Time for a Little R&R

nicely done neil

The wounds are still a little too fresh for me to really share my thoughts and what I'd like to see the team do this offseason. I love this post, thanks Neil. We do need to enjoy this season because it was a great summer of baseball; it's just too bad that it ended too soon. I'm going to post my thoughts tomorrow. Just a teaser, I'm going to explain to everyone who reads CCO why the Cubs need to trade DLee, and just so you know I'm a DLee fan.

WHERE DO I START...
SEE IF ANY TEAM WILL TAKE SORIANO OFF THE CUBS HANDS,THEN GET RID OF ARAMIS, LEE & FUKUDOME, DUMP COTT'S & HOWRY. RESIGN DEMPSTER AND WOOD. THE ANNOUNCER'S FOR THE PLAYOFF'S WERE THE WORST I EVER LISTENED TO. SO NOW I LOVE PAT, RON, BOB & LEN. THE ANNOUNCER'S WERE SO BAD I HAD TO TURN ON THE RADIO EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A DELAY, BEEN A CUB FAN SINCE I WAS 5 AND THIS YEAR AS LAST YEAR WAS VERY SAD. I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF LOU WALKED AWAY VERY SOON.

Thank you, Neil.

Okay here is what we do.

Trade Lee
Trade Aramis
Trade Fukudome
Trade Soriano

Spend 20 million a year for CC
Spend 20 million a year for manny

Buy Tiexera.

Good lord. Some of you guys are really, really silly.

This is a good base of guys. You dont really tinker or dismantle a 97 win team.

Do things have to be done? Sure.

But lets not get crazy.

First...Neil...I was new to the site this year but completely enjoyed it....hope to banter back and forth with other fans for many more seasons...

Matt.....I agree...some tinkering needs to be done....but you certainly do not dismantle the club...Trade Aramis???? What???? Any long time Cubs fans knows the revolving door we had for many many years at that position since ol Ronny Santo....
We freaking tried Keith Moreland there for a season!!! Lets's see there was Vance Law, Garay Gaetti, Kevin Orie, Gary Scott, Ron Cey....... now you want to trade the most solid 3B we've had in years...a guy who is a bopper....a guy who made awesome strides in defense from his first year here...and a guy who made awesome strides at the plate as far as patience goes.... To even say to trade him is just crazy.....

Soriano is fine if we can keep him healthy....AND he agrees to get the hell out of the leadoff spot.....they have to get that through his head this winter....and I think they will. I think we will seek a true leadoff man. I think Lou's comments that the team is not built to manufacture runs was a message to management...Perhaps Pie is ready to take CF? I'd sure like to see him do it.

Or perhaps as I said in an earlier post....the Cubs work with the Padres on a trade. Pads are listening to offers for all players including Peavy....I say lets get Jake....the Pads are also down on SS Khalil Greene who had a subpar year...he has only one year left on his contract. The Cubs tried to draft him orginally but he didnt sign. The Padres need a young fast cheap CF for the huge Petco Park.....Pie would fit that bill. We can ship Ronny Cedeno or perhaps even Mark DeRosa (I'd hate to get rid of D-Ro).....but to get Greene who would replace the power of D-RO....have a better arm at SS...and allow Thr Riot to move to 2B.... and then to have Peavy....who can actually throw a complete game????

The pitching is what scares me....something is wrong with Zambrano....I have a bad feeling about his arm going out....Harden is a walking time bomb....did anyone actually believe the Cubs and Harden that his extra September time off was scheduled??? lol Yeah, then he finally admitted he had a cortisone shot....Hopefully Hill can make a comeback next year...he will be needed....I'd like to see the Cubs make a play for Sabathia....would be a great fit.....

Most of all Fukudome has to figure out how to hit again.....a scout suggested the Cubs actually send him to AAA for awhile.....AMEN to that.....it's bad enough to struggle....but to look that pathetic swinging bailing out....gimme a break....

ONE FINAL WISH FOR 2007

WE CAN END THE YEAR ON A HIGH NOTE......HOPEFULLY THE VETERANS COMMITTEE WILL ANNOUNCE ON DECEMBER 8TH THAT OUT BELOVED RON SANTO HAS BEEN ELECTED TO THE HALLO OF FAME.....SHORT OF WINNING THE WORLD SERIES.....THAT WOULD MAKE THE YEAR TRULY SPECIAL!!

The season a failure?
Come on! No way!
If there is really anyone that thinks not winning the world series constitutes a failure, then obviously 29 out of 30 teams fail every year. That means only one team can be successful?
To me, it has been a successful year simply becuase my team was entertaining, good, and yeah, they not only won alot, but also virutally every game you got the impression that they were still in it.
Im looking forward to next year as well, and hopefully they wont just be successful, they will do even more.

Joe, certainly the Santo election to the Hall would be a wonderful consolation to the finish this year.

While the Cubs don't need a total dismantling in the off-season, what they do need are more team players who play with a sense of passion and urgency each day.

I don't know how you unload Soriano's remaining 6 years (and no--trade clause), as well as Derrick's same no-trade, but these two really need to go. I would estimate the Yankees would really like a D. Lee (or perhaps even getting a Soriano back). Or perhaps you ship Fonzi to Baltimore, and finally secure Roberts. The net is we need to displace some payroll for a potential attempt at either Texeira or Sabathia.

Personally I can see a lineup next year of Roberts (in LF), Johnson/Pie in CF and DeRosa in RF, with an IF of Ramirez, Theriot (or Khalil Greene as Joe pointed out), Theriot/Fontenot at 2B and Texeira at 1B, with key bench player of Hoffpauer and Edmonds.

The rotation is concerning as I agree in having concerns over Z's health as well as Harden's inability to pitch in a normal rotation period. Peavy would be a solid addition, and wouldn't break the bank. I could see a rotation of Peavy, Lilly, Dempster, Z and Harden (as your #5 guy). Marquis needs to go, and Gaudin needs to come back healthy as the solid go to guy in the middle of the pen along with Marshall. And perhaps Hill can get thru therapy in the offseason and show something next spring.

Candidly, we need more DeRosa's and Johnson's. Guys that will do whatever it takes to win (and will accept responsibility when it doesn't).

I'd like this team to play a bit more small-ball next year, but have enough power (Ramirez, Soto, Texeira, Hoffpauer) to bust it as well.

It should be an interesting off-season, as usual.

I wonder if we might be able to pry a McLouth from the Pirates (they are apparently listening to offers, including considerable potential interest from the Yankees). Perhaps a Hill and Cedeno package could land him. That would certainly solve our CF and leadoff situation.

Neil;

Great insight and perpsective...this is a clinic for how Cub fans should approach being a fan and beyond that as a person. I wholeheartedly endorse what you are saying except it seems you went a bit far in letting the team off the hook because of the pressure. If one of the future teams is going to do it they will have as much if not more pressure...the ownership or management will just need to do a better job of making sure it happens; prepare the players better to resist getting caught up in the hype and turn the negative forces into powerful motivating energy. One thing for sure...the weight of the history, even though history was created by different teams, must be recognized and dealt with for the team to finally break through.

Great reporting and writing throughout the year. I usually go to this site to find out what is happening with the team.

Enjoy your well deserved break!

Despite the result it was a great season and one I will fondly remember. The aftertaste will linger a bit longer than I would like, but the Cubs are my team and that won't change. Thanks for this site Neil, it was my first season on here and I loved it almost as much as the season.

To side notes.....Why did Reed not play in the playoffs? As mentioned on here, he was always in the middle of the scoring...so why didn't he play in right? Was he injured?

Also, as mentioned by Bauman on chicagocubs.com....as soon as I heard that they had a priest in the clubhouse with holy water....I had bad omens. There was no cause for that. Pinella was trying to forget and forgo the whole curse thing all year and then you do that before the first game? Come on, REALLY??

I am with Cary on trying to pry McLouth from the Pirates. The Pirates are desperate to put fannies in the seats, right? So the Cubs eat half of circus attraction Soriano's salary and trade him for McLouth.
Then the Cubs players can laugh at him when he turns doubles into singles because he went into a homerun trot to soon, or not advance on ground outs, deep fly balls, and throws to the plate, because he's a spectator while on the base paths.
Soriano is a team chemistry cancer and I would love to see Hendry eat any amount of salary to be rid of him. There is no reason Hoffpauir could not learn to play left (like you could do worse on defense?), and McLouth has played some left as well.

I would welcome seeing an opening Day lineup of:

McLouth - LF
Johnson - CF
Texeira - 1B
Ramirez - 3B
DeRosa - RF
Soto - C
Fontenot or Roberts (2B)
Theriot - SS

Guys:
I was a frequent poster earlier in the season and went away. I couldn't take the negativity after every single little blip on the radar from a few certain posters for one, and secondly I was taking on a much larger workload as a writer.

I did want to come back here and encourage everyone to check out what I wrote last night. It was soothing for me, and telling similar personal stories may help everyone else as well.

http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2008/10/06/from-the-windup-being-a-cubs-fan-chapter-100/

Great post here Neil, as always.

Soriano for McLouth?

As far as Hendry being able to move Soriano first realize that Hendry was the one who decided to make Soriano the centerpiece of the team and this was motivated by the desire for window dressing to attract higher bids for the team. Also Soriano's contract is heavily backloaded so the big money is just starting to be paid.

Neil,
Thank you for your words.
I appreciate your "reporting" and your insight.
Like every year thus far, I'll be waiting for the next.

