How many wins for the Cubs?

[otis89]

I'm going to be the optimist and say about 93 wins gets the Cubs the NL Central crown.

[The Big C]

I think they'll be near 500, so I went positive with 81-85.

[Slightly Sarcastic]

86-76

might be enough for the WC, but probably not enough for the NLC title

[Hammerin Hank]

I'll say 84 wins and a third place finish. The central division has gotten much more competitive and I don't see the Cubs improving more than six games.

[rockin500]

101 or above baby!

[Uncle Dak]

As they are now, I don't think they can contend for the NL Central. They would need many players, not named Aramis or Derrek, to have career years.

Eyre and Howry are decent pick-ups. Jerome Williams has great stuff, he can
put it together. But the pitching hangs under a dark coaching cloud. Wood was finished two years ago. Prior is one Dusty burnout away from the DL.

Prove this wrong Cubbies!

[Cubsfan97]

You always gotta stay positive. nO doubt they will return to 1906 form for 2006.

[sschirmer]

I'm saying above .500, but no more than 89 wins.

[NorthsidePride]

I think the Cubs will make a "major move" before the start of the season, so I being an optimist like Otis there will say 91-95 with the possibility of exceeding 100.

[letsgocubbies]

I think the Cubs will make a "major move" before the start of the season, so I being an optimist like Otis there will say 91-95 with the possibility of exceeding 100. I really hope that a major move happens as long as long as Zambrano,Prior,or Lee are not in it. I would like like to be a big optimist and say they will win at least 90, but Hendry is the general manager an d he rarely makes big moves. I have them in the 84-86 range, but hopefully we can get another good starting pitcher and we would be set.

[otis89]

but Hendry is the general manager and he rarely makes big moves.

AHEM

2003: Trading for ARam, Lofton, and Simon
2004: Trading for Lee before the season. Trading for Nomar during the season.

What exactly is your definition of a big move?

[Cubsfan97]

AHEM

Trading for Nomar during the season.

What exactly is your definition of a big move?
IDK can you call that a big deal? I mean it WAS big at first but I consider a big trade when it helps the team more. I DO agree that Hendry has made MANY big moves. Getting Ram-RAm, Loften and Simon was big though. That will be one of the biggest things hes done.

[Slightly Sarcastic]

I kinda think finding someone to take the festering sack of dung that is Toad Hundley was a huge trade all by itself. Getting what turned out to be two, count 'em two, important pieces to the '03 season might even have been his best trade as GM.

Getting Nomar+Murton for A-Gonz+Garbage was a pretty sweet deal as well, even if the Nomar part didn't work out as Hendry (and we) hoped it would.


Lee, Aramis, and Pierre were all salary dumps. Not that they aren't all big names, but it's not the same kind of trade.

[Slightly Sarcastic]

I think the Cubs will make a "major move" before the start of the season


I don't think a "major move" will be made before the season, and I think the team you see now is pretty much the team you'll see on Opening Day (I don't consider Walker to be a major move by himself, as part of package then maybe, but I hope he's the everyday 2Bman next season for the Cubs.) The reason I think that is this. It seems to me that the '"available players" are either overrated, overpriced, and/or/all overvalued by the team that currently has them. Sure, the right opportunity might come calling, or Hendry could make something special happen in a Nomar-type deal, but I don't think either of those things will happen until teams start lowering their prices.

I do think there will be a move or two during the season, probably closer to the ASB, maybe "major", maybe not. Depends on where the team is at the time.


We might find out, no matter how much I want to believe otherwise, that Cedeno can't play everyday at this level and need to fill a hole in the MI. That's another reason I want to keep Walker, just in case Cedeno isn't as ready as I think he is, Hairston can play short and we aren't seeing Neifi get everyday playing time.

We might be sellers and dump Jacque off to a contending team for another SP since Maddux and Wood will likely be gone after this year and let Pie get a good dose of ML action in the 2nd half.

But those question marks don't justify getting robbed on a trade now. Play some games and find out if those are really question marks or if the answers are already in place.

[Ravenlord]

as it stands now, 81-85 wins.

[Cubsfan97]

We might find out, no matter how much I want to believe otherwise, that Cedeno can't play everyday at this level and need to fill a hole in the MI. That's another reason I want to keep Walker, just in case Cedeno isn't as ready as I think he is, Hairston can play short and we aren't seeing Neifi get everyday playing time.

If we dump Walker and Cedeno cant play then we put Whoever we get at 2nd and put Neifi at short, and if we dont get an IF then we can put Hairston at 2nd.

[Love the Cubs 23]

With a few more changes I believe the CUBS can win over 90 games and take the Central Division title. :gt As long as the pitching staff stays healthy and Wood and Miller come back strong from their rehab assignments there is a good chance. :radio The bats and speed look good also. It ought to be an exciting year. The Cubs will be in the MIX in 2006.

