2B in 2007

[StMarksCubs]

Okay, now that we got all-field/no-hit at SS, who is playing 2B for us next year? I don't think Ronny Cedeno is the answer, nor Theriot/Fontenot... Who are the free agent 2Bs to be?

[Tracer Bullet]

Okay, now that we got all-field/no-hit at SS, who is playing 2B for us next year? I don't think Ronny Cedeno is the answer, nor Theriot/Fontenot... Who are the free agent 2Bs to be?

 

Cedeno may not be who you want, but I think it's who JH wants.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Soriano, Ronnie Belliard, and Todd Walker are the cream of the crop FAs.

[StMarksCubs]

Soriano, Ronnie Belliard, and Todd Walker are the cream of the crop FAs.

 

Hmmm... I bet Walker would be a nice fit, no?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Soriano, Ronnie Belliard, and Todd Walker are the cream of the crop FAs.

 

Loretta too.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Soriano, Ronnie Belliard, and Todd Walker are the cream of the crop FAs.

 

Loretta too.

 

I knew I was missing one.

[rawaction]

Ray Durham will likely be available.

[abuck1220]

despite his shortcomings, the cubs probably need to get soriano for 2b if they want to contend. of course, his defense is supposed to be terrible, so hendry probably has no interest.

[goonys evil twin]

Neifi and Cedeno, that's it.

[goonys evil twin]

despite his shortcomings, the cubs probably need to get soriano for 2b if they want to contend. of course, his defense is supposed to be terrible, so hendry probably has no interest.

 

They probably do need to, but they won't be able to, unless Ramirez leaves, but the Soriano would be needed just to keep the team as bad as it already is.

[StMarksCubs]

despite his shortcomings, the cubs probably need to get soriano for 2b if they want to contend. of course, his defense is supposed to be terrible, so hendry probably has no interest.

 

They probably do need to, but they won't be able to, unless Ramirez leaves, but the Soriano would be needed just to keep the team as bad as it already is.

 

I would be quite happy with Mark Loretta... and he's a Northwestern guy, too!

[rawaction]

I wouldn't mind Loretta, and get a big bat for the OF (preferably a RF, moving Jones to platoon with Murton in LF). Get another high OBP in CF. I'd still be interested in Milton Bradley.

[10man]

so get Soriano to play LF and at least upgrade our weak hitting outfield.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If we're going to have to live with Izturis at short, I'd pursue Soriano for second. At least we would have some production from the middle infield.

[Exile on Waveland]

If we're going to have to live with Izturis at short, I'd pursue Soriano for second. At least we would have some production from the middle infield.

 

Excepting the outfield situation, you could live with Izturis (he is an excellent defensive player) at short if the rest of the infield is Ramirez-Soriano-Lee. Of course, Ramirez can opt out and Soriano is going to be pursued and then overpaid. And, of course, you can't except the terrible outfield situation. The offense is going to be ugly.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If we're going to have to live with Izturis at short, I'd pursue Soriano for second. At least we would have some production from the middle infield.

 

Excepting the outfield situation, you could live with Izturis (he is an excellent defensive player) at short if the rest of the infield is Ramirez-Soriano-Lee. Of course, Ramirez can opt out and Soriano is going to be pursued and then overpaid. And, of course, you can't except the terrible outfield situation. The offense is going to be ugly

 

I'll agree with this statement.

[Proven Veteran]

How about Fontenot? He should get a shot.

[rawaction]

The problem isn't gonna be the IF offense. I could actually live with Izturis/Cedeno in the IF, given that not many teams have 2 strong bats up the middle, and Barrett at C kinda makes up for a weak 2b/SS bat. But they have to do something about the OF. If Jones is the 1st or 2nd best OF the Cubs have, they will be in trouble. Unless they get Edmonds, I don't see a way to get an above average league CF. So, that means the Cubs have to get a great OF for LF, and while Soriano and Lee have been great this year, they have a history of being very similar to what Jones is doing this year.

[goonys evil twin]

The problem isn't gonna be the IF offense. I could actually live with Izturis/Cedeno in the IF, given that not many teams have 2 strong bats up the middle,

 

Not any good teams have two bats as weak as those in their middle infield.

[Pickle]

Since Pierre wasn't traded, then you can pretty much count on him being re-signed. Instead of going after Soriano or Lee, Hendry will probably try to get a second tier free agent for the outfield. Or he might decide that Murton needs another year and goes with basically the same outfield as this year.

[CubColtPacer]

The problem isn't gonna be the IF offense. I could actually live with Izturis/Cedeno in the IF, given that not many teams have 2 strong bats up the middle,

 

Not any good teams have two bats as weak as those in their middle infield.

 

The Cardinals have had two bats in the middle infield that aren't to a 700 OPS all season.

[goonys evil twin]

The problem isn't gonna be the IF offense. I could actually live with Izturis/Cedeno in the IF, given that not many teams have 2 strong bats up the middle,

 

Not any good teams have two bats as weak as those in their middle infield.

 

The Cardinals have had two bats in the middle infield that aren't to a 700 OPS all season.

 

Eckstein's pretty consistent .350+ OBP is the difference here. Good teams get something out of the middle infield offensively. The Cubs have nothing.

[hawkeyecub]

The problem isn't gonna be the IF offense. I could actually live with Izturis/Cedeno in the IF, given that not many teams have 2 strong bats up the middle,

 

Not any good teams have two bats as weak as those in their middle infield.

 

I think Izturis and Cedeno could out-produce Ellis and Crosby in Oakland this year. I know it's the exception rather than the norm, but it is possible. I think there are multiple contenders who are in the neighborhood of a .700 OPS and it's really not a huge difference in the long haul if you're at .650 instead.

 

Of course we need a major upgrade in the outfield spots to be able to hide that at all.

[goonys evil twin]

The problem isn't gonna be the IF offense. I could actually live with Izturis/Cedeno in the IF, given that not many teams have 2 strong bats up the middle,

 

Not any good teams have two bats as weak as those in their middle infield.

 

I think Izturis and Cedeno could out-produce Ellis and Crosby in Oakland this year. I know it's the exception rather than the norm, but it is possible. I think there are multiple contenders who are in the neighborhood of a .700 OPS and it's really not a huge difference in the long haul if you're at .650 instead.

 

Of course we need a major upgrade in the outfield spots to be able to hide that at all.

 

OBP is the more important of the two components of OPS, and these guys are both sub .300 OBP guys. Oakland really isn't a good team, they are just the best of a bad division. They are only on pace for 85 wins. Good teams, teams that want to win 90+ games a year and be real contenders, don't go into the season with the ineptitude at both middle infield spots that the Cubs currently have.

[CubColtPacer]

The problem isn't gonna be the IF offense. I could actually live with Izturis/Cedeno in the IF, given that not many teams have 2 strong bats up the middle,

 

Not any good teams have two bats as weak as those in their middle infield.

 

I think Izturis and Cedeno could out-produce Ellis and Crosby in Oakland this year. I know it's the exception rather than the norm, but it is possible. I think there are multiple contenders who are in the neighborhood of a .700 OPS and it's really not a huge difference in the long haul if you're at .650 instead.

 

Of course we need a major upgrade in the outfield spots to be able to hide that at all.

 

Actually, that is true-considering they are outproducing Ellis and Crosby this year as well.