The new season starts now
The free agency period has started and there are many Cub rumors out there.
This morning I read that Juan Pierre is close to becoming a Cub for two minor league players. The only thing I worry about is whom we give up in such a deal. Pierre is an upgrade to Corey Patterson, but he is total answer. We still need another quality OF to go with Matt Murton (and that is if the Cubs go in that direction).
If I had to guess right the lineup would look like this heading into 2006:
1. Pierre
2. Walker
3. Lee
4. A. Ramirez
5. FA OF
6. Barrett
7. Murton
8. Cedeno
That is assuming that we don't get another shortstop in FA. I am still not sure we will land Rafael Furcal. If we land Furcal then things chance quite a bit. Probably something like this.
1. Pierre
2. Furcal
3. Lee
4. Ramirez
5. FA OF
6. Barrett
7. Murton
8. Cedeno
In this situation Todd Walker is traded to pick up another OF from somebody. Of course our biggest fear at this point would be Neifi Perez getting to start at SS in either situation. Injuries are one thing, but not at least bringing a starter is out of the question. We also still have Jerry Hairston in the mix, so there are still many things that could happen. After the first domino falls things will start to get clearer.
The pitching situation is really up in the air also. It seems like Jim Hendry is going to stockpile arms. If I had to guess these five pitchers would make up our opening day rotation.
1. Zambrano
2. Prior
3. Wood
4. Maddux
5. Rusch
That leaves Jerome Williams, Rich Hill and host of others guy on the outside. Rusch looks better as a starter, but Williams looked good down the stretch for the most part. I would rather this problem, and then not have enough pitching. The main thing is Kerry Wood going to be healthy? If he is our staff gets a boost right there. Also I am worried every year that Zambrano is heading to arm problems, but maybe he can take the work.
The bullpen is just a cloudy as the FA period begins. The Cubs for the most part have gone with 12 pitchers the last couple of years. So that means we need seven relievers. Right now Ryan Dempster is the only sure thing.
1. Dempster
2. Novoa
3. Ohman
4. Wuertz
Those four guys will be back and that leaves three spots left. Scott Williamson had his option picked up, and hopefully after some rest he will be the Williamson of old. That would be a huge lift to the pen. Before his arm went out in Boston in 2005 he had a 1.26 ERA. He also did not five up an earned run in his last eight chances. Jermaine Van Buren is another option. He only had six innings for a team that was heading nowhere. I would have loved to see him get a couple of more chances. You have to figure that either Rusch or Williams will be in the pen if they are not starting. Todd Wellemeyer's has to get some control after a season with a +6 ERA. The Cubs could really upgrade the pen by adding an arm like B.J. Ryan. That would really allow the Cubs to slide everybody down one spot.
Anything can happen, but I have to say right now we could go either way. Once the first move happens that will give us a much better idea of the rest of the off-season. Until keep the faith and Cubs in 2006!!!
This morning I read that Juan Pierre is close to becoming a Cub for two minor league players. The only thing I worry about is whom we give up in such a deal. Pierre is an upgrade to Corey Patterson, but he is total answer. We still need another quality OF to go with Matt Murton (and that is if the Cubs go in that direction).
If I had to guess right the lineup would look like this heading into 2006:
1. Pierre
2. Walker
3. Lee
4. A. Ramirez
5. FA OF
6. Barrett
7. Murton
8. Cedeno
That is assuming that we don't get another shortstop in FA. I am still not sure we will land Rafael Furcal. If we land Furcal then things chance quite a bit. Probably something like this.
1. Pierre
2. Furcal
3. Lee
4. Ramirez
5. FA OF
6. Barrett
7. Murton
8. Cedeno
In this situation Todd Walker is traded to pick up another OF from somebody. Of course our biggest fear at this point would be Neifi Perez getting to start at SS in either situation. Injuries are one thing, but not at least bringing a starter is out of the question. We also still have Jerry Hairston in the mix, so there are still many things that could happen. After the first domino falls things will start to get clearer.
The pitching situation is really up in the air also. It seems like Jim Hendry is going to stockpile arms. If I had to guess these five pitchers would make up our opening day rotation.
1. Zambrano
2. Prior
3. Wood
4. Maddux
5. Rusch
That leaves Jerome Williams, Rich Hill and host of others guy on the outside. Rusch looks better as a starter, but Williams looked good down the stretch for the most part. I would rather this problem, and then not have enough pitching. The main thing is Kerry Wood going to be healthy? If he is our staff gets a boost right there. Also I am worried every year that Zambrano is heading to arm problems, but maybe he can take the work.
The bullpen is just a cloudy as the FA period begins. The Cubs for the most part have gone with 12 pitchers the last couple of years. So that means we need seven relievers. Right now Ryan Dempster is the only sure thing.
1. Dempster
2. Novoa
3. Ohman
4. Wuertz
Those four guys will be back and that leaves three spots left. Scott Williamson had his option picked up, and hopefully after some rest he will be the Williamson of old. That would be a huge lift to the pen. Before his arm went out in Boston in 2005 he had a 1.26 ERA. He also did not five up an earned run in his last eight chances. Jermaine Van Buren is another option. He only had six innings for a team that was heading nowhere. I would have loved to see him get a couple of more chances. You have to figure that either Rusch or Williams will be in the pen if they are not starting. Todd Wellemeyer's has to get some control after a season with a +6 ERA. The Cubs could really upgrade the pen by adding an arm like B.J. Ryan. That would really allow the Cubs to slide everybody down one spot.
Anything can happen, but I have to say right now we could go either way. Once the first move happens that will give us a much better idea of the rest of the off-season. Until keep the faith and Cubs in 2006!!!
posted by Chris at 4:44 AM
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