Lineup uncertainities---games within the game
by Ivy Walls on Sep 30, 2008 3:36 PM CDT
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PrintDodgers:
- CF Matt Kemp--290, 18 HRs, 76 RBIs, 35 SB or SS Rafael Furcal out since May with back problems
- C Russell Martin--.280, 13, 69, 18 SB)
- LF Manny Ramirez (acquired July 21 fro Bos) 332, 37, 121 overall
- RF Andre Ethier--.305, 20, 77
- 1B James Loney--.289, 13, 90
- 3B Casey Blake (acquired at ASB from Clev) .274, 21, 81 overall
- 2B Blake DeWitt--.264, 9, 52, or CF Matt Kemp
- SS Angel Berroa--.230, 1, 16 or 2B Blake DeWitt
- Derek Lowe RH (14-11, 3.24 ERA -itched two good games this year against the Cubs)
Starters (GAME 2) Chad Billingsley RH( 16-10, 3.14, 201 strikeouts), (GAME 3) Hiroki Kuroda RH(9-10, 3.73), TBD (GAME 4)RH Greg Maddux (acquired from SD; 8-13, 4.22 overall) OR Clayton Kershaw LH (5-5, 4.26 in 22 games, 21 starts).
Bench players of note: Pierre OF, Garciaparra IF, Kent IF, Furcal or Berroa IF, Ellis C
Bullpen: Closer---Jonathan Broxton RH (3-5, 3.13, 14/16 saves), Takashi Saito RH (4-4, 2.49, 18/21 saves), Joe Beimel LH (5-1, 2.02), Cory Wade RH (2-1, 2.27), Chan Ho Park RH(4-4, 3.40),
CUBS
- LF Alfonso Soriano--.280, 29, 79, 19 SB
- SS Ryan Theriot--.307, 1, 38, 22 SB)
- 1B Derrek Lee--.291, 20, 90
- 3B Aramis Ramirez--.289, 27, 111
- CF Jim Edmonds (acquired May 9 from SD) .235, 20, 55 overall
- C Geovany Soto--.285, 23, 86),
- 2B or RF Mark DeRosa--.285, 21, 87,
- RF Kosuke Fukudome--.257, 10, 58, 12 SB or Mike Fontenot 2B
- Ryan Dempster RH (17-6, 2.96), (GAME 2) Carlos Zambrano RH (14-6, 3.91), (GAME 3) Rich Harden RH ( acquired from Oak---10-2, 2.07 in 25 starts overall), (GAME 4 IF NEC)LH Ted Lilly (17-9, 4.09).
Bench Players of Note: Johnson OF, Fontenot If, Ward IF/OF, Cedeno IF, Blanco C, TBD
Bullpen: CLOSER Kerry Wood RH(5-4, 3.26, 34/40 saves), Carlos Marmol RH(2-4, 2.68, 114 strikeouts in 87 1-3 IP, 82 games), Bob Howry RH(7-5, 5.35), Neal Cotts LH(0-2, 4.29), Sean Marshall LH(3-5, 3.86 in 34 games, 7 starts), Jason Marquis RH(11-9, 4.53 in 29 games, 28 starts), Jeff Samardzija RH(1-0, 2.28).
Discussion: I am unsure of Furcal's back health, would that in of itself have an effect on his stealing game or defense. Is he rusty? Kent is coming back from a knee surgery in less than a month, what is his circumstance. The same for Nomar, he too was hurt. Will Pierre be used in CF or is he the most expensive late game base runner? Saito also is coming off an injury.
My thinking is Torre starts a lineup that got him there in Game 1 and see's what transpire's. Kemp playing CF, Berroa at SS, and DeWitt at 2B.
As for the Cubs I think they are looking a Fukudome to anchor that 8th spot in the lineup and make something happen. That means DeRosa plays 2B and Fontenot is the real bat off the bench to depend on.
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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Pretty good lineup if you ask me...
The homegrown boys of Martin, Loney and Kemp are only going to get better over the long haul.
Oh please let this dubious bullpen be good enough in the playoffs...
yes they are a division champ with a great manager
They are a sneaky good team but I think they are next years competitor.
Cubs will become the new Yankees when they sign CC and Holiday
Move Fukudome to CF, play Holiday in RF and put CC in the best rotation in the game trading Marquis and Pie from position of strength.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
HIGHLY doubtful the Cubs sign CC.
