The 2006 Thread, Current topic: Center Field

[Tim]

As much as I appreciate Roast's effort in streamlining this thread, I think there's a problem with the approach that we're going about this thread. Determing what we do about different positions is impossible in a vacuum. Take LF for instance. I have zero problem with Murton playing LF all next year if he's in an OF with Bradley and Giles, while Nomar and Walker are in the middle infield(Cedeno backing them up). However, if Burnitz's option is picked up and Corey or Hairston is in CF, I'm not as comfortable. What we do at each position depends on each other, for monetary reasons as well as performance(like the situation above).

Well, there are plenty of threads where people are laying out entire scenarios already. This is a different approach and should be looked at as if you're looking at the best possible option at each position. Then you can go back and see how to pull it all together and balance everything out.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

As much as I appreciate Roast's effort in streamlining this thread, I think there's a problem with the approach that we're going about this thread. Determing what we do about different positions is impossible in a vacuum. Take LF for instance. I have zero problem with Murton playing LF all next year if he's in an OF with Bradley and Giles, while Nomar and Walker are in the middle infield(Cedeno backing them up). However, if Burnitz's option is picked up and Corey or Hairston is in CF, I'm not as comfortable. What we do at each position depends on each other, for monetary reasons as well as performance(like the situation above).

Well, there are plenty of threads where people are laying out entire scenarios already. This is a different approach and should be looked at as if you're looking at the best possible option at each position. Then you can go back and see how to pull it all together and balance everything out.

 

But the best possible option can change depending on what happens at the other positions. If the Cubs take on all of Manny's contract, and spend big on Giles and Burnett, then Cedeno is the best option at SS because of his production at 300k. If Murton/Corey/Burnitz is the OF, then we need to try and bring back Nomar. If we're going to go back and change what we think the best options are afterwards to make them fit together, why not do it from the start?

[Tim]

Feel free to start another thread to do it that way.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Murton. Hands down.

 

BTW, when can we officially bag the whole "He can't hit for power" stuff? Here's his line this season:

 

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG

48 129 17 42 3 2 7 13 70 16 21 2 1 397 .543 .326

 

I think that's good power for a rookie OF who jumped from AA in only 129 AB's.

 

When his power numbers stay high for a full season.

 

I too want Murton in LF next year.

Edited October 1, 2005 by CaliforniaRaisin

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Murton. Hands down.

 

BTW, when can we officially bag the whole "He can't hit for power" stuff? Here's his line this season:

 

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG

48 129 17 42 3 2 7 13 70 16 21 2 1 397 .543 .326

 

I think that's good power for a rookie OF who jumped from AA in only 129 AB's.

That's cause the league doesn't know him yet. Once the league knows him, he will be lucky to get a double.

[USSoccer]

Murton. Hands down.

 

BTW, when can we officially bag the whole "He can't hit for power" stuff? Here's his line this season:

 

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG

48 129 17 42 3 2 7 13 70 16 21 2 1 397 .543 .326

 

I think that's good power for a rookie OF who jumped from AA in only 129 AB's.

That's cause the league doesn't know him yet. Once the league knows him, he will be lucky to get a double.

 

You're kidding, right?

[MPrior]

Murton all the way. I personally think that Murton is potentially being robbed of NL ROY because of too few PAs. If he had 150 more PAs or so, and put up numbers even comparable to what he's done, he'd have it. So how can you not give him the starting position?

 

As far as power goes, that's one of the most easily teachable aspects of batting. I'd much rather have a prospect with good plate discipline, patience, and bat control and have to teach him to hit for power than have a guy with incredible power and have to teach him plate discipline. Murton will no doubt be aware of some people's skepticism about his ability to hit for power, and will probably be doing some heavy conditioning in the offseason, I imagine.

 

Give him the job.

[mhuber92211]

I would still like to explore an Aubrey Huff deal. With his "off" year this year and Baldelli returning next season Huff is expendable and most likely cheaper then this same time last season. I would trade Hill for Huff. Murton can be a nice 4th OF. Besides if AR gets injured again Huff can easily slide in and cover 3B and we wouldn't have a huge drop off.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

Murton. Hands down.

 

BTW, when can we officially bag the whole "He can't hit for power" stuff? Here's his line this season:

 

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG

48 129 17 42 3 2 7 13 70 16 21 2 1 397 .543 .326

 

I think that's good power for a rookie OF who jumped from AA in only 129 AB's.

That's cause the league doesn't know him yet. Once the league knows him, he will be lucky to get a double.

 

You're kidding, right?

Dustyism.

[rawaction]

I would still like to explore an Aubrey Huff deal. With his "off" year this year and Baldelli returning next season Huff is expendable and most likely cheaper then this same time last season. I would trade Hill for Huff. Murton can be a nice 4th OF. Besides if AR gets injured again Huff can easily slide in and cover 3B and we wouldn't have a huge drop off.

 

Huff would be a last ditch effort for me, if the Cubs couldn't land anyone else. I'd have Giles on my list first, followed by several potential trade targets, including Wilkerson and Floyd. If the Cubs get Huff, SS and CF better be manned by more productive bats than they were this year (Nomar healthy would be more productive).

[UBlink]

Murton. Hands down.

 

BTW, when can we officially bag the whole "He can't hit for power" stuff? Here's his line this season:

 

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG

48 129 17 42 3 2 7 13 70 16 21 2 1 397 .543 .326

 

I think that's good power for a rookie OF who jumped from AA in only 129 AB's.

That's cause the league doesn't know him yet. Once the league knows him, he will be lucky to get a double.

 

You're kidding, right?

Dustyism.

 

To be properly recognized, all Dustyisms must include the word dude at least once.

[treebird]

im voting for manny in left.

[AAApittsburgh]

im voting for manny in left.

dunn

[mhuber92211]

I would still like to explore an Aubrey Huff deal. With his "off" year this year and Baldelli returning next season Huff is expendable and most likely cheaper then this same time last season. I would trade Hill for Huff. Murton can be a nice 4th OF. Besides if AR gets injured again Huff can easily slide in and cover 3B and we wouldn't have a huge drop off.

 

Huff would be a last ditch effort for me, if the Cubs couldn't land anyone else. I'd have Giles on my list first, followed by several potential trade targets, including Wilkerson and Floyd. If the Cubs get Huff, SS and CF better be manned by more productive bats than they were this year (Nomar healthy would be more productive).

 

But Huff isn't a RF correct? I was thinking that Huff would be the LF option and that Giles would be in RF. With Corey in CF and Murton as the 4th OF.

[USSoccer]

Manny and Dunn would cost more top prospects than the Cubs could possibly offer, unless you threw Pinto, Nolasco and Dopirak at the Reds, and that might not even be enough. Boston is going to want a ML impact player if they even bother to move Manny (I think the whole thing is a media device in NE, and Manny's staying put) and I don't think anyone here wants to give up one of our 2 ML impact players for Manny. I don't think we can outgun LA for Dunn, so Murton is the best choice in terms of economics and the overall structure of the club. You don't have to gut the farm to get him like you would with Dunn, you don't have to trade Lee or Ramirez to get Manny, to say nothing about Manny's contract. Murton makes the minimum, has great patience, good speed, hits to all fields and could hit 15-25 HR's in a full year. We need to start developing position players in house, because Z and Prior are no longer "cheap".

 

Murton is the best option for LF.

[CoolHandLuke]

Murton. Hands down.

 

BTW, when can we officially bag the whole "He can't hit for power" stuff? Here's his line this season:

 

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG

48 129 17 42 3 2 7 13 70 16 21 2 1 397 .543 .326

 

I think that's good power for a rookie OF who jumped from AA in only 129 AB's.

That's cause the league doesn't know him yet. Once the league knows him, he will be lucky to get a double.

 

Do you think this information is in some sort of "book" or something?

[NewUserName]

US Soccer you are absolutely correct. I coulnt agree more. Paying big money to bring in a LF may jeopordize the Cubs ability to resign Z and Prior in the next couple of years. Murton has earned the chance. If he fails and the Cubs are in contention at the deadline than try to pick someone up. I strongly feel that the Cubs should really be getting on a two year plan anyway. In truth the core of their team is still young. By overspending for Questionable talent this offseason may hinder their ability to be really good in 2 or 3 years. In short I dont think adding Manny Ramirez and certainly Aubrey Huff is going to put the Cubs over the top

[mhuber92211]

Putting Huff and Manny in the same group is not a good comparison. Huff is much cheaper then Manny and would provide better offensive numbers then Murton.