Billy Beane is right: The playoffs are a crapshoot. There is little to no correlation between regular season success and post-season success, once you make the playoffs of course. All you can do it make GM decisions to make the playoffs, and hope it works out from there.

We had 3 bad games. Panicking and dumping everyone because they had 3 bad games, for the sake of getting different faces, is dumb. It also ignores the fact that many players Cub fans are upset with have no-trade clauses: They are Cubs next year, like it or not.

Our core team is good. Good enough, with some changes, to get back to the playoffs next year. After that it's a crapshoot again. The key is to just get there as many times as possible.

The Phillies are exhibit A for a team that a year ago were choking bums, and this year is heading to NLCS. They didn't change their core players, just added a couple. That's all we need to do.

I disagree Keith. The Yankees won it 4 out of 5 years from 96 to 00 and the Red Sox stand a good chance of winning 3 out of the last 5 years. There is a formula and it involves staffing your team with gamers and those who's will to win, causes them to rise to the postseason occasion, not piss down their leg. DeRosa is a gamer, Soriano is someone who crumbles under the pressure of the spot light.

Sad so many people are getting on D-lee. Yes he had alot of double plays ( hey so did Santo in his time) but he still was a big piece in getting the cubs to the post season. As far as the post season, he was the only one hitting. over 500 is damn good. Besides it's not like the Cubs could aquire a certain Cardinal 1st baseman.

Show....An excellent commentary. Neil, too, has perspective that makes sense. In my final report card yesterday, I gave the Blue a High Pass for the regular season and a Dismal Failure for the post season. In the heat of the moment, of course, some surrenders to emotional outbursts are not unexpected and may be healthy.

I think part of the incivility and negativiy in relationships and attitudes these days is reaction to a real or subconscious feeling of being personally "short-sheeted" by an uncaring society around us. Putting others down with malice, especially within the anonymity of the internet, is an uplift for some--however briefly.

You asked a question about making a Cubs fan of your son. As long as you don't obsess over, or force your kids, in their interests and pursuits, you will build and share wonderful experiences that last a lifetime. And your kids' perspectives on those experiences years later will amaze you. I was telling a story to a group (yes, I do that) in the presence of my son about how he got a double in a seniors', little league state tournament game. I was managing and coaching third. The opponents' coach had been hollering out to his pitcher that John couldn't hit and was only an all-star because his dad was the coach. I turned to the opponent's coach and their supporters after the hit and said, "Not bad for a coach's kid." I told the group that the moment was one of my favorite memories.

In response, son John, said, "I have only a slight recall of that game. What I remember is when my 7-8 year-old basketball team, coached by my dad, lost all 8 of its games, and I said that I didn't want to play basketball any more. Dad said, "Son, you don't quit when you haven't won. You practice and get better." Next year our team will catch up with some of the others in age, and we will win some games. "Dad was right, we won more games than we lost the following year. And, I learned not to quit."

The point of this story is that I have no recollection of losing all 8 basketball games, and my son has only a faint recollection of a double in an all-star game. He quickly recalls learning not to quit in the face of adversity. My quick recall is of a hit that I took pleasure in and that rebutted a cheap shot by an opposing coach. As an aside, the team wore Rangers' jerseys and the picture of the team is on a shelf near an autographed Cub's baseball--that I will show when we have a Faithful outing.

WOW! WHAT A SEASON! Every year I begin with hope. I grew up in northern Indiana watching the Cubs on channel 9 even before cable. I have long since left the north for the hills of Kentucky where most folks hardly speak of baseball because college basketball and football rule down here.
I only made one game at Wrigley this season but I supported my beloved Cubs by purchasing cubs gear ect. With the help of DVR I dont recall missing a game. The ones that were'nt televised I watched on MLB.com. I love this team, but the thing I am most proud to be is a CUB FAN!! Win or lose cub fans are by far the greatest fans in all professional sports.
I realize any team these days will be under pressure to win but I believe a true winner will put that aside and give us truely loyal fans a world series victory some day soon.
Think about it, if not for the fans packing the park every game, would there be multi-million dollar contracts?
This one seems to hurt more than any in recent memory but it's because it's fresh.
I guess i'm rambling now so i'll stop. I just want to thank all my fellow cub fans I'm very proud to be one of you!!!!

The Cubs need to improve their post season results--which could mean their intensity--which could mean changing a couple of key players. While I've talked once of Lee possibly being tradeable and have hoped that Soriano may be too, that had to do with adding intensity and outward leadership. Lee stepped up in the playoffs and is certainly more than adequate. As others have stated, trading big contract guys with no trade clauses isn't easy.

So JH may end up strengthening the team outside of our our bigs like Aram, Soriano and Lee. A power hitter at SS or 2B or CF/RF would be helpful. But the possibilities won't come into focus until after the Series when free agents declare themselves.

