Agree and disagree on this.
1. We don't know how Barrett will do this season. That's the same as us not knowing how Willie will do.
2. Yes their 1st baseman is good not great. Lee is very good defensively and also very young.
3. Walker and Grudz are not as weak as you think. They get on base, do not strikeout alot, and get the hits needed with runners on.
4. Agree
5.Did you figure that Ramirez improved when he joined that team than when he was on the pirates? I looked at his stats and big difference when he joined the cubs. Plus, he's not Gold Glover Derrek Lee to make the good stops in case Ramirez makes the bad throws, which also makes ramirez better as well.
6. Agree
7. Patterson is 100% Take it or leave it. But I agree he's still a ?
8. I hate sosa.
Their team defense is alittle below average.. So what? The way their pitching is, they will probably strikeout every body anyway. (except Maddux, but can still get people to k.)
Who will strikeout 1300-1400 times? The hitters or their pitching?
Their speed is so-so Agreed.
You might think dusty is an "idiot" but he gets the best out of his players, and he has the "players want to play for him" attitude. Only his job as leaving pitchers out there is he considered that.
Agree on leadoff, even though Grudz didn't do too bad last year.
Agree on last part, even though I think Borroski, Farnsworth, etc.. are overated IMO.
Sorry if I was alittle on the scubbie kool-aid but their team is pretty solid. But I don't care about how their team is doing when we kill them in interleague games. :fthecubs