sully's article on thurs (Not our Sully the other one)

[back2backjax]

i like the idea of patterson in right and here's why:

 

- with murton something of a D liability in left, pierre and patterson would gobble up everything possible between LCF and RF. That's a definite plus.

 

- patterson's bat and speed at the bottom of the order could be huge.

 

- if patterson doesn't cut it during the first half, JH would have plenty of $$ to spend at the trade deadline by not wasting $5M a year on a patterson clone like jacque jones. bigger names will be available by then anyway.

 

- the idea of carlos lee being available in 07 is a nice one.

[ThePenguin11]

i like the idea of patterson in right and here's why:

 

- with murton something of a D liability in left, pierre and patterson would gobble up everything possible between LCF and RF. That's a definite plus.

 

- patterson's bat and speed at the bottom of the order could be huge.

 

- if patterson doesn't cut it during the first half, JH would have plenty of $$ to spend at the trade deadline by not wasting $5M a year on a patterson clone like jacque jones. bigger names will be available by then anyway.

 

- the idea of carlos lee being available in 07 is a nice one.

 

Jim may have no other choice at this point. Better to not throw good money after bad. Good players should be available at the break. He needs to secure some starting pitching now in order to be in contention come July to make it even remotely possible though.

[nick23]

I agree that if we're just going to sign a Jones/Wilson/Encarnacion type player for right, then we might as well just save the money and keep Patterson there and bat him 7th. Of course that would mean we'd have to keep Walker at 2nd. That lineup would be very weak, but if the pitching stays healthy you never know. On the other hand, I want Huff very badly. I have no stats to back me up on this, but I just have a feeling that he's going to have a big year. And that left handed power bat in the middle of the order would look mighty nice.

[wastra]

Murton-Pierre-Patterson in the outfield would likely once again be the worst offensive outfield in the league. As a matter of fact, if the Cubs open the season with this outfield, Hendry should be fired before the break, IMO.

 

I don't buy this "There's no one available" crap either. If we're in a tight spot in the outfield, it's Hendry's fault for failing to plan for this fiasco 3 years ago.

[Gunned]

I can't believe the offseason has gotten to the point that people are convincing themselves Corey Patterson would be an acceptable option for right field.

 

Fill up Wrigley! Drink the Old Style! Stuff the coffers! Yay Cubbies! I believe!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I can't believe the offseason has gotten to the point that people are convincing themselves Corey Patterson would be an acceptable option for right field.

 

It makes me feel dirty to think that...

[Magnetic Curses]

can we change the title of this thread to sullivan's article on thursday?

[YearofDaCubs]

This is exactly the situation I dreaded and expected from our GM. You guys make it seem that it is ok to have Patterson in RF, Pierre in CF, and Murton in LF. Do you guys want to win a World Series? That OF will get us nowhere. Patterson was much worse than Burnitz last year but you guys are commending Hendry for not spending the money on bad RF options? Patterson is the worst OF option out there. The way I see it is Hendry has failed yet again to put an offense good enough to get us into the playoffs. It is ridiculous to think Patterson will be good enough as a RFer for us. Hendry has proven that once again he has made the offense worse for the 2nd consecutive year yet you guys praise him for not getting a RFer because good options were not available. Guess what, there were options available but Hendry did not do the job necessary to upgrade the position. I want Patterson here too but as a 4th OF not as the starting RF. Hendry dug his own grave and now here's hoping he and Baker are goners after next year. It's pure incompetence.

[DesMoinesCub]

Not living in the Chicago area, does anyone know who the two trades on the table are for? I am sure it was reported on here somewhere, but not sure.

 

Also, he talks about Carlos Lee and Cliff Floyd both wanting to come back to Chicago and both are free agents next year.

 

I think this was all in the Sullivan article, but not sure...it might have been in an article on the Sun Times site.

[Wheelimus]

Eh, Patterson had a terrible year last year. If he puts up, say, 2004 numbers, .266/.320/.452/.772, that is better than any of the 4th tier options (Jones/Encarncion/etc.). And Patterson has much more potential to have a better year than his past numbers than any of those options.

[nick23]

This is exactly the situation I dreaded and expected from our GM. You guys make it seem that it is ok to have Patterson in RF, Pierre in CF, and Murton in LF. Do you guys want to win a World Series? That OF will get us nowhere. Patterson was much worse than Burnitz last year but you guys are commending Hendry for not spending the money on bad RF options? Patterson is the worst OF option out there. The way I see it is Hendry has failed yet again to put an offense good enough to get us into the playoffs. It is ridiculous to think Patterson will be good enough as a RFer for us. Hendry has proven that once again he has made the offense worse for the 2nd consecutive year yet you guys praise him for not getting a RFer because good options were not available. Guess what, there were options available but Hendry did not do the job necessary to upgrade the position. I want Patterson here too but as a 4th OF not as the starting RF. Hendry dug his own grave and now here's hoping he and Baker are goners after next year. It's pure incompetence.

 

I am by no means saying that outfield is ok. I just think that Patterson is the best option out of the available free agents. Yes, that lineup is very weak. But if Corey can duplicate his 03 numbers for a full year, that .511/.840 would look very good in the 6 or 7 spot.

