Cubs #1 Priority: Lefty Power Bat

[HoopsCubs]

Guess. Hendry and MacPhail have a good relationship - maybe something useful will come of it.

 

The Cubs are absolutely kidding themselves if they believe they can score runs consistently with just 4 "bankable" bats in the line-up: Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, DeRosa.

Book is still very much out on: Soto, Theriot, Pie and Murton. I think the Cubs need to get 2 bats: 1 to replace Theriot and 1 to platoon with either Murton or Pie.

[brinoch]

Which is why focusing on SS is so important. Upgrades here will do the most for the team -- spend a bunch of money/players to upgrade your greatest need, rather than spend a bunch of money to tread water.

[BigbadB]

Which is why focusing on SS is so important. Upgrades here will do the most for the team -- spend a bunch of money/players to upgrade your greatest need, rather than spend a bunch of money to tread water.

 

 

The problem is that there aren't many upgrade options at SS.

[JeffH]

Which is why focusing on SS is so important. Upgrades here will do the most for the team -- spend a bunch of money/players to upgrade your greatest need, rather than spend a bunch of money to tread water.

 

The problem is that there aren't many upgrade options at SS.

 

Jim - Please ask Kevin Towers what we can do to make Khalil Greene a Cub.

[brinoch]

Which is why focusing on SS is so important. Upgrades here will do the most for the team -- spend a bunch of money/players to upgrade your greatest need, rather than spend a bunch of money to tread water.

 

 

The problem is that there aren't many upgrade options at SS.

 

True. But, why manufacture a need when your true need is at SS? Next thing you know, we'll need a left-handed, green-eyed nurse to assist the trainer.

 

SS, C, CF, and RF are, realistically, the positions of need. Of those, RF was the best last year, and has the best hitting incumbent. C has Soto, which should stabilize the position and give a decent upgrade in production. That leaves SS and CF. Since the Cubs appear likely to give Pie a chance in CF, that leaves SS. Alternatively, you could sign Fukudome for CF and trade Pie in a package for a SS.

 

I do realize that the Cubs have no love for Murton and are seeking to upgrade over him. The problem is that the available options aren't particular better than he is.

[BigbadB]

True. But, why manufacture a need when your true need is at SS? Next thing you know, we'll need a left-handed, green-eyed nurse to assist the trainer.

 

SS, C, CF, and RF are, realistically, the positions of need. Of those, RF was the best last year, and has the best hitting incumbent. C has Soto, which should stabilize the position and give a decent upgrade in production. That leaves SS and CF. Since the Cubs appear likely to give Pie a chance in CF, that leaves SS. Alternatively, you could sign Fukudome for CF and trade Pie in a package for a SS.

 

I do realize that the Cubs have no love for Murton and are seeking to upgrade over him. The problem is that the available options aren't particular better than he is.

 

You mean like a lefty batting practice tosser? :D

 

I'm not sure there is a SS upgrade over Ronny Cedeno. Just give the kid the job and have Theriot take the super utility spot. You could have him platoon with Pie in CF (if Cubs management REALLY MUST) and call it good.

 

Murton will not get the starting gig in RF. Cubs management wants a lefty bat, and realistically, that's about the only roster spot they will be able to fill that need.

 

All the talk this offseason has been Fukudome, Crawford and Jenkins, all lefty hitters. Others who might fill that spot are Shawn Green and Milton Bradley.

[fibro]

I found the Lou quote I was thinking of:

"We're going to beat our share of lefties, too. I think what it has to do more than anything else is the type of left-hander we've faced. But I know one thing: The reason that I like left-handed hitting in the lineup against left-handed pitching is it makes the pitcher pitch to both sides of the plate instead of just getting in a groove and staying on one side. If he has to throw here [to one side] and then throw here [to the other side], he's going to throw a lot of them down the middle, too, while he's trying to adjust.

 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070526/ai_n19179908

[CuseCubFan69]

I found the Lou quote I was thinking of:

"We're going to beat our share of lefties, too. I think what it has to do more than anything else is the type of left-hander we've faced. But I know one thing: The reason that I like left-handed hitting in the lineup against left-handed pitching is it makes the pitcher pitch to both sides of the plate instead of just getting in a groove and staying on one side. If he has to throw here [to one side] and then throw here [to the other side], he's going to throw a lot of them down the middle, too, while he's trying to adjust.

 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070526/ai_n19179908

 

Yeah it's a funky thing and I think it depends on the pitcher too. Some guys need to get in that groove while others it doesn't matter who's up. It would be an interesting thing to study.

[jersey cubs fan]

I found the Lou quote I was thinking of:

"We're going to beat our share of lefties, too. I think what it has to do more than anything else is the type of left-hander we've faced. But I know one thing: The reason that I like left-handed hitting in the lineup against left-handed pitching is it makes the pitcher pitch to both sides of the plate instead of just getting in a groove and staying on one side. If he has to throw here [to one side] and then throw here [to the other side], he's going to throw a lot of them down the middle, too, while he's trying to adjust.

 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070526/ai_n19179908

 

Yeah it's a funky thing and I think it depends on the pitcher too. Some guys need to get in that groove while others it doesn't matter who's up. It would be an interesting thing to study.

 

I still say you have to get the best 8 hitters you can at the 8 positions that hit, and not worry about R/L. If there's a question as to which equal guy to get, go ahead and play around with mixing it up. But the Cubs need hitters, not any specific type.

[craig]

I found the Lou quote I was thinking of:

"We're going to beat our share of lefties, too. I think what it has to do more than anything else is the type of left-hander we've faced. But I know one thing: The reason that I like left-handed hitting in the lineup against left-handed pitching is it makes the pitcher pitch to both sides of the plate instead of just getting in a groove and staying on one side. If he has to throw here [to one side] and then throw here [to the other side], he's going to throw a lot of them down the middle, too, while he's trying to adjust.

 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070526/ai_n19179908

 

Nice find. Needs to be kept in context, though. Lou would like a LH bat that can hit LH pitching. But having a lefty bat to keep the lefty pitcher from getting grooved is obviously not an overarching priority for Lou. If so, he wouldn't have been taking the lefty bats that he did have (Jones, Floyd, Fontenot) out of the lineup versus LHP. It's also clearly not *the* driving factor in Lou's quest for lefty swingers this offseason either. For example, it's clear that the interest in matsui was impacted by his swinging lefty. But not because he'd swing lefty vs LHP and disrupt them, since he bats righty versus lefty pitchers.

 

This is a preference for Lou, not a decision maker. If he thought Jones could hit LHP as well as Craig Monroe, he'd have preferred to keep Jones in the lineup. But even in the final week he was replacing Jones with Monroe because the disrupt-the-pitcher preference was outweighed by the Jones-can't-hit-lefties factor.

 

In the case of the lefty outfielder that they want, I'm sure they'd really like a guy who could be an every-day guy and didn't need to be removed every time a lefty pitched. But for the lefty infielder they want, I think somebody who can hold his own versus RHP while batting lefty will be hard enough to find, getting one who can hit lefties while swinging left-handed, those are rare and more expensive than Hendry is likely to afford.

[CuseCubFan69]

I found the Lou quote I was thinking of:

"We're going to beat our share of lefties, too. I think what it has to do more than anything else is the type of left-hander we've faced. But I know one thing: The reason that I like left-handed hitting in the lineup against left-handed pitching is it makes the pitcher pitch to both sides of the plate instead of just getting in a groove and staying on one side. If he has to throw here [to one side] and then throw here [to the other side], he's going to throw a lot of them down the middle, too, while he's trying to adjust.

 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070526/ai_n19179908

 

Yeah it's a funky thing and I think it depends on the pitcher too. Some guys need to get in that groove while others it doesn't matter who's up. It would be an interesting thing to study.

 

I still say you have to get the best 8 hitters you can at the 8 positions that hit, and not worry about R/L. If there's a question as to which equal guy to get, go ahead and play around with mixing it up. But the Cubs need hitters, not any specific type.

 

Has a team ever won the WS with 8 righties? I agree with what you're saying but I'm curious if it's ever been done.

[BigbadB]

I found the Lou quote I was thinking of:

"We're going to beat our share of lefties, too. I think what it has to do more than anything else is the type of left-hander we've faced. But I know one thing: The reason that I like left-handed hitting in the lineup against left-handed pitching is it makes the pitcher pitch to both sides of the plate instead of just getting in a groove and staying on one side. If he has to throw here [to one side] and then throw here [to the other side], he's going to throw a lot of them down the middle, too, while he's trying to adjust.

 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070526/ai_n19179908

 

Nice find. Needs to be kept in context, though. Lou would like a LH bat that can hit LH pitching. But having a lefty bat to keep the lefty pitcher from getting grooved is obviously not an overarching priority for Lou. If so, he wouldn't have been taking the lefty bats that he did have (Jones, Floyd, Fontenot) out of the lineup versus LHP. It's also clearly not *the* driving factor in Lou's quest for lefty swingers this offseason either. For example, it's clear that the interest in matsui was impacted by his swinging lefty. But not because he'd swing lefty vs LHP and disrupt them, since he bats righty versus lefty pitchers.

 

This is a preference for Lou, not a decision maker. If he thought Jones could hit LHP as well as Craig Monroe, he'd have preferred to keep Jones in the lineup. But even in the final week he was replacing Jones with Monroe because the disrupt-the-pitcher preference was outweighed by the Jones-can't-hit-lefties factor.

 

In the case of the lefty outfielder that they want, I'm sure they'd really like a guy who could be an every-day guy and didn't need to be removed every time a lefty pitched. But for the lefty infielder they want, I think somebody who can hold his own versus RHP while batting lefty will be hard enough to find, getting one who can hit lefties while swinging left-handed, those are rare and more expensive than Hendry is likely to afford.

 

Aside from the fact it's a waste of roster space to have a bunch of outfielders that can only hit right or lefties.

