Tweet
The Sporting News has picked the Cubs to win the 2015 World Series.
What do other Cubs fans think?
I am somewhat a Cubs fan, and go to a couple games a year, though I am not as big a fan as many here are. But I believe it will be difficult to go from last place with just 73 wins, to a playoff team, and win the World Series with just the couple changes they have made.
Jon Lester will make them better, but recall that even with Jeff Samardzija as their #1 pitcher, they were still a bad team headed for last place.
After Lester, I am not entirely sold on the rest of the rotation.
The Sporting News says-
it means that Jake Arrieta slides into the No. 2 spot, followed by returning free agent Jason Hammel, and then some kind of mix of Kyle Hendricks, Travis Wood, Tsuyoshi Wada, Jacob Turner and Felix Doubront. The depth at the back end of the rotation should allow Chicago to put together a formidable starting five coming out of spring training.
My take:
Arietta has a career 34-32 record- he had a great year in 2014, but I would be surprised if he can do it again .
Hammel's career record is 59-70, and he was 2-6 with a 4.26 ERA in the last couple months of last season. I do not see him as better than a .500 pitcher in 2015
Hendricks looked good in limited time as a rookie, but can he sustain it over a full season?
Travis Wood was 8-13 with an ERA of 5.03- His career record is 34-48- the Cubs can't rely on him or they are in trouble.
Tsuyoshi Wada was just 4-4 in his first MLB season, but he will be 34 years old- I don't see him being in the regular rotation.
Jacob Turner- was just 2-4 with an ERA of 6.49! His career record is 11-25!
And Felix Doubront was 4-5 with an ERA of 5.54 last season! The Red Sox were convinced he is washed up, and traded him to the Cubs for virtually nothing. If the Cubs are relying on him, they are in trouble.
If Joe Maddon can produce a World Series with a rotation made up of those pitchers, he truly is a magician. I don't think this group is quite good enough to go all the way to the World Series.
Plus, The Sporting news thinks the Cub's bullpen will be solid, and they list-
Justin Grimm- lifetime record 13-12, ERA of 5.37, no saves.
Pedro Strop- lifetime record 11-12, ERA 3.41, 6 saves over his 6 year career.
Neil Ramirez- Minor League record is 36-35 over 7 minor league seasons with an ERA of 4.41
And Jason Motte- at one time was a good reliever for the St. Louis Cardinals; missed all of 2013 and some of 2014 with Tommy John surgery; came back in 2014 and was not very good, and the Cardinals refuse to resign him. In 29 games last year, he had an ERA of 4.68.
I think the Cubs will need more help there, too.
And the position players-
Anthony Rizzo is a solid run-producing 1st baseman and Starlin Castro is good at shortstop, though his production has dropped off the past 2 seasons. After that they have a bunch of rookies and role players. Will that be enough to compete for the NL Central?
The Sporting News also touts the Cubs' young players- Arismendy Alcantara, but he batted just .205 last season, Jorge Soler, who was impressive but played only 24 games, and Javier Baez who batted .169, and had 95 strikeouts in just 213 AB. IMO, Baez can't hit MLB pitching, and he strikes out too much. Kris Bryant and Addison Russel will be the best of their young guys, but they've never faced major league pitching yet.
It seems The Sporting News is making a few overly optimistic assumptions about the Cubs pitchers, hitters, and about the magical abilities of Joe Maddon. I'd love to see it, but I am expecting a more realistic improvement and would be happy with a .500 season or slightly better.
Baseball starts for the Cubs on Feb. 19 with the opening of their spring training.
What do other Cubs fans think?
I am somewhat a Cubs fan, and go to a couple games a year, though I am not as big a fan as many here are. But I believe it will be difficult to go from last place with just 73 wins, to a playoff team, and win the World Series with just the couple changes they have made.
Jon Lester will make them better, but recall that even with Jeff Samardzija as their #1 pitcher, they were still a bad team headed for last place.
After Lester, I am not entirely sold on the rest of the rotation.
The Sporting News says-
it means that Jake Arrieta slides into the No. 2 spot, followed by returning free agent Jason Hammel, and then some kind of mix of Kyle Hendricks, Travis Wood, Tsuyoshi Wada, Jacob Turner and Felix Doubront. The depth at the back end of the rotation should allow Chicago to put together a formidable starting five coming out of spring training.
My take:
Arietta has a career 34-32 record- he had a great year in 2014, but I would be surprised if he can do it again .
Hammel's career record is 59-70, and he was 2-6 with a 4.26 ERA in the last couple months of last season. I do not see him as better than a .500 pitcher in 2015
Hendricks looked good in limited time as a rookie, but can he sustain it over a full season?
Travis Wood was 8-13 with an ERA of 5.03- His career record is 34-48- the Cubs can't rely on him or they are in trouble.
Tsuyoshi Wada was just 4-4 in his first MLB season, but he will be 34 years old- I don't see him being in the regular rotation.
Jacob Turner- was just 2-4 with an ERA of 6.49! His career record is 11-25!
And Felix Doubront was 4-5 with an ERA of 5.54 last season! The Red Sox were convinced he is washed up, and traded him to the Cubs for virtually nothing. If the Cubs are relying on him, they are in trouble.
If Joe Maddon can produce a World Series with a rotation made up of those pitchers, he truly is a magician. I don't think this group is quite good enough to go all the way to the World Series.
Plus, The Sporting news thinks the Cub's bullpen will be solid, and they list-
Justin Grimm- lifetime record 13-12, ERA of 5.37, no saves.
Pedro Strop- lifetime record 11-12, ERA 3.41, 6 saves over his 6 year career.
Neil Ramirez- Minor League record is 36-35 over 7 minor league seasons with an ERA of 4.41
And Jason Motte- at one time was a good reliever for the St. Louis Cardinals; missed all of 2013 and some of 2014 with Tommy John surgery; came back in 2014 and was not very good, and the Cardinals refuse to resign him. In 29 games last year, he had an ERA of 4.68.
I think the Cubs will need more help there, too.
And the position players-
Anthony Rizzo is a solid run-producing 1st baseman and Starlin Castro is good at shortstop, though his production has dropped off the past 2 seasons. After that they have a bunch of rookies and role players. Will that be enough to compete for the NL Central?
The Sporting News also touts the Cubs' young players- Arismendy Alcantara, but he batted just .205 last season, Jorge Soler, who was impressive but played only 24 games, and Javier Baez who batted .169, and had 95 strikeouts in just 213 AB. IMO, Baez can't hit MLB pitching, and he strikes out too much. Kris Bryant and Addison Russel will be the best of their young guys, but they've never faced major league pitching yet.
It seems The Sporting News is making a few overly optimistic assumptions about the Cubs pitchers, hitters, and about the magical abilities of Joe Maddon. I'd love to see it, but I am expecting a more realistic improvement and would be happy with a .500 season or slightly better.
Baseball starts for the Cubs on Feb. 19 with the opening of their spring training.
Comment