Ways to Improve theChicago Cubs Before It's Too Late

I was holding out hope that everything was going to turn around for the Cubs about two weeks ago. 

They were seven games above .500 despite their best hitter (Aramis Ramirez) being on the DL until at least the All-Star Break.  Their best starters hadn't yet duplicated their success from a year ago (ahem, misters Zambrano and Harden) and four of the regular eight players weren't hitting anywhere near their career norms (Lee, Fontenot, Bradley, Soto).

Sure, the bullpen was a mess, but part of that was from captain Lou not having the slightest idea what advanced stats like left/right splits are and how to keep guys fresh.

Plus, the schedule had pushovers like the Padres and the Pirates coming up.  Life was good. 

Now we're back to .500 and after last night's game I wanted to break a window after that craptastic game (seriously, somebody needs to buy Randy Wells a Rolex because that guy is pitching like Maddux in four starts and has zero wins to show for it).

But it got me thinking about ways to right the ship before the playoffs fall out of reach. I've separated my thoughts into 3 categories and left defense out because, honestly, that's the last of our problems right now....

1)  STARTING PITCHING.  Actually, this has been pretty solid overall.  The rotation is near the top of the lead in Quality Starts and even though Zambrano and Harden haven't gotten hot yet, they've kept the team in games. 

You knew Dempster was going to come back to earth after his career year last year  (seriously, we couldn't find an extra $3 mil a year to get Derek Lowe instead of paying $12/mil for a No. 4 starter). But he's still on pace for 30 starts, 200 innings, and league-average stats, so I think he's right where we should expect him to be.

Marshall is finally getting a semi-consistent shot, and Randy Wells has been lights-out. Lilly has been one of the 10 best pitchers in the NL so far.  

So much has been made of a possible Peavy trade, that I won't go into detail here and won't really daydream about it until the Ricketts' acquisition of the team REALLY becomes final...BUT I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE CUBS AT LEAST FLOAT THE IDEA OF GETTING BEN SHEETS.  

SURE, IT SEEMS LIKE HE AND THE RANGERS ARE ATTACHED AT THE HIP, BUT WHAT WOULD BE SWEETER THAN TO HAVE HIM HELP THE CUBS INCH PAST THE CARDS AND BREWERS IN AUGUST/SEPTEMBER WITHOUT HAVING TO GIVE UP ANY PLAYERS OR DRAFT PICKS...

2)  BULLPEN.  But I have to think that even if that did happen, what in the world is gonna be done about the pen? 

So far, Guzman and Marmol have been the only sure things and even Marmol has struggled with control.  Heilman has been a disappointment (although we really didn't give up anything for him, Garrett Olsen also can't get anybody out). 

Kevin Gregg looks healthy, but sure isn't pitching healthy. Neal Cotts is finally banished, but instead we bring up Jason Waddell from triple-A to take his place??? This guy's numbers are even WORSE than Neal Cotts, even against left-handers!!  So here are a few ideas:

a) If you really were desperate for a lefty-on-lefty specialist, bring up J.R. Mathes.  He was starting and having a decent year, and hadn't yet allowed a walk to a left-handed batter...

b)  I railed that we needed more SOLID left-handed arms in the 'pen for weeks, but sadly Jim Hendry never returned my phone calls.  If J.R. Mathes didn't pan out, there's a bevy of guys that might be made available via trade for one or two LOOGY spots in the pen.  And given the current market, I don't think teams are going to be asking for the moon any more for relievers

c)  Lou,  pitch David Patton more than once every 16 days or get him out of here.  I mean, you paid Luis Vizcaino $3.5 mil just to get out of town and open up a spot for this guy, so at least get him show you what he can do.

Sure, maybe he's the weak link and he's your "mop-up" guy so you don't want him in a close game.  Fine.  But at one point between May 9 and 25, he didn't get into one SINGLE GAME!

All the while, Guzman, Heilman, Marmol, and Gregg are all on pace for 70-80 innings.     And if you don't want him up here, it's time to give Jeff Stevens a shot.  

