Interest in Edmonds?

[Magnetic Curses]

Pecota projections don't mean much when he hasn't even played since August 26th.

Agreed. Also, for the past 2 years his avg has been about .260(.385 obp in 2005 and 356 obp this year) and def a little shy from .270 which pecota projects. IMO, Edmonds shouldn't even be an option. He is the epitome of anti-Cub.

 

i don't understand what "anti-cub"means.

 

and i also don't understand how he won't be much better than pierre.

If you don't understand what anti-cub means I don't know what to tell you.

 

okay, so you don't know what it means either, i'm glad we got that settled.

 

It means he hates the Cubs, if you honestly didn't know what that meant.

 

i've thought on it long and hard and:

 

it's a vague term which more probably means that this poster hates edmonds, not that edmonds hates the cubs.

[Abe Frohman]

The St. Louis Cardinals Center Fielder Jim Edmonds has a $10mm option for 2007, with a 3mm buyout. There is a solid chance that he will be bought out and free to find a new home. Would Edmonds be a good fit in Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs lineup at 37 years of age? You bet, and here is why.

 

Reason #1: The Cubs never had a true #5 hitter in 2006. Granted, the Cubs didn't get to enjoy Derrek Lee hitting 3rd in their lineup for most of the 2006 season (and may not have Aramis Ramirez at all in 2007, but let's just act as if this were a perfect world), but Jacque Jones was hardly a prototypical #5 hitter for this offense. Though Jones did have a solid season in 2006, he would be an excellent #6 hitter in almost any lineup.

 

Jim Edmonds would be a much needed left-handed bat in the majority righty Cub lineup. The Cubs are desperately in need of batters with professional approaches at the plate (guys that understand that a walk will not "clog the bases," but translate into less outs and more runs scored). As it stands, there are only a few starters who seem to understand the importance of the "K/BB Ratio," and those are Ryan Theriot, Matt Murton, Lee, and Ramirez.

 

Edmonds would provide the usual 100 runs, 30+ HR, 100 RBI, 75+ walks and .380+ On-Base % that the Cubs need to improve their offense. Imagine this lineup:

 

2B Ryan Theriot

LF Matt Murton

1B Derrek Lee

3B Aramis Ramirez

CF Jim Edmonds

RF Jacque Jones

CA Michael Barrett

SS Cesar Izturis/R.Cedeno

 

Reason #2: The Cubs need to change their hitting philosophy. As stated above, the Chicago Cubs are going to need a new approach at the plate. Scoring runs is the name of the game, and it is hard to score when you are consistantly getting the "4-3" groundout, or swinging at the first pitch and popping up. Even though Juan Pierre has greatly improved in the 2nd half of 2006, his 82 runs scored are not impressive considering he has a League Leading 194 hits (stats as of 9/25/06). Imagine how many more runs Pierre would have scored if he would walk more than 32 times in about 700 plate appearances. Nobody in the league makes more outs than Pierre, and nobody gets thrown out trying to steal more.

 

The Cubs have a decent chance of success at the leadoff spot with the very impressive Ryan Theriot. Theriot may not steal 60 bases or have a high SLG%, but one point of his game has remained consistent through college, Minor Leagues, and his Major League time: he can get on base and score runs. In addition, Theriot is servicable at Shortstop, so the rich crop of 2B free agents can still be explored with plenty of backup in Cedeno, Izturis, and Theriot.

 

The Cubs need to get on base more, and getting Edmonds will help them do that, as well as driving in more runners.

 

Reason #3: The Cubs need the defense, and Edmonds is still above average. Yes he has lost a step over the past few years, and yes he may dive for balls that he doesn't need to dive for - but Jim Edmonds is still a quality CFer with a strong arm.

 

Most notably, Edmonds surely can more than handle CF for a couple more seasons (ironically the same amount of time Jacque Jones is signed to patrol RF for the Cubs.), and that gives super-prospect Felix Pie enough time to figure himself out in AA and AAA. Edmonds could cover CF, then move over to RF when Pie is ready.

[daske17]

See discussion in progress:

 

http://www.northsidebaseball.com/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=34584

[Rob]

I'd bat Edmonds #2 in the lineup, FWIW.

[goonys evil twin]

Edmonds would provide the usual 100 runs, 30+ HR, 100 RBI, 75+ walks and .380+ On-Base % that the Cubs need to improve their offense.

