I just don't know what to think about this offseason. I was so angry after the end of the 08 season, but just like every other Cub fan it passes once the new year starts and we begin to have hope for the next heartbreaking season. But I just can't figure out how Hendry has once again left the team with more questions than answers. The one obvious answer going into spring would have been to move DeRosa to right and get a lead-off type 2B or SS. Problems solved. But it looks more and more obvious that there is some kind of deal between Hendry, Pinella, and Soriano to keep him in the 1 hole. Because even if they couldn't aquire a player better than what they have, Soriano has not put up the best statistics in the 1 spot for the
Cubs, Theroit has. So why not Theroit leading off, keep DeRosa at 2B and still aquire Bradley? Because now there's too much money tied up in the waste that is now our CF platoon with Johnson, Fukudome. But let's look at it like this; you know that at some point during the season Soriano, Bradley, and possiblly Ramirez (remember last year was the first in 3 years that Aramis wasn't on the DL) will all probably have some time on the DL. And who could have covered all of those positions? I know Hendry thinks highly of Miles and that he can play multiple spots but you already know what you had in DeRo. Plus, wasn't Pinella's biggest complaint that he needed more production out of the left side? What exactly does that mean? He wanted more production when facing a RHP.
Mark DeRosa's BA against RHP was just as good as Bradley when he batted LH and he drove in more runs than Bradley. In fact Bradley hit more HRs from the right side. So how is this at all improvement? Bradley played 126 games as a DH last year, DeRosa, what close to 150? I don't see the improvement. I don't mind the crazy that is Milton. I kinda associate him with Rodman and I hope it turns out that way as Rodman was a hell of a player for the Bulls. It's the same production you would have gotten from an already solid player and loved teammate in DeRosa, but for probably only 2/3 of the season in Bradley. And what if the DL stint appears during the playoffs? Speaking of the playoffs, didn't DeRo drive in 4 of the 6 total runs scored by the Cubs? And who can tell me that anything will be different next playoff with Soriano and Ramirez? No history shows that either one of those two can handle any form of pressure so you just got rid of the only player who showed up last year (outside of Lee who hit close to .500) in the post season and you are still going to have a black hole in the most important positions in your lineup in the 1 and 4 holes. Way to go Jim! And don't get me started on the giving away Wood thing. Once again going into next year without a closer. How many saves does Marmol have? I'm sure he'll be great sometime, but we had an All-Star closer and let him go. But we did pick up one that lead the league in blown saves last year in case Marmol folds, right? I just don't get it. Marquis had to go, yes, which will now open up a spot for either Marshall or Samardzja, but keep Wood, DeRosa, and trade for
Brian Roberts or an equal would have been a way to at least head into the spring as an imporved team in my opinion, and to give the fans that have been waiting more and more timidly much more reason to get excited for the 09 season. And unless Jim pulls out some more tricks I just don't know how to get all riled up for this team. But as you all know, we're Cub fans and the curse is how much we love this team no matter what.
