***2005 Cubs Thread***

[poster]

I dont know if this will stick but I figured I would try it after seeing some other team threads last year.

I heard Mark Prior on WGN Tuesday night taking about how he approached things differently this offseason. He said after 2003 that he took it easy because he had never worked that many innings before. Then he got hurt and his arm never felt right. He said he didnt think his different approach caused his injuries but you saw the result. Now he has been on a throwing program since after Thanksgiving and his arm feels great. I like the sound of that and expect a big year out of him.

Also did anyone catch Jim Kalis(sp) of Baseball America on the Murph show on the score at 9:00 PM. It was really cool as they talked about the Cubs minor leagues. The guy was very gracious and stayed on for an hour and let callers ask him about different players in the organization. I wish I remembered everything but heres what I remember.

He said Dopriak and Ryan Harvey are legit power men of the future. Felix Pie is a 5 tool calaber player they like. Their pitching is very strong. Angel Guzman would have been ranked #1 if not for his shoulder injury, he is #3 now. I guess he went through a stetch in the minors where he had 40K's and 0 BB in 20 innings. Very incouraging. Also said that Richard Lewis from the Braves in the Juan Cruz trade was the AA MVP last year and is looking good along with Matt Merton who they got from Boston in the Nomar deal. Best pure hitter in the system according to Kalis(sp). He also talked about how Andy Sisco and Bobby Brownlie suddenly lost their stuff. Sisco was picked up by the Royals I beleive in Rule 5 and they are still high on Browlie and if he gets his stuff back look out.

[fugazi]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

The Cubs have, for the past 3-5 years now, had a very good farm system. There has been some frequency however in dealing a great deal of this talent away, such as D.Willis. This happens, of course, as is the way of baseball tading, but at some point we have to wonder when these kids are going to be allowed to show, rather than fixing up the big league team with veterans and stop gaps.
Don't get me wrong, A. Ramirez has been great (thank goodness), and I think D. Lee is a great 1B, I just hope he returns to his .300+ BA this year. Ramirez is so young that it doesn't matter. I think the question is in the outfield in general. Burnitz should not make it to August as the starter, LF is a general question mark, we might see a young guy here before July, and I think this is an important year for Patterson.
I have said before that this team's offense may go as Corey goes. If he doesn't have some kind of good season, it's time to consider other options. I think the guy has great potential, but the Cubs staff does not seem concerned with emphasizing a decrease in strikeouts and increase in contact. Patterson should give up on the dream of being a 30+ HR hitter (which he could plausibly do) and take a page from Mark Grace and learn to hit doubles. He certainly does not have the plat awareness to do what Grace did, but think of Patterson as being capable of 20+ HRs and a large number of doubles, with fewer walks and more Ks than Grace.

[fugazi]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

The Cubs have, for the past 3-5 years now, had a very good farm system. There has been some frequency however in dealing a great deal of this talent away, such as D.Willis. This happens, of course, as is the way of baseball tading, but at some point we have to wonder when these kids are going to be allowed to show, rather than fixing up the big league team with veterans and stop gaps.
Don't get me wrong, A. Ramirez has been great (thank goodness), and I think D. Lee is a great 1B, I just hope he returns to his .300+ BA this year. Ramirez is so young that it doesn't matter. I think the question is in the outfield in general. Burnitz should not make it to August as the starter, LF is a general question mark, we might see a young guy here before July, and I think this is an important year for Patterson.
I have said before that this team's offense may go as Corey goes. If he doesn't have some kind of good season, it's time to consider other options. I think the guy has great potential, but the Cubs staff does not seem concerned with emphasizing a decrease in strikeouts and increase in contact. Patterson should give up on the dream of being a 30+ HR hitter (which he could plausibly do) and take a page from Mark Grace and learn to hit doubles. He certainly does not have the plat awareness to do what Grace did, but think of Patterson as being capable of 20+ HRs and a large number of doubles, with fewer walks and more Ks than Grace.

