Game One Hundred-Five - Cubs 6 Reds 3
WP - Tom Gorzelanny (4-1) LP - Johnny Cueto (8-9) Save - None
Tom Gorzelanny made his Cubs' debut on Tuesday night against the Reds ... and turned in a gem. In his first big league start since last September, Gorzelanny tossed seven innings of shutout ball and did not allow a run while he was on the mound. Gorzelanny attacked Reds' hitters all night. He allowed only three hits with a walk and a hit batsman. Gorzelanny left in the eighth with two on and one out after he allowed his third hit of the game ... it was the first time all night the Reds put two runners on base against Gorzelanny.
Gorzelanny even contributed with his bat in the Cubs' four-run sixth inning. Gorzelanny delivered a two-out RBI single to left that plated Alfonso Soriano with the Cubs fourth run.
Tom Gorzelanny allowed one run on three hits with a walk, a hit batsman and six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings. Gorzelanny received a standing ovation from the Faithful in attendance when he left the mound ... and he tipped his cap in appreciation.
Kosuke Fukudome led off the game with his eighth home run of the year. Fukudome had a great night at the plate (2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and was robbed of an extra base hit by Willy Taveras in the fifth) but the Cubs' offense could not manage another run off of Johnny Cueto until the sixth inning.
The Cubs scored all four of their runs in the sixth with two outs. Koyie Hill delivered the big hit of the inning, a bloop double into left center that Willy Taveras could not haul in. Gorzelanny followed Hill with a single to left that chased Johnny Cueto from the game. Kosuke Fukudome drove in the fourth run of the inning with a single to right off of southpaw Daniel Ray Herrera.
Derrek Lee ripped his 22nd homer of the year leading off the seventh, two more than last season's total. Lee gave the Cubs a commanding 6-0 lead at the time.
The bottom of the Cubs lineup drove in three of the Cubs' six runs. Koyie Hill and Tom Gorzelanny were a combined 3-for-7 with two doubles, a run scored, a walk and three RBI.
After Joey Votto broke up the shutout with a two-out single to center in the eighth off of Sean Marshall, Angel Guzman struck out Brandon Phillips with two on and the Cubs up 6-1. Guzman ran into trouble in the ninth after hitting Jonny Gomes on a 0-2 pitch to leadoff the inning.
Wladimir Balentien followed with his fifth homer of the year, a two-run shot over the wall in right center. Guzman retired Laynce Nix on a grounder to second but Craig Tatum doubled off the wall in left. The overly aggressive Willy Taveras grounded out to second on the second pitch of the at bat to end the game ... with the tying run in the on-deck circle.
Tom Gorzelanny made a very positive impression in his first game as a Chicago Cub. Gorzelanny gave his new team innings and pitched with a lot of confidence after finding his rhythm early on.
The Cubs improved to 3-2 on their current 10-game trip and with the win are a season-high nine games over .500 ...
Tuesday night was all about Tom Gorzelanny. He really picked up his new team on a night their skipper needed innings out of his starter. With all of the innings the Cubs' pen had already logged on the trip, Gorzelanny came out throwing strikes ... after Kosuke Fukudome gave him a one-run lead before he threw his first pitch.
Tom Gorzelanny retired Willy Taveras on a pop out to Aramis Ramirez to start the game. Adam Rosales followed with a triple to left off of Alfonso Soriano's glove. With the tying run on third, Gorzelanny struck out Joey Votto swinging ... then ended the inning by striking out Brandon Phillips swinging. Gorzelanny set the tone early.
Gorzelanny retired the Reds in order in the second, worked around a two-out single by Willy Taveras in the third and sat down the Reds 1-2-3 again in the fourth. Ryan Theriot committed a two-out error in the fifth that prolonged the inning but Gorzelanny struck out Johnny Cueto to end the inning.
After his new team gave him a comfortable lead in the top of the sixth, Gorzelanny put together a shutdown inning in the bottom half. After six complete, Gorzelanny had tossed only 74 pitches.
The Reds first and only walk off of Gorzelanny did not come until the seventh, a two-out free pass to Wladimir Balentien ... Alex Gonzalez flied out to center to end the inning.
After seven complete Tom Gorzelanny had tossed just 89 pitches and retired Ryan Hanigan on a ground out to second to start the eighth. Craig Tatum pinch-hit for Arthur Rhodes and was hit on the first pitch of the at bat. Willy Taveras then singled to center, the Reds third hit, and chased Gorzelanny from the game ... it was the first time all night the Reds put two runners on base.
