Cubs targeting Felipe Lopez?

[reds44]

If we could get him for Cedeno that would be good. Cedeno is out of options and has done nothing to earn a spot on the team. Lopez could replace Theriot some at SS, play some second , and make us a better team.

That's a better idea. Lopez would be best used as a backup 3rd baseman (IMO, his best position defensively), SS, and 2nd baseman. He has never been able to hit lefties either, so he should only play vs. righties when he does.

[reds44]

Seriously? What's the point?

 

Have you looked at his stats? If he could come anything close to his 2005 he would be 3x the hitter Theriot is, and they are equal in the field, Lopez may even be better.

 

I'm not sure where you get the idea that Lopez is the defensive equal of Ryan Theriot, but defensive systems that use play-by-play data (which BP doesn't) like PMR and Fielding Bible's +/- seem to agree that Theriot is solidly average while Lopez has been one of the worst fielding SS's in baseball over the last several years. His awful defense was pretty much the justification for the Reds trading him in the first place, despite a very good year at the plate in 2005. He is clearly not a SS.

 

Not sure how he would perform at 2B. Offensively, at his best, he seems like a poor man's Brian Roberts. He's a switch hitter with speed, so you can see why Jimbo might like him, but I doubt he'd be an upgrade over DeRosa. He also seems to have a bit of an attitude of problem. It sounds like he is going to sulk on the bench if he doesn't get to play every day.

I loved Lopez when he was on the Reds. At his best, he was an all-star SS. In 2005 he had an .838 OPS, and even the year after when his production went down alittle he had 44 SB's. There is no doubt the talent is there, and he would definatley be worth a flier on for any team. However, you just have to keep him far away from playing SS on an everyday basis.

[SABR Gamer]

Seriously? What's the point?

 

Have you looked at his stats? If he could come anything close to his 2005 he would be 3x the hitter Theriot is, and they are equal in the field, Lopez may even be better.

 

I'm not sure where you get the idea that Lopez is the defensive equal of Ryan Theriot, but defensive systems that use play-by-play data (which BP doesn't) like PMR and Fielding Bible's +/- seem to agree that Theriot is solidly average while Lopez has been one of the worst fielding SS's in baseball over the last several years. His awful defense was pretty much the justification for the Reds trading him in the first place, despite a very good year at the plate in 2005. He is clearly not a SS.

 

Not sure how he would perform at 2B. Offensively, at his best, he seems like a poor man's Brian Roberts. He's a switch hitter with speed, so you can see why Jimbo might like him, but I doubt he'd be an upgrade over DeRosa. He also seems to have a bit of an attitude of problem. It sounds like he is going to sulk on the bench if he doesn't get to play every day.

 

BP had Theriot as a -6 SS last year, and projects him to be -4 this year, that's not average. Lopez was -12 last year, and was as high as -5 in Cinci, and they project him to be -4 this year. Neither are great options, and Lopez will make up for it a ton more than Theriot will with the bat.

[sneakypower]

isn't this a Cubs board? are people not watching the game that need to rely on flawed statistics to make a judgment on a player? what's the point here?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I watch plenty of games. Lopez at SS is fairly equal to Theriot at SS with the glove. He's slightly worse, but not enough that he wouldn't likely make up for it with his bat.

[Post Count Padder]

Lopez may not be great defensively, but he's not terrible. And moving to the NL Central would help his stats and I could see him putting up a line of: .275/.345/.425 with 10 Hrs and 20 or so SBs.

[RedFlash]

After looking at Felipe Lopez's career numbers (and let's face when you have similar numbers to SUCH legendary performers like Jeff Blauser, Mark Ellis, and Tony Graffanino) I would pass on Lopez, unless it was for dirt cheap. I'm about a straight up trade of a Walrond type journeyman minor leaguer for Lopez dirt cheap move. Other wise I am pretty sure Cedeno could outproduce Lopez in 2008.

[reds44]

I watch plenty of games. Lopez at SS is fairly equal to Theriot at SS with the glove. He's slightly worse, but not enough that he wouldn't likely make up for it with his bat.

Are you serious? Theriot must be a GOD AWFUL SS if this is the case.

[reds44]

Lopez may not be great defensively, but he's not terrible. And moving to the NL Central would help his stats and I could see him putting up a line of: .275/.345/.425 with 10 Hrs and 20 or so SBs.

Yes he is.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I watch plenty of games. Lopez at SS is fairly equal to Theriot at SS with the glove. He's slightly worse, but not enough that he wouldn't likely make up for it with his bat.

