Monday, December 15, 2008

Powerhouse?

I never once thought of our team last year as a powerhouse. Very good? Yes. At times. Good pitching. Scored some runs in bunches, sure...but a powerhouse? No. Even though we scored more runs than blah blah blah...we all know that this team is no offensive juggernaut. That was painfully exposed during the playoffs.

I am starting to realize that Jake Peavy probably won't be a Cub. Perhaps until midseason, if the Padres don't trade him sooner. I'd love to have the guy, but agree with keeping key components. I'd say that the rest of baseball's salivating over Mark DeRosa is a good reason to keep him. I'm happy keeping Marshall, too.

Powerhouse? Really, Doc?

Will the oft injured, headcase Milton Boardgame be the next free agent signee for the Cubs? Or will he go to the Rays where he can DH part time, too? Maybe we should say to hell with defense and go get Adam Dunn. Mike Fontenot can be his "Mini Me." It'd be cute.

Powerhouse? No.

Anyone starting to think a salary cap makes sense for baseball? Before the Yankees sign Manny, Lowe, Teixiera, Bradley, Dunn and Wolf? I'm waiting for Mussina to announce his un-retirement and return to pitch with those guys for one more year. If the new Cub owner prospects had any balls at all -- they'd all be calling Crane Kenney and telling him to go get what they need and not worry about it.

Powerhouse. That's funny. Maybe in a "wind farm" kind of way...

We need a true leadoff hitter. We need a power lefty. We need a little...just a little...bullpen help -- probably from the left side if Marshall is in the rotation.

Yes. We beat up bad pitching last year. We didn't hit good pitching as a rule, though, and that's what it takes to go farther than round one. We need some patient hitters. OBP guys. I'm telling you that Teixiera is that kind of guy. I know. We can't have him, but that's not the point. As a team, we need to change our approach and be more like that.

I agree with Doc -- I think it was Doc -- who mentioned that the RH/LH thing is overrated. We should go get the best athlete for RF...whichever way he bats and improve the team. But who is that guy? Thoughts?

Someone told me they had an idea for backup catcher...Mike Piazza. Thoughts on that? Think he can handle 20 games a year back there? Wouldn't mind that bat on the bench...but I'm not crazy about the idea. Fun thought, though.

Glad we aren't in the AL east...

Happy Monday to all...

Sherm

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I agree with the theme of changing the 'culture' of the line up to a working the count high OBP kind of line up and I believe Lou has had high on his priority list. What puzzles me is that Reed Johnson is that kind of guy, and Lou insisted on hitting Fonzi in the one hole all season. Secondly, Johnson didn't play at all in the playoffs. Whenever the Cubs brass talk about changing the line up Fonzi is never mentioned to be moved, this puzzles me. Poopadome was that kind of hitter up until about May 3rd and now he is a platooned CF.

Little Babe Ruth is that kind of hitter also come to think of it.

No big Christmas plans. Does anyone want to play in the Fantasy Camp Baseball "Melee in Mesa" the Friday, Sat and Sunday prior to the start of Cubs camp, 1/23/09? A 3 day weekend for a few hundred bucks is a lot easier than the full week of Cubs camp.

69 fan said...

Do you remember the candy bar Powerhouse. Nougat covered in white chocolate.
Turns out it has been discontinued. C'est La Vie.
( Say Lavy for the narrowly educated).

Apparently the self deprecating delusional in December part went unnoticed. but the stats do suggest a team that should win much more often than lose. Juggernaut not, Behemoth belayed, Titan tamed, Goliath gulped, Atlas axed....whatever.

A wind farm would work out well here right about now, 30mph winds to go with 10 degree temp, balmy by siberian standards, I guess San Clemente looks real good right now.

Probably not much action in the baseball world for a while, it's cold as hell in Chicago as well.

Is Kenny Lofton still working?

Anonymous said...

Uh... Barry Bonds

Anonymous said...

Powerhouse candy bar? More like a White Castle hamburger. Big holes in the swings of the meat of the line up, just like the holes in the patty of the White Castle burger, I use the term burger loosley.

Anonymous said...

The only candy bar that has a place in major league sports today is Payday.

I like the White Castle analogy. I think from now on, Soriano should be the poster boy for them. Playing left field, and striking out first for the Cubs...Blanco Castillo!

Ole'

Anonymous said...

I don't think Piazza plays for the minimum...which is what Bako or whatever other jagoff they find would do. What's Tyler Houston up to? Maybe they can get Barrett back.

Anonymous said...

Kerry Wood is now gone!

Bad move.

I'm not intrigued by the moves so far.

We will be back here a year from now bitching again.

Then again...if we did win...Cubs fans would be lost.

At least we could talk about a new Governor in Illinois.

SMitty