It is time to reassess this team

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Jun 26, 2009 11:24 PM CDT Comment 25 comments

The Cubs are getting very close the halfway point of the season.

I would like to start this discussion with a few simple assumptions:

1: The current team make up makes it nothing more than a .500 team. No more, no less.

2: With all these back loaded contracts it is clear the Cubs have to try to win now.

3: There is no guarantee that AmRam comes back 100% let alone can bring 10 wins to the team with his offense.

Here are my predictions going forward on these guys. Grades are for what they should be for the rest of the season if they stay in their current roles.

The Starters:

1) Sori C+(Great start, scary bad since)

2) Dome C+ (Nothing Great, he can’t hit lefties)

3) Game Board C- (He looks like a .250 hitter, with a little pop from the Right side)

4) DLee B (A good May/June has shown he’s still a very good pro hitter)

5) Soto B (He looks like he has found his stroke again)

6) LBR D+ (He looks like a role player. Nothing more)

7) The Riot B+ (The consistent player on the team)

8) Aaron Miles F (He is done)

Role Players:

The Hoff B (He is a good pitch hitter and good role player.)

Bobby Scales C- (Great story that can help in a pinch)

K Hill C (An average back up catcher)

Freel Incomplete (Hasn’t had a chance to play, but he could be helpful)

Fox B+ (He looks like a MLB hitter and he will not be returning to Iowa)

RJ B (A good back up outfielder)

Andy Blanco C (An Average light hitting, good fielding backup infielders)

Starting Pitcher:

Z A- (He is an Ace)

Lilly B (He is good)

Dempster B (He is good and should have 2 more wins)

Harden B- (Still gives up too many homers, but he can wow sometimes)

Wells C+ (The MLB will figure him out, but he looks like a big league starter)

Marshal C (He’s a starter and could be a very good 5 starter)

The Pen

Closer: Gregg C+ (An Average MLB Closer. Nothing more, Nothing less)

8th Inning Guy: Marmol B (His stuff is electric, but walks are killing him)

7th Inning Guy: Guzman B (He’s learned to be a relief pitcher)

Others in the Pen:

Ascanio D (AAAA pen guy)

Heilman C (Average pen pitcher. Should never be asked to do more)

Patton C (Should be in Iowa but whatever, He can get outs)

Hart D- (AAAA pen guy)

LOOGY: NONE

This is what this team is at the current moment. If you average the grades together you will get a C+ team. I see a team that will win 85 games and if they make the playoffs will be swept again in the first round.

So how do you fix this team?

First the offense is sad and DeRo will not fix it.

First: Sori needs some mental health days. Get RJ/Hoff more At Bats in Left.

Second: Fox is a MLB Hitter and should get the Starting Job at 3B till AmRam gets back.

Third: Release Miles and platoon LBR and Andy White at 2B

Fourth: Platoon Hoff/Dome and Gameboard

Fifth: Let RJ take 50% of the At Bats in CF

RHSP Line-up:

Sori

Dome

DLee

Hoff

Fox

Soto

The Riot

LBR

Pitcher

LHSP Line-up:

Sori

The Riot

DLEE

Game Board

Fox

Soto

Andy White

The Pitching is good. The pen could be upgraded but it is the lack of hitting that is killing the cubs not the pen.

The Start Rotation:

Lilly

Dempster

Wells

Harden

Pen:

Closer: Gregg

8th: Marmol

7th : Guzman

Others:

Heilman

Patton

Marshal

I think with these changes you can pick up a few wins here and there you might get to 88 wins which should get the cubs into the playoffs.

The only way I see the Cubs getting better than that would be to get AmRam back at 100%, Find a new LH Power bat and find an everyday all starting center fielder or Second Baseman both via a trade. Who those folks are I do not know.

Oh and...Peavy

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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While I think...

That your offensive suggestions / grades are decent (and pretty much an ammalgamation of what else has been said on this site), I take issue with your pitching grades. You really think Ascanio is a D reliever? And that Heilman is better than him? I’m not so sure about that. Ascanio is still pretty new and perhaps a bit shaky, but Heilman is a known quantity. You put Heilman in there with runners on and you will be LUCKY if none of those runners score. That’s just the way he is. I’d give Heilman the D and Ascanio the C/C+ so far.

