Chicago Cubs: Cubs Community Speaks Out

The quarter mark of the MLB season seems like a good time to seek out the opinions of the top Cubs writers, in an effort to determine what the Cubs strengths and weaknesses are early in the 2008 season.

So far, it seems like it could be a magical season on the North side of Chicago, as the Cubbies sit atop the NL Central division. Though there's a long way to go, could the hundred-year wait finally be over? Is this the year we stop saying, "Wait until next year"? Let's find out what our Cubs writers think!

Who has been the Cubs' MVP thus far this season?

a.    Ramirez
b.   Soto
c.    Fukudome
d.   R.Johnson
e.    D-Lee
f.     Theriot
g.   Zambrano
h.   Marmol
i.     Dempster

Bobby Pimentel: G. I’m torn between Carlos Marmol and Zambrano, but in the end, starting pitching wins. Everybody that reads my articles knows that I am a huge Marmol fan, but I feel that Zambrano’s start has been more important and vital for the Cubbies this season.

Katelyn Grabarek: G. I chose Zambrano because he has been a workhorse all season. When none of the other starters were pitching well, he stepped up. The offense has been greatm, but not consistent. This guy has kept his emotions in check and really made great strides as a starter.

Jim Sheldon: H. Carlos has been the glue that has held this team together.

Kevin Graczyk: E. Lee has certainly been the MVP for the Cubs so far. With his .323, 10 home runs, and 27 RBI—he has simply been great.

Tyler Heun: G. Zambrano by far. Every time a stop to a losing streak is needed, he comes in and is lights out. His energy provides a spark that the rest of the team needs.

Matt Gard: I. I really think he’s done better than Zambrano this year. No disrespect to Big Z, but these guys are pretty similar stat-wise, and the thing that I think really separates them is the fact that Dempster has given up 29 hits in eight games, while Zambrano has given up 53 in nine. That’s less than four hits per game for Dempster, a ridiculous stat. He’s done a great job this season.

 

Where will the Cubs finish the season?

a.    World Series
b.   NL Champion
c.    One playoff series winner
d.   Playoffs, but out in first round
e.    Out of playoffs

 
Bobby Pimentel: C. I am a Cubs fan first and foremost, and as such I cannot bring myself to predict anything more than an NLDS win. If I were to not think with my heart, I would say that they won’t beat teams like the D-backs and the Mets. They are definitely capable of beating them, but they need to enter the playoffs with everything clicking. That probably will not happen though.

Another reason for why they will not win a potential NLCS is their pitching. It is not strong enough to compete with Santana, Webb, Martinez, given the Cubs mediocre rotation.

Katelyn Grabarek: A. I hope they win the World Series this year. I really think they have a chance to at least get there, if not win.  They have been playing better lately, and I’m hoping this can continue.

Matt Gard: A. You gotta believe. They certainly have the potential to do it if they don’t screw around.

Jim Sheldon: A. I truly believe this will be the year, and I’m not just saying that because I want it to happen either. This year’s team is better than last year’s, and if the starting pitching gets in order, there’s no reason why this shouldn’t be the year.

Kevin Graczyk: C. I think the Cubs will win at least one playoff series, but fail to go any further.

Tyler Huen: A. World Series win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.  I know, optimistic Cubs fan, right? But seriously, the only team in the NL that is better than the Cubs is the Diamondbacks.

I believe that Jim Hendry is smart enough to realize: 1) The Cubs are getting old;  2) The fans are getting fed up; and, 3) We are one or two pieces away from making the World Series. He’ll make the needed trade to catapult the team to where they need to be. One more great starter and a leadoff guy that can come in and dominate.

 

What is your opinion of the job Cubs manager Lou Piniella is doing?

a.    Terrific—best Cubs manager in a long, long time
b.    Good—some challenges, but overall solid
c.     Fair—I question some of his decisions, lineup shuffles
d.    Poor—I think Sweet Lou is getting senile

 

Bobby Pimentel: C.  From talking to my friends in the Pacific Northwest, where Piniella spent some very successful years, I must admit that I am not at all confident in Lou Piniella. I do not like how he runs the ball club (e.g. running veterans out there and not giving any prospects a chance to develop). The Cubs' farm system has struggled through this before under Dusty Baker, and now we’re reliving it. I’m tired of having our prospects not pan out right because we do not give them enough time...

Katelyn Grabarek: B. I think he has faced some challenges with the whole Soriano thing. He’s had to make some major changes early, and I think he has done a good job handling them. One prime example was the move to bring Daryle Ward into the game yesterday that ended up winning the game. He’s doing a good job.

Matt Gard: B. I approve of Lou completely, but until he proves that he can be better than one-and-done like Baker, I’m reserving the “terrific”.

Jim Sheldon: B. Lou has done a good job managing this club so far this year. I’ve questioned some of his decisions, but hey, we did just sweep the best team in baseball.

Kevin Graczyk: B. Lou has been good for the Cubs. He has gotten them to be a NL Central contender.

Tyler Huen: B. He’s a good coach, but he has lost all of the fire and energy that makes him famous. I can’t remember the last time he seriously argued a call or called out a player. Needs to grow some marbles, as well and make the needed changes to the lineup: Soriano out of leadoff, playing Reed as the everyday CF.

