So it happened again. High expectations, great defeat. For the second year in a row the Cubs were swept out of the first round by a team from the NL West.
What happened? Why did it have to happen again? Why can't the Cubs just win once in any of our lifetimes?
I would like to take a look at what the Cubs' front office needs to look at and possibly do to help prevent another collapse next year. They have a very good nucleus of young talent and veteran leadership, and should be right there again next year. But something has to change.
Starting Pitching
They did the right thing picking up the option on Rich Harden, even if he can only give six innings a start. It's probably still a better six innings than any of the other starters.
They need to resign Ryan Dempster. He exploded this year becoming a starter again. Keep his veteran presence around for the young talent in the bullpen. But I'm not opposed to letting him go in favor of picking up a big name like a C.C. Sabathia.
Big Z is around and he'll be fine. Keep him on a short leash and make sure he realizes that he doesn't have to pitch a no-hitter every night. He can let them hit the ball sometimes; it's not going to hurt too badly most of the time.
Ted Lily will add a good left-handed arm. He would be the fourth starter in an already good rotation.
Next year is the year to let the best football player in Chicago play baseball. It needs to happen early in Spring Training.
Putting Jeff Samardzija in the rotation is the best thing for him and the club. He will work as a fifth starter, who can get skipped when there are a couple of off days in a week.
As for additions, obviously adding C.C. would be huge. The Cubs have the money to spend on his probably gigantic contract. But with new ownership sometime coming into play, it may be tough.
I would try and resign Dempster and try and get C.C.; I would rather have too much starting pitching. Samardzija could stay in the bullpen if that scenario happens.
If they would like to sign a free agent pitcher, my suggestion would be to start with Derek Lowe, who has good postseason success, or John Garland, who would add another young arm back to the city where he has had his greatest success.
This would all mean bye bye to the man that is the large nosed Jason Marquis. He's the odd man out of this situation.
Bullpen
The Cubs should re-sign Kerry Wood and keep him as their closer. As great as Carlos Marmol would look in the ninth inning, losing Kerry Wood just because they feel as if Marmol is ready, and moving him into the closer roll would open up a huge hole in the bullpen. Having both of them is the best of the options.
They should throw Bob Howry onto Sheffield along with the balls he served up that went out there. They should work with Gaudin and try and make him better.
Neal Cotts solidifies a left-handed arm (as much as it's not too sure). Sean Marshall is a fine long reliever who can work as a guy in the bullpen along with the option of throwing him with a Harden or Big Z goes down for a while (both are inevitable).
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about 1 month ago
Good read Eric and I like your suggestions. Sabathia instead of Dempster is fine with me, but with management under a change due to the sale of the team, I doubt they will be able to commit that much money to a single player.
from about 1 month ago
I would have to agree with you. As much as the Tribune Company and Sam Zell have wanted to win, they have never wanted to spend the money. They are hurting the team and all it's fan's by dragging this sale on and on. They need to sell the team already and allow the new ownership group to spend their money and bring a real winner to Chicago
about 1 month ago
No more Bob Howry! I've seen enough of that guy. I didn't even want him on this year's roster.
I agree, Derek Lowe would make a great addition to the team, especially since he actually performs well in the plaoyffs.
Maybe the Cubs could even sign both Dempster and C.C.? It's fun to imagine.
from about 1 month ago
It was tough to leave him off the team this season after the time he had last year. He was a pretty reliable guy, but he's pretty much a one year for a team kind of guy. He did it for the Indians too.
Lowe's stock has risen because of the playoffs this year and would look good on the mound at Wrigley.
Signing both C.C. and Dempster would take a lot of money. I would say, keep imagining it, we may get one, but not both.
Thanks for the comment, keep em coming.
about 1 month ago
CC doesn't have a good track record in the playoffs, however. And isn't that our only problem? I mean, we won 97 games so we just need to find a leader in the clubhouse and some guys who can handle the pressure. Oh, and a left-handed power bat, of course. Good thinking and a good read, thanks.
from about 1 month ago
Bob,
C.C. doesn't have the best of track records in the playoffs. But maybe if he doesn't have to be ridden the whole way down the stretch and just throw and throw and throw, he would feel a little better going into the playoffs. I mean he pitched 4 straight times on 3 days rest in the last 3 weeks of the Brewers run. That is not good and no wonder he got beaten up a couple times late.
