Are There Any RH CFs Out There for Platoon Purposes?

[HoopsCubs]

Maybe you folks have discussed this somewhere else - if so, I apologize in advance for the redundancy.

 

Here's what I was thinking about last night. I made 4 assumptions:

 

(1) Jacque Jones would be starting in CF.

(2) Alfonso Soriano would be permanently starting in RF, and hence will not be bounced around from position to position.

(3) Lou has the sense to recognize that Jones shouldn't be facing lefties.

(4) Murton can't play CF.

 

If all that holds true, it would suggest that the Cubs should have a right-handed hitting CF as a platoon partner for Jones.

 

Would that be Theriot? Pagan? DeRosa?

 

Or, should they use their depth in relief pitching to trade for a quality platoon CF, who happens to bat right-handed? Does someone like that exist? And, is he available?

 

 

Hoops

[BigbadB]

I think the first assumption is incorrect. I think Soriano will be in CF, which ends any need for a RH platoon in CF.

 

Jones/DeRosa in RF and Murton/Floyd in LF is awesome.

[CubColtPacer]

I think the answer to your question would be Theriot, but I can't see the club turning around and suddenly putting Jones in CF-that's the scenario that the club has desperately been trying to avoid all winter (trying to trade Jones until Soriano agreed to play center).

[Knightlife_in_Lubbock]

Rickey says "If Julio is still playing so can Rickey" :lol:

[goonys evil twin]

It's the perfect role for Jason Michaels, although I'm not sure how hard it would be to get Cleveland to give him up. He's a RH hitter who has struggled mightily against RHP, so he's no better than a platoon option. But he's also signed cheaply through 2008 with a cheap team option for 2009. He has nearly a .390 OBP against LHP with an 851 OPS.

[biittner77]

It's the perfect role for Jason Michaels, although I'm not sure how hard it would be to get Cleveland to give him up. He's a RH hitter who has struggled mightily against RHP, so he's no better than a platoon option. But he's also signed cheaply through 2008 with a cheap team option for 2009. He has nearly a .390 OBP against LHP with an 851 OPS.

 

That kind of move would provide insurance against Pie either flopping or needing to be platooned himself.

 

On the other hand, maybe the Cubs think Chris Walker could provide that same line for much cheaper.

[Hosak8]

Maybe you folks have discussed this somewhere else - if so, I apologize in advance for the redundancy.

 

Here's what I was thinking about last night. I made 4 assumptions:

 

(1) Jacque Jones would be starting in CF.

(2) Alfonso Soriano would be permanently starting in RF, and hence will not be bounced around from position to position.

(3) Lou has the sense to recognize that Jones shouldn't be facing lefties.

(4) Murton can't play CF.

 

If all that holds true, it would suggest that the Cubs should have a right-handed hitting CF as a platoon partner for Jones.

 

Would that be Theriot? Pagan? DeRosa?

 

Or, should they use their depth in relief pitching to trade for a quality platoon CF, who happens to bat right-handed? Does someone like that exist? And, is he available?

 

 

Hoops

 

 

BbB is right... Lou has stated that Soriano is his CF. Whether or not he's capable of making that swith remains to be seen, but Lou seems set on making it happen.

[cheapseats]

Jose Cruz Jr. would have been a perfect platoon partner for Jacque regardless of the position Jacque ends up playing.

[HoopsCubs]

BbB is right... Lou has stated that Soriano is his CF. Whether or not he's capable of making that swith remains to be seen, but Lou seems set on making it happen.

 

You and Triple B might be right - having Soriano be the everyday CF would solve many problems.

 

But, I'm just looking at it from the point of view of what if it doesn't work out. What if the conclusion in late March is that Soriano can't handle CF and is better suited for RF?

[RichHillIsABeast]

BbB is right... Lou has stated that Soriano is his CF. Whether or not he's capable of making that swith remains to be seen, but Lou seems set on making it happen.

 

You and Triple B might be right - having Soriano be the everyday CF would solve many problems.

 

But, I'm just looking at it from the point of view of what if it doesn't work out. What if the conclusion in late March is that Soriano can't handle CF and is better suited for RF?

 

Then you bite the bullet and wait for Pie. You might just call him up for his defense, give him the ABs, and think of any offensive production he gives you as a bonus.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Theriot should be the other half of the Jones platoon. Soriano is in CF, so Jones in RF and DeRosa(Or Theriot if he beats him out) at 2B against RHP, and DeRosa in RF and Theriot at 2B against LHP.

[CuseCubFan69]

Theriot should be the other half of the Jones platoon. Soriano is in CF, so Jones in RF and DeRosa(Or Theriot if he beats him out) at 2B against RHP, and DeRosa in RF and Theriot at 2B against LHP.

 

It's going to be interesting watching this OF and how the Cubs figure out what to do with them.

 

IMO if Soriano doesn't ever want to switch postions again he should go to right if the Cubs truely believe that Pie is the CF of the future.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I agree that unless he's just bad defensively, Soriano will be in CF. That allows a Jones platoon with DeRosa.

[CuseCubFan69]

I agree that unless he's just bad defensively, Soriano will be in CF. That allows a Jones platoon with DeRosa.

 

But hasn't Soriano said he doesn't want to be bounced around anymore? I agree that what you just wrote would probably be best for the team right now.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I agree that unless he's just bad defensively, Soriano will be in CF. That allows a Jones platoon with DeRosa.

 

But hasn't Soriano said he doesn't want to be bounced around anymore? I agree that what you just wrote would probably be best for the team right now.

 

Hendry believes that Pie will be ok in right field. He has the arm for it. So, if Soriano doesn't want to move from CF to RF when Pie is ready, Pie plays RF.

