Cubs have interest in Kotsay

[CuseCubFan69]

I don't really see Corey being on this team if Hendry does go out and get Kotsay. Just Kotsay doesn't really bring enough of an impact to help us. If Hendry goes out and trades for Kotsay then Corey is on his way out of town.

 

I agree. Corey is not producing the offense to be a corner outfielder, and the Cubs would be wasting his speed by putting him in LF. He would be more valuable playing CF somewhere else.

 

The problem is potential. Corey is brimming with it, and Hendry has to fear that he will bust out (like Andruw Jones is doing right now) somewhere else. Really tough to trade away someone with Corey's tools, but the decision has to be whether the Cubs can win it all this year with a player (Kotsay) that will be upgrade this year, but possibly not in the future. Tough call.

 

This is why Hendry has the GM job, to make tough calls like this. Is it possible that a switch to leadoff and left could jumpstart Patterson? Kotsay is better than Dubois/Holla IMO and the OF defense would be very solid. I don't know how comfortable CPatt would be going into that left corner either so it's also very possible CPatt could struggle even more.

[badger1679666666]

I don't really see Corey being on this team if Hendry does go out and get Kotsay. Just Kotsay doesn't really bring enough of an impact to help us. If Hendry goes out and trades for Kotsay then Corey is on his way out of town.

 

I agree. Corey is not producing the offense to be a corner outfielder, and the Cubs would be wasting his speed by putting him in LF. He would be more valuable playing CF somewhere else.

 

The problem is potential. Corey is brimming with it, and Hendry has to fear that he will bust out (like Andruw Jones is doing right now) somewhere else. Really tough to trade away someone with Corey's tools, but the decision has to be whether the Cubs can win it all this year with a player (Kotsay) that will be upgrade this year, but possibly not in the future. Tough call.

 

This is why Hendry has the GM job, to make tough calls like this. Is it possible that a switch to leadoff and left could jumpstart Patterson? Kotsay is better than Dubois/Holla IMO and the OF defense would be very solid. I don't know how comfortable CPatt would be going into that left corner either so it's also very possible CPatt could struggle even more.

 

Don't you think moving to Left would be an easier position for Corey? Could you imagine our team outfield speed defense with Patterson/Kotsay/Burnitz? It gets me excited thinking about it.

 

I can't imagine a move to an easier defensive position would affect Corey's offense negatively, in fact, intuitively, you'd think he'd be able to worry less about defense and more about getting his stroke down.

 

I think getting Kotsay would ONLY be a positive thing for this team, imagine the RBI possibilities with this lineup:

 

Kotsay .370 OBP

Walker .370 OBP

Lee

Ramirez

Burnitz

Barrett

Patterson

Cedeno

Pitcher.

 

:shock:

 

This is a no-brainer, as long as we don't have to mortgage the farm. We are STOCKED with major league ready starting pitching:

 

Wood/Prior/Z/Maddog/Rusch/Wellmeyer/Mitre/Williams/Hill

[E.J.]

 

Don't you think moving to Left would be an easier position for Corey? Could you imagine our team outfield speed defense with Patterson/Kotsay/Burnitz? It gets me excited thinking about it.

 

I can't imagine a move to an easier defensive position would affect Corey's offense negatively, in fact, intuitively, you'd think he'd be able to worry less about defense and more about getting his stroke down.

 

I think getting Kotsay would ONLY be a positive thing for this team, imagine the RBI possibilities with this lineup:

 

Kotsay .370 OBP

Walker .370 OBP

Lee

Ramirez

Burnitz

Barrett

Patterson

Cedeno

Pitcher.

 

:shock:

 

This is a no-brainer, as long as we don't have to mortgage the farm. We are STOCKED with major league ready starting pitching:

 

Wood/Prior/Z/Maddog/Rusch/Wellmeyer/Mitre/Williams/Hill

 

That's if Dusty uses Kotsay and T. Walk at the top of the order. He's already shown that he'd rather have Corey and Neifi at the top instead of Walker. I really wonder if he'd put Kotsay and Walker at the top of the lineup. Also, I think there is a little adjustment that would go on if Corey moved to LF. Corey is a great enough athlete to make that adjustment though. I still don't see him being on the team if the Cubs get Kotsay.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't really see Corey being on this team if Hendry does go out and get Kotsay. Just Kotsay doesn't really bring enough of an impact to help us. If Hendry goes out and trades for Kotsay then Corey is on his way out of town.

