Lawton to Cubs for Gerut

[E.J.]

Outfield of Murton- Lawton - Burnitz. It gives us the best offensive production with the lowest downside defensive risk. Lawton has the speed to play center, Burnitz does not.

 

As for Burny in center, it is clear that Burny's speed would hurt in center. In the one game in center he played this year, he simply couldn't get to a shallow fly ball that would have been reach by any centerfielder with speed. Burny is a pro and can play the position correctly, but his range is too limited. Lawton will play center because Lawton has the range and we can't have both him and Hairston in the lineup.

I don't think Lawton has any more range than Burnitz.

 

I'm pretty sure Burnitz's defense>>>>>>>>>>Lawton's defense.

 

Lawton has some issues in the outfield.

[Omar]

Well, there goes the dream of Jody Gerut's father. The one that dreamed the Cubs winning the World Series and his son being on the team.

[dalgreen]

Guys, you're forgetting the fact that we still have Corey Patterson. Sure, he is struggling in Iowa, but he wont be there forever. Lawton-Patterson-Burnitz IMO..

 

Yep, I think that will be the outfield. Some people really undervalue defense. Cub pitching is not that good. Murton & Hairston may be the odd men out.

 

If that's the case, then it means Murton goes down for Patterson, which I don't like. Of course, they could always get rid of the redundant reliever, and keep Hairston as a utility guy. But I doubt we see them do that this late in the season.

I don't see the Cubs bringing Patterson back up before September. They know it'll take him some time and don't seem to be in much of a rush.

 

What would bringing up Patterson in September do? I don't think Patterson sitting the bench would be productive for him. I'd hate for him to be brought up only as a late-inning defensive replacement. From what I've read and heard, I'm not sure there's a big difference between Patterson now and Patterson of April-June.

 

What's the alternative? By September the Minor League season is over, and Iowa isn't going to the playoffs.

 

Actually, I had suggested a couple of weeks before his demotion that he should play winter ball. Right now, I just want to put Patterson in a positive position. I'm just not sure playing in Wrigley this season is it. Imagine him coming in to pinch hit and he strikes out. Yes, he could walk or get a hit, but I just want him in a positive environment where he can be comfortable. Funny, isn't? They rushed him through the system, needlessly, and now he's where he should've been throughout 2002.

[dalgreen]

Outfield of Murton- Lawton - Burnitz. It gives us the best offensive production with the lowest downside defensive risk. Lawton has the speed to play center, Burnitz does not.

 

As for Burny in center, it is clear that Burny's speed would hurt in center. In the one game in center he played this year, he simply couldn't get to a shallow fly ball that would have been reach by any centerfielder with speed. Burny is a pro and can play the position correctly, but his range is too limited. Lawton will play center because Lawton has the range and we can't have both him and Hairston in the lineup.

 

There's much more to playing centerfield than just having speed.

[rickrolled]

I'd like to see this lineup, when Nomar returns:

 

CF - Lawton

2B - Walker

1B - Lee

3B - Ramirez

RF - Burnitz

SS - Nomar

C - Barrett

LF - Murton

[CubsWin]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/5511/splits?year=career&type=Batting

 

Good find. Thanks, UK, I feel better about the trade.

Okay, so over the course of his career, Lawton's 2nd half OBP is just 13 points lower (.376 to .363) and that is including two terrible 2nd halves he had in '02 and '03 when he got injured. So it appears that he likely does tail off a little bit, but he isn't as terrible of a 2nd half player as some posters were making him out to be.

[Coach C]

It'll be a interesting race.

 

Mets just took the lead on Houston. It'd be nice NOT to fall 5 games back.

 

Gotta give props to the Mets for saving our butts today.

[Roast]

It'll be a interesting race.

 

Mets just took the lead on Houston. It'd be nice NOT to fall 5 games back.

 

Gotta give props to the Mets for saving our butts today.

 

No kidding.

 

Go mutts!

[CubsWin]

It appears that are two main possibilities for how Lawton could best be used on this Cubs team.

 

One has Lawton playing a corner OF spot, likely RF with Murton/Hollandsworth in LF and Burnitz in CF and the other has Lawton playing LF with Hairston playing CF.

 

I think this trade happened because Hairston hasn't been the spark at the top of the order that the Cubs were needing. Which means that Hendry got Lawton to lead-off regardless of what position he is playing in the outfield. If that is the case, then the choice comes down to starting Murton/Hollandsworth and Lawton splitting the corner OF duties with Burnitz in CF or starting Hairston in CF with Lawton in LF and leading off.

 

So we should be comparing Hairston's offensive numbers with those of a Murton/Hollandsworth platoon and balancing them out against the defensive advantage, if any, of having Burnitz remain in RF while Hairston mans CF versus having Burnitz move to CF with Lawton manning one of the corner spots and a Murton/Hollandsworth platoon at the other. I see Lawton playing right when Murton is in the line-up and manning LF when Hollandsworth is playing.

