Ramirez has the highest OPS among 3B

[17 Seconds]

Tied with Youkilis at .861

 

The Cubs have to pick up his option, right? I wish I was more confident they would.

[Shilzzz]

only if they can get hollandsworth to talk enough [expletive] about ramirez to kick his butt into gear

 

only if they can get ramirez to take some of his ops and share it with lesser cubs

[dew1679666265]

Tied with Youkilis at .861

 

The Cubs have to pick up his option, right? I wish I was more confident they would.

 

As hard as it is to be in favor of letting Aramis walk, I still think they can replace him internally much more easily and effectively than they can fill 1st base or the top of the rotation internally. As good as Aramis has been, I really think Fielder/Pujols and Wilson are more important to the Cubs' chances of winning next year than Aramis is, because we can replace him with a Baker/Flaherty platoon and probably still be above average at third.

 

Of course, if Ricketts ups payroll and we can afford all three, I'm all for bringing back Aramis.

[Outshined_One]

Imagine how productive he would be if he showed leadership and wasn't so lazy all the time.

[Sammy Sofa]

Tied with Youkilis at .861

 

Well, he can't be tied with Youk.

 

Because, well, you know...

[questionmarkgrace]

Tied with Youkilis at .861

 

The Cubs have to pick up his option, right? I wish I was more confident they would.

 

As hard as it is to be in favor of letting Aramis walk, I still think they can replace him internally much more easily and effectively than they can fill 1st base or the top of the rotation internally. As good as Aramis has been, I really think Fielder/Pujols and Wilson are more important to the Cubs' chances of winning next year than Aramis is, because we can replace him with a Baker/Flaherty platoon and probably still be above average at third.

 

Of course, if Ricketts ups payroll and we can afford all three, I'm all for bringing back Aramis.

 

I'm not sure fielder plus flarhety/baker is much better than ramirez and pena. Seems to me its more like a wash. Obviously having fielder is better for the future through

[Little Slide Rooter]

As much as I would love to see Fielder and Aramis at the corners, it could...would lead to one dreadfully bad defensive infield. Aramis has always committed his share of throwing errors, and that was with him always having well above average defensive 1Bs in Lee and now Pena. With him and Castro air mailing it to Fielder, things could get ugly.

[Sammy Sofa]

Quiet.

[chopsx9]

Tied with Youkilis at .861

 

The Cubs have to pick up his option, right? I wish I was more confident they would.

 

As hard as it is to be in favor of letting Aramis walk, I still think they can replace him internally much more easily and effectively than they can fill 1st base or the top of the rotation internally. As good as Aramis has been, I really think Fielder/Pujols and Wilson are more important to the Cubs' chances of winning next year than Aramis is, because we can replace him with a Baker/Flaherty platoon and probably still be above average at third.

 

Of course, if Ricketts ups payroll and we can afford all three, I'm all for bringing back Aramis.

 

 

I'd lay some pretty serious money that Baker/Flaherty would not be above average at third next year. Flaherty seems to struggle initially after each promotion so I'm not sold on him as any kind solution for next year that requires substatial playing time. I think you go darn near all out to keep Aramis. I'd rather him than Wilson. I haven't forgotten the Leo Gomez, Steve Buchelle, Vance Law, Kevin Orie, Gary Gaetti years (Who was the dude from the Padres - I think he was on their '84 team - he took a kick at the can one year too I believe)

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

As much as I would love to see Fielder and Aramis at the corners, it could...would lead to one dreadfully bad defensive infield. Aramis has always committed his share of throwing errors, and that was with him always having well above average defensive 1Bs in Lee and now Pena. With him and Castro air mailing it to Fielder, things could get ugly.

 

We'd still be way better off.

 

I agree with dew, and I hope Ricketts ponies up for all 3.

