EPSTEIN, HOYER HAVE MUCH WORK TO DO

For anyone wondering how far the Chicago Cubs had fallen when General Manager Jim Hendry was released from his duties during the 2011 campaign.  Look no further.  They've hit rock-bottom.  Hendry who spent Chicago Tribune money like it was going out of print should be remembered as the person most responsible for the predicament facing new Cub bosses, Theo Epstein and Jeb Hoyer.

Epsein and Hoyer have been doing their due diligence, so to speak.  How they must wonder....how could anyone run so amuck and not be held accountable for so long?  In the last several weeks, the new Cub brass have added David DeJesus, Ian Stewart and Travis Woods.  Not necessarily household names, but serviceable players.  DeJesus will most likely man right field, Stewart will handle third base duties and Wood will be penciled in as the fourth starter in a questionable pitching rotation.

Can he show his Magic again?

So as we look to 2012 what else looms in the Cub decision-making?    In recent days there has been rumor of Matt Garza being shipped out for prospects.....and hopefully a boat load of them.  I'm not sure that's an entirely wise move.  Garza is young enough to be the centerpiece of a pitching staff for a long time.  Build around him and look to move other parts, like Madman Carlos Zambrano.  The Miami Marlins need another starter or two....and given the fact that new Miami skipper, Ozzie Guillen, has always had a "thing" for Carlos, deal him down south for left fielder Logan Morrison.  Ridding a putrid $17,800,000 salary for Big Z would give some relief to money issues.  Two other outfielders in question, Alphoso Soriano and Marlon Byrd have been discussed in team meetings.  Byrd has been mentioned as trade bait with the Texas Rangers for Matt Harrison.  Harrison, a 26-year old left-hander won 14 games for the Rangers in 2011.  Considering Byrd is 34, that would be a wise move to consider.  As for Soriano, the likelihood in seeing him move on, is remote.  Soriano has been a source of frustration for Cub fans for several years now.  Unless someone has money to throw away, he is probably a Cub until his $19 million dollar a year contract runs out at the end of the 2012 campaign.       

Around the infield there are more question marks.  One position ably-manned is shortstop where Starlin Castro is set.  Although Castro has shown signs of immaturity he has the ability to man the shortstop position for the next 10 years in Chicago.  Third Base will be handled by Stewart until big-time prospect Josh Vitters is ready.  Will that be in 2012?  No one knows, but if his numbers (.283, 14 HR's and  81 RBI's) at Double AA Tennessee are any indication, he is not far off.  Second base is split between Darwin Barney, Blake DeWitt and Jeff Baker.  A solution will be needed here because none of them is the answer.  At first base, strong consideration should be given to resigning Carlos Pena to another one year deal.  Not only would Pena give them some long ball presence in the lineup, he could buffer the transition to youngster Bryan LaHair.  Geovany Soto will be the everyday catcher.  With the other problems existing on today's Cub  roster, new manager Dale Sveum can pencil in Soto with certainity.  Still only 28, if Soto returned to his 2008 power numbers with 28 homeruns, that would be a bonus.

Pitching-wise, the Cubs will be looking for anyone to bridge the gap.  Ryan Dempster has a huge salary (13 plus million a year) so he's not going anywhere right now.  Dempster will take the ball every fifth day and show his guts...at least early in the season.  After the all-star break might be another story.  Dempster could be dealt to a contender that needs a workhorse.  After Garza, Zambrano, Dempster and Wood (if that's who they stay with), the number five starter remains a question mark. If only Randy Wells bounced back and show some grit?  Or maybe a youngster surprises...

In the bullpen, the issues begin and end with Carlos Marmol.  I'm not sure a team has ever had three Carlos's on their roster at the same time.  Two of the three have been combustible and that's putting it mildly.  The youngest of the Carlos clan  needs to move on.   I've always had the belief you can find a closer within your organization.  There are some young power arms in the organization....they deserve a shot.   The remainder of the pen will be handled by the likes of Manny Corpas, Jeff Samardzija, Andrew Cashner and Kerry Wood, maybe.   It remains to be seen if Wood returns.  He gave the Cubs a hometown discount in 2011 signing for one million.  That doesn't figure to happen this year.   

The Ricketts family got their man with the hiring of Epstein.  Many suggest he is a genius but that remains to be seen.  In Boston, his product was significantly better when he took over.  Not so, in Cub town.  There looks to be some dark days ahead.  The roster more closely resembles the San Diego Padres, than the Pittsburgh Pirates.  The Pirates are finally headed in the right direction.....something Epstein and his associates will are striving for.  But it's going to be a long, long road.  If Theo pulls a Cub turnaround off, perhaps he shoud change his name to Einstein, not Epstein.  He will have earned that name.

Thanks for reading,

John