The Chicago Cubs have spent a record amount of money of building up the team. What do you think the chances?

Question

are that they are going to be any better than before? Is that new manager really as good as they say, or will it be the same old story: Wait til next year?

Answer 1

A good guess is that you are a Cub fan.Separate your emotion for a few minutes and think realistically.Pitching wins championships and look at the stats of the Cubs' staff.Exactly what about Ted Lilly makes him a number two starter worth $11 million dollars a year?A career .500 pitcher is your number 2 starter.Jason Marquis had an ERA of 6 last year and one of the best pitching coaches in the league couldn't fix his problems,and what makes you think it will be different this year.Rich Hill was wildly inconsistent with the Cubs last year.He would be labeled as a prospect on any other team.Still hoping for Wood and Prior to do something?The something they'll do is spend time on the DL.Both of them have had one career-type year but haven't lit the league on fire otherwise.Carlos Zambrano is in his contract year and you have to wonder if his emotions will get the best of him or will he be able to give the team what they expect.The bullpen is about as bad as it gets.The Cubs traded for Neal Cotts after the White Sox gave up on him.Does anyone think he is the answer and if so,what is the question?Closer?Wood?I don't think so.The Cubs haven't addressed their real need and that is pitching.
Soriano hasn't played center field before and now there he is.He will be a Sosa-type player.Hit a lot of one run homers without driving in the clutch runs,he'll strike out too much and never take a walk and be an average fielder at best.Aramis Ramirez hasn't been a clutch hitter,either and you shouldn't expect that to change.Derrick Lee has developed into a very good player and most teams would love to have him.How will he come back from injury?The Cubs have too many second-tier players to think World Series.
Now for Pinella.He took the Tampa Bay job and swore that he was going to turn them into a winner.How did that work out?They are just as bad as ever,I'd say.He is Dusty Baker with emotion.If the team has great players,he's a great manager.If not he isn't much of a manager.Lou Pinella has managed a World Series winner,true,but he has also been at the helm of the worst teams in the league,too.
There is a big difference in spending money and spending it wisely.I don't get all the buzz on how good the Cubs will be this year.Who will be the fall guy when they are stuck in third place(at best)?Keep being a fan,but be realistic,no championship again this year.

Answer 2

Getting a bat like Soriano will help. Having a happy Aramis Ramirez will help--now if we can only get him to work. D-Lee should be healthy. The Cubs' offense shut down when he was hurt last April. I don't think we'll see a repeat of that this year. My hope is that we have a guy or two who can break those slumps the whole offense seemed to fall into last year...it seemed like if one guy was mired in a 2-27 slump, then the whole batting order was. I'd like to see if they can break that habit this year.

I'm not keen on spending the amount of money we did on Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis, but having Big Z at the front of your rotation is never a bad thing.

How's the bullpen? That seems like the question I've been asking every year for 20 years now. I guess that's a question we'll have answered on a daily basis...I'd love to see Kerry Wood find himself and define himself as a badass closer.

Last thing, the competition. The stinking Cardinals won it with 83 wins last year, and I don't see that the Cardinals are that much of an improved team. I think the Astros are slightly worse off, given their pitching staff (though adding the bats can't hurt them). I think the real wild card in the Central is Milwaukee. A young, hungry team. And somehow, the Cubs seem to play Milwaukee 93 times a year.

That last thing said, I think the Cubs have a decent shot at the Central. Getting Dusty Baker out of town is nothing but a plus, in my book, and getting a manager who will whip a little butt is awesome. The offense will be better. The pitching staff has every chance to be better. I think we're looking at a team that can win 85 games. In the Central, I think that might just be enough.

Answer 3

Boy every day there is more Cub love on the net. First they didn't help their pitching. Ted Lilly (one game over 500 in his career) and a fly ball pitcher and just think of the wind blowing out he will be toast. Jason Marquis had a 6.00 e.r.a. last season. Also the media has been waiting for Lou Piniella to blow up, throw a base, throw a hat or throw some dirt. He hasn't done anything yet and many are believing he took this job to retire. Lou didn't help the Ray's so I don't see how he can help the Cubs. Soriano can't pitch and Z can't pitch everyday....

Answer 4

Seriously, I like what they have done.

It will be a very interesting season to watch.
I think The Cubs will give St Louis & Houston a good for the money.
Lou Pinella has a way to get his players motivated, and it's all about how you set your mind to play. I dont think he'll have those boys believing in some stupid curse.

Funny thing about the baseball season, it's 162 games and anything can happen.
With that said, I'm at least hoping they fare well and make The NLCS, and more.

Answer 5

i'm gonna provide the pink Sox an A- They gained 5 of six video games and gained both sequence, sweeping the Twins and being now merely 0.5 a sport behind the Yankees. Lackey pitched a one-hitter via six innings the former day and Clay Buchholz continues to be undefeated, entering this week with a a million.seventy 8 era. Now they face a weak White Sox crew who ought to take merely 2 out of four antagonistic to the now puffed up Angels earlier they arrive decrease back homestead to play for the merely accurate 4 cases this season antagonistic to the AL powerful most ideal Indians. edit: i might want to element out that lester is undefeated besides with a 2.seventy 2 era and an entire sport one-hitter a week and a 0.5 in the past.

Answer 6

same old story the cubs are the cubs they might get a few more wins maybe hit .500 in record but be long out of the race for the play-offs by the trade deadline

Answer 7

The Cubs might win the wild card but that will be it b/c the Cardinals will win the division for the 4th year in a row. Go Cards!

Answer 8

Well Sweet Lou is a no-nonsense type of guy,but I believe its gonna take a couple of years before the Baby Bears make it to the next level

Answer 9

I don't think they win the WS, beause there rotation is still poor. But they do improve on their record from last year. Maybe if they actually improve on the rotation, get a closer, and an actual center fielder, then they will be legit contenders.

Answer 10

They will be much improve and probably get the wild card. Yes they have a new manager who hasn't won anything. He couldn't win the series in New York and won't win one in CHI town. So sorry Cubby Fans wait till next year.