No shortage of question marks for Cubs

A stretch of Northwest Highway in Park Ridge is known as Jim Hendry Way, courtesy of former Gov.

[MNCubFan]

"I just don't get it," Hendry said. "Once again, it's like,'Who's out there that [would be] our one guy [to lead off] and we would be better if we moved Sori down a bit?' If we had won those three playoff games instead of losing them, we wouldn't be having this chat."

Yes, Jim, win a few playoff series and a lot of the questions will go away. Such as the question: Is Jim Hendry capable of putting together a team that doesn't choke?

[bhawks61]

I don't believe that the start of the season is a time to judge whether the Cubs will recover from the disappointing playoff series. Hopefully if the Cubs make the playoffs the question will be answered in October.

[Outa State]

EVERY team has question marks. The good teams have enough depth - on the bench AND in the minors - to correct weaknesses that inevitably come up during the season. Hendry has done a good job addressing that depth. Last year's "choke" began long before the playoffs, as the team basically mailed it in the last month of the season. Pinella needs to make sure the team stays focused and contributes max effort until the last game is done!

[Jen]

I hate the moves they made for this year, I can't believe they dumped DeRosa, Blanco & Wood. Platooning in center worked great, and Kevin GREGG??? What is THAT??!!!
Last year's team was better. At least I will not be killing myself to watch every game this year. Time to tune out for a year or four...

[Wait till 2108]

Very good article Paul, but you gave Bradley a pass on his injury history. What I hate most about this offseason is that the Cubs filled holes that didn't even exist (closer, 2nd base, back-up catcher). The most damning is getting rid of Henry Blanco simply because he doesn't hit left handed. Does anyone really think that Paul Bako's lefty bat off the bench is going to be any kind of difference maker this year?

Also, don't underestimate the wear on Marmol from pitching in not only the WBC but also the Caribbean winter league. The guy has had almost no time off, and a mid-season breakdown seems quite likely.

Right now I see no reason that the Cubs won't win the Central if only because the rest of the division looks awful right now. But, despite their obvious pitching shortcomings, it would be wrong to overlook LaRussa and the Cardinals. They've surprised the MLB world before.

[Rod from Tennessee]

Let's see here. The Angels get Bobby Abreu, who not only hits, runs and fields better than Bradley, they get him for 25 mil. less. They give up Mark DeRosa, who had one of the best, if not the best, avg. with runners on base, on the entire team. Refuse to deal for a former Cy Young winner, who is one of the best pitchers in the N.L.

And we're supposed to have hope. Instead of Hendry getting flustered over why fans continue to complain about Soriano batting leadoff, he needs to go back and figure out why he had such a poor off-season in improving this team. If this team somehow gets to the playoffs again, and gets swept again, Hendry would need to grab up his manager, and the two of them catch the next train out of town.

[GHook93]

Sorry friend, but you left out some big question marks!
(1) What do the Cubs do when Dempster reverts back to Dumpster. The man had a career year at 30. Nothing makes me feel comfortable about at career 4.55 career and 76-81 pitcher.
(2) What will the Cubs do when Harden goes down also. The man is never healthy, just like we couldn't expect Wood and Prior to stay healthy we can't expect him.
(3) Who leads off? Soriano! Please is it time to get a the .320 OBP guy out of the LO.
(4) What about Fukodome? He really lived down to expectation, can he turn it around.
(5) Soto? OK guys we have seen a guy do great his rookie season and fade away, are you that confident Soto won't become Jerome Walton II.
(6) The Roit at SS? Honestly he doesn't have the arm. I don't mind him at 2nd, but he is a liability at SS, one of the most important defensive position.
(7) Will be Z go back to being the dominate 1? I am not confident of this.
(8) Will DLee regain his power number? I think its obviously a big No!
(9) Will Soriano get a care in the world about winning, hitting and playing defense? Not since he got the big contract has he cared. too selfish of a player.
(10) Lilly has been a pleasant signing, but when Dumpster stinks up the place and Harden goes down, will be pitch like a solid #2? Doubtfully.

The only thing they have going for him is the rest of the NLC blows. However, that doesn't help them in the playoffs as we have seen for the last 2 pitiful Oct.

[MNCubFan]

bhawks61 wrote:

I don't believe that the start of the season is a time to judge whether the Cubs will recover from the disappointing playoff series. Hopefully if the Cubs make the playoffs the question will be answered in October.

