Cubs Community Roundtable: First Quarter Cubs Report

I don't know about you, but for me personally, this has been one of the more disappointing Cubs seasons I can ever recall. And that's saying a lot, because as a long-time die hard, I've certainly been there, done that.

Don't get me wrong, I understand that there is still time to right the ship, and fortunately no one is running away with the division.

Still, it's hard to believe this is the same team that won 97 games during the regular season last year.

GM Jim Hendry decided to change the mix during the offseason, and he made a lot of changes to the 2008 team. The results have not been encouraging, with the team mired in a horrific offensive struggle, especially with RISP, and a shaky bullpen.

As we did for April, I've collected the thoughts of some of the top writers from the Cubs community, and solicited their thoughts for the month of May.

I did not get this published in a timely manner, so please keep in mind that these comments are from around the first of June.

Hindsight being 20/20, kudos to the writers who stuck by Derrek Lee, who has certainly stepped up to the table since these comments were written. I cannot say that I had as much confidence in him.

So, without further ado, I present to you the May Cubs Roundtable report.

1. Who is the May Cubs MVP, and why?

TAB Bamford: The Cubs MVP for the entire season-to-date is the Chicago Blackhawks. They kept the city's mind off the turmoil and mediocrity on the North Side until just a week ago. Jim Hendry should send Rocky Wirtz a nice fruit basket or something for keeping the nation's media from noticing that the Cubs suck.

Jacob Nitzberg: Do I have to pick anyone?  Without looking at stats I couldn’t think of anyone off the top of my head. I’m going with Reed Johnson.  In just 16 games he led all regulars in hitting with a .366 average, had three home runs, and was second on the team with 14 RBI (behind Theriot’s 15, if you believe that).  Plus, his defense was always great.

A close second would be Randy Wells.  If the team could have got him some wins he probably would have been first.  In May he was 0-2, but did it with a 1.80 ERA and 1.16 WHIP.  Only five Earned runs in four starts is extremely impressive for a rookie.

Ryan Winn: Milton Bradley—Coming off the role as April's scapegoat, Bradley turned it around in May, hitting .268 with three home runs and 12 RBI in the month. Although those aren't the numbers one would want from him at season's end, his turnaround has solidified the middle of the order with A-Ram, something they desperately need until the All-Star break.

Kane Simmons: Cubs MVP for May is a tough question as May was a bad month. The MVP can't go to an offensive player as they (and the bullpen) were the biggest contributors to the Cubs futility. So the MVP belongs to a starter, and the two consistent starters have Lilly and Wells.

I will give my MVP vote to Wells, since he has been great from the get-go. Filling in for Zambrano when he was hurt, and now Harden, and when he comes back he will undoubtedly have earned his own spot in the rotation, replacing Marshall. Wells for MVP even though his best start was June 2nd.  

Brian Livingston: The MVP for the Cubs in May wasn’t just one guy it was their starting rotation. That eight game skid the starters pitched some of their best baseball. They limited the damage to one or two runs on a given night, unfortunately the offense decided to take off during that time. Definitely the pitching staff they did their job, no doubt.

2. Who was the most disappointing Cub in May?

TAB Bamford: Milton Bradley continues to disappoint. So did Neal Cotts, Aaron Heilman, Mike Fontenot, Geovany Soto, and Carlos Zambrano. Anyone else that I missed?

Jacob Nitzberg: Even though it was really for only half the month, I’m voting for Soriano.  Yes he might be injured, but he is still starting the majority of games off with an out.  Since homering in the ninth inning on May 17, he had just seven hits for the remainder of the month, just two of them for extra bases and none that drove in any runs.  We need his bat and it didn’t show up.

Ryan Winn: Alfonso Soriano—His production dropped off rapidly from April, having his average drop from .284 last month to .216 this month, striking out 10 more times and walking four fewer times. His power numbers are similar, but the Cubs need runs, and by not getting on base and hitting his HR with no one on, he is depriving the team of that.

Kane Simmons: This could go to any offensive player, excluding Kosuke, but to be disappointing in May, one would have to have an exceptional April. So, by that definition, my MDC (Most Disappointing Cub) would have to be Soriano, whose average has dropped every day since the beginning of May. Soriano can't hit a breaking ball to save his life, doing his best Dennis Haysbert/Pedro Cerrano impression. A leadoff man is the catalyst for the offense, and this proves it. Soriano bad = offense bad.

Brian Livingston: The offense was the most disappointing. I don’t know if I could single out one guy specifically because they all were bad. They started off 11-4 and then the offense fell asleep once they hit the road. They scored only a grand total of five runs on that trip, which isn’t going to win you many games unless your starters and bullpen are pitching shutouts night in and night out.  

Maybe I could single out Soriano because he was white hot in April and the Cubs were winning. He gets cold, so do the Cubs. Then again losing Aramis Ramirez to the disabled list is going to hurt the Cubs offense in a big way too.

3. What is the top area of need for the Cubs right now (starting pitching, relief pitching, hitting, defense)?

TAB Bamford: The Cubs need to acquire a left handed pitcher. Whether it's a starter to permanently push Marshall to the bullpen or a reliever that let's Lou keep Marshall in the rotation, the biggest need is a lefty handed pitcher. Oh, and an infielder that's taller than 5'11".