Depending on ownership, we may be able to compete for Sabathia, Manny or Teixeira--but I'm guessing they have other preferences and we won't have the budget. There are some others who could really help--so I'm waiting until after the Series to see who becomes available. As an example of a guy who could really help, + outfielder, Xavier Nady (age 30) will be a free agent and his line was .305-25-97 with the Pirates and Yankees.

Broke my heart.

I like the team we have now. I would like to see an aggressive manager. All year long we saw Lee ground into DP's, what did Lou do??? He sat back and waited for something to happen. Soriano is a streaky hitter like a lot of great hitters are. What doeas Lou do??? He sits back and waits. First and foremost, do we see any of the lead-off hitters that are still playing this year swinging for the bleachers? Of course not. Keep his bat in the line-up, move him down. Point out to his team mates every time he jogs to first or a lazy fly drops 2 feet in front of him. I certainly hope this type of play doesnt rub off on Soto. I was shocked when I heard stories of Edmonds more or less taking over as team captain, gimme a break. Don't get me wrong, Jimmy did a great job but who was leading this team before he arrived? Lee?? Lets face it, we have a diamond in the rough, we need someone with a winning spirit to guide the team. During the season time after time when the top of the order struggled the bottom came through and vice-versa, not so in the play-offs. It makes me sick to see TB winning when up until the post season they couldnt give a seat away. Obviously we the fans want it more than the players and management. But guess what, next year Wrigley will sell out every game, this team will be in the thick of things again, but if the winning spirit is only in the bleachers, we will have our hearts broken again. THERE ARE NO BASEBALL GODS!!!!!

I am a huge Cubs fan, new to this site, named after the great Ernie Banks, and am surprised at all of the whining by Cubs fans.

We had a great season, the team is young and improving, enough already. How would you like to be a Pirates or Royals fan? They would gladly trade places with you whiners.

We have a great team with great tradition, and I'm sure that all of the whiners will be back on the band wagon when we win the Series. All this team needs is a proven big league winning manager to get it to the next level. Lou ain't the guy.

Proud to be a Cubs fan through thick and thin........

Boy, did Soriano get torched in Rosenberg's Trib Blog online. And well deserved.

I sure hope we can find a taker for this overpaid "leadoff hitter".

gotta agree with Gary about the postseason success of some teams vs others, and there DEFINITELY being a formula. I intend on doing a lot of research during the offseason on a specific formula, and trends with good playoff teams, and ones that make the postseason with outstanding seasons but flop in the postseason, and I'm determined to come up with a theory...

Anyhow, Matt, I DEFINITELY got your sarcasm there...I think Joe might've missed it. Joe, he was not suggesting trading everyone away, but just telling people to relax, which, Matt, I definitely agree with for the most part, but at the same time, we need to make changes, and here's a response to that:

1) I'd never trade ARAM, even though I suggested a straight-up swap of him for AROD at one point...I just don't see us needing/wanting to ever trade a ceterpiece to our lineup and replacement for Santo after all these years
2)Do whatever necessary to trade Lee, and get serviceable parts, or top prospects. Here's why: Lee is 33, and his age is really showing. He had one good year, otherwise his overall stats are just average for a first baseman. He grounds out too many times for the good of the team, and regressed very very far this year, and inexplicably couldn't move runners over like he used to in the past and make productive outs (a concept that seemed to be lost on everyone but Reed Johnson this year). He also seems lackadasical out there at times and indifferent, almost like because he already has a ring, he doesn't have that sense of urgency other guys might have, and certainly not the demeanor like Edmonds had to want more.
3)Trade Soriano. There's a reason Soriano went from the Yankees to the Rangers, and then to the Nationals...he's a very streaky hitter that CANNOT be counted on to be consistent in any stretch of the imagination. Outside of Kevin Brown, this might go down as one of the worst $100 + million contracts ever, and not just because of production, but due to his fragile legs as well and his lack of concentration at the plate and in the field.
4)We must sign Teixeira, and it's not even close in terms of a must sign player. He is 4 years younger than Lee and has 5 straight seasons of 30+hr and 105+RBI. This is a top priority, because we will need more production from that position, given the fact we'll probably lose Edmonds production, and Fukudome can't be counted on for anything next year.
5)We have to sign either Burnett or Sabathia. The reason is the health of Zambrano, lack of production from Marquis, the health of Harden, the career year of Dempster (and uncertainty of resigning him), and only Marshall/Guzman/Hill/Gaudin/Atkins/Samardzija to choose from in-house----not exactly an enticing group to choose from.