[BigbadB]

Has a team ever won the WS with 8 righties? I agree with what you're saying but I'm curious if it's ever been done.

 

My guess would be that it has happened, and probably on more than one occasion. While '03 Florida did have Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo batting at the top of the order, the rest of their line up featured all RH hitters except for the platoon of Hollandsworth and Conine.

 

That same year, the Cubs only had Lofton (who replaced Patterson) and Simon platooning with Karros. Here was the Cubs roster in 2003:

 

Lofton, Grudz, Sosa, Alou, Ramirez, Karros, Miller, Gonzalez

[SouthSideRyan]

Has a team ever won the WS with 8 righties? I agree with what you're saying but I'm curious if it's ever been done.

 

I wonder how many times it's even been tried. I remember reading something similar about not having a lefty in the rotation, and then I went back through the years, and saw there were rarely teams that didn't have a lefty in the rotation.

[CuseCubFan69]

Has a team ever won the WS with 8 righties? I agree with what you're saying but I'm curious if it's ever been done.

 

My guess would be that it has happened, and probably on more than one occasion. While '03 Florida did have Juan Pierre and Luis Castillo batting at the top of the order, the rest of their line up featured all RH hitters except for the platoon of Hollandsworth and Conine.

 

That same year, the Cubs only had Lofton (who replaced Patterson) and Simon platooning with Karros. Here was the Cubs roster in 2003:

 

Lofton, Grudz, Sosa, Alou, Ramirez, Karros, Miller, Gonzalez

 

It's a good thing Karros hit 800 that year! I always liked what Lofton brought to the table, a change of pace...not so much that he was a lefty but a different type of hitter than the rest.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

What does Seattle want for Ibanez?

[CuseCubFan69]

What does Seattle want for Ibanez?

 

Murton and if Chicago takes all the Starbucks that would seal the deal.

 

Is he a righty or lefty...I can never remember regarding this guy.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

What does Seattle want for Ibanez?

 

Murton and if Chicago takes all the Starbucks that would seal the deal.

 

Is he a righty or lefty...I can never remember regarding this guy.

 

He is lefty. Can hit but RHP, but is an auto out vs. LHP. Basically, Jacque Jones.

[CuseCubFan69]

What does Seattle want for Ibanez?

 

Murton and if Chicago takes all the Starbucks that would seal the deal.

 

Is he a righty or lefty...I can never remember regarding this guy.

 

He is lefty. Can hit but RHP, but is an auto out vs. LHP. Basically, Jacque Jones.

 

So trade Infante for him then!

[brinoch]

I have one word, just one word: Plastics. Just kidding. We need a lefty? Hmm. We need a power hitter? Hmm. An OF? Hmm. How about... Bonds. Move Soriano to right. Play Bonds in left. Bonds-Pie-Soriano.

[CuseCubFan69]

I have one word, just one word: Plastics. Just kidding. We need a lefty? Hmm. We need a power hitter? Hmm. An OF? Hmm. How about... Bonds. Move Soriano to right. Play Bonds in left. Bonds-Pie-Soriano.

 

The only team he may be playing for is on Mike Vicks.

[brinoch]

I have one word, just one word: Plastics. Just kidding. We need a lefty? Hmm. We need a power hitter? Hmm. An OF? Hmm. How about... Bonds. Move Soriano to right. Play Bonds in left. Bonds-Pie-Soriano.

 

The only team he may be playing for is on Mike Vicks.

 

There's no guarantee of that. Of course, there's no guarantee he won't be. But if you're looking for a power-hitting lefty, it's pretty hard not to include Bonds in the conversation. After all, the guy slugged .565 last year.

[CuseCubFan69]

I have one word, just one word: Plastics. Just kidding. We need a lefty? Hmm. We need a power hitter? Hmm. An OF? Hmm. How about... Bonds. Move Soriano to right. Play Bonds in left. Bonds-Pie-Soriano.

 

The only team he may be playing for is on Mike Vicks.

 

There's no guarantee of that. Of course, there's no guarantee he won't be. But if you're looking for a power-hitting lefty, it's pretty hard not to include Bonds in the conversation. After all, the guy slugged .565 last year.

 

I really don't think the circus he would bring with him would help the Cubs though along with him being a greedy guy and he would probably want 16 a year.

[brinoch]

I have one word, just one word: Plastics. Just kidding. We need a lefty? Hmm. We need a power hitter? Hmm. An OF? Hmm. How about... Bonds. Move Soriano to right. Play Bonds in left. Bonds-Pie-Soriano.

 

The only team he may be playing for is on Mike Vicks.

 

There's no guarantee of that. Of course, there's no guarantee he won't be. But if you're looking for a power-hitting lefty, it's pretty hard not to include Bonds in the conversation. After all, the guy slugged .565 last year.

 

I really don't think the circus he would bring with him would help the Cubs though along with him being a greedy guy and he would probably want 16 a year.

 

Gotta fund that legal defense.... :) He won't get $16M per year. But what is his bat worth to the Cubs?

[BigbadB]

There's no room in the Cubs state of the art clubhouse for Bond's lounge chair.