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From: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz)
Newsgroups: net.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Cubs Mortgaging Future? (Again??)
Message-ID: <306@3comvax.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 27-Dec-85 18:21:32 EST
Article-I.D.: 3comvax.306
Posted: Fri Dec 27 18:21:32 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Dec-85 23:13:47 EST
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Reply-To: mykes@3comvax.UUCP (Mike Schwartz)
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Manny Trillo had some fine years in Chicago, and although he is not
a great pure hitter, he is capable of teasing us Cubs fans with a 
.320 batting average at the All-Star Breadk.  However, you can expect
him to end up at about .220.

Food for thought:
	Bench Ron Cey and shift Ryno and Dunston left one position
each.  This would make room for Trillo at second, and would represent
a 1000% improvement over the Cubs' infield defense in '84 when they won
it all.  Don't get me wrong, Ron Cey is a great man to have on any team,
and I do not think he is over the hill or too old.  Ryno can handle
shortstop as well as anyone the Cubs have, probably as well as 99% of
National League shortstops.  Dunston is a fine prospect, but his 
erratic fielding at shortstop really hurt the Cubs last year before 
everyone got hurt.  Third base would be a great spot for his arm,
and there is nobody in Chicago's future there.

Dallas Green, if you can hear me, please reconsider signing Kirk Gibson.
It is true that salaries are out of hand, but if anyone is worth the
bucks, it's Gibson.  With Gibson in right, the Cubs could get away with
playing two outfielders (Dernier can cover left and center by himself).
With Gibson batting third and Durham cleanup, and Sandburg and Dernier,
and Jody and Moreland, there are no easy outs.  Lots of speed, including
Dunston, and then you got either Cey or Trillo.  A fine team to go with
the best starting rotation in all of baseball.  And please don't trade
Dernier, because he may be the only center fielder in baseball capable
of playing with Sarge on one side and Moreland on the other - the man
covers ground out there like Omar Moreno used to, and anything hit in
the air out there he catches.

I am not forgetting the Sarge.  He along with Sandburg and Durham are
the only real superstars that the Cubbies have in the field.  Jim Frey
is the greatest field manager ever, and is a pro at dealing with the
press.  He knew that to win with the Sarge and Moreland that the Cubbies
would need DEFENSIVE help in the late innings, just like in '84.  Billy
Hatcher did a fine job last year, but he would only platoon with Dernier
at best.  

If the season were to start tomorrow, the Cubbies could win it all if:
	1.	Sarge hits like he hit in '84
	2.	The starting rotation pitchers get 30 starts apiece and
		go at least 7 innings.
	3.	Leon Durham finally comes in to his own (he should
		hit about .320 with 30+ homers, 100 RBI, and 30+
		stolen bases, every year).
	4.	Dernier plays 150 games in center field.

I see another scenario possibility for the Cubbies, too.  Moreland
might get moved to third, benching Cey, and giving the Cubbies an
outfield of Sarge, Dernier, and Mumphrey.  

I don't mean to be so critical of the Penguin, but he did not really have
a typical Ron Cey year last year.  He certainly did better with both
hands bandaged in all of '84 than he did in '85 after surgery.  But
I can't recall any National League 3rd baseman who did much better
last year... it was a poor year for 3rd basemen in the NL, tho.

/mykes