Pick your Rightfielder

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

First of all, his batting average is irrelevant to me. He has an uncanny knack for taking a walk and getting on base. His OBP is consistently 100 points higher than his average, so even when his average dips, he still can help you by not making outs.

 

Secondly, when not injured and playing in caverous ballpark, Wilkerson has 30 HR power.

 

So when he's not batting leadoff and not in a big ballpark, he'll get homeruns? But he's only batted 29 times out of leadoff in four years.

 

Plus, his homerun totals over the last four years are, 11, 32, 19, 20. That doesn't speak 30 homeruns a year to me.

 

His OBP% is good. But we already have a leadoff man. Where would you bat him in the lineup? 2nd? That would be some awesome OBP in the top of the lineup, but do you think that leaves enough pop in the middle?

 

Ideally, I'd like a little more pop out of RF. But let's face the facts, who available gives you that? Mench is about the only one there that I think is definitive 30 HR power and his other numbers leave something to be desired.

 

Depending on the rest of the make-up of the team, I'd hit Wilkerson either 2nd, 5th or 6th. I think he has enough power to handle those positions and his OBP is very good. I might be really creative and sandwich him between Lee and Ramirez. While he lacks the power of a typical number four hitter, it would create a R-L-R arrangement and utilize his OBP ahead of Ramirez.

[SoonerCubFan]

Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with Player I:

 

Player I-

2005: 286/412/520 Bats: Left

Career: 287/393/514 Age: 30

 

Player I has immense skills that could explode into a montser year, could be a perfect #2 hitter behind Pierre or even #3 with the right mix, has excellent speed, good D to excellent D and is a superb baserunner.

 

Not sure of his availablility, but I'd love to see it (right after Player H).

[Magnetic Curses]

Plus, his homerun totals over the last four years are, 11, 32, 19, 20. That doesn't speak 30 homeruns a year to me.

 

he said "30 home run power", which is absolutely true.

 

His OBP% is good. But we already have a leadoff man. Where would you bat him in the lineup? 2nd? That would be some awesome OBP in the top of the lineup, but do you think that leaves enough pop in the middle?

 

let's dispell the myth that OBP is only important at the top of the lineup. OBP is important EVERYWHERE in the lineup. we don't need simply OBP at the top, we need it everywhere.

[Jehrico]

His OBP% is good. But we already have a leadoff man. Where would you bat him in the lineup? 2nd? That would be some awesome OBP in the top of the lineup, but do you think that leaves enough pop in the middle?

OBP is good no matter where in the lineup you hit. I'd take a lineup full of .370 OBP guys with .400 slugging anyday over any offense I can ever recall seeing the Cubs trot out there.

[hawkeyecub]

Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with Player I:

 

Player I-

2005: 286/412/520 Bats: Left

Career: 287/393/514 Age: 30

 

Player I has immense skills that could explode into a montser year, could be a perfect #2 hitter behind Pierre or even #3 with the right mix, has excellent speed, good D to excellent D and is a superb baserunner.

 

Not sure of his availablility, but I'd love to see it (right after Player H).

 

Name? I can't find anyone with that line.

[rocket]

Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with Player I:

 

Player I-

2005: 286/412/520 Bats: Left

Career: 287/393/514 Age: 30

 

Player I has immense skills that could explode into a montser year, could be a perfect #2 hitter behind Pierre or even #3 with the right mix, has excellent speed, good D to excellent D and is a superb baserunner.

 

Not sure of his availablility, but I'd love to see it (right after Player H).

 

Player I also has injury concerns and a hefty contract.

[YearofDaCubs]

Plus, his homerun totals over the last four years are, 11, 32, 19, 20. That doesn't speak 30 homeruns a year to me.

 

he said "30 home run power", which is absolutely true.

 

His OBP% is good. But we already have a leadoff man. Where would you bat him in the lineup? 2nd? That would be some awesome OBP in the top of the lineup, but do you think that leaves enough pop in the middle?

 

let's dispell the myth that OBP is only important at the top of the lineup. OBP is important EVERYWHERE in the lineup. we don't need simply OBP at the top, we need it everywhere.

Totally agree. We should look to improve OBP everywhere.

[Magnetic Curses]

Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with Player I:

 

Player I-

2005: 286/412/520 Bats: Left

Career: 287/393/514 Age: 30

 

Player I has immense skills that could explode into a montser year, could be a perfect #2 hitter behind Pierre or even #3 with the right mix, has excellent speed, good D to excellent D and is a superb baserunner.

 

Not sure of his availablility, but I'd love to see it (right after Player H).

 

Name? I can't find anyone with that line.

 

a 30 year old player with a .900+ career OPS? i can tell you right now that he's not available.

 

it looks like he's already had a couple monster years to me.

[Balsa]

 

he said "30 home run power", which is absolutely true.

 

Yes, he hit 30 home runs once. Do the numbers suggest he'll do it again? No.

 

let's dispell the myth that OBP is only important at the top of the lineup. OBP is important EVERYWHERE in the lineup. we don't need simply OBP at the top, we need it everywhere.

 

Ok fair enough, but I see the more drastic need as an RBI guy, ideally with a high OBP as well.

