Who needs Brandon Webb? (and other Cubs thoughts)

by sackings108 on May 16, 2008 3:23 PM CDT

So obviously the title of this diary is a bit facetious, as any team in baseball would love to have Brandon Webb. But, after all the raving over his legitimately impressive 9-0 start, I thought I would take a look at comparing his stats to those of Carlos Zambrano, and sure enough, Big Z ranks higher in many categories. Zambrano has an ERA of 2.03, with a ridiculously high ERA + of 218. Webb's ERA is 2.56, and his ERA + is 175. Also, shockingly enough, Zambrano actually has fewer walks than Webb, with 16 compared to Webb's 17. Of course Webb is still an excellent pitcher, who's started his season very well, but I thought it was interesting that the core stats of Zambrano were actually better.

And the Cubs rotation is at least starting to have some form. If Gallagher pitches well like he did today we have:

Zambrano
Lilly
Dempster
Gallagher
Marquis/Hart/Hill/Marshall

Personally I can't stand Jason Marquis, so I would prefer Hart, Hill, or Marshall and I'm hoping Hill gets himself fixed down at Iowa, because I still believe he's got a bright future. He's pitched well at Iowa so far, although his walk totals are still a little high.

Overall, I'm becoming extremely optimistic about this team. Assuming they win today they'll be ten games over, and they'll have either the best or second best record and baseball. I think if I could make any changes, it would be that Cedeno starts everyday over Theriot, which I've been calling for since late last year. However, Theriot has certainly played well enough to retain his starting job up until this point, and hopefully that will continue. I think the signing of Jim Edmonds wasn't really necessary, as I believe Fukudome could be moved to center, and Micah Hoffpauir could play right field. And I'm still holding out hope that Felix Pie will become a better major league hitter to go along with his excellent defense and outstanding arm. If he ever does realize his full talent, by the end of the year I'd love to see a lineup of:

Soriano
Fukudome
Lee
Ramirez
Soto
DeRosa
Cedeno
Pie
Pitcher

I think that would be the ideal lineup, but again I'm not complaining as the offense has been spectacular. To sum it all up: Go Cubs!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Id rather see Dero in the OF

then Hoffpauir.

But i agree with everything else you said, this team makes me smile as i fall asleep. Im extremely optomistic of the way they have been playing and its a great time for all cubbie fans.

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on May 16, 2008 3:31 PM CDT 0 recs

Meaning

Cedeno/Theriot in the IF
and
Dero/Dome/Soriano in the OF

Soriano
Theriot
Fukudome
Lee
Ramirez
Soto
Cedeno
Derosa
Pitcher

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on May 16, 2008 3:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

I don't think...

Fukudome can play center.

by wrigleyrocker12 on May 16, 2008 3:34 PM CDT 0 recs

He played center

In Japan for a good portion of his career, and played center on April 11th for the Cubs, and did fine. His scouting report says that he can play center or right, so I don’t think that would be a problem.

by sackings108 on May 16, 2008 3:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Except he

doesn’t want to play center. He was promised RF and that is why he signed with the Cubs.

by sue369 on May 16, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

Dome had in Japan

And even if he “cant” put dero there.

HE CAN PLAY EVERYWHERE!! :D

Dero for 5th spot int rotation imo.

My 08 Cubs record 4-0
My 08 W.Sox record 0-2 (I havent seen a sox win in 3 years)
Updated April 26th

by Rudey on May 16, 2008 3:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

4th and 5th Starters; Johnson in CF

I hope the Cubs can find good 4th and 5th starters among that group of Gallagher, Marquis, Hill, and Marshall. No trade for starting pitching would be necessary, then. So far, Reed Johnson has played the best in CF. He isn’t a great player, but the Cubs should have him starting most of the games. That is, until they find or develop somebody better in CF.

by memphiscub on May 16, 2008 3:57 PM CDT 0 recs

actually

Pie is a better defender… and in his limited at-bats, was hitting better than Johnson too.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on May 16, 2008 8:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'd switch:

Let’s switch DLee and Ramirez. Here me out on why:

DLee is hitting into many double plays. Many of which cancel out Theriot’s singles (which he’s gotten TONS of). Perhaps the 3 and 4 swap can drive even more runs in?