Are you serious? Theriot must be a GOD AWFUL SS if this is the case.

 

 

No, it's just that Theriot is a slightly below average SS that provides little to nothing with the bat. Lopez is a little more below average SS that could be quite an asset with the bat.

[sneakypower]

People are letting Theriot's struggles at the plate plague their opinion of his defense. He has very good range (made just above average by playing in a step or two) and is sure-handed, albeit he's not going to make any plays deep in the hole. Lopez is just an error producer with little else going for him at SS. He doesn't even make the impossible plays like Ordonez would or Furcal to compensate for the routine grounders botched.

[Sammy Sofa]

DEFENSE SCORES RUNS, MAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNN.

[javy knows my name]

People are letting Theriot's struggles at the plate plague their opinion of his defense. He has very good range (made just above average by playing in a step or two) and is sure-handed, albeit he's not going to make any plays deep in the hole. Lopez is just an error producer with little else going for him at SS. He doesn't even make the impossible plays like Ordonez would or Furcal to compensate for the routine grounders botched.

In no way does Theriot have "very good range"

[UK1679666180]

Lopez has the tools be good defensively at SS, he just doesn't apply it to the games. I think having Ramirez along side him would help him on plays to his right since he have doesn't great lateral movement.

 

Theriot does have quick feet but b/c of his arm strength does have to play a couple of steps up which hurts his range.

[ToupeeOnFire]

Seriously? What's the point?

 

Have you looked at his stats? If he could come anything close to his 2005 he would be 3x the hitter Theriot is, and they are equal in the field, Lopez may even be better.

 

I'm not sure where you get the idea that Lopez is the defensive equal of Ryan Theriot, but defensive systems that use play-by-play data (which BP doesn't) like PMR and Fielding Bible's +/- seem to agree that Theriot is solidly average while Lopez has been one of the worst fielding SS's in baseball over the last several years. His awful defense was pretty much the justification for the Reds trading him in the first place, despite a very good year at the plate in 2005. He is clearly not a SS.

 

Not sure how he would perform at 2B. Offensively, at his best, he seems like a poor man's Brian Roberts. He's a switch hitter with speed, so you can see why Jimbo might like him, but I doubt he'd be an upgrade over DeRosa. He also seems to have a bit of an attitude of problem. It sounds like he is going to sulk on the bench if he doesn't get to play every day.

 

BP had Theriot as a -6 SS last year, and projects him to be -4 this year, that's not average. Lopez was -12 last year, and was as high as -5 in Cinci, and they project him to be -4 this year. Neither are great options, and Lopez will make up for it a ton more than Theriot will with the bat.

 

Once again, I'm not sure why you would trust BP's defensive stats which estimate how many plays a fielder should make based on a variety factors (pitching staff, balls in play, baserunners, etc.) over newer, more advanced systems that actually use batted ball data. Not to say these metrics are infallible, but they seem to agree with the general consensus that Felipe Lopez is a third baseman playing shortstop.

 

Likewise, Theriot, if you watched him last year, seemed to make all the plays he was supposed to make. That pretty much jibes exactly with the data. Not to mention that he was one of the better SS's in baseball at converting DP opportunities. He was not gold glove caliber and his defense might not be good enough to overcome his bat, but he was not a poor fielder.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Lopez would make a nice platoon partner for Theriot, they'd put up decent offensive production for a SS. In most situations Theriot would be available as a defensive replacement(Murton and maybe DeRosa would be in front of him on the PH list) at the end of games as well.

[Post Count Padder]

Felipe Lopez reiterated his desire to be a starter Sunday, but with a bit of an attitude adjustment.

 

Lopez had this to say on Wednesday: "I would like to stay here, but I'm not going to be happy on the bench. Hell no." On Sunday, his comments were a bit friendlier: "If [manager] Manny [Acta] says, 'You are going to be on the bench,' what am I going to do? Sit here and pout? I'll be rooting for Cristian and Ronnie to do well, I'm not going to root against them." Lopez was probably confronted about his harsh comments earlier in the week by Nationals management. He's likely being shopped and any perceived negativity would hurt his trade value. The Cubs remain possible suitors.

Source: Nationals.mlb.com

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Nationals are saying no deal with Lopez is imminent.

 

Link.

 

Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said yesterday the team is "not close to a deal right now" to move a player out of its crowded middle infield.

[reds44]

Don't ever believe Bowden.