 

Your thoughts?

[DCNashville]

Funny, isn't? They rushed him through the system, needlessly, and now he's where he should've been throughout 2002.

 

How do you explain his pre-injury 2003, then? The numbers he put up indicated that he was a superstar in the making. Something has happened between then and now...I'm not sure you can blame his struggles this season on the Cubs "rushing" him through the minors.

[Outshined_One]

Funny, isn't? They rushed him through the system, needlessly, and now he's where he should've been throughout 2002.

 

How do you explain his pre-injury 2003, then? The numbers he put up indicated that he was a superstar in the making. Something has happened between then and now...I'm not sure you can blame his struggles this season on the Cubs "rushing" him through the minors.

 

Welcome aboard!

[Fro]

 

Actually, I had suggested a couple of weeks before his demotion that he should play winter ball. Right now, I just want to put Patterson in a positive position. I'm just not sure playing in Wrigley this season is it. Imagine him coming in to pinch hit and he strikes out. Yes, he could walk or get a hit, but I just want him in a positive environment where he can be comfortable. Funny, isn't? They rushed him through the system, needlessly, and now he's where he should've been throughout 2002.

 

Patterson would be worth bringing up when the rosters expand just as a full-time pinch runner and as a defensive replacement, if nothing else. Certainly he'd have more value for the team than calling up some kid/AAA player 4 lyfe who'll never get in a game. We'd win a couple games in this last stretch with Corey pinch-running in key spots.

 

And if we fall out of the race, he'd get some good playing time.

[DCNashville]

Funny, isn't? They rushed him through the system, needlessly, and now he's where he should've been throughout 2002.

 

How do you explain his pre-injury 2003, then? The numbers he put up indicated that he was a superstar in the making. Something has happened between then and now...I'm not sure you can blame his struggles this season on the Cubs "rushing" him through the minors.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Thanks!

[CubsWin]

I'd like to see this lineup, when Nomar returns:

 

CF - Lawton

2B - Walker

1B - Lee

3B - Ramirez

RF - Burnitz

SS - Nomar

C - Barrett

LF - Murton

Bob Brenly during the 10th inning show assumed that Lawton would be playing CF, but I just can't see the Cubs making that choice. Burnitz seems the strongest defensive OFer the Cubs have regardless of speed, he has the most experience playing CF and has logged meaningful time there most recently. I think the choices come down to Burnitz or Hairston in CF. But I definitely agree that Lawton is leading off. My line-up against favorable right-handed starter match-ups would be:

 

Lawton - LF

Nomar - SS

Lee - 1B

Burnitz - CF

Ramirez - 3B

Walker - 2B

Barrett - C

Hollandsworth - RF

 

Against all lefties and the favorable righty match-up I would have:

 

Lawton - RF

Nomar - SS

Lee - 1B

Ramirez - 3B

Burnitz - CF

Barrett - C

Walker - 2B (with the occasional start from Hairston)

Murton - LF

[rawaction]

I'd like to see this lineup, when Nomar returns:

 

CF - Lawton

2B - Walker

1B - Lee

3B - Ramirez

RF - Burnitz

SS - Nomar

C - Barrett

LF - Murton

Bob Brenly during the 10th inning show assumed that Lawton would be playing CF, but I just can't see the Cubs making that choice. Burnitz seems the strongest defensive OFer the Cubs have regardless of speed, he has the most experience playing CF and has logged meaningful time there most recently. I think the choices come down to Burnitz or Hairston in CF. But I definitely agree that Lawton is leading off. My line-up against favorable right-handed starter match-ups would be:

 

Lawton - LF

Nomar - SS

Lee - 1B

Burnitz - CF

Ramirez - 3B

Walker - 2B

Barrett - C

Hollandsworth - RF

 

Against all lefties and the favorable righty match-up I would have:

 

Lawton - RF

Nomar - SS

Lee - 1B

Ramirez - 3B

Burnitz - CF

Barrett - C

Walker - 2B (with the occasional start from Hairston)

Murton - LF

 

You would still start Hollandsworth? I'd put him behind Murton and Hairston, and probably start JH Jr (with Murton in AA) because he's the best CF of that group (Burnitz included). I'd rather have Patterson back up here than that.

[Fro]

CubsWin, I think you've got the lineup there once Nomar knocks the rust off. Lots of RBI chances for the sluggers and you've got pretty good hitters 6-8. Should score some runs.

 

Hopefully it works out defensively.

[Iceblink]

Most importantly, this gives Ohman a chance to give up the number 50 and assume his rightful place in jersey number 00.

[Coach C]

I wasn't sure if this was also mentioned on the previous posts.

