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The question that many Cubs fans are asking themselves right now is “Where do we go from here?” Well I don’t have the answer for that but I will be giving my input in this post. It was just a week ago when the Cubs and Dodgers opened up the NLDS and we were all jacked and ready to go only to have the unthinkable happen once again. Yeah, we all know how things ended up against the Dodgers but now it is time to look ahead and to the 2009 season. The Cubs will be looking to re-sign closer Kerry Wood as well as starting pitcher Ryan Dempster. I agreewith both of thoe guys being resigned and hopefully Dempster will give management a little bit of a break as far as the money in the contract goes. Dempster was recently quoted as saying “I love the city. I love playing here. Hopefully, everything works out.” Bob Howry, Jim Edmonds, Daryle Ward, Chad Fox, and Jon Leiber are all free agents as well. We are already pretty much sure that Fox and Leiber will not be coming back to the team. I doube that Ward will have a roster spot as Micah Hoffpauir showed that he can do just as good of job pitch hitting as Ward. The two question marks out of the group would be Howry and Edmonds I would think. I can see management signing both players to one year deals. The Cubs could use Howry in the bullpen and hope that he comes back strong after a shaky 2008 season. As far as Edmonds go, I think it all depends on if Jim Hendry can pick up power hitting left hander via trade or in free agency. Edmonds is a nice veteran to have on the club and helped out a lot in 08, but who knows what he will do in 2009 as he is a year older. It could also come down to if Felix Pie is given the chance for the starting job in center field or if he is possibly traded in the off season. I expect Hendry to try to move players like Jason Marquis, Ronny Cedeno, and possibly Pie and Neal Cotts in trades. He can use those players and also include a couple minor leaguers like Jose Ascanio, Kevin Hart, Josh Vitters, and Tyler Colvin in deals. We would only move Vitters and Colvin if it brought a big name player I’m pretty sure. One player that we don’t have to worry about any longer is Rich Harden as the team picked up the option on him for the 2009 season. Harden went 5-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 12 starts with the Cubs, and his .149 batting average against after the All-Star break led all Major League starters. Harden was unbeaten in his final 10 starts with the Cubs. Needs for 2009 season in no particular order:
It will be an interesting four months untl spring training talk really kicks into full gear. We have the Winter meetings coming up in a few months so we should have some nice trade rumors etc around that time. What do you think the Cubs should do for the 2009 season? Any players you would like to see traded or signed? One Response to “So where do the Cubs go from here?”Leave a ReplyFiled under: Chicago Cubs News
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October 10th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
It is no secret that everyone loves a winner. Bandwagons are full of lost souls who can’t endure the weight of life’s cruel realities. We Cub fans understand this more than most. It is no secret that it takes very little fortitude to support the winners in this world. Only a chosen few can hold close and remain devoted to those who are down and those who are out. There are no bandwagons for us. Rest assured that the failure that has forged our loyalty will one day end… but until that day comes we will stand by our team and continue to support and respect the game we love. Our allegiance, our dependability, and our steadfastness will not dissolve into the waters of defeat. These things that are hard now will one day become the pillars of strength that will hold us up in triumph. And the day will come when our resolve is rewarded with victory… but until then we stand tall. We stand proud. We stand together. We are Cub fans.
ps – Put Santo in the HOF - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWvv-3UwT8c