Hey Hey, Holy Mackerel, no doubt about it... the Cubs are on their way.
Just doing some pre-spring training research on the Cubbies, looking at our new players and seeing what we had to give up during the offseason. One word: solid.
I'll start with a run-through of all the new acquisitions.
Greg Maddux - Arguably the best pitcher of the 90's and still one of the best in the game. Even if you want to discard all the records he's set, the fact that he's won 4 Cy Youngs, 13 Gold Gloves, and needs 11 wins for 300 career... which you shouldn't... he has probably the best knowledge of hitters and scouting prowess in the game. And being put on a staff of all young pitchers, that's just perfect. I mean, take Prior and Wood's stuff and add a better knowledge of the hitters and how to pitch. Yikes.
Derrek Lee - Part of the Marlin's championship team last year, Lee is a Gold Glove first baseman with plenty of home run power while still having patience at the plate (88 walks last season). He had 31 homers last year while playing in the toughest stadium to go long in statistically. Put him in small ol' Wrigley and that means a chance for a 40 HR man. No offense to Eric Karros, but that's a definite upgrade at 1B.
Latroy Hawkins - In a league where your bullpen is always crucial, Hawkins is a major addition. As one of the premier closers in the NL, if not the majors, he went 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA in 77 appearances. Batters hit a meager .239 against him and he gave up 3 runs during the second half of last season. Yes, I said 3 runs.
Todd Walker - A great contact hitter with a line-drive style... very similar to Mark Grudzielanek. Batted .283 and provides an excellent backup to Grudzie at second.
Others - Todd Hollandsworth (LF and a left-handed bat), Michael Barrett (C), Jose Macias (INF/OF).
Projected Starting Rotation
1. Kerry Wood
2. Mark Prior
3. Greg Maddux
4. Carlos Zambrano
5. Matt Clement
Best in the bigs, sorry.
Projected Starting Lineup (not in order)
1. Grudzielanek
2. Lee
3. Sosa
4. Alou
5. Ramirez
6. Patterson
7. Gonzalez
8. Bako
Collective Batting Avg. - .273 (Good enough for 4th best in the majors last year).
Raise the 'W' white flag, muthafucka.
I'll start with a run-through of all the new acquisitions.
Greg Maddux - Arguably the best pitcher of the 90's and still one of the best in the game. Even if you want to discard all the records he's set, the fact that he's won 4 Cy Youngs, 13 Gold Gloves, and needs 11 wins for 300 career... which you shouldn't... he has probably the best knowledge of hitters and scouting prowess in the game. And being put on a staff of all young pitchers, that's just perfect. I mean, take Prior and Wood's stuff and add a better knowledge of the hitters and how to pitch. Yikes.
Derrek Lee - Part of the Marlin's championship team last year, Lee is a Gold Glove first baseman with plenty of home run power while still having patience at the plate (88 walks last season). He had 31 homers last year while playing in the toughest stadium to go long in statistically. Put him in small ol' Wrigley and that means a chance for a 40 HR man. No offense to Eric Karros, but that's a definite upgrade at 1B.
Latroy Hawkins - In a league where your bullpen is always crucial, Hawkins is a major addition. As one of the premier closers in the NL, if not the majors, he went 9-3 with a 1.86 ERA in 77 appearances. Batters hit a meager .239 against him and he gave up 3 runs during the second half of last season. Yes, I said 3 runs.
Todd Walker - A great contact hitter with a line-drive style... very similar to Mark Grudzielanek. Batted .283 and provides an excellent backup to Grudzie at second.
Others - Todd Hollandsworth (LF and a left-handed bat), Michael Barrett (C), Jose Macias (INF/OF).
Projected Starting Rotation
1. Kerry Wood
2. Mark Prior
3. Greg Maddux
4. Carlos Zambrano
5. Matt Clement
Best in the bigs, sorry.
Projected Starting Lineup (not in order)
1. Grudzielanek
2. Lee
3. Sosa
4. Alou
5. Ramirez
6. Patterson
7. Gonzalez
8. Bako
Collective Batting Avg. - .273 (Good enough for 4th best in the majors last year).
Raise the 'W' white flag, muthafucka.