 

The Cubs will also receive a little more than $1 million to offset the remainder of Lawton's $7.25 million salary.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-pirates-cubstrade&prov=ap&type=lgns

[katway]

Outfield of Murton- Lawton - Burnitz. It gives us the best offensive production with the lowest downside defensive risk. Lawton has the speed to play center, Burnitz does not.

 

As for Burny in center, it is clear that Burny's speed would hurt in center. In the one game in center he played this year, he simply couldn't get to a shallow fly ball that would have been reach by any centerfielder with speed. Burny is a pro and can play the position correctly, but his range is too limited. Lawton will play center because Lawton has the range and we can't have both him and Hairston in the lineup.

 

There's much more to playing centerfield than just having speed.

 

That's true. There is more to center than speed. But, you still have to have some minimum amount of speed to play center. Lawton is not a great fielder, but neither is Hairston by any stretch. Burny is the most solid defender among them, but still lacks the minimum speed to play center. When I saw that ball drop in front of Burny during the game he played in center earlier this year, his lack of speed for the position was glaring. Burny may not make an error when he gets to the ball, but he wont get to as many balls in center as a speedier outfielder.

[CubfaninCA]

Have either Hairston or Patterson in cf. That's a pretty important defensive position.

[dalgreen]

Funny, isn't? They rushed him through the system, needlessly, and now he's where he should've been throughout 2002.

 

How do you explain his pre-injury 2003, then? The numbers he put up indicated that he was a superstar in the making. Something has happened between then and now...I'm not sure you can blame his struggles this season on the Cubs "rushing" him through the minors.

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

I'm a Patterson fan and still hold out hope he can turn into the very good player that people have thought. I can't explain his pre-injury 2003. But I will say that although he had a very good pre-injury season that in no way automatically means he would've had the same kind of 2nd half. Lots of guys have good first halves, especially young guys until the league figures them out. Now maybe he would've kept the same pace had he not gotten hurt, I don't know. But it appears to me that Patterson has difficulty making adjustments when the pitchers make adjustments to him. But I see no good purpose of having Patterson on the bench just to pinch run in September. I like the Lawton pick up and wish they'd put him in left field. One thing I like about him is that he seems to know how to play baseball the right way. You won't see him swinging for the fences when the wind is blowing in at 15 mph, unlike a few of the guys we have now.

[nilodnayr]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/5511/splits?year=career&type=Batting

 

Good find. Thanks, UK, I feel better about the trade.

on espns splits you can just change the year in the url to make it whenever you want.

[Blueheart05]

Guys, you're forgetting the fact that we still have Corey Patterson. Sure, he is struggling in Iowa, but he wont be there forever. Lawton-Patterson-Burnitz IMO..

 

This was also mentioned earlier by George Ofman

[CubsWin]

I'd like to see this lineup, when Nomar returns:

 

CF - Lawton

2B - Walker

1B - Lee

3B - Ramirez

RF - Burnitz

SS - Nomar

C - Barrett

LF - Murton

Bob Brenly during the 10th inning show assumed that Lawton would be playing CF, but I just can't see the Cubs making that choice. Burnitz seems the strongest defensive OFer the Cubs have regardless of speed, he has the most experience playing CF and has logged meaningful time there most recently. I think the choices come down to Burnitz or Hairston in CF. But I definitely agree that Lawton is leading off. My line-up against favorable right-handed starter match-ups would be:

 

Lawton - LF

Nomar - SS

Lee - 1B

Burnitz - CF

Ramirez - 3B

Walker - 2B

Barrett - C

Hollandsworth - RF

 

Against all lefties and the favorable righty match-up I would have:

 

Lawton - RF

Nomar - SS

Lee - 1B

Ramirez - 3B

Burnitz - CF

Barrett - C

Walker - 2B (with the occasional start from Hairston)

Murton - LF

 

You would still start Hollandsworth? I'd put him behind Murton and Hairston, and probably start JH Jr (with Murton in AA) because he's the best CF of that group (Burnitz included). I'd rather have Patterson back up here than that.

Against the tough righties that Murton doesn't amtch-up well against, yes. Plus, I was only going with that because it seemed the prevailing notion was that Hairston was not the best CFer of that group. If he is, then sit Holla.

Edited August 1, 2005 by CubsWin

[CubfaninCA]

Guys, you're forgetting the fact that we still have Corey Patterson. Sure, he is struggling in Iowa, but he wont be there forever. Lawton-Patterson-Burnitz IMO..

 

This was also mentioned earlier by George Ofman

 

At least Patterson would be a better 8 hitter than Alex Gonzales. Well, at least I hope so. :D Let him work out his problems batting 8th. Being sent down to Iowa has to be quite humiliating considering how much big league ball he's played. Perhaps he'll get going w/ another chance and show of confidence. I'm really rooting for him. At minimum, CPatt = pitching upgrade

Edited August 1, 2005 by CubfaninCA