Sean Marshall replaced Gorzelanny and struck out Adam Rosales for the second out but Joey Votto delivered a single to center on a 1-1 pitch that drove in Tatum with the Reds' first run. Angel Guzman was summoned and struck out Brandon Phillips swinging.
The Cubs offense could not tack on until the sixth inning. The Reds defense kept the Cubs off the board in the fifth thanks to a tremendous catch in left center by Willy Taveras that robbed Kosuke Fukudome of a bases clearing double ... then Alex Gonzalez and Brandon Phillips turned in a web-gem-of-a-double-play that ended the inning.
Aramis Ramirez doubled off the wall in left center with one-out in the sixth. Jake Fox was hit on a 1-0 pitch. With runners on first and second with one out, Alfonso Soriano singled to right to load the bases. Mike Fontenot worked the count to 3-2 but chased ball four and struck out swinging for the second out.
With the Cubs up 1-0, Koyie Hill stepped in. He looked at ball one before dropping a single into shallow left center just in front of a diving Willy Taveras. Ramirez and Fox scored, 3-0 Cubs. Tom Gorzelanny, after walking earlier in the game, worked the count to 3-2 then blooped a single into left, Soriano scored with the Cubs fourth run.
Dusty Baker lifted Johnny Cueto for Daniel Ray Herrera.
Kosuke Fukudome delivered his second RBI of the game ... a two-out single to right on a 2-2 pitch. Koyie Hill scored, 5-0 Cubs.
The Cubs improved to 14-5 since the All-Star break with Tuesday's victory ... best in the National League. As Ron Santo said, "Welcome to the Chicago Cubs Tom Gorzelanny."
Rich Harden will face Justin Lehr in the finale of the three-game series on Wednesday ... and their last game of the season in the Queen City.
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The Tribune reported Sam Fuld could be heading down to Iowa Wednesday to make room for Aaron Miles.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-05-cubs-bits-chicago-aug05,0,1814591.story
Horrible move if they do that. It weakens a team in need of speed and defense late in games.
That's just dumb. I dont see how they take him off the roster until Reed comes off the DL if it happens before roster expansions in September. If Fukudome goes down during a game or we need to rest him...who goes in CF? Bradley? Soriano? PLEASE!! Then that also leaves just Fox and Hoffpauir as our reserve outfielders.
Makes more sense to send either Shark or Stevens from the pen since we are carrying 13 pitchers anyhow! Maybe even DFA Heilman??
When Soto comes back I'd then DFA Baker.
I'm not as down on Miles as many on here...I'm up for another shot. He has a decent track record as a player....just yet another player caught up in a horrible season.
You have got to be kidding me. Sam Fuld deserves to be on this team and Aaron Miles does not...plain and simple.
I've been dreading Miles coming back...
but to add him at the expense of Fuld
is maddening...just maddening.
Im hearing its the Shark?
That is what the thinking was, Samardzija would go down. I was surprised when I read that in the Tribune ... that is the reason I did not post an article.
Will have to wait and see ...
Kevin Hart who?
Charles...just went to the Pirates web sight to see what Hart is doing...He starts for them Thurs. against Ariz..
But if you go to his player profile with his pic in a Pirates Cap...it looks like a prison mug shot...I laughed out loud
because he doesn't look too happy...poor
guy.
I don't think Hart is capable of a game
with just one walk at this juncture...
Gorzy beats Hart...But Ascanio was still the real deal.
Derrek Lee is on pace for 117 RBI's and 36 HRs!
Fanish or Foulish?
Optimistically realistic, Phil. =)
Great kind of win and Gorzy the Great (^^) was just that.
I just wish the Cubs would eat that contract and send Miles home...
A little update for all the Josh Vitters lovers out there....
Josh Vitters suffered a left hand injury that has put him out of action at Class A Daytona since July 28. It's the same hand problem that limited Vitters to 65 games last year.
After starting the season hitting .316 with 15 home runs at Class A Peoria, the third baseman has regressed after being promoted to Daytona. He's hitting .227 in 22 games with no home runs and a .307 slugging percentage.
Vitters, a right-handed hitter, is batting .071 against left-handers at Daytona.
So, injury prone...is struggling with his promotion...no power...and horrible average against lefties--as a right handed batter.
