[情報] Athlon Baseball 2009 Cubs Preview

看板Cubs作者Belladonaa時間16年前 (2009/02/15 10:48)推噓2(2推 0噓 7→)

留言9則, 3人參與討論串1/1

Athlon Baseball 2009 Chicago Cubs Preview The Cubs have it all figured out during the regular season. It’s the postseason that has them stumped. After back-to-back Central division titles and back-to-back 0–3 sweeps in the National League Division Series, the Cubs continue to build for the long haul. “We had as good of a team as there was in the National League,” GM Jim Hendry says. “We had the best record (97–64). We just played bad baseball for three days.” There is no magic wand to wave during the postseason to make the players hit, pitch and play better defense. Hendry dismisses critics who think the team is not built for October and hopes the team can prove him right by advancing deep into the postseason in 2009. Rotation Despite failing to land San Diego ace Jake Peavy in a trade, the Cubs head into 2009 on solid ground on the hill. Peavy would have made the rotation one of the best in baseball, but it’s still a pretty strong starting five. Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Ted Lilly combined for 48 victories in 2008, and the Cubs are counting on big things from them again in ’09. Lefty Sean Marshall is a good bet to land a spot in the rotation, as well. The wild card is Rich Harden, who was dominant after his July trade from Oakland (5–1, 1.77 ERA). But he has a history of needing prolonged periods of rest for his arm — something that could mess up a rotation quickly. But there is help. Jeff Samardzija could be called on as a long reliever who could start in Harden’s spot without disrupting the rest of the rotation. Bullpen The Cubs will try out their third closer in as many years. But that spot is hardly in a shambles. Dempster was the man in 2007 and moved to the starting rotation last year. Kerry Wood made his debut as a closer in 2008, with 34 saves in 40 opportunities, but the Cubs let him go as a free agent. Now, the job figures to be Carlos Marmol’s to lose. Marmol, 26, posted a 2.13 ERA in 141 relief appearances the past two seasons, mostly in setup situations. The Cubs are confident he has the stuff and makeup to be a closer, but if he doesn’ t, Kevin Gregg (29 saves with Florida in 2008) can step in. Meanwhile, righties Aaron Heilman, Chad Gaudin, Chad Fox, Kevin Hart, Samardzija, Jeff Stevens, Luis Vizcaino, Randy Wells and lefthanders Marshall and Neal Cotts will fight for the other spots in spring training. Middle infield Shortstop Ryan Theriot had a .387 on-base percentage and more walks (73) than strikeouts (58) last season. That might make an ideal leadoff hitter for most teams, but he could bat second, seventh or eighth in Chicago because outfielder Alfonso Soriano continues to have a stranglehold on the top of the order. Despite a career year on offense, Mark DeRosa was traded in late December and the Cubs picked up switch-hitting free agent infielder Aaron Miles for two years. He figures to be the starting second basemen come April. Miles played in 134 games for St. Louis last year and hit .317 against right-handed pitchers and .315 against southpaws. Corners The Cubs have mainstays Aramis Ramirez manning third base and Derrek Lee at first. Ramirez has driven in 100-plus runs in four of his first five full seasons with the Cubs including 111 in ’08. He doesn’t figure to slow down in 2009. Plus he continues to make huge strides on improving his defense. Lee’s recent low home run totals (22 in 2007 and 20 in 2008) have critics chirping about his decline, but the 33-year-old still hit for average (.291) in 2008 and drove in 90 runs. If he doesn’t pick up the power, he could be supplanted from his usual No. 3 spot in the lineup. Lee is also a Gold Glove-caliber defensive player who saves an untold number of runs catching seemingly errant throws with his massive wingspan. Outfield The Cubs added power with the free agent signing of right fielder Milton Bradley. That also gives them some flexibility. Bradley will play in right and likely bat fifth. He could possibly fill in for Soriano in left field on occasion. Puzzling Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome was brilliant at the plate in the first few months and then dropped off