Let's round out the Bench

[RockTheIvy]

The Cubs bench over the past four seasons has been worthless. Famous names like Perez, Macias, Goodwin, Mabry and Bynum are just examples of the completely punchless bench that JH and DFB have had the past few seasons. Hopefully, with the changing of the guard coming soon, the bench doesn't have to be a disaster next year. How would you set up our bench for next year?

 

Theriot

Soto

Restovich

Jeff Cirillo

Pagan

Craig Wilson

[SouthSideRyan]

I don't think Cirillo is ever going to leave Milwaukee. It's where he's most comfortable.

[RockTheIvy]

I don't think Cirillo is ever going to leave Milwaukee. It's where he's most comfortable.

 

It's like an hour away!

[baseball7897]

If I were to build my bench, I would have it made of versitle players.

 

Jay Payton(OF)

Rich Aurilla(utility) Not sure if he would take a bench role.

Tony Graffanino(utility)

Henry Blanco©

Ryan Theriot(2B, SS)

Darin Erstad(1b, OF)

 

Looks good to me.

[SouthSideRyan]

After playing the way he did for the 3 seasons prior, the rumors of mental blocks and such came out following last year's season for Milwaukee. He's earned his big money, an extra 500K from the Cubs isn't going to draw him away from Miller.

[Rob]

If I were to build my bench, I would have it made of versitle players.

 

Jay Payton(OF)

Rich Aurilla(utility) Not sure if he would take a bench role.

Tony Graffanino(utility)

Henry Blanco©

Ryan Theriot(2B, SS)

Darin Erstad(1b, OF)

 

Looks good to me.

 

What on Earth are you bringing in Erstad for? If he's not healthy enough to play CF, he's got no value... and he's never healthy enough.

[baseball7897]

If I were to build my bench, I would have it made of versitle players.

 

Jay Payton(OF)

Rich Aurilla(utility) Not sure if he would take a bench role.

Tony Graffanino(utility)

Henry Blanco©

Ryan Theriot(2B, SS)

Darin Erstad(1b, OF)

 

Looks good to me.

 

What on Earth are you bringing in Erstad for? If he's not healthy enough to play CF, he's got no value... and he's never healthy enough.

 

Erstad is a pretty damn good player. No, he probably cant play CF anymore, but I was looking at him playing LF. Erstad is a risk I would take. Its not like I would sign him to a 4 million dollar contract. He would get something similiar to what Mabry got from the Cubs.

[Rob]

If I were to build my bench, I would have it made of versitle players.

 

Jay Payton(OF)

Rich Aurilla(utility) Not sure if he would take a bench role.

Tony Graffanino(utility)

Henry Blanco©

Ryan Theriot(2B, SS)

Darin Erstad(1b, OF)

 

Looks good to me.

 

What on Earth are you bringing in Erstad for? If he's not healthy enough to play CF, he's got no value... and he's never healthy enough.

 

Erstad is a pretty damn good player. No, he probably cant play CF anymore, but I was looking at him playing LF. Erstad is a risk I would take. Its not like I would sign him to a 4 million dollar contract. He would get something similiar to what Mabry got from the Cubs.

 

You want to take a guy with an IsoP of about .100 and stick him in left field?

 

People talk about Murton not developing enough power to stay in left field, and his is at .140.

 

Erstad's bat doesn't play anywhere except SS or CF anymore... and he better be about average in the field at either to justify a roster spot.

 

One year, league minimum. Fifth outfielder. Only to be used to cover center in emergencies or to pinch run. That's the best way to maximize his value to a team. If he costs more than the minimum, he's not worth it.

[RockTheIvy]

Erstad is not a damn good player.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd like to see this bench:

 

Geovany Soto C

Mark DeRosa 3b/2b/ss/lf/rf

Ryan Theriot ss/2b

Craig Wilson 1b/of

Kenny Lofton of

Scott Moore 3b

[Rob]

Erstad is not a damn good player.

 

baseball7897 has an Angels fetish. His idea of a damn good Angels player is about the same as our idea of Jose Macias.

[Post Count Padder]

I'd like to see this bench:

 

Geovany Soto C

Mark DeRosa 3b/2b/ss/lf/rf

Ryan Theriot ss/2b

Craig Wilson 1b/of

Kenny Lofton of

Scott Moore 3b

I'd rather see Moore get AB's at Iowa, and if we have Lofton on the bench we'd better have a better option starting in CF. Speaking of the Angels, what about Robb Quinlan? He's a good hitter who can play 1B, 3B and the OF. He'd be nice off the bench.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Erstad is not a damn good player.

 

He sure was in 2000. Not so much since.

[RockTheIvy]

I'd like to see this bench:

 

Geovany Soto C

Mark DeRosa 3b/2b/ss/lf/rf

Ryan Theriot ss/2b

Craig Wilson 1b/of

Kenny Lofton of

Scott Moore 3b

 

How much do you think getting those guys would cost?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd like to see this bench:

 

Geovany Soto C

Mark DeRosa 3b/2b/ss/lf/rf

Ryan Theriot ss/2b

Craig Wilson 1b/of

Kenny Lofton of

Scott Moore 3b

 

How much do you think getting those guys would cost?

 

Considering Soto would be 330K, Moore is 330 K, and Theriot 330K. That's 1 million.

 

I figure 2.5 million for DeRosa, 4 million for Wilson, and 3.5 million for Lofton.

 

It's an expensive bench, but I'm projecting Wilson to platoon with Jones in RF, so that's really 9 million for RF. Lofton likely logs significant innings in CF. DeRosa is paid what we paid Neifi last year.

[WrigleyField 22]

Well I'll start out with the guys we currently have:

Soto C

Pagan 4th/5th OF

Theriot 2B/SS- I'm assuming we wont try to have him start

Cedeno SS-2B

 

Bynum's 'versatility' becomes useless, as we have two guys who can cover second, making him an OF. He is cut/traded/whatever

 

That leaves two spots and none of the current guys really has an pop, Pagan having the most. So we need two guys who can offer some SLG, preferrably from each side of the plate. One needs to be able to cover 3B/1B.

Two guys I'd look into are Russel Branyan(team option) or Wes Helms.

Branyan bats Lefty, Helms righty. So depending on who you get would change what other player you get. This guy would be an OF

Lefies:

Delucci

Hollandsworth(as long as he comes in as a bench player)

Stairs

Righties:

Craig Wilson

 

I'd prefer Branyan as the backup 3B to Helms, which works out wonderfully as Wilson was the only righty FA that jumped out as good(unless I missed someone).

 

Pagan (LF,CF,RF)

Wilson (1B, OF)-would get lots of ABs vs lefties in RF

Branyan (3B)

Theriot (2B,SS)

Soto ©

Cedeno (SS,2B)

-All positons covered, with SLG from both sides, some speed, and defense.

 

If Branyan's option is picked up I would go with Helms(or possibly Moore) and Dellucci. I also wouldn't mind Aurilla as a backup 3B, if he'd accept such a role.

[WrigleyField 22]

Also it's doubtful he will be considered, and there are quite a few other players already at his position, but I'd like to see Fotenot have a legitimate shot in spring training to earn a spot.

[Sammy Sofa]

Not going after Craig Wilson will make me angry. RF is suddenly a LOT more impressive if he's picked up.

[goonys evil twin]

Unless the Cubs can get somebody likely to put up an 800 OPS, and/or dominate against LHP or RHP specifically, I want them to go all kids on the bench. You don't need a veteran bench. You need 8 good starters. You need 5 good pitchers and 4 good relievers. It'd be nice to have a good bench, but you're just as likely to get a fluke good year out of a kid like Theriot or Moore as you are out of the vast majority of veteran bench players you can sign.

 

And you absolutely do not make defense a focal point of your bench. Your bench should be filled with guys who can be a threat to hit. Versatility on defense is vastly overrated, because if all you're after is a guy who can play 8 positions, all you are going to get is a guy who does nothing well. Get a couple middle infielders. Get a couple corners guys, and somebody who can backup CF. Get a backup catcher. If there is room left over, then you can get another one of the first two groups.

[WrigleyField 22]

Unless the Cubs can get somebody likely to put up an 800 OPS, and/or dominate against LHP or RHP specifically, I want them to go all kids on the bench. You don't need a veteran bench. You need 8 good starters. You need 5 good pitchers and 4 good relievers. It'd be nice to have a good bench, but you're just as likely to get a fluke good year out of a kid like Theriot or Moore as you are out of the vast majority of veteran bench players you can sign.

And you absolutely do not make defense a focal point of your bench. Your bench should be filled with guys who can be a threat to hit. Versatility on defense is vastly overrated, because if all you're after is a guy who can play 8 positions, all you are going to get is a guy who does nothing well. Get a couple middle infielders. Get a couple corners guys, and somebody who can backup CF. Get a backup catcher. If there is room left over, then you can get another one of the first two groups.

 

Other than possibly Moore we really don't have any kids that could provide good power off the bench. Pagan might provide okay power, but not the kind of power I would want when I need a big hit late. One or possibly two, depending on Moore vets would be useful for that purpose.

 

As far as the bolded part, I don't think thats neccessarily true. If you go after a bench player who has had only one or two good seasons that both came in the last 2-3 years then it would be true. If it is a guy who has consistently put up solid numbers off the bench other than one or two years he is a better bet to do well than a rookie who is not used to coming off the bench and is used to being an everyday player.

