Around the Horn: September addition
Earlier in the year, I wrote a post that went in-depth to every position on the Cubs. Now that the roster is set, and September is approaching, I’ll do it again:
C: Well, it took them 6 tries but the Cubs have finally found a starting catcher. Despite Jason Kendall’s lack of ability to throw out runners, his bat has made up for it. Henry Blanco is back and backing up.
1B: No change here, Derrek Lee starts everyday. Hopefully the power becomes consistent, he’s been hitting some more HRs lately. Ward is a solid backup.
2B: Mostly DeRosa has takes over with Mike Fontenot struggling. When Ramirez gets a day off, DeRosa moves to third and Fontenot starts.
3B: Aramis Ramirez has really been in a slump with the power. He admitted he’s not 100% but the Cubs need his bat in the lineup everyday. DeRosa plays when he gets the day off.
SS: This position was up in the air last time I went around the horn but Ryan Theriot as I suspected has solidified the spot. Cesar Izturis is a Pirate and Theriot has been the only guy to play that position since that trade. I suppose the versatile DeRosa could play here too.
LF: Alfonso Soriano is back from the DL and once again the left fielder. The Cubs have a bunch of options if the Fonz needs a day off
CF: Jacque Jones’ resurgence has given him the everyday spot in CF. Felix Pie will play every now and then.
RF: It’s pretty simple: Cliff Floyd starts against righting, Craig Monroe against lefties. Daryle Ward has been getting some starts as well.
The Rotation: Zambrano is still the ace despite his recent August struggles. Ted Lilly has been consistent enough to be #2. Rich Hill’s been better lately. I give him #3. It’s a toss up between Marquis and Marshall for the #5. Lately, the pitching rotation has worried me a bit.
The Bullpen: Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, Kerry Wood, and Ryan Dempster have been the best relievers. Scott Eyre is the only lefty and has struggled lately. Michael Wuertz has control problems.
The Bench: On a normal day, the bench consists of pinch hitters in this order:
Against RHP: Ward, Fontenot, Pie
Against LHP: Monroe, Murton, Blanco
Pie is the designated pinch runner for Cliff Floyd usually late in a game.
So there are the Cubs that will be headed toward October looking for an NL Central crown. Anything remotely above .500 should do it.
-Mike
Very nice Mike, I agree with every position. Right now with 30 games left in the season, we need players to stay healthy and go out and play they are capable of playing.
Hopefully we don’t see any blown games by the bullpen, and the offense picks up and starts to score some more runs. I look for Soriano to heat up these last 30 games once he gets more at bats coming off his injury. Lets hope so!
Bull Pen !
A real nail bitter. Dempster lucks out “AGAIN”. Marmol and Howry are the real guns. Marmol did a super fantastic job. Howry was ready and was left standing in the wings watching as Dempster as he nearly lost the game. Wood does not have the right stuff as of yet. Although he is slowing coming back. Somewhere along the season Eyre has lost it. Hopefully, being the only lefty in “the pen” he is needed.
Carlos is a very young, emotionally very young, 20′s year old ballplayer who recently signed a contract that has to have put incredable pressure on him. If applicable, remember back to your early 20′s for your emotational maturity…then add being in another country. Getting on his case at this time will not achieve the desired results we all want.