Team OBP--how to improve without signing huge contracts!

[NoDak]

OK, I think most people agree that getting guys on base was a major problem for CHC. Now, there are two ways to improve this, add to the top, or subtract from the bottom. Most options we have seen on this board are "add to the top" options. His OBP is one of the best arguments (but not the only) for getting Giles.

 

While this is undoubtedly effective, it is not the only way to improve the overall team OBP.

 

Assuming that Macias is finally gone (and I think he is, I can't imagine that he's shopping his wares too extensively), and we may trade CoPat (or at least with the acquisition of Pierre his playing time will likely be cut down), we have to keep Blanco because sometimes Barrett needs a day off. Now, if we can deal Neifi we would improve our number ENORMOUSLY without adding $10-15M to our payroll.

 

Now, Corey is young and I wouldn't mind keeping him on the team for late inning defensive replacement in the OF, or a pinch runner in late innings for Todd Walker (when it is unlikely that he will have to come up to bat) and I don't think we have to worry about Dusty giving Corey too many ABs if given another viable option.

 

Now, who could POSSIBLY be interested in Perez. Thankfully there are GMs around the league who will actually consider Neifi an upgrade.

 

1. PIT: Jack Wilson is a better fielder and not much worse hitter. I doubt we could get much from them and I don't really know who I would want.

 

2. WAS: This is a more likely trading partner. If you think that Neifi is bad, look at Christian Guzman's numbers! Could a deal like this be swung:

 

1-2 prospects (Wellemeyer, Koronka, maybe even Williams) and Neifi Perez and possibly some cash ($2-3M) we could get Wilkerson. If they want more we could send them Corey (I think Bowden likes "toolsy" players). They would not be paying Perez much and he would upgrade their offense, the prospects would help sweeten the deal.

 

Now, think about this. CHC could drop Neifi Perez (609 PAs), CoPat (481 PAs), and Jose Macias (190 PAs). That is about 1280 PAs with below .300 OBP! Their combined OBP was ~.270!

 

DROP FROM THE BOTTOM AND YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN ADDING TO THE TOP because you don't need to add enormous salaries!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

1. Drop the guys you mention

2. Let Murton play every day

[BigbadB]

OK, I think most people agree that getting guys on base was a major problem for CHC. Now, there are two ways to improve this, add to the top, or subtract from the bottom. Most options we have seen on this board are "add to the top" options. His OBP is one of the best arguments (but not the only) for getting Giles.

 

While this is undoubtedly effective, it is not the only way to improve the overall team OBP.

 

Assuming that Macias is finally gone (and I think he is, I can't imagine that he's shopping his wares too extensively), and we may trade CoPat (or at least with the acquisition of Pierre his playing time will likely be cut down), we have to keep Blanco because sometimes Barrett needs a day off. Now, if we can deal Neifi we would improve our number ENORMOUSLY without adding $10-15M to our payroll.

 

Now, Corey is young and I wouldn't mind keeping him on the team for late inning defensive replacement in the OF, or a pinch runner in late innings for Todd Walker (when it is unlikely that he will have to come up to bat) and I don't think we have to worry about Dusty giving Corey too many ABs if given another viable option.

 

Now, who could POSSIBLY be interested in Perez. Thankfully there are GMs around the league who will actually consider Neifi an upgrade.

 

1. PIT: Jack Wilson is a better fielder and not much worse hitter. I doubt we could get much from them and I don't really know who I would want.

 

2. WAS: This is a more likely trading partner. If you think that Neifi is bad, look at Christian Guzman's numbers! Could a deal like this be swung:

 

1-2 prospects (Wellemeyer, Koronka, maybe even Williams) and Neifi Perez and possibly some cash ($2-3M) we could get Wilkerson. If they want more we could send them Corey (I think Bowden likes "toolsy" players). They would not be paying Perez much and he would upgrade their offense, the prospects would help sweeten the deal.

 

Now, think about this. CHC could drop Neifi Perez (609 PAs), CoPat (481 PAs), and Jose Macias (190 PAs). That is about 1280 PAs with below .300 OBP! Their combined OBP was ~.270!

 

DROP FROM THE BOTTOM AND YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN ADDING TO THE TOP because you don't need to add enormous salaries!

 

Did you miss the memo? Neifi was signed to a 2 year extension. I sob each time I see the monetary amount, so I'll let someone else put that up here. Macias will not be as good as gone until he is gone. I have seen nothing yet that leads me to believe that he won't be back. We left good prospects unprotected rather than cut Macias.