[sneakypower]

People are letting Theriot's struggles at the plate plague their opinion of his defense. He has very good range (made just above average by playing in a step or two) and is sure-handed, albeit he's not going to make any plays deep in the hole. Lopez is just an error producer with little else going for him at SS. He doesn't even make the impossible plays like Ordonez would or Furcal to compensate for the routine grounders botched.

In no way does Theriot have "very good range"

if you'll read for another 4 words you might notice i qualified my statement. i guess i'll try to make allowances for this in the future and use as few words as possible to make it easier for people.

[SABR Gamer]

Seriously? What's the point?

 

Have you looked at his stats? If he could come anything close to his 2005 he would be 3x the hitter Theriot is, and they are equal in the field, Lopez may even be better.

 

I'm not sure where you get the idea that Lopez is the defensive equal of Ryan Theriot, but defensive systems that use play-by-play data (which BP doesn't) like PMR and Fielding Bible's +/- seem to agree that Theriot is solidly average while Lopez has been one of the worst fielding SS's in baseball over the last several years. His awful defense was pretty much the justification for the Reds trading him in the first place, despite a very good year at the plate in 2005. He is clearly not a SS.

 

Not sure how he would perform at 2B. Offensively, at his best, he seems like a poor man's Brian Roberts. He's a switch hitter with speed, so you can see why Jimbo might like him, but I doubt he'd be an upgrade over DeRosa. He also seems to have a bit of an attitude of problem. It sounds like he is going to sulk on the bench if he doesn't get to play every day.

 

BP had Theriot as a -6 SS last year, and projects him to be -4 this year, that's not average. Lopez was -12 last year, and was as high as -5 in Cinci, and they project him to be -4 this year. Neither are great options, and Lopez will make up for it a ton more than Theriot will with the bat.

 

Once again, I'm not sure why you would trust BP's defensive stats which estimate how many plays a fielder should make based on a variety factors (pitching staff, balls in play, baserunners, etc.) over newer, more advanced systems that actually use batted ball data. Not to say these metrics are infallible, but they seem to agree with the general consensus that Felipe Lopez is a third baseman playing shortstop.

 

Likewise, Theriot, if you watched him last year, seemed to make all the plays he was supposed to make. That pretty much jibes exactly with the data. Not to mention that he was one of the better SS's in baseball at converting DP opportunities. He was not gold glove caliber and his defense might not be good enough to overcome his bat, but he was not a poor fielder.

 

Whatever, he just doesn't impress me with any part of his game and I don't know how it would be that hard to replace him, hell I have practiced with the guy and no part of his game stood out when I was playing with him, I don't understand how he is a major leaguer that has no real threat to his job security. He's decent, and I think off the bench he could be pretty good but playing every day he could be a major weak spot. I just wish that they would give DeRosa a chance to play SS and trade for Roberts, or trade for an every day SS. How many of the other major contenders have a weak spot as big as the Cubs at SS? Not to mention we are also taking huge risks by going with rookies at CF and C, basically three eighths of our lineup could potentially be black holes. I doubt Soto will be bad but you never know.

[Post Count Padder]

The Washington Times reports that the Nationals are actively trying to trade Felipe López.

 

Not exactly a surprise. Lopez has made it quite clear that he'd be unhappy coming off the bench, but his $4.9 million salary for 2008 will make it tough to find a suitor. The Times reports that Ronnie Belliard, who beat out Lopez for the starting job, is a more desired commodity thanks to this $3.5 million salary over the next two years. He's also got over 150 points of batting average on López this spring.

Source: Washington Post

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Bowden said they would only move him in a deal that would make the Nationals better.

 

Link.

 

"If we could make a move to give them an opportunity to play every day and make our organization better, we'll do it. But we're not going to make a deal that we don't think is going to make our organization better, because we're all about winning. We're all about the team. We're not about individuals."

[Post Count Padder]

Bowden said they would only move him in a deal that would make the Nationals better.

 

Link.

 

"If we could make a move to give them an opportunity to play every day and make our organization better, we'll do it. But we're not going to make a deal that we don't think is going to make our organization better, because we're all about winning. We're all about the team. We're not about individuals."

Give em Marquis or Dempster. Their rotation is a mess anyway.

[Derwood]

Bowden said they would only move him in a deal that would make the Nationals better.

 

Link.

 

"If we could make a move to give them an opportunity to play every day and make our organization better, we'll do it. But we're not going to make a deal that we don't think is going to make our organization better, because we're all about winning. We're all about the team. We're not about individuals."

Give em Marquis or Dempster. Their rotation is a mess anyway.

 

crap, Lieber would be the ace of that staff right now.