Alfonso Soriano

It has been a while since my last post, which was bitter to say the least. A month and a half later I can hardly find much to complain about when it comes to the Cubs. They look like the best baseball team in the National League right now (obviously their record doesn't disagree), and after a 7-0 homestand this week, my baseball excitement is at its peak. I can't miss a Cubs game anymore. I make a point to try to watch or listen to every game, and I went to two games during the undefeated homestand. They have just been so entertaining to watch. Their play has been solid all around, and their offense has just been hilarious. Geovany Soto has been incredible, and he looks like he is going to be a legitimate NL all star catcher for years to come in the shadow of Mike Piazza.

Continue reading "Cubs Tearing Up the National League"

I never liked the "Soriano Hop". I never thought it would actually cause him to hurt himself though. I am not a Soriano fan. He's an absolute offensive mammoth when he gets hot, but when he's not hot, he has very little value to this team. And he is a terrible leadoff hitter when he's cold. His on-base is .230. Let's face it: this is one of the worst contracts  in baseball right now, second maybe only to Barry Zito.

Continue reading "Soriano Injures Himself Hopping"

Still no Brian Roberts, still no centerfielder acquisition. That's okay, because it still looks like at least one of those is going to happen before opening day. And Soriano has finally been nudged from the leadoff spot, thank god. It will be good to see him driving in runs this year. I don't really like him in the 2 spot though because he isn't going to advance any runners (unless they plan on stealing constantly, which may work because pitchers will avoid throwing him fastballs at all costs). 

Continue reading "Two Weeks Till Opening Day"

There's nothing quite like it. Cheap ticket prices, amazing warm weather, the smell of hot dogs & freshly cut grass on the baseball diamond in February and early March. It's that time of the year again with Spring Training rolling around and getting us all excited for the upcoming 2008 MLB season. It's also time to make some bold predictions for the long season ahead of us. Of course with injuries, the inevitability of a surprise team, and a little lack of better judgement, predicting the MLB season is incredibly difficult to do. However, after looking at all the new free agent pickups, new coaches, and using basic instinct, I've come up with my predictions for the 2008 season. Some of my predictions may sound crazy, but the baseball season usually plays out that way, I mean who predicted the Rockies to go that far last season? Enjoy, because it's sure to cause some argument.

Continue reading "Bold MLB 2008 Season Predictions ..."

on but can they repeat?  They may have the best talent but that does not always win out.  Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez provide a big punch for this order.  They have some nice pieces around this big three too, Ryan Theriot and Kosuke Fukudome.  The Cubs also have, in my mind, the best rotation in this division.  Big Z, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill and Jason Marquis provide a very nice top four and the Cubs have three people battling for the five spot, Jon Lieber, Sean Marshall and Ryan Dempster (last years closer and he should be in the bullpen again).  The bullpen is a little thin this year and that is why I believe Dempster should be back in the bullpen, he would provide depth.  The Cubs may look the best on paper but that is not where games are won.

Continue reading "Part II: NL Central"

... and nothing overly exciting or positive has happened quite yet. Alfonso Soriano has a broken finger and Mark DeRosa just had heart surgery. Same old, same old.

The whole Soriano thing has been quite bothersome to me. I was jacked up beyond belief when the cubs signed him last year, but like most people, I was mostly let down by him last year. It's hard not to look at that mammoth contract he signed and to think that he is past his prime. He was playing with a bum hamstring last year and his ability to be a base stealing threat was diminished. And now this year, his hamstring supposedly is still not 100%, and now the broken finger. I hate to ask, "What's next?" but I'm sure we'll find that out eventually.

Continue reading "Cubs 2008 Preseason Begins..."