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Part 1-Offense
Part 2-Defense
The hope for this offense lies in the lineup being deep with hitters offering different skills (OBP, AVG, SLG). There aren't any true elite power hitters, but the lineup is filled with guys that have 10 or more homerun power. The team also increased the number of hitters in the lineup that are willing to work the count from 3 last year (Pena, Soto, Fukudome) to 4 (LaHair, Soto, Stewart, DeJesus). Combine that with a new focus on plate discipline within the organization and this team might be able to wear down a team's good starting pitchers. This would result in more plate appearances versus weaker relievers resulting in better results for the entire lineup.
The pitching staff is deeper if not more talented than the previous year. Pitchers that were options 4 (Wells) and 6 (Coleman) last season are now options 6 and 8 at this point. A pitching staff that is capable of giving quality starts more often than not gives a team, even a bad one, a chance to compete. Combine that with an improvement on defense due to both personel and better coaching/scouting, and this is a team that can be in a lot of ballgames.
The focus on the front office has, rightfully so, been on the new President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein. A lot has been made out of the fact that the team Epstein inherited in Boston was significantly better than the team he has inherited on the northside of Chicago. There really is no disputing this point, but I think an interesting parallel exists between the first and second GM position Jed Hoyer has received. In 2010, Jed Hoyer left Theo Epstein for San Deigo to take a position as a GM. The Padres were coming off of a 75-87 season where the team actually outperformed their pythagorean record by 8S games. Hoyer with several small additions and good seasons from existing players managed to produce a 90 win season. While I doubt very much that lightning can strike twice, I think many of the same thoughts about the Padres' chances in 2010 were similar to what we have heard about hope for the Cubs.
Addendum-The Cubs might already be shorthanded this season with Brian LaHair possibly starting the season on the DL. The Cubs do have depth, but the fact that Blake DeWitt could be taking regular at bats at the premium offensive position tempers what little hope I have.
Part 2-Defense
Final Thoughts
This team does not have a single superstar player. There is not one player who is a top 5 at his position or top 10 pitcher on the roster. There are some players who were that at one point in their career (Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Marmol) or might become that type of player (Starlin Castro), but for this team to win in 2012 it is going to be because the sum is greater than the parts.The hope for this offense lies in the lineup being deep with hitters offering different skills (OBP, AVG, SLG). There aren't any true elite power hitters, but the lineup is filled with guys that have 10 or more homerun power. The team also increased the number of hitters in the lineup that are willing to work the count from 3 last year (Pena, Soto, Fukudome) to 4 (LaHair, Soto, Stewart, DeJesus). Combine that with a new focus on plate discipline within the organization and this team might be able to wear down a team's good starting pitchers. This would result in more plate appearances versus weaker relievers resulting in better results for the entire lineup.
The pitching staff is deeper if not more talented than the previous year. Pitchers that were options 4 (Wells) and 6 (Coleman) last season are now options 6 and 8 at this point. A pitching staff that is capable of giving quality starts more often than not gives a team, even a bad one, a chance to compete. Combine that with an improvement on defense due to both personel and better coaching/scouting, and this is a team that can be in a lot of ballgames.
The focus on the front office has, rightfully so, been on the new President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein. A lot has been made out of the fact that the team Epstein inherited in Boston was significantly better than the team he has inherited on the northside of Chicago. There really is no disputing this point, but I think an interesting parallel exists between the first and second GM position Jed Hoyer has received. In 2010, Jed Hoyer left Theo Epstein for San Deigo to take a position as a GM. The Padres were coming off of a 75-87 season where the team actually outperformed their pythagorean record by 8S games. Hoyer with several small additions and good seasons from existing players managed to produce a 90 win season. While I doubt very much that lightning can strike twice, I think many of the same thoughts about the Padres' chances in 2010 were similar to what we have heard about hope for the Cubs.
Addendum-The Cubs might already be shorthanded this season with Brian LaHair possibly starting the season on the DL. The Cubs do have depth, but the fact that Blake DeWitt could be taking regular at bats at the premium offensive position tempers what little hope I have.
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