Jeff Moore of Dugout Central has a post and lists the “10 Most Important Players to the Success of their Team.” Listed at number four is Carlos Zambrano with the following blurb:
On this, the 100th year anniversary of the Cubs last World Series title, the hopes on the north side of the Windy City are once again high. After a playoff run last season, the Cubs seem primed to take the next step. Zambrano is a true ace who heads a deep rotation, but upon closer look, what would that rotation consist of if he was not in it? The combination of Lilly, Hill, Marshall, Marquis, Lieber and Dempster is not going to get them to the top of any division, even the NL Central. Zambrano is the key to 100 years of shattered hopes. No pressure Z. (Source)
Let me start by saying that Zambrano is a hugely important cog in this machine. I understand that. What I don’t agree with is the fact that he is the most important piece to this team’s success. Why? Because, as I’ve said before, we have pitching depth. We have seven or eight Major League ready guys vying for five spots. There is no question Zambrano is the Ace, but could the Cubs get by with a patchwork job in the rotation without him? I think they could.
I would argue that the most important player on this team from a depth point of view is either Derrek Lee or Aramis Ramirez. If one of them goes down for the season, who replaces them? For Lee, it’s probably someone like Mark DeRosa or Daryle Ward with an outside shot going to Micah Hoffpauir. For Ramirez, who plays for him? DeRosa again? You certainly can’t rush Josh Vitters to the majors, so does Matt Craig get a shot?
The point is this. When I look at the post important pieces, I look at the guys we can’t afford to lose. While it would hurt bad to lose Carlos, it would hurt worse to lose a corner IF. That’s just my opinion. Am I wrong? Who’s the most important guy to this team?
I’d have to agree with you here. I would say Ramirez is the most important player on the team. I think the dropoff from Lee to Ward isn’t as bad as the dropoff from Ramirez to whoever takes over for him.
I also have to ask Cub fans in general, why does everyone call Zambrano and “Ace”? If we’re just talking about “Ace of the Cubs” then fine, but if we’re talking about “Aces” in baseball, I don’t think Zambrano is one. He’s inconsistent and he’s gotten worse in each of the last 3 years (maybe 4?). 2003 and 2004 I would agree he was an “Ace”. Not lately though.
I’m just going to make you all remember the mess we had when Lee went down in ‘06. That team was only two games out and playing well. After that, it was a mess. My vote is for Lee.
I’m going to vote for Theriot. If he goes down, we’re screwed…
I too vote for D. Lee.
Does this guy even realize that both Lilly and Hill were as good, if not better, than Z last year?
Real funny Archie!
Yeah. I crack myself up.
Tough call, but I’ll go with Lee.
And Hoffpauir will probably be the guy to get the shot if either Aramis or Derrek gets hurt, but I’d also expect Hendry to look elsewhere in such an event.
If not Zambrano, then certainly Lilly. I take issue with hearing that we have 7 or 8 major league pitchers for 5 spots. The problem is that most of them are “#5″ pitchers. I believe that come September, Jim Hendry will rue that he didn’t try to trade for a top shelf pitcher this offseason. Pitching depth is critical, but when the pitching is mediocre to bad, it doesn’t help a whole lot.
Eddie,
Not sure where you are getting the fact that our starters are “mediocre to bad” when they finished the year last year ranked #3 in ERA. If they finished first would we improve our grade of them to mediocre? Fact is we did not lose in the playoffs last year because of the pitching. Our hitters laid an egg.