Why isn't Greenberg mentioned as a possible CF?

[CuseCubFan69]

There is something about this kid that makes me think he would do a decent job in CF for the Cubs. Does anyone know anything about his defensive skiils?

[Joe_Cub]

I'd like him to get a shot. Could anybody be worse than patterson was in '05? Dusty's head would explode if he was supposed to play Murton and Greenberg in the same outfield though.

[E.J.]

I'd like him to get a shot. Could anybody be worse than patterson was in '05? Dusty's head would explode if he was supposed to play Murton and Greenberg in the same outfield though.

 

Exactly. I'd love to see him get a shot holding the fort down until Pie is ready, but can you really see Dusty playing Greenberg and possibly Murton and Cedeno. That's way too much youth for Dusty.

[E.J.]

I found this article on ITI about Greenberg's defense from Feb. 1st of this year:

 

http://cubs.scout.com/2/348190.html

 

Defensively, he is able to incorporate his naturally quick skills onto the playing field as well. He is a center fielder by default, and spent his time there in college at the University of North Carolina, but Greenberg can also play both corner positions. "He will bust his tail to get to any fly ball, no matter where it's at and no matter where he is in the outfield," said Fulginiti.

 

"Unlike Felix Pie, who plays tremendously shallow because of his range, Adam uses his smarts just as much as his speed. He’ll stretch out for a ball, but he usually gets to it because he has a feeling of where it’s going to be anyway."

 

Greenberg was errorless in ninety-one games in the outfield last year.

[EricG]

I'd rather root for those youngsters than Furcal, Damon or Pierre.

[Brian]

Am i crazy in my thinking that Dusty really likes Greenberg? I remember he got a ton of playing time in Spring Training, and I could have sworn I read somewhere that he really impressed Dusty...

[erik316wttn]

Am i crazy in my thinking that Dusty really likes Greenberg? I remember he got a ton of playing time in Spring Training, and I could have sworn I read somewhere that he really impressed Dusty...

 

You gotta give him another shot after his only MLB at bat ended up with him getting hit in the head.

 

I don't know enough about him to make a completely educated statement, but from what I've heard he may be a good backup OF.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't think Greenberg is good enough to be the starting CF. His ceiling is that of a spot starter, 5th outfielder, a good one at that. On this team however, with LF and maybe SS going to uncertain production, it makes little sense to gamble again with cost effectiveness given our payroll.

[Derwood]

He has a career 1.000 OBP, so why not? :wink:

[Derwood]

He has a career 1.000 OBP, so why not? :wink:

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

That kid just flat out gets on base! :lol:

 

Whatever it takes.

[MPrior]

I've actually been wondering this myself for a while, and have meant to start a thread asking everybody what they thought of him. My feeling is that, if he were the only potential youngster starting on the team, I'd give him the spot. But given our current situation and our manager, I'd think better of it. It would just create another question mark for the team, which is something we already have enough of.

 

At the same time, I could see him turning into more than a 5th outfielder. He had a .117 IsoD this past year in the minors, posting a .386 OBP. Plus, he's been batting leadoff pretty much his whole time in the minors. I wouldn't expect him to put up those kinds of numbers in the majors, especially not right away, but the kid obviously has plate discipline, which is something I highly value. In any case, it seems evident that he is not cruising through the minors on talent alone, a la Corey Patterson and Felix Pie (nothing against either of those two, it just means that their development is a bit stunted, and their ML performance has been/is likely to be a big dropoff from their minor league numbers).

[katway]

Good thread. the kid has been doubted at every level, including college ball. He also has proved himself at every level.

 

He plays good defense, gets on base, and is a smart base runner... pretty much sums up what we need at least to hold the fort until/if Pie arrives. He's not a long term answer, but he has the potential to provide a nice spark to the lineup similar to an Eckstein type player.

[EricG]

I pulled this from a thread back in August using the search feature:

edit:link to thread

I am hoping that Greenberg gets a shot after he comes back from his injury. When does the roster expand to 40?

 

A shot at what, an everyday ML player? He sure doesn't look like one to me. I see him and I see Doug Dascenzo, without the crafty mound presence.

 

I see Adam Greenberg and I see my paperboy. He looks like he should still be in high school.

 

Adam Greenberg has been a consistently excellent performer througout his college baseball (ACC rookie of the year, All ACC, first team All-american, etc....) and minor league career. I have a feeling he will someday remind us of a david ecstein in the outfield. Tremendously scrappy player that should make an excellent fourth outfielder with defense, speed, and a good eye, but little to no power.

[JC]

And I stand by what I said in August. I'd give my right arm to be Doug Dascenzo, there is certainly no shame in that. However, I don't see Adam as having the necessary physical traits to be an effective everyday player. There are few David Eckstein's out there (that is, small guys who aren't lightning quick that hold down regular ML jobs.) The few who are around seem to land in the IF, not the OF.

 

I hope the best for Adam, I just have little confidence he is going to be an effective everyday ML OFer.