2006: The Bench

[ManCrushOnNomar]

What moves would you like to see to improve the bench this offseason?

 

Dropping Macias like a bad habit is the obvious choice, but what players do you want to see as reserves? Fill it with young talent from within the system, sign free agents likely to produce, or trade for someone else's parts and try to make something out of it?

 

Personally I'd love to sign John Mabry as our Macias-type utility player. The guy plays every non-middle infield, swings a decent bat from the left side, and would fill two needs for us: utility and solid lefty bench bat.

 

Thoughts?

[goonys evil twin]

I've been saying for a while I'd like to see Eric Hinske as the backup 3b/1b. He's a left handed bat off the bench with some pop, has started in the past with adaquate OBP capability for the bench, but probably isn't worth to the Jays what they're paying him. The Cubs best commodity this winter if their money, if they can get him for cheap, or as part of a bigger deal, that could be a nice fit.

 

 

 

To make up for the cost, I'd like to see several spots filled by internal options, including possibly Fontenot, Theriot and if Nomar is starting at SS, Cedeno (who I would be sure to get 300 at bats).

 

Part of me wants to see Bacon brought in as the 5th OF. For this to happen the starters would have to be rock solid (which should happen anyway). But Bacon offers an enticing blend of OBP/SB and your bench/role players should be very good at something. Guys like Macias, who are good at nothing, are not worth $800,000 and a spot on the roster.

Edited October 21, 2005 by goony's evil twin

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Mabry's done. He wasn't very good this year. Make sure the infield is good enough that Cedeno is the backup middle IF, Fontenot for the other infield backup(3B/2B). Sign Sweeney for 1B/OF, keep one of Patterson/Hairston, and get a RH power bat that plays a corner OF spot.

[YearofDaCubs]

I would def like to see Fontenot on the bench for us.

[rawaction]

I like Sweeney a lot, but a guy like Branyan might be more valuable. He can play 1B, 3B and corner OF. The offense wouldn't suffer as much going from Ramirez to Branyan as it would from Ramirez to Fontenot.

 

I'd love. Branyan 3B/1B/OF, Cedeno MIF, Hairston OF/2B, Fontenot 2B/3B, and a RH corner OF to go along with Blanco at C.

[goonys evil twin]

I like Sweeney a lot, but a guy like Branyan might be more valuable. He can play 1B, 3B and corner OF. The offense wouldn't suffer as much going from Ramirez to Branyan as it would from Ramirez to Fontenot.

 

I'd love. Branyan 3B/1B/OF, Cedeno MIF, Hairston OF/2B, Fontenot 2B/3B, and a RH corner OF to go along with Blanco at C.

 

What do you think the odds of a 6 man bench are?

 

I'm hoping that's how they go.

[rawaction]

I like Sweeney a lot, but a guy like Branyan might be more valuable. He can play 1B, 3B and corner OF. The offense wouldn't suffer as much going from Ramirez to Branyan as it would from Ramirez to Fontenot.

 

I'd love. Branyan 3B/1B/OF, Cedeno MIF, Hairston OF/2B, Fontenot 2B/3B, and a RH corner OF to go along with Blanco at C.

 

What do you think the odds of a 6 man bench are?

 

I'm hoping that's how they go.

 

Probably slim to none. Hinske would work in lieu of Branyan too. But I like Russell's power and BB rate much more.

[goonys evil twin]

I like Sweeney a lot, but a guy like Branyan might be more valuable. He can play 1B, 3B and corner OF. The offense wouldn't suffer as much going from Ramirez to Branyan as it would from Ramirez to Fontenot.

 

I'd love. Branyan 3B/1B/OF, Cedeno MIF, Hairston OF/2B, Fontenot 2B/3B, and a RH corner OF to go along with Blanco at C.

 

What do you think the odds of a 6 man bench are?

 

I'm hoping that's how they go.

 

Probably slim to none. Hinske would work in lieu of Branyan too. But I like Russell's power and BB rate much more.

 

I've got no beef with Russ. Would that be via free agency or trade?

 

If they go into the season with 12 pitchers again, despite all the early off days, I'll scream. It's one of the many inexplicable decisions this administration makes on a daily basis.

[SouthSideRyan]

Anyone think Sing is a viable option for a right handed bat off the bench?? I'm sure Dusty wouldn't do it, but in an ideal world anybody like that idea?

[JeffH]

No, not really.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

I like Sweeney a lot, but a guy like Branyan might be more valuable. He can play 1B, 3B and corner OF. The offense wouldn't suffer as much going from Ramirez to Branyan as it would from Ramirez to Fontenot.

 

I'd love. Branyan 3B/1B/OF, Cedeno MIF, Hairston OF/2B, Fontenot 2B/3B, and a RH corner OF to go along with Blanco at C.

I'd love to see Branyan as the first bat off the bench and the guy to spell Aramis at 3rd. Is he a FA this year?

[UK1679666180]

If the Cubs got Saenz and Sweeney, Seanz who can play 1B and 3B is the best RH bat that could come off the bench. Sweeney, can play the OF probably best suited in LF/RF and would be the primary bat from the LF.

 

Those two would do wonders for the Cubs bench.

 

Then surround it with youngsters...

 

Cedeno

Font.

Blanco

a Cf'er-Greenberg (possibly) or have the most expensive 5th Of'er w/Patterson.

 

You'd allocate a ton of money for 3 backups, but that would be compensated by having 3 players near the minimum as far as salary..

[goonys evil twin]

Anyone think Sing is a viable option for a right handed bat off the bench?? I'm sure Dusty wouldn't do it, but in an ideal world anybody like that idea?