All GMs have to use the off season to evaluate how the season went, judge what kind of team they have, and make moves to improve it. In the Cubs' case, we have had two straight seasons on essentially the same thing: successful regular season, swept out of opening round of playoffs. What fans are doing here is evaluating the moves the Cubs made and predicting the impact of those moves. You go ahead and wait and hope. Hopefully there are enough of us who are tired of the hope game to put pressure on the new ownership to be smarter about adressing what it will take to win at Wrigly field.

[MNCubFan]

Rod from Tennessee wrote:

Let's see here. The Angels get Bobby Abreu, who not only hits, runs and fields better than Bradley, they get him for 25 mil. less. They give up Mark DeRosa, who had one of the best, if not the best, avg. with runners on base, on the entire team. Refuse to deal for a former Cy Young winner, who is one of the best pitchers in the N.L.
And we're supposed to have hope. Instead of Hendry getting flustered over why fans continue to complain about Soriano batting leadoff, he needs to go back and figure out why he had such a poor off-season in improving this team. If this team somehow gets to the playoffs again, and gets swept again, Hendry would need to grab up his manager, and the two of them catch the next train out of town.

You've got it right. And don't forget that he left Adam Dunn on the table, who would have been a better choice than Bradley, if we weren't stuck with Soriano's deal.
http://i94sports.blogspot.com/2009/02/in-case...

[Outa State]

What a bunch of CRYBABIES with no baseball knowledge! Boo-hoo-hoo! Hendry didn't get Peavy for a used jock-strap and a cracked batting helmet! We got rid of Blanco, even though Bako has a higher lifetime batting average! I'll be they don't whine this much on the Sox boards!

Now pay attention: We traded DeRosa to free up money to PLUG THE HUGE HOLE WE HAD IN RF LAST YEAR. Bradley replaces DeRo's bat. 2nd is covered by Miles/Fontenot. Adam Dunn STRIKES OUT TOO MUCH. ABREU is old and a defensive liability. Do you REALLY want Hendry to dismantle the team that won 97 games last year?

[bhawks61]

MNCubFan wrote:

<quoted text>
All GMs have to use the off season to evaluate how the season went, judge what kind of team they have, and make moves to improve it. In the Cubs' case, we have had two straight seasons on essentially the same thing: successful regular season, swept out of opening round of playoffs. What fans are doing here is evaluating the moves the Cubs made and predicting the impact of those moves. You go ahead and wait and hope. Hopefully there are enough of us who are tired of the hope game to put pressure on the new ownership to be smarter about adressing what it will take to win at Wrigly field.

You're right. My mindset this year is much different. I am hoping for the best but to be honest my expectations have dropped severly.

I will be there rooting them on as we all will and it would be a pleasant surprise if we do well however with the cost cutting roster moves the Cubs have made this season and seeing on paper that we are not as good as 2008 I am not feeling like I was last year.

[A Cub Fan in Tampa]

I don't entirely agree that the team should forget about the 2007 and 2008 postseason debacles. True, 2008 is over and there is nothing that can be changed, but let's remind ourselves of the 1984-1985 Bears. In 1984, after beating Washington, the Bears were shut out in San Francisco, in the NFC Championship Game. To say that left the Bears with a profound sense of unfinished business, was the understatement of 1985, as the Bears took no prisoners all season long (save for a single Monday night in Miami).

My wish is that the 2009 edition of the Cubs have a similar sense of unfinished business.

[Wait till 2108]

Outa State wrote:

What a bunch of CRYBABIES with no baseball knowledge! Boo-hoo-hoo! Hendry didn't get Peavy for a used jock-strap and a cracked batting helmet! We got rid of Blanco, even though Bako has a higher lifetime batting average! I'll be they don't whine this much on the Sox boards!
Now pay attention: We traded DeRosa to free up money to PLUG THE HUGE HOLE WE HAD IN RF LAST YEAR. Bradley replaces DeRo's bat. 2nd is covered by Miles/Fontenot. Adam Dunn STRIKES OUT TOO MUCH. ABREU is old and a defensive liability. Do you REALLY want Hendry to dismantle the team that won 97 games last year?

- Blanco hit .292 on a 97 win playoff team in 2008. Bako hit .217 on a bad Reds team in 2008. Not to mention the loss Blanco's positive influence on the pitchers and Soto.

- Probably no one on the outside knows for sure, but various reports say the Cubs and SD had the framework in place for the Peavy deal before Hendry pulled the plug.

- People are worried about Bradley's contract length and $$$ because of his long injury history and his volatile mood. The Cubs can't protect him with the DH like Texas did. And coincidentally, DeRosa can play RF.

- It seems Hendry has done some dismantling of a 97 win team.