But to be honest, let’s not fix what’s not broken. We’re doing quite well right now.

by ak123 on May 16, 2008 4:01 PM CDT 0 recs

why

do you fans come on here and post about putting fukudome in center. he doesnt wanna play center. the brass of the cubs told him he doesnt have to play center. he’s not gonna play center. he’s an allstar rightfielder. leave well enough alone.

It might beeeeee!! It could beeeeeee!! It issssss!! Homerun!! Holyyyyyyy Cow!!!

by cubsluver22 on May 16, 2008 4:11 PM CDT 0 recs

I agree, Dome should stay in RF

but as long as Lou insists on getting a second established LH bat in the lineup and as long as many Cub fans expect Edmonds to flop, there is going to be talk of Dome going to CF and getting a Lefty thumper to play RF. After all, what other lefty thumper is there for CF?

As for the rest of this fanpost – good points on Big Z. Hopefully we have an interesting Cy Young race through the season between Webb and Z (assuming Volquez can’t keep this up and/or he’s on the Reds so it doesn’t matter and that Lincecum won’t get enough run support to get over 12 wins).

by DGU on May 16, 2008 4:18 PM CDT up 0 recs

The key word in your comment here is "established".

Micah Hoffpauir is not “established”. Jim Edmonds, one could say, is “de-established”.

I don’t know who will be available later, but the bottom line for right now is: the Cubs are winning. Why mess with success?

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

by Al on May 16, 2008 4:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed

by sue369 on May 16, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

actually

i remember him saying that he was open to playing center field somewhere once in an article on cubs.com. I took it as meaning on a time to time basis, not a regular position, but I do remember him saying he’s open to it. I’d just keep him in right for the majority too, but really, stop putting words in his mouth where he says he’ll never do it. Actually, I don’t think Fuku has ever directly said he signed for because of a right field guarantee. I think that was Urbon that said it. Now, I think it was definitely a factor, and I trust Urbon when he says that a part of Fukudome’s choice was the right field guarantee. I’m just saying that you guys are putting way too many words in Fuku’s mouth. I think Fukudome does prefer to start at right the majority of the time, but some of you are making it sound like he absolutely hates center and would get mad if he had a spot start in center. This comment really isn’t about Fuku’s position, it’s about some people sometimes overstating what they hear.

by ecbc on May 16, 2008 4:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yes, actually...

... Fukudome DID say part of the reason he chose the Cubs is that they promised him RF.

Now, as a good team player, he would of course agree to play CF from time to time if that’s best for the team. But it would NOT be best for the team for him to be moved there full time.

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

by Al on May 16, 2008 5:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

that wasn't my point

I was never arguing that Fukudome should play center full time. I even specifically said I’d rather have him play right, and that I think he prefers right. But I’m pretty sure that it was a question to Joe Urbon, his agent, who said the right field guarantee and choice of the number 1 was a contributing factor to his choice-if not I’ll eat some of my words. I’m not saying that Urbon was lying or that Fukudome never told Urbon this. I believe this was indeed a factor. All I’m saying is by the way some people are talking, it sounds like Fukudome had adamantly said that he would never ever set a foot in center, and he has not said anything like that.

by ecbc on May 16, 2008 9:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

some links to back up my side..

“Kosuke did have offers that economically were potentially better, but there are a lot of elements that played a role in his decision,” agent Joe Urbon said. “Position, city, ability to win and being the first Japanese player on a club. All those things played a role. ... Of course economics played a role.”

from espn

Piniella talked to Fukudome about the move on Friday. Actually, he had interpreter Ryuji Araki talk to Fukudome.
“I asked if he felt comfortable going to center, which he did,” Piniella said.

from cubs.com

And again, I’m NOT trying to prove Fukudome should play center…

by ecbc on May 16, 2008 9:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

I knew all of this.