Doesnt mean he won't turn into a good ball player...but clearly a sign that he isn't all that and a bag of chips...
hmmmmm.guess that gorzelanny guy isn't all that bad--where are all the kevin hart lovers now?
shark will go down today; miles up.
i'm frustrated w/ miles too; but let's look at his career before we eliminate him from the team---.284 career hitter, .317 last year, and never lower than .263. plus he was robbed at gunpoint; held hostage while a minor leaguer so he has to be tough; let's give him a shot 1 more time.
the big question on friday? who goes down when soto is activated>--fuld,-bad-no backup for Fukudome. hoffpauir-to get at bats-perhaps. or baker-fox has 3rd covered and miles has 2nd; plus maybe he needs at bats since he had 12 HR last year.--i bet on baker.
go cubs.
Although pleasantly surprised, I am reserving full judgement on Gorzelanny's worth until after his start in Denver. Still, his win came a lot cheaper than the 1.5 million dollars each of Zambrano's wins costs the Cubs.
i am a miles hater also but keep in mind he has played his last few years under larussa who is known to play his bench guys alot more than lou. most of our guys rot on the bench. i mean fox is a worldbeater right now and he is not even playing everyday, and when hoff was swinging a hot stick he couldn't make the field either. just a suggestion.
true point on larussa playing his backups; but miles and fontenot got plenty of chances while a-ram was out and both stunk........so i;ll chalk it up to a bad start by miles; at least for now as we have to have a SS back-up. he's had 2200 career AB;s-crapphy hitters can't fake it to .284 for that long.
for those derosa lovers-and i was 1 of them; but he was traded for bradley; better or worse in reality; the stevens kid looks good; throws strikes and anyone notice the 2nd P in the trade-john gaub got promoted to AAA; in 13IP; 5 hits and 0.66 ERA and is lefthanded!!(he was in the low 2's ERA at AA. perhaps a sept call-up or even on the team next year-both of them.
bj ryan--can he be any worse than heliman has been-bring him up; worth a shot. make lou earn his money w/ 3 lefties in the pen!
go cubs.
Aaron Miles had 5 errors on his rehab stint. If Fuld goes down for Miles then it makes the team even worse defensively in the outfield as well as in the infield. Miles has no place on this team and if they indeed send back Fuld for Miles, then I really don't know what to say.
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090804&content_id=6240568&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc
Well, according to Lou a pitcher will go down for Miles. We also don't really have a back up center fielder so it would make sense if Fuld stayed at least until Reed came back. But, I still think Miles is a liability.
Draven, thanks for the link...
according to Lou in that article...
"If we need him, we'll activate him".
- Can they leave him on the DL indefinitely?
Thoughts for the day:
1)Theriot has played in 104 of our 105
games...that's not the way to keep him
fresh for the stretch.
1)A - We still need a SS/2nd base bat
so Theriot can take a break now
and then.
(Lugo has done great for the Cards)
Although I didn't want it at the
time...he would have been a great
pick up at little cost.)
2) If Gorzelanny can stay consistant
until Lilly gets back...and Gregg
still does his thing...what about
Harden for Closer?
3) Both Soriano and Bradley hitting
around .249 not bad for 28 mil.
4) Does anyone think we'd have any
for Bradley if we picked up half
his salary? If so...who might use
him?
5) Please God, don't let Miles on the
field again in a Cubs uniform.
Miles was in Iowa's original lineup yesterday but was not in the starting lineup at game time...I thnk he might be in Cincy already :(
Did anyone else read about Prince Fielder attempting to storm the Dodgers' locker room. Apparently he was HBP with 2 out in the 9th as retaliation for Manny being drilled earlier in the game and Prince didn't take too kindly to that. So he was charging through the tunnels ready to do unknown damage in the Dodgers' locker room. He had to be restrained by a couple of teammates (ex-cub Casey Magahee) as well as security. I wonder if there is any video.
Prince is a scary dude. I wonder about that Brewer's team. And I'm sure MLB would never let a video like that out.
Speaking of Casey McGehee...not a bad looking 2B/3B backup right now - .320/9HR in 190 ABs...
he'd certainly look better than Miles, or Baker, but then we wouldn't see Fox. Fox has like 80 less AB's than McGehee, and he's 1 hr back from him and like 6 RBI back. If I had my choice between the two, I take Fox all day long.