[Shilzzz]

i want to take a small moment to say that nuts & gum has gone from my personal least favorite poster to one of the better ones here. i want to hate your posts, but can no longer do that. i went away for like a year and you really stepped your [expletive] up. good job.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Tied with Youkilis at .861

 

Well, he can't be tied with Youk.

 

Because, well, you know...

 

?

[Soul]

i want to take a small moment to say that nuts & gum has gone from my personal least favorite poster to one of the better ones here. i want to hate your posts, but can no longer do that. i went away for like a year and you really stepped your [expletive] up. good job.

 

He started drinking more.

[NCCubFan]

(Who was the dude from the Padres - I think he was on their '84 team - he took a kick at the can one year too I believe)

You're probably thinking of Luis Salazar, who was with the Padres in 84 and was acquired by the Cubs (along with Marvell Wynne) in a post-deadline waiver deal in 89.

[Little Slide Rooter]

(Who was the dude from the Padres - I think he was on their '84 team - he took a kick at the can one year too I believe)

You're probably thinking of Luis Salazar, who was with the Padres in 84 and was acquired by the Cubs (along with Marvell Wynne) in a post-deadline waiver deal in 89.

 

Today, he's more well known for losing an eye to a foul ball as a coach for The Braves.

[NCCubFan]

(Who was the dude from the Padres - I think he was on their '84 team - he took a kick at the can one year too I believe)

You're probably thinking of Luis Salazar, who was with the Padres in 84 and was acquired by the Cubs (along with Marvell Wynne) in a post-deadline waiver deal in 89.

 

Today, he's more well known for losing an eye to a foul ball as a coach for The Braves.

Yep; I remember that from Spring Training this year. He's actually a Braves' minor league manager, not a coach. [/nitpick]

[Fred Hornkohl]

(Who was the dude from the Padres - I think he was on their '84 team - he took a kick at the can one year too I believe)

You're probably thinking of Luis Salazar, who was with the Padres in 84 and was acquired by the Cubs (along with Marvell Wynne) in a post-deadline waiver deal in 89.

 

I think he's really thinking of Ron Cey who came from the Dodgers, rather than the Padres.

[NCCubFan]

(Who was the dude from the Padres - I think he was on their '84 team - he took a kick at the can one year too I believe)

You're probably thinking of Luis Salazar, who was with the Padres in 84 and was acquired by the Cubs (along with Marvell Wynne) in a post-deadline waiver deal in 89.

 

I think he's really thinking of Ron Cey who came from the Dodgers, rather than the Padres.

Could be; I could be thinking backwards on which team he meant by "their" 84 team.

[The Other One]

(Who was the dude from the Padres - I think he was on their '84 team - he took a kick at the can one year too I believe)

You're probably thinking of Luis Salazar, who was with the Padres in 84 and was acquired by the Cubs (along with Marvell Wynne) in a post-deadline waiver deal in 89.

 

Can't remember too many on field plays, but I'll never forget:

 

"Salazar spelled backwards is Razzle Ass"

[dew1679666265]

I'm not sure fielder plus flarhety/baker is much better than ramirez and pena. Seems to me its more like a wash. Obviously having fielder is better for the future through

 

It largely depends on how well Flaherty can hit righties in the majors. I can't find his minor league platoon splits, but the Baker portion of the platoon would almost certainly be close to as productive as Aramis against lefties.

 

Aramis career OPS v lefties: .874

Aramis career OPS v righties: .831

 

Baker career OPS v lefties: .900

 

Can Flaherty give us an .800+ OPS against righties next year? That's probably pushing it, but I think that platoon has a chance to be pretty good in comparison to most third base options around the league - it'd be a downgrade, but it would allow us to make two rather large upgrades at first and in the rotation.

[bukie]

The weird thing about the 3B position this year is that it's roughly equivalent to the SS position offensively, which hasn't been the case since before 1990. If the team can be confident that trend will continue into the near future, then I'd feel better letting Ramirez walk and spend the money on the more offensively dominant positions, like corner OF and 1B, hoping that a Baker/Flaherty platoon will provide above-average offense at the position.

