My 2009 Cubs Roster!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 13, 2008 12:11 PM CST

Ok wanted to put out a few opinions on next year's roster and why. I will start with posting what the roster looks like now.

SP: Zambrano

Lilly

Dempster

Harden

Marquis

This is in no certain order but as of right now we head into the season set although I think there are gonna be injury concerns to deal with. Marshall,Guzman etc. can step in for now. I want Peavy badly but it isn't gonna happen I don't think.

Bullpen: Marmol, Gregg, Cotts, Wuertz,Shark,Marshall, and Hart or Guzman.

Not sure how many pitchers we will carry but as of right now looks like this is gonna be what we go with. I want Beimel pretty badly and I think we need him but looks like I'm the only one.

Lineup: Soriano(guess we have to deal with it huh?)

Lee(this is where I want him)

Soto(yes,no,Maybe?)

Ramirez

Dome

Dero

Pie or Reed

Theriot

Bench: Koyie Hill, Fontenot, Cedeno, Hoffpower,Reed, and a FA.

I don't think we have the money to have Blanco back. I like Henry but he isnt worth anymore than the minimum at this point and sure not a multiyear deal. I think someone like a Detroit gives him a 2 yr deal at 3-5 million.

As of right now it looks like we have 24 locks and 1 spot open depending on how many pitchers we carry. I'm all for the signing of Millar to take the last spot. I don't think the central will be near as competitive this year as last(I may be wrong). I think we would be dumb to sign a Dunn,Bradley, or Abreu to a 2-3 year deal worth big bux at this point given their injury concerns,defensive liabilities etc. Once in for all lets throw Pie out there and see what happens. I'm not a big fan but lets find out one way or another. I really think Dome will bounce back big. I think as a whole the players have gotta play smarter baseball i.e. baserunning, getting runners over, etc. That by itself could be the biggest offseason aqcuistion of them all.

As far as Hermida(my #1 choice) goes I'm all for it as well but I highly doubt he will be dealt for anything less than every bit of cheap young pitching we have i.e. marmol,marshall etc. If we can't get Millar I wouldnt mind having Edmonds back on a cheap 1yr deal.

We've debated Marquis many times on this blog and it looks more and more like were gonna be stuck with him whether we like it or not. I dont think we have any money to spend big and that may be a good thing. Maybe the deadline will bring us a jewel and/or we hold onto some cash in case of a catastrophic injury that we dont foresee.

"Realistic" thoughts please?

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.

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Comments

Too early

to dissect it too much. If that is what it looks like, I’m going get sick. It pretty much amounts to doing nothing all offseason. Also, you need to bring Henry Blanco back. He’s vital to the growth of Soto, and is a damn fine backup. Koyie Hill is brutal.

Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.

by TCobb1911 on Dec 13, 2008 12:15 PM CST reply actions

and...

thats exactly what I think we can afford to do. From what I’m gathering Hendry is trying to unload Marquis just to scrape up enough money to get one of the bats I mentioned and afford the arb. raises.

Dear Santa:: All I want for X-mas this year is an official 2009 Jake Peavy Cubs Jersey. Oh and a Beimel one too. I've been a real good guy for the most part!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 13, 2008 12:20 PM CST up reply actions

I suspect Henry may retire...

… because of what happened with his family.

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2008 2:50 PM CST up reply actions

based

off of how many DPs Lee hit into last year, batting him second doesn’t makes sense to me

by BCB1987 on Dec 13, 2008 12:48 PM CST reply actions

I think

that was him trying to overdue things due to being in the #3 slot. He’s a contact hitter which makes him an ideal 2-hole hitter IMO.

Dear Santa:: All I want for X-mas this year is an official 2009 Jake Peavy Cubs Jersey. Oh and a Beimel one too. I've been a real good guy for the most part!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 13, 2008 12:52 PM CST up reply actions

For starters, he isn't a contact hitter.

He has struck out over 100 times in every single full season of his career, and racked up 119 in 155 games in 2008. He’s not Adam Dunn, but he’s not Jeff Keppinger either. And it’s not as if in 2008 he hit as many GB as usual and poor luck turned a lot of those into double plays. His GB/FB in 08 was 1.33, well over his career 1.07. His GB% was 44.9, compared to his career 40.5. That is a very significant jump. Unless whatever affected his swing goes away by opening day 09, he’s going to hit into plenty of double plays once again.

by dakoose on Dec 13, 2008 1:52 PM CST up reply actions

I think '08

was an abberation for Lee hitting into DP’s. I doubt that happens again. (Hope)

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Dec 13, 2008 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

if this is the roster

I too will be sick!
Basically nothing done other than having a worse bullpen and the OF gets worse with Edmonds gone and Pie.(arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!) in the lineup!

Too early to say right now……..I think their will be some changes though.

That bench is atrocious and the pen has a chance to be awful……Wuertz? NO
Hart?.NO

by plenz on Dec 13, 2008 12:59 PM CST reply actions

The Cubs will sign a left handed right fielder

so it’s not going to be Fukudome in right and Pie or Johnson in center. It’s going to be Fukudome in center and a FA or player in a trade in right. And if the cubs were to have basically have the same team like last year, they won’t go anywhere. They pointed out their flaws which was left handed hitting, so they will fill that need out. No question at all

by lexmarklover on Dec 13, 2008 1:10 PM CST reply actions

Why isn't

Daryle Ward going to be back? i like him better than Hoff as a PH……….he certainly wouldn’t cost alot and I’d rather see a veteran in that role

by plenz on Dec 13, 2008 1:35 PM CST reply actions

Ward didn't do much at all last year

And, he’s now another year older…

I'm not going to even bother trying to update this sig everyday anymore... that's what the standings column on ESPN is for.
Updated on May 25, 2008

by SackMan on Dec 13, 2008 3:51 PM CST up reply actions

Really?