I remember Neil and I were completely miffed that the Cubs didn't even keep him on the 40-man when we had a bunch of spots available. You simply do NOT do that to your depth without adding to it. He was our ONLY MLB-ready option for 3B, and we dumped him, and the Brewers IMMEDIATELY picked him up. There have been a lot of moves over the past few years that Hendry should've been fired for, and that one was pretty close to the top of the list, considering he was already planning on trading DeRosa away. Who'd he think would back-up ARAM at 3B? I mean, he had to dig through the scrap heap to find Koskie, and Koskie had been out of the game for awhile with post concussion syndrome. What was he thinking?!?
Anyway, I could bitch all day long about Hendry. Even if Gorzelanny and Grabow pan out for us, I still think he gave up FAR too much to get them. Even if Gregg can become a suitable closer, trading Ceda, a flamethrowing reliever for a guy coming off 9 blown saves, leading the league there, AND that would've been non-tendered, thus becoming a FA anyhow was simply foolish, and around the league, was regarded as a HORRIBLE move. I should know...I was at the Winter Meetings, and heard all the grumblings about it. Fact is, for the horrible Soriano contract, all the no-trades dished out, the contracts dished out post career years (Lee, Soriano, Dempster, Miles, Bradley, etc.), he should also be fired for. And while he's made a couple good moves that turned out well for us with getting Ted Lilly, Mark DeRosa, Reed Johnson, and Jim Edmonds, but he's bombed on so many other occasions that you can no longer turn your back to it. Here's a list of bad contracts for us:
Soriano, Marquis, Lee (yes, I know he's coming on of late, but face it...he had a career year when signed=NEVER a good idea), Bradley, Miles, Fukudome, Dempster. These are/were all immovable contracts. In Marquis' case, we had to take on Vizcaino's contract as well, which hurt. My theory is that in order to dish out a big free agent contract, the player MUST have at least 3 consecutive years of improving or consistent stats. Lee did NOT, Soriano did NOT. Bradley did NOT, but guys like Carlos Lee and Adam Dunn DID. Dempster, Marquis, Miles, etc. have been all over the board in terms of good and bad.
I've heard so many complaints this year from fans that we don't play consistent baseball. Well, how the hell do you expect to play consistent baseball if your major acquisitions/re-signings the past few years have been nothing but inconsistent their entire careers?!?
Alfonso Soriano needs 13 hr, 24 RBI in each of the last 2 months to even justify his contract (as he'll end up with 45 hr, 96 RBI at that point...just 1 hr less and 1 RBI more than his career year that landed him his huge contract with us). Bradley needs 7 hr, 25 RBI in each of the last 2 months to justify his contract as well (he'd end up with 22 hr, 76 RBI...which actually falls short 1 RBI from his career high that led to his contract with the Cubs). Dempster basically needs to go on an Orel Hershiser type of tear late in the season to lower his ERA down from the 4+ mark that it's at now to under 3, which would justify his gigantic extension signed when he went 17-6 with a 2.96 ERA. He also needs to win 12 more games to justify it as well.
So, in my book, the only ones even coming close to "earning" their salaries this year are Derrek Lee, Carlos Zambrano, Lilly, ARAM, and pretty much all the young players making around $400k. But all your big money guys like Bradley, Soriano, Dempster, Gregg, Miles, Heilman, Harden, etc. don't even come close to earning their keep.
Couple thoughts:
1) I love how Bradley and Gregg seemingly have excuses all the time for their poor play: http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-05-cubs-brite-chicago-aug05,0,5268460.story
2) I get to eat some crow...at least for last night's start by Gorzelanny. We'll wait to see how he does the rest of the year, and how Hart and Ascanio do. So far Grabow has done a decent job, though, as advertised, he struggles getting lefties out.
3) The talk of Fuld being sent down is foolish. If the Cubs do that, then they really are the dumbest team in all of baseball. CF, SS, 3B, and catcher, you MUST have suitable back-ups for each spot. While 1B is also crucial, it's not nearly as crucial, because most guys know how to catch a ball being thrown to them, but few know how to make the correct reads on balls (CF), and are agile enough to make plays to their left or right in a split second (SS and 3B), and obviously, back-up catchers are huge, as we've seen Koyie Hill practically whither right in front of our eyes with his workload.