[dew1679666265]

I'd lay some pretty serious money that Baker/Flaherty would not be above average at third next year.

 

The Rays have the 15th highest 3B OPS in the majors right now, at .704. There are two teams posting a 3B OPS above .800 - the Cubs (.861) and Red Sox (.822). There are 11 teams with a .600-.699 3B OPS and four teams with a .500-.599 3B OPS. Third base OPS is way, way down this year and if it stays that way, it really wouldn't be very hard to have an above average or better OPS there. Especially when you consider that Baker is almost a lock to give us an .850-900 OPS as one part of the platoon.

 

Flaherty seems to struggle initially after each promotion so I'm not sold on him as any kind solution for next year that requires substatial playing time.

 

A slow start would definitely be a concern and Flaherty is the portion of the platoon I'm concerned about. However, if you call him up and give him plenty of ABs this year (play him full time at second if you want), that learning curve may be lessened next year. Whether the Cubs do that or not is another question.

 

I'll also admit I'm going off the assumption that Flaherty hits righties better than lefties. If he doesn't have a strong platoon split, then we might need to look elsewhere for a Baker platoon partner.

 

I think you go darn near all out to keep Aramis. I'd rather him than Wilson. I haven't forgotten the Leo Gomez, Steve Buchelle, Vance Law, Kevin Orie, Gary Gaetti years (Who was the dude from the Padres - I think he was on their '84 team - he took a kick at the can one year too I believe)

 

Don't get me wrong, I love Aramis and the production he's given us over the course of his career. However, assuming no real increase in payroll, we'll have to skimp somewhere in our upgrades. Pena's a nice player, but I feel it's vital that we add either Fielder or Pujols this offseason. That leaves enough money for either Aramis or a top of the rotation starter like CJ Wilson. Between the two, I feel like we can fill third base with above average production cheaply next year while we don't have a top of the rotation starter in our in-house options.

[dew1679666265]

The weird thing about the 3B position this year is that it's roughly equivalent to the SS position offensively, which hasn't been the case since before 1990. If the team can be confident that trend will continue into the near future, then I'd feel better letting Ramirez walk and spend the money on the more offensively dominant positions, like corner OF and 1B, hoping that a Baker/Flaherty platoon will provide above-average offense at the position.

 

That's exactly what I'm basing this plan on - the completely inept offensive production at third this year and really for the past 2-3 years.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

The weird thing about the 3B position this year is that it's roughly equivalent to the SS position offensively, which hasn't been the case since before 1990. If the team can be confident that trend will continue into the near future, then I'd feel better letting Ramirez walk and spend the money on the more offensively dominant positions, like corner OF and 1B, hoping that a Baker/Flaherty platoon will provide above-average offense at the position.

 

That's exactly what I'm basing this plan on - the completely inept offensive production at third this year and really for the past 2-3 years.

 

Keep in mind that Zimmerman, Wright, ARod, Beltre, and Longoria have all been injured with down numbers this year. Then there's guys like McGhee and Rolen who have fallen off a cliff.

 

That plus the past couple of years have been runs short all around.

 

Unless they trade for Wright or something, Ramirez is probably someone they should look to keep.

[KaiserCesar]

The weird thing about the 3B position this year is that it's roughly equivalent to the SS position offensively, which hasn't been the case since before 1990. If the team can be confident that trend will continue into the near future, then I'd feel better letting Ramirez walk and spend the money on the more offensively dominant positions, like corner OF and 1B, hoping that a Baker/Flaherty platoon will provide above-average offense at the position.

 

 

The fact that third basemen aren't hitting just means that Ramirez's bat is even more valuable compared to years past. I think we need to ask if the drop from Ramirez-Baker/Flaherty is bigger than Fielder-Pena or whatever other big bat possibilities there are out there, along with any other considerations such as cost and durability.