Gameday Open Thread / Rangers @ Cubs

Pre-season rankings: 5. Chicago Cubs The weakness of the division is a major factor here. The Cubbies are set for the divisional race as they have a deep lineup and rotation. This should afford them plenty of time to shore up that shaky bullpen anchored by Kerry Wood. http://sportshubris.com/content/mlb-preseason... I am not sure what how the weak division makes the Cubs a better team, and I thought the bullpen was a strength not a weakness.

If Dempster wants to start he's going to have to learn how to fucking bunt!

Nice 3 run homer by DeRosa in the 1st

"It makes them a better team as they will win more games playing in the NL Central than if they played in the NL East or West." Not to split hairs, but winning more games against weaker teams doesn't make you a better team. It is certainly a good thing for the Cub's chances to make the play-offs, but IMO shouldn't impact a power ranking.

Hey Rob G., I hate to be the pessimistic Cubs fan here (a lifetime of rotten teams makes me question how good we really are), but how about a thread discussing what worries could come to the forefront to interfere with our self-anointed world championship. I'd rather slip in under the radar rather than have a team keep talking about how we're going to the world series. There are too many holes on this team to think we're going to win a lot of playoff games unless something strange happens. I just think that there are some major question marks and a few spots that could really throw a wrench into things, such as: Soriano's legs. If he continues to run this poorly he's going to be a major disappointment, both offensively and defensively. Sore/tight quads can cost him power on his swings, and will cost him several steps running the bases and in the outfield. The rotation: it just doesn't look like a rotation of a team with a $125 million payroll. Dempster being Dempster. If he returns to the pitcher he's been his entire career - a 1.50 whip, he's going to help sink the rotation. Rich Hill. If he can't get his form back, we're sunk right off the bat. Marquis/Lieber. They can't pitch like they did last year, specifically Marquis' awful second half and Lieber's very high opponent batting average. Injuries to Z and/or Lilly. Perhaps if the Brewers play poorly we could still win the division minus Z or Lilly for a significant period of time, but we wouldn't go anywhere in the playoffs. And for that matter having only two decent starters is not a good formula for going deep in the playoffs. The Schedule. Tons of early home games in the (likely) cold weather of Chicago. Lots of road games in the second half, including the final 7 games of the season. Cross your fingers for a nice warm April/May, but if I hear our players making excuses again for not hitting in cold weather while a team like the Dodgers come in and score 12 runs in a game I will shoot myself. Even the bullpen, despite how talented our relievers are and what a great job they collectively did last season, how often do relievers have excellent back-to-back seasons in this age? I could see Howry and Marmol having average or even below average years, and suddenly we aren't much of a world series contender. Fukudome. Even the best projections only have him hitting 12-15 hr's. But look at Iwamura last season with Tampa. Iwamura is another lefty hitter who came from Japan and was an excellent player with a very similar line to Fukudome - .311 hitter last 3 seasons, .385 obp, .560 slg., hr totals of 44, 30, 32. Then in Tampa last year he hit 7 hr's 34 rbi's, and a line of .285/.351/.411. I could see Fuku not doing much more than that his first year, especially with his lack of power this spring. Geovanny Soto. He's looked more like pre-2007 Soto than the guy who looked like a top prospect last year. Just throw a few of those possible problems together and the season could be turned on it's head. Soriano declining offense, Soto hitting .245 with 8 hr's and 40 rbis, Fukudome not being an impact bat, Dempster being Dempster, relievers returning to earth, etc. Those are all realistic scenarios.

Well, that's pessimistic. :)

Marmol vs. Salty, bases loaded, 2 outs....Nasty Result: K

Felix Pie finished the game hitting .340! Cubs Minor League Organization Scorecard Cedeno .308 Hoffpauir .382 McGehee .417 Murton .345 Patterson .298 Pie .340 Others: Blanco .345 Cintron .316

Rosenthal article says the deal is not going to happen by opening day ("the two sides are at an impasse") http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7949132/So...

and Rosenthal on the Cubs pursuit of Reed Johnson http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7949068/So...

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_8664871 The expectation is that the Cubs will eventually ship off starter Jason Marquis to Boston for center fielder Coco Crisp. Chicago has clearly soured on Felix Pie. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Pie included in the Brian Roberts deal with Baltimore.

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Is there a problem that I'm not aware with Pie that has not been publicized?

So - can someone tell me - WHY - it has just been thought of THIS YEAR that Micah Hoff-POWER should start getting some training in RF? He has been with the club, with others playing his position, for several years...

Did anyone see how we pulled the game off in the bottom of the ninth?

and E-Pat knoced him in with a single up the midddle. Pie had a terrific day almost hitting for the cycle and great D.

Well, with the new rumors that Felipe Lopez is being "scouted" by the Cubs, it is pretty interesting to me that the 1st Round 1998 draft he was selected 8th by the Jays. Other prominent MLB players from this round include: 1. Pat Burrel - Phils 2. Mark Mulder - A's 3. C-Pat - Cubs 5. JD Drew - Cards 7. Austin Kearns - Reds 9. Sean Burroughs - Pads 10. Carlos Pena - Tejas 14. Jeff Weaver - Tigers 17. Brad Lidge - 'Stros 20. CC. Sabathia - Indians

Er - he had one shitty OBP year, last year. Maybe he's a decent SS, who can switch hit, former AS (Hendry loves those - Itzturdis, etc.), has recent track record of SB's in the 20's, and has a plus arm. we have no clue as to what would have to be given up at all...

Here are Lopez' career stats batting lead-off - he has been used as a lead-off hitter or 2nd in the order, by a large margin. His stats are fairly improved from the "2-Hole", but it is a difference of less than 10 AB's: Av OBP SLG OPS+ .257 .318 .386 .704 Indeed, Theriot could probably match this if not exceed. However, whomever wants to can check out RF, etc., to see if there is a big disparity in fielding.

Rosenthal also says: The Cubs, contrary to published reports, are not interested in Nationals infielder Felipe Lopez. http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7949132/So...

2005 291/352/486 with 23Hrs and 15sb 2006 268/355/394 Not a single person here can reasonably expect Ryan Theriot to put up lines anywhere near those this year. Why wouldnt you take a flyer on the guy? Especially when it would cost 1/10th of what Brian Roberts would.

The problem is Aaron is your cherry picking stats....look at Lopez's career line... .258 BA, .328 OBP Ryan Theriot can match that easily, and to it for 300k versus Lopez's what 3 million or more? Theriot has better strike zone judgement, better speed, and better defense. Lopez is probably the worst SS defensively you will ever see.