BLOW IT UP?!

by The E-Man on Oct 5, 2008 2:28 PM CDT Comment 35 comments

I had posted a rhetorical question after the Game 2 Loss, where I felt that the writing was on the wall. In spite of the fact that the 2008 Cubs had the best NL record, a deep pitching staff, huge run diferential, and "all that veteran experience", plus Playoff experience, many of you saw as "can't miss" indicators of a World Series appearance. I have World Series tickets (worthless now), as some of my fellow Season Ticket holders have.

However, with the prospect of now looking at essentially the same team who have been swept two years in a row - in 2009 - and that these players for whatever reasons cannot finish the deal - how many of you would be in favor of blowing it up and going younger?

Keep the pitching intact. Keep a couple of veterans who are gamers: Reed, Fontenot, A-Ram, DeRosa as a backup only, Soto - and just trying to deal everyone else.

Personally, I am tired of being crushed so brutally two years in a row. These are NOT the players who can win here. Perhaps the D-Backs method is the way. Speed, better D, clutch hitting in the Post Season...Perfect example: the "veteran" Evan Longoria...

The Rays sucked. Got many 1st round draft choices. Great trades. I would have to think they would be competitive for several years to come. And, in their first ever Playoff game, did THEY choke???

I am for blowing it up and looking at some other ways. Anyone else?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

1 recs | Comment 35 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I think i'd rather prefer a semi-blow up.

add some free agents, get some players via trade. get rid of soriano or lee if possible and if the price is right. But blowing it completely up, idk. sounds kind of pushing it. we have all the right pieces. Just time to add to them and make a more complete team. I have a feeling that next year’s team will be better than this year’s team. no doubt about it.

by lexmarklover on Oct 5, 2008 2:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So you want us to suck for a few years

finish last and get a few great first round picks ? Sorry that is not going to happen. The Dodgers struggled all season and made some HORRIBLE signings ( Jones, Schmidt) but they pulled off some great trades at the deadline ( Manny. Blake) and turned it around. The Cubs won 97 games so you do not need to destroy them just tweak them to fix the problems. Getting a top SS or Center Fielder plus some middle relief is what they need to do. FYI you say keep A-Ram who has hit for shit in the post season but dump Lee who was the ONLY guy to hit in this series. This is the last one of these blow it up, dump everyone I don’t like posts I am going to respond to because they are all the same. Deal with REALITY not Fantasy baseball.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 5, 2008 2:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I saw the reality

and perhaps you are blind to it. The current players are a Post-Season BUST. How many RBI’s did Lee have? How many of the guys that you love so much failed with RISP?

Change is needed. Don’t give me “we did great in the regular season”. The Cubs did not win the pennant. It is not 1968 anymore – there is a Playoff system in-place. These CURRENT players cannot finish.

by The E-Man on Oct 5, 2008 2:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How many RBI's did A-Ram, Soto have ?

Point is you don’t just blow it up. Do you have ESP and can say THIS player will be great in the post season or lets only go after
players who perform in the post season ? A lot of people here have a hard on for Texeira but I guess I missed how great he has been in the post season. Good luck going out and replacing and entire OF, most of an infield etc and getting to the post season let alone winning a game in it. I am glad everyone here is sure exactly who and won’t help a team in the post season and how easy it is to get those guys and dump the bad ones.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry

by Doggie Stalker on Oct 5, 2008 3:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What, the D-Backs who aren't in the playoffs?

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Oct 5, 2008 2:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I mean the D-Backs

who made the NLCS last year, with a payroll half of the Cubs.

Compare the D-Backs winning percentage in 2007 and 2008.

Even though they did not get in in 2008.

How did the Cubs do? Win a game? BA?

A bunch of Suck.

by The E-Man on Oct 5, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want Manny. He can care less about pressure, he would relax everyone…I say keep everyone and add Manny. he would lead the way.

David Chagoya

by Mr.Cub22 on Oct 5, 2008 2:45 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agree.

But will Manny care after he gets his $20M/year.

"Cub fans like to think of things in catastrophic terms." - Crane Kenney

by NashvilleBlue on Oct 5, 2008 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where goes Soriano?

Unloading him would be a huge (if not impossible) task.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Oct 5, 2008 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm thinking. I don't think Ryan Theriot will be starting SS next year.

Rafeal Furcal- maybe. but Orlando Cabrera- has already played in Chicago. Do u guys like him?

by lexmarklover on Oct 5, 2008 2:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No, Cabrera has terrible .OBP

and is 5 years older than Theriot

by IllinoisCubs on Oct 5, 2008 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not particularly.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Oct 5, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

one word

ok two: Attitude problem. We don’t need another player calling up to the press box bitching about error calls.

No thanks.

I like Furcal but not for the per year salary he’s getting at present.

Sweet Lou for Mayor in '11.

by blackhawk24 on Oct 5, 2008 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cabrera

I would take Cabrera. Furcal is taking way to big of a risk.

David Chagoya

by Mr.Cub22 on Oct 5, 2008 2:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Better a risk than a guarantee of mediocre production.

If you’re going to spend money, spend it on a real upgrade. Furcal has that potential; Cabrera does not.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Oct 5, 2008 2:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

I’m not sure if Furcal is the answer, but Cabrera surely is NOT.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on Oct 5, 2008 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think the Cubs even see a hole at shortstop.

They may see a hole at leadoff, though.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Oct 5, 2008 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Furcal is always hurt, im sick of dealing with players who flirt with the Dl every year.

