Looking ahead to 2008

[andrew9991]

Any chance at all we could pry Hermida away from Florida? Maybe Murton plus one or two of our young pitchers?

[nilodnayr]

I wouldnt mind seeing Cedeno get a real shot at SS this SP if we cant land Renteria(I'll get toasted for this I know) but I see the upside in him alot more than I do over Theriot. He has more pop and a better glove, Im not saying an All Star or gold glove but a solid SS that is cheap.

 

also, what are our bench options? we need to re-up Ward and maybe just maybe we can add someone like Scott Hatteberg(again toasted) from the FA market, Theriot supersub; and we need to add a back up C for Soto. I dont want Kendall and Hank back!

 

I'm sick and tired of giving up on our young players to get a renta player for maybe a shot at the WS!!!!!!!

 

I would have liked to have seen Cedeno in a lot more after Theriot cooled off. Considering that SS is the only opportunity for significant upgrade offensively, I'd rather go with a sure thing rather than Cedeno. Unfortunately Hatteberg is redundent with Ward.

[jersey cubs fan]

Considering that SS is the only opportunity for significant upgrade offensively,

 

The Cubs were at or near the bottom in production from SS, C and CF. And if they can't pull off the ARod miracle, I would try really hard to trade the farm for Cabrera to fill RF. SS is not the only opportunity.

[JeffH]

Any chance at all we could pry Hermida away from Florida? Maybe Murton plus one or two of our young pitchers?

 

It would take Felix Pie and some pitching, or - if you were in the mood to gamble - Rich Hill.

[CuseCubFan69]

Considering that SS is the only opportunity for significant upgrade offensively,

 

The Cubs were at or near the bottom in production from SS, C and CF. And if they can't pull off the ARod miracle, I would try really hard to trade the farm for Cabrera to fill RF. SS is not the only opportunity.

 

I agree that there are other opportunities out there and this is something that bothers me about Hendry, his lack of creativity in filling holes.

[Exile on Waveland]

I wouldnt mind seeing Cedeno get a real shot at SS this SP if we cant land Renteria(I'll get toasted for this I know) but I see the upside in him alot more than I do over Theriot. He has more pop and a better glove, Im not saying an All Star or gold glove but a solid SS that is cheap.

 

I doubt you get toasted for that. Theriot's really not good, despite whatever "grit" he may possess. If the Cubs can't land a big-time SS, I'll hope for Cedeno to figure things out and supplant Theriot.

[Backtobanks]

I wouldnt mind seeing Cedeno get a real shot at SS this SP if we cant land Renteria(I'll get toasted for this I know) but I see the upside in him alot more than I do over Theriot. He has more pop and a better glove, Im not saying an All Star or gold glove but a solid SS that is cheap.

 

I doubt you get toasted for that. Theriot's really not good, despite whatever "grit" he may possess. If the Cubs can't land a big-time SS, I'll hope for Cedeno to figure things out and supplant Theriot.

 

I hope Cedeno can figure out things too, but so far he has looked like the epitome of a AAAA hitter.

[CubinNY]

I wouldnt mind seeing Cedeno get a real shot at SS this SP if we cant land Renteria(I'll get toasted for this I know) but I see the upside in him alot more than I do over Theriot. He has more pop and a better glove, Im not saying an All Star or gold glove but a solid SS that is cheap.

 

I doubt you get toasted for that. Theriot's really not good, despite whatever "grit" he may possess. If the Cubs can't land a big-time SS, I'll hope for Cedeno to figure things out and supplant Theriot.

 

I hope Cedeno can figure out things too, but so far he has looked like the epitome of a AAAA hitter.

In which 1/16 of the season are you talking about?

 

I really am sick of this crap.

 

Most every player has an adjustment period when moving up but somehow the Cubs and their fans expect the player to put up exactly the same numbers they have in the minors right away. It doesn't happen very often.

[JeffH]

I really am sick of this crap.

 

Most every player has an adjustment period when moving up but somehow the Cubs and their fans expect the player to put up exactly the same numbers they have in the minors right away. It doesn't happen very often.

 

This is related to the fact that the awful Jim Hendry and most of his predecessors almost always assembled offenses that would be marginally OK as long as everybody in the lineup was contributing.

 

If any one spot was a zero, the offense would collapse. That resulted in the manager never having the "luxury" of running a struggling rookie out there for three months straight.

[CubinNY]

I really am sick of this crap.

 

Most every player has an adjustment period when moving up but somehow the Cubs and their fans expect the player to put up exactly the same numbers they have in the minors right away. It doesn't happen very often.

 

This is related to the fact that the awful Jim Hendry and most of his predecessors almost always assembled offenses that would be marginally OK as long as everybody in the lineup was contributing.

 

If any one spot was a zero, the offense would collapse. That resulted in the manager never having the "luxury" of running a struggling rookie out there for three months straight.

I think that is a very good point. Cedeno and Pie could very well turn out to be bench players, but I can guarentee anyone they WILL BE bench players if they never get a decent shot at starting without having to look over their shoulder after every miscue or strikeout.

[nilodnayr]

Considering that SS is the only opportunity for significant upgrade offensively,

 

The Cubs were at or near the bottom in production from SS, C and CF. And if they can't pull off the ARod miracle, I would try really hard to trade the farm for Cabrera to fill RF. SS is not the only opportunity.

 

This is how they compared to NL average OPS...

 

SS---115 points behind

CF---52 points behind

RF---8 points AHEAD

 

If you want to plug Theriot's #s instead of all of our SS, then we are 83 points behind.

 

We were 16th at SS, 13th at CF, and 6th at RF.

 

Yeah, CF is an issue, but definitely not nearly as much as SS. Plus, its where our best two non-Vitters position prospects reside.

[nilodnayr]

Considering that SS is the only opportunity for significant upgrade offensively,

 

The Cubs were at or near the bottom in production from SS, C and CF. And if they can't pull off the ARod miracle, I would try really hard to trade the farm for Cabrera to fill RF. SS is not the only opportunity.

 

I agree that there are other opportunities out there and this is something that bothers me about Hendry, his lack of creativity in filling holes.

 

It will be a lot easier and cheaper to find someone that can out hit Theriot more than someone that can out hit Murton.

[jersey cubs fan]

Considering that SS is the only opportunity for significant upgrade offensively,

 

The Cubs were at or near the bottom in production from SS, C and CF. And if they can't pull off the ARod miracle, I would try really hard to trade the farm for Cabrera to fill RF. SS is not the only opportunity.

 

This is how they compared to NL average OPS...

 

SS---115 points behind

CF---52 points behind

RF---8 points AHEAD

 

If you want to plug Theriot's #s instead of all of our SS, then we are 83 points behind.

 

We were 16th at SS, 13th at CF, and 6th at RF.

 

Yeah, CF is an issue, but definitely not nearly as much as SS. Plus, its where our best two non-Vitters position prospects reside.

 

Saying it's the spot where they could conceivably get the biggest improvement is not the same as saying the only opportunity for significant improvement. I agree SS is the big one. But C (that's catcher, not CF) is also a big one.

[nilodnayr]

Considering that SS is the only opportunity for significant upgrade offensively,

 

The Cubs were at or near the bottom in production from SS, C and CF. And if they can't pull off the ARod miracle, I would try really hard to trade the farm for Cabrera to fill RF. SS is not the only opportunity.

 

This is how they compared to NL average OPS...

 

SS---115 points behind

CF---52 points behind

RF---8 points AHEAD

 

If you want to plug Theriot's #s instead of all of our SS, then we are 83 points behind.

 

We were 16th at SS, 13th at CF, and 6th at RF.

 

Yeah, CF is an issue, but definitely not nearly as much as SS. Plus, its where our best two non-Vitters position prospects reside.

 

Saying it's the spot where they could conceivably get the biggest improvement is not the same as saying the only opportunity for significant improvement. I agree SS is the big one. But C (that's catcher, not CF) is also a big one.

 

But Theriot is a big part of that SS, and right now has the starting position for 08 with minimal projected improvement over where we were, while Soto is a very small part of the C, and right now has the starting position for 08 with a decent amount of projected improvement over where we were. Also, we did get 33 more OPS out of C than SS to set the baseline.

[CubFanPhilly]

Buy low - Ryan Freel. Platoon him in CF with Pie.

 

Trade whatever pitching it takes to get Renteria (Marshall+Gallagher?). Murton/Jones in RF.

[jersey cubs fan]

But Theriot is a big part of that SS, and right now has the starting position for 08 with minimal projected improvement over where we were, while Soto is a very small part of the C, and right now has the starting position for 08 with a decent amount of projected improvement over where we were. Also, we did get 33 more OPS out of C than SS to set the baseline.

 

Again, I'm refuting the idea that SS is the only option, not that it is an option. I completely agree that it's the big one. I've been dying to get ARod on this team since 1999, when people first talked of him leaving Seattle. I definitely think SS is the position where they could most help themselves. But it's not the only option.

[nilodnayr]

But Theriot is a big part of that SS, and right now has the starting position for 08 with minimal projected improvement over where we were, while Soto is a very small part of the C, and right now has the starting position for 08 with a decent amount of projected improvement over where we were. Also, we did get 33 more OPS out of C than SS to set the baseline.

 

Again, I'm refuting the idea that SS is the only option, not that it is an option. I completely agree that it's the big one. I've been dying to get ARod on this team since 1999, when people first talked of him leaving Seattle. I definitely think SS is the position where they could most help themselves. But it's not the only option.

 

I said it was the only option to upgrade significantly. How about, its the most realistic and easiest position to upgrade significantly at.

[jersey cubs fan]

But Theriot is a big part of that SS, and right now has the starting position for 08 with minimal projected improvement over where we were, while Soto is a very small part of the C, and right now has the starting position for 08 with a decent amount of projected improvement over where we were. Also, we did get 33 more OPS out of C than SS to set the baseline.

 

Again, I'm refuting the idea that SS is the only option, not that it is an option. I completely agree that it's the big one. I've been dying to get ARod on this team since 1999, when people first talked of him leaving Seattle. I definitely think SS is the position where they could most help themselves. But it's not the only option.

 

I said it was the only option to upgrade significantly. How about, its the most realistic and easiest position to upgrade significantly at.

 

That's what it is, but it's not the only one where they can upgrade significantly.

[Brian]

Captain Obvious moment, Eyre is heavily leaning towards exercising his option

 

 

"I haven't talked to my wife about it yet, but there's no reason I shouldn't [be back] -- this is a good baseball team," Eyre said. "Why would you want to go anywhere else?"

[BCVM22]

Captain Obvious moment, Eyre is heavily leaning towards exercising his option

 

Emphasis on the heavy, am I right?

[Illini Iceman]

I wouldnt mind seeing Cedeno get a real shot at SS this SP if we cant land Renteria(I'll get toasted for this I know) but I see the upside in him alot more than I do over Theriot. He has more pop and a better glove, Im not saying an All Star or gold glove but a solid SS that is cheap.

 

I doubt you get toasted for that. Theriot's really not good, despite whatever "grit" he may possess. If the Cubs can't land a big-time SS, I'll hope for Cedeno to figure things out and supplant Theriot.

 

I hope Cedeno can figure out things too, but so far he has looked like the epitome of a AAAA hitter.

In which 1/16 of the season are you talking about?

 

I really am sick of this crap.

 

Most every player has an adjustment period when moving up but somehow the Cubs and their fans expect the player to put up exactly the same numbers they have in the minors right away. It doesn't happen very often.

 

Yeah, it would be different if the Cubs had given Cedeno over 500 AB's in a season and he still had wound up with a BA of .245, OBP of .271 and SLG of .339. Oh, wait a second...

 

Sorry, but the idea of not upgrading SS so they can potentially waste another year like they did in 2006 hoping that Cedeno figures it out at the big league level doesn't seem all that great to me.

[CubinNY]

I wouldnt mind seeing Cedeno get a real shot at SS this SP if we cant land Renteria(I'll get toasted for this I know) but I see the upside in him alot more than I do over Theriot. He has more pop and a better glove, Im not saying an All Star or gold glove but a solid SS that is cheap.