 

I agree. Corey is not producing the offense to be a corner outfielder, and the Cubs would be wasting his speed by putting him in LF. He would be more valuable playing CF somewhere else.

 

The problem is potential. Corey is brimming with it, and Hendry has to fear that he will bust out (like Andruw Jones is doing right now) somewhere else. Really tough to trade away someone with Corey's tools, but the decision has to be whether the Cubs can win it all this year with a player (Kotsay) that will be upgrade this year, but possibly not in the future. Tough call.

 

This is why Hendry has the GM job, to make tough calls like this. Is it possible that a switch to leadoff and left could jumpstart Patterson? Kotsay is better than Dubois/Holla IMO and the OF defense would be very solid. I don't know how comfortable CPatt would be going into that left corner either so it's also very possible CPatt could struggle even more.

 

Don't you think moving to Left would be an easier position for Corey? Could you imagine our team outfield speed defense with Patterson/Kotsay/Burnitz? It gets me excited thinking about it.

 

I can't imagine a move to an easier defensive position would affect Corey's offense negatively, in fact, intuitively, you'd think he'd be able to worry less about defense and more about getting his stroke down.

 

I think getting Kotsay would ONLY be a positive thing for this team, imagine the RBI possibilities with this lineup:

 

Kotsay .370 OBP

Walker .370 OBP

Lee

Ramirez

Burnitz

Barrett

Patterson

Cedeno

Pitcher.

 

:shock:

 

This is a no-brainer, as long as we don't have to mortgage the farm. We are STOCKED with major league ready starting pitching:

 

Wood/Prior/Z/Maddog/Rusch/Wellmeyer/Mitre/Williams/Hill

 

Kotsay's OBP is only .334 this year, and he's slugging below .400. Right now he's basically Hairston with better defense.

[LoneStarCubFan]

I think getting Kotsay would ONLY be a positive thing for this team, imagine the RBI possibilities with this lineup:

 

Kotsay .370 OBP

Walker .370 OBP

Lee

Ramirez

Burnitz

Barrett

Patterson

Cedeno

Pitcher.

 

:shock:

 

This is a no-brainer, as long as we don't have to mortgage the farm. We are STOCKED with major league ready starting pitching:

 

Wood/Prior/Z/Maddog/Rusch/Wellmeyer/Mitre/Williams/Hill

 

That'd be a great, great line-up. Problem is, as long as Dusty the Dumbass is around, this is the line-up we'll get:

 

Patterson

Perez

Lee

Burnitz

ARam

Walker

Kotsay

Barrett

Pitcher

[CuseCubFan69]

I don't really see Corey being on this team if Hendry does go out and get Kotsay. Just Kotsay doesn't really bring enough of an impact to help us. If Hendry goes out and trades for Kotsay then Corey is on his way out of town.

 

I agree. Corey is not producing the offense to be a corner outfielder, and the Cubs would be wasting his speed by putting him in LF. He would be more valuable playing CF somewhere else.

 

The problem is potential. Corey is brimming with it, and Hendry has to fear that he will bust out (like Andruw Jones is doing right now) somewhere else. Really tough to trade away someone with Corey's tools, but the decision has to be whether the Cubs can win it all this year with a player (Kotsay) that will be upgrade this year, but possibly not in the future. Tough call.

 

This is why Hendry has the GM job, to make tough calls like this. Is it possible that a switch to leadoff and left could jumpstart Patterson? Kotsay is better than Dubois/Holla IMO and the OF defense would be very solid. I don't know how comfortable CPatt would be going into that left corner either so it's also very possible CPatt could struggle even more.

 

Don't you think moving to Left would be an easier position for Corey? Could you imagine our team outfield speed defense with Patterson/Kotsay/Burnitz? It gets me excited thinking about it.

