2011 Venezuelan Winter League

[Little Slide Rooter]

I definitely think that if we didn't get one for one reason or another I'd give LaHair a year or 2 in the sun while Team Epstein execute their long term plan rather rather than giving a multi year deal to Pena or Kotchman or giving up anything of value for Loney.

 

Because Pena/Kotchman/Loney are the only alternatives if you don't sign Pujols/Fielder.

 

Who did you have in mind? For 2012, pretty much as far as known available options, that's pretty much all I can think of. If Miguel Cabrera or Justin Morneau suddenly become available, then great.

 

It's a little easier if you try to think of options that wouldn't be preferable to LaHair. The answer is most everyone. LaHair is not good, and even if a miracle happens and he's okay then you're still stuck with a 30 year old that has one year under his belt and you're back where you started. If you can't find someone with a better long term prognosis than that, then you're an embarrassment of a baseball executive.

 

Of course you can, but there's really no rush to do it now. Without Pujuls or Fielder, unless they pull of some maverick series of moves 2012 will be junked, so just go with the free guy you have and don't waste any resources on a plan C. Even if they are better than LaHair, and I'm not denying that they would be but they wouldn't be enough of an upgrade to make what we have now resemble a contender or even a 70 win team. With Pujola or Fielder, you maybe have a .500 team for 2012 if your lucky and if enough things go right that didn't last year. With LaHair, Pena, Kotchman, Loney, Cuddyer, or any alternate realistic options you have a bandaid and I'd just assume go with the cheapest one possible if it's going to yield the same end result. May as well give the chance to become another Ryan Ludwick and if he becomes Micah Hoffpauir, oh well. Without any big acquisitions, my plan for 2012 will be to follow Castro, Jackson, Garza, Cashner and the farm and any wins we pick up along the way will be gravy.

[biittner77]

Of course you can, but there's really no rush to do it now. Without Pujuls or Fielder, unless they pull of some maverick series of moves 2012 will be junked, so just go with the free guy you have and don't waste any resources on a plan C. Even if they are better than LaHair, and I'm not denying that they would be but they wouldn't be enough of an upgrade to make what we have now resemble a contender or even a 70 win team. With Pujola or Fielder, you maybe have a .500 team for 2012 if your lucky and if enough things go right that didn't last year. With LaHair, Pena, Kotchman, Loney, Cuddyer, or any alternate realistic options you have a bandaid and I'd just assume go with the cheapest one possible if it's going to yield the same end result. May as well give the chance to become another Ryan Ludwick and if he becomes Micah Hoffpauir, oh well. Without any big acquisitions, my plan for 2012 will be to follow Castro, Jackson, Garza, Cashner and the farm and any wins we pick up along the way will be gravy.

 

You left out "mine as well" from the triple crown of hurting words.

 

You're also underestimating the talent level already in place. A reasonably healthy year from the starting rotation and last year's team at least threatens .500. It's hard to say what they'll do next season until they replace Ramirez. A team with the Cubs resources has no business throwing in the towel in November.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Of course you can, but there's really no rush to do it now. Without Pujuls or Fielder, unless they pull of some maverick series of moves 2012 will be junked, so just go with the free guy you have and don't waste any resources on a plan C. Even if they are better than LaHair, and I'm not denying that they would be but they wouldn't be enough of an upgrade to make what we have now resemble a contender or even a 70 win team. With Pujola or Fielder, you maybe have a .500 team for 2012 if your lucky and if enough things go right that didn't last year. With LaHair, Pena, Kotchman, Loney, Cuddyer, or any alternate realistic options you have a bandaid and I'd just assume go with the cheapest one possible if it's going to yield the same end result. May as well give the chance to become another Ryan Ludwick and if he becomes Micah Hoffpauir, oh well. Without any big acquisitions, my plan for 2012 will be to follow Castro, Jackson, Garza, Cashner and the farm and any wins we pick up along the way will be gravy.

 

You left out "mine as well" from the triple crown of hurting words.

 

You're also underestimating the talent level already in place. A reasonably healthy year from the starting rotation and last year's team at least threatens .500. It's hard to say what they'll do next season until they replace Ramirez. A team with the Cubs resources has no business throwing in the towel in November.

 

If they could find a legit replacement or upgrade for Ramirezes production and everyone stays healthy, then yes, this team could threaten .500. However, say you replace Ramirezes prodcution with Fielder, a 1st baseman. Then you have to replace Penas production from your 3rd baseman, and non of our in house options will cut it. However, if all stayed healthy, a team of

 

1B Fielder

2B Barney

SS Castro

3B DeWitt/Baker

LF Soriano

CF Jackson

RF Byrd

C Soto

SP Garza

SP Zambrano

SP Demp

SP Wells

SP Cashner/Samardzjia

 

I think that team could threaten .500, yes. What I like about it is that while your technically a contender, though a darkhorse you havn't spent too much and have plenty left over for next year or midseason if the right guy becomes available.

 

However, say we go with the DeWitt/Baker 3B and either use LaHair or Pena at 1B, no matter how healthy the rotation that team will be threatening .400.

[Guest]

Jay Jackson is pitching for Caracas on ESPN3.

[Guest]

Z returned to action last night.

 

Carlos Zambrano, making his first start since taking a line drive off his face, threw four shutout innings Wednesday night for Caribes de Anzoategui. Zambrano, who was injured Nov. 18 and needed 16 stitches, walked one and struck out one in a Venezuelan Winter League game against Tigres de Aragua. He faced 13 batters, and got eight groundouts.