In either case, and maybe I’m crazy, but wouldnt it be worth a shot to try out Fontenot at the lead off spot? I’d rather have DeRosa over Fukodome in RF, especially if Fukodome continues to be a non-threat at the plate in 2009. I think Fukodome is good defensively, but if DeRosa is healthy he’s shown he can make some great defensive plays in RF.

Fontenot always gets a clutch hit, hits the ball to all fields and always works the count into a favourable situation. He’s got good speed and in essence, could be a prototypical lead off man.

I’ve heard comments about ACTUALLY trying to get Roberts in the off season, but why not use a guy we already have on the roster who’s been pretty much delegated to spot duty or as a pinch hitter?

And my point is – and I’m sure you agree, and this is why the comment is self-indicting – is that Soriano isn’t that guy – he never was, or will be, no matter how much he makes – and I think he’s prolly the only one who thinks he is that guy. I honestly don’t believe Lou thinks so, and prolly not even Hendry.

But yeah, the theory has holes, I was just riffin’ a bit – then again, I was thinking of a team like the Rays, and is there anyone on the Cubs you would trade Longoria or Upton for? Or to use your Dbacks example, how about Upton or Jackson or Drew? I mean, would you trade Loney for Lee even?

I’m saying no. Just offering some fodder.

And had they performed up to the levels they played in the reg. season and still lost, I would totally agree. But Dempster and Zambrano didn’t and neither did most of the offense. Who did Arizona have last year?? Chris Young?

The Cubs do not have enough A level talent. They have a lot of B/B+ players. Marmol is the only one I rate an A, though arguments could be made for Soto based on his position. Their strength comes from the fact they don’t have many C level players either. This is just a long-winded way of saying their strength is depth of good players and/or they are more built for the long season than the short one.

I was thinking they might be better off having talent that’s more concentrated in fewer players. Everyone in their lineup can be pitched to. And in the playoffs, everything is exposed, better pitchers execute more precisely, and the result is what we saw.

This of course is where Soriano’s comment is self-indicting, because he is the poster boy. He’s a mistake hitter. You don’t see as many mistakes in the playoffs, they make him lay off pitches he can’t, and ergo, he doesn’t produce.

Just look what having a hitter of Manny’s talent does – the Cubs have no one that good. Not even a Howard or Utley. And on the pitching side, no Santana or Sabathia – or even a Cole Hamels.

Yes, I’m laying out the baseball equivalent of the superstars win championships argument, but the experience of the last couple years has me thinking there’s something to it. It doesn’t excuse the tight play, certainly, and a left-handed bat of consequence has to be on the shopping list, but where’s the top line talent really?

Sorry so sloppy.

I think it would help if the organization would stop doing ridiculous things like hiring Priests to bless the field before the playoffs. That’s just ignorant on multiple levels.