4) If the Cubs really have that much faith in Miles, then the correct move would be to send out a player occupying his position. Unfortunately, they did that already with Blanco when they needed a spot for Gorzelanny. We currently have 13 pitchers, 1 with a "dead arm" (Gregg....at least that's his excuse anyway), so we really only have 12 pitchers. So, that's the dilemma facing the Cubs right now. The logical thing to do is to unfortunately option Hoffpauir down to get more AB's, then on Friday, when Soto is ready, we option Stevens or Samardzija (hopefully) down. OR, Miles comes down with another mysterious injury, and we bring Hoffy back up.
5) BJ Ryan had another decent outing, though he walked another hitter. Reports are showing him staying in the mid 80's range, which clearly is not desirable for the Cubs at this point. It does not look like he will ever don a Cubs uniform at this point.
6) Starlin Castro had an excellent debut at AA last night. He started the night 2-for-2 with 2 RBI and 1 run scored, before finishing 2-for-4. Also, in case any of you missed, Cashner the other day threw 6 innings, and struck out 8, while lowering his ERA to 0.88 Brett Jackson hit his first home run at Peoria, and drove in 3, while LeMahieu is battig .355 right now.
7) Cubs signed 6th round pick, Brooks Raley, a lefty "super" sophomore pitcher that was a standout two-way player (though he projects better on the mound). They signed him significantly above slot for nearly $700k out of Texas A&M. Honestly, I don't know what they saw in this kid, but it better be worth it for that kind of money. He didn't really dominate college hitters, so I have no clue:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/Players/R/Brooks-Raley.shtml
Anyway, that's all I got....
That blurb about Gregg in the Trib is awful. What a litany of crap! ..."it's like spring training" -- huh? You feel like it's spring training in August!!
Lou "wished he had known" about the "achy" arm before the 2nd meltdown -- Come On!
"Even though I [stunk], it was still more than 50 pitches in two days," he said. "Anyone should take a day off after that." -- Cleary you are NOT closer material if
a)it takes you 30+ pitches to get the final 3 outs
b)you can't throw 50 pitches in 2 days without your arm getting "achy"
This is where I would so much rather have had Woody back for 5mil they are paying this bum. At least it was Woody.
Aaron, how many picls have we signed?
Are there any that are still signable...and worth it?
I can't find the exact number anymore, as I can't find the site I went to anymore to get my info, but at the last time I visited, we signed like 22 of our picks, and we've added about 3 more, so nearly half of our selections, which isn't bad....but also isn't good either
Thanks, I guess it will come out in the wash.
The Cubs just signed Brooks Raley who is a lefty for 600K today.
Waldo...read Aaron's post...he reported that this morning. But thanks for the diligence.
In response to Suzy's thoughts of day (i hope to get to Aaron's too):
1)Theriot definitely needs some rest, he has worn out in Aug/Sept the last couple seasons and Lou knows this. It has to be the only reasonable answer to Miles coming back. And at this point, I'll give Miles a shot over Lil' Mendoza (Fontenot) too. Can't do much worse. Miles is 1A)they aren't going to find a utility IN any better at this point.
2)big IF. Too big to start talking about Harden to the pen. That was a beautiful game Gorzo tossed, but let's not yet get ahead of ourselves. And Harden has been the most consistent SP (along with Wells) over the last 4 weeks. Why remove the true ACE of the staff to try do something he has never done. This seems foolish. If any big move is going to happen, I would prefer pulling Demp: he has closed (more successfully than Gregg) and has been shaky starting. But I don't trust him either. But it's a moot point because this will never happen this year. No way.
3)...uggh...so exhausting...I wish I could get over this...but I get so angry every time I think about Milty's contract...
4)Texas. No pressure. Great hitter environs...banner year there last year...Cruz is injured...DH...they are contending...
5)clearly, God is not a Cub's fan.
I really enjoy this site! Thanks. Although I much prefer Lou over Dusty, he's mishandled the Shark and Hoffy badly. Why do they bring up a kid,as a starter,sit him and expect him to be a relief pitcher?