Jacob Nitzberg: Is all of the above an option?  I will say hitting.   I think the majority of it is attributable to the injury to Ramirez and Soriano’s recent struggles, but who knows when those will end.  The pitching hasn’t been great, but the hitting needs the most work. When Ryan Theriot leads the team in HR and RBI in May, you have an offensive problem.

Ryan Winn: Relief pitching—I would be shocked if anyone chose anything else. The names Neil Cotts, David Patton, Aaron Heilman, and Kevin Gregg brought chills to Cubs fans throughout the month. Although Gregg has produced in his last 10+ outings, the middle relievers are still horrific. Sean Marshall's eventual return to the bullpen should help, and a larger number of runs produced would probably help hide how bad the bullpen is this season.

Kane Simmons: Right now it is the offense, but it is pretty much set in stone, barring a drastic move or injury. So, the bullpen is next on the list, and has been unstable all year. From who will attempt to close the game, to a stable left hander, to just a reliable guy.  

Brian Livingston: The top two areas of concern for me are the offense and the bullpen. Forget all this talk about getting Jake Peavy or any other ace for that matter because that isn’t the biggest issue the Cubs need to address right now. Their starting pitching has been stellar thus far. Don’t fix what isn’t broken.

They really don’t have a true backup for third base and it exposed a big weakness of this team. Aaron Miles, Mike Fontenot and Bobby Scales are not the answer at third base. I don’t know who they could get at this point because no one is really selling at this point and there is no need to sell the farm on a rent-a-player, especially when Ramirez is coming back after the All-Star break.

The bullpen is a bit of concern as well. Aaron Heilman needs to get it together and soon otherwise he is going to become the next person in Lou’s doghouse. I do like the emergence of Angel Guzman; he seems to compliment Carlos Marmol nicely. It seems to me that Guzman has finally figured it out.

4. What do you think of the Carlos Zambrano outburst—childish behavior or simply a sign of a fiery competitor? Is he still the Cubs Ace?

TAB Bamford: He's the Cubs ace because he's paid the most and is at the front of the rotation. The best, most consistent pitcher on the Cubs staff is Ted Lilly, who somehow gets a decision every time he takes the bump. I think Carlos Zambrano is a baby who needs to be on his back on a couch telling someone with a bunch of degrees why he can't get his crap together and win more than 16 games.

Jacob Nitzberg: It’s just Carlos being Carlos.  He is a fiery competitor, but needs to cool it a bit before he hurts someone, himself included.  Based on the struggles by and injuries to other pitchers, I think he is currently the ace by default.

Ryan Winn: Zambrano's outburst was a mix of his competitiveness and his frustration with the team. With the number of losses his team took in May, Zambrano's tantrum was merely a player showcasing what every fan wanted to do. It's no surprise he reacted in such a way given his past behavior, and he would have probably been fine if the ump did not eject him for 'bumping'. He is still the Cubs ace, and he should prove it once he returns.

Kane Simmons: His eruption was fine by me for a couple of reasons. First, it was entertaining throwing the umpire out of the game, though the Gatorade machine didn't deserve what it got.

Second, it was late in his start—I think he was well over 100 pitches—it wasn't like John Lackey, who was tossed after just two pitches.

Third, it is better to vent on a Gatorade machine than breaking your hand against a wall like some pitchers do.

Fourth, he is an emotional guy, and this could possibly motivate him or even the rest if the team when he comes back. He is still the Cubs ace in my book, for one game I want him on the mound.  

Brian Livingston: Carlos Zambrano may drive you crazy with his “antics” but there isn’t a pitcher out there I wouldn’t want throwing for the Cubs the way Zambrano is capable of throwing when he is on. Because when he is on he is capable of throwing a no-hitter.

I don’t want him on another other team but the Cubs because I guarantee you if he leaves or is traded he will come back to hurt you in a big way. I’ve seen it happen before. Greg Maddux is the prime example of that and Cubs know that all too well.

I will put up Z until he stops doing his job. He’s passionate, but he needs to learn to control that because it is going to hurt the team or someone at some point. It has been often debated if Z is the ace or not. I say this it’s not about the individual but the overall team. As long as he’s out there and pitching the way he is capable of pitching I don’t care what he’s called. Just get wins and everyone will be happy.

5. Should Sean Marshall be a starter or in the bullpen?

TAB Bamford: It doesn't matter where he "should" be...the Cubs need a better option that throws left handed either in the pen or the rotation, and they don't have that. I like Marshall as a starter, but the Cubs have a huge need for a lefty in the pen. See my answer to No. 3.

Jacob Nitzberg: Marshall needs to be in the pen simply because we have no lefties.  With him in the rotation, our left-handed relievers have a total of 1.0 career innings pitched.  He is most valuable in the role he was in last season, where he could do whatever was asked of him. 

Ryan Winn: Marshall proved in his last start of the month exactly where he belongs. Perhaps he can develop control with his slow fastball and breaking curve like Ted Lilly is now, but he best belongs as a left-handed matchup pitcher in the bullpen for 2009.

Kane Simmons: When the Cubs starting pitching is healthy, Wells will have earned a spot, leaving Marshall the odd man out of the rotation, and thus in the bullpen as a long relief man or against lefties.

Brian Livingston: I would say keep Marshall in the rotation simply for the fact that left handed pitching is priceless, but they lack good left handed pitching. Neal Cotts isn’t the answer. Jim Hendry will need to look for a quality left handed reliever before the trading deadline. If Marshall didn’t get shellacked on Sunday I don’t think they would’ve been so quick to move him back to the bullpen.

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