 

Most notably, Edmonds surely can more than handle CF for a couple more seasons (ironically the same amount of time Jacque Jones is signed to patrol RF for the Cubs.),

 

You make some pretty bold claims. Why would he provide 100 runs and 100 RBI? Runs and RBI don't travel when you change teams, because they are team stats. Just because a guy did that for a good offense in the past, doesn't mean he'll do that in the Cubs offense next year. Furthermore, he's nowhere near either number this year, and just getting older. In fact, he didn't accomplish either stat last year either (and has only done so once in the past 6 seasons). So, at 37, you are just going to assume he'll accomplish something he couldn't even accomplish as a younger man on a better offense? He's no lock for 30 HR, .380 OBP or 75+ walks either.

 

And why can he "surely handle CF for a couple more seasons? He couldn't handle it this year without getting hurt and having his least productive season as a Cardinal.

 

What makes you think that an old banged up player whose prime years are long gone is automatically going to be perfectly fine playing for the Cubs the next couple years?

[Abe Frohman]

Hell, his career may be over. He may bounce back. I was referring to his 162 game average over his career with most of those stats. Surely, he won't be reaching those average numbers - especially since he has the post-concussion issues.

 

But if....

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not against signing Edmonds, but I'm not all that enamored with him either.

 

His injuries concern me. I do prefer him to Pierre, of course I'd prefer a lot of players to Pierre.

 

If Edmonds would sign a 1-year deal, I'd be more inclined to sign him. With Pie in the minors and Pagan on the roster, there is some depth to account for him if he does get injured, which is highly likely.

 

He still was able to post an 831OPS this season which isn't bad from a CF, but he's seen a drop in BA/OBP and especially his SLG. I think he's a better option for hitting second than hitting fifth, but that wouldn't affect whether I'd sign him.

 

If I settled for Edmonds in CF, I'd want some improvement over Theriot at second. If I could get Edmonds on an affordable 1 year 5-6 million deal with an option year around the same amount, I would probably look to sign Durham for 2b.

 

I think this line-up with projected numbers in parenthesis could be productive enough.

 

2b Durham (285/360/440)

CF Edmonds (260/350/480)

1b Lee (290/385/550)

3b Ramirez (289/352/560)

RF Jones (280/320/490)

LF Murton (295/360/450)

C Barrett (285/350/490)

SS Izturis (280/300/350)

Edited September 25, 2006 by vance_the_cubs_fan

[Abe Frohman]

Would you rather have Ray Durham (2B) and Ryan Theriot (SS) up the middle, or Durham(2B) and Cedeno or Izturis (SS). I have always like Durham, especially when he was scoring 100+ runs and stealing 30 bases for the White Sox. But that was a long time ago....

 

I would be REAL happy with Durham and Theriot up the middle, with Cedeno and Izturis as backups.

[Post Count Padder]

I'm not against signing Edmonds, but I'm not all that enamored with him either.

 

His injuries concern me. I do prefer him to Pierre, of course I'd prefer a lot of players to Pierre.

 

If Edmonds would sign a 1-year deal, I'd be more inclined to sign him. With Pie in the minors and Pagan on the roster, there is some depth to account for him if he does get injured, which is highly likely.

 

He still was able to post an 831OPS this season which isn't bad from a CF, but he's seen a drop in BA/OBP and especially his SLG. I think he's a better option for hitting second than hitting fifth, but that wouldn't affect whether I'd sign him.

 

If I settled for Edmonds in CF, I'd want some improvement over Theriot at second. If I could get Edmonds on an affordable 1 year 5-6 million deal with an option year around the same amount, I would probably look to sign Durham for 2b.

 

I think this line-up with projected numbers in parenthesis could be productive enough.

 

2b Durham (285/360/440)

CF Edmonds (260/350/480)

1b Lee (290/385/550)

3b Ramirez (289/352/560)

RF Jones (280/320/790)

LF Murton (295/360/450)

C Barrett (285/350/490)

SS Izturis (280/300/350)

 

I really approve of that :D . Seriously, those numbers seem reasonable, as long as there are no mishaps or injuries, and with this team it's more likey that the pope gets married than the Cubs having an mostly injury free season.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not against signing Edmonds, but I'm not all that enamored with him either.

 

His injuries concern me. I do prefer him to Pierre, of course I'd prefer a lot of players to Pierre.

 

If Edmonds would sign a 1-year deal, I'd be more inclined to sign him. With Pie in the minors and Pagan on the roster, there is some depth to account for him if he does get injured, which is highly likely.