[JeffH]

Not living in the Chicago area, does anyone know who the two trades on the table are for? I am sure it was reported on here somewhere, but not sure.

 

No one knows for sure. Some suspect that one might be with the Devil Rays for Huff and/or Lugo.

[CuseCubFan69]

This is exactly the situation I dreaded and expected from our GM. You guys make it seem that it is ok to have Patterson in RF, Pierre in CF, and Murton in LF. Do you guys want to win a World Series? That OF will get us nowhere. Patterson was much worse than Burnitz last year but you guys are commending Hendry for not spending the money on bad RF options? Patterson is the worst OF option out there. The way I see it is Hendry has failed yet again to put an offense good enough to get us into the playoffs. It is ridiculous to think Patterson will be good enough as a RFer for us. Hendry has proven that once again he has made the offense worse for the 2nd consecutive year yet you guys praise him for not getting a RFer because good options were not available. Guess what, there were options available but Hendry did not do the job necessary to upgrade the position. I want Patterson here too but as a 4th OF not as the starting RF. Hendry dug his own grave and now here's hoping he and Baker are goners after next year. It's pure incompetence.

 

I am by no means saying that outfield is ok. I just think that Patterson is the best option out of the available free agents. Yes, that lineup is very weak. But if Corey can duplicate his 03 numbers for a full year, that .511/.840 would look very good in the 6 or 7 spot.

 

I agree but the Cubs need a 5 hitter at the very least.

[Wheelimus]

What do you guys think the lineup is with Patterson in right?

 

Pierre

Walker

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Patterson

Murton

Cedeno

 

?

[Gunned]

And Patterson has much more potential to have a better year than his past numbers than any of those options.

 

Based on what? I'm still railing to get an answer on this. What makes you think he has potential?

[Rooftop Bum]

Well he can't be any worse than last year I suppose. Maybe we'll get luck and he snaps out of his funk? At least he can field. Yay.

[CuseCubFan69]

can we change the title of this thread to sullivan's article on thursday?

 

You've been found out Paul. Now, NSBB wants to make sure that none of your hairbrain ideas are in any way associated with this board!

[Magnetic Curses]

Not living in the Chicago area, does anyone know who the two trades on the table are for? I am sure it was reported on here somewhere, but not sure.

 

No one knows for sure. Some suspect that one might be with the Devil Rays for Huff and/or Lugo.

 

i'd rather go with cedeno and find someone better than huff. who would probably give us no more than the production we got last year.

[nick23]

And Patterson has much more potential to have a better year than his past numbers than any of those options.

 

Based on what? I'm still railing to get an answer on this. What makes you think he has potential?

 

His 03 numbers and the fact that he's only 26 years old. He's never going to have plate discipline, or have a good OBP like many people hoped. But he still has the capability of putting up a good enough OPS to be an above average corner outfielder IMO.

[Gunned]

I give up.

[YearofDaCubs]

This is exactly the situation I dreaded and expected from our GM. You guys make it seem that it is ok to have Patterson in RF, Pierre in CF, and Murton in LF. Do you guys want to win a World Series? That OF will get us nowhere. Patterson was much worse than Burnitz last year but you guys are commending Hendry for not spending the money on bad RF options? Patterson is the worst OF option out there. The way I see it is Hendry has failed yet again to put an offense good enough to get us into the playoffs. It is ridiculous to think Patterson will be good enough as a RFer for us. Hendry has proven that once again he has made the offense worse for the 2nd consecutive year yet you guys praise him for not getting a RFer because good options were not available. Guess what, there were options available but Hendry did not do the job necessary to upgrade the position. I want Patterson here too but as a 4th OF not as the starting RF. Hendry dug his own grave and now here's hoping he and Baker are goners after next year. It's pure incompetence.

 

I am by no means saying that outfield is ok. I just think that Patterson is the best option out of the available free agents. Yes, that lineup is very weak. But if Corey can duplicate his 03 numbers for a full year, that .511/.840 would look very good in the 6 or 7 spot.

Patterson is probably the cheaper option and not too much of a difference compared to the remaining FA but we all knew going into the offseason JJones, Wilson, and Encarnacion should not be any options. I also think it's a stretch to think Corey can get back to his 2003 form.

[soapy]

What do you guys think the lineup is with Patterson in right?

 

Pierre

Walker

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Patterson

Murton

Cedeno

 

?

 

That is an absolutely huge gamble to take. One the Cubs should not need to take at all. You have giant question marks at the 6, 7 and 8 spots (not to mention Neifi will be playing instead of Cedeno).

 

Is it possible that lineup would be productive? Yes, but it's unlikely IMO.

[Magnetic Curses]

I give up.

 

i think the concensus is that patterson still has the tools to be an effective player in the bigs.

 

my problem is that he's just not a smart player right now and may never develop the instincts to realize his full potential. the worry with getting rid of him is, he just might.

 

he's a mickey mantle talent, there's no disputing that.

[waffle]

how about mickey rivers talent?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

how about mickey rivers talent?

 

Joan Rivers