The Chicago Cubs March to the 2009 World Series

Eventually this thread has to be right. 101 years is long enough.

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Pitchers and catchers report. Music to my ears.

Key additions-OF Milton Bradley, IF Aaron Miles, RP Kevin Gregg, OF Joey Gathright and not Jake Peavy

Key Losses-Kerry Wood, Jason Marquis, Mark DeRosa.

The NL Central is the Cubs to lose Every other team got worse or made no additions that would help. Winning the division by 10 games should happen.

But it's not about the division anymore. Cub fans want the World Series. Will these guys be enough?

Projected line up

Catchers
Geovany Soto, Paul Bako

Infield
Derrek Lee, Mike Fontenot, Ryan Theriot, Aaron Miles, Aramis Ramirez

Outfield
Milton Bradley, Alfonso Soriano, Koske Fukodome, Reed Johnson, Joey Gathright

Starters
Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Rich Harden, Ted Lilly

Relief Pitchers
Kevin Gregg, Carlos Marmol, Aaron Heilman, Sean Marshall, Chad Gaudin, Neal Cotts, Luis Vizcaino

That makes 12 position players and 11 pitchers with 2 spots left. Marshall and Heilman will battle for the 5th starter spot. Jeff Samardzija may make the pen or be moved back to AAA to be a starter.

The above team will be changed. With the lousy economy teams will look to dump salary and the Cubs are one of the few teams that can absorb more payroll. I would hope they add another pitcher(Peavy or an ace) at the trade deadline who can dominate in the playoffs. Some power off the bench(outfield) is needed too. I don't think Micah Hoffpauir is the answer. And always another bullpen arm.

If they play up to their career averages and no injuries the division race should be over by the All Star Break.

Brewers want to make wrigley know as Miller Park South
100 people should strike fear into the Wrigley faithful. Just a sad promotion.

Early ST photos
The Zambrano porn stache

The X Factor on the staff

Fukudome 2.0?

Ken Kadokura, a 13-year veteran of the Japan Professional Baseball League, throws during spring training. A former teammate of Fuku. Doubtful to make the team but hopefully he makes Fukodome more comfortable.

Better hope the Cards put a team together soon because Pujlos just said if they don't he's gone. How would you like seeing him in Yankee pinstripes?

Soriano not leading off?
Soriano isn't going to bat 6th. If he's not leading off then Bradley has to hit 2nd.

Lou is only thinking about it so I only see it happening if Sori hurts his legs and can't run well.

Fixed it for you.

Sori back in leadoff
He may have never left. Pinella just saying he may switch sometimes.

But Lou did hint at the line up

Sori
Miles
Lee
Bradley
Ramirez
Fukudome
Soto
Theriot
Pitcher

That gives 2-7 L/R and it gives Sori more RBI opprotunities with good 7/8 hitters.

Marmol opts out of WBC
Awesome news. Though I don't really buy Lou saying it wouldn't hamper his chance for the closer role. I'm sure word got to Marmol that if he skipped it he'd get the job.

I believe the only Cub pitcher going is Ted Lilly. Not worried much about him as he's not a hard thrower and knows how to take care of himself. Soto and Fukodome are going as well.

Friggin Marmol is going to the WBC. I hope they get ousted early.
And from the Twitter
Don't think Hoffpauir can play 3rd so the Cubs need someone with Derosa gone.

Got my wish
And to think AROD was suppose to be on this team. Figures they would lose with him there. In spirit anyway.

Zambrano is the opening day starter in Houston. 5th in a row.

Cubs are 7-8 in Cactus league play. Last year 15-15.

I'm F***in Steve Bartman

Gregg is Cubs Deputy Chief Brenda Johnson
So if you have a fantasy draft soon you can grab him.

DeRosa hit 3HR of Lilly today. Betting Lilly tipped him off.

Cubs final 25 man roster is set. Chad Gaudin is cut and Jeff Samardzija is sent to Iowa.

Catchers
Soto, Hill

Infield
Lee, Fontenot, Theroit, Ramirez, Miles, Hoffpauir(OF too)

Outfield
Soriano, Fukudome, Bradley, Johnson, Gathwright

Starting Pitchers
Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, Marshall

Bullpen
Guzman, Cotts(L), Heilman, Vicaino, Patton, Marmol, Gregg(Closer)

Cutting Gaudin cost the Cubs near 2 million dollars. And Samardzija is meant to start so they will let him do that and come to the majors if needed in the pen.

Strengths are the Starters, end of the bullpen, and balanced/powerful line up, speed off the bench.

Weakness is only one lefty in the pen, no legit pinch hitter, little power on that bench, and Miles isn't ideal back up third baseman.

Cubs weaknesses can easily be addressed at the trade deadline. And if the economy adversly effects some teams the Cubs could pick up some steals. If the Padres draw dick and are forced to trim payroll a team can steal Peavy. Relief pitchers can be costly to trade for but attainable as well as a good role player off the bench.

Cubs should win the division by 10-15 games this year.

It's only the 3rd but the Cubs are making Oswalt work(esp Bradley) and the Cubs hit 2 solo HR off him(Sori and Ramirez).

Bradley also help double off a runner in the first.

Off to House and 24. Hope it holds up.

Fuck Jobu. Cubs will do it themselves.

2/3 on the road is desirable especially when you beat their ace. Lilly pitched like shit(like last year), Soto strained his shoulder, and Lee is still slumping.

