Jim: Please ignore Mike Kiley

[JeffH]

How about an OF of Pie in center, el horso in RF, and Murton in LF in 2007. Lee can play RF, it's just Ordonez w/ the Sox and Favre's twin (Jenkins) w/ the Brewers have better arms. Lee can play RF, though.

 

Man, Carlos Lee would be a brutal RF.

 

I would rather Murton play RF than Lee. You could field a pretty strong OF with Lee, Pie, Jones/Murton platoon.

 

What we really need is a genuine, everyday, middle of the order hitter in RF so we can platoon Jones and Murton in LF.

[CubsBullsBears]

How about an OF of Pie in center, el horso in RF, and Murton in LF in 2007. Lee can play RF, it's just Ordonez w/ the Sox and Favre's twin (Jenkins) w/ the Brewers have better arms. Lee can play RF, though.

 

Man, Carlos Lee would be a brutal RF.

 

I would rather Murton play RF than Lee. You could field a pretty strong OF with Lee, Pie, Jones/Murton platoon.

 

What we really need is a genuine, everyday, middle of the order hitter in RF so we can platoon Jones and Murton in LF.

And that would be el horso.

[goonys evil twin]

How about an OF of Pie in center, el horso in RF, and Murton in LF in 2007. Lee can play RF, it's just Ordonez w/ the Sox and Favre's twin (Jenkins) w/ the Brewers have better arms. Lee can play RF, though.

 

Man, Carlos Lee would be a brutal RF.

 

I would rather Murton play RF than Lee. You could field a pretty strong OF with Lee, Pie, Jones/Murton platoon.

 

What we really need is a genuine, everyday, middle of the order hitter in RF so we can platoon Jones and Murton in LF.

And that would be el horso.

 

Except he doesn't stand a chance of fielding RF. Who cares with corner OF the genuine hitter plays. Murton/Jones would be the better fielding RF, Lee would provide the same offense as the hoped for RF, but he'd do it in left.

[JeffH]

Carlos Lee career games in RF = Zero

[Hossman]

Totally agree - we should bring in a legitimate power source to play LF, and platoon Murton/Jones. That platoon would actually provide pretty nice production from RF, and it would give Murton time to develop as a hitter at a cheap salary.

 

As far as LF, obviously Carlos Lee is a free agent and would be a big pick-up. I also believe that Geoff Jenkins is a free agent after the season, and I don't see the Brewers re-signing both. For a guy who seems like he's been around forever, Jenkins is only 31 and his offensive production has been very comparable to Carlos Lee's.

[CubsBullsBears]

I thought the only reason Lee has played LF w/ the White Sox and Brewers is b/c Ordonez and Jenkins are better fielders than him, but he could do RF?

[goonys evil twin]

I thought the only reason Lee has played LF w/ the White Sox and Brewers is b/c Ordonez and Jenkins are better fielders than him, but he could do RF?

 

Lee is a butcher.

[CubsBullsBears]

Totally agree - we should bring in a legitimate power source to play LF, and platoon Murton/Jones. That platoon would actually provide pretty nice production from RF, and it would give Murton time to develop as a hitter at a cheap salary.

 

As far as LF, obviously Carlos Lee is a free agent and would be a big pick-up. I also believe that Geoff Jenkins is a free agent after the season, and I don't see the Brewers re-signing both. For a guy who seems like he's been around forever, Jenkins is only 31 and his offensive production has been very comparable to Carlos Lee's.

Not to mention, Lee has something to prove to the South Side and could do it w/ the Cubs and Jenkins could be mistaken for Brett Favre.

[soapy]

Getting off topic here, but what's Drew's status for next year. I was thinking there was a player's option or something.

[JeffH]

Carlos Lee could play RF in the same way that Rosie O'Donnell could pose nude.

 

Each could do it, but it wouldn't be pretty.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If I were GM, I would find a way to get Abreu in RF and Cabrera in LF by June 1. If Lee comes back at 100% and Rammy pulls his head out, that's the making of a team that can make a legitimate run. Even if they come up short, think of the lineup next year. No way they end up in a hole like this.

[goonys evil twin]

By the way, Lee would not be the cornerstone offensive presence the Cubs need. His next contract is going to backfire. Lee is 29, he turns 30 in a month. He's got a career OPS+ of 111. Last year he hit .265/.324/.487 with an OPS+ of 110. His career year at 28 he hit .305/.366/.525 with an OPS+ of 123.

