A Cubs blog? How quaint.
Just your typical diehard Cubs fan here. Same as you, I'd guess if you've made it this far.
Welcome. Thanks for coming.
Before we dive into any hot stove happenings, here's how things stand going into '07.
Carlos Zambrano
For all the criticism drawn by his on-field outbursts and online habits, he's the heart and soul of the franchise. Outside of guys named Johan, there may not be a better pitcher in baseball on pure stuff alone. Yet here he is within a year of being able to walk away and no talk yet of an extension? For shame, Jimmy. For shame.
Alfonso Soriano
With Tribune Co. being the billion-dollar entity it is, this kind of spending has been a long time coming. The money isn't the issue. The issue is the expectation that Soriano is going to be anything close to an adequate leadoff hitter. He's batted .272 over his last two seasons. He'll hit home runs, but who'll be on base in front of him? Big Z every fifth day?
"B-but he steals bases!" If Juan Pierre's lackluster '05 showed us anything, it's that speed without on-base percentage is like trying to get laid in suspenders. You have to get on base to score.
Mark Bellhorn posted a .258 - 27 - 56 line in 2002. If Soriano leads off, that's what we're looking at. For 8 years. At $17MM per.
Jim Hendry
Despite the criticisms voiced above, he's still the right man for the job. He's never been anything less than aggressive when it's come to identifying needs and addressing them, and with the Trib's significant loosening of his pocketbook, he's free to do just that. On the flipside, the pressure to field a competitive team in a watered-down league's most watered-down division has never been greater.
Peoria Chiefs
Minor league baseball will be a strong focus 'round these parts, and due to the author's proximity, no team will get more of the spotlight than the Chiefs. Not only has it become a popular rehab destination for the big leaguers, but their new manager is a guy with whom some of you are familar. There's plenty to be excited about for Central Illinois baseball enthusiasts (the few of us there are).
Check in often. Updates should be comin' a-plenty.
Welcome. Thanks for coming.
Before we dive into any hot stove happenings, here's how things stand going into '07.
Carlos Zambrano
For all the criticism drawn by his on-field outbursts and online habits, he's the heart and soul of the franchise. Outside of guys named Johan, there may not be a better pitcher in baseball on pure stuff alone. Yet here he is within a year of being able to walk away and no talk yet of an extension? For shame, Jimmy. For shame.
Alfonso Soriano
With Tribune Co. being the billion-dollar entity it is, this kind of spending has been a long time coming. The money isn't the issue. The issue is the expectation that Soriano is going to be anything close to an adequate leadoff hitter. He's batted .272 over his last two seasons. He'll hit home runs, but who'll be on base in front of him? Big Z every fifth day?
"B-but he steals bases!" If Juan Pierre's lackluster '05 showed us anything, it's that speed without on-base percentage is like trying to get laid in suspenders. You have to get on base to score.
Mark Bellhorn posted a .258 - 27 - 56 line in 2002. If Soriano leads off, that's what we're looking at. For 8 years. At $17MM per.
Jim Hendry
Despite the criticisms voiced above, he's still the right man for the job. He's never been anything less than aggressive when it's come to identifying needs and addressing them, and with the Trib's significant loosening of his pocketbook, he's free to do just that. On the flipside, the pressure to field a competitive team in a watered-down league's most watered-down division has never been greater.
Peoria Chiefs
Minor league baseball will be a strong focus 'round these parts, and due to the author's proximity, no team will get more of the spotlight than the Chiefs. Not only has it become a popular rehab destination for the big leaguers, but their new manager is a guy with whom some of you are familar. There's plenty to be excited about for Central Illinois baseball enthusiasts (the few of us there are).
Check in often. Updates should be comin' a-plenty.
posted by Nick D. at 12:25 PM
1 Comments:
you think they can talk soriano into not batting lead off? perhaps they just used that as a ploy to get him here? then again if he doesnt lead off who will?
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