 

I personally believe that if Soriano sees that it's best for the team to move to RF for Pie, he'll do it. Either way, the line-up would look the same.

[goonys evil twin]

I agree that unless he's just bad defensively, Soriano will be in CF. That allows a Jones platoon with DeRosa.

 

But hasn't Soriano said he doesn't want to be bounced around anymore? I agree that what you just wrote would probably be best for the team right now.

 

Hendry believes that Pie will be ok in right field. He has the arm for it. So, if Soriano doesn't want to move from CF to RF when Pie is ready, Pie plays RF.

 

I personally believe that if Soriano sees that it's best for the team to move to RF for Pie, he'll do it. Either way, the line-up would look the same.

 

I don't see any way that Soriano has a longterm future in CF. He's never played it, so he's starting from scratch at 31 and relying solely on his athletic ability to handle the position. I don't think anybody believes he'll be good there, they are just hoping for adequacy. As he reaches his mid-30's, an age when several former top CF start to lose a step and/or move out of that position, he's not likely to be of much service in center.

 

I think he's going to play center this year. But I don't think he'll be there once Pie establishes himself as a big leaguer.

[HoopsCubs]

It's the perfect role for Jason Michaels, although I'm not sure how hard it would be to get Cleveland to give him up. He's a RH hitter who has struggled mightily against RHP, so he's no better than a platoon option. But he's also signed cheaply through 2008 with a cheap team option for 2009. He has nearly a .390 OBP against LHP with an 851 OPS.

 

I like that idea. With Foulke retiring, I wonder if Hendry could entice them with a relief pitcher.

[wilk]

I think the better player to fill that 25th spot should be another middle infielder. Preferably with some speed for pinch running duties and ideally someone who can face lefties. DeRosa can play RF for Jones against LHP and Theriot could take 2B. In any event, we could use another utility infielder before we see a 6th OF -- and 8th player who could be plugged into the outfield (Soriano, Jones, Murton, Floyd, Ward, DeRosa, Theriot).

[GaborBako]

I don't think the Tribe is looking to trade Michaels. They signed Trot Nixon and David Dellucci to play against righties with Michaels spelling one of them against lefties.

 

Soriano volunteered to play center during the Cubs Convention to the surprise of Lou and Hendry. The only promise was that after a few weeks of spring training if he wasn't getting comfortable they'd move him. But you'd think that would likely mean him going to right and he's never played there, either. We better just hope he learns to like center.

 

At Wrigley it shouldn't be much of a problem, there's less ground to cover in center than in most parks and it's the easiest sun field of the three, with right being one of the worst in all of baseball to play there. Plus, center is typically easier because batted balls tend to have less severe hooks or slices when they are hit to center. Some of the bigger outfields in road parks could be an adventure for all three parts of this defensively challenged outfield.

[cheapseats]

Theriot should be the other half of the Jones platoon. Soriano is in CF, so Jones in RF and DeRosa(Or Theriot if he beats him out) at 2B against RHP, and DeRosa in RF and Theriot at 2B against LHP.

 

I like the scenario of Theriot facing RHP instead of Derosa.

 

I don't think we've all hammered it into the ground here yet, but over his career, Derosa is almost as bad against righties as Jones has been against lefties.

 

I really wish that Derosa wasn't going to be our starting second baseman because in today's game, you don't normally see infielders platooned, and using Derosa that way would provide the most benefit. Eric Patterson hits righties pretty well.

[Amazing_Grace]

I agree that unless he's just bad defensively, Soriano will be in CF. That allows a Jones platoon with DeRosa.

 

But hasn't Soriano said he doesn't want to be bounced around anymore? I agree that what you just wrote would probably be best for the team right now.

 

Hendry believes that Pie will be ok in right field. He has the arm for it. So, if Soriano doesn't want to move from CF to RF when Pie is ready, Pie plays RF.

 

I personally believe that if Soriano sees that it's best for the team to move to RF for Pie, he'll do it. Either way, the line-up would look the same.

 

I agree with this. I used to think he hated moving positions in Washington and that he signed with the Cubs partly because Jim agreed not to do that, but since he's been so receptive about moving to CF, I'm not so sure that's the case. We need to remember that Soriano is in a very different situation than what he was in Washington. He may well have wanted to play 2b because he thought he'd net a bigger contract as a 2b than as a LFer. Now he's making 136M over 8 years to play for the Cubs one way or the other, and it would be tough to trade him. If he wants to win, it's in his interest to do what's best for the team, including moving positions. He'll be in Chicago till he's 38, so he doesn't have to worry about ever signing another contract.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Theriot should be the other half of the Jones platoon. Soriano is in CF, so Jones in RF and DeRosa(Or Theriot if he beats him out) at 2B against RHP, and DeRosa in RF and Theriot at 2B against LHP.

 

I like the scenario of Theriot facing RHP instead of Derosa.

 

I don't think we've all hammered it into the ground here yet, but over his career, Derosa is almost as bad against righties as Jones has been against lefties.

 

I really wish that Derosa wasn't going to be our starting second baseman because in today's game, you don't normally see infielders platooned, and using Derosa that way would provide the most benefit. Eric Patterson hits righties pretty well.

 

Maybe Patterson or Theriot goes uber-bonkers and wins 2B outright. At least there are potential alternatives there.

[biittner77]

I could see maybe not a straight platoon at 2nd but a lot of mix & match. Piniella seems like he likes to play the whole roster.

 

Another important thing to consider is that the NL Central has more LH starters than perhaps any of the other divisions. So a L-R platoon isn't an 80-20 breakdown but perhaps more like a 65-35. Seems like that would make it easier to sell the idea of a platoon to the players involved.