Cubs interested in Lofton for Center Field

[apete6]

If the Cubs wouldn't have let go of Lofton after 2003, they would have made the playoffs again in 2004. They relied on Patterson because he had 3 good months. It's the one time they went with a young guy and it bit them in the rear end. They had no leadoff hitter in front of Nomar, Alou, Sosa, Lee, and Ramirez. It probably cost them 20 runs and 4 games that year. If they would have made the playoffs, it was a guaranteed WS appearance unless Hawkins blew more games. Not that I'm bitter...

[jjgman21]

Now I know everyone has their own thoughts on how the lineup should be ordered given potential moves... but it is a complete waste of time to have a lineup that doesn't have Soriano's name in big black sharpie marker in the lead off position. If you pay a guy 136 mill and promise him he's going to be your lead off guy... there's a pretty good shot that that's the case.

 

That being said... I think Lofton would be a decent 8 hole hitter. Too bad we already have that in Izturis. A lineup with both of those guys wouldn't be all that great.

 

for Soriano's contract he should clean out urinals and not complain if asked to and IMO it's a complete waste to have him leading off.

 

Well you aren't in charge. This isn't MLB: The Show 06. It is how it is and it should be thought of arround those terms.

 

yes, bend over backwards and let the player control the decisions. now that's the way to run an organization. I seem to recall that bit the Cubs in the ass very recently.

 

these public statements by Hendry about what his plans are, ie. Soriano in the outfield and leading off, DeRosa being his starting secondbaseman, Izturis being his guy at short, etc. should all be taken with more grains of salt than I just spread on my sidewalks and driveway.

[fromthestretch]

If the Cubs wouldn't have let go of Lofton after 2003, they would have made the playoffs again in 2004. They relied on Patterson because he had 3 good months. It's the one time they went with a young guy and it bit them in the rear end. They had no leadoff hitter in front of Nomar, Alou, Sosa, Lee, and Ramirez. It probably cost them 20 runs and 4 games that year. If they would have made the playoffs, it was a guaranteed WS appearance unless Hawkins blew more games. Not that I'm bitter...

 

If I remember correctly, the Cubs scored more runs per game without Lofton than with him in 2003. Kenny Lofton does not guarantee the Cubs a playoff spot in 2004.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

Sign Lofton, and do what it takes to get Tejada on the Cubs. All non-pitching problems solved at that point.

[jjgman21]

If the Cubs wouldn't have let go of Lofton after 2003, they would have made the playoffs again in 2004. They relied on Patterson because he had 3 good months. It's the one time they went with a young guy and it bit them in the rear end. They had no leadoff hitter in front of Nomar, Alou, Sosa, Lee, and Ramirez. It probably cost them 20 runs and 4 games that year. If they would have made the playoffs, it was a guaranteed WS appearance unless Hawkins blew more games. Not that I'm bitter...

 

If I remember correctly, the Cubs scored more runs per game without Lofton than with him in 2003. Kenny Lofton does not guarantee the Cubs a playoff spot in 2004.

 

you're kidding with this analysis, right? even if you recall correctly, what you imply is rather absurd. of course the Cubs would have been better with Lofton's OBP at the top of the order instead of CPatts. it doesn't guaranty a playoff spot, but it sure as hell makes their chances better. Patterson had a .317 obp as a leadoff hitter (245 abs) and .310 in the two hole (196 abs).

 

I think keeping Patterson was the right move at the time but he was used incorrectly. even so, to imply Lofton's superior obp at the top of the order would have been no help is rather absurd and contrary to other analysis you've given here in the past. being on base those few extra times very well could have made the difference in three games, and that was all it would have taken to get into the playoffs.

[baseball7897]

Soriano

Lofton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Murton

DeRosa

Izzy

P

 

I hate the fact the Cubs will have no power threat from the left side.

[jjgman21]

Soriano

Lofton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Murton

DeRosa

Izzy

P

 

I hate the fact the Cubs will have no power threat from the left side.

 

didn't hurt the Houston Astros of the mid 90's. Cubs hitters were significantly better v. righthanders last year anyway. hitting lefties was a big problem, a fact that more left handed hitters would not address.

[baseball7897]

Soriano

Lofton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Murton

DeRosa

Izzy

P

 

I hate the fact the Cubs will have no power threat from the left side.

 

didn't hurt the Houston Astros of the mid 90's. Cubs hitters were significantly better v. righthanders last year anyway. hitting lefties was a big problem, a fact that more left handed hitters would not address.

