Todd Walker is THE man.

[Sammy Sofa]

Honestly, what more does this guy have to do to get some love from the damn Cubs? All he's done his whole time here is been rock solid consistent as a good hitter, he's a perfect #2 hitter, he's a fine leadoff hitter, he's patient but he has some pop, he plays 2nd acceptably (he's not costing any games with his game, IMO) and he's stepped in at 1st fantastically for Lee since he went out. There HAVE to be more people than me that want to see him back next year. For the quality ball he plays, his price is almost criminal. Sign him and you have 2nd and the #2 locked up. He can play 1st if needed, he can hit leadoff, he can hit #3, he swings lefty, plus you'll have E-Patt waiting in the wings. Let's show Walk some love! Bring him back!

[rocket]

can't turn the double play. has a big mouth. just won't shut up.

 

he's worthless.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Walker's great, he really is. He's a good hitter and one of my favorite Cubs. You're overstating his abilities though. He's not good enough to hit third. He'll be 34 next year, has never been a plus defensively, and his power is way down this year so far. He may be the right guy for next year to bridge the gap to EPatt, but depending on the construction of next year's team someone else may be the better route.

[hawkeyecub]

Walker's great, he really is. He's a good hitter and one of my favorite Cubs. You're overstating his abilities though. He's not good enough to hit third. He'll be 34 next year, has never been a plus defensively, and his power is way down this year so far. He may be the right guy for next year to bridge the gap to EPatt, but depending on the construction of next year's team someone else may be the better route.

 

That sums up my feelings exactly.

[sonicdethmonkey0]

walker is one of the few players i actually like on this team. in the context of this season, it means i don't change the channel when he comes to bat, unlike when tony womack, juan pierre, neifi perez, john mabry, or freddy bynum step to the plate.

 

todd rocks

[Sammy Sofa]

Walker's great, he really is. He's a good hitter and one of my favorite Cubs. You're overstating his abilities though. He's not good enough to hit third. He'll be 34 next year, has never been a plus defensively, and his power is way down this year so far. He may be the right guy for next year to bridge the gap to EPatt, but depending on the construction of next year's team someone else may be the better route.

 

The age thing is a factor, but he's still getting the job done, and then some. At the most I want to see him for another 2 years, but even that is pushing it. And him hitting #3 is only out of necessity...I don't think it should be done often or for long if needed. Like you said, keep him around for another year cheap to get ready for Patterson. Focus the money on repairing the outfield (with at least 1 more big bat) and getting another starter.

[erik316wttn]

Todd Walker can be the Cubs 2nd baseman for as long as he wants.

[cubs121]

Walker's great, he really is. He's a good hitter and one of my favorite Cubs. You're overstating his abilities though. He's not good enough to hit third. He'll be 34 next year, has never been a plus defensively, and his power is way down this year so far. He may be the right guy for next year to bridge the gap to EPatt, but depending on the construction of next year's team someone else may be the better route.

 

The age thing is a factor, but he's still getting the job done, and then some. At the most I want to see him for another 2 years, but even that is pushing it. And him hitting #3 is only out of necessity...I don't think it should be done often or for long if needed. Like you said, keep him around for another year cheap to get ready for Patterson. Focus the money on repairing the outfield (with at least 1 more big bat) and getting another starter.

 

perfectly said!

[Omar]

Todd Walker is just a solid hitter. Nothing bad about him... These types of players go by unnoticed... Because they're so good they are not to be worried about... and not good enough to deserve a lot of attention. But, I'm sure any ballclub would welcome a player like Walker...

[Sammy Sofa]

...like the one he's already on!

[Neuby]

Walker can play second base, first in a pinch third base and outfield. He swings the bat from the left side and gets on base. I'll bring him back next season as a starter or as the first option off the bench.

[erik316wttn]

Walker can play second base, first in a pinch third base and outfield. He swings the bat from the left side and gets on base. I'll bring him back next season as a starter or as the first option off the bench.

 

Agreed. This team has far, far worse problems than Todd Walker.

[Geech]

I really like Todd, but Eric Patterson could be ready for the second base job next year. Is Todd willing to take a one year deal at this point in his career?

