We need a bat BAD

[JWCUB]

I'm Really getting sick of no runs, 1 run or 2 runs. There is just no way around it. I don't mean a stop gap, I mean a big time power bat. 2 runs in the last 27 innings is pathetic. Without Lee we just cant score. We go down by 4 or more, the games is basically over. I like this team a lot, but we need to make a move here. Quite honestly I don't care what it costs.

[goonys evil twin]

No, we need a GOOD bat.

[JWCUB]

No, we need a GOOD bat.

 

Ya think?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

No, we need a GOOD bat.

 

And more than just one.

[cheapseats]

Jacque Jones has a reddish-colored bat. It's neat. Maybe he'll let everyone else use it.

[Wild_Cubs04]

I'm Really getting sick of no runs, 1 run or 2 runs. There is just no way around it. I don't mean a stop gap, I mean a big time power bat. 2 runs in the last 27 innings is pathetic. Without Lee we just cant score. We go down by 4 or more, the games is basically over. I like this team a lot, but we need to make a move here. Quite honestly I don't care what it costs.

 

I have seen this alot lately, do you honestly think our offensive problems are just because DLee's not playing? I agree, he is a difference maker, but his being absent isn't the only reason the Cubs suck at the plate.

[JWCUB]

I'm Really getting sick of no runs, 1 run or 2 runs. There is just no way around it. I don't mean a stop gap, I mean a big time power bat. 2 runs in the last 27 innings is pathetic. Without Lee we just cant score. We go down by 4 or more, the games is basically over. I like this team a lot, but we need to make a move here. Quite honestly I don't care what it costs.

 

I have seen this alot lately, do you honestly think our offensive problems are just because DLee's not playing? I agree, he is a difference maker, but his being absent isn't the only reason the Cubs suck at the plate.

 

True, but taking out 46 HR's and 100 RBIs REALLY hurts this average line-up. Throw the farm at Florida.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm Really getting sick of no runs, 1 run or 2 runs. There is just no way around it. I don't mean a stop gap, I mean a big time power bat. 2 runs in the last 27 innings is pathetic. Without Lee we just cant score. We go down by 4 or more, the games is basically over. I like this team a lot, but we need to make a move here. Quite honestly I don't care what it costs.

 

I have seen this alot lately, do you honestly think our offensive problems are just because DLee's not playing? I agree, he is a difference maker, but his being absent isn't the only reason the Cubs suck at the plate.

 

True, but taking out 46 HR's and 100 RBIs REALLY hurts this average line-up. Throw the farm at Florida.

 

And it was average at best with him in it.

[cheapseats]

I'm Really getting sick of no runs, 1 run or 2 runs. There is just no way around it. I don't mean a stop gap, I mean a big time power bat. 2 runs in the last 27 innings is pathetic. Without Lee we just cant score. We go down by 4 or more, the games is basically over. I like this team a lot, but we need to make a move here. Quite honestly I don't care what it costs.

 

I have seen this alot lately, do you honestly think our offensive problems are just because DLee's not playing? I agree, he is a difference maker, but his being absent isn't the only reason the Cubs suck at the plate.

 

True, but taking out 46 HR's and 100 RBIs REALLY hurts this average line-up. Throw the farm at Florida.

 

If this team with constructed expecting Lee to hit 46 homers again, then we've got a problem in the front office. I'd fully expect DLee's HR total to be in the upper-30's, but last season's totals would be hard for anyone to duplicate.

 

Our team EQA is among the lowest in MLB. We're a worse offensive team than Kansas City. We're 50 points lower than Cleveland:

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/statistics/eqa2006.php#tmtot

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

We need a bat that is a consistent threat to turn a game around. Without Lee, we don't have that player. Ramirez can be, but right now he isn't. While Barrett, Walker, Jones, and Murton all have some power...they are all 15-20 HR guys who can occasionally get ahold of one, but not someone that scares pitchers.

 

Because of this, we have an offense that must string together hits to score runs. While no one except for Jones is a bad hitter, we just lack any kind of punch without Lee. Unfortunately, it's going to be June or later before anyone is willing to trade anything.

[goonys evil twin]

Because of this, we have an offense that must string together hits to score runs. While no one except for Jones is a bad hitter, we just lack any kind of punch without Lee. Unfortunately, it's going to be June or later before anyone is willing to trade anything.

 

Pierre has been at least as bad as Jones. Then you have Neifi, Hairston, Mabry and Blanco who have all been awful all season long and are getting the bulk of the bench at bats. And every other bench "contributor" has been just as awful. Of guys with 15 or more at bats the Cubs have 7 with an OPS of 617 or lower (most are lower than 600).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Because of this, we have an offense that must string together hits to score runs. While no one except for Jones is a bad hitter, we just lack any kind of punch without Lee. Unfortunately, it's going to be June or later before anyone is willing to trade anything.

 

Pierre has been at least as bad as Jones. Then you have Neifi, Hairston, Mabry and Blanco who have all been awful all season long and are getting the bulk of the bench at bats. And every other bench "contributor" has been just as awful. Of guys with 15 or more at bats the Cubs have 7 with an OPS of 617 or lower (most are lower than 600).

 

Yeah...I'm hoping for a turn-around from Pierre. And the bench is, as you say, dismal.

[Shavo]

I think Cabrera and Abreu could be had right now for GOOD packages.

