Now that this year is over, its back to reality. We'll have to wait till next year. That being said, I dont thinkwe need that much to drastically improve next year. Yes, there lots of bigname free agents that I'm sure most of you are drooling over, but the fact is we dont need them.
Here is what I think:
Dont Resign - Alfonseca, Glanville, O'leary, Karros, Veres
Resign - Grudz, Martinez, Lofton, Goodwin, Clement (not a free agent, but arbitration eligible), Simon (same deal as Clement), Bako (same deal)
Get rid of - Estes
Try to pick up - A.J. Burnett, Foulke
Bring up - Guzman, Patterson, Choi
A healthy Burnett would make the Cubs rotation the most dominating in the NL, if not ML. I dont believe in the idea that a team needs a lefty starter, I'll take 5 young proven right handers any day of the week.
Adding Foulke and Guzman to the bullpen would make a huge difference. We would have proven closers in Borowski and Foulke. Chances are Borowski would go back to a set-up role. Guzman has a rediculous level of talent and because of his strater work as well would be a valuable long reliever/back up starter.
Corey would go back to starting in Center were he was invaluable last year until his injury. Look for his OBP and AVG to go up next year.
Choi had a great start last year,but lost his patience at the plate. If he can improve in his ability to adjust I think we'll see him hit .260-.275/20-25HR/80RBI/.370+OBP
Our starting rotation would look like this for 2004:
Wood (14-11/3.20era/4cg/211ip/100bb/266so) 26yrs old
Prior (18-6/2.43era/3cg/211.1ip/50bb/245so) 23yrs old
Clement (14-12/4.11era/2cg/201.2ip/79bb/171so) 29yrs old
Burnett - 2002 stats (12-9/3.30era/7cg/204.1ip/90bb/203so) 27yrs old
Zambrano (13-11/3.11era/3cg/214ip/94bb/168so) 22yrs old
Thats rediculous folks
The bullpen would look like this for 2004:
Farnsworth (3-2/3.30era/36bb/92so) 27yrs old
Remlinger (6-5/3.65era/39bb/83so) 38yrs old
Guthrie (2-3/2.74era/22bb/24so) 38yrs old
Guzman - Minor stats (3-3/2.81era/26bb/87so) 21yrs old
Borowski (2-2/2.63era/19bb/63so/33sv) 32yrs old
Foulke (9-1/2.08era/20bb/80so/43sv) 31yrs old
Backing that up is Cruz who has an unbelieveble amount of potential, he just needs to harness it all. And Beltran who is blowing away everyone in AAA Iowa.
Everybody knows what the offense would look like. But now we'd have very good bench players in Lofton, Simon, Martinez, Bako, and Goodwin.
An improved Cpat (.290+BA/20+HR/90+RBI/.350OBP)
The usual Grudz (.300+BA/40+2B/40+RBI/.360+OBP)
It'd be Sosa back to his usual self (.300+BA/50+HR/130+RBI/.400+OBP)
Hopefully Alou can continue to improve (.280-.300BA/20+HR/90+RBI/.360+OBP)
Ramirez (.270+BA/25-35HR/100RBI/.330+OBP)
An improved Choi (.260-.275BA/20-25HR/80RBI/.370+OBP)
Mr. Clutch - Gonzo will improve (.250BA/20HR/60RBI/.330OBP)
Miller calls a good game so I dont care if he sucks at the plate.
If everybody stays healthy and consistant I think we wont have the same problems scoring runs in 2004 that we did in 2003.
If we make the right moves this offseason (Burnett and Foulke) and everybody returns to form I think we'll be headed back to the playoffs with alot more experience and want.
My prediction (if what I said happens) - Cubs win NL Central, end the reg. season with a 97-65 record and take it all the way to the World Series. Whether they win or not, I wont jinx myself
Sorry for making this such a monster post, I just wanted to cover everything. Later.
Hank
Here is what I think:
Dont Resign - Alfonseca, Glanville, O'leary, Karros, Veres
Resign - Grudz, Martinez, Lofton, Goodwin, Clement (not a free agent, but arbitration eligible), Simon (same deal as Clement), Bako (same deal)
Get rid of - Estes
Try to pick up - A.J. Burnett, Foulke
Bring up - Guzman, Patterson, Choi
A healthy Burnett would make the Cubs rotation the most dominating in the NL, if not ML. I dont believe in the idea that a team needs a lefty starter, I'll take 5 young proven right handers any day of the week.
Adding Foulke and Guzman to the bullpen would make a huge difference. We would have proven closers in Borowski and Foulke. Chances are Borowski would go back to a set-up role. Guzman has a rediculous level of talent and because of his strater work as well would be a valuable long reliever/back up starter.
Corey would go back to starting in Center were he was invaluable last year until his injury. Look for his OBP and AVG to go up next year.
Choi had a great start last year,but lost his patience at the plate. If he can improve in his ability to adjust I think we'll see him hit .260-.275/20-25HR/80RBI/.370+OBP
Our starting rotation would look like this for 2004:
Wood (14-11/3.20era/4cg/211ip/100bb/266so) 26yrs old
Prior (18-6/2.43era/3cg/211.1ip/50bb/245so) 23yrs old
Clement (14-12/4.11era/2cg/201.2ip/79bb/171so) 29yrs old
Burnett - 2002 stats (12-9/3.30era/7cg/204.1ip/90bb/203so) 27yrs old
Zambrano (13-11/3.11era/3cg/214ip/94bb/168so) 22yrs old
Thats rediculous folks
The bullpen would look like this for 2004:
Farnsworth (3-2/3.30era/36bb/92so) 27yrs old
Remlinger (6-5/3.65era/39bb/83so) 38yrs old
Guthrie (2-3/2.74era/22bb/24so) 38yrs old
Guzman - Minor stats (3-3/2.81era/26bb/87so) 21yrs old
Borowski (2-2/2.63era/19bb/63so/33sv) 32yrs old
Foulke (9-1/2.08era/20bb/80so/43sv) 31yrs old
Backing that up is Cruz who has an unbelieveble amount of potential, he just needs to harness it all. And Beltran who is blowing away everyone in AAA Iowa.
Everybody knows what the offense would look like. But now we'd have very good bench players in Lofton, Simon, Martinez, Bako, and Goodwin.
An improved Cpat (.290+BA/20+HR/90+RBI/.350OBP)
The usual Grudz (.300+BA/40+2B/40+RBI/.360+OBP)
It'd be Sosa back to his usual self (.300+BA/50+HR/130+RBI/.400+OBP)
Hopefully Alou can continue to improve (.280-.300BA/20+HR/90+RBI/.360+OBP)
Ramirez (.270+BA/25-35HR/100RBI/.330+OBP)
An improved Choi (.260-.275BA/20-25HR/80RBI/.370+OBP)
Mr. Clutch - Gonzo will improve (.250BA/20HR/60RBI/.330OBP)
Miller calls a good game so I dont care if he sucks at the plate.
If everybody stays healthy and consistant I think we wont have the same problems scoring runs in 2004 that we did in 2003.
If we make the right moves this offseason (Burnett and Foulke) and everybody returns to form I think we'll be headed back to the playoffs with alot more experience and want.
My prediction (if what I said happens) - Cubs win NL Central, end the reg. season with a 97-65 record and take it all the way to the World Series. Whether they win or not, I wont jinx myself
Sorry for making this such a monster post, I just wanted to cover everything. Later.
Hank
