Is Soriano right?

October 6th, 2008 at 02:45pm Wally Haas

Alphonso Soriano has been qouted as saying that the problem with the Cubs is that they are built for a marathon (162 game season) and not a sprint (playoffs).

You could say — and many have — that Soriano should be one of the sprinters with the big bucks he’s being paid. He carried the team at times during the marathon part of the season but didn’t even get to the starting blocks in the postseason (1 hit).

Quick question: Would any of you take any two Cub pitchers from this year’s team over the healthy Mark Prior and Kerry Wood of 2003 in a playoff game?

So, as we Cub fans wait until next year, as we’ve been doing for 100 years, how should this team be retooled if at all?

Earlier I said that Derek Lee should be traded to make room for Micah Hoffpauir, but I have second thoughts after Lee went 3-for-4 with two doubles in the series finale.  Maybe trade Soriano and give Hoffpauir a shot in left with Reed Johnson taking over for late-inning defense? Maybe get a dependable lefty for the bullpen?

The Cubs have a lot of flexibility if they want to add a proven post game winner and/or leadoff hitter. There are decent arms on the farm and who knows whether Rich Hill will return to form for the Cubs or whether another team is willing to gamble and make a trade for him.

I’m as disappointed as any Cub fan out there, but we’re seeing a team that has become a consistent winner with three playoff appearances this decade.

We Cub fans are all about hope.

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