 

Would the Marlins go for Pie, Williams, and Ryu? Doubt it, but its worth a try.

 

Would the Phillies do it? I think they could consider it. Maybe we would need to replace one of the pitchers with Hill/Guz.

[goonys evil twin]

I think Cabrera and Abreu could be had right now for GOOD packages.

 

Would the Marlins go for Pie, Williams, and Ryu? Doubt it, but its worth a try.

 

Would the Phillies do it? I think they could consider it. Maybe we would need to replace one of the pitchers with Hill/Guz.

 

I was with some Philly fans this weekend and man, have they given up on that team. They are truly sick of it, and want to blow the whole thing up. And I think ownership is sensitive to the lack of interest in the team now.

 

I think Burrell or Abreu could be had.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Burrell would be very very good.

[Shavo]

I think Cabrera and Abreu could be had right now for GOOD packages.

 

Would the Marlins go for Pie, Williams, and Ryu? Doubt it, but its worth a try.

 

Would the Phillies do it? I think they could consider it. Maybe we would need to replace one of the pitchers with Hill/Guz.

 

I was with some Philly fans this weekend and man, have they given up on that team. They are truly sick of it, and want to blow the whole thing up. And I think ownership is sensitive to the lack of interest in the team now.

 

I think Burrell or Abreu could be had.

 

Well being realistic, Pie isn't going anywhere. Neither is Hill in all probability.

 

Is their a package we could possibly put together good enough to net either one?

[goonys evil twin]

I think Cabrera and Abreu could be had right now for GOOD packages.

 

Would the Marlins go for Pie, Williams, and Ryu? Doubt it, but its worth a try.

 

Would the Phillies do it? I think they could consider it. Maybe we would need to replace one of the pitchers with Hill/Guz.

 

I was with some Philly fans this weekend and man, have they given up on that team. They are truly sick of it, and want to blow the whole thing up. And I think ownership is sensitive to the lack of interest in the team now.

 

I think Burrell or Abreu could be had.

 

Well being realistic, Pie isn't going anywhere. Neither is Hill in all probability.

 

Is their a package we could possibly put together good enough to net either one?

 

The answer is definitely yes. And I would not have a problem trading Pie and/or Hill.

[jtownie]

Burrell would be very very good.

 

I'd take either one. Although, Abreu would probably be more logical since he is the RF and is better defensively than Burrell.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think Abreu could be had for Marshall, Jones, and Harvey.

[jtownie]

I think Abreu could be had for Marshall, Jones, and Harvey.

 

With that much salary to take on I'd have to think Abreu won't be too expensive.

[E.J.]

We needed a bat this offseason, but Hendry decided on Jock Jones instead. Now that Lee is down the offense is horrible, and we have no chance of trading for a bat at this point in the season. We're basically screwed.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think Abreu could be had for Marshall, Jones, and Harvey.

 

With that much salary to take on I'd have to think Abreu won't be too expensive.

 

There will be a number of teams lining up to get him, including the Cardinals. I don't think he'll be available too cheaply.

[Shavo]

I think Cabrera and Abreu could be had right now for GOOD packages.

 

Would the Marlins go for Pie, Williams, and Ryu? Doubt it, but its worth a try.

 

Would the Phillies do it? I think they could consider it. Maybe we would need to replace one of the pitchers with Hill/Guz.

 

I was with some Philly fans this weekend and man, have they given up on that team. They are truly sick of it, and want to blow the whole thing up. And I think ownership is sensitive to the lack of interest in the team now.

 

I think Burrell or Abreu could be had.

 

Well being realistic, Pie isn't going anywhere. Neither is Hill in all probability.

 

Is their a package we could possibly put together good enough to net either one?

 

The answer is definitely yes. And I would not have a problem trading Pie and/or Hill.

 

That being said, there is no way Hendry trades either. What is a package without using those two that could net Abreu/Burrel?

 

I think Abreu could be had for Marshall, Jones, and Harvey.

 

We can't trade Marshall. Maybe he isn't as good as he has been, but this kid could be a STUD. Prior, Zambrano, and Marshall could be our front of the rotation for the next 3-4 years.

 

Guzman, Jones (we pay 1/2 of the salary the first two years), and Harvey.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ok, there's no way we get a top talent like Abreu without giving up Pie or Marshall. It just isn't going to happen.

 

It's nice to say we don't want to trade this player or that one, but Hill is unproven at the major leagues, Guzman is still struggling, and Harvey has holes in his game right now.

 

Teams that are unloading guys like Abreu, especially to convince them to trade them this early, is going to take the cream of the crop.

 

If we refuse to give up one of the jewels of the system, they will just wait until we get desperate or trade with someone willing to offer value.

 

Once Wood and Prior come back, Marshall could be expendable. I'd love to hang on to him....but I have a strong feeling he is the best trading chip we have.

[jtownie]

I think Abreu could be had for Marshall, Jones, and Harvey.

 

With that much salary to take on I'd have to think Abreu won't be too expensive.

 

There will be a number of teams lining up to get him, including the Cardinals. I don't think he'll be available too cheaply.

 

But how many of those teams have the combination of talent and money to afford Abreu and his contract? The Cardinals could starting next if they decline Edmonds option.

 

With that, I agree that he won't come cheap but I don't think he's going to command an outrageous price. Your example of Marshall, Jones, and Harvey could probably do it. THey'll want major league ready pitching and if Marshall continues to excel he would be very valuable.