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#Post#: 165045--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: Playtwo
Date: January 20, 2014, 9:25 am
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This could be grim:
HTML http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-convention-spt-0120-20140120,0,3715846.story
#Post#: 165050--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: JR
Date: January 20, 2014, 9:53 am
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The 2005 Cubs outfield was pretty nasty.
Jeromy Burnitz (94 OPS+), Todd Hollandsworth (77), Corey
Patterson (54), and Jerry Hairston (82) got the bulk of the
playing time in the outfield that year.
#Post#: 165051--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: JR
Date: January 20, 2014, 9:54 am
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I agree about how the outfield is shaking up, though. There's
potential for a lot of disaster there.
I'm not even sure who's supposed to be the starter in CF? Ryan
Sweeney?
#Post#: 165054--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: craig
Date: January 20, 2014, 10:21 am
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I've been thinking Lake will be primarily CF, or will be given
an opportunity for that.
#Post#: 165055--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: brjones
Date: January 20, 2014, 10:32 am
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I've said it before...If the Cubs get Tanaka, they really need
to find a way to add a completely unremarkable league average
outfielder. With Tanaka and two improved OF slots (the new
acquisition and a Lake/Sweeney semi-platoon instead of each of
them playing every day), you can start to dream on a scenario
where the Cubs are an interesting .500ish team this year with a
chance to be on the fringes of the Wild Card race if a few
things go right.
Problem is, that outfielder is hard to find this late in the
offseason. I went through every team's roster last week looking
for teams who have too many outfielders and a guy who might fit
that role. The only realistic option is Alejandro De Aza, who
has averaged about 2.5 fWAR the last three years but has the
reputation of having a low baseball IQ. On all other teams with
too many outfielders, the options are either too valuable for
the current team to trade (Brett Gardner, Will Venable) or too
expensive for the Cubs budget (Dodgers OF).
At this point, I really can't figure out why they let DeJesus go
for nothing at the deadline last year.
#Post#: 165056--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: JR
Date: January 20, 2014, 10:42 am
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--- Quote from: craig link ---
>
> I've been thinking Lake will be primarily CF, or will be given
an opportunity for that.
>
--- End Quote ---
I've been thinking Lake would play in LF. I'm not sure the Cubs
want to throw the challenge of learning how to play CF in
Wrigley on top of staying competent offensively in his first
full major league season.
Who knows, though? If the Cubs do want to add a proven major
league hitter, it'll be easier to find a LF'er who can do that
than a CF'er.
#Post#: 165060--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: craig
Date: January 20, 2014, 11:06 am
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Yeah, who knows with Lake and position. Will be interesting
both to see where they place him and how he performs.
I think tools-wise, Lake might be pretty well-qualified for
center. And to some degree I almost think that center is
actually the easier position to learn. You get a better
site-line on the pitch movement and the player's swing, so it's
easier to read the contact and get a good jump. And you don't
deal with opposite-field slice, balls tend to stay straighter in
center. Doesn't have to worry about running into the wall on
foul balls. Also, I believe that Lake was playing CF in winter
league, so within his somewhat limited OF experience, he might
have as much or more in center.
Lake himself may end up being a guy best used in platoon. But
the Cubs may be more invested in hoping Lake can improve enough
to become a full-time player, than with some older more limited
guy like Sweeney or Rugg.
If Lake could hit enough to stay in the lineup, they might
prefer him in center, with the opportunity to populate the
corners with some platoon bats.
#Post#: 165061--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: davep
Date: January 20, 2014, 11:19 am
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Who DID we get for DeJesus? Was it just cash?
#Post#: 165063--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: craig
Date: January 20, 2014, 11:25 am
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just cash.
Kind of funny that we got Pineyro, who's interesting, for
Hairston, who was terrible. But got no talent for DeJesus, who
was decent.
#Post#: 165069--------------------------------------------------
Re: Cubs in '14
DIR By: JR
Date: January 20, 2014, 12:25 pm
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--- Quote ---
> I think tools-wise, Lake might be pretty well-qualified for
center.
--- End Quote ---
Yeah possibly.
I think eventually, though, you'd want to see Lake bulk up and
add some power. Maybe this isn't the year for it. He really
needs to work on cutting down his K's and having a more
disciplined approach more than anything else this year.
But at this point in his career, if he's comfortable fielding
balls in the outfield, he can probably handle center.
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