40 replies to this topic

[Mike Taylor (no relation)]

I'm optimistic about 2013.

1) We won't have any of these pitchers starting:
8.14 ERA - Brooks Raley (24.1 IP) [5 starts]
7.88 ERA - Casey Coleman (24.1 IP) [1 start]
6.75 ERA - Jusin Germano (64 IP) [12 starts]
6.37 ERA - Chris Rusin (29.2 IP) [7 starts]
6.31 ERA - Chris Volstad (111.1 IP) [21 starts]
5.34 ERA - Randy Wells (28.2 IP) [4 starts]
4.82 ERA - Jason Berken (18.2 IP) [4 starts]

There's 34 losses right there (out of 54 starts).

1a) Travis Wood has been improving. In his last 13 starts, he performed really well.

2) Any SP free agent signing (even if we expect to flip them) should be better than the production we had from the 4-5 slots.

2a) Any CF/RF free agent signing will be an upgrade to what production we had in CF in 2012, even if DeJesus/Sappelt end up playing in CF.

3) 3B is still a gaping hole, but I think signing Youkilis and then trading him to a contender is very feasible. There's clear indication that the Cubs have yet to give up on Ian Stewart. If he's cleared as healthy, I believe he starts in AAA until the trade deadline, while (anticipating a Soriano trade) Josh Vitters plays exclusively in LF for Iowa.

LF Soriano
CF DeJesus/Sappelt
RF LaHair/--FA-- (Gomes or Hairston)
1B Rizzo
2B Barney
3B Youkilis/Valbuena
SS Castro
C Castillo
C --FA-- (Shoppach or Olivo)

after the trade deadline:
LF LaHair/Vitters
CF Jackson
RF DeJesus/Sappelt
1B Rizzo
2B Barney
3B Stewart/Valbuena
SS Castro
C Castillo

I'm gonna be bold and predict 79-83.

[Fishin Phil]

How many am I OK with? 0

Will I bitch, moan & complain, while calling for Theo's head if they lose 90 in 2013? No, as long as they keep making smart moves and showing improvement, I'm OK.

[TWC]

Will I bitch, moan & complain, while calling for Theo's head if they lose 90 in 2013? No, as long as they keep making smart moves and showing improvement, I'm OK.

Sure you won't -- we know who your alter ego is (Cubs1967), Phil. You can't fool us.

[Fishin Phil]

If that was my alter ego, I'd throw myself in a woodchipper.

[Spriggs]

I'm optimistic about 2013.

1) We won't have any of these pitchers starting:
8.14 ERA - Brooks Raley (24.1 IP) [5 starts]
7.88 ERA - Casey Coleman (24.1 IP) [1 start]
6.75 ERA - Jusin Germano (64 IP) [12 starts]
6.37 ERA - Chris Rusin (29.2 IP) [7 starts]
6.31 ERA - Chris Volstad (111.1 IP) [21 starts]
5.34 ERA - Randy Wells (28.2 IP) [4 starts]
4.82 ERA - Jason Berken (18.2 IP) [4 starts]

There's 34 losses right there (out of 54 starts)...........

That may be true, the pitching can only get better from there.... but the funny thing is, people were pretty much saying the same thing coming into the 2012 year. Only most of the names were different. For 2011:

Doug Davis (9 starts)
Ramon Ortiz (2 starts)
Rodrigo Lopez (16 starts)
Casey Coleman (17 starts)

It couldn't get any uglier than that, right? Wrong. It can always get uglier. Especially in the 2nd half - just like 2012 did after trading Dempster and Maholm. 2013 could be every bit as ugly unless they bring in 3 or 4 more guys they plan on keeping. They still have no help coming up from the minors. If all they bring in are cost efficient, low risk reclamation projects - then a few Cubs injuries and a mid season trade or two, and things could very easily get worse.

[Tommy]

Sure you won't -- we know who your alter ego is (Cubs1967), Phil. You can't fool us.

LOLOLOL! I wet myself reading this.

[CubChymyst]

All of talk about signing pitchers this off season for the sole purpose of flipping them mid-season makes me worry about what the second half of the 2013 season starting rotation is going to look like.

[Todd]

I can understand having another down year at the MLB level next year to serve the greater good of the organization, and that includes a "flipping" fire sale at the deadline. But if 2014 isn't a very competitive wild-card type of team, I would have serious pause.

Also, I wanted to say that I really enjoy the insight the regular posters provide. Makes for a great site to get my Cubs fill.

[Fishin Phil]

Welcome aboard Todd.

[Cubbie Blues]

Welcome aboard Todd.

But, watch out for the puppet. He's a sneaky bastard.

[hansman1982]

That may be true, the pitching can only get better from there.... but the funny thing is, people were pretty much saying the same thing coming into the 2012 year. Only most of the names were different. For 2011:

The difference is we went from those 4 being starters 6-9 with 0 chance of upside to starters 5-14 and a few of them had potential upside or were used after the trading deadline.

It's obviously not a good problem but we were in much better shape (pitching wise) last year than the year before.