 

I can't imagine a move to an easier defensive position would affect Corey's offense negatively, in fact, intuitively, you'd think he'd be able to worry less about defense and more about getting his stroke down.

 

I think getting Kotsay would ONLY be a positive thing for this team, imagine the RBI possibilities with this lineup:

 

Kotsay .370 OBP

Walker .370 OBP

Lee

Ramirez

Burnitz

Barrett

Patterson

Cedeno

Pitcher.

 

:shock:

 

This is a no-brainer, as long as we don't have to mortgage the farm. We are STOCKED with major league ready starting pitching:

 

Wood/Prior/Z/Maddog/Rusch/Wellmeyer/Mitre/Williams/Hill

 

I initially thought that the move might help CPatt and it may but I don't know what his makup is and if this would have a negative effect on him or not. Also, he is used to being able to run full bore left or right and you can't do that going to your right when your playing left. That brick wall hurts.

 

I don't know what Beane is asking but I'm sure it's high and depending on how many teams are in the hunt for Kotsay he may be quite expensive prospect wise. I also don't know how ready Cedeno would be to make the move and obviously having Baker around if he would even play. If he is ready I'd love to see him up and Grieve up and release Macias and Wilson. But, it also make Dubois even that much more valuable as the Cubs need some right handed pop off the bench unless Hendry gets a solid right handed guy too.

[rawaction]

Again. It would be great to have Kotsay on the Cubs. He's a decent hitter, with a solid walk rate. He can field and he can run. I think a return to the NL and getting to play his home games in a non-Oakland/Florida/San Diego park would help him out. I'd love him as a 1 or 2 hitter in this lineup.

 

The problem is....and this is a big problem....THE CUBS WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP GOOD PROSPECTS TO GET HIM AND PAY HIM OVER 6 MILLION DOLLARS!

 

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

[badger1679666666]

 

Kotsay's OBP is only .334 this year, and he's slugging below .400. Right now he's basically Hairston with better defense.

 

His last couple full years OBP:

 

.370/.350/.360/.365/.350

 

His highest K total is 89 during that time, and he's got just under a 1:1 BB:K ratio.

 

He has also has 5 HR and 37RBI and the ability to hit around 20 HR 65ish RBI/

 

IMO, He is much different than Hairston with better defense

[badger1679666666]

Again. It would be great to have Kotsay on the Cubs. He's a decent hitter, with a solid walk rate. He can field and he can run. I think a return to the NL and getting to play his home games in a non-Oakland/Florida/San Diego park would help him out. I'd love him as a 1 or 2 hitter in this lineup.

 

The problem is....and this is a big problem....THE CUBS WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP GOOD PROSPECTS TO GET HIM AND PAY HIM OVER 6 MILLION DOLLARS!

 

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

We'd only have to pay him for part of this year. And we have a glutton of pitchers.

[Chocolate Milk]

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

I think the issue here is that this will never happen. Do you see Dusty playing Hairston full time in LF? I don't.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Kotsay's OBP is only .334 this year, and he's slugging below .400. Right now he's basically Hairston with better defense.

 

His last couple full years OBP:

 

.370/.350/.360/.365/.350

 

His highest K total is 89 during that time, and he's got just under a 1:1 BB:K ratio.

 

He has also has 5 HR and 37RBI and the ability to hit around 20 HR 65ish RBI/

 

IMO, He is much different than Hairston with better defense

 

He only had a .343 OBP in 2003 when he had 538 PA's. Kotsay is a fine CF when his power numbers are up, as they were in 2004 and 2002. However, he's not much more valuable than Hairston when his SLG is below .400, especially with his OBP being lower than is norm for him.

 

I'm not opposed to acquiring Kotsay under the right circumstances, since his BABIP is about 50 points lower than expected, and he's been better in the second half than the first the past few years. However, I don't think he's the solution to our offensive woes, and would hope that acquiring Kotsay would allow us to make a deal for another better bat, ala having the flexibility to trade Patterson in a deal.

[rawaction]

Again. It would be great to have Kotsay on the Cubs. He's a decent hitter, with a solid walk rate. He can field and he can run. I think a return to the NL and getting to play his home games in a non-Oakland/Florida/San Diego park would help him out. I'd love him as a 1 or 2 hitter in this lineup.