Fukudome has already played CF this year. I’m sure he’ll play it again.

But, I wouldn’t want him to play it fulltime. That hurts the team in RF.

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

by Al on May 17, 2008 4:20 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed...

by SouthernCub on May 17, 2008 9:34 AM CDT up 0 recs

my turn at a completely useless, garbage of a lineup....

Trammell
Perry
Piniella
Sinatro
Dejesus
Strode
Quade
Rothschild

i understand that it’s fun to speculate about things, but c’mon. it gets old hearing armchair quaterbacks talk about which lineup they “just know” would be so much better than the one THE GUY WHO GETS PAID MILLIONS can put together

"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me." Frank Costello

by kalamazoo_cubs_fan on May 16, 2008 4:55 PM CDT 0 recs

Did you even bother to read

the rest of my post? It was basically just saying that I was excited with Zambrano’s success, and then I talked about how well the team had been playing, and that I was optimistic for the Cubs and their continued success. Then at the end I said I hope Pie could come back up. I never said I “just knew’ what lineup would be the best, or anything of the sort. I’m entitled to my opinion, but not only that, the rest of my post had absolutely nothing to do with a lineup. You’re entitled to your own opinion as well, but maybe you should read the majority of the post before spouting off about a small segment of it, and putting words in my mouth at that. And do you know what this site is? It’s a place for Cubs fans to talk about the team. Get off your high horse. And also, just one more thing. Under Al’s recap for a game, titled ONEDEC, you made this post:

—-—-—-—-—--
Johnson CF
Fukudome RF
Lee 1B
Ramirez 3B
Soriano LF
DeRosa 2B
Soto C
Theriot SS

that gets speed at both ends of the lineup, with heavy hitters in the middle.

discuss….
—-—-—-—-—-—-

So I guess you’re allowed to speculate on lineups, but nobody else should? Calm down, hypocrite.

by sackings108 on May 16, 2008 5:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

Outstanding.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on May 17, 2008 10:18 AM CDT up 0 recs

that lineup is the best we've had in a while

it is better, overall, than the 2003 team in my opinion. Yet, that remains to be seen

by columbusOHcubsfan on May 16, 2008 6:13 PM CDT 0 recs

The 08 lineup is deeper...

...but is still not as good in the 1 and 2 hole from a set up standpoint. If Lou gets Fukudome in the 2 slot, this lineup has the potential to really reak havoc.

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

by MPH73 on May 16, 2008 9:21 PM CDT up 0 recs

good point

by columbusOHcubsfan on May 16, 2008 9:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

Eventually I'll agree with this...

but right now, Theriot has a .410 OBP compared to Fukudome’s .424 OBP. So the offense won’t necessarily be substantially better than it has been so far (with the exception of the fact that Soriano is heating up finally, so that’ll make things better). However, given that Theriot’s high OBP is probably not as sustainable as Fukudome’s OBP, in the long-term I agree.

by SouthernCub on May 17, 2008 9:38 AM CDT up 0 recs

Really? and this lineup is not wreaking havoc

now? Everyone assumes that moving Dome to the 2 hole and Sori to the 5 hole will automatically make this team better. Maybe they are as good as they are now because they are in the right spots. I don’t think there is a prayer of lou moving Sori and Theriot out of there spots as long as they are playing as well as they are. Managers are very uneasy about shaking up a lineup that is working well. I think he feels that his biggest challenge is finding a good spot for Edmonds without upsetting the chemistry of the lineup.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on May 16, 2008 9:39 PM CDT 0 recs

I understand your point...

...but while I don’t think Theriot will maintain close to his current OBP, it would be a bad idea to put him at the bottom of the order to get on base, and take advantage of Soriano’s power with a guy on.

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

by MPH73 on May 17, 2008 10:01 AM CDT up 0 recs