****by the way...did anyone catch the following things in reaction to the postseason flop:
1)The players busted the water pipes in the locker room at Dodger stadium (which in itself is pathetic, considering they did nothing productive with their bats all series), showing very little class in the process---which, to me, is embarrassing as a fan to hear that
2)Soriano's comments about the team REALLY irked me, and pissed me off, after he claimedthe team was built for a marathon and not a sprint...that, to me, is not accepting blame for not producing, and furthermore, tells everyone that you were bogus all season long. That, more than anything is why I wanna get rid of his sorry ass from the team.
3)Did anyone read between the lines of what Hendry said about Manny after the series, ''What an amazing guy,'' Hendry said. ''To me, Albert [Pujols] is the best player in the game. But this guy, with a bat in his hands, is very close.''
***could this potentially mean that Hendry is fond enough of Manny to go after him this offseason.
4)DeRosa is my favorite player on this team right now, and it's all because of his accountability, and the fact that he really cares. Just listen to his interviews, and read what he's said as well.
5)I read in the Suntimes that the team was pathetic. I guess when Lee was up in the 8th inning, they panned to the dugout, and only the coaches and like 1 or 2 guys were in the dugout, and nobody was cheering him on like real TEAMS do. This was another pathetic showing from the Cubs in the postseason.

One last comment here as well...The reason I've stated the trades of Lee and Soriano in exchange for signing Teixeira and getting Beltran for Soriano, is the fact that it has been stated several times already by Piniella and others that the Cubs are very right-handed power-heavy. If you can't get either of them, I think that might force Hendry's hand to go after Adam Dunn. The fact being Edmonds is the only lefty power threat, and he'll likely retire (and, we don't want a Gary Gaetti redux either), so that leaves Fontenot, Hoffpauir, Ward (likely to be a FA, and not resigned), Pie, and Fukudome as our only lefties on the team. Hoffpauir is the only one with real power, and this team seems intent on keeping him out of the lineup, and Pie and Fukudome might not even be with the team next year if Pie gets traded and Fukudome gets shipped to AAA.

All I know, is we need more balance to the lineup, and how great it would be to get Beltran, Teixeira, Manny, Furcal, Dunn, Bradley, etc. (any combination of those players) in our lineup. Here's hoping Hendry doesn't sit on his thumbs and makes major improvements this offseason.

Aaron, I was really with you in agreement with your post until you got to the final paragraph and went into "wishful thinking" on that long list of potentials to be acquired. I know you're thinking just a combination of those, so I get it.

If we can unload Lee and Soriano (big if's) and add a Texeira, that would be big right there. And I really like the potential of adding Peavy to the rotation for a trade scenario. Get that accomplished, and those are two big moves.

Candidly, if Soriano doesn't get traded during the off-season I can see him really being the fans whipping guy next season. It won't be pretty. Cubs fans never "boo" effort, desire and hustle...but never tolerate sad excuses and lack of personal accountability.

The Red Sox just advanced with a last of the 9th run 3 to 2. The Angels infield D was poor, but Lackey held the Bosox to 2 runs through 7. Leister (sp) shut out the Angels for 7 innings. The Angels tied it up in the 8th. Aybar wiffed on a squeeze bunt that would have given the Angels the lead. Then Bay got a ground rule slicing double to right and Lowrie (sp) hit a clean single to right. Bay scored on a fairly close play at the plate. The Angels did compete, but the Red Sox executed better the whole series.

The two best teams (record-wise) got eliminated in the first round...

Maybe we should try to compare and contrast the Cubs and the Angels and see if we can learn something...

a very odd thing happened to me tonight. I found myself very involved with the Red Sox game, and after watching tonight, watching in 2004, watching in 2007, and the type of talent they throw out there, and heart.....WOW!!! That's the team I want....and looking at it, you just get a very uncomfortable feeling. I mean, my favorite player of all-time isn't even a Cubs player....it's Babe Ruth, and he started with the Red Sox.

I'm not saying I'm not a Cubs fan anymore...I'm saying that I love good baseball, and that's a damn good baseball team, and I love the way they play. Only the first month and a half of the season did I like the way we played, and not coincidentally,we were on a roll when Soriano was out of the lineup the first time. hmmmmmmmmm....anyway, it's just sad that we can't get that type of effort when it counts. The sad thing is, I offered a bunch of suggestions, and I don't think Hendry will do a single one of them. Why do I think that way? Well, because, after all, it's the Cubs. I honestly thought, perhaps, once we signed Piniella, and got his fire, we'd actually start winning....and we did...But why do I get the feeling we still won't win it all for a long time?

I want to blame someone......I blame the media...I blame fans for expecting too much and putting pressure on the players. But, then again, didn't the BoSox have the worst curse ever? The Curse ofthe Bambino---the greatest player to ever play the game----both one of the most dominating pitchers and hitters of his era...Didn't the BoSox have to deal with that every damn day until they finally won, and furthermore, the Boston media is a lot tougher than Chicago, and almost on par with New York. Plus, they lost like 19-7 to the Yankees, and were on the verge of elimination, until they came roaring back...that's a team with heart, and I'm going to figure out the formula, that I promise you...whether it be a combination of fine coachng, youth mixed with veterans, all battle-tested veterans, the naivity of youth, whatever it may be, I'm going to try my damndest to figure it out. I'm with Neil that there aren't curses, and that a lot of negative vibes were presented from the 100 years thing to "it's gonna happen", to that damn priest in the dugout, etc. But, I disagree with the notion that it wasn't the same team that played the prior 161 games, because it absolutely was, and all you have to do is look at who they won against, if the teams were full strength, etc. As part of my research this offseason, I will test everything from stats to history, to actual observation.