On the plus side Sori is hot, Fontenot will make everyone forget DeRosa at 2nd(esp defensively), and Guzman looks good.

Should be a fun series at Wrigley North.

That's why we have Marmol.

Taking 4/6 from The Astros and Brewers with Soto hurt 5 of the games and Lee/Bradley getting 3 combined hits in those games is amazing.

Cubs have a 2 big series with the Cards this month.

And if you haven't seen the catch Reed Johnson made to rob Prince Fielder you must take a look.

Nice catch

Now Ramirez sits with sore back. 3B, RF, and catcher in one week.

And now for something slightly strange
Dead goat hung outside Wrigley

After 2 weeks the Cubs are in first and have taken 2/3 from divisional foes Milwaukee, Houston, and St. Louis.

Cincy is up next and Cub killer Adam Dunn is gone(thank god) and based on match up I can see a sweep. After trips to Stl and Arizona the Cubs get the best team in baseball(as of today) in the Fish. After that May is fairly easy.

Well the Cubs are sucking now. A bit surprised they beat the Marlins twice as they rarely do that lately.

The bullpen and not scoring are the big reasons. in 11 losses they avg. 2 runs a game.

And with Lee, Bradley, Ramirez, and Soto all missing time it's no wonder they haven't scored alot. Just glad the injuries are early.

Still with all the negatives the Cubs aren't that far back. 3 in the loss column.

Cubs trade Gathright for Freel
Freel is an all purpose type guy and the back up 3B the Cubs need.

And the Cubs will need Freel because Ramirez is out 4-6 weeks. Fuck.

Of course Freel gets hurt his 1st game as a Cub. He's ok now.

Bullpen still blows but starting to get healthy. The Cards came back to Earth and allowed 3 teams to catch them. Don't see the Reds staying in the race but if the Cubs don't get healthy then a 3 tem race is likely.

The Riot with 5 HR?!

Please stop piching to Adrian Gonzalez. He's the only guy who can hurt you and the Cubs let him 3 times this series.

I wish the Cubs could play just 5 innings every game. Then the bullpen can't blow it.

8 game losing streak. Brutal. But still only 4 back. Gonna be a long season.

Randy Wells has a no-no through 6 in Atlanta. Cubs only 3 back in the loss column.

And it seems Dusty Baker may have ruined another young arm in Edinson Volquez. he did pitch in the Winter Classic but my money is on Dusty. His tracj record isn't good.

Nice to see Wood blow games and be happy about it.

This Cub team is lucky to be 2 games back. They are putting a bunch of AAA and bench guys out on a daily basis. Blanco, Fox, Miles, Hill, Scales.

Shame because the pitching is keeping them in and the bullpen has turned it around for the most part. Bradley and Soto are killing them.

Gregg blows.

It's a clusterfuck in the NLcentral with 5 bad team vying for the division and Wild Card. I have a feeling with all the shitty teams out there there will be a couple playoff games to get into the playoffs.

St. Louis 45 39 -
Milwaukee 43 39 1
Chicago Cubs 40 39 2.5
Cincinnati 40 40 3
Houston 39 41 4

Ramirez comes back so that's a plus. Sori is batting 6th and for some odd reason Fukodome is batting 1st. I'm all for Bradley leading off because it seems all he wants to do is walk. Cubs are paying him to hit and not look at called 3rd strikes.

3 vs Braves and 4 vs Stl before the break. If the Cubs want to get into first 6/7 would be nice.

Shouldn't you buy a new jersey by now?

The only real fights are with Cards/White Sox fans. I think wearing a Todd Hundley jersey will get your ass kicked.

If only the Cubs could play the Nats 20 times a year.

Back to reality with a series against the Phillies.

St. Louis 51 46 .526 -
Chicago Cubs 48 45 .516 1
Houston 49 46 .516 1
Milwaukee 48 47 .505 2

And here come the Astros again. Better hope there aren't any hurricanes this year headed towards Texas.

Such a sad division.

Why are the Cubs pulling me back in? First the bullpen gets better and now they start to hit a bit. Sure they are beating the bad teams but as there are only 2 or 3 good teams in the NL- I'll take it.

Chicago Cubs 51 45 .531 -
St. Louis 53 48 .525 .5
Houston 50 48 .510 2
Milwaukee 49 49 .500 3

That's a 3 game lead in the loss column. Maybe the Cubs are the team that lights it up in the 2nd half this year. If they put a beat down on Houston I might believe it.

Can the Dodgers please win 1.

6/7 from divisional opponents is a good thing. A 10 game road trip should be a nice test.

Cubs get in on Pirate firesale
Cubs are getting LHRP Grabow and possibly Tom Gorzelanny. Good moves to get another lefty in the pen.

Kevin Hart is part of the Cubs trade today

It is Gorzelanny(sucks) and Grabow(ok).

Gorzelanny pitched great...

against the Reds. Gave up 1 run on 3 hits and striking out 6. Held the heart of the Reds order in check. We'll see when he faces a real team.

Cubs bullpen(Gregg/Marmol) is back to shitty.

Last year at this time the Cubs were 5 games up and had 68 wins. This years Cubs is .5 games up and 57 wins. It's a 2 team race between Cubs and Cards and a 5 team race(Cubs/Cards/Fla/Col/SF) for the Wild Card.