Theriot as CF

[NorthsideAvenger]

Piniella seems intrigued about the idea. And of course, the ballplayer in Theriot (you gotta love that) says he is willing to do anything the coach asks of him. So, if Theriot proves he can be a decent option in CF, would anybody be opposed to an OF of: Murton, Theriot/Jones platoon, Soriano?

 

Cause, I'm intrigued about the possibility.

[PrimeTime]

So i just got home from the bar, and read your idea.. andI think that is a hell of a great idea...Everyone knows,Jones blows against lefties..Theriot impressed me big time.I wish for a Theriot/Derosa infield but we know that wont happen..But Theriot/Jones platoon would be awsome

[Guest]

So i just got home from the bar, and read your idea.. andI think that is a hell of a great idea...Everyone knows,Jones blows against lefties..Theriot impressed me big time.I wish for a Theriot/Derosa infield but we know that wont happen..But Theriot/Jones platoon would be awsome

 

Not my idea. Too outside the box to be my idea. Suntimes has an article that suggested that Piniella threw out Theriot's name as a CF candidate. That would increase Theriot's value to the Cubs.

[imb]

Wasn't this mentioned as early as last season?

[BigbadB]

I like the idea, but I like Theriot starting at SS better.

[RichHillIsABeast]

When's the deadline for calling up a player so you extend his arbi clock by 1 year?

 

Theriot/Jones should be serviceable in CF until Pie is called up from AAA.

[b_wiggy_66]

I like the idea as long as Theriot can show that he can play CF. His bat will be good in the lineup and they could bat him in the 2 spot if he batted like he did last year.

[CubinNY]

Theriot in center field = Jerry Hariston, Jr. in CF.

[Wheelimus]

Theriot in center field = Jerry Hariston, Jr. in CF.

 

That's being a bit harsh. Theriot is only 27 years old. He put up a .412 OBP last year. Yes, sample size is a big concern. But even if that average comes down, like we know it will, the adjustment in OBP will still leave it respectable. Looking at his minor league numbers, .290/.350 is not out of the question. Not setting the world on fire, but useful in our lineup.

 

Hairston only got close to that twice during two shortened seasons.

 

I see no reason to assume that one equals the other. I think Theriot has much greater potential.

[nilodnayr]

Theriot in center field = Jerry Hariston, Jr. in CF.

 

That's being a bit harsh. Theriot is only 27 years old. He put up a .412 OBP last year. Yes, sample size is a big concern. But even if that average comes down, like we know it will, the adjustment in OBP will still leave it respectable. Looking at his minor league numbers, .290/.350 is not out of the question. Not setting the world on fire, but useful in our lineup.

 

Hairston only got close to that twice during two shortened seasons.

 

I see no reason to assume that one equals the other. I think Theriot has much greater potential.

 

134 ABs of 412 OBP is nice and all, but his MLE from his time in the minors last year was 262/307/323. He hit 310/372/408 vs lefties although his BABIP was 30 points higher than league average. I don't think he'll be as bad as his MLE, but just trying to put things in perspective. Hes been about a 350/350 guy in his minor league career. And I wouldn't exactly use the word "only" to describe 27. Average CF production in the NL last year was 264/335/418. He MIGHT be able to put that up with a little more OBP and less SLG. That is a big improvement over what Jones did against lefties last year. But like I proposed in the Indians thread, Michaels has hit 303/387/464 vs lefties in his career and Gutierrez put up 320/413/583 vs lefties in the minors last year (albeit with a high BABIP).

 

Theriot in CF vs lefties would be an improvement over Jacque Jones, but we have a chance to improve much more by acquiring someone else.

[craig]

Not sure using the CF average as a reference is that helpful. It's not like there are a bunch of average CFers hanging around waiting for the Cubs to invite them in, at no trade cost and at no budget cost and with no long-term commitment.

 

The Cubs have a shot to be awful in center. If they can end up being even close to average, I think that will be a big relief to me.

 

I think Theriot learning to play some center has merit. He's supposed to be a utility guy. Whether it's Jones or Pie, both are LH. Jones has a record of LHP problems, and Pie will have enough trouble handling RHP much less lefties. RH alternatives in center are very desirable. Pagan provides one, but his OPS was sub-.600 versus LHP last year, too. If Theriot provides another candidate, I think it's worth at least considering.

[nilodnayr]

Not sure using the CF average as a reference is that helpful. It's not like there are a bunch of average CFers hanging around waiting for the Cubs to invite them in, at no trade cost and at no budget cost and with no long-term commitment.

 

Huh?

 

Our goal should be to maximize production at every position. I just used it as a point of reference to show that even if Theriot came close to repeating his last year (and best year) minor league #s against lefties it wouldn't be much more than CF average. The point of a platoon is to pair two players who are above average vs the opposite handed pitchers and below average vs the same handed pitchers. My point is that you can do that with Michaels and Frankie, not Theriot. Theriot vs lefties is going to be better than Jones, but not really ideal for a platoon. Utility man, yes. Frankie would probably cost a decent amount, but Michaels probably wouldnt cost much (maybe Cedeno).

[Abe Frohman]

It's important to note that the beginning of Theriot's minor league career were spent switch hitting. This is not news, but it needs to be considered when noting his career numbers.

 

I hope he gets significant time and plays like he did in 2006.

[nilodnayr]

It's important to note that the beginning of Theriot's minor league career were spent switch hitting. This is not news, but it needs to be considered when noting his career numbers.

 

I hope he gets significant time and plays like he did in 2006.

I think I was the only person who sorta quoted career numbers and I said "about 350/350". I actually was discounting his first few years of really bad slugging, his minor league careers 355/337. If you look at just the last 3 years its about 367/380.

 

PECOTA projects 267/325/350

 

ZiPS projects 275/335/356

[NCCubFan]

When's the deadline for calling up a player so you extend his arbi clock by 1 year?

There's no set date for that. It has to be late enough that he isn't in the top 17% of rookies in terms of service time, but that date isn't actually known until the end of the season. If you actually meant the free agency clock (rather than arbitration), I believe it is 170 days a player must spend on the major league roster for that year to count, so to postpone the clock the team would need to send him down long enough that there's fewer than 170 days remaining when the player is called up (as the Cubs did with Wood in 1998).

[Guest]

SunTimes is now throwing the possibility, that Soriano will be playing CF (as many suspected when he signed, the position he WOULD play) keeping Jones in RF, and the Floyd deal is now iminent--when isn't it, tho?

 

And OF group of Murton/Floyd/Soriano/Jones/Pagan/Theriot (with Theriot serving as a Ryan Freel type UT man), I would feel somewhat comfortable offensively and defensively tolerable.

[nilodnayr]

SunTimes is now throwing the possibility, that Soriano will be playing CF (as many suspected when he signed, the position he WOULD play) keeping Jones in RF, and the Floyd deal is now iminent--when isn't it, tho?

 

And OF group of Murton/Floyd/Soriano/Jones/Pagan/Theriot (with Theriot serving as a Ryan Freel type UT man), I would feel somewhat comfortable offensively and defensively tolerable.

 

Not until they get a platoon mate for Jones and assure me Murton will not be platooned.