Who's backing up Ramirez at 3rd?

[Tracer Bullet]

I realize that HS baseball and MLB are quite different, but I shifted from SS to 3B with relative ease, and I would like to think that Theriot could with no problem, given that he is certainly a superior athlete and baseball player...the only real difference is angles on the throws, the speed with which the ball gets to you, and defending the bunt...ultimately, it shouldn't be too hard for Theriot

 

The only thing about that is that Theriot has already been moved to 2B in the past. If a poor arm is part of the reason for that, then it would be a deficiency again at 3B.

 

Was his poor armstrength part of that? His competition in the system was Cedeno, who has a cannon and better range, so I don't know if the move was b/c he couldn't handle SS at the ML level or if he just got pushed to 2B to get playing time.

 

I don't know why he was moved, that's why I used the if. However, if the reason was that Cedeno and Montanez were the reason he was moved off SS, then why was he kept at 2B this past year when we also had Fontenot(and later EPatt) at 2B and only Augie at SS in Iowa?

 

B/c Augie is a rock star?

[Guest]

The point is fairly well moot, anyway. Theriot / Derosa can back it up for a 1-2 game stretch and if Ramirez i down for any stretch at a time, Moore would probably be called up from Iowa.

[sunnydoo]

The point is fairly well moot, anyway. Theriot / Derosa can back it up for a 1-2 game stretch and if Ramirez i down for any stretch at a time, Moore would probably be called up from Iowa.

 

Michael Barrett can also slide to 3b in an emergency type of situation. Izturis has also played 28 games there, so they could slide the 2b over to SS and put Soriano at 2b if something drastic did happen.

 

Theriot's arm strength is the factor on playing him in an every day situation at 3b.

[UK1679666180]

The point is fairly well moot, anyway. Theriot / Derosa can back it up for a 1-2 game stretch and if Ramirez i down for any stretch at a time, Moore would probably be called up from Iowa.

 

I still think the Cubs need a RH'ed bat off the bench as well as someone who can play 3B, I'm surprised once everything clears from the Marquis signing like David Bell becomes a possibility assuming the market doesn't think he can start and his agent starts looking for bench opportunities.

[Guest]

The point is fairly well moot, anyway. Theriot / Derosa can back it up for a 1-2 game stretch and if Ramirez i down for any stretch at a time, Moore would probably be called up from Iowa.

 

I still think the Cubs need a RH'ed bat off the bench as well as someone who can play 3B, I'm surprised once everything clears from the Marquis signing like David Bell becomes a possibility assuming the market doesn't think he can start and his agent starts looking for bench opportunities.

I'd rather sign Preston to be the RH bat off the bench and platoon with Jacque in CF. If ARam needs a day off at 3B, either Derosa could slide over for that day with Theriot filling in at 2B or Theriot could just play 3B himself.

[Brian]

He doesn't have a rocket, but he has much more strength in his arm than Eckstein.

 

That's not saying much,eh? :D

[cubs121]

He doesn't have a rocket, but he has much more strength in his arm than Eckstein.

 

That's not saying much,eh? :D

thats true, but Eckstein is very fast at releasing the ball.

[Handlebar McSkullet]

He doesn't have a rocket, but he has much more strength in his arm than Eckstein.

 

That's not saying much,eh? :D

thats true, but Eckstein is very fast at releasing the ball.

 

Doesnt he lunge toward first base when he throws? I never played competitive baseball but does he do that because of his arm strength?

[BigbadB]

He has one of the wimpiest arms I've ever seen at SS. But, as someone stated before, he makes up for his weak arm with a very quick release.

 

And though I wouldn't call it a lunge, there is a pronounced move that helps him get the ball to 1b.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

He doesn't have a rocket, but he has much more strength in his arm than Eckstein.

 

That's not saying much,eh? :D

thats true, but Eckstein is very fast at releasing the ball.

 

I disagree. He has to rear all the way back and take a huge stride to make a throw from the hole and/or get any velocity on it.

[radarluv1]

3B back-up is one of the few things i feel good about with this current roster. i cant believe this thread is this long. there's plenty more to worry about at SS and the whole OF.

[UBlink]

My impression is that once a guy gets moved from SS to 2B, whatever the initial reason, he gets a rep for not having the skills to play SS. Now, there could be something that I'm missing, but my eyes and my scouting reports on him from those days suggested that he's just fine at SS. He doesn't have a rocket, but he has much more strength in his arm than Eckstein. His footwork and positioning were very good, as well. Generally, a very solid defender, though he doesn't have Cedeno-like tools to be a potential standout defender at SS.

 

You think Michael Young might have changed some of that thinking?

Edited December 12, 2006 by UBlink

[Guest]

My impression is that once a guy gets moved from SS to 2B, whatever the initial reason, he gets a rep for not having the skills to play SS. Now, there could be something that I'm missing, but my eyes and my scouting reports on him from those days suggested that he's just fine at SS. He doesn't have a rocket, but he has much more strength in his arm than Eckstein. His footwork and positioning were very good, as well. Generally, a very solid defender, though he doesn't have Cedeno-like tools to be a potential standout defender at SS.

 

You think Michael Young might have changed some of that thinking?

Dunno. I don't think he was ever regarded as a good defender at any position.

[UBlink]

Assuming the Cubs can find someone to play 2nd, DeRosa started 40 games last year at 3rd. Defensively I think that's pretty close to the least of our worries. Replacing ARam's bat is a different issue.

[WrigleyField 22]

Don't worry guys, I live in St.Louis, Eckstien has a fine arm. Trust me, my Cardinal fans wouldn't be wrong about this. He's also a top 3 SS in the NL easily, probably top 5 in the league.