What's wrong with Lofton?

[BigbadB]

I certainly wouldn't expect the numbers Lofton put up this year. But, I also view him as a part time player who can provide more OBP on one leg from the lead off spot than Macias and Perez can provide with 4.

 

With Pie waiting in the wings, Hairston and Patterson along with Lofton, you not only have CF options all year, but you have trade bait at the deadline. Nearly every team is looking for CFers.

 

On days that Lofton sits, Walker leads off. No loss of OBP there. Late in games, Patterson can slide in and play defense. If Patterson gets himself straightened out for next year, maybe he can win his job back until Pie is ready.

 

Hairston is valuable because he can play infield and outfield. Patterson shouldn't be traded because he currently has no value. Lofton addresses a lead off problem that comes much cheaper than Furcal would.

 

Nomar and Cedeno cover short. To sign Furcal just means we say goodbye to Nomar. I think we would regret that.

 

They don't need a major overhaul. They just need to fix the weaknesses.

[HoopsCubs]

I certainly wouldn't expect the numbers Lofton put up this year. But, I also view him as a part time player who can provide more OBP on one leg from the lead off spot than Macias and Perez can provide with 4.

 

With Pie waiting in the wings, Hairston and Patterson along with Lofton, you not only have CF options all year, but you have trade bait at the deadline. Nearly every team is looking for CFers.

 

On days that Lofton sits, Walker leads off. No loss of OBP there. Late in games, Patterson can slide in and play defense. If Patterson gets himself straightened out for next year, maybe he can win his job back until Pie is ready.

 

Hairston is valuable because he can play infield and outfield. Patterson shouldn't be traded because he currently has no value. Lofton addresses a lead off problem that comes much cheaper than Furcal would.

 

Nomar and Cedeno cover short. To sign Furcal just means we say goodbye to Nomar. I think we would regret that.

 

They don't need a major overhaul. They just need to fix the weaknesses.

 

BBB,

 

Regardless of whether Patterson has value or not, I think the cord needs to be cut for the renewal of the team. The Cubs simply must move on.

He's been an awful player this year and is a constant reminder of all the missed opportunities. Plus, I get the sense Derrek Lee has become the leader of this team, and I have been told by a close source that Lee has been privately very critical of Corey. Lee may wield some influence with Hendry's decisions especially with his own contract coming up soon. I think Lofton and Hairston can be a decent platoon for short term.

[nick23]

Getting back to the question at hand, is Lofton worth signing, I think the logic and stats that BBB threw out make a lot of sense. When you add his career OBP and what he has done in 351 ABs this season, and there is a pretty strong case for signing Lofton.

 

It only makes sense if you ignore some pretty strong evidence indicating he can't maintain this performance, though.

 

wasnt there also some pretty strong evidence that dempster couldn't close games because he walked too many & didnt have enough strike outs?

 

I don't know about that, I was supporting Dempster as closer since 2004. I compared him favorably to Isringhausen, and his transformation from an inconsistent and unimpressive starter coming off surgery to a good, but not great closer. Some people just made the general statement that he walks too many to close. You can lump me into the crowd of people who wouldn't have much faith in Lofton, but I was all for Dempster, and I don't see a correlation between the two situations.

 

i guess my point is that its all a guessing game. why couldnt lofton have a good year next year? his game is based on speed and he doesn't seem to be slowing down much. as far as dempster, i seem to recall an article on the front page outlining why dempster was a ? mark because of his high walks & low strike out totals but he seems to have taken to closing just fine. i also remember that alot of people here were talking down about getting eckstein to play ss and laughed when the sox traded for posednick. if someone would have said at the start of the season that eckstein & scott p would outproduce nomar & cp they would have been lynched.

I'm still laughing that the Sox traded for Podsednik. That was a horrible trade IMO.

[rawaction]

I certainly wouldn't expect the numbers Lofton put up this year. But, I also view him as a part time player who can provide more OBP on one leg from the lead off spot than Macias and Perez can provide with 4.

 

With Pie waiting in the wings, Hairston and Patterson along with Lofton, you not only have CF options all year, but you have trade bait at the deadline. Nearly every team is looking for CFers.

 

On days that Lofton sits, Walker leads off. No loss of OBP there. Late in games, Patterson can slide in and play defense. If Patterson gets himself straightened out for next year, maybe he can win his job back until Pie is ready.

 

Hairston is valuable because he can play infield and outfield. Patterson shouldn't be traded because he currently has no value. Lofton addresses a lead off problem that comes much cheaper than Furcal would.

 

Nomar and Cedeno cover short. To sign Furcal just means we say goodbye to Nomar. I think we would regret that.

 

They don't need a major overhaul. They just need to fix the weaknesses.

 

BBB,

 

Regardless of whether Patterson has value or not, I think the cord needs to be cut for the renewal of the team. The Cubs simply must move on.

He's been an awful player this year and is a constant reminder of all the missed opportunities. Plus, I get the sense Derrek Lee has become the leader of this team, and I have been told by a close source that Lee has been privately very critical of Corey. Lee may wield some influence with Hendry's decisions especially with his own contract coming up soon. I think Lofton and Hairston can be a decent platoon for short term.

 

Agreed on all points. I'm Corey's biggest fan, but it's over with him as a Cub. I hope he catches on somewhere and becomes a solid player. But this year has been disasterous for him. He's also a constant reminder of the type of player the Cubs should stay away from. He doesn't have a future here, but doesn't give you the guaranteed production that Walker and Nomar do at tougher positions to fill.

[YearofDaCubs]

No, thank you to Lofton. He is getting close to 40!!