The left handed power could be right under our nose in Hoffpauir, we just need to give him a chance. Dunn would solidify it but he does strike out a lot.
Thanks for the comment, keep reading and keep doing a great job. I enjoy your articles.
29 days ago
We need to sign a cold-blooded killer. We've just got too nice a team. We need Manny. Time to consider trading Lee and playing Hoffpauir.
Like Bill Simmons said, " Reason No. 947: The thought of 365-pound CC Sabathia laboring through a 98° game at Yankee Stadium in 2012 with four more years and $105 million remaining on his contract."
That's just one of the many reasons to avoid Sabathia.
from 29 days ago
Chris- You need to get off the Manny talk. It's not going to happen. He wants 6 years at $25M/yr. Why would we pay a 36 that money until he's 42, when we could pay that money for a 28 year old until he's only 34 like C.C. What's the difference in him pitching in 98 degrees in Yankee stadium or in Chicago or in California? It's the same weather in August everywhere in the country and he plays everywhere in the country. He's the best Free Agent out there, and the Cubs need to capitalize. Their rotation would be about as good as any in my recent memory. They won't sign him for more than 4 years if they're smart, and I don't think any team should. He's a pitcher. They tend to break down. Sign him for 4 years and if he's fine in 4 sign him for another 4.
29 days ago
i agree with trading lee and try to get brian roberts from bal. im not sold on hoffpauir. sign tex!!!! sign lloyd from away from arizona to bolster the pen. and get ibanez from seattle to roam center. put pie in triple A. hes not ready. hes too young. bring back REED JOHNSON!!! NOT NICK JOHNSON DUM DUM!! Derosa fontenot and cendeno are your backups. lowe in wrigley makes sense. sinker baller in the friendly confines makes alot of sense. sign dempster. keep up the work regiment. it worked. trade marquis for some prospects. if at all possible. bring back wood
sp pen infield outfield
Carlos Zambrano cl- Kerry Wood 1st Mark Texeira left Alfonso Soriano
Rich Harden 8th- Carlos Marmol 2nd Brian Roberts Center Raul Ibanez
Ted Lilly 7th Brandon Lloyd short- Ryan Theriot right Kosuke Fukudome
Ryan Dempster Neal Cotts third Aramis Ramirez res. Reed Johnson
Derek Lowe Jeff Szmardzja C Geovany Soto
Chad Gaudin res. ronny cedeno... res Mark Derosa if nec...
res Mark Derosa
res. Henry Blanco
res. mike Fontenot
res Micah Hoffpauir
from 28 days ago
Cesar- I like your thoughts. You make good points with out a lot of out there requests. Wouldn't even have thought of Lloyd or Ibanez. But Ibanez is a great choice! Hoffpauir is a bit of a gamble but sometimes we just have to do it. They need Roberts, they can't go forward without him and expect to win.
Thanks for the comment.
29 days ago
TRade Marquis for some prospects? In a perfect world you might find a sucker for him. Better to make him long relief and pay him less or...just let him go. No one wants him.
from 28 days ago
Chris- Someone needs a 5th starter. I'm sure KC would love a 5th starter for their team. OR maybe Seattle to get Ibanez as Cesar asks for. Someone will take him.
28 days ago
Eric,
Heck...maybe we could trade Marquis for Gil Meche. Nah...might was well keep Marquis as a 5th starter.
I know...Manny isn't going to come to Chicago. I don't really want Manny anyway. He's TOO much of a headcase. I know he's a killer and we'd love to have him but he's too expensive, too weird, and too old. 36 years old and wants a 5 year $125m contract. Man...gotta love it if you can get it.
Maybe we can find a cut-rate killer....or...even a mid-range assault and batterer....with INTENT to kill.
from 28 days ago
Chris,
Maybe we can get Dunn. No one knows what kind of assassin he could be when given the chance to shine on the big stage. Or maybe we could just get rid of D Lee, anyone is more of a killer than he is.
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