From first glance, I can't tell you how many times I watched the Cubs succumb to good pitching. Team's 1,2, and sometimes 3 starters usually did a number on the Cubs from Arroyo to Cain to Lincecum to Lohse to Santana to Hamels to Myers to Sabathia to Oswalt to Kazmir, etc., etc. We beat up on 4 and 5 pitchers, and teams bullpens when the starters came out, but the fact is, those starters that dominated us for the first 6-7 innings will be allowed to continue longer in the playoffs, and that's precisely what happened to us the last two years.

I'm hopeful, yet realistic
I'm pessimistic at times, but with guarded optimism---and reasonably so after seeing so many bad teams, and several collapses.

If the BoSox and White Sox can do it, and the Phillies can make adjustments to get past the first round....If we can do it in 2003 with an inferior team compared to this year's, I'd have to think that with a few tweaks, as mentioned, it can be done, but honestly, I just want to see good baseball, and I love the Cubs.

I'm with you all the way Aaron, as much as I have tried to put it out of my mind, if we take a serious look at late August-early sept. the team played bad for the most part. Last year it was the Cardinals, this year the Brewers and Cardinals. If they had not hit losing streaks at the same time the Cubs did, they would not have even been in the play-offs. It was a lot closer last year but I remember only being up 2 games while being on a loosing streak of 9 out of ten at one point. Fortunatly teams 2 & 3 were losing as well. It's all over for 2008 and i'll have to let go sooner or later, but for now I guess I will wallow in my sorrow. I still wish Lou would have played the A-team those last 8 games.

Aaron, I agree with a couple of your points in your first post. I also read where they busted the water pipes in the locker room, that was absolutely uncalled for and very, very disrespectful. It sure the hell wasn't the waterpipes fault they played like crap.
I am a fan of Soriano, but plain and simple, man up and take blame, that crap excuse about being built for the marathon and not a short series. How about saying, I sucked, I didn't hit, I wasn't a leader to the team.
I also can't stand hearing that short series excuse, because isn't the season made up of short sereies, how many three games series did we win this year?!!

Aaron, I thought the same thing about DeRo, he personally took blame for the loss in Game 2. I think he said something along the lines, of "this will eat at me all winter. I should have never put Z in that position. He should have been out of that with no or 1 run. I wont forget about that anytime soon." those are not the exact words but close.
Sorry about that rant, but I just wasn't happy with some of the articles and interviews I read yesterday.

News from the Atlanta Constitution this morning is that the Braves plan on making a big push for Alabama native Jake Peavy.

Peavy will make $11 million in 2009, $15 million in 2010, $16 million in 2011 and $17 million in 2012. There’s also a big ol’ $22-million team option for 2013, with a $4 million buyout.

According to the AJC, the Braves may consider dangling 2B Kelly Johnson (average hitter, mediocre fielder), plus a couple mid-tier prospects.

Interesting.

Aaron....Some advice from an old guy who has been through it all. Too much analysis only leads to paralysis--as is often said. There is no winning formula except timely execution of pitching, defense and hitting in critical games or series.

There are hitters who step up to create a rally or cap it off with a key hit or productive at bat, and pitchers who stop a rally with a key out or outs--and others who do not. D and Harden didn't excel in the NLDS, but they need to be measured another time. Soriano and Rameriz may have had enough opportunities, but I'm not sure of their record in critical games or series during the season or in last year's playoffs. I know that they did poorly in the Dodgers series.

So maybe you look only at a representative sample of the critcal Cub's games. What happened when we won and what happened when we lost? Who made the key offensive plays including hits, walks and advancing and driving in runners in wins? And who pitched well in wins? Conversely, who didn't perform well in losses?

I recall our beating Hamels. I recall our beating Sabathia and Sheets back to back in two highly critical games that turned a faltering team around. But we were toast in both playoff series because not enough players stepped up. The burden has to fall mainly on the players most expected to step up. With regard to defense and focus, more than one miscue a game and especially ones in critical situations are step downs.

Ok....hangover is gone. Let's look ahead to next season.

How about getting Johhny Damon to play CF next year? He is a good left handed leadoff hitter and someone who could keep the team loose. Due to his age, you could have Reed Johnson split some time with him.

While we're at it, Bobby Abreu would look really nice in RF. Left handed middle of the order hitter who doesn't strike out much.

I'm sure Hendry will pull a name out that we haven't even thought of yet. Who thought Roberts was a possibility this time last year?

