Is Bryan LaHair legit?

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Shelly Duncan is still in the big leagues so I could see LaHair finding work when the Cubs move on.

[SchruteFarms]

It's too bad he's not 25 instead of nearly 30.

[A New Era]

It's too bad he's not 25 instead of nearly 30.

 

I think more this way. It's too bad he doesn't play a position where we have nobody. Too bad we have a top 1st base prospect about ready to come up. I do think LaHair can give us pretty good production for the next few years. It's just too bad he doesn't do it where we really have nobody interesting.

[dew1679666265]

If you don't know that 3 months of good production means he's capable of hitting at the MLB level, then you are going to have a tough time convincing someone else that he is good enough to trade anyone of significance for.

 

That's actually where having a really good front office, as we do, comes into play. We've seen Hendry overreact to small sample sizes in the past and other GMs often do that as well. I don't think it's all that outlandish to think if LaHair is still hitting at the ASB, that a team might be convinced he's legit. Now what that means in a prospect sense, I don't know. But you have to consider that before the season we couldn't have gotten warm bodies for LaHair and if we keep him and he reverts back to what he was previously, we won't be able to get warm bodies for him again.

[Clem Fandango]

This made me look up Rizzo's numbers so far in the minors to see if he was off to a slow start at all...

 

Holy [expletive].

[wastra]

The best way I can describe LaHair is that his upside is a high production-per-dollar type of guy. he has the potential to be a solid producer at a lower rate for the next few years.

 

The problem is that Rizzo's ceiling is the type of hitter you can build an offense around for a decade.

[Old Style]

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but is there any chance LaHair could play a corner OF spot? He can't be much worse than some of the humps we've thrown out there in the past.

[Sammy Sofa]

He can't?

[SouthSideRyan]

Next time bring your sister, you hump

[Little Slide Rooter]

The first and last time I remember hearing the term hump in that context was King of New York.

[Sammy Sofa]

You can start by giving me fifteen pieces of chicken, [expletive]. AND MIX IT UP.

[UK1679666180]

Nothing stopping him from having a Matt Stairs type of career.

[wastra]

Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but is there any chance LaHair could play a corner OF spot? He can't be much worse than some of the humps we've thrown out there in the past.

 

 

I don't think there's much chance of that. I believe they tried that in the minors to no avail.

 

Besides, his value to the team is probably going to be more related to his production-per-dollar, not really his gross stats. I don't think he's ever going to be the type hitter you jsut can't afford to not have in the lineup, but he could be the type of guy who provides solid production for a low cost when no other options are available.

 

If he starts costing us runs on defense, well, that value dips dramatically, as I doubt his gross stats are going to be all that amazing.

[Old Style]

He can't?

We've had some pretty atrocious OF's over the years. I'd be shocked if he's much worse.

[Sammy Sofa]

Or he'd just be added to the pile. Seems more likely.

[treebird]

i'd like to commission a study and see how much crossover there is between the "OH MY GOD SORIANO IS SUCH A BUM HE IS THE WORST DEFENSIVE LEFT FIELDER I HAVE EVER SEEN" and "we should give lahair a chance in left, i bet he could do it" crowds.

[Tyrant]

He can't?

We've had some pretty atrocious OF's over the years.

 

And that turned out great!

[davell]

i'd like to commission a study and see how much crossover there is between the "OH MY GOD SORIANO IS SUCH A BUM HE IS THE WORST DEFENSIVE LEFT FIELDER I HAVE EVER SEEN" and "we should give lahair a chance in left, i bet he could do it" crowds.

The difference though, is it is easier to tolerate coming from a guy making the league minimum, than it is coming from a guy making 18 mill a year, especially if they're the same offensively. Soriano is just money that would be much better off being placed elsewhere obviously.

[SouthSideRyan]

i'd like to commission a study and see how much crossover there is between the "OH MY GOD SORIANO IS SUCH A BUM HE IS THE WORST DEFENSIVE LEFT FIELDER I HAVE EVER SEEN" and "we should give lahair a chance in left, i bet he could do it" crowds.

The difference though, is it is easier to tolerate coming from a guy making the league minimum, than it is coming from a guy making 18 mill a year, especially if they're the same offensively. Soriano is just money that would be much better off being placed elsewhere obviously.

 

But the money is already spent. Benching Soriano for LaHair isn't going to save you any money, it'll just make you feel better about yourself.

[davell]

If those two are putting up the same numbers, which one helps the team more? LaHair does, because he's a tradeable part. Soriano isn't. He'll, throw Soriano BACK out there after LaHair has been showcased and dealt. This, means Rizzo has shown enough that we're comfortable at 1B.

[SouthSideRyan]

Why does LaHair have more value than Soriano with his entire contract picked up?

[davell]

Why does LaHair have more value than Soriano with his entire contract picked up?

He's younger, I guess. Plus, I still don't see us paying all of Soriano's deal anytime soon.

[Bryants Disco Ball]

Just wondering, but why doesn't anyone talk about having LaHair as a solid bench player if he happens to continue to produce? There is nothing wrong with having a quality pinch hitter and a guy who could spell Rizzo at times if Rizzo turns out the way we hope.

 

Not everybody has to be used as a starter to get really good value from them. If we can't get anything for LaHair, and Rizzo is ready to come up, so be it.

[Clem Fandango]

Just wondering, but why doesn't anyone talk about having LaHair as a solid bench player if he happens to continue to produce? There is nothing wrong with having a quality pinch hitter and a guy who could spell Rizzo at times if Rizzo turns out the way we hope.

 

Not everybody has to be used as a starter to get really good value from them. If we can't get anything for LaHair, and Rizzo is ready to come up, so be it.

 

Because if he has the ability to hit well enough to be a starter, and he costs next to nothing, he holds more value as a trade chip than a bench player.

 

Why would you put a guy on the bench who can hit for a reasonable average and mash 30 homers a year if given full playing time. It's a waste of resources. if you have that guy and he's NOT in your plans, then he likely is a viable option for someone else. You find out who that is and you milk LaHair for all he's worth. You ruin his value by benching him.

[jersey cubs fan]

Just wondering, but why doesn't anyone talk about having LaHair as a solid bench player if he happens to continue to produce? There is nothing wrong with having a quality pinch hitter and a guy who could spell Rizzo at times if Rizzo turns out the way we hope.

 

Not everybody has to be used as a starter to get really good value from them. If we can't get anything for LaHair, and Rizzo is ready to come up, so be it.

 

Because if he has the ability to hit well enough to be a starter, and he costs next to nothing, he holds more value as a trade chip than a bench player.

 

Why would you put a guy on the bench who can hit for a reasonable average and mash 30 homers a year if given full playing time. It's a waste of resources. if you have that guy and he's NOT in your plans, then he likely is a viable option for someone else. You find out who that is and you milk LaHair for all he's worth. You ruin his value by benching him.

 

Or maybe he won't hit well enough to be a starter.