I think the main thing the Cubs need is someone to hit in the #2 position. I like Walker, but I don't think he is the type of hitter who likes to take pitches or who would bunt. I am hoping Cedeno can do it, but I would like to trade for Lugo. We need 2 guys at the top of the order who can get on base, move runners up and have speed. Walker is a good hitter, but I think he is more suited for #6 or #7 in the batting order. I would jump at the offer to get Zito for Rusch and Williams or other prospects, and take the chance we could sign him to a longer contract. I think the main thing the Cubs have to do is get rid of the 3-run homer complex. Let's play baseball, and by that I mean moving runners up, giving yourself up for the team, etc. (do you hear me Dusty Baker?). As for Murton, I would play him every day. I was very impressed by him last year and think he will have a very good year if he is shown confidence (do you hear me Dusty Baker?). As far as the bullpen is concerned, I like it but again it has to be handled properly (do you hear me Dusty Baker?). I am looking forward to the baseball season and hope results are there this year.

My take as GM,

(1) I play Cedeno a short.
(2) I play Murton in left.
(3) I keep Todd Walker unless a proven second baseman is offered in a trade who is so much better defensively that is worth giving up a good left handed bat, if not, Todd is my man at second with Hairston his back-up.

(4) I would stick with the pitchers I have now hoping that Woody will be healthy and ready by mid May.
(5) With many good relief pitchers still on the free agent market, (Wilson Alverez, Darren Driefort, Brian Meadows, Paul Quantrill, Scott Sullivan), I'd try to sign 1 or 2 of them to compete for bullpen and starting jobs in spring training.

(6) I'd sign Derrick Lee immediately to a long term contract. And negotiate with Prior and Zambrano on long term contracts right now.

(7) I'd try to sign Benjie Molina as back-up catcher.
(8) I'd fire Dusty Baker and hire Don Zimmer as my manager until Girardi was free to leave the Marlins.
(9) I'd fire Rothchild as pitching coach and hire Rick Sutcliffe or Steve Stone as the new pitching coach.
(10) I'd hire Ryne Sandberg as Player Personnel Director.

What do you do with Todd Walker? - Walker is the best player to start at 2B on your team. His left-handed bat is much needed. No question, Walker is your opening day 2B.

Would you start Ronny Cedeno at Shortstop? Yes I would, mainly because he has shown that he can hit, and he's sound defensively. He has not been rushed around and you have to give the kid a chance. If he fails on his face you have Perez backing him up.

Do you add another starting pitcher? I think that with all of the uncertainty surrounding Wood, a starting pitcher is a must. I would take a good hard look at Zito and swing a trade, if not, what about offering an incentive based contract to Wade Miller? I would definately be looking for an arm right now.

Are you happy with the revamped bullpen? - The bullpen signings are great and should be a strength of the team. I'm happy with the direction that the Cubs went in.

What do you do with Matt Murton? This is a tough choice here, but I think that you treat Murton the same as Cedeno. Let him start and make an impression, he he falls on his face, then you have enough $$ to make a move around the trade deadline.

In the spirit of eternal optimist....I'd trade Hill, Hairston and Rusch to Oakland for Zito. Williams, Walker, Murton and Novoa or Weurtz to Tampa Bay for Huff and Lugo (Huff to right field, Jones to left, Cedeno plays 2nd). Then pick up Russell Branyan....Livin' the dream!

The last two years the biggest problem, bigger even than the leadoff situation, has been starting pitchers getting hurt. But sooner or later Wood and Prior will make it through a season. Maybe this year.

So if I were Jim Hendry, I'd try to do what I did in 2003: be patient until midseason and start snapping up guys when teams fall out of contention. There are bargains in July if you are patient. And Walker's my second baseman, batting 6 or 7. Cedeno plays short and bats 2. Murton's in left with days off to keep Hairston and others involved.

A year ago I remember everybody getting on Ken Williams for letting Lee and Ordonez go on the south side. Now he's a genius? He played his instincts and struck gold, but luck has a lot to do with success in baseball. Jim Hendry's had some bad luck. Now it's time for some good.

