What would B.Roberts and Fukudome do to help the offense?

[badnews]

Let me just ask, if he comes to the Cubs, what do you think his rate stats will be assuming a full, injury free season?

[sneakypower]

Neither would be a marginal upgrade. The discrepancy in defense, speed, and added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team. It shouldn't be hard for Fuku to outslug the .430-.440 Murton is good for. They're both significant upgrades over the incumbent players mentioned.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

[Mephistopheles]

yeah, like CS for instance.

[Rob]

Neither would be a marginal upgrade. The discrepancy in defense, speed, and added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team. It shouldn't be hard for Fuku to outslug the .430-.440 Murton is good for. They're both significant upgrades over the incumbent players mentioned.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

 

Don't know if you intended to imply Roberts is a better defender than DeRosa, but that's certainly debatable.

[hawkeyecub]

I don't know that I'm completely behind the Roberts deal but, two guys with an OBP in the neighborhood of .370-.380 and speed hitting 1 and 2 in front of Lee, Ramirez, Soriano would be nice.

 

Fukudome would give us some flexibility and when combined with Pie and Soriano, we would have exceptional outfield defense.

[CuseCubFan69]

yeah, like CS for instance.

 

CS isn't a good thing but you still have to be able to steal a base and take an extra one one in a while that a slow guy/poor baserunner can't do.

[CubinNY]

Neither would be a marginal upgrade. The discrepancy in defense, speed, and added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team. It shouldn't be hard for Fuku to outslug the .430-.440 Murton is good for. They're both significant upgrades over the incumbent players mentioned.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

Welcome to the forum.

 

Discrepancy in defense?

Speed- ok, but marginal upgrade at best, I guess

Lineup balance- The year that lineup balance becomes important will be the first year it's been important.

 

Marginal upgrade yes, but any upgrade is good. The question is the cost. Fukudome fills a position of need. Roberts, not so much. I'm not necessarily against it though.

[Tyrant]

... added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

 

Leave it to the guy with the caveman avatar to talk about speediness and lineup balance.

[CuseCubFan69]

... added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

 

Leave it to the guy with the caveman avatar to talk about speediness and lineup balance.

 

Interesting first post.

[Tyrant]

... added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

 

Leave it to the guy with the caveman avatar to talk about speediness and lineup balance.

 

Interesting first post.

 

Yeah, it wasn't that great.

 

Second post isn't much better.

[CuseCubFan69]

... added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

 

Leave it to the guy with the caveman avatar to talk about speediness and lineup balance.

 

Interesting first post.

 

Yeah, it wasn't that great.

 

Second post isn't much better.

 

Well welcome anyways!

[CubinNY]

... added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

 

Leave it to the guy with the caveman avatar to talk about speediness and lineup balance.

 

Interesting first post.

 

Yeah, it wasn't that great.

 

Second post isn't much better.

I thought it was very à propos.

 

Well done and welcome.

[Electron Blue]

... added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

 

Leave it to the guy with the caveman avatar to talk about speediness and lineup balance.

 

Interesting first post.

 

Yeah, it wasn't that great.

 

Second post isn't much better.

 

:D welcome

[BigbadB]

... added lineup balance would be a significant difference for the team.

 

I can't believe I'd need to say this, but speed shows up in many more areas than SB.

 

Leave it to the guy with the caveman avatar to talk about speediness and lineup balance.

 

Interesting first post.

 

Yeah, it wasn't that great.

 

Second post isn't much better.

 

Well welcome anyways!

 

I found "Tyrant's" response to caveman avatar's post rather ironic. :D

[A New Era]

RF - You have to remember this. Jones and Floyd had a majority of play time at RF. Jones was just horrible, and Floyd while having a couple decent streaks, was below average. The combined SLG for RF had to be just terrible last year. You guys are trying to compare these 2 players on your idea of what Murton would do. Murton isn't getting a fair shot in RF. Just get over it. You have to compare Fukudome to Jones + Floyd and I think the upgrade will be far more than Marginal.

