National League is TERRIBLE

by MDBNIU on Apr 28, 2008 9:06 AM CDT

Arizona is head and shoulders the best team in the National League. The Cubs in my estimation are the second best team in the league. Beyond that?? The NL East is bad. New York has lots of problems, Atlanta continues its decline (and now Smoltz might be done), Philadelphia has no pitching beyond Cole Hamels and Brett Myers. The NL Central is bad. St. Louis is a mirage right now, Milwaukee has zero bullpen, Cincinnati is a work in progress, Houston is awful, Pittsburgh even worse. The NL West is mega-putrid. Ned Coletti is spending Los Angeles into the ground with his repeated terrible signings. San Diego has holes all over the place. Colorado doesn't have pitching. San Francisco is putrid.

The Cubs SHOULD be able to mop up in this league.

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Comments

What is the point of your post?

Other than to just be negative.

"Dad gum right this games gonna be played under protest. . . I guarantee this is gonna be one protest that's upheld." --Hawk Harrelson, 6/24/07

by RynoHoF on Apr 28, 2008 9:14 AM CDT reply actions

Well, I dunno.

I’m not usually in the habit of defending MDBNIU, but in this case he happens to be right. The NL appears to be pretty darn weak and the Cubs ought to be running roughshod over it—as they have shown in the first 25 games.

This is a year when a team put together right - and the Cubs are CLOSE, still needing a part or two - could breeze through the division and on into the playoffs.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2008 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Okay, I'll bite.

What parts would those be, and assuming they come via trade, what would they cost?

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on Apr 28, 2008 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Nothing specific right now, because they're winning.

But they may need a better SS than Theriot. They may already have this part in Cedeno.

Depending on what happens with the starting pitching, they may need another body. But they may already have him in Lieber or Marshall.

I’m not sure the Cubs NEED to make a trade at all.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2008 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions

I have somewhat of a mancrush on Sean Marshall, for reasons I don't even understand.

I really want to see him in the rotation doing well.

Alan Trammell: Assistant (to the) Manager

by northsider on Apr 28, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

I am curious too

Our position player weaknesses are SS and CF. At this point, I don’t know that we would be able to find much of an upgrade over Johnson, the way he has been playing. SS is a different story, the more I watch TheRiot the more his shortcomings as a defender are apparent, especially his arm strength. But, do we really need to trade for someone when it seems like Cedeno’s lights have come on this season?

Seeing as how Al just posted . . . I was going to agree with him. If our starting pitching falters, I am not sure we will be able to find a replacement considerably better than what we already have as options . . . Lieber, Marshall, Gallagher

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on Apr 28, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Too early to tell

At about the 60-game mark, teams will start to determine if they’re in or not. Things will then start to open up and that includes the Cubs. While I am confident they will win the division and maybe even the NLDS, winning the NLCS let alone the WS with this squad seems less likely.

There could be 2 or 3 pieces the Cubs need. Another hitter, specifically someone that plays a particular position, even another starter and reliever are not out of the question.

Injuries will play a big part also. Its just too early to tell which parts the Cubs will need.

by blackhawk24 on Apr 28, 2008 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

60 game mark?

The Cubs were nowhere in site and 8.5 games back 53 games in the season last year.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 28, 2008 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions

They were also horribly inconsistent...

had a catcher that was losing is offence as well as defence. A #1 starter that was ineffective, no one in CF, a 1B’er coming off a devistating wrist injury a LF’er getting used to the place and no real solution in RF. But the biggest thing was the manager assessing the situation. When he finished his assessment (perhaps the June 2nd tirade), some changes were made and the team improved. Don’t underestimate the Barrett trade as having a huge club-house affect.

The other side of the 60-game remark I made is that it takes two teams to tango. It’s simply too early for everyone to tell where they’re at. Regardless of how much we would want the Cubs to go get this guy or go get that guy, the team on the other side has to have mutual interest.

by blackhawk24 on Apr 28, 2008 12:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Exactly!

That’s why they started dealing at that time. Right now is way too early to make any judgments about deals.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions

There is no other reason

but you likely already knew that. “Mega-putrid”...that’s descriptive.

TOO EARLY! Revisit at the 55-60 game mark.

And as far as mop-up, it only takes ONE TEAM to knock them out and if you want to read into the season after 25 games, then AZ is just that team to knock off the Cubs AGAIN. But I’ll wait at least several more weeks to make an educated judgement.

by blackhawk24 on Apr 28, 2008 9:37 AM CDT up reply actions

What really troubles me about AZ

is that the argument you generally have against such a young team succeeding is that they are young and inexperienced. In this case, however, we can’t really argue that because, while AZ is young, they are not all that inexperienced since this same team went to the NLDS last season.

