Chicago Cubs Fanatics

Well, if the Cubs get bit by the injury bug next year I guess we can say the are Rickett(y)
.
I just hope we dont miss he Tribs pockets. 6 post seasons under Trib. Trouble with people owning
teams is that you are spending the grandkids money. Must make profit. That can mean lower payroll
and/or higher prices. Last family owners of Cubs were Wrigleys and those of us old enough
remember decades of losers. '69-70 were best years. '45 was a team of 4F players.
Dont blame day games-Cubs were one step above the present day Pirates Brock for Brollio, gave away Bill Madlock (the forgotten 3rd baseman with bating titles), Signed elders such as Richie Asburn - Carman Fanzone - Dave Knigman - Bobbie Murcer etc.

I hope I am wrong, but i am afraid we may be in for lower budgets and less talent and more oldtimers.

Still a Cub Fan forever

I hate to say it, but what is solid for next year? I cannot say anything this Cub team has is a lock.

• C - Soto has to put down the weed and cheeseburgers or else we get .200 avg from Koyie Hill and no power.
• 1b - How long can D.Lee keep it up? I love him but he's getting old.
• 2b - Who? Blanco can play some D, can't hit.  Fontenot cannot really do either with any proficiency.
• SS - Theriot had a bad run at the plate when he thought he could hit HR's, stick to the singles to right field please. Defensively, he doesn't have the arm or range for SS, would be fine at 2B.
• 3b - How long before AmRam dives for another ground ball and hurts that shoulder? He's great when healthy but I am scarred by this year.
• LF - oh boy what a noose around our neck Soriano is not only awful, but the expensive type of awful.
• CF - Fuku plays some nasty defense, but is just another example of players we paid too much for. 
• RF - Deal bradley, eat the salary, who replaces him? Hoffpauir?
• Pitching
• Zambrano - not an ace, a fat, lazy, overpaid crybaby
• Dempster - He fooled me and got the contract he wanted, He is back to being Dumpster.
• Lilly - one true winner we actually have on the team. I love theodore.
• Wells - I think he may be a flash in the pan, his stuff is mediocre, we will have to wait and see.
• Harden/??? - Harden can pitch 6 innings max, thats just not good enough, not to mention he has to be treated like a porcelain doll and pulled @ 100 pitches (which sometimes happens in the 4th inning).
• Marmol should close, deal or cut gregg, guzman can setup....jeez I don't know anymore.

The Cubs are dwindling right now and it's do or die time. 6 games back at the moment and the playoffs seems like a closed door. The problem here is that the cubs are full of underachievers. On paper...we have a championship club, but the stats tell us another story. Bradley,Gregg, Marmol, and Soriano are to blame for the disappointing season. Not to mention the DL stints of Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Ramirez, and others. This is looking like the NY Mets of the central. We have one last chance to make a splash to upgrade this team. I feel we're set in the infield and I dont see any deals working out. As for the outfield...they are struggling offensively and I don't see that changing. We have a chance to pick up Heath Bell right now and designate Gregg for assignment. Bell cleared waivers and he's ours for the taking if St. Louis doesn't jump on him first. We can also try prying a reliever from Oakland such as Ziegler. No matter how you play the lineup our bullpen just can't hold leads. I said it before and i'll say it again, re-sign Rich Harden and bring him in to be our closer. His main problem is his fatigue and walks in later innings. We all know he has a wicked fastball and a great complementary changeup. This way we can put out a Z, Lilly, Dempster, Wells, Marshall rotation for next year and try to light a fire under Bradley and Soriano. We need to stick it out with Lou one more year and focus on improving the bullpen. Nuff said.

I am sick and tired of watching this loser play baseball. He fooled everyone last year into thinking he could play baseball. I am sick of his terrible at-bats where he ends up looking at strike 3 half the time. Also his garbage defense and noodle arm. Can someone tell me why this loser hits .230 and still gets to play almost every day? Someone needs to tell him he is a short piece of crap, not a power hitter so stop swinging for the fences. I really think he needs some time in AAA to work out some issues and think about whether he belongs in the major leagues. I do not think he has any place on this team. Blanco cannot hit really either, but at least he takes half decent at-bats and plays some nasty defense. This WAS written out of frustration watching them play the Marlins and watching a run score because fontenot the chump has a noodle arm and could not make the throw to first with enough velocity. Sue me.

Are there ANY guys we could trade up for to bring in a exquisite 2nd baseman to be out every day man and possibly give a boost to our offense??