Cubs still pursuing Lugo.

[goonys evil twin]

I doubt it. The Red Sox let Gonzalez walk because they wanted an upgrade offensively at SS. Trading for Izturis hardly accomplishes that. Marshall would be an absolute disaster at Fenway.

 

They could have made that move for financial reasons as well. Boston might be in a little bit of a financial pinch. Their owner has lost money in the market recently. They just spent a ton on the pitcher, and probably need more. I'm not sure they are absolutely going to go for offensive improvement at SS.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

( DING only works if you DING someone else )

 

Hehehehe.

 

Yes I know that I was doing that to show how much I hate that stupid #*!$. DING DING DING DING DING!!

 

Come again?

 

Imagine someone annoyed by someone saying DING DING DING DING DING. Imagine my angry face sarcastically yelling DING DING DING DING DING!!! Understand?

 

I laughed because I have a dirty mind.

[d_money]

I hope I am proven wrong, but I think the Gooz is cooked.

 

It's not that I agree. But attention has to be drawn to this. Well played.

 

Guzman has the potential (still) to be lights-out awesome. Even when he was struggling this year in the majors, his stuff was filthy, and he occasionally looked absolutely dominant. Unfortunately, it was usually only for a couple pitches at a time. Given that he's basically coming off 2 years worth of injury, I'm willing to forgive that inconsistency for the moment. Let's hope he stays healthy and straightens things out this season in the minors - and maybe get a spot in the rotation part way through the year.

 

I agree that Guzman is cooked, he hasn't even been prepared. His fastball is straight as an arrow w/ no movement. IIRC the games I watched him pitch - the majority of his fastballs were being fouled off, then eventually basehits. Basically, every hitter was seeing the ball and finally catching up to it. Pitch count = high in the early innings which lead to short outing. He has no command of his curve. I'd trade him in a heartbeat. Overated.

[VanceJergins]

I hope I am proven wrong, but I think the Gooz is cooked.

 

It's not that I agree. But attention has to be drawn to this. Well played.

 

Guzman has the potential (still) to be lights-out awesome. Even when he was struggling this year in the majors, his stuff was filthy, and he occasionally looked absolutely dominant. Unfortunately, it was usually only for a couple pitches at a time. Given that he's basically coming off 2 years worth of injury, I'm willing to forgive that inconsistency for the moment. Let's hope he stays healthy and straightens things out this season in the minors - and maybe get a spot in the rotation part way through the year.

 

I agree that Guzman is cooked, he hasn't even been prepared. His fastball is straight as an arrow w/ no movement. IIRC the games I watched him pitch - the majority of his fastballs were being fouled off, then eventually basehits. Basically, every hitter was seeing the ball and finally catching up to it. Pitch count = high in the early innings which lead to short outing. He has no command of his curve. I'd trade him in a heartbeat. Overated.

 

His value is at an all time low right now. We're not the only ones who saw him struggle. There's more of a chance he turns it around than we get something valuable for him.

[snoodmonger]

How about we get SP before we go spending oh ~$20 mil on players like Lugo, Kearns, Church. We don't have an unlimted budget people. We need to get 2 pitchers before we even worry about who else to get offensively.

 

Lugo is a much larger upgrade over Izturis than guys like Meche, Batista, and Marquis would be over Guzman/Marshall/Mateo/Marmol.

 

Why wouldn't we want to spend the money where it would help us most?

 

Yes but the dumb butts (JH and Mcdunnough) want him for CF as far as we've all heard. And he's gonna cost 4 years $32 million. Do you really want to give THAT much to Lugo? If the Cubs are to spend that type of money over 3-4 years I'd rather they got an impact pitcher that could really boister the pitching staff. Like Schmidt or Westbrook (yes I know he must sign an extension)

 

is westbrook really an impact pitcher?

