Nick Johnson?

[NewUserName]

Nick Johnson is only a year and a half older than Hoffpauir and he doesn't suck.

 

It has nothing to do with who I think is better, Johnson is better. I also understand that Hoffpauir has no upside. I just think that adding guys like Johnson would just be treading water, if that is the case I would just as soon just hide all the pretenses of being a WS contender and get serious about player development. Its kind of a get worse to get better thing.

 

What does playing a 31 year old Micah Hoffpauir have to do with player development?

 

Nothing, but the Cubs are already paying him. Might as well invest whatever money you save on Johnson into player development.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

This isn't the NBA. Getting worse won't get you better. Unless the Cubs end up with a top 10 pick in the draft for three straight years and hit on each one with a blue chipper (something they have not come close to doing) that will not help. This team will not be a 95 win team for a while. But they can be an 85+ potential NL Central Champ in 2011 and there is no reason to sabotage the season in advance with moves that leave you no chance of contending.

 

I guess I have seen this exact strategy too much in my life as a Cub fan...."Hey lets compete in our crappy division, lets bring in past prime players to help us achieve this goal." Got to admit it gets me excited

 

Well, the strategy, implemented by MacPhail is what has led to 4 playoff appearances in 12 years. That is nothing to get excited over, but intentionally tanking a season isn't any better of a strategy and isn't going to make you any better in the longterm. The Cubs still need revenue to pay for any investment in the farm system and free agents in the future. Johnson is not likely to cost much. And again, it's not my ideal move, but it is much better than going with Micah. There just is not any excuse for a team in the Cubs situation to just give up on a season before the year starts.

[SouthSideRyan]

Nick Johnson is only a year and a half older than Hoffpauir and he doesn't suck.

 

It has nothing to do with who I think is better, Johnson is better. I also understand that Hoffpauir has no upside. I just think that adding guys like Johnson would just be treading water, if that is the case I would just as soon just hide all the pretenses of being a WS contender and get serious about player development. Its kind of a get worse to get better thing.

 

What does playing a 31 year old Micah Hoffpauir have to do with player development?

 

Nothing, but the Cubs are already paying him. Might as well invest whatever money you save on Johnson into player development.

 

Spending all your payroll on player development and running the '03 Tigers out there is a sure way to lose money and piss off fans. You get the added side effect of burning a pre-arb year on prospects who aren't ready for the majors, possibly stunting their development along the way. Obviously it's not a problem with Hoffpauir, who gives a [expletive] about him, but this seems to be the strategy you and others are espousing.

 

It's not like Nick Johnson is going to get a big contract, if they go out and sign Overbay to a 3 year deal, there's the issue, signing a stop-gap low-risk, high reward guy for a year isn't a problem.

[fromthestretch]

we're gonna spend all our money overpaying for an overrated carl crawford.

 

not that it matters.

 

I'd rather spend on Crawford than having to eat another 25 to 30 mill when we realize Dunn is a horrible fit as a 1b for a team with a 3b and SS with scattershot arms.

 

It always amuses me when people imply that Ramirez is going to magically commit 40 errors at third because of Dunn. Dunn isn't going to win any gold gloves, but he isn't nearly the disaster at first base that some people try to make him out to be.

[SweetZombieJesus]

What Carl Crawford will essentially give you is an above average center fielders offensive production at left field, which is all fine and dandy if you can make up that left fielders production elsewhere, but you can, so if you sighn Nick Johnson, you're essentially getting a second basemans production at first.

.

 

Except for the cubs he would be in Center.

[SweetZombieJesus]

 

It always amuses me when people imply that Ramirez is going to magically commit 40 errors at third because of Dunn. Dunn isn't going to win any gold gloves, but he isn't nearly the disaster at first base that some people try to make him out to be.

 

he might not commit 40 errors by himself but combined with Castro, 50+ is certainly doable.

[SouthSideRyan]

 

It always amuses me when people imply that Ramirez is going to magically commit 40 errors at third because of Dunn. Dunn isn't going to win any gold gloves, but he isn't nearly the disaster at first base that some people try to make him out to be.

 

he might not commit 40 errors by himself but combined with Castro, 50+ is certainly doable.

 

They played at a 50 error pace last year

[SweetZombieJesus]

Nick Johnson is only a year and a half older than Hoffpauir and he doesn't suck.

 

It has nothing to do with who I think is better, Johnson is better. I also understand that Hoffpauir has no upside. I just think that adding guys like Johnson would just be treading water, if that is the case I would just as soon just hide all the pretenses of being a WS contender and get serious about player development. Its kind of a get worse to get better thing.

 

What does playing a 31 year old Micah Hoffpauir have to do with player development?

 

Nothing, but the Cubs are already paying him. Might as well invest whatever money you save on Johnson into player development.

 

Maybe we can get in another couple top 5 picks and turn them into a couple more Lou montanez and Josh vitters.

[fromthestretch]

 

It always amuses me when people imply that Ramirez is going to magically commit 40 errors at third because of Dunn. Dunn isn't going to win any gold gloves, but he isn't nearly the disaster at first base that some people try to make him out to be.

