due to contracts, you can’t ‘dump’ most of the players. Most here think in fantasy baseball terms, and want the impossible.

First. Time. Ever.

If this team faulters slightly, the fans are going to boo///criticize crazily i think..

and forget about marketing and IT, etc.? It would be interesting to know how they compare just considering the total of Basbeall Operations, Minor League Department, and Scouting Department.

The Cubs do have a stat guy, Chuck Wasserstrom, but he’s a former PR guy who read Moneyball (or so it seemed when they created that new job for him a couple of years ago).

-Carlos Zambrano is not effective anymore, look at his stats and he is going downhill!
-Trade Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano!
-Team is not the problem, TEAR Wrigley down!

I do think that if it is possible we should go after Texeira. I love Lee as a player, but he is getting only older and his power is diminishing. I mean I am content with keeping Lee, but if we could get a better player instead..

The Cubs won 97 games because of strong starting pitching and great bullpen work. And they stayed relatively healthy all year long. The offense was solid and BALANCED. No one player was responsible for carrying the team. When DeLee and Dome struggled, Soto, Edmonds and Aram were there to pick up the load.

Hendry has always done what he felt was best to make the team better (i.e. Reed Johnson and Rich Harden) and I don’t think that will change. Onward and upward…

Although I dont think big changes are needed this will be a huge must or bust offseason for Jim Hendry. One of our biggest problems is not knowing when to hold and when to fold on a player. We lack in the good prospects dept. Hopefully we will address that under new mgmnt as Al said.

Their are players that need to be traded like Harden,Marquis,Cedeno etc for prospects. Were getting long in the tooth and have absolutely no one to fill holes. I think Harden brings a big reward back. As much as I like him when he’s healthy, the truth of the matter is,he’s nothing more than a employee.

I think the market for furcal will prove to be too big and he’s really all thats out there thats any better than what we have. I’ll admit theriot has flaws but he cost us nothing. cabrera,furcal,renteria,lugo etc will cost us big without that much of an upgrade. Furcal is great when he’s healthy but he’s not healthy much.

Fukudome is ours,as is soriano,ramirez,soto, and derosa.

I think we need to resign demp and reed. We need to look for a centerfielder and a right fielder. I kinda see a dome and reed platoon in center. Is it perfect? NO but I dont see many options out there. Abreu is out there, could be an option but I dont know his defense is horrid.

can brian roberts play ss or does hendry have dero slotted in in rf and b-ro at 2nd if he’s signed?

If wood wants anything more than a 1-2 year deal—-take the emotion and ties out and let him walk. DO NOT saddle us with his injuries anymore. marmol is ready and we just drafted another pitcher who was a closer. We need a few fresh arms in the pen and a top starter.

I’m not against trading lee ,although he has a no trade clause, but he makes alot of plays look easy when in fact their not.

Alot of questions need to be answered this offseason and hendry better be active. Our core is getting really old and we have no replacements waiting. I think he’s gotta take some chances on some trades even though we all wont agree with them.

I wouldnt have even though to look at the number of full time staff compared to the rest of the league, if theyre looking to add 30-40 full timers, I’ll gladly forward my resume along.

Im not for a complete overhaul on the field, just one impact bat, preferably a lefty, but in doing so, one of our starters might have to go…..thats what I prefer, but dont expect in reality.

I would of thought that the Cubs would be on the level with other big market teams in reference to personnel in the front office. I just want the Cubs to become a model for drafting players. I think the Cubs are making strides, but not at the level that they should be at. Would love to see more players major league ready as postion players.
 Major changes, I don’t think it is necessary, however if this team blows a tire in the first round of the playoffs or does not make the playoffs, there will be changes. ( and a lot of second guessing.)
 Now I am not against exploring trades, I still would look into a Ramy and a arm for David Wright.
 I just fear that this team needs a shake, needs some new juice, they stand pat, and we are talking about the same thing next year

I do not fear change. First with SammyZ, he’s covered on payments for 2008 for several months now, so the sell the team edict say, back in March has long since subsided. On mgmt changes, I would say no; there’s a system in place that is making progress.

On the players however, some change is needed. Like SDSJM said, some players’ contracts will prohibit them being moved. With that in mind:

Soriano and Ramirez will remain and both are good players, though need postseason help. I really like Kosuke-san and truly believe he’s gonna get better. But he should be targeted to work CF as well as RF in ST come February. He’s the backup plan to Pie or Pie-platoon. Re-sign Johnson but JimmyE may have to go unless he takes much less money.

I wanna keep DeRo but as the super-sub, not everyday 2B’er. But what an insurance policy he is for several positions.