I would keep Walker at 2nd and bat him 6th or 7th. Why give up a .300 hitter with a little pop. I would have Perez as nothing but a backup. I would keep Cedano the starting shortstop, and Murton as the starting left fielder, they both played good last year, an they had great offseasons. Dusty give them a fair shot, and that doesn't mean playing Perez and Cedano every other day.

I would go after another starting pitcher. I don't like the idea of Rucsh in the starting lineup at all and with the uncertainty of Wood. If we couldn't get a fifth pitcher, i would give Hill and Guzman a fair shot in the spring at the starting lineup. The one thing we have had good luck with, is our pitching prospects (Willis, Prior, Wood, Zambrano).

The bullpen is a lot better than last year with the new additions, plus the young guys have more experience than last year.

I platoon Neifi and Walker. Walker is over rated by fans who like him for being blue collar, not for being talented. His offensive numbers are good as long as he has less than 100 AB per month (same as Neifi) but he has no range, and his defense is terrible.

I would bat Murton second, he has a lot of the same characteristics that Ryno had at the plate. He makes contact, he does not strike out a lot, he can steal a base, and has decent power.

Piere
Murton
Lee
Ramirez
Barret
Jones (when Grisson is in Cedeno moves up)
Cedeno
Neifi / Walker
Pitcher

if Lugo were acquired
Piere
Lugo
Lee
Rami
Murton
Barret
Jones
Cedeno
Pitcher

Cedeno is my starting SS unless I cam move Walker and prospect(s) for Lugo. Then I go with Lugo at SS and Cedeno at 2B. Either way, Cedeno, itis your job to lose.

I do ont feel good about the starting pitching currently, and would like to make a move. To begin with, currently we have one ace, Zambrano. Prior and Wood have not proven to be ace caliber for an entire season yet, Maddux is past his prime, I would not try to even make an argument for Rusch or Williams. SO if I can make a move I do it. Pitching is very important as we have seen the past two seasons, and health is even more important. Before anyone tells me about the "freak nature" of the injuries, remember an injury is still an injury and can cause long term problems (Woods go back to his Sophmore year in High School)

The bullpen is slightly improved, but I would not call it good, unless you can count on two new relievers who had good ERA's, but if you look at their numbers, you notice a lot of their outings were less than one inning. Eyre for example 86 appearances, 68 innings. So he is good for about 2/3 of an inning. We need to be able to bridge 6-7-8 for three possible starters more often than not (Williams, Rusch, and Wood if he returns to the rotation) and Maddux when he is off, likes to pull himself early and save himself for later. That usually means about 6 innings of relief in these games.

Jones has the strike zone of Shawon Dunston, and hit .190 in key situations late int he game. I am hoping that he returns to his previous form of two years ago, otherwise I am calling Kelton up and seeing what he has to offer.

I would start Walker at 2nd , Cedeno at ss batting 2nd.( Cedeno has hit over 300 every where last year , AAA ,Cubs, and Winter ball. You have to be able to take pitchs and be be selective if you are always a 300 hitter. Jones in left . Murton in right. And Cedeno and Murton have to start not platoon. I think our hitting will be be fine.We have alot of good hitters . Here is a list of potential 300 hitters . Cedeno , Murton , Walker, Lee, Ramirez , Jones . all have hit at or near 300. with the power of Lee and Ramirez we will be fine.
Pitching is our problem .

#1 Zambrano
#2 Prior ( IF HEALTHY)
#3 WOOD ( THE ONLY #3 QUALITY PITCHER AND NOT READY)
#4 Maddux ( HE IS AT BEST A NUMBER 4 NOW
#5 JEROME WILLIAMS, ROUSCH, HILL,
SO IF WOOD AND PRIOR ARE HURT WE HAVE A 1, 4 AND 3 NUMBER 5 PITCHERS

I SAY AGAIN WE NEED PITCHING , NOT TRADE ANYBODY THERE ARE STILL SOME O.K. PITCHERS AVAILABLE

I would sign Matt Skrmetta.