 

The problem is....and this is a big problem....THE CUBS WOULD HAVE TO GIVE UP GOOD PROSPECTS TO GET HIM AND PAY HIM OVER 6 MILLION DOLLARS!

 

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

We'd only have to pay him for part of this year. And we have a glutton of pitchers.

 

The fact that the Cubs have a "glutton of pitchers" as you put it, means that they have the personnel to go after someone that's more than just a marginal improvement over what they already have. I'd rather give up 4 top pitchers to get a huge improvement than 2 to get Kotsay.

[rawaction]

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

I think the issue here is that this will never happen. Do you see Dusty playing Hairston full time in LF? I don't.

 

Just because Dusty won't put Hairston in LF doesn't mean you go out and get somebody he will play who won't be much better. This stinks of the Bellhorn deal. Dusty refused to play Bellhorn, so Hendry goes out and gets Hernandez.

[Chocolate Milk]

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

I think the issue here is that this will never happen. Do you see Dusty playing Hairston full time in LF? I don't.

 

Just because Dusty won't put Hairston in LF doesn't mean you go out and get somebody he will play who won't be much better. This stinks of the Bellhorn deal. Dusty refused to play Bellhorn, so Hendry goes out and gets Hernandez.

 

I agree. It sucks.

[badger1679666666]

I guess, maybe I just have a hard on for Kotsay. But his numbers would only go up after playing in Fla/SD/Oak to Wrigley.

[Fanzones trumpet]

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

I think the issue here is that this will never happen. Do you see Dusty playing Hairston full time in LF? I don't.

 

Just because Dusty won't put Hairston in LF doesn't mean you go out and get somebody he will play who won't be much better. This stinks of the Bellhorn deal. Dusty refused to play Bellhorn, so Hendry goes out and gets Hernandez.

 

He won't put Hairston out there for a reason; he simply can't play a corner OF position defensively for an extended period of time.

[rawaction]

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

I think the issue here is that this will never happen. Do you see Dusty playing Hairston full time in LF? I don't.

 

Just because Dusty won't put Hairston in LF doesn't mean you go out and get somebody he will play who won't be much better. This stinks of the Bellhorn deal. Dusty refused to play Bellhorn, so Hendry goes out and gets Hernandez.

 

He won't put Hairston out there for a reason; he simply can't play a corner OF position defensively for an extended period of time.

 

He did last year in Baltimore and made 1 error in 42 starts. Most of those starts came in the corner OF (24 RF, 15 LF). He's much more comfortable on a corner.

[badger1679666666]

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

I think the issue here is that this will never happen. Do you see Dusty playing Hairston full time in LF? I don't.

 

Just because Dusty won't put Hairston in LF doesn't mean you go out and get somebody he will play who won't be much better. This stinks of the Bellhorn deal. Dusty refused to play Bellhorn, so Hendry goes out and gets Hernandez.

 

He won't put Hairston out there for a reason; he simply can't play a corner OF position defensively for an extended period of time.

 

He did last year in Baltimore and made 1 error in 42 starts. Most of those starts came in the corner OF (24 RF, 15 LF). He's much more comfortable on a corner.

 

Dude, this is Dusty now. He can't actually think. People call him late at night and tell him what to do.

[UK1679666180]

Agreed Raw.

 

Right now, Hairston deserves to be the starting LF'er, he can avg. defensively as a corner OF'er, I think extended periods in CF will expose his lack of experience, but he is more than adequate defensively as a corner OF'er having above avg. range and probably an avg. arm.

 

The lack of OBP at the top, makes Hairston a priority in the lineup with Walker and his LH bat with above avg. bat control, ideal for hitting 2nd.

[AI]

Agreed Raw.

 

Right now, Hairston deserves to be the starting LF'er, he can avg. defensively as a corner OF'er, I think extended periods in CF will expose his lack of experience, but he is more than adequate defensively as a corner OF'er having above avg. range and probably an avg. arm.