[poster]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

The Cubs have, for the past 3-5 years now, had a very good farm system. There has been some frequency however in dealing a great deal of this talent away, such as D.Willis. This happens, of course, as is the way of baseball tading, but at some point we have to wonder when these kids are going to be allowed to show, rather than fixing up the big league team with veterans and stop gaps.
Don't get me wrong, A. Ramirez has been great (thank goodness), and I think D. Lee is a great 1B, I just hope he returns to his .300+ BA this year. Ramirez is so young that it doesn't matter. I think the question is in the outfield in general. Burnitz should not make it to August as the starter, LF is a general question mark, we might see a young guy here before July, and I think this is an important year for Patterson.
I have said before that this team's offense may go as Corey goes. If he doesn't have some kind of good season, it's time to consider other options. I think the guy has great potential, but the Cubs staff does not seem concerned with emphasizing a decrease in strikeouts and increase in contact. Patterson should give up on the dream of being a 30+ HR hitter (which he could plausibly do) and take a page from Mark Grace and learn to hit doubles. He certainly does not have the plat awareness to do what Grace did, but think of Patterson as being capable of 20+ HRs and a large number of doubles, with fewer walks and more Ks than Grace.

I totally agree. Patterson has to step up and learn how to hit and steal bases. Talent alone isnt good enough.

[poster]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

The Cubs have, for the past 3-5 years now, had a very good farm system. There has been some frequency however in dealing a great deal of this talent away, such as D.Willis. This happens, of course, as is the way of baseball tading, but at some point we have to wonder when these kids are going to be allowed to show, rather than fixing up the big league team with veterans and stop gaps.
Don't get me wrong, A. Ramirez has been great (thank goodness), and I think D. Lee is a great 1B, I just hope he returns to his .300+ BA this year. Ramirez is so young that it doesn't matter. I think the question is in the outfield in general. Burnitz should not make it to August as the starter, LF is a general question mark, we might see a young guy here before July, and I think this is an important year for Patterson.
I have said before that this team's offense may go as Corey goes. If he doesn't have some kind of good season, it's time to consider other options. I think the guy has great potential, but the Cubs staff does not seem concerned with emphasizing a decrease in strikeouts and increase in contact. Patterson should give up on the dream of being a 30+ HR hitter (which he could plausibly do) and take a page from Mark Grace and learn to hit doubles. He certainly does not have the plat awareness to do what Grace did, but think of Patterson as being capable of 20+ HRs and a large number of doubles, with fewer walks and more Ks than Grace.

I totally agree. Patterson has to step up and learn how to hit and steal bases. Talent alone isnt good enough.

[Jistic]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

As much raving as has gone on about our farm system, I'm still waiting for this infusion of greatness. True the potential is HUGE. But really to this point it looks like Big Z is the best of the bunch so far.

Now granted this can change in a year but potential is a very dangerous word...ESPECIALLY if you're a Cub fan.

Anyway I'm still pissed and bitter at the team for the brutal off season they've had and how they blamed everything on everyone else including Stoney...I hate the Tribune!

[Jistic]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

As much raving as has gone on about our farm system, I'm still waiting for this infusion of greatness. True the potential is HUGE. But really to this point it looks like Big Z is the best of the bunch so far.

Now granted this can change in a year but potential is a very dangerous word...ESPECIALLY if you're a Cub fan.

Anyway I'm still pissed and bitter at the team for the brutal off season they've had and how they blamed everything on everyone else including Stoney...I hate the Tribune!

[poster]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

As much raving as has gone on about our farm system, I'm still waiting for this infusion of greatness. True the potential is HUGE. But really to this point it looks like Big Z is the best of the bunch so far.

Now granted this can change in a year but potential is a very dangerous word...ESPECIALLY if you're a Cub fan.

Anyway I'm still pissed and bitter at the team for the brutal off season they've had and how they blamed everything on everyone else including Stoney...I hate the Tribune!

I really think that this is the year all of our pitchers hit their stride. Injury aside

[poster]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

As much raving as has gone on about our farm system, I'm still waiting for this infusion of greatness. True the potential is HUGE. But really to this point it looks like Big Z is the best of the bunch so far.