considerably in his first year in the majors. The Cubs are banking that he can put together a better full season on the books in 2009. He will likely platoon with Reed Johnson in center field but could be called on to head back to right field if the oft-injured Bradley needs time off. Soriano’s high strikeout totals continue to make him a hindrance as a leadoff hitter and he is not stealing bases the way he used to. There are many fans screaming for his removal at the top spot. But manager Lou Piniella has been reluctant to move the slugger into a power spot in the lineup. Catching The emergence of Rookie of the Year Geovany Soto was a breath of fresh air for Cubs fans who have been subject to disappointment with many position players in the Cubs farm system. Soto took a so-so minor league career and blossomed in 2007. He continued his hot hitting and solid defensive work into the majors in his first full season. Soto smacked 23 homers — the most by a Cubs rookie since Hall of Famer Billy Williams hit 25 in 1961 — and drove in 86 runs while batting .285. He also became the first rookie catcher to start for the National League in an All-Star game. With a little more seasoning and improvement, Soto could bid to become a No. 3 or even a cleanup hitter in the lineup. Bench Johnson (.333 against left-handed pitchers), figures to get the most time off the bench, and if he has a solid spring training and Fukudome struggles, Piniella could give Johnson the nod as the starting center fielder. Left-handed hitting Mike Fontenot hit .305 with nine homers and 40 RBIs in 243 at-bats. The infielder could probably make a bid for a starting role on other teams. Micah Hoffpauir hit .362 in the minors and .342 in 33 major league games last year and hopes to land a spot on the roster. Management Piniella is signed through 2010 after an option was picked up, and Hendry is inked through 2012, so it appears that those two bosses aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, even though the Tribune Co. is planning on selling the team in 2009. A bad economy probably isn’t going to hurt the Cubs as much as it will hurt some other sports franchises, but the club does have several contracts that are backloaded and kicking in for some big bucks this year. The Cubs are probably not going to be freewheeling spenders near the trading deadline. But Hendry has shown some creativity in the past, and the Cubs will not stand idly by if some needs arise during the season. All of Piniella’s coaches, including pitching coach Larry Rothschild, are back. Final analysis After a full century without a World Series title, Cubs fans are getting tired of watching the team fail to win the ultimate prize. In fact, after two years of winning the division title only to fail miserably in the playoffs, the fans are getting downright irritated. The Cubs should be favored to win the division title for a third straight year, and if that happens, somehow the players need to transfer a little of their confidence and solid play from the regular season into the postseason. Statistician 1994 >> The last year pitcher Kerry Wood was not in the Cubs organization. 2 >> Members of the team remaining from the 2003 playoff team that was five outs away from a World Series — slugging third baseman Aramis Ramirez and ace starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano. 0-6 >> The Cubs’ records in the playoffs in 2007 and 2008. 36-12 >> The combined score the Cubs lost by in their six playoff games — against the Diamondbacks in 2007 and the Dodgers in 2008. 182 >> Victories in Lou Piniella’s first two years as the Cubs’ manager. It ’s the most victories in back-to-back seasons for the Cubs since 1935-36. 