[Sarcastic]

How about we get SP before we go spending oh ~$20 mil on players like Lugo, Kearns, Church. We don't have an unlimted budget people. We need to get 2 pitchers before we even worry about who else to get offensively.

 

Lugo is a much larger upgrade over Izturis than guys like Meche, Batista, and Marquis would be over Guzman/Marshall/Mateo/Marmol.

 

Why wouldn't we want to spend the money where it would help us most?

 

Yes but the dumb butts (JH and Mcdunnough) want him for CF as far as we've all heard. And he's gonna cost 4 years $32 million. Do you really want to give THAT much to Lugo? If the Cubs are to spend that type of money over 3-4 years I'd rather they got an impact pitcher that could really boister the pitching staff. Like Schmidt or Westbrook (yes I know he must sign an extension)

 

is westbrook really an impact pitcher?

 

He is when he is replacing a AA pitcher, which is basically what he will be doing for the Cubs. He is no ace, though.

[Soul]

Hmmm....Lugo for CF over a just moving Jones there is stupid.

 

Lugo '06

AVG   OBP   SLG  TB   HR  RBI
.278  .341  .421  183  12  37

 

Jones '06

AVG   OBP   SLG  TB   HR  RBI
.285  .334  .499  266  27  81

 

If that's the choice, I'd rather put Jones there. Actually, Jacque might even thrive in CF. I also don't want to remove power from our lineup since we play in Wrigley and any time I've seen an underpowered Cubs team over the last few decades it's almost always been a losing, bad baseball team.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I hope I am proven wrong, but I think the Gooz is cooked.

 

It's not that I agree. But attention has to be drawn to this. Well played.

 

Guzman has the potential (still) to be lights-out awesome. Even when he was struggling this year in the majors, his stuff was filthy, and he occasionally looked absolutely dominant. Unfortunately, it was usually only for a couple pitches at a time. Given that he's basically coming off 2 years worth of injury, I'm willing to forgive that inconsistency for the moment. Let's hope he stays healthy and straightens things out this season in the minors - and maybe get a spot in the rotation part way through the year.

 

I agree that Guzman is cooked, he hasn't even been prepared. His fastball is straight as an arrow w/ no movement. IIRC the games I watched him pitch - the majority of his fastballs were being fouled off, then eventually basehits. Basically, every hitter was seeing the ball and finally catching up to it. Pitch count = high in the early innings which lead to short outing. He has no command of his curve. I'd trade him in a heartbeat. Overated.

 

The point being he hasn't pitched much in 2.5 years and has been rusty. His pitches aren't going to come back to being the plus pitches they were before injury right away. He had above average control and command before the injuries and those are generally the slowest to return. He showed flashes of why he was so highly rated and I wouldn't give up on him based solely on his performance last year,

[Neuby]

I like over any other center fielder free agents options out there not named Drew because the Cubs could always displace Lugo and move him to short or second.

[NorthsideAvenger]

(preface: take this with a grain of salt)

 

Some poster on another site is saying that he has heard that the "Cubs were close to signing Julio Lugo" and that he heard it from the Chicago media. I can't find a link to prove this guy right/wrong, and for all I know it is heresay, cause I didn't hear anything about it. So if anybody has heard this report, please acknowledge and keep me from going crazy.

[Guest]

(preface: take this with a grain of salt)

 

Some poster on another site is saying that he has heard that the "Cubs were close to signing Julio Lugo" and that he heard it from the Chicago media. I can't find a link to prove this guy right/wrong, and for all I know it is heresay, cause I didn't hear anything about it. So if anybody has heard this report, please acknowledge and keep me from going crazy.

 

hendry just called. the deal will be announced at 3AM.

 

seriously though, the guy probably read it here.

[snoodmonger]

How about we get SP before we go spending oh ~$20 mil on players like Lugo, Kearns, Church. We don't have an unlimted budget people. We need to get 2 pitchers before we even worry about who else to get offensively.

