Projected Opening Day Roster

[MRubio52]

1 CF David DeJesus*
2 SS Starlin Castro
3 1B Anthony Rizzo*
4 LF Alfonso Soriano
5 RF Nate Schierholtz*
6 3B Ian Stewart*
7 C Welington Castillo
8 2B Darwin Barney

C Dioner Navarro**
C/1B Steve Clevenger*
IF/OF Luis Valbuena*
OF Tony Campana*
OF Dave Sappelt

1 RHP Matt Garza
2 RHP Jeff Samardzija
3 LHP Travis Wood
4 RHP Scott Feldman
5 RHP Hector Rondon

CL RHP Kyuji Fujikawa
SU RHP Carlos Marmol
SU RHP Shawn Camp
MID LHP James Russell
MID RHP Michael Bowden
MID LHP Jeffrey Beliveau
LR LHP Chris Rusin

And yes. I cheated.

 

[Rice Cube]

Which page did you get it from? Cubs.com?

I agree with most of it, and will go through it a bit more later, but I think Fujikawa and Marmol should be switched only because the Cubs need to maximize Marmol's near-nonexistent trade value and keep him as closer.

 

[Rice Cube]

You're also assuming Baker won't be ready for Opening Day due to his recovery from TJS?

 

[waldo7239117]

Rondon will most likely go to the 'pen. Also, Baker is expected to be ready by opening day or very close. I doubt Rusin goes to the 'pen and will start in Triple A.

Also, the Cubs will probably sign another SP and Wood may be the long relief in the 'pen. So, Rondon takes Rusin's spot and Wood takes Beliveau in the 'pen.

Also, I don't know who will back-up Rizzo, but I'll be surpirse if it's Clevenger.

 

[Rice Cube]

Okay, just taking a quick moment before the football:

1 CF David DeJesus*
2 SS Starlin Castro
3 1B Anthony Rizzo*
4 LF Alfonso Soriano
5 RF Nate Schierholtz*
6 3B Ian Stewart*
7 C Welington Castillo
8 2B Darwin Barney

I like this. Not because it'll score tons of runs but because it's probably about as optimized as this shitty lineup is going to get. I think Stewart and Schierholtz might be interchangeable. They might even stick Beef Castle in between them to break up the lefties a bit. Who knows. Keep Barney out of the #2 spot until he shows some extra production.

C Dioner Navarro**
C/1B Steve Clevenger*
IF/OF Luis Valbuena*
OF Tony Campana*
OF Dave Sappelt

Three catchers? Clevenger has stood at 3B once or twice I believe, and did start out as an infielder before the conversion. I think they should just keep him in AAA. I don't think they need both Campana and Sappelt. I guess whichever one sucks the least in spring training will get the job. I'm not sure who replaces Clevenger though.

1 RHP Matt Garza
2 RHP Jeff Samardzija
3 LHP Travis Wood
4 RHP Scott Feldman
5 RHP Hector Rondon

I thought Rondon was coming back from multiple arm injuries and sticking him into the starting rotation like that seems a bit risky.

CL RHP Kyuji Fujikawa
SU RHP Carlos Marmol
SU RHP Shawn Camp
MID LHP James Russell
MID RHP Michael Bowden
MID LHP Jeffrey Beliveau
LR LHP Chris Rusin

And yes. I cheated.

I stated that Marmol and Fuji should be switched in a previous post. I think Rusin and Bowden would be long relievers since they're stretching Bowden out. Both would be emergency or spot starters. Probably the best we can do. Wondering if it's good to leave Rusin in AAA to keep stretched out and carry Alberto Cabrera instead. Dolis needs to learn to throw some fucking strikes so I'm glad he's not listed.

 

[waldo7239117]

Yes, Rondon has been dealing with injuries... so he'll go to the 'pen.

 

[waldo7239117]

Here's mine:

1 CF David DeJesus
2 SS Starlin Castro
3 1B Anthony Rizzo
4 LF Alfonso Soriano
5 RF Nate Schierholtz
6 3B Ian Stewart
7 C Welington Castillo
8 2B Darwin Barney

C Dioner Navarro
C/1B FA signing or maybe try Greg Rohan, but I doubt that will be their choice
IF/OF Luis Valbuena
OF Tony Campana
OF Dave Sappelt

1 RHP Matt Garza
2 RHP Jeff Samardzija
3 RHP Scott Feldman
4 RHP FA signing
5 RHP Scott Baker

CL RHP Kyuji Fujikawa
SU RHP Carlos Marmol
SU RHP Shawn Camp
MID LHP James Russell
MID RHP Michael Bowden
MID RHP Hector Ronden
LR LHP Travis Wood

Notes:
*Sadly, I don't 'dislike' the line-up.
*Campana and Sappelt will be the 4th/5th OF, until Jackson is back up. Then, Shierholtz goes to the 4th OF and Jackson starts. *Barring any trades*
*If Baker is not ready by opening day, Wood takes his spot in the roster and Beliveau will take his spot in the 'pen.
*I think one of Campana or Sappelt will not make the team come opening day, tho. I think the final bench guy will go to a guy who can play OF/IF. Like Joe Mather of this past year.

 

[beardown28]

We are going to be baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad.

 

[waldo7239117]

The Cubs have a better team than last year... I'll say 76-86.

 

[Rice Cube]

The Cubs have a better team than last year... I'll say 76-86.

They do?

 

[dabynsky]

They do?

I'm guessing the assumption is that the bullpen and rotation would be better with the depth that each has now. Not a guarantee, but I would think Baker and Feldman would likely be better than Volstad and some of the other dreck that took the ball every fifth day.

The lineup is probably no better than last year though, and could be worse if Soriano, DeJesus, Rizzo regress.

 

[waldo7239117]

They do?

Yes.

Rizzo is here full year.
We don't have to watch Volstad, that's 10 wins right there.
Stewart will be on a shorter leash, so if he stuggles, he won't last.
I like the SP better.
The 'pen should be better, if it's about the same as I have.
I like Castillo more than Soto and a better back-up.
Schierholtz improves defense and I think he'll put up better stats than we will think.

 

[Rice Cube]

Was thinking more about the rotation. Dempster and Maholm are gone and you have no idea what Garza shows up and whether Samardzija turns back into a bag of suck.

 

[dabynsky]

Was thinking more about the rotation. Dempster and Maholm are gone and you have no idea what Garza shows up and whether Samardzija turns back into a bag of suck.

Yeah Maholm and Dempster had great runs that will be hard to duplicate, but if they can avoid the various disaster starts the rotation has a shot at being improved. The bullpen was a giant bag of suck for most of the year, and I feel a lot better with the moves that have been made so far that Sveum will have a usable bullpen.

 

[MRubio52]

You're also assuming Baker won't be ready for Opening Day due to his recovery from TJS?

Yes, I think he starts the year on the DL.

 

[MRubio52]

As for Rondon and the three C's, it was an educated guess at best.

After further review I agree with the assessments made after I posted mine.

I say 90 L's at least. Maybe there's a bounce if the talent brought in during the season is ready/good.

 

[DewsSox79]

hopefully castro progesses the next few years. his numbers now do not justify being in the 2 hole.

 

[X]

hopefully castro progesses the next few years. his numbers now do not justify being in the 2 hole.

considering the other options, they might. :shrug:

 

[MRubio52]

He isn't a 2 hole guy on a good team, but on this piece of shit offense you can justify batting him almost anywhere.

FWIW I don't think he develops into a 2 hole hitter, I think he's a 5/6.

 

[Jntg4]

MLBDepthCharts.com is a good site, eh? :yeah: