Burnitz as a stopgap in CF?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

1-Juan Pierre or Kenny Lofton, CF

2-Rafael Furcal, SS

3-Brian Giles, RF

4-Derrick Lee, 1B

5-Aramis Ramirez, 3B

6-Matt Murton, LF

7-Michael Barrett, C

8-Ronny Cedeno, 2B

 

That's a World Series-caliber daily lineup there, with OBP, speed and defense. Shoot, 6 of the 8 starters could easily steal over 20 bases. The incremental cost would be maybe, MAYBE $20MM. We already have 4 through 8 at roughly $24MM. If you offer Furcal 9MM (Cabrera got 8, Renteria got 10), Giles 11MM (Drew money), Lofton 3MM (cheap option) or Pierre 5MM--you've got your everday lineup set at just under $50MM.

 

The bench guys are cheap. Most of the bullpen guys are cheap. Wood + Prior + Z + Maddux = roughly 29MM. So you'd still have at least $15MM to re-sign Dempster and sign one stud FA reliever like BJ Ryan.

 

A better line-up:

1. Kenny Lofton CF

2. Todd Walker 2B

3. Derrek Lee 1B

4. Brian Giles RF

5. Aramis Ramirez 3B

6. Nomar Garciaparra SS

7. Matt Murton LF

8. Michael Barrett C

 

Cedeno is around to back up Nomar and Walker. There should still be adequate money to spend on the bullpen and bench as well.

[CubfaninCA]

Maybe if we start a sign Giles petition, the Tribune and Hendry will show some interest in Giles. I'll take this...

 

Furcal, Lofton or Pierre, Giles, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Barrett, Cedeno

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Maybe if we start a sign Giles petition, the Tribune and Hendry will show some interest in Giles. I'll take this...

 

Furcal, Lofton or Pierre, Giles, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Barrett, Cedeno

 

If we get Giles and Furcal, which we won't, there's no need for Floyd too. Murton has earned his playing time in left at a fraction of the cost to Floyd.

[CubfaninCA]

Maybe if we start a sign Giles petition, the Tribune and Hendry will show some interest in Giles. I'll take this...

 

Furcal, Lofton or Pierre, Giles, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Barrett, Cedeno

 

If we get Giles and Furcal, which we won't, there's no need for Floyd too. Murton has earned his playing time in left at a fraction of the cost to Floyd.

 

Yep, Furcal and Giles is a pipedream, but IF a miracle occurs and the Trib gets some cajones, ya gotta still go w/ Floyd over Murton. The window of opportunity may not stay open too long.

 

Realistically, I can see something like this next year, Furcal, Lofton or Pierre, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Murton, Barrett, Cedeno... Bye bye Nomar.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Maybe if we start a sign Giles petition, the Tribune and Hendry will show some interest in Giles. I'll take this...

 

Furcal, Lofton or Pierre, Giles, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Barrett, Cedeno

 

If we get Giles and Furcal, which we won't, there's no need for Floyd too. Murton has earned his playing time in left at a fraction of the cost to Floyd.

 

Yep, Furcal and Giles is a pipedream, but IF a miracle occurs and the Trib gets some cajones, ya gotta still go w/ Floyd over Murton. The window of opportunity may not stay open too long.

 

Realistically, I can see something like this next year, Furcal, Lofton or Pierre, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Murton, Barrett, Cedeno... Bye bye Nomar.

 

I think the line-up I posted above is doable and would look very good.

 

Sign Lofton to a one-year 1.5 million deal with incentives. Get Nomar locked into a one year deal with a 5 million base plus incentives. That leaves the money to go after Giles.

 

The line-up would look like this:

 

1. Lofton CF (He keeps the spot warm until Pie is ready.)

2. Walker 2B (He's cheap and the ideal number two hitter)

3. Lee 1b

4. Giles RF (His great OBP would put pressure on teams to pitch to Lee)

5. Ramirez 3b

6. Nomar Garciaparra (He may be declining some, but at the right price excellent fit)

7. Murton LF (Great production for a league minimum salary)

8. Barrett C

 

The line-up would be solid top to bottom with very few easy outs. There should be enoug money to sign Nomar, Giles, and Lofton and still improve the bench and bullpen. Cedeno becomes the middle infielder to sub off the bench. If Nomar or Walker gets hurt, we'll have Cedeno to sub in. Also, Nomar might give Ramirez a spell at third and Cedeno could get some starts in there as well.

 

I think we could easily contend with the above line-up.

[goonys evil twin]

The line-up would look like this:

 

1. Lofton CF (He keeps the spot warm until Pie is ready.)

2. Walker 2B (He's cheap and the ideal number two hitter)

3. Lee 1b

4. Giles RF (His great OBP would put pressure on teams to pitch to Lee)

5. Ramirez 3b

6. Nomar Garciaparra (He may be declining some, but at the right price excellent fit)

7. Murton LF (Great production for a league minimum salary)

8. Barrett C

 

I don't believe a whole lot in "protection". But if there is something to it, I don't think great OBP forces a team to pitch to the previous hitter. If anything, the combination of OBP between the first 4 hitters in that lineup would give Ramirez a chance to flirt with Sammy Sosa's best RBI seasons. I'd be pretty happy with that lineup, but I'm not a huge Lofton fan. He's much more likely to put up something like his 2001-2004 numbers than come close to repeating his 2005.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The line-up would look like this:

 

1. Lofton CF (He keeps the spot warm until Pie is ready.)

2. Walker 2B (He's cheap and the ideal number two hitter)

3. Lee 1b

4. Giles RF (His great OBP would put pressure on teams to pitch to Lee)

5. Ramirez 3b

6. Nomar Garciaparra (He may be declining some, but at the right price excellent fit)

7. Murton LF (Great production for a league minimum salary)

8. Barrett C

 

I don't believe a whole lot in "protection". But if there is something to it, I don't think great OBP forces a team to pitch to the previous hitter. If anything, the combination of OBP between the first 4 hitters in that lineup would give Ramirez a chance to flirt with Sammy Sosa's best RBI seasons. I'd be pretty happy with that lineup, but I'm not a huge Lofton fan. He's much more likely to put up something like his 2001-2004 numbers than come close to repeating his 2005.

 

Oh, I'm not a "huge" Lofton fan either, but it's clear we need both a lead-off hitter and a stop gap in CF while we wait on Pie. I think Lofton fits that bill at a decent price better than any other options. If we keep Hairston or even Greenberg for the bench, either one of those could start in the place of Lofton against a tough lefty. Even if he puts up a 340-350 OBP, it's still better than what we have had there this season and last.

[CubfaninCA]

Maybe if we start a sign Giles petition, the Tribune and Hendry will show some interest in Giles. I'll take this...

 

Furcal, Lofton or Pierre, Giles, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Barrett, Cedeno

 

If we get Giles and Furcal, which we won't, there's no need for Floyd too. Murton has earned his playing time in left at a fraction of the cost to Floyd.

 

Yep, Furcal and Giles is a pipedream, but IF a miracle occurs and the Trib gets some cajones, ya gotta still go w/ Floyd over Murton. The window of opportunity may not stay open too long.

 

Realistically, I can see something like this next year, Furcal, Lofton or Pierre, Lee, Floyd, ARam, Murton, Barrett, Cedeno... Bye bye Nomar.

 

I think the line-up I posted above is doable and would look very good.

 

Sign Lofton to a one-year 1.5 million deal with incentives. Get Nomar locked into a one year deal with a 5 million base plus incentives. That leaves the money to go after Giles.

 

The line-up would look like this:

 

1. Lofton CF (He keeps the spot warm until Pie is ready.)

2. Walker 2B (He's cheap and the ideal number two hitter)

3. Lee 1b

4. Giles RF (His great OBP would put pressure on teams to pitch to Lee)

5. Ramirez 3b

6. Nomar Garciaparra (He may be declining some, but at the right price excellent fit)

7. Murton LF (Great production for a league minimum salary)

8. Barrett C

 

The line-up would be solid top to bottom with very few easy outs. There should be enoug money to sign Nomar, Giles, and Lofton and still improve the bench and bullpen. Cedeno becomes the middle infielder to sub off the bench. If Nomar or Walker gets hurt, we'll have Cedeno to sub in. Also, Nomar might give Ramirez a spell at third and Cedeno could get some starts in there as well.