Now granted this can change in a year but potential is a very dangerous word...ESPECIALLY if you're a Cub fan.

Anyway I'm still pissed and bitter at the team for the brutal off season they've had and how they blamed everything on everyone else including Stoney...I hate the Tribune!

I really think that this is the year all of our pitchers hit their stride. Injury aside

[poster]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

Uh oh. Kerry Wood strained his shoulder today. They are saying its not serious. Hopefully the new trainer isnt a liar like the last one.

[poster]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

Uh oh. Kerry Wood strained his shoulder today. They are saying its not serious. Hopefully the new trainer isnt a liar like the last one.

[Jistic]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

Uh oh. Kerry Wood strained his shoulder today. They are saying its not serious. Hopefully the new trainer isnt a liar like the last one.

I'm sorry but I laughed when I heard this. My wife was in the kitchen and she said, "The cubs are the biggest *******", and she's right. This is all we hear from these guys.

Kerry Wood is the 3rd if not 4th best pitcher in this rotation anyway so his 2 or 3 stints on the DL this year doesn't really bother me. He should've been converted into a closer by now anyway.

I know also Prior's start got pushed back and they wanted to use a simulated game to build up his arm strength some more....What? I remember last year they said nothing was wrong too! I'll take 5 Maddux's over these 'young guys' any day....well except for big Z. He's the best pitcher on our staff.

[Jistic]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

Uh oh. Kerry Wood strained his shoulder today. They are saying its not serious. Hopefully the new trainer isnt a liar like the last one.

I'm sorry but I laughed when I heard this. My wife was in the kitchen and she said, "The cubs are the biggest *******", and she's right. This is all we hear from these guys.

Kerry Wood is the 3rd if not 4th best pitcher in this rotation anyway so his 2 or 3 stints on the DL this year doesn't really bother me. He should've been converted into a closer by now anyway.

I know also Prior's start got pushed back and they wanted to use a simulated game to build up his arm strength some more....What? I remember last year they said nothing was wrong too! I'll take 5 Maddux's over these 'young guys' any day....well except for big Z. He's the best pitcher on our staff.

[Altimus]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

I'm sorry but I laughed when I heard this. My wife was in the kitchen and she said, "The cubs are the biggest *******", and she's right. This is all we hear from these guys.

Kerry Wood is the 3rd if not 4th best pitcher in this rotation anyway so his 2 or 3 stints on the DL this year doesn't really bother me. He should've been converted into a closer by now anyway.

I know also Prior's start got pushed back and they wanted to use a simulated game to build up his arm strength some more....What? I remember last year they said nothing was wrong too! I'll take 5 Maddux's over these 'young guys' any day....well except for big Z. He's the best pitcher on our staff.

I guess this kind of backs up your wife's point of view.

"Panic's not going to help anything either way," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "Right now we're in a mindset that it's just tight. If he were younger and trying to make the club, he probably would've tried to keep pitching. That's commendable to 'Woody' to stop when he did."

Regardless though, Z is our ace and also our best hitting pitcher.

[Altimus]

Re: ***2005 Cubs Thread***

I'm sorry but I laughed when I heard this. My wife was in the kitchen and she said, "The cubs are the biggest *******", and she's right. This is all we hear from these guys.

Kerry Wood is the 3rd if not 4th best pitcher in this rotation anyway so his 2 or 3 stints on the DL this year doesn't really bother me. He should've been converted into a closer by now anyway.

I know also Prior's start got pushed back and they wanted to use a simulated game to build up his arm strength some more....What? I remember last year they said nothing was wrong too! I'll take 5 Maddux's over these 'young guys' any day....well except for big Z. He's the best pitcher on our staff.

I guess this kind of backs up your wife's point of view.

"Panic's not going to help anything either way," Cubs manager Dusty Baker said. "Right now we're in a mindset that it's just tight. If he were younger and trying to make the club, he probably would've tried to keep pitching. That's commendable to 'Woody' to stop when he did."

Regardless though, Z is our ace and also our best hitting pitcher.