Rebuilding the Cubs

[Your Mom]

Ramirez is very good plus he has played really good defense since coming to the Cubs. Yes, he should hustle more, but there aren't 5 3B better than him. It will be interesting what they do with Pierre because he's been very good lately. Lee, Ramirez, Cedeno, Barrett, and Jones should all be kept. I think a lot depends on if the Cubs can sign a big named LF such as Carlos Lee. I think Murton's probably a 4th Outfielder. He could platoon in RF with Jones who usually struggles vs. the Lefties. Jones took a lot of crap early mostly because he's a similar player to Patterson, but the fact is that Jones has been the best hitter the Cubs have this year. I'd like to see the Cubs give Theriot all of the ABs at 2B, because they aren't keeping Walker. We should just trade Walker now and be done with it. I like the way our pitching is shaping up. They have run Marshall out there every 5th day which is going to pay dividends next year. Marmol looks good, so they need to keep running him out there every 5th day in the second half. Zambrano is probably the best pitcher in the league right now. They should deal Maddux to let him make a playoff run and bring up Rich Hill and run him out there every 5th day. Contrary to probably everyone else, I do think Prior will come back and be a fine pitcher - he's just had a really bad run of luck colliding with Giles and then taking the line drive off of his elbow. When he came up, everyone talked about how good his mechanics are so I'm betting he will be fine starting in 07. We have the makings of a pretty good bullpen, but Dempster needs to prove he can get it straightened out in the second half. Erye and Howry have been everything we thought they would. The other guys down there have been mediocre but that's pretty standard in this day and age.