 

I think we could easily contend with the above line-up.

 

Yep, real good lineup. Probably top 3 or 4 in the NL. However, it doesn't sound like they want the Walker/Nomar combo back and sounds like they prefer Furcal over Giles.

[goonys evil twin]

Oh, I'm not a "huge" Lofton fan either, but it's clear we need both a lead-off hitter and a stop gap in CF while we wait on Pie. I think Lofton fits that bill at a decent price better than any other options. If we keep Hairston or even Greenberg for the bench, either one of those could start in the place of Lofton against a tough lefty. Even if he puts up a 340-350 OBP, it's still better than what we have had there this season and last.

 

I'd keep both Greenberg and Hairston for the bench, unless either is required for a serious trade. Hairston is as versatile as Macias, but he at least gives you a chance to have adaquate offense. Greenberg would be an interesting option as a backup, and I would be intrigued by keeping Patterson as a 4th OF as well, if they can bring him back without a raise, and nobody offers much in a trade.

[rawaction]

SS- Furcal

2B-Perez

1B-Lee

RF-C Floyd

3B-Ramirez

CF-P Wilson

C-Barrett

LF-Murton

 

Book it!

[AAApittsburgh]

Yep, real good lineup. Probably top 3 or 4 in the NL. However, it doesn't sound like they want the Walker/Nomar combo back and sounds like they prefer Furcal over Giles.

Based on what? I haven't heard anyone within the organization say that they prefer Furcal over Nomar and don't want Walker back.

[rawaction]

Also, I would like to add. About 2 seconds after I posted that I thought Jacque Jones had turned it around (I believe he had a near .350 OBP at the time with 18 HRs), he's proceeded to become a 30-year old Corey Patterson by getting his OBP back down near his career level of .325 with a couple of horrible months.

 

I change my mind back to my original opinion of never wanting Jacque Jones in the home clubhouse in Wrigley Field, ever!

[CubfaninCA]

Yep, real good lineup. Probably top 3 or 4 in the NL. However, it doesn't sound like they want the Walker/Nomar combo back and sounds like they prefer Furcal over Giles.

Based on what? I haven't heard anyone within the organization say that they prefer Furcal over Nomar and don't want Walker back.

 

Recent Chicago paper articles and Gammons.

 

Gammons has been throwing out that the Cubs don't really want Nomar in the infield anymore, and there's been a few articles about Chicago being a likely destination for Furcal and the Cubs having interest.

[UBlink]

If we keep Hairston or even Greenberg for the bench, either one of those could start in the place of Lofton against a tough lefty.

 

I don't know his splits, but Greenberg is a lefty also. Interestingly, for this year, Lofton's average is higher against lefty's, although his OBP is worse because he's only had one walk against lefty's.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If we keep Hairston or even Greenberg for the bench, either one of those could start in the place of Lofton against a tough lefty.

 

I don't know his splits, but Greenberg is a lefty also. Interestingly, for this year, Lofton's average is higher against lefty's, although his OBP is worse because he's only had one walk against lefty's.

 

I asked in the minor league forum a little while back. Greenberg doesn't have much of a platoon split.

[muntjack]

Yep, real good lineup. Probably top 3 or 4 in the NL. However, it doesn't sound like they want the Walker/Nomar combo back and sounds like they prefer Furcal over Giles.

Based on what? I haven't heard anyone within the organization say that they prefer Furcal over Nomar and don't want Walker back.

 

Recent Chicago paper articles and Gammons.

 

Gammons has been throwing out that the Cubs don't really want Nomar in the infield anymore, and there's been a few articles about Chicago being a likely destination for Furcal and the Cubs having interest.

 

Haven't we all learned not to trust Gammons by now? Especially when it comes to Nomar Garciaparra. If Gammons stated "Nomar is a man" I would become very suspicious.