Also, the fact that our pitching staff was ranked #2 in the NL is completely irrelevant. Look at it this way: a team giving up X number of earned runs fewer is the same improvement regardless of their baseline value.

Furthermore, expect Ted Lilly to regress next year. There is no reason to believe he'll repeat his success this year, and every reason to believe he'll give up a few more runs, and pitch a few fewer innings (age, second year in the league, expected regression off 'career year' levels). As for the staff as a whole, the collective good health they saw in 2007 has absolutely no bearing on their health in 2008. The same risk of injury applies, and extra pitchers are always handy.

I'd really love to dispel the notion that it somehow matters where (speaking in terms of positions on the field) improvements to teams are made. If our pitching staff gives up 10 fewer runs next year, it's essentially the same as signing a right fielder who provides 10 more runs than our team of RF in 2007. In absolute terms, there is a limit as to how potent a pitching staff can become, but in the context of reality, signing better pitchers can always lower the staff's earned run total.

Offseason money must be allocated with respect to 'utility value', not 'plugging holes'. By this, I mean that money generally (with some exceptions) should be allocated to the players that most significantly improve the team's run differential   in a ratio to their salary (in other words, the most runs/dollars spent).

Year in and year out it is starting pitching and bullpen pitching that win world series.  I know the Cubs offense tanked this offseason and cost us big time, but so did the pitching staff as well aside from Z.  

This club is built around SOriano, Lee, and Ramirez for the next several years as our 'go-to' guys, and given their hefty contracts and no trade clauses, that isn't going to change.  ALl three stunk this postseason, but history has shown these guys will probably succeed given another chance....or we'll need to count on them to do so, because again these guys are our core.  Every other position player should be built around these 3 guys...namely on base guys/speed guys.  if  you can get decent left-handed-hitting power hitter in addition, great!

But this club, NEEDS to solidify its starting pitching.  Aside from Z and Lilly, this clubs staff is anything from solidified.  Marquis will continue to eat innings, if nothing else given his contract.   But the other slots are wide open, and should be.  it'd be great to count on the young guys (Hart, Hill, ?Marshall, and dare I say it...Prior) to fill those other roles, but that should not be the attitude going into 2008.  If it is, we may win the division again in 2008, but I'd expect an early exit again much like this year.  

We took a 'chance' on locking up Lee/Ramirez/Soriano with big contracts over the next sevearl years.  We have no choice but to ride their backs..and I do think they'll prove Hendry correct.  But it's the starting pitching that's going to carry us through to a WS, and I don't see that happening with our current staff.

I agree with Al, I think we need to aim high for SP.....NOW

It would be better to set money ablaze than to give it to that burnt-out husk.

No. Thank. You.