Pitching or Offense

Actually, that's one of many ways in which you're failing to contextualize this entire arguement.

Let's put it to you this way. You win baseball games by scoring more runs than you allow. The Cubs can improve their run prevention -- either by improving the pitching OR by improving the defense. (Defense, by the way, being the thing that you entirely ignored here.) Or they can improve their run scoring.

An extra marginal win is an extra marginal win, and at the end of the day it doesn't matter where they come from. The Cubs need to look at the resources they have left (salary room and trading chips) and committ them to the most wins they can get, relative to what they already have on hand. Everything else is irrelevant.

With that in mind, I do think we've made some good - and significant - moves to bolster an offense that did have trouble putting up runs last year.  And that was at no real cost to a pitching staff that, as noted above, was 2nd in the NL.

Definitely on the right track, in any case...

I agree that the Cubs are on the right track here:

(a) Lefty OBP, defensive minded right fielder.  Check (Enter the Fukudome)
(b) Speed (Pursual of Roberts)
(c) Maybe another starting arm (not really mentioned, but the right next step).

Can all of these be done simultaneously?  Sure, but (a) was the most important, and did start letting the dominoes fall (e.g., eliminated the consideration of some other players for Plan B, C, etc.).

The more I think of it, thank goodness we did not get Kaz Matsui - no offense to him.  But, for the dollars that he commanded (3/16 was it?), we are better off applying those dollars elsewhere.

Including Piniella's salary, the Cubs still have a differential of $18M to get payroll up to $125M (more info on the "Update Math Help Discussion").  That's a lot of wiggle room, especially if you add additional money shed by pushing Marquis.

That said, I would go after Roberts/Figgins first.  That may dictate how many additional moves you need to do (based on dollars spent and talent sacrificed).  Then, you go after a 2-3 starter, if possible.  

There's no problem with going into the season with what we have in terms of SP - Lou will make the decision of who the #4, #5 starters will be.  The Cubs likely have enough to get to the post-season.  But I agree with most that another 2-3 pitcher will help our cause where it matters - the playoffs.  Although more expensive, there's always the July 31st trade deadline.

Would you guys rather have an A player for one and a C player for the other

Or 2 B players?

And if you did A and C which would you go for for A pitching or offense?

There are two positions the Cubs can upgrade the offense significantly - CF and SS.  I don't believe there are any CFs available who are a definite upgrade on what Pie can do.  Let him play until the trade deadline and see where we are then.

The Cubs seem set on playing Theriot at SS despite SS being the biggest weak point in the lineup.  Of course, the question is, again, what SSs that are better are actually available?

Let's also consider that the Cubs lineup may be better next year, even as formulated.  Pie may finally blossom.  Soto may continue his success.  Lee may continue his second half resurgence throughout all of '08.  Aramis may bounce back to his career HR norm.  Soriano may stay healthy.

What moves would I make with the lineup?  

1. I'd trade Wuertz and a minor prospect for Wilson Betemit and have Lou sit Betemit down and tell him to get in shape and win a middle IF job or be doomed to being a backup player.
   
2. Or, I'd trade for Roberts if the price is low enough and I wasn't giving any pieces I could use to get pitching.  If I did win Roberts, I'd be shopping DeRosa instead of making him super-sub.  Too many teams are shopping for 3B for him not to be worth more to them than he would be to us as a glorified bench player.  Alternatively, Orlando Hudson would work in this scenario, especially if he is cheaper than Roberts.
   
3. Kick the tires on Bobby Crosby.  See if Beane's willing to sell low on the guy that was supposed to make Oakland forget Miguel Tejada.
   
4. Kick the tires on Furcal and Hu.  While I'm shopping in LA, I'd look into Tony Abreu.

Sure, I'd be in on Bedard and Blanton and anyone that looks like an upgrade, but it takes two to make a trade and everyone and their brother is shopping for pitching.  Here are some not-as-oft-discussed ideas.  Unless otherwise noted, I'm not offering Hill in these trade offers.

1. If Greinke's really available, let's get him.
   
2. Find out what LA is planning to do with Jason Schmidt.  Similarly scout those injured free agents and find out which one looks like they can be healthy in Sept-Oct.
   
3. Inquire on guys like Daniel Cabrera, Ervin Santana, and Edwin Jackson.
   
4. Absolutely don't waste rotation slots on low-ceiling guys.
   
5. Be willing to do an in-division trade for Anthony Reyes and let Larry show Dave how it's done with the second starting pitcher in a row.
   
6. File this under crazy and never-going-to-happen, but I'd offer Soriano, Colvin, and Patterson for Lincecum, Winn, and Durham.  There's no telling what Sabean is willing to do.

If we are talking choices based on limited resources then the Cubs may have enough potential talent in arms to rely on improvement from within, so if we're talking about improving from outside then I'd focus more on an everyday player.  I would have gone after A-Rod and put him at first base and traded Lee.

I like Roberts, don't get me wrong. I would like to see the rotation improved before getting another position player. A Roberts acquisition would convolute things with DeRo. With the Domer in right (please Jimbo, no experiments like with Fonz, keep the Domer in right), does DeRo go to SS with Roberts? That's a different diary discussion.

Getting Bedard or Blanton would help assure both Marquis and Dempster are not in the opening day rotation. Blanton may be a better/quicker move now that it appears Beane is full rebuild. A Bedard discussion can't be made w/o talking Roberts. Don't know if the O's would do that though its a move I advocated earlier.