 

He's going to get a DLee type contract next season, because people will focus on the 30/100 numbers, and those are not the numbers you want to focus on. First off, any halfway decent hitter in the middle of any lineup should easily eclipse the 100 RBI number. That is no achievement, yet he's only done it twice in his career. His career average line of .284/.337/.488 is nothing to get excited over, and nothing to throw wads of cash at. Carlos Lee could help the 2006 Cubs quite a bit, but Carlos Lee's next contract is likely to bite his next GM in the butt.

[USSoccer]

By the way, Lee would not be the cornerstone offensive presence the Cubs need. His next contract is going to backfire. Lee is 29, he turns 30 in a month. He's got a career OPS+ of 111. Last year he hit .265/.324/.487 with an OPS+ of 110. His career year at 28 he hit .305/.366/.525 with an OPS+ of 123.

 

He's going to get a DLee type contract next season, because people will focus on the 30/100 numbers, and those are not the numbers you want to focus on. First off, any halfway decent hitter in the middle of any lineup should easily eclipse the 100 RBI number. That is no achievement, yet he's only done it twice in his career. His career average line of .284/.337/.488 is nothing to get excited over, and nothing to throw wads of cash at. Carlos Lee could help the 2006 Cubs quite a bit, but Carlos Lee's next contract is likely to bite his next GM in the butt.

 

Which means we will sign him. You know this.

[FergieJ31]

If I were GM, I would find a way to get Abreu in RF and Cabrera in LF by June 1.

 

Why stop there? Why not ARod at SS too :lol:

 

Of all the realistic scenarios for 2007 I like goony's OF of Lee, Pie and Jones / Murton. I just don't see Hendry moving JJ at all, for the reasons goony states. Trading for Abreu or Miggy would be nice, but so would peace on earth. Cubs are not exactly dealing from a position of strength.

[goonys evil twin]

If I were GM, I would find a way to get Abreu in RF and Cabrera in LF by June 1.

 

Why stop there? Why not ARod at SS too :lol:

 

Of all the realistic scenarios for 2007 I like goony's OF of Lee, Pie and Jones / Murton. I just don't see Hendry moving JJ at all, for the reasons goony states. Trading for Abreu or Miggy would be nice, but so would peace on earth. Cubs are not exactly dealing from a position of strength.

 

They have plenty to give up to make the deal for Miggy. Other teams have higher ranked prospects, but most of them have no interest in trading their higher ranked guys.

 

Gallagher, Guzman, Murton and Pie could probably get you Miggy. Send Pierre back there and pay his salary, move Jones over the center and call-up whoever the heck you want to play the other corner OF spot.

[Tracer Bullet]

By the way, Lee would not be the cornerstone offensive presence the Cubs need. His next contract is going to backfire. Lee is 29, he turns 30 in a month. He's got a career OPS+ of 111. Last year he hit .265/.324/.487 with an OPS+ of 110. His career year at 28 he hit .305/.366/.525 with an OPS+ of 123.

 

He's going to get a DLee type contract next season, because people will focus on the 30/100 numbers, and those are not the numbers you want to focus on. First off, any halfway decent hitter in the middle of any lineup should easily eclipse the 100 RBI number. That is no achievement, yet he's only done it twice in his career. His career average line of .284/.337/.488 is nothing to get excited over, and nothing to throw wads of cash at. Carlos Lee could help the 2006 Cubs quite a bit, but Carlos Lee's next contract is likely to bite his next GM in the butt.

 

I'm glad someone pointed this out. Lee hits some homers, but he's not the big impact bat I was thinking of. Next year, Lee's going to be looking for a big pay day and he's going to get it. I just hope it's not from Hendry.

[Tracer Bullet]

If I were GM, I would find a way to get Abreu in RF and Cabrera in LF by June 1.

 

Why stop there? Why not ARod at SS too :lol:

 

Of all the realistic scenarios for 2007 I like goony's OF of Lee, Pie and Jones / Murton. I just don't see Hendry moving JJ at all, for the reasons goony states. Trading for Abreu or Miggy would be nice, but so would peace on earth. Cubs are not exactly dealing from a position of strength.

 

They have plenty to give up to make the deal for Miggy. Other teams have higher ranked prospects, but most of them have no interest in trading their higher ranked guys.

 

Gallagher, Guzman, Murton and Pie could probably get you Miggy. Send Pierre back there and pay his salary, move Jones over the center and call-up whoever the heck you want to play the other corner OF spot.

 

That's crazy! Who would leadoff? If we traded Pierre we wouldn't have a legitmate leadoff hitter. We can't trade Juan!

 

[please note the sarcasm]

[USSoccer]

The sooner we trade off Pierre the better.