[NewUserName]

I actually kind of agree with you. The Cubs are not going to trade Perez though. I dont think the Cubs really need high end talent. They just need to improve their bottom talent. I think they have actually improved quite abit at the end of our roster. Depending on who they get for RF and maybe another SP I think this is stacking up to be a pretty successful off season.

[kroth1342]

Now, if we can deal Neifi we would improve our number ENORMOUSLY without adding $10-15M to our payroll.

 

Now, think about this. CHC could drop Neifi Perez (609 PAs)

 

We can't trade Neifi for several months because he just signed as a FA - step your thread game up!

[NoDak]

OK, I think most people agree that getting guys on base was a major problem for CHC. Now, there are two ways to improve this, add to the top, or subtract from the bottom. Most options we have seen on this board are "add to the top" options. His OBP is one of the best arguments (but not the only) for getting Giles.

 

While this is undoubtedly effective, it is not the only way to improve the overall team OBP.

 

Assuming that Macias is finally gone (and I think he is, I can't imagine that he's shopping his wares too extensively), and we may trade CoPat (or at least with the acquisition of Pierre his playing time will likely be cut down), we have to keep Blanco because sometimes Barrett needs a day off. Now, if we can deal Neifi we would improve our number ENORMOUSLY without adding $10-15M to our payroll.

 

Now, Corey is young and I wouldn't mind keeping him on the team for late inning defensive replacement in the OF, or a pinch runner in late innings for Todd Walker (when it is unlikely that he will have to come up to bat) and I don't think we have to worry about Dusty giving Corey too many ABs if given another viable option.

 

Now, who could POSSIBLY be interested in Perez. Thankfully there are GMs around the league who will actually consider Neifi an upgrade.

 

1. PIT: Jack Wilson is a better fielder and not much worse hitter. I doubt we could get much from them and I don't really know who I would want.

 

2. WAS: This is a more likely trading partner. If you think that Neifi is bad, look at Christian Guzman's numbers! Could a deal like this be swung:

 

1-2 prospects (Wellemeyer, Koronka, maybe even Williams) and Neifi Perez and possibly some cash ($2-3M) we could get Wilkerson. If they want more we could send them Corey (I think Bowden likes "toolsy" players). They would not be paying Perez much and he would upgrade their offense, the prospects would help sweeten the deal.

 

Now, think about this. CHC could drop Neifi Perez (609 PAs), CoPat (481 PAs), and Jose Macias (190 PAs). That is about 1280 PAs with below .300 OBP! Their combined OBP was ~.270!

 

DROP FROM THE BOTTOM AND YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN ADDING TO THE TOP because you don't need to add enormous salaries!

 

Did you miss the memo? Neifi was signed to a 2 year extension. I sob each time I see the monetary amount, so I'll let someone else put that up here. Macias will not be as good as gone until he is gone. I have seen nothing yet that leads me to believe that he won't be back. We left good prospects unprotected rather than cut Macias.

 

I know he signed for 2 years. I don't get all the memos but I noticed that one. I am not thrilled about it either (*exageration*). That is why I have spent time ever since trying to find a team that would actually be willing to take him. I also included some cash (CHC should have plenty) to make it more reasonable for Bowden to accept him.

 

While it may be pie in the sky to say that Perez will be gone, my main point stands, that while it is sexy to add to the top of the roster, it can be just as effective to eliminate from the bottom and a team can save a TON of money.

[BigbadB]

I really don't have a problem with Neifi as the utility bench guy. He's quite a bit overpaid for that role, but I didn't give it to him. If he does play, if he hits 8th, I'll be fine. If he replaces Walker late in games for defensive purposes, I'm fine with that too. Because he can hit "okay", he's probably not the worst option as a PH off the bench that the Cubs have ever sent out there. I would just hope he isn't the first option. That would mean we didn't do a very good job of putting a strong bench together.

 

Macias, on the other hand, might just be the worst they ever sent out there.

[BigbadB]

OK, I think most people agree that getting guys on base was a major problem for CHC. Now, there are two ways to improve this, add to the top, or subtract from the bottom. Most options we have seen on this board are "add to the top" options. His OBP is one of the best arguments (but not the only) for getting Giles.

 

While this is undoubtedly effective, it is not the only way to improve the overall team OBP.

