From: arrow@netcom.com (Les Arrow)
Subject: Re: Maduux gone, Cubs alive?
Keywords: Cubs, Maddux
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services (408 241-9760 guest)
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 05:13:47 GMT

In article <guest.722456577@sili.isgs.uiuc.edu> guest@sili (Rockin' Robyn) writes:
>
>     GM Larry Himes haeld a press conference at Wrigley Field yesterday to
>announce he will no longer actively pursue free-agent CY YOUNG Award winner
>Greg Maddux, and will use the freed up money to fill in the rotation with
>one or two other free agent pitchers.  Refusing to name names, speculation
>revolves around former Twin/Pirate lefty John Smiley, former Pirate Doug
>Drabek, and former Brewer Chris Bosio.  
>
>     My two cents worth:  Maddux had a terrific 1992, and an ERA of 2.18
>will be tough to duplicate by Maddux himself, let alone someone coming in
>to a new environment.  Tradition holds Cy Young winners experience a %27
>drop in effectiveness the year after winning the award, and tradition also
>holds players tend to experience a loss of production following the signing
>of a lucrative multi-year contract (admittedly, with some noteable exceptions).
>My point is this: with or without Maddux, the Cubs will suffer a rise in team
>ERA and had best plan accordingly.  The rotation is in need of filling in:
>			#1     ???????????????
>			#2 rhp Mike Morgan (awesome 1992!)
>			#3 rhp Frank Castillo (innings type control pitcher)
>			#4 lhp Greg Hibbard (scrappy, durable sinkerballer)
>			#5 rhp Mike Harkey (injury prone, unpredictable)
>     Some alternatives may include the return of self proclaimed head case
>Shawn Boskie, closer type fireballer Bob Scanlan, or Jim Bullenger, none of
>whom appear to be effective as a starter.  
>
>     I respect and admire the job Himes has done on both sides of Chicago and
>know that he spends more time trying to find solutions to organizational
>problems than any of us on the outside.  With this in mind, I hope he can
>figure out how to increase team OBP (woefully low outside of Sandberg\Grace)
>and score some runs to offset the inevitable erosion of team pitching.  The
>class and respect that surrounds Andre Dawson is well deserved, but he had
>half the number of walks and stolen bases as your average right fielder.  It
>would be a sad statement on the way MLB is run, but I can see the scenerio
>where Dawson is let go despite his immense presence.  Discussions have begun
>with Bonds (pipe dream) and Puckett may be another alternative.  The return
>of Dunston to the infield will again hurt OBP, and May and Sosa have not shown
>a great ability to draw the base on balls.  What to do?
>
>	Comments or suggestions are appreciated.  Go Chicago (Cubs, Bears,
>Bulls, Hawks.............)
>------------------------------------robert allen hercey
>				    guest@sili.isgs.uiuc.edu

Personally, I think the Cubs are only a few players from having a darn good
team. Your four man staff of Morgan, Castillo, Hibbard, and Harkey is good.
I like Hibbard and just have a feeling a change of scenery even to Wrigley
Field could have a positve affect on his career. If Harkey can stay out
of injury trouble, that's a solid four. Now sign a #1 starter which it
seems Himes is talking about doing, and the pitching staff is fine. The
bullpen 'aint too bad either: Assenmacher, McElroy, Bullinger, etc. Move
Bullinger back into the closing role which seems to be what they were 
preping him to do in the minors.

As for offense, let Dawson go and attempt to sign someone who is worth
his money. Dawson may be a great guy but 4 mil? No. Dunston may hurt your
OBP, but if his glove is back, I'd be happy to have him. So our big concern
is bats. Needs include a leadoff hitter, a 4th hitter (someone to replace
Dawson and a 5th hitter (rightfielder).

I picture a lineup of:

______
Grace 1B
Sandberg 2B
_______
_______
Sosa CF
Duunston SS
Sanchez 3B
Pitcher

A few holes, but really not that far way. Let's see what happens.

--Les