 

[FergieJ31]

If I were GM, I would find a way to get Abreu in RF and Cabrera in LF by June 1.

 

Why stop there? Why not ARod at SS too :lol:

 

Of all the realistic scenarios for 2007 I like goony's OF of Lee, Pie and Jones / Murton. I just don't see Hendry moving JJ at all, for the reasons goony states. Trading for Abreu or Miggy would be nice, but so would peace on earth. Cubs are not exactly dealing from a position of strength.

 

They have plenty to give up to make the deal for Miggy. Other teams have higher ranked prospects, but most of them have no interest in trading their higher ranked guys.

 

Gallagher, Guzman, Murton and Pie could probably get you Miggy. Send Pierre back there and pay his salary, move Jones over the center and call-up whoever the heck you want to play the other corner OF spot.

 

Done. I'd do that trade in a second. Would Florida? I think the Angels could easily beat that package, don't you think? With their disappointing season it seems (I'm only speculating) they should be more incented to trade high prospects for a proven stud.

[TheDude]

I doubt very much the Cubs will trade Jones, but Hendry would be negligent to not even explore a Jones trade with Detroit.

 

Detroit is in need of left-handed pop. They only have one left-hander and one switch-hitter in their daily lineup, both with little pop. I'm sure Jones could fit in with the Detroit outfield of Monroe, Granderson, and Ordonez.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If I were GM, I would find a way to get Abreu in RF and Cabrera in LF by June 1.

 

Why stop there? Why not ARod at SS too :lol:

 

Of all the realistic scenarios for 2007 I like goony's OF of Lee, Pie and Jones / Murton. I just don't see Hendry moving JJ at all, for the reasons goony states. Trading for Abreu or Miggy would be nice, but so would peace on earth. Cubs are not exactly dealing from a position of strength.

 

They have plenty to give up to make the deal for Miggy. Other teams have higher ranked prospects, but most of them have no interest in trading their higher ranked guys.

 

Gallagher, Guzman, Murton and Pie could probably get you Miggy. Send Pierre back there and pay his salary, move Jones over the center and call-up whoever the heck you want to play the other corner OF spot.

 

Done. I'd do that trade in a second. Would Florida? I think the Angels could easily beat that package, don't you think? With their disappointing season it seems (I'm only speculating) they should be more incented to trade high prospects for a proven stud.

 

I don't see why Florida would not want a deal like that. That's a nice mix of quantity and quality. The problem is in not being proactive. We should not give teams like the Angels the chance to put together a better package.

[TheDude]

The sooner we trade off Pierre the better.

 

Why? One has to expect his end-year numbers will aggress to the career norm (or at least 2005 if not career norm). In order for that to happen, he should go on a several week tear at some point.

 

Why not wait until closer to the deadline to see if he hits that hot streak, which increases his trade value?

[USSoccer]

The sooner we trade off Pierre the better.

 

Why? One has to expect his end-year numbers will aggress to the career norm (or at least 2005 if not career norm). In order for that to happen, he should go on a several week tear at some point.

 

Why not wait until closer to the deadline to see if he hits that hot streak, which increases his trade value?

 

You're correct in that waiting should only increase his trade value, but the flip side is that I don't trust the organization to deal him if he shows any sort of hot streak. They'd be more likely to hold on to him, or god forbid extend him, especially if the hot streak inched the club closer to .500 or whatever.

[Fro]

Simply put, we have money to spend (actually a lot of money) and LF seems the best place to upgrade the offense. We're probably stuck with Jones and his production is excellent if you platoon him with someone who kills lefties, which Matt Murton happens to do.

 

The FA field is weak at SS and Soriano at 2B doesn't give you much bang for your buck. C/3B/1st are locked up and Pie is the future at CF.

[goonys evil twin]

The sooner we trade off Pierre the better.

 

Why? One has to expect his end-year numbers will aggress to the career norm (or at least 2005 if not career norm). In order for that to happen, he should go on a several week tear at some point.

 

Not really. What you might expect is that his numbers from now until the end could mirror his career averages. You wouldn't expect a hot streak, unless he was a guy who consistently got really hot in the middle of the summer. Pierre's history doesn't show any kind of trend like that. He's consistently mediocre month in and month out (June has been his worst month from 2003-2005).

 

You would be making an enormous mistake thinking he's due for a hot streak.

 

At this point you can't expect his 2006 totals to look like his career or even 2005. If you're lucky he will hit .276/.326/.354 the rest of the way (his 2005 numbers), but that is not a hot streak or tear, and that would still leave his overall numbers way below acceptable.