[Willie Bee]

Cubs spend to win

The offseason's most active team on the spending front looks to reverse a 66-96 campaign in 2006. Can the Cubs go from the outhouse to the penthouse?

The big snowstorm that hit the Midwest in general and the Chicago area in particular this week just might be a blessing in disguise. With all of the shoveling that needs to be done it might keep Cubs fans from thinking too much about their team’s chances this year, thereby decreasing the inevitable belly-flop that seems destined to come.

After an offseason spending spree that saw Chicago add Alfonso Soriano, among others, and keep slugging third sacker Aramis Ramirez in Cubbie Blue, there is reason for optimism on the Windy City’s North Side this season. To begin with, it surely can’t get any worse than the injury-marred, 96-loss campaign the team tossed into their long suffering annals last year.

Another reason for optimism is they’re in the NL Central where 83 wins was good enough to hoist a flag last year. Even if they stood pat with the hand they had, they might have been able to approach the .500 mark with a little bit of luck on the injury front. Ok, a whole lotta’ luck.

And in addition to the players they brought in, Chicago also swept Dusty Baker to the curb in favor of Lou Piniella in the manager’s role. Now I’m not saying that Piniella is going to come in and light a magic fire under the Cubs’ butts like Jim Leyland did in Detroit last season. But I’m also not saying that he won’t.

Piniella’s fiery presence could easily ignite the clubhouse. Sweet Lou was also able to assemble a pretty good coaching staff, including former Tigers manager Alan Trammell as his bench coach and Gerald Perry, who has worked with Piniella before in Seattle and is also familiar with third baseman Ramirez who he tutored while Aramis was in Pittsburgh.

OFFENSE
While the focus in so many Cubs previews is on Soriano, and for good reason after he signed a bazillion dollar deal in the winter to keep him in a Cubs uni through most of this century, an equally and possibly more important player for Chicago in 2007 will be Derrek Lee. After flirting with the Triple Crown in 2005, Lee busted his wrist in early April, possibly came back too early in late June and had to return to the DL after the All-Star break, then returned again just before September before having to miss the final couple of weeks of the season dealing with his daughter’s rare genetic disease.

It was not a good year for Lee, to say the least. He managed to play in just 50 games and hit just eight home runs a year after he blasted 46. Assuming his wrist is ok now, it will be like landing two high-impact free agents for the offense this year with Lee hitting behind Soriano for 150 games.

To Lee’s right on the infield, Mark DeRosa will be at second this year after signing as a free agent. DeRosa strung together a solid season with the Rangers hitting nearly .300 with career highs in just about every offensive category while playing several defensive positions for Texas, including every infield spot. How he really responds to being an everyday player at a set position is the lingering question.

Ramirez, coming a few career highs of his own, will be on the opposite infield corner from Lee, signed a big 5-year deal to stay with the Cubs, and how his laid-back, sometimes apathetical play meshes with Piniella might be interesting to watch. Look for Cesar Izturis to man short most of the time.

The primary infield backups will be Ronny Cedeño and Ryan Theriot. But don’t be surprised to see Theriot possibly taking over full-time at second eventually with DeRosa back in his Mr Everywhere role.

Michael Barrett, off his third consecutive 16-HR season, will catch with Henry Blanco spelling him from time-to-time.

Soriano is slated to play one of the outfield corners at Wrigley, most likely right. His offense, including his 160 strikeouts in 159 games last year, will also be at the top of the Cubs’ batting order. Cliff Floyd, another free agent acquisition, will be in left with Matt Murton taking his place once Floyd goes on the DL. And you know he will.

For now, Jacques Jones is the center fielder. I say for now because Chicago shopped him all winter after Jones was not all that happy with the Cubs last year. Baltimore is one team they have been talking to about Jones, according to some rumors. Angel Pagan will probably be the fifth outfielder, though young stud Felix Pie could push his way into the picture at some point this season.

PITCHING
Might as well start this section off with the Mark Prior-Kerry Wood DL Sweepstakes. I’m taking May 27 on Wood and April 8 for Prior.

Seriously, have two more promising pitchers ever had this much bad luck when it comes to being injured?

Prior, who signed a 1-year deal at the end of January, made just nine starts last year before being shut down. He’s reportedly spent the winter trying to strengthen his fragile right shoulder and, who knows?, he might actually be able to make 30+ starts this year. But who would’ve thought he would be competing with Wade Miller - - Gulp! - - for the fifth spot in the Cubs’ rotation at this stage in his career.

Carlos Zambrano is the odds-on favorite to be the Opening Day starter, some freak injury during Spring Training the only thing that could change that. Since these are the Cubs, such a freak occurrence is indeed a possibility. Right behind the Z-man will be Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis and Rich Hill, not necessarily in that order. Lilly, a lefty, should be a consistent arm for Piniella. And Hill, another lefty, came on strong last year with a 2.54 ERA in his 77+ innings of work from Aug 1 through the end of the season.