 

But I think that the question you raise warrants discussion and that is would Huff's projected offense be worth the expense he would incur (likely close to 6 million). Personally I believe that we can afford Huff's contract and still acquire another impact OF bat and not be tied up for future raises for Prior and Z. I think that part of the bonus with Huff is that he can fill in for AR & Lee without a huge drop off in offensive production (assuming Murton would play LF during these rest times) and thus protecting AR from injury and Lee from becoming too tired to continue being at his most effective.

 

To me Huff is a more logical acquisition then just giving Murton the job. It gives the team more offensive options and wouldn't come at a great cost or block any development. Huff is going into his last year of Arb eligibilty so potentially if it doesn't work out the Cubs could just let him walk and allow Pie and others to take over (or start again). The other cost question would be how much in terms of talent would Huff cost? Likely less then last offseason when (allegedlly) the Cubs attempted to deal. Would you trade Hill and a rule 5 eligible pitcher for him? Would that get it done? I think that it would be a fair trade (maybe you would have to include another throw in like Lewis). I think that its worth it.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Putting Huff and Manny in the same group is not a good comparison. Huff is much cheaper then Manny and would provide better offensive numbers then Murton.

 

But I think that the question you raise warrants discussion and that is would Huff's projected offense be worth the expense he would incur (likely close to 6 million). Personally I believe that we can afford Huff's contract and still acquire another impact OF bat and not be tied up for future raises for Prior and Z. I think that part of the bonus with Huff is that he can fill in for AR & Lee without a huge drop off in offensive production (assuming Murton would play LF during these rest times) and thus protecting AR from injury and Lee from becoming too tired to continue being at his most effective.

 

To me Huff is a more logical acquisition then just giving Murton the job. It gives the team more offensive options and wouldn't come at a great cost or block any development. Huff is going into his last year of Arb eligibilty so potentially if it doesn't work out the Cubs could just let him walk and allow Pie and others to take over (or start again). The other cost question would be how much in terms of talent would Huff cost? Likely less then last offseason when (allegedlly) the Cubs attempted to deal. Would you trade Hill and a rule 5 eligible pitcher for him? Would that get it done? I think that it would be a fair trade (maybe you would have to include another throw in like Lewis). I think that its worth it.

 

Have you seen Huff's numbers this year? They're pretty terrible for a corner OF.

[Roast]

Ok, the poll was a pretty big blowout. Murton will be our LFer next year.

 

So What would he be getting paid? Is that something we need to decide or is there already a price in place or whatever? Just Tell me and i'll update our Salary info.

 

In the meantime, on to a topic that I'm sure will be fun...

 

Right field

[USSoccer]

Right field? Brian Giles. Brian Giles. Brian Giles. Brian Giles.

 

Brian F. Giles.

[Jazz]

hey theres that guy

umm wats his name

Jose Macias?

nah, hed never resign back, someone else will throw big money at him :)

 

my sentiments exactly tho, Brian Giles, best fit we can possibly get for this struggling offense.

[RynoRules]

Man-e

Man-e

Man-e

 

My name is Manny. Let there be only the finest meats and cheeses for my teammates.

[USSoccer]

Man-e

Man-e

Man-e

 

My name is Manny. Let there be only the finest meats and cheeses for my teammates.

 

Manny in right would be disasterous for our OF defense, and again, we don't have the players necessary to pull that kind of trade off. If Boston bothers to trade him, which I doubt, they will want ML impact talent. Boston is not some small market team. They are going to want a player like Aramis, or Lee. Do you think switching ARam or Lee for Ramirez and then dumping Manny in RF makes our team better? At best it's a wash. At best. If Manny goes somewhere, it'll be the Mets. But I'd bet my life savings Boston keeps him unless they wet the bed in October.

 

Giles is the better option. Hands down. LH, great OBP, great power, and is a FA, meaning we don't have to get rid of the precious few top prospects we have to get him.

[Roast]

What would giles cost, do you think?