 

Lugo is a much larger upgrade over Izturis than guys like Meche, Batista, and Marquis would be over Guzman/Marshall/Mateo/Marmol.

 

Why wouldn't we want to spend the money where it would help us most?

 

Yes but the dumb butts (JH and Mcdunnough) want him for CF as far as we've all heard. And he's gonna cost 4 years $32 million. Do you really want to give THAT much to Lugo? If the Cubs are to spend that type of money over 3-4 years I'd rather they got an impact pitcher that could really boister the pitching staff. Like Schmidt or Westbrook (yes I know he must sign an extension)

 

is westbrook really an impact pitcher?

 

He is when he is replacing a AA pitcher, which is basically what he will be doing for the Cubs. He is no ace, though.

 

That doesn't qualify as an impact starter to me. There were three on the market--Schmidt, Zito, and Mats. Westbrook might be a nice addition, but there are dozens of guys like him in MLB.

[Springfield_CUBBY]

I didn't see this posted yet . . .

 

The outfield picture remains a puzzle, with Soriano the only certainty.

 

"It's impossible to see how it's going," Hendry said. "We have so many other key things to address."

 

Sources said the Cubs' interest in shortstop Julio Lugo, another Piniella favorite, is lukewarm. But they already have received word from Lugo that he would agree to play center field if he came to Chicago, with the possibility of moving back to short when top prospect Felix Pie is ready to play in center.

 

The Cubs believe Lugo could make the transition to the outfield easily, and would be a perfect No. 2 hitter behind Soriano. Matt Murton looks like he will have no worse than a platoon role in left, depending on whether Jacque Jones gets traded. Mets corner outfielder Cliff Floyd is still on the Cubs' radar, but he isn't a priority because of the uncertainty of his foot injury.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-061121cubs,1,580782.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

[killthegoat06]

I didn't see this posted yet . . .

 

The outfield picture remains a puzzle, with Soriano the only certainty.

 

"It's impossible to see how it's going," Hendry said. "We have so many other key things to address."

 

Sources said the Cubs' interest in shortstop Julio Lugo, another Piniella favorite, is lukewarm. But they already have received word from Lugo that he would agree to play center field if he came to Chicago, with the possibility of moving back to short when top prospect Felix Pie is ready to play in center.

 

The Cubs believe Lugo could make the transition to the outfield easily, and would be a perfect No. 2 hitter behind Soriano. Matt Murton looks like he will have no worse than a platoon role in left, depending on whether Jacque Jones gets traded. Mets corner outfielder Cliff Floyd is still on the Cubs' radar, but he isn't a priority because of the uncertainty of his foot injury.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-061121cubs,1,580782.story?coll=cs-cubs-headlines

 

No. Bad Hendry. Lugo should not replace Jones (We'd have no power in 5th spot ... Barrett should be 6th, not 5th). I'd love to trade Izturis and then sign Lugo, however. A 6-8 of murton, derosa, izturis would be horrendous.

Edited November 22, 2006 by killthegoat06

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Lugo should not replace Jones

[Springfield_CUBBY]

I think I'm missing something in all of this. Isn't Center Field a pretty important defensive position??? (not to say that they all aren't important, but some are just, well, more important)

Now all of a sudden we want to take a former second baseman, who played one year in left and hand him the reins of center. And if that doesn't work we want to take an effective shortstop and move him up there.

 

I don't just get it??? Is this all to make sure there's room for Pie?

[baseball7897]

I think I'm missing something in all of this. Isn't Center Field a pretty important defensive position??? (not to say that they all aren't important, but some are just, well, more important)

Now all of a sudden we want to take a former second baseman, who played one year in left and hand him the reins of center. And if that doesn't work we want to take an effective shortstop and move him up there.

 

I don't just get it??? Is this all to make sure there's room for Pie?

