10/17/2003 02:14:00 PM by Rob

Let's talk about next year

This is for all you Polly-annas who think the Cubs are just gonna toss their gloves out there and win 100 games next year.

Consider this: there will be between 10-11 new faces next year on the 25-man.

Not counting my dream of dreams, for Sam Sosa to exercise his option and be Karim Garcia's RF caddy in the Bronx, these men have more than likely taken their last shower in the home clubhouse at Wrigley:

Alfucksucka
Guthrie
Veres
EITHER Cruz or Zambrano - I honestly can't see them keeping both, especially considering their late-season struggles with maturity.
Bako
Karros
Womack
Glanville
O'Leary
Estes
Gonzalez OR Grud
Lofton

I left the last two on purpose. In my little world, Lofton would stay in CF, Patterson would play RF, and Sosa would become New York's favorite new metrosexual. But Lofton has played his stock back up a bit, and I bet the free agent value for a true leadoff hitter has risen, for perhaps a Houston, a St. Louis, the Rocks, the D'Backs, Giants, or Dodgers. And that's just the contenders in the NL.

As for Gonzalez, he is not such a great deal, salary vs. expected performance. But I feel that the Cubs are not satisfied with him at short, and if they were able to move the Turd last year, they can manage to move AGonz, if they so desire. It will also be interesting to find out which Grud the Cubs think they have. The September Grud was very very good. The October Grud was horrid.

So, at least 10 holes, and as many as 12. For some reason, I just feel Richie Sexson in my bones. Not because I want him, mind you. He just FEELS like a Cub. Choi is not ready, may not ever be, and it would be so Cublike to go sign Sexson now, in the wake of passing over Thome last winter, and call this our BIG free-agent splash.

As for who else will fill the holes, I suspect you will see another ex-Braves reliever, another retread lefty starter, maybe a couple of more ex-Giants like Rich Aurilia and Yorbit Torrealba, and let's see, which ex-Cubs are out there floating around? Who is this year's Doug Glanville? I think Tyler Houston needs a home. Maybe we can bring Jose Hernandez back again, huh?

In my bizarro world

I would sign Pudge AND Miggy Tejada AND Vlad Guerrero, convince Moises Alou to play first while Choi has another go-around the league. Lofton would play left, Patterson would play CF, and Greg Maddux would come back as my third starter-assistant pitching coach. Shawn Estes would be the color man on the radio, and Alfucksucka would be squeege-ing windshields at the car wash next to the players' parking lot.

---