 

he might not commit 40 errors by himself but combined with Castro, 50+ is certainly doable.

 

The funny thing is that you said earlier you would prefer to sign Johnson than a poor defensive first baseman like Dunn. In 129 games at first base in 2009, Nick Johnson posted a defensive WAR of -0.8. Dunn was at -0.3 in more games this season.

[Sammy Sofa]

So is Zombie's assumption one that Castro simply will not improve at all defensively?

[SweetZombieJesus]

So is Zombie's assumption one that Castro simply will not improve at all defensively?

 

he will improve from horribad to just really bad.

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh, good to know he's that bad.

[SweetZombieJesus]

Oh, good to know he's that bad.

 

 

Maybe I'm crazy but didn't castro finish 2nd in the NL in errors last year despite missing April. I'd say that's quite bad

[Little Slide Rooter]

What Carl Crawford will essentially give you is an above average center fielders offensive production at left field, which is all fine and dandy if you can make up that left fielders production elsewhere, but you can, so if you sighn Nick Johnson, you're essentially getting a second basemans production at first.

.

 

Except for the cubs he would be in Center.

 

Ive heard that TB tried him there in the past, and he wasnt very good. However, if theyre really itching for Crawford in center, the thing to do could be to try Colvin at 1st instead of wasting more money on Johnson.

[SweetZombieJesus]

What Carl Crawford will essentially give you is an above average center fielders offensive production at left field, which is all fine and dandy if you can make up that left fielders production elsewhere, but you can, so if you sighn Nick Johnson, you're essentially getting a second basemans production at first.

.

 

Except for the cubs he would be in Center.

 

Ive heard that TB tried him there in the past, and he wasnt very good. However, if theyre really itching for Crawford in center, the thing to do could be to try Colvin at 1st instead of wasting more money on Johnson.

 

He was originally placed in left because they had Baldelli who was pretty good defensively and had a better arm as Crawford doesn't have a great arm.

Besides i'd rather have Crawford than having to depend on both Colvin and Jackson having to both pan out in year when Byrd and Fuku come off the books.

[Outshined_One]

Oh, good to know he's that bad.

 

 

Maybe I'm crazy but didn't castro finish 2nd in the NL in errors last year despite missing April. I'd say that's quite bad

 

2nd in the majors, actually.

 

Two things worth noting:

 

1) All of the players in the Top 7 of that list are shortstops. Here are the 2010 UZR numbers for those players at SS...

 

Ian Desmond: -8.8

Starlin Castro: -2.1

Cliff Pennington: 9.9

Erick Aybar: -2.0

Alcides Escobar: 3.8

Alexei Ramirez: 10.8

Josh Wilson: -2.1

 

I don't see much of a correlation between the two sets of numbers, good or bad. Errors some value when viewed in context with other numbers, but they are also highly subjective and should not be the sole basis on which a player should be judged defensively.

 

2) Starlin Castro just accumulated 500 plate appearances at the age of 20 in a season. Most players his age are either in short season A, low A, or are playing their sophomore seasons in college. You're telling me he's not going to improve? I mean, I can understand if you think he has some defensive issues that he needs to iron out, but he's not even old enough to drink. It's a little early to give up on him as a shortstop.

[SweetZombieJesus]

Oh, good to know he's that bad.

 

 

Maybe I'm crazy but didn't castro finish 2nd in the NL in errors last year despite missing April. I'd say that's quite bad

 

2nd in the majors, actually.

 

Two things worth noting:

 

1) All of the players in the Top 7 of that list are shortstops. Here are the 2010 UZR numbers for those players at SS...

 

Ian Desmond: -8.8

Starlin Castro: -2.1

Cliff Pennington: 9.9

Erick Aybar: -2.0

Alcides Escobar: 3.8

Alexei Ramirez: 10.8

Josh Wilson: -2.1

 

I don't see much of a correlation between the two sets of numbers, good or bad. Errors some value when viewed in context with other numbers, but they are also highly subjective and should not be the sole basis on which a player should be judged defensively.

 

2) Starlin Castro just accumulated 500 plate appearances at the age of 20 in a season. Most players his age are either in short season A, low A, or are playing their sophomore seasons in college. You're telling me he's not going to improve? I mean, I can understand if you think he has some defensive issues that he needs to iron out, but he's not even old enough to drink. It's a little early to give up on him as a shortstop.

 

I'm not ready to write him off but I'm not ready to consider him Adam Everrett reborn yet either. I'd rather have a good defensive 1b to help limit potential confidence ruining errors.

[Sammy Sofa]

It's more of a detriment to the team to sacrifice offensive production at 1B for the sake of defense.

[CUBZ99]

Hendry is just throwing out Johnson's name to attempt to lower Dunn's price.

[dew1679666265]

I'm not ready to write him off but I'm not ready to consider him Adam Everrett reborn yet either. I'd rather have a good defensive 1b to help limit potential confidence ruining errors.

 

Johnson isn't a good defensive first baseman. In fact, short of trading for Adrian Gonzalez, I don't know that there's a good defensive first baseman out there this offseason who's a good option.

 

Not that trading for AGonz is a bad idea . . .