His numbers at triple-A have been great (except for walks), and Jim Hendry needs to be able to tell fans, "Look, see? I didn't trade Mark DeRosa away for nothing.  Here!  It's a seventh-inning pitcher for you all to play with..."

d)  Admit you screwed up and get MICHAEL WUERTZ back.  You gave him up for nothing, so you'll probably have to throw something the A's way, but just admit you completely underestimated him in the sixth-seventh inning role, and get him back, hell or highwater.

e)  [Preface: not for the only-think-inside-the-box thinkers...]:  MAKE RICH HARDEN THE CLOSER.  Look, I know this will rile a few feathers, but he just doesn't look the same as last year.

I think—even despite this latest back injury—he's just pitching safe, hoping to stay healthy for 30 starts so he can cash in this winter with a big contract.  And his numbers show it. 

He has a great strikeout rate, but is averaging less than six innings a start and just doesn't look dominant.  But imagine him only having to throw 15-20 pitches a few nights a week, I bet he could dominate.  But okay, fine, Hendry is LEAST likely to listen to me about this one, so let's focus on reality:

By June 30, I would hope the 'pen would look something like this:

Randy Wells (or Sean Marshall):    Long relief (or second lefty)

Jeff Stevens / Jose Ascanio / Aaron Heilman:  sixth inning

Joe Beimel or similar lefty specialist: sixth-seventh inning

Michael Wuertz:    seventh inning

Angel Guzman:      eighth inning

Carlos Marmol:      ninth inning

Just because Gregg and Heilman have the big salaries doesn't mean they're the best pitchers.  In fact, if they keep this up, Hendry should consider just trading or releasing them (hell, he's already paid Vizcaino/Gaudin about $6 mil to NOT play for him, what's another $4 mil).  

And getting Wuertz and a lefty specialist wouldn't require giving up any major prospects.

3)  OFFENSE. 

a)  If D. Lee heats up, what do you think the Mets might require/give up in a trade for D. Lee now that Delgado might be done for the year?   If Lee starts to heat up, I think they might require us to take Putz off their hands (since Putz hasn't been lights-out in the eighth inning) and throw in some money. 

That, or if they'd be willing to do Lee/Delgado straight-up,  we'd require some players in return.  But in any case, it might be best for both teams:

Cubs get to see if Hoffpauir is for real over a full season and don't have to pay Lee $13 mil next year

Mets get a real 1B for rest of this year and next

b)  Mike Fontenot will be fine, but Lou needs to be fined $1000 every time he plays him against a left-handed starter.   Seriously, Mighty Mite's lifetime splits are abysmal against lefties, but he still starts him at 3B against Randy Wolf. And what happens?  0-2, with 2 K's...which brings me to my next point:

c)  Play Jake Fox at 3B until Ramirez returns, defense be damned.  Yes, I think like the late-inning defensive replacements they do with Hoffpauir in RF on days he plays there, I think you'd have to do the same thing (bring in Scales, or push Fontenot over to 3B, etc.).

But I think desperate times call for desperate measures, and the team just needs to see if his video-game triple-A offensive stats can at all translate to the bigs (so far, so good, as he's 3-4 already).    The production the Cubs have gotten from 3B since Ramirez went done has truly been atrocious. 

Honestly, as soon as the Cubs knew about the injury they should've had Fox play every game at triple-A at 3B to see if he could handle it;  besides, they knew they were already stacked at corner outfield/first base...but whatever, you can't change the past. 

And if the Cubs did somehow get the Mets to take Lee off their hands, they could rotate hiding Fox' defense once Ramirez comes back between LF/RF/3B/1B  (he could play 1B on days there's a left-handed starter, since it seems Hoffpauir also can't hit left-handed pitching).   

d) Have faith in Milton Bradley.  I know he belongs in an insane asylum, but there's no way his numbers will stay this bad.

e) Don't have faith in Geo Soto if he doesn't get going by July 1.  I've heard of sophomore slumps, but this is ridiculous.  At that point, make Koyie Hill the primary catcher (even if he doesn't sustain his offensive resurgence). [Once again, out-of-the-box]  Jake Fox also the backup catcher? What? He did play it there at Michigan...

Look, I know some of these ideas are out there, but really where else is there to go?  The bullpen, aside from two arms, is pretty awful.  The offense is lower-third of the NL.  It's time a for a shakeup.  And no, I don't consider Andres Blanco and Jason Waddell a real shake-up.