But Marquis? While giving him $21 million over three years might not be quite as perplexing as the Royals giving Gil Meche $55 million over five years, it’s still a bit of a reach. Maybe Marquis can get back to his 2004-05 form, but being an ex-Cardinal means Cubs fans won’t have much patience with him.

Wood, who signed an incentive-heavy 1-year deal with Chicago this winter, is listed as the team’s closer for now. He’s reportedly dropped 20+ pounds over the past couple of months and the hope is he can weather the strain of being a reliever and possibly pitching on consecutive days.

If Wood can’t do it, the good news is Chicago’s bullpen is relatively deep. Bobby Howry, Roberto Novoa and Ryan Dempster, right-handed slingers, are joined by southpaws Will Ohman, Scott Eyre and Neal Cotts, a transfer from the South Side. Cotts will be looked at as a possible starting arm this spring as well.

Key Player(s): Anyone tired of me listing pitchers as the key players for their teams in 2007? Well, too bad. Prior and Wood are undoubtedly the two most crucial elements of this team. If they’re back to form, the Cubs can easily go from last in the NL to the NL reps in the World Series, as impossible as that sounds.

Futures: The Greek has the Cubs at +185 to win the NL Central, just behind the Cardinals at +165. The strange part is despite being one of the favorites for their division, The Greek tosses Chicago in with the field for winning the NL Pennant. The Cubs are 5:2 to win the division at VIP Sports, once again just behind the Cards, and list Chicago at 5:1 to win the National League. Pinnacle puts the Cubs at +210 in the division.

The Cubs are my pick to make the biggest jump in the win column from last year. My projections have them at 79 wins, a 13-game improvement from 2006, with the sky basically the limit if they really can stay healthy, especially on the mound.

[bigboydan]

Kerry Wood and Mark Prior will get injured at some point during the season, and the Cubs will fold like they always do.

The only thing you know you can count on is Zambrano this year, because of the that new deal he wants. Lilly and Marques are decent signings, but i'm sorry i'm not buying these two players to taking this Cubs team to the promise land.

Even though the Cubs did make a few offensive player signings, I still say they don't have enough firepower to contend.

My projection of this years Cubs team is 76 wins

[thegeek79]

A few things are wrong with your blog Willie Bee. First Alfonso Soriano is slated to be the Center Fielder on opening day. That according to the new Cubs skipper. Jones will be in right if he's still with the team and Murton and Floyd will platoon early on in left. As far as the closer spot, Piniella says Dempster is the closer heading into Spring Training. Wood has to prove he can pitch out of the pen 3-4 times a week before they would consider him. If Dempster stumbles more than likely it's Howry that will take up that role.

As for the response by bigboydan who said not buying Hill and Prior or Miller being able to take the Cubs to the promised land. Ask anyone if they thought Jeff Supan and Jeff Weaver would take the Cards to the World Series, because it was the jeff's not Carpenter that were the reason's the Cards won. As well as a rookie stepping in the closer's role and being unhittable late in Wainwright.

If your handicapping the NL Central, the Cardinals are the least improved team in the league not having any stability in the rotation except for Carpenter. How does Wells, Looper, Reyes sound with Mulder out until after the All-Star Break. The Houston Astros have lost Pettite and Clemens likely signing with the Yanks doesn't bode well for the 'stros who might find themselves out of it before it starts. The trendy pick this year are the Brewers, however their pitching outside of Capuano has had a hard time staying healthy and they are full of young kids that are unproven if they can produce an entire year. You can basically negate the Pirates and the Red's have to hope Harang and Arroyo can put together back to back solid years. I think by default the Cubs would have to be the favorites.

I'm very interested in all of your replies. I'm not trying to be a smart a**, just trying to add to the dialogue.

[Illusion]

A few things are wrong with your blog Willie Bee. First Alfonso Soriano is slated to be the Center Fielder on opening day. That according to the new Cubs skipper. Jones will be in right if he's still with the team and Murton and Floyd will platoon early on in left. As far as the closer spot, Piniella says Dempster is the closer heading into Spring Training. Wood has to prove he can pitch out of the pen 3-4 times a week before they would consider him. If Dempster stumbles more than likely it's Howry that will take up that role.

As for the response by bigboydan who said not buying Hill and Prior or Miller being able to take the Cubs to the promised land. Ask anyone if they thought Jeff Supan and Jeff Weaver would take the Cards to the World Series, because it was the jeff's not Carpenter that were the reason's the Cards won. As well as a rookie stepping in the closer's role and being unhittable late in Wainwright.

If your handicapping the NL Central, the Cardinals are the least improved team in the league not having any stability in the rotation except for Carpenter. How does Wells, Looper, Reyes sound with Mulder out until after the All-Star Break. The Houston Astros have lost Pettite and Clemens likely signing with the Yanks doesn't bode well for the 'stros who might find themselves out of it before it starts. The trendy pick this year are the Brewers, however their pitching outside of Capuano has had a hard time staying healthy and they are full of young kids that are unproven if they can produce an entire year. You can basically negate the Pirates and the Red's have to hope Harang and Arroyo can put together back to back solid years. I think by default the Cubs would have to be the favorites.