Hoffy has been used a relacement for Ward; it's been a flop. He's never been in the lineup for more than 3 days consequitively,has he? We don't know how good he might be because Bradley has played too much to little effect. If we make the playoffs we'll have no significant power from the left side..got to get a lefty bat soon and somehow. Tom
I'm not going to jump on the Gorzellany bandwagon just yet. And even if he sucks it up in Colorado next Monday, it'd still be too early to see how he'll adjust. The start I'm looking towards is his start versus Pittsburgh next week because, really, the Pirates are a better team than the Reds.
glad to see gorzelany did well i don't think that i could have read what some of you would have said if he didn't. Maybe a little early to say but some of you owe Hendry an apology. even before last night i thought it was a good trade. a smaller trade like that tells the team we're willing to make a move to improve but if/when healthy our team is good enough to win, and they are. Gorzo only has to hold down the fort until lilly is back and if he pitches like this until then then we have a nice problem on our hands. By the way Hart isn't as good as gorzo now and won't be someone we'll miss and ascaino won't be much more than a middle reliever at best a Juan Cruz. Win now is what is important and we're playing pretty good. This rollercoaster season is just the kind of unexpected year that ends a 101 year drought, Red Sox had to come back from down 0-3 to Yanks to end theirs. Feeling like its either the year or gonna get far enough to rip our hearts out again but either way I'm getting pumped for the stretch run.
Todd, I was quite vocal in my displeasure of the trade, and I am not going to apologize for it because Gorzo won his first start. My main contention with the trade was that it was a lateral move at best at a time when team was winning. I argue that making a move just for the sake of making a move is foolish and risks messing with the chemistry of a winning team. You can't say that Hart would not have beat the Reds, he was winning lately. Do I want Gorzelanny to fail? No, absolutely not. But I am not going to praise Hendry for the move until Grabow proves to be a shutdown bridge in the late innings and Gorzelanny wins a few more games.
And -- I sure wouldn't mind if the bullpen had a few pitchers that were "at best" performing like Juan Cruz, David Aardsma and Michael Wuertz are this season. Because if they did, I don't think we would even be having this conversation. Proof positive that Rothchild isn't doing something right, or isn't doing something at all. The Cubs have too many live arms that didn't get it all together until they left the tutelage of Larry Rothchild.
Hey Cubs1967,
Too bad Miles didn't suffer a career ending injury from that robbery so we wouldn't have to deal with him. The guy is one of the many mistakes of Hendry that won't go away. Others being Soriano and Bradley.
That pisses me off about Gregg. I hate that bitch now and I hope Hendry doen't resign him next year. Actually, I'll take my chances on Guzman or Marmol as the closer next year.
Been thinking about miscellany today, including how many way's there are to serve crow--and how we will fare the rest of the way. Also how fortunate we've been with our secondary players--the AAAA's and those who got a chance or a second chance. All have contributed, and some way above expectations.
Someone gets credit for having our role players (or more) available. The contributors have included Hoffpauir, Fox, Hill, Blanco, Scales and Fuld among position players and Wells, Guzman, Hart:Gorzelanny and Ascaino:Grabow among pitchers.
Some of these players were on the "Deserve a Chance" list that I started late in spring training and another Faithful (or two) contribted a couple of names to. Here's the list and a few comments. Catchers, J.R. House and Koyie Hill. House moved from Houston to KC and now labors at AAA. Hill has stepped up very well for us.
1st base-Hoffpauir, 2nd base-Joe Thurston, 3B-Terry Tiffee, SS-Ivan Ochoa, utility-Scales and Fox. Thurston moved from the R. Sox to the Cards and is .227 in 233 AB's. Tiffee moved from the Dodgers to the Phils and is .293 at AAA. Ochoa moved from the Giants to the R. Sox and is at AAA.
Hoffpauir has been a plus and could be more so with playing time. Scales did well with limited opportunity. Fox has been a standout.
LF-Seth Smith, CF-Matt Carson, RF-Nelson Cruz. Utility OF's-Todd Linden, Sam Fuld and Doug Deeds. Smith and Cruz have been excellent for the Rockies and Rangers, respectively. Carson has disappeared. Linden moved from the Indians to the Yankees and is .312 at AAA. Fuld has performed well, and Deeds has been OK in the high minors.
Hart, Garrett Mock and Charlie Zink were the RP's. Hart helped and got us Gorzelanny. Mock is 4-6 with the Nationals and Zink is doing poorly for the R. Sox at AAA. Eric Stults and Rich Hill were the LP's. Stults is 4-2 for the Dodgers in limited major league innings. Hill has been mostly sub-par for the O's.
As to how we will fare the rest of the way, we have two dog fights, IMO. They are the Cards in the Central and the Rockies and Giants for the wild card. I think the Cards have a two or three game edge in the Central and we have a one or two game edge for the wild card. The latter is based partly upon our having fewer games against top teams. We need to win tonight and then win the series against the Rockies to keep the pressure on the Cards.
