The National League won its first all-star game in what seems like nearly 20 years, and it was everything a Cubs fan could wish for. In that decisive inning which decided the game Marlon Byrd came up with a runner on first and third. I leaned over to my brother and said. "perfect, runner in scoring position with 2 outs and a Cub is at the plate." Byrd promptly went down 0-2 at which point he fought back against the White Sox lefty hard thrower Matt Thorton. After watching a couple of high fastballs in the 97-98 mph range, Marlon worked his way to a walk which prolonged the inning for Brian McCann. McCann then drove a screaming line drive to the wall in right scoring all three runners and eventually giving the NL a 3-1 lead. Byrd of course scored the final run on McCann's hit and my brother's and I jumped as we were filled with a false sense of uphoria watching this game. Later on in the 9th inning Marlon came up huge again. With a runner on 1st, there was a short pop to right field, with Byrd charging hard David Ortiz (on first) had to hold half way. The ball dropped in front of Byrd, however knowing Ortiz was inbetween 1st and 2nd Bryd turned and gunned a strike into 2nd to cut down Ortiz, which ended up being a very important out.
Hours after the NL's win, reality sunk in for Cubs fans, or at least those that dared to watch the all-star game. That reality is the Cubs team that came out of Spring Training will not be close to the team that finishes the year. While watching all of the all-star's in the back of my mind is always, "why don't we ever have those players?" I, like all Cubs fans, am ever optimistic that soon we will have some of "those players."
Here are a list of some players that will be dangled out there to anyone that will listen to the Cubs GM Jim Hendry:
Derrek Lee 1B
Ryan Theriot 2B/SS
Jeff Baker IF
Xaiver Nady OF/1B
Mike Fontenot IF
Kosuke Fukudome OF
Ted Lilly P
Carlos Zambrano P
The Cubs, knowing that none of their players have produced up to standards, will likely trade any of these players for prospects. Of these prospects there will be no one that you have ever heard of, however this paves the way for the Cubs to aqucire the next Hanley Ramirez, or the next Ubaldo Jiminez through trades. When you attempt to move players with the names of a Derrek Lee, or even Ted Lilly, you have the opportunity to build your system, which will eventually make your team better. These trades can also bring valuable players in which the Cubs can use to lure other bigger stars back into the organization through trading in the years to come.
I think anyone would be hard pressed to say that the Cubs will compete in 2011, but with the opportunity to move some of these players this team could be a contender in 2012 and beyond. So as a Cubs fan, and the ever optimist that all real Cubs fans are, this could bring the players that this team needs to be a competitor, as well as bring the coveted World Series back to the North Side.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Do the Bulls still have a chance?
So we have all had our mouths watering for sometime over the possibilities of LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, or Chris Bosh joining Derrek Rose and Joakim Noah with the Bulls. It now appears that the Bulls will strike out on the dubbed Big 3 while only pulling in Carlos Boozer to date and LeBron poised to make his announcement to join the Miami Heat tonight.
So I pose this question, when the Big 3 all sign with the Heat and Pat Riley, are they really the class of the NBA? How can they afford to sign any role players? Could they beat the Lakers?
The answer is yes and no to each question.
The Heat will not be the "class" of the NBA, that title still resides in LA to a team named the Lakers. Kobe has shown his maturity as well as his internal drive to win. The Lakers have shown to Kobe and the NBA that they are willing to do what they need to do to commit to winning, and putting new banners in the Staples Center's rafters. Until someone comes along and beats the Lakers, it is still their show and their NBA.
They can sign some role players, and the NBA's higher salary cap ($2 million more than expected) will help them do that. The problem here is, they will not get quality players to fill in these gaps. We may hear that a player will sign for less to join this team, but when a team like Chicago or the Nets throw an offer that Miami cannot even come close to, you will see these players go to those cities. Without quality role players this team will be forced to go with 8th and 9th options from any other team. Let's face it, these players can still be a usable piece as their top 3 options will be great players, yet when it is playoff time deeper teams will push this super team to its limits.
Can they beat the Lakers? No! Kobe is better than any of these players by himself, and has more killer instinct than either of these big 3. Pau Gasol is a better player than Chris Bosh, and although Kobe can match up with Wade or LeBron with Ron Artest guarding the other. The Lakers are deeper than this team as well making this a team that will fairly easily take care of the Heat.
I would say that the Heat would be built for the regular season, and will probably end up with the East's highest amount of wins, but like LeBron's Cav's of last season are not built for the playoffs. How will the Heat defend Orlando? Bosh will not be able to stop Dwight Howard. What about the Celtics? Boston is still way too deep for the Heat. What about the Bulls (I said it!)? Bulls are still deeper and offer a bigger challenge than the Heat offers the Bulls.