Edited December 7, 2005 by Balsa

[soapy]

Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with Player I:

 

Player I-

2005: 286/412/520 Bats: Left

Career: 287/393/514 Age: 30

 

Player I has immense skills that could explode into a montser year, could be a perfect #2 hitter behind Pierre or even #3 with the right mix, has excellent speed, good D to excellent D and is a superb baserunner.

 

Not sure of his availablility, but I'd love to see it (right after Player H).

 

Player I also has injury concerns and a hefty contract.

 

Drew? Is he 30 already?

[Magnetic Curses]

Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with Player I:

 

Player I-

2005: 286/412/520 Bats: Left

Career: 287/393/514 Age: 30

 

Player I has immense skills that could explode into a montser year, could be a perfect #2 hitter behind Pierre or even #3 with the right mix, has excellent speed, good D to excellent D and is a superb baserunner.

 

Not sure of his availablility, but I'd love to see it (right after Player H).

 

Player I also has injury concerns and a hefty contract.

 

ah yes! brain fart.

[goonys evil twin]

I would certainly take a risk with Drew.

[rocket]

Personally, I wouldn't mind taking a chance with Player I:

 

Player I-

2005: 286/412/520 Bats: Left

Career: 287/393/514 Age: 30

 

Player I has immense skills that could explode into a montser year, could be a perfect #2 hitter behind Pierre or even #3 with the right mix, has excellent speed, good D to excellent D and is a superb baserunner.

 

Not sure of his availablility, but I'd love to see it (right after Player H).

 

Player I also has injury concerns and a hefty contract.

 

Drew? Is he 30 already?

 

Yep.

[YearofDaCubs]

I would certainly take a risk with Drew.

Me too.

[Jehrico]

I would certainly take a risk with Drew.

Me too.

 

Depends on how much it took to get him, and how much salary LA would pick up (since they're throwing money around right now). But I would be open to the possibility.

[Magnetic Curses]

 

he said "30 home run power", which is absolutely true.

 

Yes, he hit 30 home runs once. Do the numbers suggest he'll do it again? No.

 

let's dispell the myth that OBP is only important at the top of the lineup. OBP is important EVERYWHERE in the lineup. we don't need simply OBP at the top, we need it everywhere.

 

True enough, but what we need more is someone to back up Lee and Aram, else the second one gets walked and the bat taken out of his hands. Sure then Wilk comes up with men on base, but he doesn't have the SLG to get the job done.

 

1. what are you talking about? "do the numbers suggest he'll do it again?"? he's 1 year removed from hitting 32 homers and he's 28 years old. his career SLG is .452, i think he's capable.

 

anyways, i think it's established that he has 30 home run power, which is what vance indicated he has.

 

2. .452, yes. and last year seems to be otherwise an aberration from his career numbers.

[Magnetic Curses]

I would certainly take a risk with Drew.

 

i'd even absorb his contract.

[rocket]

I would certainly take a risk with Drew.

 

I would too. Just saying that there's more to Player I than just his line.

[goonys evil twin]

I would certainly take a risk with Drew.

 

I would too. Just saying that there's more to Player I than just his line.

 

Yeah, I wasn't questioning you. When I saw 30 year old who might be available with that line, there wasn't many options, so I looked up Drew and noticed that was his line.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Aubrey Huff-

1) LH power

2) change of scenery may help

3) contract year

4) can play 3B or 1B, if Lee or Aram need a day off, or injury

[goonys evil twin]

Aubrey Huff-

1) LH power

2) change of scenery may help

3) contract year

4) can play 3B or 1B, if Lee or Aram need a day off, or injury

 

#4 only has value if you get another good hitting corner OF to take Huff's place on those days.

 

An OF of Murton, Pierre and Huff is a very large risk for bad production.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Aubrey Huff-

1) LH power

2) change of scenery may help

3) contract year

4) can play 3B or 1B, if Lee or Aram need a day off, or injury

 

#4 only has value if you get another good hitting corner OF to take Huff's place on those days.

 

 

I agree. I'm just pointing out what Huff brings that some other trade targets don't.

[Jehrico]

Aubrey Huff-

1) LH power

2) change of scenery may help

3) contract year

4) can play 3B or 1B, if Lee or Aram need a day off, or injury

 

#4 only has value if you get another good hitting corner OF to take Huff's place on those days.

 

An OF of Murton, Pierre and Huff is a very large risk for bad production.

 

There is a risk, but I'm of the thought that he'll break out once he's away from TB. However, I think it also says something about a guys character if he can't play as well as he is capable while he's on a bad team though...

[YearofDaCubs]

Aubrey Huff-

1) LH power

2) change of scenery may help

3) contract year

4) can play 3B or 1B, if Lee or Aram need a day off, or injury

 

#4 only has value if you get another good hitting corner OF to take Huff's place on those days.

 

An OF of Murton, Pierre and Huff is a very large risk for bad production.

 

There is a risk, but I'm of the thought that he'll break out once he's away from TB. However, I think it also says something about a guys character if he can't play as well as he is capable while he's on a bad team though...

I know his character has been questioned before.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Here's the roster if the Cubs only acquire Huff, not Lugo:

 

CF Pierre

2B Walker

1B Lee

RF Huff

3B Ramirez

C Barrett

LF Murton

SS Cedeno/Neifi

 

I like the balance of OBP & power.

Edited December 7, 2005 by TrueBlueCubFan