 

It is still not a good idea. Specially with all the right-handed closers in the league. You need some threat from the left side of the plate.

[Soul]

So given the current market I suppose Lofton gets 3/27 or some moronic contract like that.

[Andy]

Soriano

Lofton

Lee

Ramirez

Barrett

Murton

DeRosa

Izzy

P

 

I hate the fact the Cubs will have no power threat from the left side.

 

didn't hurt the Houston Astros of the mid 90's. Cubs hitters were significantly better v. righthanders last year anyway. hitting lefties was a big problem, a fact that more left handed hitters would not address.

 

It is still not a good idea. Specially with all the right-handed closers in the league. You need some threat from the left side of the plate.

Lefty power is not available for any reasonable price this offseason. The Cubs have to play the hand they're dealt.

[CubColtPacer]

So given the current market I suppose Lofton gets 3/27 or some moronic contract like that.

 

Well, if he gets that, he won't be coming to the Cubs. It seems like the Cubs are firmly set on having Pie in the Cubs lineup for Opening Day 2008. That's why they are looking at Lugo (who they can move to SS in 08) and Lofton for a 1 year deal. That would really be nice if Pie can then be productive and the Cubs can have two productive mininum salary outfielders.

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

i'm all for bringing back lofton...i didn't want him to leave in the first place, but it does concern me about lack of power from the left side of the plate...but if you get floyd for the bench at least that will be there when ya need it

[CubFanPhilly]

So given the current market I suppose Lofton gets 3/27 or some moronic contract like that.

 

Dave Roberts got 3/$18 mil. 1/$6 mil. for Lofton with perhaps an option for a second year at $6 mil. or $1 mil. buyout seems reasonable under the circumstances.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Now I know everyone has their own thoughts on how the lineup should be ordered given potential moves... but it is a complete waste of time to have a lineup that doesn't have Soriano's name in big black sharpie marker in the lead off position. If you pay a guy 136 mill and promise him he's going to be your lead off guy... there's a pretty good shot that that's the case.

 

That being said... I think Lofton would be a decent 8 hole hitter. Too bad we already have that in Izturis. A lineup with both of those guys wouldn't be all that great.

 

for Soriano's contract he should clean out urinals and not complain if asked to and IMO it's a complete waste to have him leading off.

 

Well you aren't in charge. This isn't MLB: The Show 06. It is how it is and it should be thought of arround those terms.

 

yes, bend over backwards and let the player control the decisions. now that's the way to run an organization. I seem to recall that bit the Cubs in the ass very recently.

 

these public statements by Hendry about what his plans are, ie. Soriano in the outfield and leading off, DeRosa being his starting secondbaseman, Izturis being his guy at short, etc. should all be taken with more grains of salt than I just spread on my sidewalks and driveway.

 

We should put Soriano in the leadoff spot if we want to maximize production from him. It's pretty clear he performs better there.

 

 

On Lofton, I'll say that I think there's a lot of downside to signing him. I think a lot of people overestimate the ease in benching Lofton if/when he sucks.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I wanted Lofton last year before we gave up some of our good prospects for Pierre. :cry:

[NorthsideAvenger]

 

yes, bend over backwards and let the player control the decisions. now that's the way to run an organization. I seem to recall that bit the Cubs in the ass very recently.

 

jjgman; it is not about the Cubs "bending over backwards and let the player control the decisions" it's about comfort. Here is his stats for Soriano at each spot of the lineup since 2004:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=6154&type=batting3

If you can read it as I can, it clearly shows Soriano is MORE comfortable hitting leadoff then any other spot in the lineup. So it's not that the Cubs are "bending over" to Soriano, it just that they know a HAPPY Soriano in a LEADOFF spot, is a more productive and a better player then Soriano is any other lineup spot. Now, if Soriano sturggles, I could see the Cubs moving Soriano to the #3 spot in front of Lee and Ramirez, to get him going, again, but again...Soriano is the leadoff hitter,and NOT because they promised him, the stats show he is better in the leadoff hitters spot.

[jjgman21]

 

yes, bend over backwards and let the player control the decisions. now that's the way to run an organization. I seem to recall that bit the Cubs in the ass very recently.