 

What is the Cubs biggest need right now?

a.    Starting pitching
b.   Relief pitching
c.    Closer
d.   Clutch hitting
e.    An improved Soriano
f.     Team defense

 
Bobby Pimentel: A. Without a doubt, starting pitching is what the Cubs need right now. We really need a legitimate No. 2 starter. Lilly has shown himself to be capable, but ultimately, he’s never going to be a great No. 2 starter.

Dempster is the other option, but I doubt he’ll keep up his hot start. The Cubs have players they can part with without hurting the team, and they should do so only if they can get a legitimate ace/No. 2 starter.

Katelyn Grabarek: D. The Cubs need clutch hitting more than anything. They have left way too many men on base to keep being this successful. Home runs can only get you so far.

Matt Gard: A. Absolutely. The 'pen has been better than it has been in a long time. Wood, I think, is in the right place, he just needs to get used to it and keep improving. Hitting and defense are game-to-game improvements and can be dealt with pretty easily.

Now we need our starters (other than Zambrano and Dempster) to step up. Lilly and Marquis have been inconsistent, and a fifth starter who can do some damage would be nice.

Jim Sheldon: A. They need a solid No. 2 starter behind Big Z. I like what Dempster has done, and Lilly seems to be coming around, but I would love to have another guy who could shut down opponents like Z does.

Kevin Graczyk: E. Soriano indeed needs to start hitting because he is an important part of the Cubs success.

Tyler Heun: E. IMPROVED SORIANO: If you occupy about one-fifth of the Cubs' payroll, then you should be hitting over .320, with 50 HR and 40 SB. His defense has been terrible, he strikes out WAY too much, pops up lazily to CF too often, and he just looks plain lazy most of the time.

*Note: This poll was taken just prior to Soriano's recent run of hitting success.

 

Why haven’t the Cubs won a world series in almost a century?

a.    Ownership hasn’t cared enough
b.   GM & other baseball mgmt (including the manager) traditionally sucks
c.    Fans always filling the park creates a disincentive to win
d.   Billy Goat Curse
e.    Wrigley Field (too many day games, wind, small park, etc)
f.     Other

Bobby Pimentel: A and C. The ownership will not care as long as they make a profit, which they have. They have made a disgusting amount of money marketing the “loveable losers” label, which includes the curse and the high payroll.

Katelyn Grabarek: NA. I’m not really sure why the Cubs haven’t won in the last 100 years. It’s a very annoying thing to hear about the curses. Yes, the Black Cat ran in front of Ron Santo in 1969, and they should have won it in 1984, and 1989. You can’t blame Steve Bartman because he did what any other fan would have done in that situation.

Matt Gard: B. Not too sure about how to address this. Plain and simple.

Jim Sheldon: B. Enough about curses, the Cubs haven’t won the World Series in almost a century because of the GMs and managers. A manager needs to know how to harness a young arm, not overwork them (Baker). I believe that they just have had some bad teams over the last century, with bad managers leading them.

Kevin Graczyk: F. One way or another, bad luck has occurred: injuries, Bartman, and just plain old meltdowns.

Tyler Heun: E. Too many day games. Tell me how you would perform over the course of five months if you worked till 2 AM and had to be at work around 9AM?  That is exactly the Cubs' schedule.

They play on the road for a week, having night games each game, which keeps them up till at least 12:30 or so every night. Then they fly home and get to Chicago around 3 or so, and then the next day they have to be at the park by 9AM for batting practice.

 

Is the Alfonso Soriano signing (Seven years, $136 million) a bust?

a.    Too early to tell, give it some time
b.   It’s looking that way
c.    Not at all, he’s just been hurt

Bobby Pimentel: C. Soriano is a great player. Was he worth $136 million? No. But was Zito worth $126 million? You can't help free agency.

I believe that it is not good for baseball, because it just bumps up the price for players. Why is Aramis paid more than D-Lee, for instance? Free agency, that’s why. When he is hot, I dare say that he is one of the 10-best hitters in the majors. Sure, we can debate how to use that value best (e.g. in the middle of the lineup vs. the top of the lineup), but my point remains. He is a great baseball player, and I am glad he is a Chicago Cub.

Katelyn Grabarek: A. This season, I have been an Alfonso Soriano basher from the get go. I do like the guy, but the amount of money the Cubs are spending on him is a little ridiculous. However, most of the baseball players are overpaid.

Matt Gard: C. Are you kidding me? Not a chance he’s a bust. He put up good numbers last year after participating in 24 fewer games and 63 fewer plate appearances from the year before. Sure, he got hurt. Sure, he started slowly, but he’s heating up. He’s a good ball player.

Jim Sheldon: A. You can’t call Soriano a bust, yet. Give him until the end of this year and see where his numbers lie. He hasn’t been 100 percent since Opening Day, and then he got hurt again. If he can stay healthy, Cubs fans will see why he’s paid the big bucks.

Kevin Graczyk: C. Soriano just has to overcome his injuries to be the great player that everyone expects to see.

Tyler Heun: B. Huge bust. Granted he’s been hurt, but that’s one reason it's been a bust. Jim Hendry brought in a guy that was already at the prime of his career. Whatever happened to “buy low, sell high?”  We bought a guy at the absolute peak of his career, almost an MVP-type player. Now he’s hurt all the time, still plays bad defense, still Ks too much, and is still lazy.