Yesterday's Barry Rozner column in the Daily Herald advocated the Cubs going after Johan Santana. The longer I think about this, the more sense it makes. Why SHOULDN'T we go get Santana? Now that the Cubs have found one more starting pitcher, we have many candidates and can afford to deal some of them. After all, there is only one Johan Santana. From the Twins' point of view, it would be much better to send him where they won't have to play against him this year. The Twins do still have a good team, even without Santana on it, provided they get some major-league talent in return. So any package should probably include Rich Hill, and some other starters, such as Kevin Hart, Sean Gallagher, or Sean Marshall.
Here is the all-veteran version of next year's rotation:
Zambrano
Lilly
Marquis
Dempster
Lieber
Don't forget that Piniella has committed to moving Dempster to the rotation for next year. So, if the Cubs DO go get Santana, then Marquis becomes the 6th starter. In the NL Central, that will be just fine. The only real competition this year will probably come from the Brewers, who have a great young team.
If I was running the Twins I would not take less in return for sending Santana to the NL and keeping him away from the Red Sox or Yankees. But I would definitely favor the Cubs' package if it was close.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Jon Lieber returns
The Cubs have signed Jon Lieber to a free-agent deal. It is good to see Lieber back here; I am only surprised by how old he is. Lieber will be 38 this season. This adds one more starting pitcher to the mix. With Lieber aboard, I have to say now, I definitely agree with Barry Rozner. That deserves its own headline; I will discuss that next.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
For a day or so I thought that the Cubs had actually traded for Brian Roiberts, coughing up Sean Marhsall, Sean Gallagher, and Ronny Cedeno. Thank God this didn't happen yet but lets hope it isn't seriously in the works. I don't know what Hendry would be thinking here but don't forget Andy MacPhail runs the Orioles now. So when the Cubs trade youngsters to Baltimore, they are making the same mistake the Phillies made when they trade Sandberg to Dallas Green after we hired him here in the early 80s. You might recall that there was trade after trade with the Phillies in those days.
the 1984 Cubs won the NL East with the following players in the starting lineup, acquired from Philadelphia: Bob Dernier, Ryne Sandberg, Gary Matthews, Keith Moreland, and Larry Bowa. That is 5 of 8.
So let's not allow MacPhail to use his insider knowledge to do the same to us; it is bad enough that we traded third base prospect Scott Moore to the Orioles for one month of Steve Trachsel. Now, we give up two starting pitchers for a second baseman named in the Mitchell Report. (remember that year that Brian Roberts hit all those homers?)
This doesn't appear to be a bad deal honestly but you have to think twice ab out dealing with someone who has inside knowledge on your organization. MacPhail was a decent enough guy from all accounts, so you can bet he has friends in the Cubs organization he can call when he wants to know about a player. So if he is interested in one of ours, Hendry should say no on general principle.
the 1984 Cubs won the NL East with the following players in the starting lineup, acquired from Philadelphia: Bob Dernier, Ryne Sandberg, Gary Matthews, Keith Moreland, and Larry Bowa. That is 5 of 8.
So let's not allow MacPhail to use his insider knowledge to do the same to us; it is bad enough that we traded third base prospect Scott Moore to the Orioles for one month of Steve Trachsel. Now, we give up two starting pitchers for a second baseman named in the Mitchell Report. (remember that year that Brian Roberts hit all those homers?)
This doesn't appear to be a bad deal honestly but you have to think twice ab out dealing with someone who has inside knowledge on your organization. MacPhail was a decent enough guy from all accounts, so you can bet he has friends in the Cubs organization he can call when he wants to know about a player. So if he is interested in one of ours, Hendry should say no on general principle.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Up the Middle Defense
Pitching and defense win championships in October. The Red Sox may have had a great lineup, but it was Josh Beckett who put them on his back and led them to October glory... Beckett... a scenario all too familiar to Cubs fans.
I've gone over the pitching aspect of getting outs a few times here but defense is also critical; otherwise, you'd send out nine sluggers in every possible place and try to outscore.
One key to a successful team is up-the-middle defense. in this category, last year's Cubs were OK but could have been better. If they keep Pie in center for a whole season they will be in good shape, but will his bat allow that? Another question is Geovany Soto; can he provide good defense?
When we are certain who the second baseman is, we will have a better idea. DeRosa at second with Theriot at short is not good enough for the long-term, though it can work in the summer months when the balance goes to the offenses in Wrigley a little more.
I've gone over the pitching aspect of getting outs a few times here but defense is also critical; otherwise, you'd send out nine sluggers in every possible place and try to outscore.
One key to a successful team is up-the-middle defense. in this category, last year's Cubs were OK but could have been better. If they keep Pie in center for a whole season they will be in good shape, but will his bat allow that? Another question is Geovany Soto; can he provide good defense?
When we are certain who the second baseman is, we will have a better idea. DeRosa at second with Theriot at short is not good enough for the long-term, though it can work in the summer months when the balance goes to the offenses in Wrigley a little more.
