Some Trib CF targets

[b_wiggy_66]

The Trib metioned quite a few possible CF targets today.

 

"But most of the remaining alternatives this season are veterans or injury-prone or both, such as Darin Erstad, Bernie Williams and Steve Finley."

 

"Other center fielders who could become available are Milwaukee's Brady Clark and Philadelphia's Aaron Rowand."

 

There is some new names in there that I have not heard. Rowand and Clark sound okay, but I think unless something bigs pops up are best chance is to go with Jones out there. It sounds like the Nats are asking for a lot for Church so he is probably out. I think we should still move Soriano to CF and look for a corner OF bat which I think we could find a little easier.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Church please. Let's not go dumpster diving for a centerfielder.

[rawaction]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

[VanceJergins]

I'd like Church, Gabe Gross, or possibly Wilkerson

[CuseCubFan69]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

 

Heck Manny Rameriz always wants to be traded and he does just fine in Boston. Let Jones stew for awhile and if the Cubs can't move him, tough.

[Butterscup1679666578]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

 

Seriously, if we can't get Church, I don't want Jones leaving town. If he could put up a plus .800 OPS again, I think we'd all be more than happy.

[VanceJergins]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

 

Seriously, if we can't get Church, I don't want Jones leaving town. If he could put up a plus .800 OPS again, I think we'd all be more than happy.

 

06 was only the 2nd time he's put up a +.800 OPS in his career.

[b_wiggy_66]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

 

Seriously, if we can't get Church, I don't want Jones leaving town. If he could put up a plus .800 OPS again, I think we'd all be more than happy.

 

06 was only the 2nd time he's put up a +.800 OPS in his career.

 

I would like to move him because I don't think he puts up those numbers again. However, he may be our best option.

[RynoRules]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

 

Heck Manny Rameriz always wants to be traded and he does just fine in Boston. Let Jones stew for awhile and if the Cubs can't move him, tough.

 

 

Did you really just compare Manny and Jacque? Its one thing to keep a sulking/unhappy guy with a career 1.100 OPS, its another to keep an unhappy Jacque Jones.

[VanceJergins]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

 

Heck Manny Rameriz always wants to be traded and he does just fine in Boston. Let Jones stew for awhile and if the Cubs can't move him, tough.

 

 

Did you really just compare Manny and Jacque? Its one thing to keep a sulking/unhappy guy with a career 1.100 OPS, its another to keep an unhappy Jacque Jones.

 

Exactly, and there's no way Church or Gross would cost that much. At most it would be something like Marshall or Marmol and a B prospect, which is very expendable.

[Chocolate Milk]

Saw this on Buster Olney's blog:

 

If the Rangers do sign Lofton, by the way, this increases the likelihood that Alfonso Soriano will be the Cubs' center fielder next season.

[UMFan83]

Wow Ersted, Willians and Finley. Wow, this totally increases my optimism for the upcoming season. Hey how about we just KEEP JACQUE JONES GEEZ

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Don't laugh at Erstad, Finley, and Williams.

 

They are veteran players who go all out, and KNOW HOW TO WIN.

 

Do the Cubs know how to win? I think not.

 

These guys can teach us, and they have the rings to prove it.

[Outshined_One]

At first I thought Brady Clark could be a decent stopgap if the Cubs picked him up for a B-level prospect, but then I looked at his numbers last year.

 

Egad.

[goonys evil twin]

Don't laugh at Erstad, Finley, and Williams.

 

They are veteran players who go all out, and KNOW HOW TO WIN.

 

Do the Cubs know how to win? I think not.

 

These guys can teach us, and they have the rings to prove it.

 

I'm going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and assume he's kidding.

[Butterscup1679666578]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

 

Seriously, if we can't get Church, I don't want Jones leaving town. If he could put up a plus .800 OPS again, I think we'd all be more than happy.

 

06 was only the 2nd time he's put up a +.800 OPS in his career.

 

I know that, but maybe he's found his groove playing in the NL. I'd rather keep him with his contract than get any of these other names being thrown out there (besides Church).

[Wheelimus]

Don't laugh at Erstad, Finley, and Williams.

 

They are veteran players who go all out, and KNOW HOW TO WIN.

 

Do the Cubs know how to win? I think not.

 

These guys can teach us, and they have the rings to prove it.

 

I'm going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and assume he's kidding.

 

Confirmed, I'm getting a 11.9 out of 10 on my sarcasm meter...

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

It was very sarcastic.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Rowand has a nice platoon split....

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Don't laugh at Erstad, Finley, and Williams.

 

They are veteran players who go all out, and KNOW HOW TO WIN.

 

Do the Cubs know how to win? I think not.

 

These guys can teach us, and they have the rings to prove it.

 

I'm going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt and assume he's kidding.

 

I think he's serious -- I didn't see :roll: or [/sarcasm] anywhere in his post.

[CubsWin]

How about keeping Jacque Jones and playing him in CF? As much as I hated the signing, he's better than any of those options.

 

Seriously, if we can't get Church, I don't want Jones leaving town. If he could put up a plus .800 OPS again, I think we'd all be more than happy.

 

06 was only the 2nd time he's put up a +.800 OPS in his career.

 

I know that, but maybe he's found his groove playing in the NL. I'd rather keep him with his contract than get any of these other names being thrown out there (besides Church).

The whole "Jones has only put up a +.800 OPS twice in his career" is a little misleading. He's had 3 years with an OPS just below .800 (.789, .782 and .797), so if the gold standard is having a CFer with an OPS around .800 (Pierre's was .719 last season), Jones has a pretty good shot. He would definitely consistute an improvement over Pierre.

 

That said, I'll take Ryan Church.

[Wheelimus]

How about just keep the guy you have, Jacque, and sign Rowand to platoon? Which removes the need for Cliff Floyd and leaves Murton with 500 at bats.

[Butterscup1679666578]

How about just keep the guy you have, Jacque, and sign Rowand to platoon? Which removes the need for Cliff Floyd and leaves Murton with 500 at bats.

 

Rowand isn't an FA.

[CubsWin]

How about just keep the guy you have, Jacque, and sign Rowand to platoon? Which removes the need for Cliff Floyd and leaves Murton with 500 at bats.

 

Rowand isn't an FA.

Fine, trade for him then. He's on the block according to a lot of reports.

 

Rowand's career numbers against LHers is .289/.351/.494/.845.

 

Its not a bad back-up idea to getting Church. I don't think it would impact the decision to get Floyd in that Rowand is a righty and Hendry feels he needs a lefty bat with power who can give the Cubs some added punch on days against those tough right-handed pitchers. Floyd would make a much better DH than either Ward or Rowand. So, if you got Rowand, Floyd would still be an almost necessary upgrade.

 

But acquiring Ryan Church kills all those birds with one stone.

[goonys evil twin]

How about just keep the guy you have, Jacque, and sign Rowand to platoon? Which removes the need for Cliff Floyd and leaves Murton with 500 at bats.

 

Rowand isn't an FA.

Fine, trade for him then. He's on the block according to a lot of reports.

 

Rowand's career numbers against LHers is .289/.351/.494/.845.

 

Its not a bad back-up idea to getting Church. I don't think it would impact the decision to get Floyd in that Rowand is a righty and Hendry feels he needs a lefty bat with power who can give the Cubs some added punch on days against those tough right-handed pitchers. Floyd would make a much better DH than either Ward or Rowand. So, if you got Rowand, Floyd would still be an almost necessary upgrade.

 

But acquiring Ryan Church kills all those birds with one stone.

 

If they use Rowand in a platoon, I am for it, but if they think he's an everday CF, I'd like to steer clear.