 

Assuming that Macias is finally gone (and I think he is, I can't imagine that he's shopping his wares too extensively), and we may trade CoPat (or at least with the acquisition of Pierre his playing time will likely be cut down), we have to keep Blanco because sometimes Barrett needs a day off. Now, if we can deal Neifi we would improve our number ENORMOUSLY without adding $10-15M to our payroll.

 

Now, Corey is young and I wouldn't mind keeping him on the team for late inning defensive replacement in the OF, or a pinch runner in late innings for Todd Walker (when it is unlikely that he will have to come up to bat) and I don't think we have to worry about Dusty giving Corey too many ABs if given another viable option.

 

Now, who could POSSIBLY be interested in Perez. Thankfully there are GMs around the league who will actually consider Neifi an upgrade.

 

1. PIT: Jack Wilson is a better fielder and not much worse hitter. I doubt we could get much from them and I don't really know who I would want.

 

2. WAS: This is a more likely trading partner. If you think that Neifi is bad, look at Christian Guzman's numbers! Could a deal like this be swung:

 

1-2 prospects (Wellemeyer, Koronka, maybe even Williams) and Neifi Perez and possibly some cash ($2-3M) we could get Wilkerson. If they want more we could send them Corey (I think Bowden likes "toolsy" players). They would not be paying Perez much and he would upgrade their offense, the prospects would help sweeten the deal.

 

Now, think about this. CHC could drop Neifi Perez (609 PAs), CoPat (481 PAs), and Jose Macias (190 PAs). That is about 1280 PAs with below .300 OBP! Their combined OBP was ~.270!

 

DROP FROM THE BOTTOM AND YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN ADDING TO THE TOP because you don't need to add enormous salaries!

 

Did you miss the memo? Neifi was signed to a 2 year extension. I sob each time I see the monetary amount, so I'll let someone else put that up here. Macias will not be as good as gone until he is gone. I have seen nothing yet that leads me to believe that he won't be back. We left good prospects unprotected rather than cut Macias.

 

I know he signed for 2 years. I don't get all the memos but I noticed that one. I am not thrilled about it either (*exageration*). That is why I have spent time ever since trying to find a team that would actually be willing to take him. I also included some cash (CHC should have plenty) to make it more reasonable for Bowden to accept him.

 

While it may be pie in the sky to say that Perez will be gone, my main point stands, that while it is sexy to add to the top of the roster, it can be just as effective to eliminate from the bottom and a team can save a TON of money.

 

Unfortunately, baseball isn't known for teams signing guys to long term contracts and then trading them immediately. They can't trade him without his permission until June at the earliest. Would he accept a trade before June? If there was a starting job somewhere, maybe. Baker seems like he's pretty close with Neifi.

 

Not many teams will be interested in Neifi considering the length or the amount of that contract either. I take that back. No team would be interested.

 

I do understand where you are coming from as far as getting rid of the bad production from the bottom. We're stuck with Neifi and Blanco, so the improvement will have to come from the other 5 or 6 bench spots.

[NoDak]

I really don't have a problem with Neifi as the utility bench guy. He's quite a bit overpaid for that role, but I didn't give it to him. If he does play, if he hits 8th, I'll be fine. If he replaces Walker late in games for defensive purposes, I'm fine with that too. Because he can hit "okay", he's probably not the worst option as a PH off the bench that the Cubs have ever sent out there. I would just hope he isn't the first option. That would mean we didn't do a very good job of putting a strong bench together.

 

Macias, on the other hand, might just be the worst they ever sent out there.

 

OK, that is very reasonable. I just get sick every time I see "609 PAs" on baseballreference.com. I guess having him as utility guy BEHIND Hairston wouldn't be too bad. give him 104 PA in 97 games (defensive replacement/occasional start to give player day off) I could live with that.

 

Have you heard what LA is asking for Bradley? I honestly wouldn't mind keeping Corey around as a defensive replacment/pinch-runner/etc. He and Hairston split the 4/5 outfield position? Would that be bad.

 

Given the choice I would rather see Corey play because I believe he is more likely to significantly outperform what he did last year. I think .265-.275/.315-.330/.500 line would not shock me. Last year I think things kind of spun out of control for him.

[erik316wttn]

How about having a manager who encourages walks, instead of saying they "clog the bases?"

 

I'm sure once fines and benchings would come for swinging at everything within the city of Chicago, the OBP would improve.