Hoffpauir looks like he's going to get his shot

It's sort of hidden in here, but the article says Miles-Fontenot-Hoffpauir could be our 6-4-3 against "tough RHP." Lous quote:
"We'll let them compete," Piniella said of Fontenot and Miles, "but at the same time, when we face a tough right-hander, I can play Miles at short and Fontenot at second. We can put a [left-handed hitting] right fielder in place, we can put [Micah] Hoffpauir at first base and give Lee a breather."

It also says Little Babe Ruth has the cat-bird seat for starting 2B this year.

about 3 years ago Andre Fonseca 36 comments 0 recs |

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Since Hoffpauir's only good position is 1B...

… it would make sense to let him spell D-Lee occasionally.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 28, 2009 11:01 AM CST reply actions

Hoffpauir at 1B

I can see Hoff starting about 25 games at first.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jan 28, 2009 11:03 AM CST up reply actions

Too many, probably.

D-Lee, if healthy, will play 145-150 games.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 28, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

Agree, But...

I always take injuries into consideration, when I’m thinking about how much playing time certain players will get. I’m thinking D-Lee might miss some playing time because of some nagging injury, so Hoff would get extra playing time. That’s why I say 25 starts. If Hoff is put in RF, the guy is going to get turned around the wrong way and fall down trying to catch a line drive. He “ain’t” no rightfielder. Keep him at first!

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Jan 28, 2009 11:14 AM CST up reply actions

Totally agree.

DLee turns 34 this year and, given his offensive inconsistencies (and unconfirmed injury woes) last season, I think he could really benefit from more rest. I recognize that Hoffpauir’s odds of being a decent pinch hitter are rather dubious, but he’s apparently a solid first baseman defensively and, if he is going to be on the roster, the more major league ABs he gets, the better. Again, just being practical.

Consistent. Championship. Tradition.

by daver on Jan 28, 2009 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

There's no doubt...

.. that if Lee gets hurt (let’s hope not!), we have a far better sub than we did in 2006 when Lee missed most of the year with the wrist injury.

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

by Al Yellon on Jan 28, 2009 11:33 AM CST up reply actions

Some OFf Days

could do DLee a load of good. He is a work horse, but wearing down over the years, and never really returned to form after the wrist injury.

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 28, 2009 11:37 AM CST reply actions

Holding a bench seat...........

………..for a back up 1B makes no sense. And since Hoff is incapable of playing effectively anywhere else on the diamond, I don’t see how he will be with the team.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jan 28, 2009 11:39 AM CST reply actions

Well, Lou has indicated several times this off-season...

…that the Cubs are doing just that. And he won’t be only the 1B backup, he’ll also be the lefty bat off the bench a la Daryle Ward. As mentioned, Hoffpauir as pinch hitter probably won’t turn out well, but it looks like that’s where he’s headed. Maybe if he gets more ABs giving DLee a rest, he’ll be more comfortable pinch hitting.

Consistent. Championship. Tradition.

by daver on Jan 28, 2009 11:45 AM CST up reply actions

Hoff as a LH PH...

….can’t be any worse than DWard last year. Just saying….

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by carmen_fanzone on Jan 28, 2009 11:58 AM CST up reply actions

or in LF

can he really be any worse than Ward in the OF if he HAD to play there?

by jbertram on Jan 28, 2009 12:27 PM CST up reply actions

While DWard did suck last year............

………..in the lefty PH role, I have very little faith in Hoff being any better.

Personally I’d prefer a veteran bench bat a la what Ward was in 2007. Still plenty of guys looking for work, and while all would be more expensive than Hoff, the cost would not be too great.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jan 28, 2009 12:28 PM CST up reply actions

I'm tellin' ya...

…Jim Edmonds for lefty bat off the bench. Get ’er done.

Consistent. Championship. Tradition.

by daver on Jan 28, 2009 12:36 PM CST up reply actions

There's relatively long list.............

…………of “Edmonds-esque” guys that could fill the bench role, most of them more versatile than Hoffpauir.