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on Apr 28, 2008 9:33 AM CDT reply actions

The D'Backs are absolutely loaded

Brandon Webb is the best pitcher in baseball. Dan Haren and Micah Owings are very strong. Deep bullpen. Randy Johnson looming in the background. Justin Upton is a superduper star in the making. Chris Young, Connor Jackson and Stephen Drew each have legitimate shot to be great stars. Excellent manager. Nice ballpark.

I think Arizona is going to sail to 105 victories in 2008. And right now they have to be the prohibitive favorite to win the World Series.

by MDBNIU on Apr 28, 2008 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions

"superduper" ... really?

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by daver on Apr 28, 2008 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

gee whiz...

they’re SWELL!

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on Apr 28, 2008 12:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Yup that team has the making of a real juggernaught

and we’ll have to see what Lou and Jim do after they’ve assessed the Cubs strengths and weaknesses. The 1/3rd point of the season (including injuries and the like) should really tell us what the Cubs need. As I stated earlier in the calendar year, the Cubs as constructed will not win the WS. They will need more, where they will need more I’m not really sure.

But for their (AZ’s) ballpark? It’s not nice. It’s a sensory overload shithole. The hand-full of times I’ve been there I couldn’t wait to get the hell out and run screaming for SkyHarbor or a swimming pool at the resort. Lights flashing, sound blaring, the worst echo with the fucking roof closed…it’s enough to make me want to plant my ass in Wrigley 81 times a season and never leave. Wrigley may be dump as some describe; 1060 W. Addison (I believe its envy), but dear Lord am I lucky to call Wrigley Field my home town’s ballpark and the fourth generation on both sides of the family to have been there.

by blackhawk24 on Apr 28, 2008 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions

Well

To me, the Cubs are one starting pitcher short of what they will need for a legitmate deep playoff run. Filling that need will be very difficult. No doubt the name Rich Harden will pop up at some point.

by MDBNIU on Apr 28, 2008 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Sure it will.

Billy Beane would love to dump his oft-injured pitcher on someone else. Fortunately, I think Jim Hendry is too smart to bite.

We’ve already done the injured-starter bit. Steer clear of Harden.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 28, 2008 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

how much longer would harden be under contract?

If it’s only this year and if we can get him for the right price, I would definitely do it.

haha, lots of ifs, but this team with a healthy Harden, if only for one year, would be ridiculous.

by tal1286 on Apr 28, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Beane is probably...

asking a lot for Harden. But say if he takes a single A player or pitcher for him, I would do it in a heartbeat. I read a while back that they should make him into a closer (a la Wood) to lessen the strain on his arm. In that case, it wouldn’t make any sense.

You ARE freaking out MAN!

by crw89 on Apr 28, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up reply actions

You can easily make the argument

That the AL is as equally as weak, the white sox are the only team in the central that are playing over .500, in the east you have the rays winning their division right now. If the Cubs were in the AL they would have the best record in the league, my point?......ITS STILL EARLY IN THE SEASON, teams are going to improve so don’t get excited or dissappointed about anything its still too early to tell

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on Apr 28, 2008 9:51 AM CDT reply actions

The National League is not

terrible and neither is Soriano. Please check back in when you have something positive to say. Snore…..zzzzzzzzzz

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on Apr 28, 2008 12:56 PM CDT reply actions

I'm getting the feeling that

MDBNIU is just pulling this stuff out of his ass based on the current standings and preseason analysis of the teams… All the teams that are doing well so far and that were supposed to be bad are mirages. All the teams that are sucking suck no matter what. So basically, while teams that are bad but play well now are going to fail later, teams that are good and are not playing significantly well are not good. Only the Cubs and Diamondbacks are doing well and were supposed to be doing well, so MDBNIU decides they’re the best/second best teams. For god’s sake, wait a while for tings to even out. The strength of a team still can’t be forecasted this early, and it can’t be forecasted in a three game playoff set either.

by ecbc on Apr 28, 2008 5:06 PM CDT reply actions

It's not totally RD'd

but its safe to say AZ will be there come September. Could they collapse? Sure, and it may take injuries for that to happen. Will they be the NL’s best in September? Again, sure…but it’s certainly no guarantee and I would like to think Lou will get Jim to make the “necessary” moves in just under 3 months. What those moves are, will be determined by the next several weeks of ball games.

Right now the records state AZ is #1, the Cubs are #2 in the NL. But that’s less than 30 games in and still too early to make post season plans.

by blackhawk24 on Apr 29, 2008 6:37 AM CDT up reply actions