I'm not sure of Manny's contract situation but he would be just what we need. He could teach our some of our other guys how to win in the post season.

He seems to be happy in LA though. I see him staying there. But if he's a free agent, wouldn't hurt to through out an offer.

They could move him to RF or Soriano.

Bryan and Paul k....The Braves' Johnson and a couple of mid-tiers won't get Peavy. What could, for example if the Dodgers keep Manny, is Kemp and top pitching prospect James McDonald and a mid-tier. The Pads are re-building which probably means Marmol, Samardzija and Pie would work for Peavy +, but that doessn't work for me.

Abreu has the lefty bat we could use. The question is do we want the 3-4 year deal at $14 or $15 mil per that Abreu will likely get. He will be 35 before next season starts. Abreu is not a good OF, so maybe JH hopes that Hoffpauir is the lefty OF bat.

I'd bet that JH would like to send Dome to the west coast and Soriano to New York. Maybe with eating some salary, he can do that with one of them. That would open some availability for a top free agent, and I'm not sure who will be on the market.

I'd also bet that our additions will be one key regular and a key prospect. One of the latter that I like is Angels power hitting middle infielder Brandon Wood. He is likely a .270--25-30 HR guy at short or second with average defensive abilities at SS. His AAA, middle infielder teammate, Sean Rodriquez is another promising 20-25 HR guy who might hit for a better average.

Theriot SS
Fontenot 2B
Soriano LF
Aram 3B
Lee 1B
Soto C
Hoff RF
Pie CF

If Derosa keeps up his offensive numbers next year...I think he would be a perfect 3-hole hitter....hits singles, doubles in gaps, to all fields, and hits for power

I think the cubs should trade Dlee for a solid CF and sign teixara...that would sove our lefty power hitter and hes a pretty good fielder as well

Preston...he's not just a good fielder...he's a Gold Glover, but with a better bat than Lee ever had.

I used to like Abreu, but not at his age...same for Damon. I like young, and up-and-coming type of players. We've already been there done that with overpriced veteran players that were, at best, when signed, role/bench players for us. I consider any hitters signed after the age of 33 to long-term contracts, to be very bad business decisions...I'd also probably go as far as saying 32 year olds are the same way. It's just a whole different ballgame now that we have no PED's involved, and we're starting to see players regress in their mid 30's like we have seen since the early to mid 1990's.

As I've mentioned before...I think you have to look at our priorities:
1)true power and RBI producer at 1B
2)table-setter at lead-off
3)power hitting left-handed Outfielder
4)another top-end of the rotation guy
5)middle relief

So, who fits that bill for us?
1)Teixeira
2)Furcal, Baldelli
3)Adam Dunn, Milton Bradley, Ibanez, or perhaps Beltran if Soriano can be traded for him
4)Peavy, Sabathia, Randy Johnson, Lowe, Burnett, Jon Garland, Oliver Perez, Sheets (perhaps incentive loaded?)
5)Affeldt, Fuentes, Lyon, Gagne (yes, he did improve at the end and might be worth a look), and perhaps a redux of Juan Cruz, or Turnbow (as a reclammation project)

One sad note, which I'm not sure any of you were aware of, is that Carlos Marmol was in an accident this morning, and had minor injuries...Additionally, on the injury front, Harden has a bum shoulder...which is not surprising, and will see a specialist before the Cubs make a decision. This could really make us search for a front line starter if the team wasn't looking already, making a play for Burnett, Sabathia, or a play for Peavy. However, given the Cubs management situation and sale of the team, I'm not quite sure we will make a play for any big name, impact players.

It was my understanding that the Cubs were interested in signing Bradley at one point the last few years, so perhaps they offer him a multi-year deal. I read that the Rangers weren't expected to make him that type of offer. As for other free agent possibilites and signing probability:
-Ibanez will be available at the right price to us.
-Furcal would be likely, because the Dodgers have depth and might not resign him
-Dunn would be great, both power and OBP, and I'm aware of his defensive deficiencies, but I know he might fit well in our lineup. Here's the good: 40 hr, 96 RBI, 114 walks, .381 OBP.........The bad: .247 avg, 180 K's average per season. YIKES!!! However, here's the kicker...

vs Lee...(+)13 hr, (+)9 RBI, (+)41 walks, (-)7 doubles, (-)35 pts avg., (+)14 pts OBP, (+)47 K's

vs Soriano...(+)4 hr, (+)1 RBI, (+)74 walks, (-)13 doubles, (-)35 pts avg., (+)52 pts OBP, (+)36K's

It would appear that we ought to give Dunn a chance to play RF for us, given our need for a power lefty bat and need to replace Fukudome. Close game? Okay, then use the bench like we did this year for defensive replacement, but even so, in 82 games in RF in his career, Dunn has 5 errors...but also 5 assists from RF. Anyway, just a thought.