 

I think it's viable. You're basically looking for moderate production on the bench with different strengths for different guys. A .250/.320/.440 line would be acceptable for RH power threat. Sing is capable of that. I'm not saying he'd be a lock, but at 25 next season, he's not too young, and he does have over 2200 pro at bats, a pretty significant amount. It would depend on how the OF is constructed, and how the rest of the bench looks. I'd be happy with Blanco, 2 vets with good history and 3 minimum wage kids.

[BigbadB]

Anyone think Sing is a viable option for a right handed bat off the bench?? I'm sure Dusty wouldn't do it, but in an ideal world anybody like that idea?

 

I think it's viable. You're basically looking for moderate production on the bench with different strengths for different guys. A .250/.320/.440 line would be acceptable for RH power threat. Sing is capable of that. I'm not saying he'd be a lock, but at 25 next season, he's not too young, and he does have over 2200 pro at bats, a pretty significant amount. It would depend on how the OF is constructed, and how the rest of the bench looks. I'd be happy with Blanco, 2 vets with good history and 3 minimum wage kids.

 

Dubois was not the first pinch hit bat off the bench this year. Baker wouldn't use Sing as the first bat off the bench either.

[goonys evil twin]

Anyone think Sing is a viable option for a right handed bat off the bench?? I'm sure Dusty wouldn't do it, but in an ideal world anybody like that idea?

 

I think it's viable. You're basically looking for moderate production on the bench with different strengths for different guys. A .250/.320/.440 line would be acceptable for RH power threat. Sing is capable of that. I'm not saying he'd be a lock, but at 25 next season, he's not too young, and he does have over 2200 pro at bats, a pretty significant amount. It would depend on how the OF is constructed, and how the rest of the bench looks. I'd be happy with Blanco, 2 vets with good history and 3 minimum wage kids.

 

Dubois was not the first pinch hit bat off the bench this year. Baker wouldn't use Sing as the first bat off the bench either.

 

I wouldn't expect him to be. I would assume those 2 vets I talked about would be, hopefully they're better than Macias/Perez.

 

UK mentioned Saenz/Sweeney as those vets. If Nomar/Walker are your infielders, and Cedeno and Fontenot can backup, then you're looking for probably a more natural OF, or possibly speed (Bacon?). But what if Hairston was one of those vets, and it went Sweeney/Hairston/Cedeno/Fontenot. Your IF is covered pretty well. Sweeney has acceptable LH pop. The rest of the lineup is hopefully giving you some OBP and reasonable speed. The one thing you are lacking is a RH with some power. Sing could fit there.

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Isn't Abraham Nunez a FA this year? After the numbers he put up in StL this year, do you think he turned a corner or was it a fluke?

 

If his stats this year were for real then nabbing him would be a really good move, but I'm afraid of him turning into this year's Tony Womack.

[frostwyrm]

I like Sweeney a lot, but a guy like Branyan might be more valuable. He can play 1B, 3B and corner OF. The offense wouldn't suffer as much going from Ramirez to Branyan as it would from Ramirez to Fontenot.

 

I'd love. Branyan 3B/1B/OF, Cedeno MIF, Hairston OF/2B, Fontenot 2B/3B, and a RH corner OF to go along with Blanco at C.

 

Are you sure you want a lefty-swinging veteran corner OF on the bench? He would certainly take a significant # of starts from Murton, and guess what would happen when Murton experiences his first slump. If we get a veteran backup OF I don't want him to be able to swing a bat any way but right-handed.

[NewUserName]

In reality I dont want any veterans on the bench. They would be missused, younger developing players would suffer. Actually we probably wouldnt have any veterans on the bench, they would be starting.

[USSoccer]

I like Sweeney a lot, but a guy like Branyan might be more valuable. He can play 1B, 3B and corner OF. The offense wouldn't suffer as much going from Ramirez to Branyan as it would from Ramirez to Fontenot.

 

I'd love. Branyan 3B/1B/OF, Cedeno MIF, Hairston OF/2B, Fontenot 2B/3B, and a RH corner OF to go along with Blanco at C.

 

Are you sure you want a lefty-swinging veteran corner OF on the bench? He would certainly take a significant # of starts from Murton, and guess what would happen when Murton experiences his first slump. If we get a veteran backup OF I don't want him to be able to swing a bat any way but right-handed.

 

No, No, No. Our lefty-swinging veteran needs to be a corner IF, not OF. The last thing we need to do is give Dusty a nice crutch with which to lean on the first 7 game dry spell Murton hits.

 

Sign Sweeney. Or *gasp* just go young on the bench.

 

Having said that, I'll guarantee we'll have a left handed 4th OF by Dec 15th, and our bench will look a lot like last year's bench. Maybe something like:

 

Branyan, Perez, Cedeno, Blanco and Hairston/Patterson/Token CF backup

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I would love Saenz and Sweeney, but both of them ended up starting a lot this season and might be looking for starting jobs instead.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I like Sweeney a lot, but a guy like Branyan might be more valuable. He can play 1B, 3B and corner OF. The offense wouldn't suffer as much going from Ramirez to Branyan as it would from Ramirez to Fontenot.

 

I'd love. Branyan 3B/1B/OF, Cedeno MIF, Hairston OF/2B, Fontenot 2B/3B, and a RH corner OF to go along with Blanco at C.

 

I like the Branyan for bench option a lot. I definitely keep Hairston, bring up Fontenot, and dump Macias and Neifury like a bad habit. Cedeno is a starter on my team, not a reserve. With Blanco as reserve catcher, I need two reserve outfielders (assuming we go back to a sane 11-man staff again), one of whom is preferably a pinch hitting specialist, the other a defensive specialist with speed. I'm thinking for the latter, I let Adam Greenberg and Dwaine Bacon fight it out in Arizona for that job, and thus fill it internally. But the pinch hitting specialist? I dunno, who's out there.....