 

The lack of OBP at the top, makes Hairston a priority in the lineup with Walker and his LH bat with above avg. bat control, ideal for hitting 2nd.

 

So that would look like

 

Hairston LF

Walker 2B

Lee 1B

Burnitz RF

Ramirez 3B

Patterson CF

Barrett C

Perez SS

 

I can definitely deal with that.

[UK1679666180]

Hairston LF

Walker 2B

Lee 1B

Burnitz RF

Ramirez 3B

Patterson CF

Barrett C

Perez SS

 

Close my friend...

 

I like speed in the 7th spot....

 

Hairston

Walker

Lee

Ramirez

Burnitz

Barrett

Patterson

Cedeno/Perez

 

The reason why I want Walker hitting 2nd is simple baseball logic that Baker fails to place any importance on...

 

With a higher OBP guy leading off and assume he gets on....

 

1. The 1B will be holding the runner on 1B

2. The 2B will likely be in DP depth.

3. The hole will be huge on the right side of the IF between 1B and 2B

4. Walker has above avg. bat control and more than anyone on the team has the ability to shoot the ball thru that gap.

5. Walker has one of the higher OBPs.

[CuseCubFan69]

Agreed Raw.

 

Right now, Hairston deserves to be the starting LF'er, he can avg. defensively as a corner OF'er, I think extended periods in CF will expose his lack of experience, but he is more than adequate defensively as a corner OF'er having above avg. range and probably an avg. arm.

 

The lack of OBP at the top, makes Hairston a priority in the lineup with Walker and his LH bat with above avg. bat control, ideal for hitting 2nd.

 

We might see that lineup once the Cubs are officially out of the playoffs.

 

Does anyone know what Harry did to Dusty or the team to deserve this benching?

[UK1679666180]

The reason why I like speed in the 7 slot, better chance of XBHs and the steals.

 

Getting the runner over to 2B with the #8 hitter, sets up a couple of scenarios as far as whether to pitch to him or BB him.

 

1. Runner on 2B, no outs, #8 hitter up. Say they BB him. Runner on 2nd and 1B, no outs.. Pitcher bunts him over, runners on 2B and 3B, 1 outs, ideal situation to drive in runners.

 

2. Runner on 2B, 1 out. BB him, then the pitcher bunts him over with two outs, runners on 2B and 3B, with the leadoff hitter up with two outs, still a good chance to drive in two runners.

 

3. Runner on 2B, 2 outs. BB the #8 hitter, to get to the pitcher up and he gets retired stranding the runners. You'll still start the next inning with the leadoff hitter up, instead of the pitcher.

 

If they decide to pitch to the #8, they'll still run into the chance of having the #8 hitter drive him in.

Edited June 23, 2005 by UK

[Fanzones trumpet]

Why not play Hairston in LF, bat him at leadoff, and get slightly less production (combined offense and defense) and keep the prospects and $4M?

 

I think the issue here is that this will never happen. Do you see Dusty playing Hairston full time in LF? I don't.

 

Just because Dusty won't put Hairston in LF doesn't mean you go out and get somebody he will play who won't be much better. This stinks of the Bellhorn deal. Dusty refused to play Bellhorn, so Hendry goes out and gets Hernandez.

 

He won't put Hairston out there for a reason; he simply can't play a corner OF position defensively for an extended period of time.

 

He did last year in Baltimore and made 1 error in 42 starts. Most of those starts came in the corner OF (24 RF, 15 LF). He's much more comfortable on a corner.

 

I respectfully disagree. I live in Md., and saw him play many times last year. He misplayed balls repeatedly as a corner OF. So the fact that he was charged with only one error doesn't tell the whole story. In fact, things got so bad thay he publicly complained about having to play out there. He's more comfortable as a CF, but no great shakes there either. And apart from the defensive issues, there are also serious durability questions.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I think Hairston is the 3rd best option for LF. His OBP is higher than expected because of a fluke number of HBP. If he gets hit at the rate he has his entire career(4 HBP v. his 7 now), his OBP is around .340. That's right around Hollandsworth's career line, and Hollandsworth can hit for a little power. Never mind the fact that Dubois could likely approach that with consistent playing time.