 

Defense doesn't matter. :lol:

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I think I'm missing something in all of this. Isn't Center Field a pretty important defensive position??? (not to say that they all aren't important, but some are just, well, more important)

Now all of a sudden we want to take a former second baseman, who played one year in left and hand him the reins of center. And if that doesn't work we want to take an effective shortstop and move him up there.

 

I don't just get it??? Is this all to make sure there's room for Pie?

 

Defense doesn't matter. :lol:

 

Petition to ban rolleyes because I'm really tempted to use it.

 

 

No one ever said defense doesn't matter.

[rocket]

i agree with the sentiment of lugo for ss, jacque for centerfield

[Irrelevant Dude]

No. Bad Hendry. Lugo should not replace Jones (We'd have no power in 5th spot ... Barrett should be 6th, not 5th). I'd love to trade Izturis and then sign Lugo, however. A 6-8 of murton, derosa, izturis would be horrendous.

I don't see that as such a bad 6-8. Murton is average to slightly above average as a 6 hitter, Derosa would be about an average number 7, and Izturis is a slightly below average #8. All things considered, it's just an average bottom of the order... not going to blow anyone away but not going to kill you either.

[YearofDaCubs]

i agree with the sentiment of lugo for ss, jacque for centerfield

Agreed. Since we know Drew isn't an option the only thing better than Lugo and Jock is Lugo at SS, and a trade for VWells for CF. Talk about a stacked lineup.

[baseball7897]

I think I'm missing something in all of this. Isn't Center Field a pretty important defensive position??? (not to say that they all aren't important, but some are just, well, more important)

Now all of a sudden we want to take a former second baseman, who played one year in left and hand him the reins of center. And if that doesn't work we want to take an effective shortstop and move him up there.

 

I don't just get it??? Is this all to make sure there's room for Pie?

 

Defense doesn't matter. :lol:

 

Petition to ban rolleyes because I'm really tempted to use it.

 

 

No one ever said defense doesn't matter.

 

I wish that were the case.

[rocket]

I think I'm missing something in all of this. Isn't Center Field a pretty important defensive position??? (not to say that they all aren't important, but some are just, well, more important)

Now all of a sudden we want to take a former second baseman, who played one year in left and hand him the reins of center. And if that doesn't work we want to take an effective shortstop and move him up there.

 

I don't just get it??? Is this all to make sure there's room for Pie?

 

Defense doesn't matter. :lol:

 

Petition to ban rolleyes because I'm really tempted to use it.

 

 

No one ever said defense doesn't matter.

 

I wish that were the case.

 

the closest thing anyone has ever said was that a person's offensive contributions are more important than their defensive contributions.

 

unless you can prove otherwise, you're making things up.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think I'm missing something in all of this. Isn't Center Field a pretty important defensive position??? (not to say that they all aren't important, but some are just, well, more important)

Now all of a sudden we want to take a former second baseman, who played one year in left and hand him the reins of center. And if that doesn't work we want to take an effective shortstop and move him up there.

 

I don't just get it??? Is this all to make sure there's room for Pie?

 

Defense doesn't matter. :lol:

 

Petition to ban rolleyes because I'm really tempted to use it.

 

 

No one ever said defense doesn't matter.

 

I wish that were the case.

 

Will this be the thread where you finally use evidence to support your claim?

[Rob]

I think I'm missing something in all of this. Isn't Center Field a pretty important defensive position??? (not to say that they all aren't important, but some are just, well, more important)

Now all of a sudden we want to take a former second baseman, who played one year in left and hand him the reins of center. And if that doesn't work we want to take an effective shortstop and move him up there.

 

I don't just get it??? Is this all to make sure there's room for Pie?

 

Defense doesn't matter. :lol:

 

Petition to ban rolleyes because I'm really tempted to use it.

 

 

No one ever said defense doesn't matter.

 

I wish that were the case.

 

Will this be the thread where you finally use evidence to support your claim?

 

$50 says that any response he gives you leave you wondering whether "evidence" means something different on his planet.