As for Patton, we can’t send him to Iowa because if we did we’d have to give him back to Colorado. Frankly, I wish we just did that. If Lou insists on giving him the Scott Eyre treatment, then he’s just wasting space since we can’t use his roster spot for someone else.

I dislike Kevin Hart. I’d rather see him gone and Stevens up.

I also don’t know why you want to keep slotting Marmol in the 8th role. He doesn’t have it right now. He was amazing last year, and I love the guy, but something is wrong. I don’t know if its fatigue due to overuse, a hidden injury, or a Rich Hillian mental breakdown, but something isn’t right. He can’t get out of an inning without issuing at least one walk, and today he gave up two which led directly to the Sox runs. When Gooz gets back, I’d put him in the 8th inning role if its close, and use Marmol as a 7th inning guy / 8th inning guy when the Cubs have a healthy lead until he gets it back.

Seriously, if you WANTED to lose a game the Cubs were winning, you really couldn’t do better than a combination of Marmol walking a few guys on and then bringing in Heilman to allow those inherited runners to score.

by hmlee on Jun 27, 2009 12:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Sarcasm font on Peavy, right?

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Jun 27, 2009 12:42 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh god yes.

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by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Jun 27, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think the bull pen needs a little help

George Sherril in Baltimore would make a big improvement to the bull pen. While I have no idea if he is avaliable, Baltimore might be getting better they are still a long way from contending. If I were Jim Hendry I would at least call my buddy Andy Mcphail to see what a deal like that would take.

The Bats will come around, and are starting to already. Hopefully A-Ram is going to be healthy, and Sori will get hot, and cold, and then hot again because that is what he does. When he is on one of those hot streaks he is fun to watch. I don’t know what to think about Bradley.

Starting pitching is the strength, and will be the reason this team will get hot, and stay hot for a long streak.

With the way things have gone so far a 2.5 game lead doesn’t mean much in June.
I am just hopeing that hot streak will carry through OCTOBER!

by wfree0104 on Jun 27, 2009 1:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

The price would be high, but we have pitching depth in the lower rungs of the system, and it’ll be a couple years before Baltimore is in contention at any rate. I’d call and see if Sherril could be acquired for a couple of good young pitching prospects. I’d also like to ship Heilman off…We don’t even need to get anyone of value in return, IMO. If that were to happen, the Cubs could put Sherrill in as closer, let Guzman take over the 8th when he returns (assuming Marmol hasn’t put it together), give the 7th to Gregg, and long relief/mop-up duty for Patton. We’d also still have Ascanio, who, in spite of the walks lately, has an electric arm. And if he doesn’t get the job done, the team could always send him down and call up Stevens.

by Ryjo on Jun 27, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

watch out

ted lilly doesnt take to kindly to B’s…

"all we know is, he's called the Stig"

by The Stig on Jun 27, 2009 2:15 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Lilly allergic to Bs?

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jun 27, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

no

he cant be allergic to anything, he just prefers A’s.

"all we know is, he's called the Stig"

by The Stig on Jun 27, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

About ARam

I get your point where you think he might not give us 10 extra wins. How about 3 extra wins because thats what separates us from the Cardinals.

And more importantly than the wins, he replaces a bat that isn’t producing well. While Aramis might bring us 5 extra wins, having Fontenot play every day might cost us 4 wins. 4+5 = 9 wins.

I know this is my own personal logic but I think it makes sense.

by ak123 on Jun 27, 2009 3:17 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

who the hell is

amram?

aramis=am

by neifi on Jun 27, 2009 3:40 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Aaron Heilman Sucks Fanclub takes issue

You’re giving him a C!!!! For shame… Heilman deserves nothing but a big, fat F+. And the plus is only given for that game last week when he threw two scoreless innings. Nothing more, nothing less. Ascanio has thrown well, and certainly better than Heilman.

But you’re right in your assessment of pretty much everyone else. I’d give Harden a lesser grade, but I hope he picks it up in the next four weeks so he can be used as trade bait. Colorado, Florida, Minnesota, Los Angeles of Anaheim, Texas, Atlanta and even the Sux might fall for it.

And just to nitpick, I’d give RJ and Blanco the same grade, a B-, for their small but important contributions. Milton Baggage doesn’t deserve more than an F because he has failed to do what he’s being paid for.

One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.

by chilango2 on Jun 27, 2009 6:02 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I was just judging Heilman talent against the league

Has he been a disappointment. Yes. But he is an average pen guy. I think the same can be said about Andy White.

