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HurricaneDij39

The Eye of the HurricaneDij  

Name: Private
Gender: M
Member Since: August 12, 2007
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Posted on: December 31, 2011 3:45 pm
Edited on: January 5, 2012 7:37 pm
Score: -165
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HDij39's Annual Top 50 NBA Players List - Year 4

...Better than ESPN's, if that's really saying much.

*Last year's ranking in parenthesis

1 )  Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Dallas Mavericks (5)

2 )  LeBron James, SF, Miami Heat (3) (Sorry, but I just can't rank him #1 after last year's finals performance)

3 )  Derrick Rose, PG, Chicago Bulls (16)

4 )  Dwight Howard, C, Orlando Magic (4)

5 )  Dwyane Wade, SG, Miami Heat (2)

6 )  Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers (1)

7 )  Kevin Durant, SF, Oklahoma City Thunder (7)

8 )  Chris Paul, PG, Los Angeles Clippers (8)

9 )  Amar'e Stoudemire, PF, New York Knicks (13)

10 )  Deron Williams, PG, New Jersey Nets (10)

11 )  Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder (43)

12 )  Zach Randolph, PF, Memphis Grizzlies (27)

13 )  Carmelo Anthony, SF, New York Knicks (6)

14 )  LaMarcus Aldridge, PF, Portland Trail Blazers (31)

15 )  Pau Gasol, PF, Los Angeles Lakers (14)

16 )  Rajon Rondo, PG, Boston Celtics (19)

17 )  Steve Nash, PG, Phoenix Suns (9)

18 )  Blake Griffin, PF, Los Angeles Clippers (NR)

19 )  Manu Ginobili, SG, San Antonio Spurs (24)

20 )  Paul Pierce, SF, Boston Celtics (20)

21 )  Kevin Garnett, PF, Boston Celtics (23)

22 )  Tony Parker, PG, San Antonio Spurs (26)

23 )  Joe Johnson, SG, Atlanta Hawks (17)

24 )  Luol Deng, SF, Chicago Bulls (NR) (Most underrated player in the league right now)

25 )  Danny Granger, SF, Indiana Pacers (18)

26 )  Monta Ellis, SG, Golden State Warriors (36)

27 )  Chris Bosh, PF, Miami Heat (15)

28 )  Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs (12)

29 )  John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards (37)

30 )  Andre Iguodala, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (32)

31 )  Carlos Boozer, PF, Chicago Bulls (22)

32 )  Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves (NR) (Shut up he's right where he should be)

33 )  Eric Gordon, SG, New Orleans Hornets (NR)

34 )  Josh Smith, PF, Atlanta Hawks (44)

35 )  Andrew Bogut, C, Milwaukee Bucks (34)

36 )  Stephen Jackson, SF, Milwaukee Bucks (29)

37 )  Paul Millsap, PF, Utah Jazz (NR)

38 )  David Lee, PF, Golden State Warriors (35)

39 )  Jason Terry, SG Dallas Mavericks (NR)

40 )  Rudy Gay, SF, Memphis (46)

41 )  Gerald Wallace, SF, Portland Trail Blazers (25)

42 )  Tyreke Evans, SG, Sacramento Kings (30)

43 )  Brandon Jennings, PG, Milwaukee Bucks (47)

44 )  Ty Lawson, PG, Denver Nuggets (NR)
45 )  Kevin Martin, SG, Houston Rockets (48)

46 )  David West, PF, Indiana Pacers (28)

47 )  Ray Allen, SG, Boston Celtics (39)

48 )  Joakim Noah, C, Chicago Bulls (NR)

49 )  Al Horford, C, Atlanta Hawks (NR)

50 )  Jameer Nelson, PG, Orlando Magic (NR)

Honorable mention - Andrea Bargnani, Elton Brand, Jrue Holiday, Jason Richardson, Corey Maggette, Lamar Odom, Shawn Marion, Mike Conley, Marc Gasol, Nene, Al Jefferson, Andrew Bynum

Dropped from last year's list - Brandon Roy, Chauncey Billups, Vince Carter, Gilbert Arenas, Antawn Jamison, Caron Butler, Aaron Brooks, Al Jefferson, Andrew Bynum, Shawn Marion
Category: NBA
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Posted on: December 25, 2011 5:30 pm
Score: 211
 

Corey Maggette: Can He Assume Leadership in CHA?

The lone NBA franchise without a Playoff win to its record (they got swept by Orlando in their lone Playoff appearance in 2010), the Bobcats are clearly rebuilding having dealt both Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace.  It will be up to new addition Corey Maggette to provide a veteran presence in a youth movement that so far includes Kemba Walker (my pick for Rookie of the Year), Gerald Henderson, and Bismack Biyombo.  A well-traveled veteran, Maggette, 32, has long had a reputation of being a selfish scorer and is still looking to shake his loser label.  Even though he had a down year statisically last year in Milwaukee, I thought Maggette played some of the most meaningfull basketball of his career in 2010-11.  His attacking style had a positive effect on a jump-shooting Bucks team, as the team clearly played their best basketball when he was starting.  However, Maggette is not a Scott Skiles-type of player and was a victim of Skiles' incosistent rotations.  Maggette averaged 12.0 points and 3.6 rebounds per game overall last season.

Can Corey Maggette establish leadership on a young Charlotte team?  If he can help Charlotte at least challenge for a Playoff spot, I'd say he would definitely be considered a worthwhile aquisition.  Having used a mid-round pick on him in both of my fantasy leagues, I am expecting Maggette to deliver.

Analyzing the rest of the Bobcats' roster:

D.J. Augustin returns to his 2010 role as backup PG.  He lacks the size and athleticism to be a full-time starter... Athletic shot-blocker Tyrus Thomas should start at PF, though it doesn't look as if he'll live up to the potential that got him selected fourth overall in the 2006 draft... Boris Diaw is the same player he was two years ago.  He's just a very weird talent.  He doesn't have the first step to play SF, and he doesn't score enough to match up at PF, but he's got the lateral quickness to defend any position on the court.  He'd be a mediocre bench player on a contender, but the Bobcats are still a better team with Diaw than without him... Free agent acquisition Reggie Williams gives them the shooter they needed, but he'll miss the first couple of months with a knee injury... Matt Carroll saw some minutes last year as a shooter, but he's just playing out the string of a six-year deal he originally signed with the Cats back in 2007.  He left for Dallas a few years ago and came back in 2010... Big man DeSagana Diop will provide defense and an extra six fouls off the bench assuming he's recovered from the ruptured achilles that ended his season last year... Upon his arrival in a mid-season trade from Oklahoma City, D.J. White showed upside as a hard-working big man who can knock down the mid-range shot... After a brief tryout in New York, Derrick Brown is back to provide depth at both forward positions... Veteran Eduardo Najera was squeezed for minutes in his first year with the Bobcats, but he could see more minutes as a backup center option with Kwame Brown gone... Charlotte recently traded for B.J. Mullens to provide depth at the center position, but he sucks...

Projected 2011-12 record: 26-40, 11th in East
Category: NBA
Tags: Bismack Biyombo, Bobcats, Corey Maggette, Gerald Henderson, Kemba Walker
 
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Posted on: December 24, 2011 10:56 pm
Score: 208
 

NBA Free Agency Update (12/24/11)

Point Guard:
Shooting Guard:
Small Forward:
Power Forward:
  • David West, New Orleans Hornets (unrestricted) - Signed with the Pacers
  • Carl Landry, New Orleans Hornets (unrestricted) - Re-signed
  • Kris Humphries, New Jersey Nets (unrestricted) - Re-signed
  • Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets (unrestricted) - Signed in China
  • Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Boston Celtics (unrestricted) - Signed and traded to Orlando
  • Josh McRoberts, Indiana Pacers (unrestricted) - Signed with the Lakers
  • Reggie Evans, Toronto Raptors (unrestricted) - Signed with the Clippers
  • Darius Songaila, Philadelphia 76ers (unrestricted) - Signed in Turkey
  • Yi Jianlian, Washington Wizards (unrestricted)
  • Leon Powe, Memphis Grizzlies (unrestricted)
  • Brandan Wright, New Jersey Nets (unrestricted) - Signed with Dallas
  • Juwan Howard, Miami Heat (unrestricted) - Re-signed
Center:
Amnesty:
  • Gilbert Arenas, SG, Orlando Magic
  • Chauncey Billups, PG, New York Knicks - Claimed off waivers by the Clippers
  • Charlie Bell, SG, Golden State Warriors
  • James Posey, SF, Indiana Pacers
  • Baron Davis, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers - Signed with New York
  • Travis Outlaw, SF, New Jersey Nets - Claimed off waivers by Sacramento
  • Brandon Roy, SG, Portland Trail Blazers - Retired
Bought Out:
  • Richard Hamilton, SG, Detroit Pistons - Signed with the Bulls
  • Mickael Pietrus, SG, Phoenix Suns - Signed with Boston
Cuts:
  • Joey Graham, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Keith Bogans, SG, Chicago Bulls
  • Andy Rautins, SG, New York Knicks
  • Zabian Dowdell, SG, Phoenix Suns
  • Manny Harris, SG, Cleveland Cavaliers
Category: NBA
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Posted on: December 23, 2011 2:31 pm
Edited on: December 23, 2011 2:33 pm
Score: 175
 

Trade Idea: Redick for Varejao

Cleveland gets: J.J. Redick, Daniel Orton

Orlando gets: Anderson Varejao, Luke Harangody

From the Cavs' perspective - Cleveland is clearly rebuilding, so it doesn't make a great deal of sense to hang on to the rest of the LeBron regime (notably Varejao and Boobie Gibson).  Varejao has three years left on a big contract and doesn't have much of a place in the Cavs' future.  Redick would give them a decent shooting guard option who doesn't have too asinine of a contract.  Plus, he's a fellow Dukee that will help ease the transition of #1 pick Kyrie Irving.

From the Magic's perspective - This trade would return Varejao to the team that originally drafted him.  Orlando is too much of a jump-shooting team and is still in need of frontcourt help for Dwight Howard.  Big Baby will provide inside scoring help for Dwight, while Varejao provides help on DEFENSE.  He would fill the shoes left by Marcin Gortat, who was traded last December.
Category: NBA
Tags: Anderson Varejao, Cavaliers, J.J. Redick, Magic
 
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Posted on: December 21, 2011 11:11 am
Edited on: December 21, 2011 11:21 am
Score: 268
 

HurricaneDij's 2011-12 NBA Preview

Alright, let's do this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtXDeCd_URc

While we missed basketball, I think most of us can live without LeBron and Carmelo running their mouths.

*Playoff teams bolded

Eastern Conference:

1)  Miami Heat - LeBron was a little too passive in the Finals and I think they will be better having learned from last year's experience.  Last year, I picked the Lakers hoping they'd lose.  Hopefully the same holds true this year for the Cheat.

2)  Chicago Bulls - The addition of Rip Hamilton gives them the double-figure scorer they needed at the two-guard spot.  Derrick Rose no longer has to score 35 points a game for them to beat the good teams.  While Hamilton won't score like he did in Detroit, if he could give them a solid 12 points per game, he will be a good addition.  Don't be surpisedif they beat Miami and advance to the Finals.  They have one of the best GM's in basketball in Gar Forman and he won't make too many bad moves.  The Bulls also have one of the deepest teams in the league, which will work in their favor in this crammed 66-game schedule.  It's not a matter of "if" Rose will lead them to a championship, it's matter of when.

3)  Orlando Magic - Dwight Howard can carry a team.  Trash his supporting cast if you want, but it's really no worse than the one Dwight took to the 2009 Finals.  The backcourt is solid with Jameer Nelson and Jason Richardson, while Glen Davis provides the inside scoring help Dwight needed.  Big Baby gets an opportunity to start after years of backing up Kevin Garnett in Boston.  To Dwight, your recent trade demands really do make you look immature and unprofessional.  You're better than this - And this is coming from a 23-year-old kid who blogs just for fun.  If I was an Orlando teammate, I would seriously call him out on this.  If you sign an extension, great.  If not, keep your mouth shut and fullfill your contract.

4)  Boston Celtics - They're not over the hill just yet, but it's time for Rajon Rondo to step up and be "the guy" for this team.  Rondo seems to be a victim of his own cockiness, as be appeared to coast down the stretch of the regular season last year.  I was unfortuate in that I burned a first-round pick on him in our board's annual fantasy league last year.  And yes, Rondo is the sixth-best point guard in the NBA right now (Rose, Paul, Williams, Westbrook, and Nash are still all better than he is). 

5)  Milwaukee Bucks - Stephen Jackson is bigger and an upgrade over John Salmons.  If their big men Drew Gooden and Andrew Bogut can stay healthy, I expect big things from them.  Judging on last year though, that's a big "if".

6)  New York Knicks - Yep, they're right where they should be.  Doing their best Miami Heat imitation, the Knicks fall woefully short.  I knew someone was going to overvalue Tyson Chandler based on name value, and I even predicted the right team.  He's nothing but a help defender.  If anything, they lost a leader and a guy who spreads the ball when they used their amnesty clause on Chauncey Billups to make room for Chandler.  We'll see if Baron Davis can replace Billups.  He's expected to miss at least a month with a back injury.  It's a shame the Knicks don't visit Denver this season.  That could get ugly.  Carmelo is on word for saying he doesn't think he deserves to be booed (dumbass), but he's got another thing coming to him.

7)  Indiana Pacers - If anyone was impressed with their Playoff run against the Bulls last spring, I wasn't one of them.  The blown 4th quarter leads in Games 1 and 4 is something fans in Indiana have become all too accustomed to.  Still, the team made significant upgrades with the additions of David West and George Hill, and that might be enough to bump them up a spot or two in the Playoff seedings.  Unfortuately, other teams got better as well.

8)  Atlanta Hawks - They might be the most boring team in the NBA, as they seem to be quite content on being a middle-of-the pack team.  Adding a big name like Tracy McGrady should create some buzz, though.  I don't know why they traded Mike Bibby, Jordan Crawford, AND a first round pick for Kirk Hinrich.  Maybe they felt Hinrich was the more versatile player than Bibby.  Crawford and Jeff Teague would have solidified their backcourt for years to come, with Joe Johnson shifting to small forward.

9)  Philadelphia 76ers - Look for Jrue Holiday to become a top ten point guard this season.  They just didn't do enough in the offseason to return to the Playoffs.  Look for the Andre Igoudala trade rumors to surface once again this season, and once again, look for him to stay put.  Unless, of course, the Sixers fade quickly from the Playoff race.

10)  New Jersey Nets - How far can Deron Williams take this team?  The supporting cast is still a work in progress.  Brook Lopez is a good post scorer, but he's not much of a rebounder and is a mediocre defender.  Kris Humphries can rebound, but doesn't have much of an offensive game, and again, is a mediocre defender.  Anthony Morrow is a good shooter, but lacks an all-around skill set.  This supporting cast needs to show something in order to keep D-Will from signing with his hometown Mavs at season's end.

11)  Charlotte Bobcats - Michael Jordan is cleaning house - New GM (Rich Cho), new coach (Paul Silas), new point guard (Kemba Walker), and new small forward (Corey Maggette).  Look for Kemba to make a run for the Rookie of the Year award.

12)  Washington Wizards - If his rookie year was any indication, John Wall is going to be a stud.  Unfortunately, there's not much else here to get excited about.  Will Rashard Lewis ever be healthy enough to be an effective small forward option again?  While to me, headcases Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee are great athletes and mediocre basketball players.  They need a veteran presence.

13)  Detroit Pistons - On a team filled with bad contracts and mediocre veterans, youngsters Brandon Knight and Greg Monroe provide hop for the future.  Their decision to re-sign Rodney Stuckey makes no sense to me.  He was a locker room headache last year.  And yes, I finally grew a pair this year and wore my Pacers hat in a Michigan bar while on vacation.

14)  Toronto Raptors - They have some talent, but nothing that really meshses together and lacks a guy that can take over a game.  Look for Ed Davis to have a breakout year. 

15)  Cleveland Cavaliers - Once again, this season could get ugly.  But at least they have a plan for the future.  Don't expect Antawn Jamison to finish the season with the Cavs.  As he gets older, watching Jamison try to play D is not a pretty sight.


Western Conference:

1)  Dallas Mavericks - You could argue that the defending champs got even better.  Lamar Odom was an absolute gift from the Lakers, while Vince Carter and Delonte West are the latest players looking to ride the championship merry-go-round.  The loss of Chandler was a little overblown, as Dallas still has plenty of center options.  Chandler is good, but he's not that good.  They are getting up there in age though, and it's tough to see them beating Miami two years in a row.  Prove me wrong, though.

2)  Oklahoma City Thunder - They are the most talented and athletic team in the West, and they gained some valuable experience last year.  But as far as I'm concerned, they haven't done enough to take down the Mavs.  They need Serge Ibaka to bust out and be that third wheel, and he might just do it.  He needs to work on his passing skills out of the paint.

3)  Los Angeles Lakers - Don't see the logic of just givng away Odom, but as long as Kobe and Pau are around, they're still among the most talented teams in the West, and they're still the most battle-tested.  However, they need to upgrade at point guard if they're going to win another championship in the Kobe Bryant era.  Sorry, but Derek Fisher doesn't cut it anymore.  In the meantime, it looks like Ron Artest flipped his crazy switch back on.

4)  Memphis Grizzlies - They may face a chemistry adjustment with Rudy Gay coming back, but they're talented, deep, and play good team defense.  What's not to like?

5)  San Antonio Spurs - As long as they have their big three of Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili, they're going to be contenders.  A first round rematch with the Grizzlies wouldn't go well for them.  Memphis is to the Spurs what Golden State was to the Mavs a few years ago - A very bad matchup.

6)  Los Angeles Clippers - They'll definitely be the most exciting team in the NBA with Chris Paul and Blake Griffin leading them, but I'm not ready to write them up as title contenders just yet.  Is the supporting cast good enough?  Now paid, will DeAndre Jordan take the next step?  Will Caron Butler be healthy and ready to go (especially with age now a factor)?

7)  Portland Trail Blazers - There always seems to be some hype with this team.  I thought the Gerald Wallace acquisition was overblown.  Wallace is a versatile talent, but he's not a savior.  This team already had plenty of Gerald Wallaces as it was.  The Andre Miller/Raymond Felton trade was a wash, though they do get younger and more athletic with Felton.  The truth of the matter is that injuries will always limit them.  Greg Oden is once again out until February, while Brandon Roy was forced to retire due to limited cartilege in his knees.  They still have a solid go-to-guy in LaMarcus Aldridge, and because of that, they're still in the Playoff picture, assuming Aldridge's heart ailment isn't serious.

8)  Denver Nuggets - It was clear during last year's Playoffs that they lacked leadership after the midseason trade of Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.  Could the return of Andre Miller provide it?  While the trade made sense for short-term purposes (the Carmelo saga was watering the team to the ground), this is looking like a lower seed Playoff team for years to come.  The way they could prove me wrong is if we see further development from the likes of Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, and even Jordan Hamilton was a steal assuming George Karl likes him.

9)  Phoenix Suns - The Suns basically consist of Steve Nash and a bunch of role players and spare parts, yet they'll still be right there battling for a Playoff spot.  That is how good Nash is, though sooner or later they're going to have to rebuild.

10)  Houston Rockets - They certainly have some interesting young talent, including Kyle Lowry, Jonny Flynn, Goran Dragic, Marcus Morris, Terrence Williams and Haaheem Thabeet.  None of these guys may ever make an All-Star game however, and as Sacramento can relate to, your team isn't going too far if Kevin Martin is your franchise player.

11)  Sacramento Kings - From a basketball standpoint, they seem to be on the rise and set for the future with the likes of Tyreke Evans, DeMarcus Cousins, and Jimmer Fredette.  Even power forward J.J. Hickson padded some stats on a bad Cleveland team.  But like every young team, they need to prove they can gel as a unit.  In sad news, the signing of Chuck Hayes was voided due to a heart condition.  Hayes went to high school in Sacramento and would have been a nice veteran addition to this young team.  Amazing that two NBA players had their contracts voided due to heart ailments (Boston's Jeff Green was the other).

12)  Golden State Warriors - New coach Mark Jackson could provide a fresh start, but an undersized backcourt will continue to be their downfall.

13)  Utah Jazz - They're a couple years away from returning to the Playoffs.  Too much frontcourt depth and not enough quality backcourt options.  Devin Harris sucks.

14)  New Orleans Hornets - Chris Paul is gone, and the rebuilding begins.  Can Eric Gordon be a franchise player?  He'll have every opportunity this season to prove that he's a complete player and not just scorer.  The Hornets will likely have two lottery picks next summer.

15)  Minnesota Timberwolves - Last year, Kevin Love proved that he might be able to average more rebounds than his team has wins.


NBA Finals: Miami over Dallas in 6.
Category: NBA
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Posted on: December 17, 2011 11:44 pm
Edited on: December 17, 2011 11:45 pm
Score: 217
 

NBA Free Agency Update (12/17/11)

Obviously it comes a little later this year...

Point Guard:
Shooting Guard:
Small Forward:
Power Forward:
  • David West, New Orleans Hornets (unrestricted) - Signed with the Pacers
  • Carl Landry, New Orleans Hornets (unrestricted) - Re-signed
  • Kris Humphries, New Jersey Nets (unrestricted)
  • Kenyon Martin, Denver Nuggets (unrestricted) - Signed in China
  • Glen "Big Baby" Davis, Boston Celtics (unrestricted) - Signed and traded to Orlando
  • Josh McRoberts, Indiana Pacers (unrestricted) - Signed with the Lakers
  • Reggie Evans, Toronto Raptors (unrestricted)
  • Darius Songaila, Philadelphia 76ers (unrestricted) - Signed in Turkey
  • Yi Jianlian, Washington Wizards (unrestricted)
  • Leon Powe, Memphis Grizzlies (unrestricted)
  • Brandan Wright, New Jersey Nets (unrestricted) - Signed with Dallas
  • Juwan Howard, Miami Heat (unrestricted) - Re-signed
Center:
Amnesty:
  • Gilbert Arenas, SG, Orlando Magic
  • Chauncey Billups, PG, New York Knicks - Claimed off waivers by the Clippers
  • Charlie Bell, SG, Golden State Warriors
  • James Posey, SF, Indiana Pacers
  • Baron Davis, PG, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Travis Outlaw, SF, New Jersey Nets - Claimed off waivers by Sacramento
  • Brandon Roy, SG, Portland Trail Blazers - Retired
Bought Out:
Cuts:
  • Joey Graham, SF, Cleveland Cavaliers
  • Keith Bogans, SG, Chicago Bulls
  • Andy Rautins, SG, New York Knicks
  • Zabian Dowdell, SG, Phoenix Suns
Top 5 Overall Remaining:
  1. Arron Afflalo
  2. Samuel Dalembert
  3. Baron Davis
  4. Gilbert Arenas
  5. DeShawn Stevenson
Category: NBA
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Posted on: November 2, 2011 3:42 pm
Score: 240
 

Chicago Cubs 2011 Review & Offseason Outlook

OK, so our team finished with 90 losses, even after yours truly had predicted them to win 87 games and finish 2nd in the division in 2011.  But is anyone really surprised that we sucked this bad?  Probably not, as the Cubs over the last few seasons have primarily been made up of lethargic and unmotivated older players.  2011 marked the year that long-time GM Jim Hendry got fired.  Fans have been calling for his head for some time, but with the Cubs' payroll situation in 2011, the fact of the matter is that there was only so much Hendry could do.  He did not deserve to be fired.  Yes, you could argue that Hendry was responsible for the high payroll, but it was a similar high payroll the Cubs had during their division title years of 2007 and 2008 and on much of the same players.  the fact that Hendry was fired by the Cubs, yet Ed Wade still has a job down in Houston has my head spinning.  At the same time, Hendry has been the GM for close to a decade and maybe it was time for a change.

The following is the complete list of moves (and non-moves) I would look into if I was in charge.  This, of course, would be assuming we don't land Pujols or Fielder, which I still think is a long-shot.  Both of their respective teams made it at least as far as the NLCS.  Why would either player want to join a team that just lost 90 games?

  • Cut ties with Aramis Ramirez.  Ramirez is reportedly looking for a three-year deal, a deal the Cubs would be foolish to make.  At 33, Ramirez has already shown signs of decline, hitting just two homers through the first two months of the 2011 season.  That 15-homer, 75-RBI season from Ramirez is coming soon, and I'd hate to be on the hook for $15 million when it happens.  Considering that we could get similar production out of Blake DeWitt in a good year, and at a considerably cheaper price, letting Ramirez walk and taking the draft picks is a no-brainer.  DeWitt will likely start at 3rd base for the Cubs in 2012, with Jeff Baker getting some starts against lefties.
  • Re-sign Carlos Pena to a two-year, $18 million deal.  The Cubs can ill-afford to lose both Pena and Ramirez, or else they may be competing with the Astros for last place.  Yes, Pena's all-or-nothing approach can deflate your entire offense at times, but with Pena, you've just got to take his 30-homer power and hope that he can hit .250, which isn't out of the question if he could just hit .200 against lefties (he hit a fluky .133 against them this year).  His defense is a plus at first and he drew 100 walks in 2011.
  • Trade Carlos Zambrano and $9 million to the Marlins for two mid-level prospects.  As much as I'd hate to see Zambrano in a Marlins uniform, the Cubs need to take advantage of any team that's interested.  Such a move, of course, would allow Zambano to unite with close friend and manager Ozzie Guillen, and the Marlins do have some holes at the back end of their rotation, especially with Javier Vazquez pondering retirement.  Would the Marlins be willing to take on half of Zambrano's 2012 salary of $18 million?
  • Re-sign Kerry Wood to a two-year deal.  We may even need Wood to close if Carlos Marmol is traded or continues to falter.  While I cringe at the fact that Marmol's two free runs in a game during the final week is what got the Cardinals into the Playoffs in the first place, the best thing to do with Marmol is to hang onto him until at last the 2012 trade deadline in hope he shows glimpses of his dominant 2010 season.  No sense taking on useless prospects now when his stock isn't too high.
  • Sign Edwin Jackson to a four-year, $40 million deal.  Seem pricey?  Maybe, but Jackson is better than anyone currently in our rotation, except for maybe Matt Garza.  Jackson is unlikely returing to the Cardinals with Wainright coming back and rumors having been swirled that they may go after Buehrle with him being from St. Louis.
  • Sign David DeJesus to a one-year, $6.5 million deal to lead off and play right field.  This would be a similar one-year pillow contract as we signed Pena last year.  Yes, DeJesus had a bad year in Oakland, but what major league hitter doesn't have bad years in that ballpark?  As much as I like Starlin Castro as a player, he is not a leadoff man.  Once top prospect Brett Jackson is called up, the soon-to-be 35-year-old Marlon Byrd moves to right.  As far as Castro is concerned, I would experiment more extensively with him in the middle of the order.  He still doesn't walk a great deal to this point and his power is slowly but surely coming along.
  • Find a young lefty to complete the back end of the rotation.  I would take a long look at Oakland's system.  Some may say they have too much pitching depth and at the expense of their offense.  I would check on the availability of such arms as Josh Outman, Bobby Cramer, or maybe Graham Godfrey (OK, he's a righty but you get my point about Oakland's system).  Another option could be bringing back Tom Gorzelanny, who's expected to be non-tendered by Washington.  Though if you're the Cubs, you've got to think about goingin a different direction and not trying to rehash the past. 
  • Invite Miguel Tejada to spring training and at least let him compete for the 3rd base job.  San Francisco was a bad fit for him from the get-go, as they appeared to expect more of him than what he's capable of at this stage in his career (they paid him $6 million a year to be their everyday shortstop).  It wasn't too long ago that Tejada, a former Quade protege, was one of the big boppers in a first-place Padres lineup.  I think he can still play in the right situation.
  • I actually like Mike Quade and would like to see the Cubs bring him back for the final year of his contract.  Let's face it, no manager was going to win with the roster we had in 2011.  I think Quade is crucial in the development of Castro, as he has a history of developing young shortstops (see Tejada in Oakland).  He also handled Marmol's late-inning meltdowns as well as any manager could. 
  • Kap seems to think we'll be able to move Soriano, but I just don't see it.  Even so, we may need Soriano's power bat in the lineup.  Soriano didn't have that bad a year this year and he far-and-away had his best year defensively since joining the Cubs, even though it's clear he'll never be a star with the glove, especially not at age 35.  Soriano did complain toward the end of the year how Quade's constant shifting of him in the lineup has affected his rhythm.  I say to set him in the 6-hole and leave him there.  You'd like to see him bring that average up and draw more walks.
  • At midseason, I would have flirted with extending Marlon Byrd's contract.  However, Byrd is coming off a down year at the plate, hitting a woeful .198 with runners in scoring position.  Byrd will be a free agent after the 2012 season and I think the Cubs will wait until then to either negotiate a new deal or let him walk.  Not trying to make excuses, but I think being hit by the pitch in Boston affected his timing.  I expect him to be better in 2012.  Byrd's presence in the clubhouse and his intangibles are something you just can't put a price on.  He's definitely a player I wouldn't mind seeing here for years to come, even if it's as a fourth outfielder.
  • I'm still not sure what to think of Darwin Barney, but he's the best option we have at 2nd base at the moment.  They say he's a winner and that he knows what he's doing out there, but his two homers and .313 on-base percentage wouldn't cut it for most teams.  I think Barney is better suited to be a utility man on a contender than he is as a starter on a rebuilding team like the Cubs, but if nothing else, he'll hit .280 and play solid defense.  I still want somebody pushing him for his job, and no better guy to do that than Jeff Baker, who I'm still intruiged by even though Quade seems to think he can only hit lefties.
  • PLEASE, for the love of God, find an upgrade at backup catcher over Koyie Hill.  At this point, the Cubs might as well retire Hill's jersey.  While Geovany Soto isn't exactly a world-beater in front of him, the Cubs pratically have two automatic outs when Hill is in the lineup (he and the pitcher).  Yes, I know the argument that Hill works great with the pitching staff, but the fact that our pitchers rely on him for leadership is a weakness in itself.  Hill is a good guy and all, but he is bad for this team.
  • As much as I liked watching Tyler Colvin as a rookie, I don't see him making it long-term with the Cubs.  In fact, I wouldn't mind moving him this offseason.  He's a fourth outfielder at the very best.  I haven't seen too many players with Colvin's tall and skinny body type have prolonged major league careers, and it's hand to get excited about a guy who hits .150 over the course of 200 at-bats his sophomore season.  Yes, he hit 20 homers as a rookie, but there's nothing in Colvin's minor league numbers that suggest he's a everyday major leaguer.  Colvin has never showed great plate discipline or the ability to hit for a consistent average.  I would also let go of Reed Johnson.  His 2011 season was his absolute ceiling and his roster spot could be better used on a youngster.
I expect the Cubs to finish closer to .500 next year, and hopefully better.  Losing Ramirez could sting for awhile, but you've got to do what you've got to do.  Hopefully Theo builds the team the right way and develops from within like he says.  We don't need a Carl Crawford, Julio Lugo, or Dice-K on the Cubs.  As mentioned above, bad contracts are one thing that plauged the Cubs during the last five years of Hendry's tenure.  Unless we land Fielder or Pujols, the Cubs are likely looking at a fourth place finish in 2012, but hey, you've got to start somewhere.  The 2003 team remains the greatest Cubs team of my lifetime.  To me, the 2008 team was more of a bunch high-salary players thrown together in a desperation attempt to win a World Series.  I thought the team overachieved during the regular season and didn't have any real chemistry.  As a result, our team looked completely clueless against the Dodgers in the Playoffs.

Given all the above moves, this is what the Cubs' 2012 lineup would look like:
  • RF David DeJesus
  • CF Marlon Byrd
  • SS Starlin Castro
  • 1B Carlos Pena
  • 3B Blake DeWitt 
  • LF Alfonso Soriano
  • 2B Darwin Barney/Jeff Baker
  • C Geovany Soto
  • Pitcher's spot
Bench:
Rotation:
Category: MLB
Tags: Cubs
 
Add a Comment | Comments (0)
Posted on: July 19, 2011 11:15 pm
Edited on: July 19, 2011 11:20 pm
Score: 133
 

Top 20 NBA Free Agents Overall

  1. Marc Gasol, C, Memphis Grizzlies (restricted)
  2. Jason Richardson, SG, Orlando Magic (unrestricted)
  3. David West, PF, New Orleans Hornets (unrestricted)
  4. Nene, C, Denver Nuggets (unrestricted)
  5. Tyson Chandler, C, Dallas Mavericks (unrestricted)
  6. Jamal Crawford, SG, Atlanta Hawks (unrestricted)
  7. Vince Carter, SG, Phoenix Suns (unresctricted)
  8. Jeff Green, SF, Boston Celtics (restricted)
  9. Arron Afflalo, SG, Denver Nuggets (restricted)
  10. Thaddeus Young, SF, Philadelphia 76ers (restricted)
  11. Tayshaun Prince, SF, Detroit Pistons (unrestricted)
  12. Caron Butler, SF, Dallas Mavericks (unrestricted)
  13. Carl Landry, PF, New Orleans Hornets (unrestricted)
  14. Andrei Kirilenko, SF, Utah Jazz (unrestricted)
  15. Grant Hill, SF, Phoenix Suns (unrestricted)
  16. Aaron Brooks, PG, Phoenix Suns (restricted)
  17. Kris Humphries, PF, New Jersey Nets (unrestricted)
  18. Samuel Dalembert, C, Sacramento Kings (unrestricted)
  19. Kenyon Martin, PF, Denver Nuggets (unrestricted)
  20. Glen Davis, PF, Boston Celtics (unrestricted)
Previously:
  • Top 10 Free Agent Centers (July 15th)
  • Top 10 Free Agent Power Forwards (June 27th)
  • Top 10 Free Agent Small Forwards (June 23rd) 
  • Top 10 Free Agent Shooting Guards (June 19th)
  • Top 5 Free Agent Point Guards (June 16th)
Category: NBA
Add a Comment | Comments (0)
  
 
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