 

I doubt you get toasted for that. Theriot's really not good, despite whatever "grit" he may possess. If the Cubs can't land a big-time SS, I'll hope for Cedeno to figure things out and supplant Theriot.

 

I hope Cedeno can figure out things too, but so far he has looked like the epitome of a AAAA hitter.

In which 1/16 of the season are you talking about?

 

I really am sick of this crap.

 

Most every player has an adjustment period when moving up but somehow the Cubs and their fans expect the player to put up exactly the same numbers they have in the minors right away. It doesn't happen very often.

 

Yeah, it would be different if the Cubs had given Cedeno over 500 AB's in a season and he still had wound up with a BA of .245, OBP of .271 and SLG of .339. Oh, wait a second...

 

Sorry, but the idea of not upgrading SS so they can potentially waste another year like they did in 2006 hoping that Cedeno figures it out at the big league level doesn't seem all that great to me.

Because we all know that at age 23 he will likely never get better.

 

But anyway, who said that they weren't for upgrading?

 

It never ends with some Cub fans does it? Really, really, myopic.

[Backtobanks]

There would have to be an upgrade at some position because I can't see the Cubs going through a whole season with Cedeno, Pie, and Murton/Jones all in the lineup at the same time.

[LuvChicagoSports]

With the cubs needing to make some moves I was wanting to bring up some smaller moves that could be made. I'm not sure what it would take to get these players, but I think the value they could bring to the team could be very good.

 

The first is Ryan Church. His ops has been over .800 and he can play all three outfiled spots which makes Jones dispensable which is something most here would like. So Pie could come up and take over in CF and if he falters to a point where he is really hurting the team Church could take over in CF from his spot in RF.

 

At SS we need to upgrade and Rentaria would be very nice but might come at a steep price. Other options would include Nioka from the Giants in Japan. That would involve some risk, but it's the type of move that the Cubs have generally stayed away from so it could be time for them to try something outside the box.

 

Soto will start behind the plate which should give the Cubs a nive boost at that position. They can let Kendall walk.

 

A lineup next season of:

 

Soriano

Retaria

Lee

Ramirez

Church

DeRosa

Soto

Pie

 

I think that would be an improvement, and then if the power struggles of this season were showing up again with this lineup, the Cubs could try to make a midseason trade for another player. Another thing they could do if Pie blossoms is hit him leadoff. He's not an obp guy and probably never will be but Soriano likes him and might like moving towards the middle of the lineup if it meant something good for Pie.

 

These are just some thoughs and I'm not sure exactly how feasable they are, but I know landing Arod is a long shot and these are ideas I just wanted to float out there.

[Illini Iceman]

I wouldnt mind seeing Cedeno get a real shot at SS this SP if we cant land Renteria(I'll get toasted for this I know) but I see the upside in him alot more than I do over Theriot. He has more pop and a better glove, Im not saying an All Star or gold glove but a solid SS that is cheap.

 

I doubt you get toasted for that. Theriot's really not good, despite whatever "grit" he may possess. If the Cubs can't land a big-time SS, I'll hope for Cedeno to figure things out and supplant Theriot.

 

I hope Cedeno can figure out things too, but so far he has looked like the epitome of a AAAA hitter.

In which 1/16 of the season are you talking about?

 

I really am sick of this crap.

 

Most every player has an adjustment period when moving up but somehow the Cubs and their fans expect the player to put up exactly the same numbers they have in the minors right away. It doesn't happen very often.

 

Yeah, it would be different if the Cubs had given Cedeno over 500 AB's in a season and he still had wound up with a BA of .245, OBP of .271 and SLG of .339. Oh, wait a second...

 

Sorry, but the idea of not upgrading SS so they can potentially waste another year like they did in 2006 hoping that Cedeno figures it out at the big league level doesn't seem all that great to me.

Because we all know that at age 23 he will likely never get better.

 

But anyway, who said that they weren't for upgrading?

 

It never ends with some Cub fans does it? Really, really, myopic.

 

Don't be so hard on yourself.