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by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Jun 27, 2009 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why does Heilman get a apss from you a C?????)

but Miles does not?

A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill

by lookingdeadred on Jun 27, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey what's the secret password to get into the meetings?

and do they serve blueberry muffins there?

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Jun 27, 2009 7:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Aaron Miles is done?

When did he ever start

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 Jun 27, 2009 7:46 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Most of May

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by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Jun 27, 2009 10:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And that was the problem.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on Jun 27, 2009 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the glasses i don't wear must be very rosy indeed

backloaded contracts or not, i don’t think our timeframe is that short. we are looking at an ugggh/yukkk/boooo outfield the next few years, no doubt. but our starting pitching ought to be okay with reinforcements from the minors.

if vitters is more robin ventura than gary scott, we’ll be fine there. thomas ought to be ready by 2011 and will make us forget fontenot. we have 3 legit shortstop prospects in the chain for the first time since, oh, i have no idea.

we won’t be bosox good, but dusty seems to be ruining arms anew. albert is contemplating leaving st. louis. houston is a nightmare. pittsburgh is pittsburgh. milwaukee is smart, and will be good. but the division doesn’t loook like it’ll take 104 wins to take for a few years.

we’ll be fine. don’t trade cheap young talent. don’t sign expensive old prima donnas. we’ll be okay.

by tim815 on Jun 27, 2009 7:50 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The only grade I don't agree with is Wells...

His 9 or 10 starts have been “A” work.

Someday we'll go all the way...

by CubsBullsBears on Jun 27, 2009 8:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

he reminds me of most of the Twins staff

You think that your team should “figure them out” but at the end of the day they put up great numbers. I’d give him an A as well.

by ol Pete on Jun 27, 2009 12:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

cubs 09

agreed agreed agreed.this looks like nothing more than a 500 sub 500 team. too bad because the division is in reach.but sooner or later the leader might start running away.

by NOMAR on Jun 27, 2009 10:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Your pitching rankings are WAY off

Lilly and Z are basically equal. Z is not an ace and Lilly has been great most of the time but when he is bad he is awful. Probably B+ for both
Marmal a B ? Seriously. He has been terrible much of the time. Shows his occaisonal old self on a batter in between walks. Only reason his ERA isn’t higher is that Lou often puts him in with runners on who then score by the bunch.A “D”.
Ascanio has shown flashes of being very good indeed but unlike Marmol he is never allowed to stay in when gets in trouble so Marmol comes in and the runners score. An incomplete or C-
Harden has been bad but no one wants to admit because we want him as trade bait. C-
Wells , C’mon he has been GREAT. He gets an A. Don’t be such a Debbie Downer. I admit pinching myself every time he starts wondering if this will be the one and after that one bad start I though oh no he is going to turn into a pumpkin but then two more outstanding starts.
Guzman has been VERY good. He gets a B+ but we can only hope he is OK when he comes back.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on Jun 27, 2009 10:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As I said

“Grades are for what they should be for the rest of the season if they stay in their current roles.”

We can argue about the details, which can be fun, but I believe the league will figure out Wells but he still will be a +fifth starter much like Marquis.

I might be a little down on Ascanio and up on Marmol but I think Marmol is just that much more talented than Ascanio. Marmol is struggling right now but he did the same thing last year right before the allstar break, but he came back like gangbusters later in the season.

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by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Jun 27, 2009 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Z

is not an ace. He’s a real nice high end 2

Frankly……………right now……..I’d just as soon have heilman in the game over Marmol

by plenz on Jun 27, 2009 1:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The sum of the parts is what is important

Cubs are 2.5 games out—-the good and lucky, one game back in the loss column, very lucky. So the question is with basically 92 to play how do they win 57 of them or play .620 ball here on out.

Offense: Two big guns haven’t produced Soriano (big slump and 14HR’s) but he is 14th on runs scored….marginal. Bradley is the big loss….only 16 RBI’s at the top of the order, actually take his 5 HR’s away and he has batted in only 11 runs.

Second half I can see Soto and Lee continuing and maybe Sori turning it around but Bradley is a wash out.

Pitching is good and no need to do anything now that is substantial.

What to do, lose Bradley somehow, someway……get Hoffpauir and Fox more AB’s and get Ramirez healthy. Will that win 57 games?

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Jun 27, 2009 2:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs