What are the Cubs going to do about the leadoff hitter?

[CuseCubFan69]

I t looks as if Hendry is going to let Pierre go which would be wonderful but who is he going to go to for leadoff? Soriano? If he gets Drew that would make the leadoff spot open again. I just hope he doesn't go after another prototype leadoff guy again and Lou might have some influance regarding this, I hope.

[Tracer Bullet]

Murton would be fine with me. So would Theriot if he ends up winning the 2B job. Those 2 in the top two spots gives us good OBP at the top of the order for (hopefully) Drew, Lee, and ARam (thankfully).

[CuseCubFan69]

Murton would be fine with me. So would Theriot if he ends up winning the 2B job. Those 2 in the top two spots gives us good OBP at the top of the order for (hopefully) Drew, Lee, and ARam (thankfully).

 

Do you think Lou would bat Murton 1st? I wonder if he would be open to that.

[frostwyrm]

I really hope Lou doesn't make Izturis the everyday #2, as Dusty was planning to do. I actually like Murton quite a bit at #2. If we get Soriano I suppose we could have Murton lead off and put Soriano at #2. Not sure if Lou would play it that way.

[Sammy Sofa]

If they get Soriano, I think he almost has to hit leadoff. It's been posted before, and his numbers are drastically better when he hits leadoff. For better or for worse, that's where you get him to produce.

[Guest]

Trade Izzy, put Theriot at SS and let him lead off.

[illiniguy]

sign bonds, then put his obp in the 1 spot.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Ray Durham wouldn't look bad playing second and hitting lead-off.

 

I'd love to sign Durham, trade Izturis and place Theriot at SS.

[mg420]

sign roberts to play cf and lead off.

[wade]

If they get Soriano, I'm almost certain they'll lead off with him.

[soapy]

Ideally, I like Tim's and Vance's suggestions to trade Izturis and put Theriot at SS. Two reasons: Theriot is a candidate to lead-off and it frees up cash to go after more FA acquisitions.

 

There are several different directions they can go, but really, just get the most productive players you can and worry about things like batting order later.

[mg420]

Ideally, I like Tim's and Vance's suggestions to trade Izturis and put Theriot at SS. Two reasons: Theriot is a candidate to lead-off and it frees up cash to go after more FA acquisitions.

 

There are several different directions they can go, but really, just get the most productive players you can and worry about things like batting order later.

 

if they are going to move theriot to ss i would like to see them go after catalanotto to play 2b (unless they think epat is ready to start of course).

[Vinestal]

Ideally, I like Tim's and Vance's suggestions to trade Izturis and put Theriot at SS. Two reasons: Theriot is a candidate to lead-off and it frees up cash to go after more FA acquisitions.

 

There are several different directions they can go, but really, just get the most productive players you can and worry about things like batting order later.

 

I doubt they have that much faith in Theriot's ability. I like that scenario as well but wether or not Lou and Jim will see it that way... I kinda doubt it.

[Danny82]

If Theriot were able to come anywhere close to last year's numbers, the decision would be a no brainer. But, those numbers are way better than where his minor league numbers would indicate his actual ability to lie. While I wish he could, I just don't see him as a guy who can have a .400 OBP over the course of a full season.

[soapy]

Or.......keep Theriot at 2B and trade for Arod to play SS.

 

Theriot 2B

Murton LF

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Arod SS

Barrett C

Jacque RF

Pie CF

[Soul]

If Theriot were able to come anywhere close to last year's numbers, the decision would be a no brainer. But, those numbers are way better than where his minor league numbers would indicate his actual ability to lie. While I wish he could, I just don't see him as a guy who can have a .400 OBP over the course of a full season.

 

Me either. Theriot will have to prove he can do that for a full season before I'll believe he is capable of it.

 

Everyone was saying the same things about Ronny Cedeno too. I never put much stock in the first callup year of hitting for a player. Especially one who never really did as well in the lower league.

[soapy]

If Theriot were able to come anywhere close to last year's numbers, the decision would be a no brainer. But, those numbers are way better than where his minor league numbers would indicate his actual ability to lie. While I wish he could, I just don't see him as a guy who can have a .400 OBP over the course of a full season.

 

Me either. Theriot will have to prove he can do that for a full season before I'll believe he is capable of it.

 

Everyone was saying the same things about Ronny Cedeno too. I never put much stock in the first callup year of hitting for a player. Especially one who never really did as well in the lower league.

That's understandable (even though Theriot shows more offensive promise then Cedeno ever did, IMO). However, if the Cubs expect to go after some of the high-priced talent potentially available this off-season (Soriano, Drew, Arod, Schmidt, Zito, etc.) then they may need to minimize spending at some positions. Right now, Murton is probably the only projected "league minimum" position player penciled into the lineup. They may need to have another somewhere in there in order have enough money to pick up a significant bat and a front-line starter. Theriot or Pie are probably the only two viable options to fill that role.

[goonys evil twin]

Hopefully he doesn't do anything about leadoff hitter, because leadoff hitter isn't a position. You don't go out looking for 2nd hitters, or 6th hitters. He should acquire the best 8 position players he can afford to get, then let the manager decide where they bat in the lineup.

[E.J.]

Hopefully he doesn't do anything about leadoff hitter, because leadoff hitter isn't a position. You don't go out looking for 2nd hitters, or 6th hitters. He should acquire the best 8 position players he can afford to get, then let the manager decide where they bat in the lineup.

 

That's great in theory, but we're talking about a GM who gave away 3 pitchers for Juan Pierre.

[erik316wttn]

Ideally, I like Tim's and Vance's suggestions to trade Izturis and put Theriot at SS. Two reasons: Theriot is a candidate to lead-off and it frees up cash to go after more FA acquisitions.

 

There are several different directions they can go, but really, just get the most productive players you can and worry about things like batting order later.

 

if they are going to move theriot to ss i would like to see them go after catalanotto to play 2b (unless they think epat is ready to start of course).

 

I'd be all about Catalanotto. Sign me up!

[YearofDaCubs]

I would like to see Giles or Lugo and have Murton bat 2nd.

[frostwyrm]

Trade Izzy, put Theriot at SS and let him lead off.

I doubt Izzy has significant trade value. We'd probably have to eat cash to move him, and Jim can't afford that type of embarrassment. Izzy will start at SS next opening day, and after landing on the DL a few times Jim will spindoctor Izzy as another hard-luck injury story.

[goonys evil twin]

Hopefully he doesn't do anything about leadoff hitter, because leadoff hitter isn't a position. You don't go out looking for 2nd hitters, or 6th hitters. He should acquire the best 8 position players he can afford to get, then let the manager decide where they bat in the lineup.

 

That's great in theory, but we're talking about a GM who gave away 3 pitchers for Juan Pierre.

 

And a GM who reportedly has soured on Pierre and is learning a thing or two about OBP this offseason. The question was what is he going to do about leadoff. My answer was hopefully nothing. Leadoff is not a position. It's also not a position Jim seemed overly concerned with filling until Dusty kept begging for it.

[mul21]

The way I look at it you've got this right now:

 

1. ?

2. Murton

3. Lee

4. Ramirez

5. Barrett

6. Jones

7. ?

8. Izturis

 

I'd like to see Drew signed, which would bump everyone down one slot behind Lee. Then plug in either Iwamura, Durham, or Theriot at 2B and leadoff and that's a lineup that will be able to score some runs. I'm just leary of what Soriano is going to do after a big dollar contract is in his pocket and I don't like his peripherals anyway.

[baseball7897]

I dont know why there is so much love for Dave Roberts. To me he is the same kind of player that Juan Pierre is. I dont see Hendry offering him anymore than a 1 year deal deal with an option for the second.