How about Marcus Giles in 2007?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

In Will Carroll's Under the Knife (subscription required), I found this blurb.

 

Marcus Giles won’t return to the Braves lineup until the weekend. The Braves are expected to deal him in the offseason

 

His numbers have dipped to 267/353/395 this year. While that is a weak SLG, he's been dogged by injuries and it would still be an improvement over Cedeno.

 

His career numbers are still good with 287/364/453. He has a career 817 OPS as a secondbaseman. He'll turn 29 next season and still looks to be a productive player for a couple of years.

 

If the Braves were to put him on the market, one of the Cubs young arms might be enough to net him.

 

If the Cubs added Giles at 2b, moved Jones to CF and signed Sheffield to a one year deal, I think the line-up could be very respectable.

 

2B Giles

LF Murton

1b Lee

RF Sheffield

3b Ramirez

CF Jones

C Barrett

SS Izturis

 

The line-up is a little right-handed heavy, but 1-7 is pretty solid. The biggest concern would be Sheffield's health.

[goonys evil twin]

2B Giles

LF Murton

1b Lee

RF Sheffield

3b Ramirez

CF Jones

C Barrett

SS Izturis

 

The line-up is a little right-handed heavy, but 1-7 is pretty solid. The biggest concern would be Sheffield's health.

 

Sheffield should not be an option.

 

I like Giles, but there's significant risk that this isn't just a down year.

 

Plus, I don't see Murton getting a shot in the 2 hole, if he couldn't even get the call last night over Theriot, he won't next year with Pierre and Izturis around.

[cheapseats]

I'm all for Giles.

 

I do believe that his injuries have contributed to his lack of power this year. PECOTA projects him to be a very, very good 2B for the next 4 years.

[Banedon]

I've always been a big fan of Giles, and definitely wouldn't be upset about getting him.

[cheapseats]

 

Plus, I don't see Murton getting a shot in the 2 hole, if he couldn't even get the call last night over Theriot, he won't next year with Pierre and Izturis around.

 

That, of course, depends on who the manager is next year, and most signs point to Dusty being out of Chicago.

[Soriano12]

I've always been a big fan of Giles, and definitely wouldn't be upset about getting him.

 

agree

[YearofDaCubs]

I like Giles but man, that guy is ALWAYS injured.

[RynoRules]

Giles has shown he can be very productive but is having a "down" year. Might make him cheaper to acquire. Sounds like a good idea.

 

My only concern - as oft-cited by Goony and others - is that MIFers tend to decline more rapidly than OFers or corner IFers. Perhaps Giles is beginning his descent?

[Soriano12]

I like Giles but man, that guy is ALWAYS injured.

 

I think his injuries have been of the "bad luck" type. I don't view him

as someone that is injury prone.

 

just my opinion.

[Soriano12]

I just looked at his career OBP...364.

 

He is definetly not Cub Material. I expect Hendry to pass.

[A New Era]

Yes let's get Giles please!!

 

. . . atleast my screenname would make a half bit of sense!! :D

[Jake]

I was hoping you were talking about Brian, not Marcus.

[A New Era]

I was hoping you were talking about Brian, not Marcus.

 

Brian is locked into a nice contract where he REALLY wants to play. It's not even realistic to expect it to be him. Marcus, however, is realistic. And gives you good OBP combined with good defense. Something we've been unable to combine into our 2B spot for a couple of years.

[mg420]

imo, the cubs are giving cedeno the 1st shot at 2b in 2007. if he shows he cant handle it, hopefully epat will be ready. he seems to be tearing up aaa in his very limited stay there. i dont know why there seem to be alot of people here who are not high on him (k's/bb perhaps?) as he seems to have the ability to be a very good all around 2b. if not, maybe a riot/fontenot platoon would work.

[Banedon]

I was hoping you were talking about Brian, not Marcus.

 

You were hoping to watch a flame war? :P

[baseball7897]

I think Giles is hitting under .230 as a leadoff hitter. When he bats in the the second spot in the order, he is hitting over .300.

 

I would love to see Giles at 2b next year. I would not like to see him being a leadoff hitter though.

 

Pierre and Giles at the top of the order would be pretty solid.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think Giles is hitting under .230 as a leadoff hitter. When he bats in the the second spot in the order, he is hitting over .300.

 

I would love to see Giles at 2b next year. I would not like to see him being a leadoff hitter though.

 

Pierre and Giles at the top of the order would be pretty solid.

 

But a line-up of

 

Pierre CF

Giles 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Jones RF

Barrett C

Murton LF

Izturis SS

 

is lacking power. It's not bad, but I think a better line-up can be assembled.

 

That said, I'd get Giles and worry about the other pieces later.