No Chad Gaudin?

"Thank god I threw out my belt & shoelaces."-Bernies Mustache Wax on Evil BCB, 7/31/08

by Bildo1805 on Dec 13, 2008 2:23 PM CST reply actions

Gaudin will be on the team, since he was just re-signed.

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2008 2:51 PM CST up reply actions

He can still be traded...

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 13, 2008 4:55 PM CST up reply actions

True, I suppose.

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 13, 2008 5:13 PM CST up reply actions

fixed

I meant to add him in

Dear Santa:: All I want for X-mas this year is an official 2009 Jake Peavy Cubs Jersey. Oh and a Beimel one too. I've been a real good guy for the most part!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 13, 2008 4:29 PM CST up reply actions

Do you consider signing Adam Dunn?

j/k

The author of this post is not a certified scout, doctor, agent, statistician, manager, or journalist, nor was he ever a very good player, though he tried very hard to be like Ryne Sandberg and was about as scrappy as it gets (in T-ball). Any opinion expressed above should in no way be confused with fact, truth, or reality and is hereby qualified in the following ways: 1) The author does not know as much about baseball as Lou Piniella. 2) The author does not know as much about baseball as Jim Hendry. 3) The author does not know as much about baseball as either Dusty or Darren Baker.

by DGU on Dec 13, 2008 3:53 PM CST reply actions

I hope this isn't next year's lineup and rotation.

Isn’t Einstein’s definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over again yet expecting different results? I say that kind of tongue-in-cheek because that applies more to controlled environments, which baseball isn’t. Teams go out and do the same thing day in and day out yet experience different results, but still Eintsein’s definition deserves mentioning here. So does “If you’re not getting better you’re getting worse.”
I understand this team, as is, is good enough to take the division. But it’s not about the division. Can this version of the Cubs take on the Phillies, Dodgers and Mets, the last of which has undergone massive changes and is now possibly the best of the three? I don’t think so. The Cubs are solid all around. The offense is good, the defense is good and the rotation is pretty strong, but the bullpen isn’t special, and who knows how long Marmol can sustain the abuse of Lou Piniella. Hendry needs to make at least two significant moves before spring training. Anything less than that is a disappointment in my eyes. He needs two of the following three, in order of importance: A power hitting right fielder, a hard throwing reliever and a starter. The reliever might already be on the team, and I am talking about either Weurtz or Samardzija. Randy Johnson and Milton Bradley/Adam Dunn should take care of the other two.

by dakoose on Dec 13, 2008 5:03 PM CST reply actions

Referencing the reliever,

thats more on Lou than anything. He needs to give Weurtz a shot in some high leverage situations. He has put up some nice numbers the last three years, and while 2008 wasn’t all that good, he should still get a chance.

by dakoose on Dec 13, 2008 5:05 PM CST up reply actions

The Mets?

The Mets were supposed to dominate the NL the last three years and they stunk. The Dodgers got hot with Manny, and the Phillies put it all together in the playoffs. I agree with the additions you said we need to make, but I still think we can compete with anyone in the NL.

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Dec 13, 2008 7:44 PM CST up reply actions

The Mets are a pretty damn good team,

and if they add the starting pitcher they need, they should be a very complete team. Reyes, Wright and Beltran make for a very solid core and Delgado and Delgado and Church are good supporting players. If they go out and pick up Ty Wigginton to take over at second base for them that would be huge for them. Santana, Maine and Pelfrey are all above average, with Santana being as good as it gets. If they add Lowe, which is very likely, that would give them a very, very good rotation. We all know how good their bullpen is going to be. I expect them to take the East, and I don’t think it will be all that close either.

by dakoose on Dec 13, 2008 10:28 PM CST up reply actions

You mentioned Delgado twice.

He’s getting kind of old.

And Wigginton really isn’t a 2B any more.

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

by Al Yellon on Dec 14, 2008 4:13 AM CST up reply actions

It's OK Al...

They still have the great Luis Castillo at 2B for three more years.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Dec 14, 2008 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

Why on earth

is Fuudome hitting above DeRosa in your lineup?

Why is Theriot hitting ninth?

"Hey! If the moon were made of ribs, wouldja eat it? I know I would!"

by cubs0505 on Dec 13, 2008 11:27 PM CST reply actions

was just a guess

but I believe he’ll split the lefties up.

theriot hitting 9th?? i think I have him listed as 8th. too much to drink??

alot of the lineup hinges on whether we scrape up enough money for a left handed bat and who it is.

Dear Santa:: All I want for X-mas this year is an official 2009 Jake Peavy Cubs Jersey. Oh and a Beimel one too. I've been a real good guy for the most part!!!

by cubsluver22 on Dec 14, 2008 8:35 AM CST up reply actions

I really want Beimel too

He seems to be a perfect fit.

I’ve come to terms with the fact that Hendry isn’t going to make any big deals this winter. I’m not counting Milton a big deal.

Obviously some teams are going to be sellers by that time and he can make his big upgrade then. This would be absolutely fine with me. This team will be very successful again this season, however we do need to do to change the postseason results.

Any suggestions on who might be available at that time?

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Dec 14, 2008 4:54 PM CST reply actions

I dont even think Bradley is a sure thing to come here anyway

Dont discount an AL team, like the ray, he know his body better than anyone, so if he wants another decent contract down the road, he might be better served by staying a DH.

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 Dec 14, 2008 6:03 PM CST up reply actions

Totally agree

I didn’t mean to imply we were getting Milton for sure. I meant to say if we get him, I don’t see that as being classified under the “big deal” category.

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Dec 15, 2008 7:49 AM CST up reply actions