Are The Cubs For Real?

Question

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Au6NEy.5VlzA_fPbFa9WTbwRvLYF?slug=ys-mlbwmblog&prov=yhoo&type=lgns#lillycubs

Seems like they are making moves, and appear to be serious about contending.
How far can they really go?
Wouldn't it be sweet if they did win The NLCS in '07?

I realize Ted Lilly is not all that, but it does add some pitching.

Answer 1

Honestly, we won’t really know until the season starts, and maybe not even until around the mid-point of the season. Baseball’s a funny game that way. I think Hendry is doing a decent job thus-far (although still need another starter and left-handed contact hitter for the #2 hole). I will say one thing positive with the direction of the team, and that is they are certainly showing the world that they are no longer depending on Prior and Wood. If another starter is signed (like Meche or Marquis), Prior would be auditioning for the #5 spot in the rotation (Z 1, Lilly 2, M or M 3, Hill 4) against Wade Miller and all of those sub-par rookies from last year. It’s also clear that there are absolutely zero plans for Wood to start a game in ’07, and maybe ever again with the Cubs. He’ll be auditioning for the closer role at best. That said, I think Hendry is certainly doing his job, and KP & Coach are wrong about the Cubs focusing on W & P.

Back to what I said about not knowing until they start to play ball; the key will be to get all of these guys to gel together. As we all know with Baseball, you can formulate an All Star team, but if they can’t play as a unit, it’s not going to work. I especially consider that when you look at an offense. I’m not a Yankee fan by any means, but going into the playoffs last year I thought they had the perfect line-up offensively (1-9), and the best I can ever remember. However, they couldn’t score runs when they needed to. The same could happen with the Cubs, especially without that Jeter type contact guy near the top of the order, and I’m not hearing any rumblings about the Cubs plugging that hole. It sounds like they’re tagging Izturis or Theriot for that spot. That news doesn’t make me cringe, but it certainly doesn’t make me smile, either.

Coach does make a good point when he mentioned defense. I think that is as (if not more) important in requiring guys to gel together. The defensive make-up isn’t just comfortably falling into place like an easy jigsaw puzzle, by any means.

Is it sounding nice, sure, but is it perfect; far from.

PS: Looks like Meche is out of the question; signed with KC; don't know why there?

Answer 2

The Cubs are actual each and every 12 months they only have not been a winner. Cubs followers ought to sense free that their crew is on the upward push and should be a contender back this 12 months, it extremely is quite all a fan can wish for.

Answer 3

With the Dodgers having the off season that they are having I'd say the Cubbies have a little more work to do. They can no longer depend on Wood or Prior since they are always hurt and their bullpen is very very weak. I don't care how many bats you put in your lineup defense and pitching wins games (even the Yanks will tell you that hehehehe). Although I don't think the Cub will make it to the NLCS I do believe they will make a good run down the stretch and make it in the playoffs.

Answer 4

Ted Lilly might not be the total answer but he should help. I've been saying it for awhile that you can't forget about the Cubbies. I was hoping that Jason Schmidt would have signed there also but he's Blue now. They have a good young nucleus but the questions still revolve around their pitching. Kerry Woods is signed but is his arm signed as well? Mark Prior hasn't been too healthy also so that has to concern the management. Zambrano is a stud but he can't carry the team. This all has to concern Sweet Lou. Pitching wins championships.
Offensively though they will be tough.

Answer 5

They have added about 200 million worth of contracts and with Lou Pinela, and with the Cards destined for a down year after this miracle f a season or post-season, i say the NL central is fir the Cubs. I dont think the Reds will compete with these two teams. NL west sucks. That only leaves the Mets in the east. I see Cubs, Cards, Mets, and whoever wins the west which dont matter.

Answer 6

Cubs are making some really big moves right now, and i'm afraid they might be a HGUE threat in the NL. I mean come on, Alfonso, Schilling, what more can you ask for as a batter, and pitcher?

God i wish my Twins would do something but they have to be a small marketing team :(

I seriously do hope they get to the WS with there effort thus far.

-Good Luck Cubs! Beat the MUTS

Answer 7

I hope so...it would be nice if they did make it to the series and the thought a couple of years when the south side team won it all(on a bad call) Could imagine what downtown Chicago would be like when they hold the parade--no one would be able to get anywhere because of the following they have..heck even when the Bears won the super Bowl they had more fans for their parade than the whinny sox..The Mag Mile would be have fans waiting a day or so before the parade starts..here's to us for the next world series...'07-'08 splitting them would be great!!!

Answer 8

They're stocking up on big name talent, but much like the Yankees, they're trying to build a fantasy team instead of a team that can win a World Series.

Any team that would play Soriano in center field, when he has very limited outfield experience and zero experience in center field is horribly mismanaged.

They did get rid of the disaster known as Dusty Baker, so at least that is a step in the right direction. I have no doubt that they will win their division, the weakest division in MLB in 2006 (as evident by the Cardinals, who won the division, but would have finished 3rd or 4th in every other division with the same record), but I don't think they'll produce in the post-season.

Answer 9

The Cubs are just trying to be the Yankees of the National League. True they are trying to put a winner on the field, but without a healthy Prior, that rotation is not all that great even with Lilly, Zambrano, Hill and however else.

Answer 10

Yes the Cubs are the real deal, but not because of Lilly. They always had the talent they just needed the right manager and now they have one. Pinella is going to make that team compete every night wether they like it or not.