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Cubs can't rest on their rotation

Sporting News, The, Oct 11, 2004 by Ken Rosenthal

I picked the Cubs to win the World Series in spring training. I picked 'em again at midseason. My confidence in the team's powerhouse rotation wasn't misplaced. Even with Kerry Wood and Mark Prior starting only 43 games combined because of injuries, the rotation finished first in the National League with a 3.72 ERA.

The starters were good, just not good enough to mask the club's numerous flaws. For a team that won 89 games, the Cubs require myriad solutions, not the least of which is better fundamental play.

Their offense was dysfunctional, leading the N.L. in homers but ranking 11th in on-base percentage and seventh in runs. The Cubs scored 42.8 percent of their runs on homers, the highest percentage by an N.L. team in the past 30 years, according to STATS Inc.

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The bullpen, meanwhile, was a seasonlong problem, in part because the Cubs relied on one-year wonder Joe Borowski to be their closer, only to lose him to injury. LaTroy Hawkins tied for the N.L. lead with nine blown saves. The Mets and Expos were among eight N.L. clubs with better bullpen ERAs.

The challenge for Cubs general manager Jim Hendry is to find a closer in a thin market, acquire a leadoff man, resolve the middle infield and add at least one slugging outfielder.

I'd re-sign shortstop Nornar Garciaparra only if he accepted a one-year deal; he needs to prove he can stay healthy. And I'd attempt to trade right fielder Sammy Sosa, who will make $17 million next season at age 36.

The Cubs will gain flexibility by declining club options on left fielder Moises Alou and second baseman Mark Grudzielanek and parting with free-agent righthander Matt Clement. From there, the team can get busy.

Outfielders Carlos Beltran, J.D. Drew and Magglio Ordonez are free agents. So are shortstops Edgar Renteria and Orlando Cabrera. Giants second baseman Ray Durham and Braves shortstop Rafael Furcal could be available in trades.

If Hendry makes the right moves, I'll gladly pick the Cubs in 2005, betting on their rotation again.

SPEED READ

* Here are my excuses for selecting Gary Sheffield prematurely as American League MVP: The editor made me do it; the dog are my stats; Yankees fans threatened me. Not impressed? Me neither. Vladimir Guerrero went 14-for-25 with six homers over a pivotal six-game stretch to vault the Angels to the A.L. West title. There's your MVP.

INSIDE DISH

The A's blundered by failing to acknowledge that RHP Rich Harden was a better option than LHP Mark Mulder down the stretch. Harden was 8-1 with a 3.47 ERA after the All-Star break; Mulder was 0-3 with an 8.10 ERA in five starts after September 1. Manager Ken Macha pushed back Harden because of a day off to keep the Big Three on their normal rest. Rather than pitch twice against the Angels in September, Harden started only once.... The Orioles eventually figure to be the natural interleague rival for the Washington, D.C., franchise, but the teams probably won't meet next season. The Washington franchise likely will retain Montreal's natural rival, Toronto, for one more year.... Looks like the Astros weren't devastated by the trades of relievers LHP Billy Wagner and RHP Octavio Dotel, after all. RHP Brad Lidge, the closer, had 64 strikeouts and nine walks in 35 2/3 innings after August 1, and RHP Chad Qualls emerged as a potential setup man.... Rangers hitting coach Rudy Jaramilllo and White Sox third base coach Joey Cora drew early mention as possible managers for new Mets G.M. 0mar Minaya, but neither has managed above Class A. An executive notes that Jaramillo lacks experience dealing with the media and that Cora is not as vibrant a personality as his boss, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen.... The Dodgers ought to send a postseason share to the Rockies' bullpen. The Dodgers beat Colorado five times in games the Rockies led in the seventh inning or later. The Rockies will attempt to acquire an affordable closer; Orioles RHP Jorge Julio is one possibility, and the Brewers likely would listen to offers for RHP Ban Kolb.--K.R.

RELATED ARTICLE: Plenty of decisions lie ahead for the Expos.

For fans of the new Washington franchise, the biggest downside is that Major League Baseball will continue operating the club until it is sold--a plan that grew even more unnerving after Expos general manager Omar Minaya left for the Mets.

The good news is MLB is confident the sale will be completed before the end of the year, and perhaps well before that. If new ownership is in place by, say, December 1, it could appoint a new G.M. in time for the winter meetings.

Such a timetable probably is optimistic. Club president Tony Tavares and assistant G.M. Tony Siegle--the team's interim decision-makers--are unlikely to overhaul a team in transition. But the franchise eventually could end up with powerful management; former Braves president Stan Kasten is among those pursuing the club, and he maintains a strong relationship with former Blue Jays, Orioles and Mariners G.M. Pat Gillick, who has publicly stated his desire to run the D.C. franchise.

Cubs can't rest on their rotation

Sporting News, The, Oct 11, 2004 by Ken Rosenthal

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