JimK,
I don't get your post...I do, however, remember those names, as I think I recognized them all as suggestions you made. But, were you saying that you were wrong, or just going over who you thought we should've gone after? I don't get it.
Man, if we would've had Cruz, or Seth Smith on this team, we would've been VERY solid this year. I hope we find a taker for Bradley, Miles, Baker (well, we just don't offer him a contract), and Fontenot in the offseason, because our back-up infield depth needs a LOT of work. Keep in mind, Theriot will be 30 next year, and he already lacks range to be an effective MLB shortstop.
By my count, we'll have one position open in the OF (Reed Johnson will leave, because he's been too banged up with us), 2 infield positions open (2B and back-up infielder), 2 bullpen vacancies...possibly 3 if we don't re-sign Grabow (Heilman and Gregg are the others), and one starting pitcher (Harden will likely be un-signed by us in favor of Gorzelanny).
Now, here's where it gets interesting. First of all, we have 3 very quality arms about ready for MLB service time in Andrew Cashner, Jay Jackson, and Christopher Carpenter.
My suggestion is this...and JimK, you've had this before too. Trade Zambrano to the Red Sox, and get a major haul in return, including Reddick, Lars Anderson, Bucholz, and perhaps a stud shortstop/middle infielder. Then, trade Lilly for whatever you can get, and convince Demp to waive the no-trade. And, re-sign Harden. Yeah, I know it's risky, but he's still dominant when healthy, and this year he's been pretty healthy for the most part.
Our rotation next year should be:
Harden
Wells
Bucholz
Gorzelanny
Cashner
Unfortunately, we're saddled with some pretty bad contracts with no-trade clauses, and the chances of us moving them are remote.
I'd get rid of Soriano, Fukudome, and Bradley at all costs next year. Eat whatever money we have to for them...but just get rid of them. We can no longer have a banged up, old, non-hustle player like Soriano in our lineup. Nor, can we have a guy that should never be an everyday player (Bradley) in our everyday lineup, nor the twirling Fukudome.
My dream outfield next year would consist of:
Dunn-LF (batting .280 avg, .405 OBP, 28 hr, 80 RBI...oh, and .568 SLG)
Crawford-CF (batting .314 avg, .373 OBP, 11 hr, 50 RBI, and a whopping 51 SB)
Abreu-RF (batting .322 avg, .416 OBP, 8 hr, and a whopping 76 RBI right now...oh, and 22 SB)
**then, teach Fox how to play 2B in winter ball, and we have this lineup:
Crawford-CF
Theriot-SS
Abreu-RF
ARAM-3B
Dunn-LF
Lee-1B
Fox-2B
Soto-C
That'd be the best lineup ever. We'd have two guys regularly over the .400 mark in OBP in Dunn and Abreu. We'd have 3 guys consistently over 100 RBI in Dunn, Abreu, and ARAM. We'd have speed at the top in Crawford, Theriot, and Abreu---each averaging over 20 SB/year, AND, we'd have the lefty/righty balance Piniella desperately wanted.
The funny thing is...actually, the pathetic thing is, is that we could've had Dunn and Abreu this year with Abreu in CF and Dunn in RF if we'd done without Bradley, didn't sign Miles, and didn't take on Gregg's contract.
Bradley=$10 million...Dunn=$10 million=wash
Gregg=$4 million Miles=$2.5 million; Abreu=$5 million (might be $6 million)=wash
Abreu has played CF before, and hasn't done that bad. Now, I know with Soriano, Abreu, and Dunn, our OF defense would probably be the worst in the league, but we'd more than make up for it with runs scored, then you target a guy like Crawford in the offseason, and find a trade partner like the Giants for Soriano, dealing straight up for Zito, and we're good. Anyway, that's just my take on it all.
But as it stands now, there's no way this offseason, with most teams rumored to be cutting expenses (even the Yankees have been rumored to put a cap on their spending), I think we're screwed from improving this team. Even in 2011, the only contracts coming off the books are: Lee and Lilly. Fukudome and Bradley would have a year remaining. Dempster would have 2 more years after that. Soriano would have 4 more after that. So, yeah, it gets pretty ugly
Hey guys...Cards LOST to the Mets 9-0 today!!!