[YearofDaCubs]

I think Giles is hitting under .230 as a leadoff hitter. When he bats in the the second spot in the order, he is hitting over .300.

 

I would love to see Giles at 2b next year. I would not like to see him being a leadoff hitter though.

 

Pierre and Giles at the top of the order would be pretty solid.

 

But a line-up of

 

Pierre CF

Giles 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Jones RF

Barrett C

Murton LF

Izturis SS

 

is lacking power. It's not bad, but I think a better line-up can be assembled.

 

That said, I'd get Giles and worry about the other pieces later.

We really need to add another offensive bat. Either Giles or Lugo and a power bat in the OF. I would be happy.

[A New Era]

I think Giles is hitting under .230 as a leadoff hitter. When he bats in the the second spot in the order, he is hitting over .300.

 

I would love to see Giles at 2b next year. I would not like to see him being a leadoff hitter though.

 

Pierre and Giles at the top of the order would be pretty solid.

 

But a line-up of

 

Pierre CF

Giles 2b

Lee 1b

Ramirez 3b

Jones RF

Barrett C

Murton LF

Izturis SS

 

is lacking power. It's not bad, but I think a better line-up can be assembled.

 

That said, I'd get Giles and worry about the other pieces later.

 

Then put C.Lee in LF or Soriano in LF. Honestly I'd rather see Soriano at 2B and Murton at LF since he's much cheaper than Giles.

[cheapseats]

I think Giles is hitting under .230 as a leadoff hitter. When he bats in the the second spot in the order, he is hitting over .300.

 

First, he's been hitting .249 in the leadoff spot, not "under .230." But who cares about batting average? He's got a .341 OBP when htting leadoff this year, which is just .10 lower than his overall OBP this season.

 

He's only hit second in the order in 14 games this season. 14 games isn't enough to draw any meaningful conclusions from his stats.

 

Did you know that Neifi Perez had a .263 OBP in the 1 spot but a .375 OBP in the 8 spot last year?

 

Jose Macias had a .270 OBP hitting first, but also had a .375 OBP hitting eighth.

 

Matt Murton had just a .310 OBP hitting #7, but a .615 OBP hitting #8.

 

Nomar had a .222 OBP hitting #3, but he had a .386 OBP hitting #5.

 

Aramis was just at .231 hitting #3, but he was at .383 hitting #5.

 

Burnitz had a .361 OBP when hitting cleanup, but just a .238 OBP when hitting #7.

 

Barrett had a .431 OBP when hitting 5th, but a .241 OBP when hitting 7th.

 

Stats based on position in the batting order are next to worthless if not completely worthless.

[CubColtPacer]

I think Giles is hitting under .230 as a leadoff hitter. When he bats in the the second spot in the order, he is hitting over .300.

 

First, he's been hitting .249 in the leadoff spot, not "under .230." But who cares about batting average? He's got a .341 OBP when htting leadoff this year, which is just .10 lower than his overall OBP this season.

 

He's only hit second in the order in 14 games this season. 14 games isn't enough to draw any meaningful conclusions from his stats.

 

Did you know that Neifi Perez had a .263 OBP in the 1 spot but a .375 OBP in the 8 spot last year?

 

Jose Macias had a .270 OBP hitting first, but also had a .375 OBP hitting eighth.

 

Matt Murton had just a .310 OBP hitting #7, but a .615 OBP hitting #8.

 

Nomar had a .222 OBP hitting #3, but he had a .386 OBP hitting #5.

 

Aramis was just at .231 hitting #3, but he was at .383 hitting #5.

 

Burnitz had a .361 OBP when hitting cleanup, but just a .238 OBP when hitting #7.

 

Barrett had a .431 OBP when hitting 5th, but a .241 OBP when hitting 7th.

 

Stats based on position in the batting order are next to worthless if not completely worthless.

 

The thing is-it's not just the stats that concern people. He just moved to the leadoff spot this year, and it is certainly possible he has just had a down year that coincidentally came with his move to the leadoff spot. Here's some quotes from Giles from August the 10th:

 

Marcus Giles says repeatedly that he's not offering any excuses for a slow start to this season. But ...

 

"I'd be lying if I didn't tell you I was way more comfortable in the 2 hole," said Atlanta's second baseman, who has moved down the order from first to second with Chipper Jones out.

 

And from later in the article:

 

For his big-league career, which began in 2001, he's a .256 hitter in the leadoff spot and .307 batting second.

 

"I think it's just something you've done your whole life," Giles said. "My whole life, from tee ball on up, I've either hit second or third. It's just a comfort level. Whenever you're uncomfortable in this game, bad things are going to happen."

 

One more

 

"If I had to guess," Giles said, "I'd say I'm going back to the leadoff spot."

 

Despite the disparity, he said he'd cope, if Cox and others thought it was the best move for the team.

 

His slugging is down over 60 points this year. Just a change in the lineup order and a down year together might be coincidence, but I think there is a much greater chance of a link when the player himself says he is not very comfortable in that spot. I still like Giles, and would be fine if we got him if we didn't get Soriano to play 2nd-but I think batting him 1st would not bring the best results we could have from him.

 

Edit: Here's the source on that article

 

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/sports/baseball/mlb/atlanta_braves/15238161.htm

[baseball7897]

I think Giles is hitting under .230 as a leadoff hitter. When he bats in the the second spot in the order, he is hitting over .300.

 

First, he's been hitting .249 in the leadoff spot, not "under .230." But who cares about batting average? He's got a .341 OBP when htting leadoff this year, which is just .10 lower than his overall OBP this season.

 

He's only hit second in the order in 14 games this season. 14 games isn't enough to draw any meaningful conclusions from his stats.

 

Did you know that Neifi Perez had a .263 OBP in the 1 spot but a .375 OBP in the 8 spot last year?

 

Jose Macias had a .270 OBP hitting first, but also had a .375 OBP hitting eighth.

 

Matt Murton had just a .310 OBP hitting #7, but a .615 OBP hitting #8.

 

Nomar had a .222 OBP hitting #3, but he had a .386 OBP hitting #5.

 

Aramis was just at .231 hitting #3, but he was at .383 hitting #5.

 

Burnitz had a .361 OBP when hitting cleanup, but just a .238 OBP when hitting #7.

 

Barrett had a .431 OBP when hitting 5th, but a .241 OBP when hitting 7th.

 

Stats based on position in the batting order are next to worthless if not completely worthless.

 

If you bat Giles in the leadoff spot, that means you have a weakness one your team. He is a 2 hitter, not a 1 hitter. On a good team, Giles is your #2 hitter.

 

When the Cubs traded for Lofton, their team was much more better. Now they could bat Grudzielanek in the 2 hole where he excelled.

 

Pierre and Giles at the top of the order could be a huge asset for the Cubs in 07.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If you bat Giles in the leadoff spot, that means you have a weakness in your team.

 

Why?

 

He is a 2 hitter, not a 1 hitter.

 

Why?

 

On a good team, Giles is your #2 hitter.

 

Why?

 

When the Cubs traded for Lofton, their team was much more better. Now they could bat Grudzielanek in the 2 hole where he excelled.

 

Fun fact: The Cubs offense scored more runs before they acquired Lofton than after.

 

Pierre and Giles at the top of the order could be a huge asset for the Cubs in 07.

 

Giles, yes. Pierre, emphatic no.

[baseball7897]

If you bat Giles in the leadoff spot, that means you have a weakness in your team.

 

Why?

 

He is a 2 hitter, not a 1 hitter.

 

Why?

 

On a good team, Giles is your #2 hitter.

 

Why?

 

When the Cubs traded for Lofton, their team was much more better. Now they could bat Grudzielanek in the 2 hole where he excelled.

 

Fun fact: The Cubs offense scored more runs before they acquired Lofton than after.

 

Pierre and Giles at the top of the order could be a huge asset for the Cubs in 07.

 

Giles, yes. Pierre, emphatic no.

 

If your batting Giles in the leadoff spot, you lacking a true leadoff hitter. Giles is better suited for the #2 spot. You can take advantage of his hitting skills in the #2 spot in the order. Leadoff hitter gets on, Giles bunts him over. Another example is, leadoff hitter gets on, you can hit and run with Giles.

 

Giles leading off, is like having Jason Kendall leading off. Both are excellent #2 hitters. Your lineup would be 100% better, when they are in the #2 spot in the order.

 

Your leadoff hitter should be a guy with atleast a .370 OBP, you would prefer to have him bat left-handed, a guy who will make contact, and a guy who can steal a base.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If your batting Giles in the leadoff spot, you lacking a true leadoff hitter. Giles is better suited for the #2 spot. You can take advantage of his hitting skills in the #2 spot in the order. Leadoff hitter gets on, Giles bunts him over. Another example is, leadoff hitter gets on, you can hit and run with Giles.

 

Giles leading off, is like having Jason Kendall leading off. Both are excellent #2 hitters. Your lineup would be 100% better, when they are in the #2 spot in the order.

 

Your leadoff hitter should be a guy with atleast a .370 OBP, you would prefer to have him bat left-handed, a guy who will make contact, and a guy who can steal a base.

 

Outside of having a high OBP, I completely disagree with everything you said.