I’d like to see what they can get in a SP for D-Lee and a kid or 2. I say this as I don’t think the Cubs will get CC even though I’d drool if they did. If they can acquire a #2/#3 starter for D-Lee, then then can let Demp walk and use the money from him and Howry (oh, BTW, goner) to put towards a CC or Teixeira acquisition. Hoffpauir is the backup if D-Lee is turned into a SP and they don’t get Teixeira.

I’d like to see the Cubs get Roberts and Furcal. Furcal is ‘just’ money, Roberts may be like pulling teeth again especially now if Angelos may want to re-sign him. Orlando Hudson is another 2B/LH guy I’d like to see have some consideration. Think he’s a FA so he’d “only” cost $$$ like Furcal, unlike Roberts. Bottom line is speed at the top, LH batter is a luxury.

Teixeira is my 1B pipe dream. I’m willing to take less defence than D-Lee if it means a LH bat with power in the lineup. Again, like CC – drooling time.

Cedeno is a goner, Fontenot is a keeper. Theriot keeps his spot only if Furcal or other speedier and/or greater power guy can be had. Keep Ward unless there’s a better PH option. Hank White must be re-signed in addition to his option being picked up. He’s soooo valuable for Geo to continue to learn. Getting rid of Geo is like getting rid of Randy Hundley 40 years ago. He’s a total keeper.

Z, Harden and Lilly are already in the fold. Re-sign Woody unless the money demands are prohibitive. Of course Marmol is a main stay and I’ll go out on a limb with the shark. Getting Eyre back is too risky but Cotts should be considered. Wuertz is too risky but I’d like to see Hart develop. Wuertz is like plan-C. Gaudin hopefully won’t run into any more dumpsters. I’ve always liked Marshall and of course Marquis ain’t going nowhere with $10M owed in the final year of the 3-yr deal.

I don’t have strong feel for alternative relievers so I’ll let it go for now.

So resigning guys like Demp and Woody with other players having higher salaries due to the back loading of contracts, I get about $136M for next year. It could max out to nearly $170M if guys like CC, Furcal, Hudson and Teixeira were brought in to replace Demp, Theriot, Fontenot and D-Lee.

Yeah, it’s just a wag and there’s lots of holes but I guess I wouldn’t be against the following lineup:

Furcal – SS
Johnson – CF
Teixeira – 1B
Rami – 3B
Fonzie – LF
Geo – C
Kosuke – RF
Hudson – 2B
pitcher

OK, slam away…

Rather he is likely to pick at the edges. Meaning…

1. Sign Ryan Dempster to new contract (a move that I am loathe to make based on the $$$ he is going to get)
2. Sign Kerry Wood to new contract (another move that could come up snake eyes)
3. Sign Reed Johnson to new contract
4. Acquire a left-handed hitting run producer
5. Add middle relief candidates
6. Make decision on Jim Edmonds
7. Wave goodbye to Bob Howry, Jon Lieber, Daryl Ward, Michael Wuertz

I would love for Hendry to move Derrek Lee but that isn’t going to happen in Hendry-land. I would also be delirious of Alfonso Soriano voluntarily retired to open up a surf shop in the Dominican, but again that’s not going to happen. Kosuke Fukudome also isn’t going to leave us to go play for his former Japanese team.

Ryan Theriot? He’ll be back at shortstop despite the proclamations to the contrary on this board. He’s one of Lou’s favorites, is an ignitor, hit .300 w/ an OBP of .385, can run and is cheap.

I posted this the other day….. there will be little changes and I think what you proposed is very likely, especially with Theriot. I would say a run at Roberts will be made and the left handed bat will probably be an outfield platoon. with DeRosa playing outfield and super sub.

… and it will make this team better. Still, the heart and sole of this team will be back. There is no doubt about it.

Can someone help settle a discussion?

My brother and I were talking about Soriano. I swear back in 2000 that’s who we were going to get as a big piece of the Sosa trade proposed with the Yankees. He said it wasn’t.

If you had just said that the Cubs’ front office employs 128 people, I would have thought, “Wow, that’s a lot.” I would never have thought to even consider that correlation. Good food for thought.

Another part of your post, about the potential owners also gave me pause. How are people who believe in the curse, et al, going to react to the potential owner having the same name as either a communist nation or a bone disease? LOL

I love the housing analagy.

I look at it like my house. We have a very nice house but it needs to be jazzed up to fit our needs.

Do we go and get a brand new house when we have a really good one now?

No we’re making changes and renovations so the new house (Coincidentally the work is starting next week and will be done in the spring) will look very much the same on the surface but different too.

Would be great for baseball and the Cubs……You notice the flux of changes in the strike zone call by Umps….man I would like to see him challange that calling out Bud “say don’t spray it” Selig…..and to have a passionate owner…and passionate fans we are…this would be one owner who would HATE TO LOSE!!!!!
New fresh new start….
…With a small Mgnt. staff it just shows how cheap the Cubs can be as well….