 

2B - Just take Derosa and add 50 steals. Not a great upgrade. But you have to consider the upgrade of Derosa being the 2B, 3B, RF supersub. He'll be an upgrade over guys like Fontenot, Floyd, and Jones who got alot of at bats last year. It's incredible how last year people were ready to lynch Hendry for "overpaying" for a career year. Now they don't want to upgrade from Derosa.

 

OBP - The added overall OBP I think will be really significant. Because now you've got possible .360 .380 OBP in RF that you can plug into the 2 spot in front of the big boys that already have a high OBP and drive in alot of runs.

 

STABILITY - my #1 reason. Is that you finally have some outfield stability. I liked our IF last year. But I always said we need some stability in the OF. With Fukudome now you atleast have your set guys at LF and RF. Who knows if Pie plays in CF or not. But no more rotating RF and CF. I mean or CF moved to LF, Our RF played CF, Our RF didn't even really have one set guy who you could say "he's our RF'er".

 

It's way more than marginal if you ask me.

[Tyrant]

Caveman responses aside, I think getting Roberts would help the offense, but we'd really benefit if Lou would move DeRosa to short. I know he's not a natural fit there, but neither was Theriot. And DeRosa can actually, like, play good and stuff.

[CuseCubFan69]

Caveman responses aside, I think getting Roberts would help the offense, but we'd really benefit if Lou would move DeRosa to short. I know he's not a natural fit there, but neither was Theriot. And DeRosa can actually, like, play good and stuff.

 

Did Lou ever play him there last year? I agree that this would help keep the lineup solid as it's also easier to find a decent hitting second baseman.

[Tyrant]

Caveman responses aside, I think getting Roberts would help the offense, but we'd really benefit if Lou would move DeRosa to short. I know he's not a natural fit there, but neither was Theriot. And DeRosa can actually, like, play good and stuff.

 

Did Lou ever play him there last year? I agree that this would help keep the lineup solid as it's also easier to find a decent hitting second baseman.

 

Looks like he played eight innings at short last year. I think he came up as a shortstop, and he'd played a handful of games there in recent years before coming to the Cubs.

[VanceJergins]

Caveman responses aside, I think getting Roberts would help the offense, but we'd really benefit if Lou would move DeRosa to short. I know he's not a natural fit there, but neither was Theriot. And DeRosa can actually, like, play good and stuff.

 

Did Lou ever play him there last year? I agree that this would help keep the lineup solid as it's also easier to find a decent hitting second baseman.

 

Looks like he played eight innings at short last year. I think he came up as a shortstop, and he'd played a handful of games there in recent years before coming to the Cubs.

 

I think that is definitely worth a shot. The offensive upgrade from Theriot to DeRosa is pretty huge.

[St.Paul Cub]

Roberts vs. DeRosa alone isn't a huge difference besides Roberts being able to hit lefthanded and speed. On that alone, don't know if it's worth it. However, as was mentioned DeRosa playing 3rd, SS, 1B, and OF 5 out of 6 games in a week might since he seems to be able to play anywhere and you know that he's going to be needed.

 

Not going to get into the leadoff hitter debates.

[BigbadB]

Roberts vs. DeRosa alone isn't a huge difference besides Roberts being able to hit lefthanded and speed. On that alone, don't know if it's worth it. However, as was mentioned DeRosa playing 3rd, SS, 1B, and OF 5 out of 6 games in a week might since he seems to be able to play anywhere and you know that he's going to be needed.

 

Not going to get into the leadoff hitter debates.

 

I mentioned this way, way back in the other Roberts thread, but I have a real problem with this idea that DeRosa would somehow get that many at bats with this potential line up.

 

Let's just say the Cubs get Fukudome and Roberts. Fukudome, Soriano, Roberts, Lee and Ramirez basically all play the most ideal positions that DeRosa would supposedly sub. Which of those guys do they realistically expect to give a day off each week to start DeRosa? Some of these guys are 8 figure salary per year guys. There are days off scheduled all season long.

 

And if DeRosa is sitting on the bench everyday because none of these guys are coming out of the line up while Theriot is starting everyday at SS, I'm gonna be pissed off.

[rawaction]

Roberts vs. DeRosa alone isn't a huge difference besides Roberts being able to hit lefthanded and speed. On that alone, don't know if it's worth it. However, as was mentioned DeRosa playing 3rd, SS, 1B, and OF 5 out of 6 games in a week might since he seems to be able to play anywhere and you know that he's going to be needed.

 

Not going to get into the leadoff hitter debates.

 

I mentioned this way, way back in the other Roberts thread, but I have a real problem with this idea that DeRosa would somehow get that many at bats with this potential line up.

 

Let's just say the Cubs get Fukudome and Roberts. Fukudome, Soriano, Roberts, Lee and Ramirez basically all play the most ideal positions that DeRosa would supposedly sub. Which of those guys do they realistically expect to give a day off each week to start DeRosa? Some of these guys are 8 figure salary per year guys. There are days off scheduled all season long.

 

And if DeRosa is sitting on the bench everyday because none of these guys are coming out of the line up while Theriot is starting everyday at SS, I'm gonna be pissed off.

 

Ramirez and Soriano each spent time on the DL last year. Lee spent time day-to-day with nagging injuries and was suspended for 5 games. Roberts has had a significant injury history. Also gotta figure Derosa will start vs. all LHPs, either in RF w/ Fukudome moving to CF, with Pie on the bench in the above scenario or at 2B for the LH hitting Roberts.

[DenverCubs]

Someone may have mentioned this, but one of my favorite things about getting Roberts would be that maybe Lou would move Soriano OUT OF THE LEADOFF SPOT.

[BigbadB]

Roberts vs. DeRosa alone isn't a huge difference besides Roberts being able to hit lefthanded and speed. On that alone, don't know if it's worth it. However, as was mentioned DeRosa playing 3rd, SS, 1B, and OF 5 out of 6 games in a week might since he seems to be able to play anywhere and you know that he's going to be needed.

 

Not going to get into the leadoff hitter debates.

 

I mentioned this way, way back in the other Roberts thread, but I have a real problem with this idea that DeRosa would somehow get that many at bats with this potential line up.

 

Let's just say the Cubs get Fukudome and Roberts. Fukudome, Soriano, Roberts, Lee and Ramirez basically all play the most ideal positions that DeRosa would supposedly sub. Which of those guys do they realistically expect to give a day off each week to start DeRosa? Some of these guys are 8 figure salary per year guys. There are days off scheduled all season long.

 

And if DeRosa is sitting on the bench everyday because none of these guys are coming out of the line up while Theriot is starting everyday at SS, I'm gonna be pissed off.

 

Ramirez and Soriano each spent time on the DL last year. Lee spent time day-to-day with nagging injuries and was suspended for 5 games. Roberts has had a significant injury history. Also gotta figure Derosa will start vs. all LHPs, either in RF w/ Fukudome moving to CF, with Pie on the bench in the above scenario or at 2B for the LH hitting Roberts.

 

So, we are assuming all those same things will happen again this coming year? That's what makes DeRosa on the roster a good thing. But, you can do the same thing with him when he's needed elsewhere other than SS.

[Guest]

Someone may have mentioned this, but one of my favorite things about getting Roberts would be that maybe Lou would move Soriano OUT OF THE LEADOFF SPOT.

Maybe down to #2...but I doubt it.

 

The point of Kosuke is that he can be a middle of the order hitter to break up the right handers. So that still leaves only Roberts as a "natural" top of the order guy along with Soriano. Lou likes to have the lefty bat in the #2 spot - for one thing it does more to break up the right handers and it also is easier to take advantage of the hole on the right side when Soriano is on base. I'd bet we see a lineup along these lines on most days:

 

Soriano

Roberts

Lee

Kosuke

Ramirez

Soto

Pie

Theriot