How do you grade the first half?

[BigZ38]

I'll give this team a.....B-. The starting pitching has been pretty good all year with occasional stretches of struggling. The defense has been really good at times especially lately but struggled at the beginning of the year. The bullpen has had it's ups and downs. Lately with Marmol it has been more consistent. The offense hasn't lived up to the billing. Not enough production out of some players but it looks to be turning around.

[DLee25]

B just cuz

[Bockstock]

C+, similar thoughts to you BigZ38

2.38 on a 4 point scale

Broken down=
Starting Pitching B+ (3.33)
Bullpen C+ (2.33)
Defense B (3) - Soriano to LF has been huge
Offense C (2)
Manager B (3)
Roster Management D- (.67)

[DLee25]

C+, similar thoughts to you BigZ38

2.38 on a 4 point scale

Broken down=
Starting Pitching B+ (3.33)
Bullpen C+ (2.33)
Defense B (3) - Soriano to LF has been huge
Offense C (2)
Manager B (3)
Roster Management D- (.67)

Roster management a D? Maybe at the beginning of the season. We had to find the right combos

[cubbie_kern]

C. They're one game over .500.

[Bockstock]

Roster management a D? Maybe at the beginning of the season. We had to find the right combos

That grade is mostly on the Upper Management. Like Lou said at one of his press conferences he is just using what he has.

I don't think it is a coincidence either that the team has performed much better as Hendry has responded to Lou's requests/wants, and hopefully he continues to do so.

[BigZ38]

That grade is mostly on the Upper Management. Like Lou said at one of his press conferences he is just using what he has.

I don't think it is a coincidence either that the team has performed much better as Hendry has responded to Lou's requests/wants, and hopefully he continues to do so.

It's not like Lou hasn't had anything to work with.....They only spent 300 million in the offseason.

[SKIPPER 11]

This is a very good debate or question.

I think we should get a C-. It would be lower but we must consider the injuries. We are 44-43 which is .506- average. I give us a C- to a D because we all know that we should have 50 wins if not more at this point. We have given away a heck of a lot more than we have stolen. I can think of one game that we actually should have lost that we won- Rammys walk off. Now think about how many we gave away.

There are only a few players that have exceeded what I thought going into the season.

To me the only As given would go to DERO, FONTENOT, MARMOL, LILLY

Bs- Rammy, Theriot, Soriano, Ward, Marshall, Dempster B MINUS- Z, Wuertz, Lee

Cs- Marquis, FLoyd, Ohman, Pagan Cminus- Rich Hill, Howry

Ds and Fs- JJ, IZZY, EYRE, K. HILL, BOWEN

[BigZ38]

You were pretty generous with Ohmans' grade....I'd give him a D+ at best.

[SKIPPER 11]

Ohman- 28Ks- in 26 innings - impressive


lefties hitting .204 vs. him- thats his main job to get them out

Era- a little over 4

Walks 12 in 26 innings- too many

1-4-1 record- bad

The first 2 stats I listed are very impressive. The last 2 are bad.

I would take these same numbers out of him the second half, with exception of his record.

[BigZ38]

It just seems to me that everytime I see him enter a game he gives up a game tying or go ahead lead to the other team.

[Drockvb]

C+

I added the plus for their play the last couple of weeks.

[Jason]

C.

.500 ball is average... so is C... not that hard to compute.

[Bockstock]

It's not like Lou hasn't had anything to work with.....They only spent 300 million in the offseason.

And that "300 million" has the Cubs 1 game over 500 and 4.5 games back of a team with a payroll 35 million dollars less.

The dodgers have spent $90 on busts this year and are in first place. Since when does signing people or spending money make the basis for a good team??

It certainly raises expectations, but it's not like the Cubs added on, they created many of these holes themselves

[ChiCubs1984]

I would give us a C
Not impressed with the overall bullpen issue.
Jones needs a bus pass out of Chicago (Which I would be more than glad to pay for)
I say just put Fontenot/Theriot at short get rid of Izzy (another bus pas out of here)

[CubsFan23]

Overall a C.

Broken down by month:
April - D-
May - D
June and July - B