let's

by scarymonsters85 on Oct 12, 2008 2:21 AM CDT

assume that the Cubs have 25 million to play around with in payroll this offseason. Even though I am against it, our priorities first lay with Dempster and Wood. Wood will get 7 or 8 million, with options and incentives. Dempster will get 13 or 14, same deal. Although, I am sure Hendry will look at any option put forth his way in terms of trades, it's safe to say ramirez, lee, soriano are coming back.

The only everyday players I think likely to be shopped are theriot and derosa.

If we sign any big name free agent (without salary dumping), it would be Adam Dunn. If done it would create the most potent line up in the modern era.

1. Theriot

2. Lee

3. Ramirez

4.Soriano

5. Dunn (RF, 1B)

6. Soto

7. Derosa (2B, RF)

8. Dome/Reed Johnson/Pie

9. Pitcher.

Could you imagine that lineup not succeeding?

In terms of free agent signing, it all depends on who the first to sign is, and for how much. If Teixiera goes first, it will be expensive for everyone. If we be aggressive, and get him first, it plays well into our hands.

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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Comments

let's

try to come up with a more descriptive title for this fanpost, okay?

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Oct 12, 2008 2:47 AM CDT reply actions

let's

try not to hassle him to much about it though.

by CubFan81 on Oct 12, 2008 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions

let's

see if he can explain how this is the most potent lineup in the modern era. And let’s see how he can explain just how horrible Dunn would be in RF.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Oct 12, 2008 9:39 AM CDT up reply actions

let's

stop with the let’s

Ramlee Zamfukusoridero

by hiphopgamer26 on Oct 12, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Let's not...

pretend a lineup with Theriot leading off would be the most potent ever.

Free Ronny Cedeno

by Kansas25 on Oct 12, 2008 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions

while Dunn would be a liability

in RF, his offensive output would greatly outweigh his negligence in the outfield.

RF output: .250 .350 .381
Dunn 2008: .236 .386 .513

I’d take an OPS of .899 over an OPS of .731

I’d take the .170 increase of OPS over Dome’s stellar defense anyday of the week.

Although it would give us a crappy outfield, it would still play strong to the cubs defensive MO. The mighty strike out. We have led the league consistently in allowing the fewest balls in play.

and to explain the potency of the lineup… Lee, Ramirez, Soriano, Dunn, Soto and DeRosa all have the ability to hit 20 HRs/yr…. Ramirez, Soriano, Dunn and Soto all have the ability to hit atleast 30. If we are going to sign any free agent this offseason, it should be Dunn.

by scarymonsters85 on Oct 12, 2008 10:40 AM CDT reply actions

Let's

see here. Most potent lineup? Well, just off the top of my head, here’s THIS year’s White Sox:
Quentin – 36 HR’s
Dye – 34 HR’s
Thome – 34 HR’s
Swisher – 24 HR’s
Konerko – 22 HR’s
Ramirez – 21 HR’s
Crede – 17 HR’s

And that is with both Crede and Konerko missing significant time due to injury, and if not, Crede could have surpassed 20 HR’s and Konerko 30 HR’s. That is almost exactly the same predictions you gave the Cubs lineup in terms of HR’s, but would you call the White Sox 2008 the most potent lineup in the modern era?

In regards to the Cubs, before this year, Derosa had a career high in HR’s at 13. No Cubs player this year had more than 30 HR’s (though Soriano probably would have if not the injury). Sorry to inform you, but Dunn would not make this the most potent lineup in modern baseball history. I just thought of one example (the White Sux) for a more ‘potent’ lineup and that was from this year.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Oct 12, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions

let's

get one thing straight as well, you do know that the “modern era” of baseball begin around 1900 right?

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Oct 12, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions

Really depends on how you break down the eras.

I define the “modern era,” more appropriately the “juiced ball era,” as 1994-today. You can also use the start of the DH and free agency, around 1977 to today, or the “postwar era” of 1944 to today. I don’t think including the deadball era from 1900 to 1920 or so, or even the Rabbit Ball era between 1920 and the war years, tells us much about baseball as its played today.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Oct 12, 2008 12:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I think that "modern era"

is a pretty loose term, but thought it was meant as post-1900. Not saying that it is now the only era in baseball history post-1900 but that it incorporates all of baseball since then.

I may be incorrect, but this is around the time that baseball took shape as we see it today. No, people were not hitting even 20 HR’s at that time, the color barrier hadn’t really been broken, yada, yada, yada. But the game (rules, etc.) as we know it today really began at this time.

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Oct 12, 2008 2:55 PM CDT up reply actions

I suspect...

… the juiced-ball (or juiced-player, take your choice) era may be ending.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Oct 12, 2008 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd need at least 2-3 years to have any idea about that.

I suspect you’re right, though. As for juiced balls versus juiced players, there’s a fascinating read on the juiced ball from High Boskage.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Oct 12, 2008 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions

That's a very detailed and reasoned analysis.

I would argue there are two other factors:

1) The no-longer-called-properly strike zone;

2) The new, hitter-friendly ballparks.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Oct 12, 2008 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions

I'll grant the strike zone...

although I believe that started earlier than that.

But even if we leave out Coors Field, we see a very similar effect in the change in home run rates. Coors probably has a marginal effect, but I do think that the evidence strongly points toward a juiced ball. The question is whether MLB has stopped juicing the ball, and to what extent. And it’ll be a while before we know for certain.

I has a blog. | Ask a sabermagician!

by cwyers on Oct 12, 2008 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions

I wonder how Corky is doing?

"Just win tonight" - derv

by derv on Oct 12, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions

White sox

Home runs definately do not make a lineup potent…
A lineup has to be complete
Cubs 855 runs only 174 HR’s
White Sox only 811 runs on 235 HR’s with a DH vs. a pitcher hitting…

Both teams need speed
Theriot cannot leadoff

by Bleeding Cubbie Blue on Oct 13, 2008 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

For $25M I Would...

say hello to one of the free agent shortstops out there as well as one of Dunn, Pat Burrell, or Vlad Guerrero.

The additional moves I would want to make are contingent on these acquisitions. By signing a SS that can match or improve on Theriot’s output, I could package him with Felix Pie and a minor-league arm for Brian Roberts. Roberts then plays 2B and DeRosa becomes the super-sub to keep the other regulars fresh. Getting one of the three OFs gives me a power bat to put in right field, which would then allow me to move Kosuke to CF.

Actually I hope there’s more than $25 so I can sign Wood and Dempster/Derek Lowe.

Never, but NEVER, put ketchup on a hot dog.

by CaliCub on Oct 12, 2008 12:43 PM CDT reply actions

I nominate this

for the Greatest Diary Title of All-Time.

Evey Hammond: Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici. V: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

by dtpollitt on Oct 12, 2008 1:09 PM CDT reply actions

"I don't see...any...title."

to loosely paraphrase Joseph Conrad and CPT Willard.

Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Oct 12, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

let's get a Python out to announce it

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Oct 12, 2008 5:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Python (Monty) Pictures rule

I just realized our team must have watched Monty Python before the NLDS and took the “how not to be seen” sketch a little too literally

Tommie Agee was out.

by Weeghman Park on Oct 12, 2008 5:23 PM CDT up reply actions

let's

leave Theriot and DeRosa out of the mix.

If you have to choose one or the other, I’ll cut Theriot loose. Both are too valuable to lose. Just who in the world are we going to get to replace them?

Well, Next Year is here .. and Jack's century's gotta end some time .. GO CUBBIES!

by cubnational on Oct 12, 2008 5:15 PM CDT reply actions