 

jjgman; it is not about the Cubs "bending over backwards and let the player control the decisions" it's about comfort. Here is his stats for Soriano at each spot of the lineup since 2004:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=6154&type=batting3

If you can read it as I can, it clearly shows Soriano is MORE comfortable hitting leadoff then any other spot in the lineup. So it's not that the Cubs are "bending over" to Soriano, it just that they know a HAPPY Soriano in a LEADOFF spot, is a more productive and a better player then Soriano is any other lineup spot. Now, if Soriano sturggles, I could see the Cubs moving Soriano to the #3 spot in front of Lee and Ramirez, to get him going, again, but again...Soriano is the leadoff hitter,and NOT because they promised him, the stats show he is better in the leadoff hitters spot.

 

now calculate that Soriano had the same stats hitting in the five or six hole last year instead of leadoff and put this myth to bed.

[Drew Doughty]

 

yes, bend over backwards and let the player control the decisions. now that's the way to run an organization. I seem to recall that bit the Cubs in the ass very recently.

 

jjgman; it is not about the Cubs "bending over backwards and let the player control the decisions" it's about comfort. Here is his stats for Soriano at each spot of the lineup since 2004:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=6154&type=batting3

If you can read it as I can, it clearly shows Soriano is MORE comfortable hitting leadoff then any other spot in the lineup. So it's not that the Cubs are "bending over" to Soriano, it just that they know a HAPPY Soriano in a LEADOFF spot, is a more productive and a better player then Soriano is any other lineup spot. Now, if Soriano sturggles, I could see the Cubs moving Soriano to the #3 spot in front of Lee and Ramirez, to get him going, again, but again...Soriano is the leadoff hitter,and NOT because they promised him, the stats show he is better in the leadoff hitters spot.

 

now calculate that Soriano had the same stats hitting in the five or six hole last year instead of leadoff and put this myth to bed.

 

Soriano posted a 190/267/419 line in 105 ABs out of the leadoff spot last year. He had 29 ABs in the 5 hole and was very good, but it's still only 29 ABs.

[Rob]

Of what's readily available, I'd prefer Ryan Church over Lofton, just because it'd be nice to have some pop. But Lofton isn't a horrible option. It'd be real nice to get somebody on base in front of Lee and Ramirez.

[jjgman21]

 

yes, bend over backwards and let the player control the decisions. now that's the way to run an organization. I seem to recall that bit the Cubs in the ass very recently.

 

jjgman; it is not about the Cubs "bending over backwards and let the player control the decisions" it's about comfort. Here is his stats for Soriano at each spot of the lineup since 2004:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/splits?statsId=6154&type=batting3

If you can read it as I can, it clearly shows Soriano is MORE comfortable hitting leadoff then any other spot in the lineup. So it's not that the Cubs are "bending over" to Soriano, it just that they know a HAPPY Soriano in a LEADOFF spot, is a more productive and a better player then Soriano is any other lineup spot. Now, if Soriano sturggles, I could see the Cubs moving Soriano to the #3 spot in front of Lee and Ramirez, to get him going, again, but again...Soriano is the leadoff hitter,and NOT because they promised him, the stats show he is better in the leadoff hitters spot.

 

now calculate that Soriano had the same stats hitting in the five or six hole last year instead of leadoff and put this myth to bed.

 

Soriano posted a 190/267/419 line in 105 ABs out of the leadoff spot last year. He had 29 ABs in the 5 hole and was very good, but it's still only 29 ABs.

 

my point is that if you take out the stats from his best year, where he happened to bat leadoff, his stats are the same whether in the 1, 5, 6, or 7 hole.

[Elrhino]

I would only be in favor of Lofton if it means Soriano is playing 2B.

[b_wiggy_66]

I think this would be a good move because I don't think there is a way we could get another impact bat. The want a lefty bat, but there are no good CF out there that could be had that are power lefties. If we moved Soriano to center then we could possibly get one to play the RF, but even then they may not be much better than Jones. Hendry will have to be very creative in getting the lineup figured out.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

my point is that if you take out the stats from his best year, where he happened to bat leadoff, his stats are the same whether in the 1, 5, 6, or 7 hole.

 

The common denominator in Soriano's best seasons are him spending the majority of the time leading off.

[cheapseats]

If the Cubs are dead set on trading Jacque, whose contract is not so egregious in light of recent inflation, and if the Cubs are dead set on playing Izturis at SS, then Lofton makes more sense in CF than Lugo.

[jtownie]

Am I losing my mind or has that section on the Lofton/Cubs whispers has been deleted from the article?