Poll Comment Thread

by Whitebacon on Dec 21, 2005 4:36 PM CST

Of the non-tenders Al listed, I'd like to see us go after Byrnes, Miller, and Spivey. Byrnes is coming off of a bad year last year, but he did a lot of moving around, and at worst, would be a good defensive replacement for Murton in left late in games and a good platoon partner for Jones in right. (Career .293 hitter against lefties.) If we're dead-set on moving Walker, then Spivey would have to be a better option than Neifi for second, and Wade Miller would be worth taking a flyer on as an extra arm in the rotation. Thoughts?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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I'm right with you...

... if the Cubs are indeed hell-bent on trading Todd Walker, Spivey would be a far better replacement 2B than Neifi, without question.

Byrnes, has been discussed elsewhere. I wanted the Cubs to get him last summer before he was dealt to the Rockies.

Miller -- who knows, with his injury history. But he's certainly worth an incentive-laden chance.

by Al Yellon on Dec 21, 2005 4:37 PM CST reply actions

Dumb question but

why exactly are the Cubs so hell-bent on trading Walker?

Last year my brother kept saying throughout the season that he couldnt understand why Walker wasnt given a more prominent offensive role considering his hitting was so far above most of the guys on the team...

NLBallClub

by NLBallClub on Dec 21, 2005 4:47 PM CST up reply actions

Well...

...the 6 weeks he didn't play due to being injured didn't help.

by Santos L Halper on Dec 21, 2005 4:53 PM CST up reply actions

That was in regards to...

...your brother's perplexity as to why he didn't have a more prominent role on the 2005 Cubs.

As to why the Cubs want to trade him so bad, your guess is as good as mine. His fielding misadventures are well documented, as are his troubles hitting with runners in scoring position...but to be fair to Todd, in 2005, he wasn't up with runners in scoring position all that often.

Really, considering the other available options, I wouldn't say that he's a bad choice at 2nd right now.

by Santos L Halper on Dec 21, 2005 4:56 PM CST up reply actions

The best choice really.

On the Cubs current roster I dont see how he isnt the best choice to play 2nd base.

You know, in football it is often said that the starter will be the person who gives the team the best chance to win on the field.

I think Walker is that guy. I'm not all Nickler-for-Rondell about it or anything, but not sure why it is so important that he is traded. He is a better hitter than basically any of their off-season acquisitions thus far... right?

NLBallClub

by NLBallClub on Dec 21, 2005 5:13 PM CST up reply actions

I don't...

...disagree with you at all, at least, not about the hitting.

Walker is pretty atrocious when it comes to fielding, though. I suppose it all comes down to priorities. Right now, I think the Cubs need more offense than defense from the middle infield, so I tend to concurr that Walker is the best option currently available.

by Santos L Halper on Dec 21, 2005 5:42 PM CST up reply actions

dp combo

i thought that his main weakness was his difficulty in turning two. he is not terribly nimble and is slow to make the relay. As a result he becomes a bigger target for the runner sliding into second (isn't that how he was injured?).

Generally I think his arm is average (he doesn't get the yips does he?) and he'll make solid plays on the balls he gets to, but again I don't think his range is very good so teams will get that extra hit up the middle (any stats to back that up? I did not see anything about range factor at baseball prospectus).

Granted he only pitches every fifth day, but I'd love to hear Prof. Maddux speak honestly about the defensive qualities of Walker. I wonder if it handcuffs him a bit to have defensive weakness in the middle infield.

by blueisthecolor on Dec 22, 2005 9:22 AM CST up reply actions

Definitely Miller

shove it back in Houston's face.

"You know what God told the cubs. Don't do anything until I get back!" Pete Rose

by Will71081 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Dec 22, 2005 8:42 AM CST up reply actions

rumor has it

he has had problems getting along with people at just about every stop he's been at in the majors.

they are saying that they are looking for a better defender, but methinks if they've ever even considered Soriano, its Walkers personality they'd like to replace, not his glove.

by tomas21 on Dec 21, 2005 4:55 PM CST reply actions

Another platoon option

Though he wasn't non-tendered, he is a free agent right now, and he has played for Dusty before.
Reggie Sanders. Plus, he has the bonus of possibly tweaking Cardinals fans. Platooning him makes sense. It would keep his legs fresh, and signing him may force him to use Jones less, although it would probably just cost Murton time.

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Dec 21, 2005 5:02 PM CST reply actions

Reggie is looking

For a starting job. He wants to achieve that 30-30 season he's always looked forward to.

According to the Chicago Tribune: "The Oakland A's are 32-0 when they have scored more runs than their opponents.

by Carlos on Dec 21, 2005 5:54 PM CST up reply actions

Good luck to him...

he'll have to do something he's never done before to achieve that (that is, play in more than 150 games in a season).

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

by Whitebacon on Dec 21, 2005 6:01 PM CST up reply actions

Sanders

would be a very good fit if he were used as a platoon with Jones in RF. Last year he had an OPS over .900. He's very good in the days. And he should be priced right.

Players win awards but teams win championships.

by tharr on Dec 22, 2005 1:48 AM CST up reply actions

I say

we take a chance on Wade Miller.

He will be cheap, and unlike Ponson he is at least a pretty good guy and a hard worker. Give him an incentive-laden deal and take a small chance. High potential reward, low risk.

by nickler on Dec 21, 2005 7:57 PM CST reply actions