First, with so many backloaded contracts already in tow, it’s hard to imagine the new owners ponying up the cash. Second, he’s made it clear he wants to play on the West Coast. Third, I’m not sure the Cubs will want him after the Brewers burn his arm to a cinder. (Half-joking on that last point.)
The Chicago Cubs: 2008 Central Division Champions
I have to second this
The only team that might lure CC away from the west coast is the Yankees and I figure it would take a good chunk of change. I know he has said that he would like to continue in the N.L., but I don’t see us having the money or the draw (for him) to come our way. I’m thinking he won’t be untucking a Cubs jersey anytime in the future.
Why exactly can't the Brewers sign him?
It seems as if the Brewers organization really likes him a lot, and nobody really expects it from them. I think they might surprise some people and go hard after him. It also looks as if CC likes playing for the Brewers as well. He showed a lot of emotion when he won the wild card clinching game. I guess only time and the offseason will tell.
by aznsensation on Sep 30, 2008 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions
what are you talking about....Cubs have plenty of cap room
and with the market falling only the kid from B-town is left and he has money from the new economy….
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
i never said the cubs couldn't sign them
I just don’t see why they really need to….look at our pitchers that we have. Do we really wanna spend money on a rotation that’s already looking pretty damn good. I was just responding to others who say the yankees and really only the yankees can afford him. I personally think that not all mlb players are greedy and will lean towards happiness than wealth. Look at Kerry Wood.
by aznsensation on Sep 30, 2008 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Um... there's no salary cap in baseball...
luxury tax yes, salary cap no.
"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
I think we see DeRosa in RF, Fontenot at 2nd
Unless DeRosa is hurt more than we know, Kosuke is relegated to the bench.
Oh please let this dubious bullpen be good enough in the playoffs...
one of the beat writers on first take today
said they heard due to d-ros calf he will most likely be at second…
I really wish sneaky power and d-ro played together with fuk as a late replacement
"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"
Fukudome will start the first three games in this series
DeRosa will not be risked in the OF until he is very healthy. This is why I cannot see anyone but Pie coming with the club in the playoffs.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
Don't agree
Felix Pie has not played right field in a Cub uniform. Neither has Jim Edmonds or Reed Johnson who have the center field chores adequately sewed up between them.
Oh please let this dubious bullpen be good enough in the playoffs...
Wait...Edmonds and Johnson had also never played CENTER FIELD in a Cub uniform...
until this spring.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 30, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Reed played 6 games in RF this season....
Nobody cares about your fantasy league team
by carmen_fanzone on Sep 30, 2008 5:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Your missing the point...
and that point is….he is right, and we aren’t.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 30, 2008 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions
except
according to Paul Sullivan, he’s wrong. Pie is on the roster, Hoff ain’t.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Sep 30, 2008 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Paul Sullivan is also wrong...and if Lou has put Pie on the roster...
then that means Lou is wrong. It’s a pretty black and white thing here….MDBNIU=CORRECT.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Sep 30, 2008 9:24 PM CDT up reply actions
must be a special room to be always right with oneself
kind of a safe place
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
Id be OK with Dome + Wonder Hampster
and let DeRo keep getting healthy. The Wonder Hampster is a solid bat
Reed Ballgame - best CF in the MLB
by californiachicagoan on Sep 30, 2008 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions
furcal is starting game 1.....
i didnt even know he was healthy. i saw that today somewhere
"I played with one of the best pitchers in history, Greg Maddux," Zambrano said"
interesting---makes them stronger on paper
I would put pressure on him. Figure that DeWitt will cover all steal attempts.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
nlds rosters
what are they—cant find them anywhere.
from the mouth of Uecker:
"Am I the only one who’s glad it’s only a 4-game series? If was a 9-game series, I think the Cubs would win them all."
Daily Herald has it outside of the Cubs 14 position player
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=239023&src=152
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
FWIW...
… my understanding is that final rosters are not due till 10 am tomorrow.
So the “projected” lineups as in that link — which is an AP story, not from a local writer — are conjecture at this point.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Do you know what the venue and protocal will be?
Announce on WGN or just put a link on the Cubs web site or a live press conference at Wrigley filed with the players or what.?
Tommie Agee was out.
I doubt there will be any official announcement.
Just a link posted, maybe witha press release.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
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