While not all batting lefty, I’d prefer any of these guys to Hoffpauir:

Aurilia
Cairo
Easley
Floyd
Nomar
Hinske
Mientkiewicz
Millar
Sweeney
Wiggington
Wilkerson

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jan 28, 2009 12:44 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, there's some interesting names on that list.

There was a fairly strong case for Nomar made the other day. And I know Al likes Millar for his clubhouse presence. I’m not sure I could go for Uncle Cliffy again, though. Nice guy, but a bit of disappointment in ‘07. And I’ve read Wiggington wants to be a full-time player.

I just think Edmonds would be great because he built up a lot of goodwill with the Cubs last season, he’s lefty and he could back up both DLee and any of the outfield spots.

Consistent. Championship. Tradition.

by daver on Jan 28, 2009 12:57 PM CST up reply actions

Who says he could back up DLee?

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Jan 28, 2009 1:04 PM CST up reply actions

I do.

He’s played 1B in 51 major league games. It’s obviously not his primary position, but I think he could learn it quickly enough.

Consistent. Championship. Tradition.

by daver on Jan 28, 2009 1:35 PM CST up reply actions

It was hard enough..........

………for me to see Edmonds in a Cubs uni last year. Not sure I could stomach another season of him wearing Blue.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jan 28, 2009 2:14 PM CST up reply actions

Aw come on...

…you still haven’t accepted Jimmy Ballgame? We had meetings with muffins and everything.

Consistent. Championship. Tradition.

by daver on Jan 28, 2009 2:26 PM CST up reply actions

Never did.

Never will.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jan 28, 2009 2:40 PM CST up reply actions

let it go bud

Jimmy made his mark with the Cubs, forgiveness is D’Vine….

http://torturedfanbase.com/roster/james_patrick_jim_edmonds_15_o.html

Out with the Old and in with the Nucleus The Tortured Fan Base welcomes our new owner.

by Andre Fonseca on Jan 28, 2009 2:45 PM CST up reply actions

I'm over it, but...........

…………..see no reason to have him return.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jan 28, 2009 2:52 PM CST up reply actions

You mean besides the fact that...

…he’s an experienced major league hitter with a World Series ring who bats from the left side and has both power and patience at the plate and who hit 19 home runs for the Cubs last season?

Consistent. Championship. Tradition.

by daver on Jan 28, 2009 3:33 PM CST up reply actions

I heard he hits............

………..from both sides, but maybe that’s just an ugly rumor further perpetuated by me.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jan 28, 2009 3:42 PM CST up reply actions

OHHHH!!! Up top!

Consistent. Championship. Tradition.

by daver on Jan 28, 2009 3:50 PM CST up reply actions

LH PH

"I like coconuts, you can break them open and they smell like ladies lying in the sun" Widespread Panic

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 28, 2009 11:48 AM CST up reply actions

I Don't See Hoff Making The Team...

… he will be replaced by guys like Aurilia or Uribe.

My 2008 Christmas wish list includes this jersey. In Hendry We Trust! Current 2009 payroll.

by initram on Jan 28, 2009 12:32 PM CST reply actions

URIBE! Bite your tongue!

I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on Jan 28, 2009 1:17 PM CST up reply actions

This is the only spot Hoffpauir should be considered for

That said, I don’t think he’s going to make the team. I expect a veteran will fill the Ward spot from last year.

Any talk of considering Hoffpauir for a starting spot is crazy.

by rlpete on Jan 28, 2009 1:26 PM CST reply actions

Hoffpauir isn't going to make the roster

Not with 5 spots on the bench and Gathright, Johnson, Miles and Bako locks. The final spot will come down to a Rich Aurilia or Juan Uribe type. Not Hoffpauir.

by BLou on Jan 28, 2009 1:38 PM CST reply actions

Well thats kind of the point

Lou Pinella (the guy who has a say) seems to be saying that he is slating Hoff as a backup 1B/pinch hitter, he might get some OF starts or double switches that put him in the OF or at 1B ala D Ward.

Out with the Old and in with the Nucleus The Tortured Fan Base welcomes our new owner.

by Andre Fonseca on Jan 28, 2009 1:41 PM CST up reply actions