Friday, January 4, 2008
...and Nick Swisher Acquired by the Sox
This is an example of thinking big, and daring to go for it. This type of move brought the White Sox their World Series title. Who else wanted Jose Contreras back when he was floundering with the Yankees? Kenny Williams bought low with A.J. Pierzynski, Orlando Hernandez, Dustin Hermanson, Bobby Jenks, Cliff Politte, Scott Podsednik, Freddy Garcia, Jermaine Dye, and Carl Everett among others to build that 2005 team. All of those players were more or less unwanted, and going into 2005, definitely underestimated. It was one of the great GM jobs of all my years of baseball watching.
Nick Swisher did not hit 35 homers a second time as he did 2006, and with the A's having seen how top-heavy the AL has become, Billy Beane is backing up the truck. This began with Dan Haren. Now, the Sox got Swisher for three prospects. In a way, that can come back to haunt you, but power-hitting outfielders have long careers. If they get hurt, they can move to DH or first base. I will be surprised if Nick Swisher is not still a force in baseball in 2012.
This year Swisher will be 27; statistical analysis shows that age 27 is, on average, when the ability and experience of a hitter are at their best point. More peak years happen for hitters at age 27 than any other year. The Sox needed this power bat from the left side. IN 2008, they will continue to try to win with homers and starting pitching. Kenny Williams added a middle-of-the-lineup threat without touching the major league roster. Very impressive.
Nick Swisher did not hit 35 homers a second time as he did 2006, and with the A's having seen how top-heavy the AL has become, Billy Beane is backing up the truck. This began with Dan Haren. Now, the Sox got Swisher for three prospects. In a way, that can come back to haunt you, but power-hitting outfielders have long careers. If they get hurt, they can move to DH or first base. I will be surprised if Nick Swisher is not still a force in baseball in 2012.
This year Swisher will be 27; statistical analysis shows that age 27 is, on average, when the ability and experience of a hitter are at their best point. More peak years happen for hitters at age 27 than any other year. The Sox needed this power bat from the left side. IN 2008, they will continue to try to win with homers and starting pitching. Kenny Williams added a middle-of-the-lineup threat without touching the major league roster. Very impressive.
Cardinals Sign Matt Clement
As you all may have heard, the Cardinals have brought in Matt Clement to compete in spring training for their starting rotation. Clement had a very rough time with Boston after leaving the Cubs, never reaching the top of his potential and either being hurt or pitching badly.
Last year, the Cardinals tried a strategy of replacing their World Series-winning starting rotation with guys who could be called "projects" and others who could be called "retreads." In the "projects" column, there was Braden Looper, a career closer who had a closer's good stuff but did not have a closer's killer instinct. In the "retreads" column was Kip Wells, longtime failure as a starting pitcher, with the Pirates and the Rangers, after beginning his career very young as a White Soc. I am guessing the Cardinals thought that if he could just pitch with a decent team behind him, Dave Duncan could turn him around. Wells failed miserably.
Clement is another "retread'; it has been a long time since he pitched well in the majors, and before that, most of his career amounted to working on becoming what he could be in the future, not already being that pitcher.
But when LaRussa has been the manager, both in St. Louis and in Oakland, he had a talent for recognizing relief pitching talent and getting the most from it. Since the mid-80s with retreads like Rick Honeycutt, Gene Nelson, and even Eckersley himself (he got him from the Cubs in exchange for three minor-leaguers who never saw the major leagues), LaRussa has taken unsuccessful starting rotation veterans and given them homes in the bullpen.
So I think that is certainly the plan B here; if Clement were the pitcher again that he was before he hurt his arm, the Cardinals would definitely use him as a starter. If he lacks endurance now, LaRussa will be finding him a home in the relief corps, using that sweeping slider to get right-handers out in the middle innings.
Last year, the Cardinals tried a strategy of replacing their World Series-winning starting rotation with guys who could be called "projects" and others who could be called "retreads." In the "projects" column, there was Braden Looper, a career closer who had a closer's good stuff but did not have a closer's killer instinct. In the "retreads" column was Kip Wells, longtime failure as a starting pitcher, with the Pirates and the Rangers, after beginning his career very young as a White Soc. I am guessing the Cardinals thought that if he could just pitch with a decent team behind him, Dave Duncan could turn him around. Wells failed miserably.
Clement is another "retread'; it has been a long time since he pitched well in the majors, and before that, most of his career amounted to working on becoming what he could be in the future, not already being that pitcher.
But when LaRussa has been the manager, both in St. Louis and in Oakland, he had a talent for recognizing relief pitching talent and getting the most from it. Since the mid-80s with retreads like Rick Honeycutt, Gene Nelson, and even Eckersley himself (he got him from the Cubs in exchange for three minor-leaguers who never saw the major leagues), LaRussa has taken unsuccessful starting rotation veterans and given them homes in the bullpen.
So I think that is certainly the plan B here; if Clement were the pitcher again that he was before he hurt his arm, the Cardinals would definitely use him as a starter. If he lacks endurance now, LaRussa will be finding him a home in the relief corps, using that sweeping slider to get right-handers out in the middle innings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
