We just moved him down in the order? His numbers look good, for a #6 hitter.

That would be nice.

the only replacement that should even be entertained is Teixeira (and Pujols or Morneau but that’s not happening).

Teixeira has power from both sides of the plate and is just now entering his prime. He has won a pair of Gold Gloves so his defense can be reasoned to be above average. He’s split time between the #3 and #4 spot in the order and could slide in ahead of Ramirez about as seamlessly as possible for a FA acquisition. And his recent/only postseason numbers at minimum show he didn’t have a Soriano type brain fart yet.

I remember back in the 2001 draft the options available to the Cubs were Mauer, Prior, and Teixeira. The catcher they haven’t had since Hundley, the 3B they haven’t had since Santo, or the best pitcher to come out in a long time. The Twins made their choice the Cubs made theirs. I’ve kept myself from playing Hot-Stove arm chair GM but Teixeira would be on my wish list. As would Ichiro, Sabathia, and some relievers.

What about Soriano at First? Assuming someone outbids for Teix and Lee can be moved for good talent, one would think a former 2B could play 1B. He couldn't be worse than... (insert bad 1B joke here).

This move could even improve LF defense.

…is about the same as replacing Theriot with Furcal. And that costs you a lot less money.

DLee reminds me of the last year Banks started most games at 1B. There was an emotional attachment, occasional glympsis of faded power and a few home runs but not the season where he would be an MVP or even gold glove at 1B. Teixeira would be an improvement. We don’t need to regress at third, where, admittedly, as much as I love Ron Cey, Aramis is the best we’ve had on the corner since Ron and that’s saying something. Dlee, for whatever reason, is not a “captain” of the team and we need someone who is. We’ve got lots of good options for optimizing the OF with players we have, so we just need to solve the 1B power hitter role and a competent SS who has range, an arm and gets on base and doesn’t get thrown out on bonehead plays a lot. I don’t know the answers but those are the questions. I wouldn’t mess with the pitching if you don’t sucked in to extraordinarily long contract terms. they all have one more good year in them and I think Z might be finally turning the corner emotionally based on his demeanor during the 4 error inning. If there were some way to steal CC cheaply by promising to just give him the team in 5 years that would be great becuase Z would either shit or get off the pot in the growing up department. the whole Sori, Edmonds, Johnson, Fukedome, Hoffpauir, Pie outfield buzz is uninteresting to the max. Some combination of those guys will work and Lou just needs to get some data between now and April 6.

Phase III for Lou is now to simply get the right performer in the optimized fielding position and batting position and let it run the first month of the season.

2009 opening day starting lineup and pitching rotation should excite more that we were about the 2008 version and I’m not denigrating the 2008 team. I just see us coming out of the blocks much more locked in to roles and expectations., to good effect for the regular season reacord.

However, if DLee can bring a + shortstop and Theriot/Fontenot can play their natural position, the defensive changes to the infield may cancel each other out.

I like DLee and don’t want to see him go. However, if the team is too right handed and salary heavy, then something has to give somewhere.

42 years old? Coming off a shoulder problem and not pitching for a full season?

Forget it. He’s done.

His addition intrigued me going into this season, but the Cubs don’t need another Jon Lieber who’s going to pitch a few times and then disappear onto the DL for months at a time. Leave Curt to his blog and his software company.