[goonys evil twin]

Unless the Cubs can get somebody likely to put up an 800 OPS, and/or dominate against LHP or RHP specifically, I want them to go all kids on the bench. You don't need a veteran bench. You need 8 good starters. You need 5 good pitchers and 4 good relievers. It'd be nice to have a good bench, but you're just as likely to get a fluke good year out of a kid like Theriot or Moore as you are out of the vast majority of veteran bench players you can sign.

And you absolutely do not make defense a focal point of your bench. Your bench should be filled with guys who can be a threat to hit. Versatility on defense is vastly overrated, because if all you're after is a guy who can play 8 positions, all you are going to get is a guy who does nothing well. Get a couple middle infielders. Get a couple corners guys, and somebody who can backup CF. Get a backup catcher. If there is room left over, then you can get another one of the first two groups.

 

Other than possibly Moore we really don't have any kids that could provide good power off the bench. Pagan might provide okay power, but not the kind of power I would want when I need a big hit late. One or possibly two, depending on Moore vets would be useful for that purpose.

 

As far as the bolded part, I don't think thats neccessarily true. If you go after a bench player who has had only one or two good seasons that both came in the last 2-3 years then it would be true. If it is a guy who has consistently put up solid numbers off the bench other than one or two years he is a better bet to do well than a rookie who is not used to coming off the bench and is used to being an everyday player.

 

That's pretty much why I said "Unless the Cubs can get somebody likely to put up an 800 OPS, and/or dominate against LHP or RHP specifically".

 

If you can find a guy who has consistently put up solid numbers, go ahead and get him.

[radarluv1]

I'd like to see this bench:

 

Geovany Soto C

Mark DeRosa 3b/2b/ss/lf/rf

Ryan Theriot ss/2b

Craig Wilson 1b/of

Kenny Lofton of

Scott Moore 3b

 

who is in CF with this bench? lofton might be better than the starter! :cry:

i dont know anything about derosa, but fontenot may be able to play those positions and cost much less.

 

edit: derosa can start on my team 300/360/460

[HoopsCubs]

I'd like to see this bench:

 

Geovany Soto C

Mark DeRosa 3b/2b/ss/lf/rf

Ryan Theriot ss/2b

Craig Wilson 1b/of

Kenny Lofton of

Scott Moore 3b

 

who is in CF with this bench? lofton might be better than the starter! :cry:

i dont know anything about derosa, but fontenot may be able to play those positions and cost much less.

 

Haven't read the Tribune yet today, but a buddy of mine said Paul Sullivan wrote something in the Cubs Bits about the Cubs possibly being interested in Tony Graffanino as a utility guy next year. I have not followed Tony's career that much since he left the White Sox, but my recollection is that he's consistently been in the high seven hundreds OPS-wise.

[kroth1342]

Erstad is not a damn good player.

 

baseball7897 has an Angels fetish. His idea of a damn good Angels player is about the same as our idea of Jose Macias.

 

SONNED

 

http://encyclopedia.quickseek.com/images/thumb/180px-Curious_george_ether.jpg

[SAMMYWHO]

Unless the Cubs can get somebody likely to put up an 800 OPS, and/or dominate against LHP or RHP specifically, I want them to go all kids on the bench. You don't need a veteran bench. You need 8 good starters. You need 5 good pitchers and 4 good relievers. It'd be nice to have a good bench, but you're just as likely to get a fluke good year out of a kid like Theriot or Moore as you are out of the vast majority of veteran bench players you can sign.

And you absolutely do not make defense a focal point of your bench. Your bench should be filled with guys who can be a threat to hit. Versatility on defense is vastly overrated, because if all you're after is a guy who can play 8 positions, all you are going to get is a guy who does nothing well. Get a couple middle infielders. Get a couple corners guys, and somebody who can backup CF. Get a backup catcher. If there is room left over, then you can get another one of the first two groups.

 

Other than possibly Moore we really don't have any kids that could provide good power off the bench. Pagan might provide okay power, but not the kind of power I would want when I need a big hit late. One or possibly two, depending on Moore vets would be useful for that purpose.

 

As far as the bolded part, I don't think thats neccessarily true. If you go after a bench player who has had only one or two good seasons that both came in the last 2-3 years then it would be true. If it is a guy who has consistently put up solid numbers off the bench other than one or two years he is a better bet to do well than a rookie who is not used to coming off the bench and is used to being an everyday player.

 

Restovich comes to mind. Does Brandon Sing or any of our stud 1st base prospects play any other positions like 3rd. I agree with saving money. I'd keep Pagan as the CF backup. We need a starter and trade for a big outfield bat.