Who do you want to see playing middle infield in 2007?

[Jerry Mumphrey]

This is pure fantasy where you pick the guys you would like to see have the most success in spring training and win middle infield starting jobs for opening day; i.e. if you were Dusty you would have selected Neifi/Bynum for their "baserunning".

 

The money's on: Izturis/Derosa

Jerry's choice: Theriot/Fontenot (as an OBP disciple pushing for youth)

 

Other candidates:

Soriano (assumes Pie starts in CF)

Patterson

Cedeno

Womack

[SAMMYWHO]

I would like to see Cedeno rebound and Theriot get a real shot. Platoon Derosa with Jones and trade Izturis.

[BigbadB]

Let me be the first (and probably only :D ) person to suggest Soriano at SS and DeRosa at 2b and Izturis behind the window at the fast food drive up.

[goonys evil twin]

This is pure fantasy where you pick the guys you would like to see have the most success in spring training and win middle infield starting jobs for opening day; i.e. if you were Dusty you would have selected Neifi/Bynum for their "baserunning".

 

I don't like awarding jobs based on spring training numbers, especially when it ignores the big picture. However, if you're hoping for the best out of guys, I guess I'd like to see Cedeno and Patterson. If they are doing their best, they could be a great combo (RC - .310/.355/.400, EP - .320/.385/.450), and allow Theriot to slide into a great backup role to each, with DeRosa moving into a platoon with Jones in RF and Soriano plays CF.

 

Although there's virtually no chance of any of that happening.

[Backtobanks]

This is pure fantasy where you pick the guys you would like to see have the most success in spring training and win middle infield starting jobs for opening day; i.e. if you were Dusty you would have selected Neifi/Bynum for their "baserunning".

 

The money's on: Izturis/Derosa

Jerry's choice: Theriot/Fontenot (as an OBP disciple pushing for youth)

 

Other candidates:

Soriano (assumes Pie starts in CF)

Patterson

Cedeno

Womack

 

May I be the first to vote for Izturis/Womack. That would be the best middle infield since Perez/Macias.

[b_wiggy_66]

Pointless discussion since it will be Izzy/DeRosa unless they get injured

[Abe Frohman]

I have been warming up to the idea of Soriano leading off, because it looks like that is set in stone. But I can't help but wonder if with what the Cubs have NOW, would the lineup be better with Soriano in the middle? As it stands, we have one of the games best power hitters batting leadoff, and still lack a legit #5 hitter. I am a big fan of OB%, and I have faith in Ryan Theriot and Matt Murton - because both already possess plate discipline.

 

I just see the Cubs scoring more runs with this lineup:

 

2B Theriot

LF Murton

1B Lee

3B Ramirez

RF Soriano

CF Jones

CA Barrett

SS Izturis

 

That really is a solid lineup, IMO. Then again, I am not Lou Piniella, and this is his ship. DeRosa could play here and there and give just about everyone a break (but they DID invest $$$ in him, so none of my scenario really makes sense). BUT, you wanted my opinion - so there it is.

[YearofDaCubs]

Theriot/DeRosa for me please. I can't stand Izturis.

[Lefty]

I'd start Theriot at SS when Hill,Lilly and Prior pitch. While Hill and Lilly would face RH hitters almost exclusively, they are flyball and strikeout pitchers. I'd use Izturis with Zambrano, Marquis and whoever else starts. I'd use Izturis as a late-inning replacement when it makes sense; not for the sake of overmanaging. If Theriot shows he can pick it, I'm a sucker for offense, so I'd let Theriot play more. I can't imagine Izturis hitting well so I won't bother looking at alternatives.

[Rob]

Just based off who's in the org right now?

 

Alan Trammel and Ryne Sandberg.

[Pickle]

Cesar Izturis at SS and Ryan Theriot at 2B.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Theriot/DeRosa for me please. I can't stand Izturis.

[Milli1306]

Just based off who's in the org right now?

 

Alan Trammel and Ryne Sandberg.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

ARod and Tejada.

[shawndgoldman]

I'm shocked no one's suggested Soriano at 2nd yet.

 

Put Soriano at 2nd, anyone but Cedeno at SS (Theriot, DeRosa, or Izturis), Murton/Floyd in LF, Pie in CF, and Jones in RF. If you can, sign Preston Wilson to platoon with Pie until he can hit lefties better than Jones (which shouldn't take long) and at that point slide Wilson's platoon to RF with Jones.

[TB_11]

Assuming the Cubs will eventually sign another outfielder, whether that be Floyd or someone else, Soriano at SS, DeRosa at 2B.

 

That being said, I hope they give Theriot some serious consideration to see if his performance in 2006 was a fluke or reflective of his actual talents.

[RichHillIsABeast]

SS: Izturis

2B: DeRosa

 

Theriot is going to get plenty of time. I don't want to see Cedeno in Wrigley ever again, even in a backup role.

[wilk]

Let me be the first (and probably only :D ) person to suggest Soriano at SS...

 

:shock: Poor reads, poor first step, terrible lateral acceleration, no vertical leap... I think it'd be one of the worst defensive shortstop contributions we've seen in quite a long time. :lol:

[Bull]

Let me be the first (and probably only :D ) person to suggest Soriano at SS...

 

:shock: Poor reads, poor first step, terrible lateral acceleration, no vertical leap... I think it'd be one of the worst defensive shortstop contributions we've seen in quite a long time. :lol:

 

Yeah, but can he pick up a grounder at his feet? [/2003_NLCS_pain...please]

[BigbadB]

Let me be the first (and probably only :D ) person to suggest Soriano at SS...

 

:shock: Poor reads, poor first step, terrible lateral acceleration, no vertical leap... I think it'd be one of the worst defensive shortstop contributions we've seen in quite a long time. :lol:

 

I think it would be a very fun experiment.

 

You have the choice of a butcher defensively or an automatic out in the line up. Which one hurts the team more?

[frostwyrm]

What happened to Womack? Is he still on a minor league roster?

[baseball7897]

Let me be the first (and probably only :D ) person to suggest Soriano at SS...

 

:shock: Poor reads, poor first step, terrible lateral acceleration, no vertical leap... I think it'd be one of the worst defensive shortstop contributions we've seen in quite a long time. :lol:

 

I think it would be a very fun experiment.

 

You have the choice of a butcher defensively or an automatic out in the line up. Which one hurts the team more?

 

The butcher on defense.

[CubColtPacer]

Let me be the first (and probably only :D ) person to suggest Soriano at SS...

 

:shock: Poor reads, poor first step, terrible lateral acceleration, no vertical leap... I think it'd be one of the worst defensive shortstop contributions we've seen in quite a long time. :lol:

 

I think it would be a very fun experiment.

 

You have the choice of a butcher defensively or an automatic out in the line up. Which one hurts the team more?

 

I think it depends on what position that person plays and the team around them. At many positions, a bad defensive player can be compensated for by people with great range around them. At the same time, one automatic out in the lineup does not hurt all that much, as long as they are not surrounded by too many other poor people (or worse, spread throughout the lineup intermittently). In most cases, an automatic out hurts the team more, although the question becomes much more murky when talking about one of the bigger defensive positions, especially SS, and CF if the corner outfielders are also bad defenders.