The Big 3 free agents aside, this Bulls team is better than they were last season. They nowhere near their ceiling, and Carlos Boozer has added a legitamate low post scorer as well as a veteran leader that knows how to win. Although he cannot guarantee we lock up James, he has pushed his old teammate Kyle Korver. With the Bulls roster looking like Rose PG, Deng SF, Boozer PF, Noah C, it appears that a great shooter is all they need, and Korver fits that mold. Yes James is a better option than Korver anyone would tell you that, but a legit threat that can spread the floor makes this team very tough to defend. The Bulls also have surprising rookie Taj Gibson that will come in and provide a very nice change-up as their sixth man.
This Bulls team should not be counted out of this LeBron James courtship, as this team is an immediate threat wiht him on it. The team has the cap room to bring LeBron in (roughly $17 million) and will commit to the 5 yr maximum that a team can provide (other than the player original team, which is a 6 year deal). The team can offer the opportunity to compete this year without needing to scrounge to fill in roster holes. This team has shown the ability to bring superstars championships, as well as help that superstar create a global market for himself. This team also is the most talented roster without LeBron James in the Eastern Conference.
No one can blame LeBron if he chooses to stay home, that is a decision I do not know if I could make, but if he were to choose anywhere else I cannot imagine how and why he wouldn't choose the Bulls.
So I pose this question, when the Big 3 all sign with the Heat and Pat Riley, are they really the class of the NBA? How can they afford to sign any role players? Could they beat the Lakers?
The answer is yes and no to each question.
The Heat will not be the "class" of the NBA, that title still resides in LA to a team named the Lakers. Kobe has shown his maturity as well as his internal drive to win. The Lakers have shown to Kobe and the NBA that they are willing to do what they need to do to commit to winning, and putting new banners in the Staples Center's rafters. Until someone comes along and beats the Lakers, it is still their show and their NBA.
They can sign some role players, and the NBA's higher salary cap ($2 million more than expected) will help them do that. The problem here is, they will not get quality players to fill in these gaps. We may hear that a player will sign for less to join this team, but when a team like Chicago or the Nets throw an offer that Miami cannot even come close to, you will see these players go to those cities. Without quality role players this team will be forced to go with 8th and 9th options from any other team. Let's face it, these players can still be a usable piece as their top 3 options will be great players, yet when it is playoff time deeper teams will push this super team to its limits.
Can they beat the Lakers? No! Kobe is better than any of these players by himself, and has more killer instinct than either of these big 3. Pau Gasol is a better player than Chris Bosh, and although Kobe can match up with Wade or LeBron with Ron Artest guarding the other. The Lakers are deeper than this team as well making this a team that will fairly easily take care of the Heat.
I would say that the Heat would be built for the regular season, and will probably end up with the East's highest amount of wins, but like LeBron's Cav's of last season are not built for the playoffs. How will the Heat defend Orlando? Bosh will not be able to stop Dwight Howard. What about the Celtics? Boston is still way too deep for the Heat. What about the Bulls (I said it!)? Bulls are still deeper and offer a bigger challenge than the Heat offers the Bulls.
The Big 3 free agents aside, this Bulls team is better than they were last season. They nowhere near their ceiling, and Carlos Boozer has added a legitamate low post scorer as well as a veteran leader that knows how to win. Although he cannot guarantee we lock up James, he has pushed his old teammate Kyle Korver. With the Bulls roster looking like Rose PG, Deng SF, Boozer PF, Noah C, it appears that a great shooter is all they need, and Korver fits that mold. Yes James is a better option than Korver anyone would tell you that, but a legit threat that can spread the floor makes this team very tough to defend. The Bulls also have surprising rookie Taj Gibson that will come in and provide a very nice change-up as their sixth man.
This Bulls team should not be counted out of this LeBron James courtship, as this team is an immediate threat wiht him on it. The team has the cap room to bring LeBron in (roughly $17 million) and will commit to the 5 yr maximum that a team can provide (other than the player original team, which is a 6 year deal). The team can offer the opportunity to compete this year without needing to scrounge to fill in roster holes. This team has shown the ability to bring superstars championships, as well as help that superstar create a global market for himself. This team also is the most talented roster without LeBron James in the Eastern Conference.
No one can blame LeBron if he chooses to stay home, that is a decision I do not know if I could make, but if he were to choose anywhere else I cannot imagine how and why he wouldn't choose the Bulls.
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