-As for pitching, I have no clue what signings might happen. Pitching FA signings are almost always a tough read, and anything might happen
-Baldelli is likely, given the Rays seem loaded in the OF, and we have been linked to him in the past

Great work there Aaron getting everybody thinking. Just tossing ideas around. Lee is from Sacramento, and Fukudome from Japan. How about get them both close to home in a trade for Matt Cain (looks like Harden is a no go) and a prospect? Then sign Teixeira. He just fills so many holes for the Cubs. A true #3 hitter, left handed, high average with good power.

Thanks Gary...I was just trying to get people to think more while also backing up my ideas and why I thought they'd be good.

I actually have thought that if Soriano ever were to be traded, it'd be either to the Mets or the Angels, as both were very interested in him before we signed him. Additionally, I believe the Giants were involved, but doubt they'd go for an albatross conract like he has. If we traded for Cain, and offered Lee, it'd solve their 1B problem, but we'd have to eat most/part of Lee's contract for them, and include like Samardzija, Guzman, or some other pitching prospect. I bet including Fukudome might get it done in a heartbeat, as they were involved in talks for him last offseason.

I bet though that the only way we trade Lee is if we can get a commitment from Teixeira first. I just don't think we can trust Lee (regressing skills), Harden (health-shoulder), and Soriano (health-legs) to be consistent producers like we need them to be. Therefore, you have to be pre-emptive, an think ahead, and think trend-wise. I think Hendry FINALLY grasped this with the rotation the last 2 years, signing Lilly, Marquis, Lieber, and trading for Harden. It was far better than counting on Guzman, Prior, or Wood to be centerpieces alongside Zambrano, and 2009 will be the same with concerns about Zambrano's health now, pre-existing conditions with Harden, and Marquis' ineffectiveness. Therefore, you almost have to bring in at least 1 significant arm via free agency, and count on Guzman and/or Samardzija to contribute (scary thought), and with Samardzija, that'd affect the bullpen depth.

I also think you can reasonably expect the following assuming we do nothing:
1)Lee's stats continue to slide
2)Marquis will be what he always is---inconsistent
3)Lilly will regress slightly
4)Our pen will be pourous
5)Zambrano and Harden will probably, in all likelihood, miss time
6)DeRosa's stats will decline slightly given he's coming off a career year
7)Dempster's stats will decline for the same reason (assuming we can even resign him)
8)Theriot's stats will decline also for the same reason
*for #'s 1,2,3,6,7, and 8---How do I know that? Well, numbers do not lie when taking a players stats into consideration once they're close to or past their prime production ages (24-30). There are exceptions, but usually that's the case 9 times out of 10. Therefore, as I said, you have to take that into account when planning for the future.

Aaron agree with everything you said except you have been wrong about Theriot from the beginning. What would say he will decline? His age? Work ethic? He tired last season so he made sure that didn't happen and was in alot better shape this year. Theriot is a keeper. With the way the economy is in the shitter I don't see a quick sell of the team and that will kill us in free agency. People who were going to borrow money to buy the team most likely will bow out the others who have the cash will not be so quick to drop a billion for the cubs.

Also were did you read that about Marmol. Was it in the US or was he home already?

Wow, It looks like doomsday next year. If Aaron's 1 through 8 declines are right and Soriano is an issue too, why would Sabathia, Peavy, Teixeira, Lowe or Burnett give us a thought. We will be lucky to win 75 or 80 games. Actually, IMO, Sabathia and Teixeira will not give us a thought for reasons of our money likely not being competitive, Sabathia wanting the west coast and Teixeira likely getting the big bucks from the Angels--a team he likes.

I think we will sign D and Wood and both will perform well. I think Z and Lilly will win 26 to 28 games combined. If Harden doesn't need surgery, he will win 10 to 12 games. I think Marmol will be excellent and Marshall and Samardzijia will be effective. In other words, pitching will be a strength for us in 2009.

I think that a creative deal can be done with the Mets for Soriano and with the Angels for Dome and Ceda. In the latter, we likely get Gary Matthews' contract in return and either Sean Rodriquez or Brandon Wood--power hitting middle infielders. Soriano likely brings a decent pitcher and futures.

Our big free agent plays will be for Nady and Fuentes (LRP). Nady bats 3rd and starts in the OF with DeRosa and Pie/Johnson. If Rodriquez plays 2nd, Riot plays SS. If we get Wood, he plays SS and Riot plays 2nd. Riot leads off and DeRo bats second. Lee bats 5th. Hoffpauir, Matthews (bats both L/R), Fontenot,Cedeno and Blanco are in reserve. We again make the playoffs.

Would anybody give Prior a thought after his surgery? He pretty much screwed the Pads over this year, but he should be close to ready for spring training, right?

Well, Aaron, maybe you can tell us who next years world series