What...?
Oh...seriously? We already signed him?!
World Series here we come...whoooooo!!!

Ok, reality time:
Keep Walker as a starter over Neifi.
If you trade Walker, then acquire Lugo or Soriano...just don't start Neifi.

Acquire Zito...don't start Rusch.
If you don't acquire Zito, start Hill and/or Guzman, instead of Williams and Rusch.

Murton starts
Cedeno starts

Bullpen seems ok...especially if Rusch is in there, where he belongs.
The bench is ok as well, as long as Neifi is there, where he belongs.

Pretty much the gist of my post is that we need players of "Starting Quality" to be starting, and not guys of "Backup Quality" such as Neifi and Rusch, or Hollandsworth or Hairston or Macias, etc...

Unfortunately, I do not believe the Cubs will make another move, outside of signing their arbitration players. This is what it is right now...all we have is hope.

Hope that Prior is as good as we thought he would be.
Hope that Zambrano stays healthy.
Hope that Wood gets healthy.
Hope that Maddux doesn't age anymore.
Hope that Jacque doesn't hit his average from last year.
Hope that Murton and Cedeno are ready.
Hope that we have a quality 2B in our starting lineup.
Hope that Dempster doesn't pull a Borowski on us.

Here is to hope.

I would like to remind everyone of 1 extremely important fact. Anyone who is counting on Kerry Wood being in the starting lineup this, or any, year is relying too much on hope. I think it is clear that the Cubs and all their fans must come to the realization that Kerry Wood may NEVER start more than a few games ever again. As I have said before, I am not saying he won't, I am saying you can't count on it. In fact, I think you have to assume he won't. That way you can go after another starter like Zito. Then if Kerry did happen to get through all the troubles, and come back, it would be a huge boost to the team.

I'm VERY concerned about this year's team. I saw a comment that Hendry can makes some moves in July before the trading deadline. Let's be realistic. There's a good chance picking up players at that point would be mooot bc our season may be over. Neither Murton nor Cedeno had stellar minor league careers so the fact that many Cub fans are very confident in their abilities scares me. I think the Cubs management has ONCE AGAIN done just enough to keep the majority of the Cubs faithful appeased while not really trying to put together a winner. All you have to do is look at our team and the changes we have, and have NOT, made this offseason to see that. I have been watching the Cubs since I was 7 years old, 1976, and I call it like I see it. I see us fighting with Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Houstong for 3rd or 4th place in the division but not for the title I am sorry to say. That is unless the Cubs make another move or two before the season starts. Sorry to sound negative, but that's how I see it right now.

I agree with Jason, that we are going to need to hope for alot this year, but hope is not always a bad thing. We have to remember that the young guys need a chance. Remember before anyone became a star they were once a minor leaguer looking for a break to prove themselves. I could be wrong and they fall flat on there face. I'm sorry Anthony, but i don't agree with you about Wood. Woody had the same thing Morris had and look at the year he had last year, plus he went to one of the best, if not the best in the counrty-Kremchek, he is doctor out of Cincinnati. Why Wood didn't go to him right away, who knows. Somebody was missing something. We also have to remember, we still have three all- stars in our lineup, (Ramirez, Lee, and Pierre) Look at what happened last time we had a good leadoff hitter. I do agree we need at least one more solid starting pitcher. If we don't, that is where the hoping comes in.

Apparently Wade Miller is looking for a base of $1.5 million with $3 million in incentives. This may explain why the Cubs haven't made a move for him.

I'd love to the Cubs add Zito ... though I think the price will be high in terms of prospects given what the A's received for Hudson and Mulder. Hill and some combination of Williams, Rusch, and Walker won't get it done. Pie and Williams might do it. If we deal Hill with one of the starters, we'd likely need to add either (i) Pawelek and a second tier prospect or (ii) two top tier prospects from a group that would include Dopirak, Harvey, Sean Marhsall, and Guzman.