Maybe you're the one lacking some baseball knowledge?

[Starwriter]

"If we had won those three playoff games instead of losing them, we wouldn't be having this talk," said Jim Hendry. And if you had a real leadoff hitter instead of Alfonso Soriano, you might have won those three games.

Get a clue Jim Hendry. Anybody but Soriano leading off. Anybody. Realistically, the best bet with someone with a good on base along with being able to work the count and steal some bases would be Ryan Theriot.

Soriano belongs in the five or six hole where he can knock in some more runs when he hits a dinger. He also won't frustrate you leading off and looking at only one or two pitches. He kills the team in the playoffs.

[Jonnie]

Wait till 2108 wrote:

<quoted text>
- Blanco hit .292 on a 97 win playoff team in 2008. Bako hit .217 on a bad Reds team in 2008. Not to mention the loss Blanco's positive influence on the pitchers and Soto.
- Probably no one on the outside knows for sure, but various reports say the Cubs and SD had the framework in place for the Peavy deal before Hendry pulled the plug.
- People are worried about Bradley's contract length and $$$ because of his long injury history and his volatile mood. The Cubs can't protect him with the DH like Texas did. And coincidentally, DeRosa can play RF.
- It seems Hendry has done some dismantling of a 97 win team.
Maybe you're the one lacking some baseball knowledge?

What? you are a candle in the wind,pal. That is all in life,a Loser in the lifes cycle..What a Shame you cant be wise and current!!
You Lose!!

[Jonnie]

Starwriter wrote:

"If we had won those three playoff games instead of losing them, we wouldn't be having this talk," said Jim Hendry. And if you had a real leadoff hitter instead of Alfonso Soriano, you might have won those three games.
Get a clue Jim Hendry. Anybody but Soriano leading off. Anybody. Realistically, the best bet with someone with a good on base along with being able to work the count and steal some bases would be Ryan Theriot.
Soriano belongs in the five or six hole where he can knock in some more runs when he hits a dinger. He also won't frustrate you leading off and looking at only one or two pitches. He kills the team in the playoffs.

Get over it sparky!! Time has passed.And it is over pal. Time to move on,Pal..

[Sublime1]

I don't understand the Wood deal. I don't understand the DeRo deal. With the signing of Bradley, Fukudome should have been the only serious question mark.

[bcu]

Starwriter wrote:

"If we had won those three playoff games instead of losing them, we wouldn't be having this talk," said Jim Hendry. And if you had a real leadoff hitter instead of Alfonso Soriano, you might have won those three games.
Get a clue Jim Hendry. Anybody but Soriano leading off. Anybody. Realistically, the best bet with someone with a good on base along with being able to work the count and steal some bases would be Ryan Theriot.
Soriano belongs in the five or six hole where he can knock in some more runs when he hits a dinger. He also won't frustrate you leading off and looking at only one or two pitches. He kills the team in the playoffs.

What a pathetic young loser,this is! Come on get it together with me,sagewood. We should go smooth into the future,instead of scarred by the past!! lets go with the Bears future plans.

[bcu]

Starwriter wrote:

"If we had won those three playoff games instead of losing them, we wouldn't be having this talk," said Jim Hendry. And if you had a real leadoff hitter instead of Alfonso Soriano, you might have won those three games.
Get a clue Jim Hendry. Anybody but Soriano leading off. Anybody. Realistically, the best bet with someone with a good on base along with being able to work the count and steal some bases would be Ryan Theriot.
Soriano belongs in the five or six hole where he can knock in some more runs when he hits a dinger. He also won't frustrate you leading off and looking at only one or two pitches. He kills the team in the playoffs.

Really,your a wizard,to figure that out!!! WOW!!

[Sublime1]

MNCubFan wrote:

"I just don't get it," Hendry said. "Once again, it's like,'Who's out there that [would be] our one guy [to lead off] and we would be better if we moved Sori down a bit?' If we had won those three playoff games instead of losing them, we wouldn't be having this chat."
Yes, Jim, win a few playoff series and a lot of the questions will go away. Such as the question: Is Jim Hendry capable of putting together a team that doesn't choke?

The thing is, he talks big picture. So, yeah over the course of a season, Soriano's numbers are not that bad. But, the thing is, if you watch the games, against good pitchers and for extended slump periods he just kills you.

He is not the base stealing threat that he used to be either. He is not 40/40 Soriano anymore. He is getting paid 40/40 money, however. I will say that he can carry your team for a while too, but this roller coaster thing is hard to watch as a fan, especially considering he is not the guy he was before he got here.