[Sammy Sofa]

Doesn't he get pretty much nothing but one year deals?

[anemic offense]

Walker's great, he really is. He's a good hitter and one of my favorite Cubs. You're overstating his abilities though. He's not good enough to hit third. He'll be 34 next year, has never been a plus defensively, and his power is way down this year so far. He may be the right guy for next year to bridge the gap to EPatt, but depending on the construction of next year's team someone else may be the better route.

 

His sudden lack of power this year is one of the more perplexing issues regarding this team.

[anemic offense]

I really like Todd, but Eric Patterson could be ready for the second base job next year. Is Todd willing to take a one year deal at this point in his career?

 

Epatt's not doing terrible, but he's kind of struggling relative to where I wanted him to be. I was hoping for a solid first half, thereby initiating a promotion to AAA. Right now, that kinda looks like a long shot.

[Geech]

Epatt's not doing terrible, but he's kind of struggling relative to where I wanted him to be. I was hoping for a solid first half, thereby initiating a promotion to AAA. Right now, that kinda looks like a long shot.

 

He's not doing as well as last year, but he's in a pitchers' league right now. That's impacting his numbers.

[srbin84]

I'm not expecting Patterson to start at second in the couple years just yet. I can't see how he is any different a player from Bobby Hill until he proves otherwise at the big league level.

[Andy]

Doesn't he get pretty much nothing but one year deals?

A 34-year-old second baseman is probably not getting a multiyear offer so if the Cubs offer him a contract it'll probably be the best one. Hope they do.

[UMFan83]

Walker's power comes in bunches, so I still firmly expect him to hit 15 HRs this year.

 

Theres just something about Walker that IMO baseball insiders don't like about him. They probably think he can't shut up. I still find it interesting that after the postseason that he had with Boston in 2003, they didn't attempt to resign him. Even more interesting that he played the nice guy 'I signed with the Cubs as a backup because I want to win" when the Cubs signed him.

 

Anyways, I am not trying to rip on Walker, I like him and am just throwing out wild speculation.

[soccer10k]

Doesn't he get pretty much nothing but one year deals?

A 34-year-old second baseman is probably not getting a multiyear offer so if the Cubs offer him a contract it'll probably be the best one. Hope they do.

 

Hopefully he'll give the Cubs a discount as well.

 

I'm just worried that Hendry and Dusty think Neifi will be suitable for 2B next year since he is already signed. :x

[Sammy Sofa]

Even without his power, Walker still hits and gets on base. Basically, you're not getting the sac fly type shots you had from him in the past. I think with what happened this offseason and how bad this team has been, Todd has hopefully trumped the "clubhouse cancer" reputation. He's had plenty of chances to badmouth everything about this team and who runs it, and has instead gone out there and appeared to play his butt off every damn night. Maybe this is a team he wants to play for at this point in his career.

[RynoRules]

Walker's great, he really is. He's a good hitter and one of my favorite Cubs. You're overstating his abilities though. He's not good enough to hit third. He'll be 34 next year, has never been a plus defensively, and his power is way down this year so far. He may be the right guy for next year to bridge the gap to EPatt, but depending on the construction of next year's team someone else may be the better route.

 

That sums up my feelings exactly.

 

Ditto. And I loved the heads-up base running last night. Show em' how its done, Walk.

[Sammy Sofa]

Walker's great, he really is. He's a good hitter and one of my favorite Cubs. You're overstating his abilities though. He's not good enough to hit third. He'll be 34 next year, has never been a plus defensively, and his power is way down this year so far. He may be the right guy for next year to bridge the gap to EPatt, but depending on the construction of next year's team someone else may be the better route.

 

That sums up my feelings exactly.

 

Ditto. And I loved the heads-up base running last night. Show em' how its done, Walk.

 

That's actually what inspired this thread. Watching the replay and how he just cooly stopped in the basepath, watched what was going on, and made his move...Walker, baby! He knows how it's done!

 

On a side note, I was shocked he didn't have a full beard by the time that extra innings game with the Cardinals ended.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

On a side note, I was shocked he didn't have a full beard by the time that extra innings game with the Cardinals ended.

 

It's a little-known fact that Todd Walker actually shaves every 3 innings.