just one component. It's also why I like Walker in there at the top of the lineup, and why D. Lee would be my #2. The most patient hitters on the team.
Dusty? I dunno. I curse him all the time, but his teams have always performed best in the 2nd half of seasons and in general he's had good success. Not saying he's the best manager around, but he's definitely not the worst either.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by blue edwards:
d2, i am just trying to be the voice of reason in the midst of the cub kool-aid drinking masses.
if they do win the wild card, it will be because of the starters, imo. the only game i will be hoping for a cub victory is 9/15. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
blue, I think non-Cubs fans have dipped into the kool-aid. Maybe, just maybe, this year's kool-aid batch isn't artificially sweetened, ya know?
Anyway, I don't think you have too much to worry about with your season under wins (U93.5, right?). They'd have to go 36-20 from here on out to beat you. IMO the Cubs have a better chance of winning the World Series than of going to 36-20 or of winning the division (or Sosa hitting 47 HR's
They will win the Wild Card with 90 to 92 wins. I'll take a stab with 91-71, beating out SD and SF, each by 4 games. STL wins the division at 98-64 and then promptly loses to the Braves in 4 games as the Cubs whip the Dodgers in....3. I'll take my kool-aid cherry flavored.
d2, i am just trying to be the voice of reason in the midst of the cub kool-aid drinking masses.
if they do win the wild card, it will be because of the starters, imo. the only game i will be hoping for a cub victory is 9/15. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
blue, I think non-Cubs fans have dipped into the kool-aid. Maybe, just maybe, this year's kool-aid batch isn't artificially sweetened, ya know?
Anyway, I don't think you have too much to worry about with your season under wins (U93.5, right?). They'd have to go 36-20 from here on out to beat you. IMO the Cubs have a better chance of winning the World Series than of going to 36-20 or of winning the division (or Sosa hitting 47 HR's
They will win the Wild Card with 90 to 92 wins. I'll take a stab with 91-71, beating out SD and SF, each by 4 games. STL wins the division at 98-64 and then promptly loses to the Braves in 4 games as the Cubs whip the Dodgers in....3. I'll take my kool-aid cherry flavored.
it seems some posters here are looking for flaws in this team.I think every team in baseball has a flaw, and as far as the Cubs can't beat the cards, how many of those games this year involved Prior or Wood. Not to many that I remember. Cubs could lose the division by 12 games but I would still take Cubs over Cards in playoffs. Starting pitching will be fresh and Cards arms will be tired by then. I like Cubs chances
Cubs center fielder Corey Patterson is a bust so far. He's batting .273 with a lifetime average of .263 ! Good god man, this is a center fielder who is usually a team's best or at least a damn good hitter ! He has been pathetic and should be sent back to the little league until He learns how to hit !
Red Eye,
Actually this is Patterson fifth year as He broke into the majors in 2000. I really don't care about excuses.... that's what the minor leagues are for and that is where He belongs.
. 263 lifetime and even now in his 5 th. year He is a center fielder batting only .273
I remember Derek Jeter and He spent about 3 years in the minors batting over .300
Actually this is Patterson fifth year as He broke into the majors in 2000. I really don't care about excuses.... that's what the minor leagues are for and that is where He belongs.
. 263 lifetime and even now in his 5 th. year He is a center fielder batting only .273
I remember Derek Jeter and He spent about 3 years in the minors batting over .300