[RyneSandberg23]

First time poster here. My football team is now out of it so i'm gearing up for baseball season.

I like the moves Hendry has made but I don't think we stand a chance in the tough NL Central unless Wood gets healthy. I hope the speed helps at the top and Jones can get back to hitting around .300 and hit a few more bombs when the wind is blowing out to right. I see us winnin around 80-85 but really hope it's more.

[Kessinger#11]

I think this years team is slightly improved, as it stands now about 83 wins and 3rd in the division. I wish Hendry would make at least one more substantial move, but not sure he will. I would like to add one more quality arm (seeing how our recent history of arm problems to key pitchers has sabotaged the previous 2 seasons.):gt

[ArealBASEBALLfan]

I am not sure about wins but this year is our year

[Love the Cubs 23]

love your posting there "A Real Baseball Fan."

I agree with you.
This is our year 2006 .
The CUBS 2006 World Series Champs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :crazy

[sschirmer]

I think the Juan Pierre signing was nice, but I just don't see this team being that much stronger than it has been in recent years. I guess if Murton comes along the outfield should be better, but he's still young, and that's a big if. I'll never understand all the attention Jacque Jones received in the offseason. The guy only hit .249 with 23 bombs last year. Those aren't exactly All-Star calliber numbers. That being said, if the starters hold up, and they find a way to move K-Wood into the closers role, well, I think they could have a punchers chance. GO CUBBIES!

[Cubsfan97]

We dont need Wood as a closer. Dempster has had 35 saves in 37 opprotunities. And the 2 blown saves the Cubs ended up winnign in extra innings. Dempster is the perfect closer for the Cubs. And Wood can be a great starter if he is healthy.

[ZR56664]

I'd Prefer a WS victory for the Cubs.
100 wins would be nice too

[sschirmer]

We dont need Wood as a closer. Dempster has had 35 saves in 37 opprotunities. And the 2 blown saves the Cubs ended up winnign in extra innings. Dempster is the perfect closer for the Cubs. And Wood can be a great starter if he is healthy.

Trust me, by July we'll all be wishing Dempster was blowing games for the Reds again, instead of the Cubs, Wood will be crying that he's hurt again, and Dusty will be one toothpick away from getting canned. Unless, of course, mgt decides to save Woody's right arm, and let him pitch an inning a day five times a week.

[otis89]

Trust me, by July we'll all be wishing Dempster was blowing games for the Reds again, instead of the Cubs, Wood will be crying that he's hurt again, and Dusty will be one toothpick away from getting canned. Unless, of course, mgt decides to save Woody's right arm, and let him pitch an inning a day five times a week.

Huh? Unless I'm reading the stats wrong, Demspter had 0 save opportunities when he played for the Reds.

[DoWnWiThTheSiCkNeSs]

Honestly, even with picking up Pierre , Jones, and some others, I still dont think the Cubs will contend

[sschirmer]

Huh? Unless I'm reading the stats wrong, Demspter had 0 save opportunities when he played for the Reds.


That's exactly why I typed "blowing games" not "blowing saves". He got the nickname Ryan Dumpster while he was here for a reason. I don't think any NL teams are shaking in their shoes when he enters the game. Wood, on the other hand, could probably be a very intimidating closer.

[Ravenlord]

That's exactly why I typed "blowing games" not "blowing saves". He got the nickname Ryan Dumpster while he was here for a reason. I don't think any NL teams are shaking in their shoes when he enters the game. Wood, on the other hand, could probably be a very intimidating closer.
of course, when you consider that Dempster needed Tommy John surgery the entire time he was in Cincinnati, his numbers not only look much better, but it becomes totally amazing he was still hitting 94 on the gun with a torn ligament.

[Good Men wear Black and White]

IDK can you call that a big deal? I mean it WAS big at first but I consider a big trade when it helps the team more. I DO agree that Hendry has made MANY big moves. Getting Ram-RAm, Loften and Simon was big though. That will be one of the biggest things hes done.

The team needs more small ball players, a single, a stolen base, and two sacrafice fyl's

[RBi]

The team needs more small ball players, a single, a stolen base, and two sacrafice fyl's
Didn't your mom ever tell you: "if you ain't got anything nice to say, don't say anything at all"
???

Come on man, 3 post tonight in the Cubs forum, and all 3 were anti-Cubs and Pro-white sox...

We get it, you are a south side fan... and we are fine with that..


move on...

[Lipsander]

I say 91-95 wins. I think we are going to find out what a good lead off man does for a ball club, just like when we had Kenny Lofton. Runners on base in front of our big bats will return big dividends for us. Think what would have been last year if runners had been on base in front of Derek. We would have won alot more games. I fully support Jim Hendry, he's made really good moves up to this point.

@ The Mets fan: You guys get people every year and I hear through the media, the Mets are gonna do it. They will not contend again this year like always.