After spending over $300 mil this offseason, will the Cubbies contend for a Pennant?
2007-01-03 09:24:38 · 32 answers · asked by cubbieswrigleyfield 2 in Sports ➔ Baseball
They will contend I agree, but winning the division still seems yet to be proven. Every team in the NL central will put up a fight against the Cubs. Considering the Cards have won it the past three years you will be hard pressed to beat them especially since they are used to winning and are not rebuilding a team. Teamwork will be what the Cubs need most with their smorgus board of expensive all-stars.
2007-01-03 09:34:32 · answer #1 · answered by mojo2093@sbcglobal.net 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think the cubs have just as good a shot as any other team in the central to win the division. Just look at the cardinals , they won it last season at 2 games over 500. Sounds like a wide open division to me. The line up that was mentioned here earlier has a couple of problems though. Why would you bat a 40 home run guy in the lead off spot? Soriano needs to be in the 4 or 5 spot so he can get those ribbies. as far as Jacque Jones is concerned he is an average hitter and fielder at best. But his biggest downer is his base running , It's terrible. If cubs management is smart they will get rid of him and find an outfielder that can hit leadoff and move Soriano down to the five spot. Then if Prior can stay healthy and they can come up with a real closer other than Dumpster I'd say they have the best shot at winning the central.
2007-01-03 09:58:31 · answer #2 · answered by eightbraker 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
WHY DO YOU EVEN ASK?
They will win the central, for sure! Then they will blow it 2 games before the world series. Aramis Ramirez was quoted saying, wow, we are taking a new approach. For the first time cubs aren't trusting their prospect Cory Patterson's to take them somewhere, they are getting players who have already proved themselves in the majors. The only problem is shortstop Cesar Izturis. We need Izturis to have a great season, if he can do good, the team will contend. We have the pitchers now to keep the games close, we just need the run support. zAMBRANO NEEDS TO COME THROUGH AS AN ACE, AND PRIOR JUST NEEDS TO KEEP AN era near 4 cannot be that hard to do.
1. Soriano
2. Derosa
3. D Lee
4. Aramis Ramierez
5. Jacque Jones
6. Michael Barrett
7. Matt Murton
8. Cesar Izturis
Can't go wrong with that. When you 7 hitter batted 297 last year, in the beginning of his great career.
Im excited man, and you should be too.
2007-01-03 09:38:16 · answer #3 · answered by abrod262000 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I don't think so. They lost around 90 games last year?!!? Its difficult to go from losing 90 to winning 90 in one year. Especially with their pitching being so inconsistent. You can't count on Wood & Prior like you used to. Zambrano is a hothead who likes to get thrown out of his own games by arguing too much. Wade Miller hasn't put 2 good seasons together yet.
Soriano will only help so much; he puts up the numbers, but how much did he help the Nationals or Rangers win? No playoffs there.
I think the Astros and Cardinals will still be the favorites and if anybody, it will be the Brewers (with much better pitching than the Cubs) that will contend.
2007-01-03 11:22:23 · answer #4 · answered by thewhexican 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The cubs will contend if their pitching is good and they stay relatively healthy. With their added offense I think they could be a serious threat after the Cardinals weak regular season performance while still winning the division. I still think they should have gotten Girardi as a manager but Piniella is not a bad choice and will be better than Dusty Baker
2007-01-03 11:16:47 · answer #5 · answered by Jack NYY #1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is a mystery. Cubs can win the National League Division Central with Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa, Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis but no is sure.
2007-01-03 12:06:07 · answer #6 · answered by Beto Red Sox 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think that they could contend. Remember last year this was a very weak division( yes it held the world series winner but the division was weak during the regular season). I think If Wood or Prior plays well they will have enough pitching and offense to at least win a wild card spot. (all this coming from a sad Pirates fan)
2007-01-03 11:40:56 · answer #7 · answered by Smartest Man Alive 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They better! With spending that kind of money. They have one of the best offensive lineups in the MLB and have a pretty above average pitching staff.
I'm not a Cubs fan, but yes they do have a great chance at winning the Central and a pretty good chance of going deep in the playoffs.
2007-01-03 10:05:35 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. Stuart 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Cubs will contend if Prior comes back to form, but they will not win. The Cubs needed (NEEDED) to sign the best two starting pitchers they could and they get Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis? Soriano will be a great addition, but without a good year from Prior the starting rotation is Zambrano and a bunch of #4 starters.
2007-01-03 09:29:29 · answer #9 · answered by Waldeck 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They will contend as long as their key pitchers and hitters are not on the DL for long terms like in the past. And the must get out of the gate with a good start and build early momentum.
Lou is a good manager and will lead them well.
2007-01-03 10:08:20 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