Cubs are the most talented team, yet why are they perfoming so poorly this year?
Question:I'm not a fan of cubs but I've always seen them as a club with very talented players but very weak pitching...why won't they trade their young up coming players so that they can win...win now when Zambrano is in his prime??
Their only constants are Aramis Ramriz, Derrek Lee and Michael Barret (when these guys are healthy)...but it seems like most of the time these 3 are never in the lineup together because of some odd injury
Also they have players like Jacque Jones, Cliff Floyd, Matt Murton, Felix Pie, Angel Pagan, Ryan Theriot, Cesar Izturis (gold glove winner and former all star)...don't you think they have way too much hitting talent?
Dempster and the lousy bullpen blew a 4 run lead yesterday in the bottom of the 9th...why won't the cubs trade of one of their prospects for a solid middle reliever/set up man or future closer (Okajim, Broxton, Shields (ana), Zumaya)?
Then they can use Dempster as a part time closer and as a set up man. I like their offense but the pitching sucks
Answers:
How hard is it to walk on a D-III baseball team?
Almost impossible to answer this question succinctly but here goes:They spent $300 million in contracts this offseason and did not even CONSIDER improving their late-game pitching situation. This despite the fact that no closer was worse than Dempster in the 2nd half of the season last year.
It's inconceivable.
Howry and Eyre were great last year. That's just bad luck that Eyre has been AWFUL so far and Howry has been average at best.
11 losses out of your bullpen in mid-May is unbelievable. Only the Cubs...
The starters they got have panned out pretty well thus far. Lilly and Marquis have more than held their own.
And just on a personal aside, Soriano should not be hitting lead-off. Speed is not the only determinant of a good lead off hitter. Bottom line is that the guy is going to hit 40 HR's this year and most will be solo shots cuz he's batting leadoff. That doesn't make sense to me.
Now, to further answer your question:
They can't trade the young guys because they don't play them enough to get what they need in return. Theriot is starting to play a LITTLE more consistently, but Murton, Pie, Pagan, are all getting lost in the shuffle. This so past-their-prime guys like Floyd and Jones can get more playing time?!?
Go figure.
Also, middle relievers are more valuable now than they ever have been. Gone are the days where middle relievers are little more than failed starters. The guys you mentioned: Zumaya, Shields, et al, aren't going to be available at this point in the season.
Nope, the Cubs made their bed, decided to completely ignore the bullpen, and now they will have to sit in it.
The Cubs will go as far as the bullpen will take them this year...
...so far, all it's taken them is to 11 extra losses.
Playing so poorly MIGHT be the reason that they are not the most talented team!
Why doesn't the Giants' manager Bruce Boochy use reliver Johnathan Sanchez very often?
The cubs are definitely not the most talented team. But if they were there record is bad because Soriano was out for part of the season but since he's returned they have been playing well.How many games will the pittsburgh pirates win this year?
Most teams need bullpen help and the ones that have good bullpens aren't about to give anyone up.I can not get L.A.angels in my 'scoreboard.WHY?
What make's them the most talented team? I'd like to take a second to compare them with the New York Mets, who happen to have just taken 3 of 4 against the cubbies. The Mets have a great lineup, rotation and a good bullpen. Not to mention a talented bench. I rest my case.When is the 2007 mlb home run derby?
wow you write alot. i dont think i will actually read alllllllll thatWell in being a lifer for the cubs, this among many other questions are pondered by Cub fans. The most frustrating thing in the world is watching a team that should've won a world series in 2003 struggle so mightily. The talent is there Soriano, Lee, Ramirez,Jones,Barrett,Theriot. I told a friend the other day, other teams can hit sac fly's and play fundamental baseball and get the hits when they need them, but for some reason playing in a cub uniform prevents this from happening. Starting pitching has been phenomenal Marquis, Lilly, Hill have been outstanding thus far and El Toro (Zambrano) has been coming around. The bullpen is the only weak spot of this team. Dempster has pitched tremendously better than 2006. Wuertz has been alright and thats it for the rest of them. Zumaya is on the DL so no sense in getting him and the Tigers won't let him get away either. To conclude the best reason to explain why the Cubs struggle is...it's the Cubs.
What has Steinbrenner been smoking ?
The yanks can and have built the most expensive and highest quality teams in history...but they haven't won in about 7 years...they have killed their budget over and over again...to no avail...so...it really doesn't matter how much talent you have.,.
braves won 1 world series in 15 years...that should say something..it isn't about the staff ..it is more about how the team works AS A TEAM!
because its the cubs and some times they play badly big deal Dempster is turning out to be a second latroy hawkens
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