2 >> Pitchers since 1969 to save 25 games or more in one year and win 17 games or more the following year — Detroit’s John Hiller and the Cubs' Ryan Dempster, who inked a four-year contract extension in the of season. .337 >> Carlos Zambrano’s batting average in 2008, which is the best by a Cubs pitcher with 75 or more at-bats in a season since 1900. Difference Maker Right-handed relief pitcher Carlos Marmol has shown electric stuff during his two years as a setup man and made it to the All-Star game in 2008. But pitching in the ninth inning is a lot different than pitching in the seventh and eighth innings, and he will be given a shot to show what he can do as a closer in the wake of the departure of Kerry Wood (34 saves) for Cleveland. If Marmol fails, the Cubs have insurance in Kevin Gregg, who saved 29 games with the Florida Marlins in 2008. Beyond the Boxscore Len and Bob are back Cubs television announcers Len Kasper and Bob Brenly will team up for a fifth season after Kasper signed a three-year contract extension. Brenly, who managed Arizona to a World Series title in 2001, was a finalist for the Brewers managerial job in the offseason but will be back in the booth. Hall no, he won’t go Radio analyst Ron Santo, a former longtime Cubs third baseman, was yet again denied entry into the Hall of Fame. He fell nine votes shy in the Veterans Committee vote. Santo said it was a “travesty” that the Veterans have not voted anyone into the Hall in eight years. Big hearts This may not make Santo feel any better, but the Cubs organization was inducted into the Environmental Hall of Fame on Nov. 22. The Cubs were also honored for their continued support to youth programs in the Chicago area. The Cubs say that each year, more than 13,000 children and young adults participate in sports programs supported by Cubs Care grants. Aloha Four Cubs players went to Hawaii, but not for a vacation. Prospects Jeremy Papelbon, Blake Parker, Tony Thomas and Marquez Smith participated in the Hawaii Winter Baseball League and won a championship with the Waikiki BeachBoys. Dirt cheap? After two straight postseasons, Cubs merchandise continues to expand. Oh, sure, around Christmas there were the usual gifts available — jerseys, jackets, bats, balls, teddy bears etc. But one gift choice stood out. For $25, a fan could purchase a few ounces of “Authentic Wrigley Field infield dirt.” Oh, and it comes with a case and a card of authenticity. The Ike factor On Sept. 14, Carlos Zambrano became the first pitcher in major league history to throw a no-hitter at a neutral site. The Cubs/Houston series slated for Minute Maid Park in Houston was postponed two days because of Hurricane Ike, and two of the games were rescheduled at Miller Park in Milwaukee, which is where Zambrano threw the no-hitter. Farm System 2008 Top Draft Pick — Right-handed pitcher Andrew Cashner from TCU was drafted by the Cubs in the 29th round in 2007 but opted to stay in school. That turned out to be a good thing. In 2008, he was a first-round pick and 19th overall. Between the two drafts, the 6'5" hurler beefed up his frame as well as his velocity and was throwing into the mid- and high-90 mph range. Members of the team brass were impressed with his progress and maturity from 2007 to ’08 on the collegiate level. They hope in two or three years, Cashner will be making his major league debut. But will it be as a starter or reliever? 2007 Top Pick — Josh Vitters, INF, Cypress (Calif.) High School Hit .328 in 61 games for Class A Boise but is still a few years away from the majors. 2006 Top Pick — Tyler Colvin, OF, Clemson Played a team-high 137 games for Double-A Tennessee with mixed results. He had reconstructive elbow surgery in the offseason. 2005 Top Pick — Mark Pawelek, LHP, Springville (Utah) High School Injury-prone; has not pitched more than two games above the Class-A short season. 2004 Top Pick — Grant Johnson, RHP, Notre Dame Second-round pick had an ERA of 5.55 in 21 appearances with Double-A Tennessee. 2003 Top Pick — Ryan Harvey, OF, Dunedin (Fla.) High School Hit .216 in 36 games for Double-A Tennessee and .228 in 59 games for Daytona in 2008. Other Prospects (age on Opening Day) C Welington Castillo (21) This young catcher hit .298 for Double-A Tennessee in 57 games after a promotion. OF Nelson Perez (21) “He’s going to be a really good player,” says fellow Dominican Alfonso Soriano. UT Jake Fox (26) Had a brief taste of the majors in 2007, and in 2008 hit .307 for Double-A Tennessee. RHP Esmailin Caridad (25) The right-handed pitcher opened some eyes when he went 7–3 with a 3.16 ERA in 14 starts for Double-A. OF/1B Doug Deeds (27) The outfielder/first baseman hit .325 for Double-A Tennessee to finish fifth in the Southern League. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 118.160.65.183