 

He still was able to post an 831OPS this season which isn't bad from a CF, but he's seen a drop in BA/OBP and especially his SLG. I think he's a better option for hitting second than hitting fifth, but that wouldn't affect whether I'd sign him.

 

If I settled for Edmonds in CF, I'd want some improvement over Theriot at second. If I could get Edmonds on an affordable 1 year 5-6 million deal with an option year around the same amount, I would probably look to sign Durham for 2b.

 

I think this line-up with projected numbers in parenthesis could be productive enough.

 

2b Durham (285/360/440)

CF Edmonds (260/350/480)

1b Lee (290/385/550)

3b Ramirez (289/352/560)

RF Jones (280/320/790)

LF Murton (295/360/450)

C Barrett (285/350/490)

SS Izturis (280/300/350)

 

I really approve of that :D . Seriously, those numbers seem reasonable, as long as there are no mishaps or injuries, and with this team it's more likey that the pope gets married than the Cubs having an mostly injury free season.

 

Oops...that should be 490 on Jones. I'll correct it.

[VanceJergins]

The St. Louis Cardinals Center Fielder Jim Edmonds has a $10mm option for 2007, with a 3mm buyout. There is a solid chance that he will be bought out and free to find a new home. Would Edmonds be a good fit in Wrigley Field and the Chicago Cubs lineup at 37 years of age? You bet, and here is why.

 

Reason #1: The Cubs never had a true #5 hitter in 2006. Granted, the Cubs didn't get to enjoy Derrek Lee hitting 3rd in their lineup for most of the 2006 season (and may not have Aramis Ramirez at all in 2007, but let's just act as if this were a perfect world), but Jacque Jones was hardly a prototypical #5 hitter for this offense. Though Jones did have a solid season in 2006, he would be an excellent #6 hitter in almost any lineup.

 

Jim Edmonds would be a much needed left-handed bat in the majority righty Cub lineup. The Cubs are desperately in need of batters with professional approaches at the plate (guys that understand that a walk will not "clog the bases," but translate into less outs and more runs scored). As it stands, there are only a few starters who seem to understand the importance of the "K/BB Ratio," and those are Ryan Theriot, Matt Murton, Lee, and Ramirez.

 

Edmonds would provide the usual 100 runs, 30+ HR, 100 RBI, 75+ walks and .380+ On-Base % that the Cubs need to improve their offense. Imagine this lineup:

 

2B Ryan Theriot

LF Matt Murton

1B Derrek Lee

3B Aramis Ramirez

CF Jim Edmonds

RF Jacque Jones

CA Michael Barrett

SS Cesar Izturis/R.Cedeno

 

Reason #2: The Cubs need to change their hitting philosophy. As stated above, the Chicago Cubs are going to need a new approach at the plate. Scoring runs is the name of the game, and it is hard to score when you are consistantly getting the "4-3" groundout, or swinging at the first pitch and popping up. Even though Juan Pierre has greatly improved in the 2nd half of 2006, his 82 runs scored are not impressive considering he has a League Leading 194 hits (stats as of 9/25/06). Imagine how many more runs Pierre would have scored if he would walk more than 32 times in about 700 plate appearances. Nobody in the league makes more outs than Pierre, and nobody gets thrown out trying to steal more.

 

The Cubs have a decent chance of success at the leadoff spot with the very impressive Ryan Theriot. Theriot may not steal 60 bases or have a high SLG%, but one point of his game has remained consistent through college, Minor Leagues, and his Major League time: he can get on base and score runs. In addition, Theriot is servicable at Shortstop, so the rich crop of 2B free agents can still be explored with plenty of backup in Cedeno, Izturis, and Theriot.

 

The Cubs need to get on base more, and getting Edmonds will help them do that, as well as driving in more runners.

 

Reason #3: The Cubs need the defense, and Edmonds is still above average. Yes he has lost a step over the past few years, and yes he may dive for balls that he doesn't need to dive for - but Jim Edmonds is still a quality CFer with a strong arm.

 

Most notably, Edmonds surely can more than handle CF for a couple more seasons (ironically the same amount of time Jacque Jones is signed to patrol RF for the Cubs.), and that gives super-prospect Felix Pie enough time to figure himself out in AA and AAA. Edmonds could cover CF, then move over to RF when Pie is ready.

 

Besides the fact that Edmonds has been having injury problems and is no longer very good, this is one of those times where I think its alright for personal feelings to affect this kind of decision. The guy is a major d-bag.