David Chagoya

by Mr.Cub22 on Oct 5, 2008 2:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

LOL, wut?

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6404/career;_ylt=AnEtIjHiirLcwm.XarNtkOuFCLcF

He played around 150 games every year but then was hurt this year, that’s it?

by IllinoisCubs on Oct 5, 2008 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think we need to consolidate these posts

Tim Kurkjian was just on espnnews and he thinks they will try and resign Dempster and add one or more OFs b/c of Fukudomes struggles.

I think what he was saying regarding the drafting was the Cubs have been pretty bad in between the playoff appearances, certainly in the past two decades, yet Geo is really the only positional prospect whose delivered, and it remains to be seen if can do this year in year out. Whereas the Rays have developed Crawford, Upton, Longoria, Shields, Sonnanstine etc etc.

Maybe Tyler Colvin will be one of those new outfielders next year, maybe it’ll be Pie

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Oct 5, 2008 2:57 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

+1 on the consolidation

I’m Rec’ing this fanpost just so we have one that stays on the sidebar for more than 30 minutes. I’m getting whiplash from post-jumping…

"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." ~Arthur C. Clarke

by Goodie1969 on Oct 5, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's easy to develop No. 1 picks

We certainly need to improve on developing players, but the Rays have had No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 pick for years.

by IllinoisCubs on Oct 5, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is it time to look at the production from 1B?

I’ve always been a fan of Lee, but his production is slipping. RF and SS are bigger priorities, but I don’t think you can look at Lee in the same way as a couple of years ago.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Oct 5, 2008 3:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree

But as I said earlier, his defense is key. This playoff series it wasn’t but in the regular season he might have saved atleast 5 games because of his defense and how he scoops horrible throws off the ground.

I would love to have someone who can produce more than DLee but I think he should stay on the team, just not stay as our #3 hitter.

by ak123 on Oct 5, 2008 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Crazy idea

Can Lee play 2B?

Can we afford Teixeira?

by IllinoisCubs on Oct 5, 2008 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, crazy idea.

Sorry Chief!

by MIMuggles on Oct 5, 2008 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Lee as a second baseman?!!!

If you’re kidding then, very well played! That’s as good of a laugh as I’ve had on a day when I really need one.
If, on the other hand, you’re serious…..

by bluekoolaide on Oct 5, 2008 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But seriously

Lee definitely seems to be on the downward slide. Still, I could handle the decrease in his production if he was hitting lower in the order. And, who knows, a change like that might even take some of the pressure off of him and HELP his production.

by bluekoolaide on Oct 5, 2008 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about the Angels...

They had the best record in baseball, and they are on the verge of being swept out of the first round. Do you think Angels fans are calling for a complete overhaul? Why aren’t they being called chokers?

"From now on I don't want to hear about Fukudome, whether he'll play or not. I'll play Fontenot or Reed Johnson or someone, and that's the end of that."

by CubsBullsBears on Oct 5, 2008 4:19 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Angels don't have the same kind of tradition

or national exposure. The Cubs are a better target, and their fans have been suffering for a lot longer…

Yes, the Angels are “chokers” too, but I wonder if anyone really cares…I certainly don’t!

by MIMuggles on Oct 5, 2008 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

From what I have seen...

…the Angels didn’t crap all over themselves and they are playing a team that won 2 World Series in the last 4 years. And, by the way, they came back and won a close one tonight showing quite a bit of fight with their backs against the wall.

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Oct 6, 2008 12:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A true leadoff hitter

This is a good team that just needs a little tweaking. Adding a leadoff hitter that comes from 2nd or SS positions.

I would like to see Pie platoon with Johnson next year. Add a lefty power hitter for RF. I would keep Fukodome for 4th outfielder, PH duty and hope he can adjust. Say good bye to Ward will create the room.

Then from the 2nd and SS position work a trade with someone from this group.

by billkelly on Oct 5, 2008 4:37 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Lefty power bat in RF

Unless the Sox are willing to pay Griffey $16M for next year, he’ll be a free agent. Otherwise I don’t see any other lefty power-bats that play RF out there. You could always acquire one via a trade, but in terms of FA, that’s all that’s out there.

by IllinoisCubs on Oct 5, 2008 6:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good link not needing an entire fanpost

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-05-nlds-fukudome-rogers-cubsoct05,0,3945101.story

Rogers account on what to do with Fukudome…….send him down to the minors a la Kaz Matsui a few years ago.

He seems to think Kosuke has completely fallen out of favor with Lou all together

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Oct 5, 2008 5:15 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

"Blowing it up" isn't a realistic option...

Good luck trading Soriano and Fukudome. Their contracts will keep them in place. Lee and Ramirez could probably be traded, but where are you going to find a better replacement (especially in Ramirez’s case)?

No, realistically we will likely only see changes on the margins. There will be decisions about a couple of spots in the rotation (will they sign Dempster? will they trade Marquis?). There will be decisions about RF and CF, and maybe 2B/SS. The bullpen will look a little different, with no more Howry, possibly no more Wood, and maybe a new face or two. Perhaps we could try to sell high on guys like Theriot and DeRosa, but the return isn’t likely to be of much more cost-effective value than those guys already give us.

Aside from that, I don’t see a lot of opportunity to “blow it up.” I’d love for this team to be able to build around guys developed through the farm system. But in order for that to be the case, you actually have to HAVE those pieces in the farm system. Unless Pie suddenly figures it out and Hoffpauir proves his bat is for real, there just aren’t the pieces in the farm anytime soon.

by SouthernCub on Oct 5, 2008 8:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs