Fire Up the Hot Stove: Chicago Cubs

“Wait till Next Year”

    That famous quote year after year after year. Why? Why do I as a Cubs fan have to say this every year, at this same time of the year? 1908.  1908 is the last year the Cubs won a World Series Championship, and ever since then it has been a living hell for every Cubs fan throughout the world.

        But, I have a way that this team can contend next year and for several years to come. All the Cubs need to do this off-season is spend the money (and there is a lot to spend) in the places they need to spend the money.

        They need to make decision on most ever position on their roster and it won’t be easy. This year’s free agent pool is very thin, but they have some in-house parts to use for next season. I will go position by position and tell what I think the Chicago Cubs need to do to become a possible play-off contender.Catcher: Michael Barrett has had another solid year with the bat, but his defense is less than desirable. He has had problem blocking ball, calling a good game, and throwing out runner. Last off-season the Cubs gave him a three year $12 million deal. With that deal the Cubs will have a tough time moving him to anyone without them having to pay most of his money to him. The Cubs could make Barrett the back-up catcher and have Henry Blanco the starter, but I doubt there will with Michael making $4 million next season.

First Base: Derrek Lee has had one of the best hitting season that any Cub has ever had. He may be looking for another long-term commitment from the Cubs, this off-season. I expect that he will get his new contract once the one that he is in right now expires. Derrek may be a fixture in the Cubs infield for many, many years to come.

Second Base:  Decision Time. What do they want to do with the 2nd base position? In may mind, they need to get better defensively at 2nd. Todd Walker has had a career year with the bat, but he lacks a whole lot of range and has gone down with knee injuries twice this season. I expect that they will decline Walker’s option and look in another direction. The Cubs have a young prospect in the minors, by the name of Ronny Cedeno. Ronny’s rookie year gone pretty well, though he broke his hand early in September when hit by a pitch. This off-season Ronny is going to play second base in Winter Ball. I really expect him to claim this job in Spring Training 2006.

Shortstop: Next Decision. What direction do the Cubs like? Do they like speed, contact, great defense, and on-base percentage? Or, do they like power, leadership, and poor defense? If they decide that they like the first group, the Cubs may go after free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal. Furcal may be the answer to all the Cubs line-up problems that were so big this year. Derrek Lee had a career year, but no one could get on base in front of him. Furcal is a guy that can lead off and steal 45-50 bases per season, something the Cubs drastically need. If they decide to go in the other direction, Nomar Garciaparra may be their man. There is no doubt in my mind that Nomar won’t be back next season, I expect him to go to the Dodgers and play third base in Los Angeles.

Third Base: Aramis Ramirez has had another solid year, although he went down in very early September with a quadriceps problem. He sign a four year contract with the Cubs before the 2005 season, and will likely be the clean-up hitter on this team for many years to come. Ramirez will work to get himself into better shape this off-season, so that he won’t have these nagging injuries any more.

Left Field: Is the in-house option. Matt Murton was a young outfielder that the Cubs got in the Nomar trade last season. He has should that he can hit at every level of baseball and will most likely be the Cubs left fielder for the long-term future. Matt has hit above .300 at every level this season; Double-A, Triple A, and the Major League club. This guy looks like he could be one hell of a player throughout his bright future.

Center Fielder: Corey Patterson. Just Kidding. This has been the worst position for the Cubs this season both defensively and offensively. Patterson has had a very bad year, and I personally expect him to be traded by Spring Training. I also expect that Jerry Hairston, Jr. will be the Opening Day starting center fielder. The Cubs do have a 20 year old center field prospect in the minors that could come up, I suspect he will be up around the All-Star break.

Right Field: This may be the biggest question mark on the whole team. Nobody has any idea who will fill this spot for 2006. One thing is for sure they will not pick-up Jeromy Burnitz’s $7 million option. If they decide they want Burny back, they will decline his option and sign him to a much cheaper contract. I would like to see them go after Brian Giles, who has had great numbers at Wrigley Field. If they are unable to attract Giles then they will most likely try and trade for a right fielder like Austin Kearns, Aubrey Huff, or Gary Sheffield.

The last and most important ingredient may be the coaching staff. Dusty Baker has no right managing any ball club after the way he has handled this club for the last two year. The Tribune Company will not eat Dusty’s contract so he is here for at least one more season. The Cubs need to find a pitching coach that can manage a major league pitching staff, something he hasn’t done the last two seasons. Also, a hitting coach. I would love to see Ryne Sandberg as the Cubs hitting coach, but after the year he has had I would expect him to get out of the public eye for a year and then make a return to be a coach in the MLB.

I believe. I believe that this is a winning combination for the Cubs. What the hell am I think, the Cubs can’t win?!?!?!?!?!?!