I'm very interested in all of your replies. I'm not trying to be a smart a**, just trying to add to the dialogue.

Great analysis and welcome to SBR bud.

[Willie Bee]

A few things are wrong with your blog Willie Bee. First Alfonso Soriano is slated to be the Center Fielder on opening day. That according to the new Cubs skipper.

Well, I've heard it both ways, Soriano in center and Soriano in right...last thing I read came from one of the Windy City fish wraps about a month ago:

There was a lot of talk about Soriano in center when he was first signed, but the Cubs had made it pretty clear since that he was being penciled into a corner, probably right field. Apparently, it took Soriano bringing it up to get the idea restated. "Now that [Soriano] has mentioned it, it makes a lot of sense, with his athleticism, a real nice throwing arm, really good speed … it makes perfect sense," manager Lou Piniella said.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Could be that Piniella really hasn't made a decision himself and is playing with the media on the deal. And in the end, it most probably depends on the outcome of the Jones situation, whether he is traded or not.

Welcome to the site, geek Feel free to keep the dialogue flowing.

[gurkic1]

Thanks!

[Willie Bee]

You're welcome, gurkic, though I'm not sure what for.

[bigboydan]

Gee, Heres a shocker guys

Injured Wood to miss Cubs' opener

MESA, Ariz. (AP) -- Kerry Wood's chances of being ready for opening day were dashed by another injury.

The Chicago Cubs' former ace hurt his right shoulder pitching in relief Sunday and was experiencing more stiffness than usual Monday, one week before the Cubs open the season in Cincinnati.

Wood will not be ready for the first game.

"No, that's not going to happen," manager Lou Piniella said Monday. "Let's just hope it's not serious and he can resume preparing himself. Obviously, we'll give him time."

Wood was to undergo an evaluation from the Cubs' medical staff Monday. He appeared in only four games last season and was trying to make a comeback from a partially torn rotator cuff, an injury he chose to rehab rather than repair with surgery.

"Certainly this is a setback for him," Piniella said. "It's a shame, because Kerry has really worked hard, put in a lot of time over the winter, and he was disappointed in the setback."

Wood experienced soreness in his shoulder Sunday, when he allowed a homer and three runs in one inning against the Los Angeles Angels.

"He said he felt it yesterday during the game, and then it got achy," Piniella said. "Obviously, his strength wasn't the same. But he had more unusual stiffness and he had some soreness in his shoulder."

Wood was not available for comment Monday after a meeting in Piniella's office.

"Yesterday, he was upset. Today, he was more realistic about this. He's hoping for the best," Piniella said.

In his previous outing Friday, Wood pitched a scoreless inning of relief -- his first appearance in 12 days after being sidelined by a triceps injury. Earlier this spring, he slipped while getting out of a hot tub, setting him back a couple of days.

"We felt that by bringing him along slowly and not pushing him, that there was a reasonable expectation that he'd be ready by opening day," Piniella added.

It seems as though something always goes wrong for Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year who struck out 20 Houston Astros in his fifth major league start.

There was elbow ligament replacement surgery in 1999 and shoulder surgery in 2005. Now, Wood could be headed for the disabled list again. He's been there 10 times in his major league career.

"He's obviously put a lot of work in and you know obviously he wanted to be at the top of his game. He feels badly that he's not 100 percent," general manager Jim Hendry said. "Hopefully, we'll get him right and hopefully it won't be significant. It's not about helping us next Monday as much as helping us over the long haul."

The Cubs could also start the season without another pitcher who's been beset by injuries -- Mark Prior. Prior has made only three appearances this spring after being limited to nine starts last season by a sore shoulder.

Prior pitched well in his most recent outing last Thursday, giving up one run in four innings. He is scheduled to pitch Wednesday and a decision could be made after that appearance on how or where he will start the season. Wade Miller has pretty much sewed up the No. 5 spot in the rotation.

Wood (14) and Prior (18) combined for 32 wins in 2003 when the Cubs came within five outs of the World Series. In three years since, they have just 30 victories total, with Prior winning 18 games and Wood only 12.

"I felt all along that both of them would contribute," Piniella said. "I just wasn't sure about the timetable. And you know they are both coming off physical ailments, and in Woody's case he's learning a new position, pitching out of the bullpen as opposed to starting.

"So I felt that it probably would be a long shot to have both of them ready by opening day."

Wood returned to the Cubs this season with a one-year, $1.75 million deal that could be worth up to $6 million.

Notes

The Cubs made four roster moves, optioning OF Felix Pie to Triple-A Iowa and reassigning C Koyie Hill, LHP Les Walrond and INF Tomas Perez to their minor league camp. The moves mean Ronny Cedeno has made the club as the backup infielder. Cedeno, the Cubs' opening-day shortstop a year ago, played 151 games and batted .245. He struggled in the second half. Cesar Izturis, acquired from the Dodgers for Greg Maddux at the trade deadline last year, is now Chicago's starting shortstop.

[bigboydan]

Mark Prior will start the season in triple A this year.