Might Mike to short

[mdwilla]

• • Piniella said he sees second baseman Mike Fontenot as part of the solution in achieving some of the left-right balance he seeks for the lineup. He plans to work Fontenot into the lineup more often to increase his at-bats from last season's 243 -- which produced a .305 average, a .514 slugging percentage and a .395 on-base percentage.

 

''You look at his contribution last year, it's darn good,'' Piniella said. ''We're going to give him some playing time at shortstop -- we'll see in spring training if he can do that -- and if not, depending on what we do or don't do, we'll give him some [more] playing time at second.''

 

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1297404,CST-SPT-cub25.article

[17 Seconds]

Interesting. I just realized I have no idea what his arm strength is like, but I can't imagine it being worse than Theriot's.

 

Hopefully this time Lou doesn't panic and pull Fontenot the first time he makes an error.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If Fontenot can even be slightly below average defensively at short, a Fontenot/Theriot platoon at SS would be tremendous. That would bring the offense around where it was last year, and any type of upgrade in RF would make the offense even more potent.

[CubbieBum]

Looks like a Fontenot and Theriot platoon. Could work out very well.

[BCVM22]

I remain skeptical. Not only have they tried this before and not gone back to it since, but Lou said this at the beginning of last season as well. Fontenot's been in the system since 2005 and he's seen some amount of major league action in three seasons so far - it just seems to me that if they felt he could handle short to any acceptable degree, they'd have put him out there for an appreciable amount of time already.

[imb]

it's not going to happen

 

if they platoon them, fontenot is going to get 70 percent of the at bats, which means he'll get 70 percent of the innings out in the field where he will be a dreadful shortstop

[third eye]

it's not going to happen

 

if they platoon them, fontenot is going to get 70 percent of the at bats, which means he'll get 70 percent of the innings out in the field where he will be a dreadful shortstop

 

Enough to make that position materially worse than Theriot full time? Do you really think he would be that much of a defensive downgrade over an additional 100 or so innings? Yes, I remember that he was a butcher on a couple of occasions. But I wouldn't expect that to project out over the season. If it does, Lou would obviously show no hesitation in replacing him in defense situations.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Its funny how everyone assumes that a Theriot/Fontenot platoon would be the case.

 

All Im saying is that Theriot has more trade value than Cedeno.

[Bruce Miles]

There will be no platoon at SS. Theriot will start as many games as he did this year. Fontenot will see increased time at second base, filling in at short now and then. DeRosa will have a similar role to what he had this year. If the Cubs don't get an everyday left-handed bat for the outfield _ and they're scarce _ DeRosa could play a lot of right field, with Fontenot playing second.

[Little Slide Rooter]

There will be no platoon at SS. Theriot will start as many games as he did this year. Fontenot will see increased time at second base, filling in at short now and then. DeRosa will have a similar role to what he had this year. If the Cubs don't get an everyday left-handed bat for the outfield _ and they're scarce _ DeRosa could play a lot of right field, with Fontenot playing second.

 

So from an insiders perspective, what are the chances that we aquire a decent lefty?

[SouthSideRyan]

Fontenot has no business playing SS. He's already not any good at 2B(Dial and any other metric saying otherwise be damned.)

[Tyrant]

All Im saying is that Theriot has more trade value than Cedeno.

 

So does my cat.

[Bruce Miles]

There will be no platoon at SS. Theriot will start as many games as he did this year. Fontenot will see increased time at second base, filling in at short now and then. DeRosa will have a similar role to what he had this year. If the Cubs don't get an everyday left-handed bat for the outfield _ and they're scarce _ DeRosa could play a lot of right field, with Fontenot playing second.

 

So from an insiders perspective, what are the chances that we aquire a decent lefty?

 

Depends what you mean by decent. Those Teahen reports were greatly exaggerated, as were those regarding Furcal. The still like Ibanez, but right now, his price is probably too high. Not being a smart alec, I always say the chances are 50-50. Either they will or they won't. They look at a lot of things that never make the media. The Ceda-for-Gregg trade was one such thing. There aren't a whole lot of good left-handed hitters out there who fit the Cubs' needs and budget.

[Abe Frohman]

Interesting. I just realized I have no idea what his arm strength is like, but I can't imagine it being worse than Theriot's.

 

It is.

 

Lou gave Fontenot a test drive at SS last year (spring training?). He actually showed decent range, but his arm is not strong at all.

 

Maybe a statement like this forshadow's a push for a SS on the market? I think it is a "puffy chest" to lower the perceived "Cub need" of a target SS (at least in the eyes of his agent/team).

[biittner77]

Which is more likely, Fontenot getting significant time at SS or in CF?

[Roast]

Which is more likely, Fontenot getting significant time at SS or in CF?

Ewww. Fontenot in CF would be godawful.

[Bruce Miles]

Which is more likely, Fontenot getting significant time at SS or in CF?

Ewww. Fontenot in CF would be godawful.

 

You don't have to worry about that one. The Cubs aren't trading him and Marshall for Teahen, either.

[Clem Fandango]

Which is more likely, Fontenot getting significant time at SS or in CF?

Ewww. Fontenot in CF would be godawful.

 

You don't have to worry about that one. The Cubs aren't trading him and Marshall for Teahen, either.

 

Good. I wouldn't be against a Teahen trade if we didn't give up anything that valuable, but either one of them for Teahen would be ridiculous

[Little Slide Rooter]

There will be no platoon at SS. Theriot will start as many games as he did this year. Fontenot will see increased time at second base, filling in at short now and then. DeRosa will have a similar role to what he had this year. If the Cubs don't get an everyday left-handed bat for the outfield _ and they're scarce _ DeRosa could play a lot of right field, with Fontenot playing second.

 

So from an insiders perspective, what are the chances that we aquire a decent lefty?

 

Depends what you mean by decent. Those Teahen reports were greatly exaggerated, as were those regarding Furcal. The still like Ibanez, but right now, his price is probably too high. Not being a smart alec, I always say the chances are 50-50. Either they will or they won't. They look at a lot of things that never make the media. The Ceda-for-Gregg trade was one such thing. There aren't a whole lot of good left-handed hitters out there who fit the Cubs' needs and budget.

 

I still say Abreu is the best fit. Problem is, hes 36 and reportedly wants a 4 year deal.

[GhostRunner]

I still say Abreu is the best fit. Problem is, hes 36 and reportedly wants a 4 year deal.

He turned 34 in March.

[NCCubFan]

I still say Abreu is the best fit. Problem is, hes 36 and reportedly wants a 4 year deal.

He turned 34 in March.

This is Leap Year. He leaped from 34 to 36. :D

[17 Seconds]

There will be no platoon at SS. Theriot will start as many games as he did this year. Fontenot will see increased time at second base, filling in at short now and then. DeRosa will have a similar role to what he had this year. If the Cubs don't get an everyday left-handed bat for the outfield _ and they're scarce _ DeRosa could play a lot of right field, with Fontenot playing second.

 

So from an insiders perspective, what are the chances that we aquire a decent lefty?

 

Depends what you mean by decent. Those Teahen reports were greatly exaggerated, as were those regarding Furcal. The still like Ibanez, but right now, his price is probably too high. Not being a smart alec, I always say the chances are 50-50. Either they will or they won't. They look at a lot of things that never make the media. The Ceda-for-Gregg trade was one such thing. There aren't a whole lot of good left-handed hitters out there who fit the Cubs' needs and budget.

 

I still say Abreu is the best fit. Problem is, hes 36 and reportedly wants a 4 year deal.

 

A low .800's RF doesn't seem that much of a great idea to me. Plus he's terrible defensively.