Should Cubs pursue another lefty Cardinals CF

Ben Reiter from si.com suggests in his list of free agents and where they would fit, that Rick Ankiel would be a good fit for the Cubs CF opening. It seems to be that this would be a relatively cheap, low risk, high reward situation for the Cubs.

Ankiel is a lefty, plays good defense in CF (from what I can tell), and has the potential to hit for a fair amount of power. What do you all think?

over 2 years ago gwood 21 comments 0 recs |

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Ay Dios mio!

This has got to be one of the worst rumors I’ve heard. I hope it’s just a silly rumor started by our compadres over at VEB to piss us off.

by chilango2 on Nov 10, 2009 1:15 PM CST reply actions

Not a rumor

as far as I know. Just a suggestion thrown out there by a sports-writer for si.com. I thought it was an interesting suggestion and one that has not been mentioned here (as far as I know). Good discussion fodder too, hopefully.

"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg

by gwood on Nov 10, 2009 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

Hesitant No on Ankiel

It’s not a crazy idea, but I wouldn’t make the move. Ankiel strikes out too much and has too big of a hole in his swing. He’s too prone to having hot and cold spells. If the Cubs got Ankiel, I don’t know if he would play center or right. Dome would play either in center or right. Ankiel is too prone to injuries, too. The Cubs have made worse moves. The Cubs do need a legitimate lefty power bat, which Ankiel provides. The Cubs can’t depend on Ankiel to give them a solid, healthy season without horrific slumps.

"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Nov 10, 2009 1:35 PM CST reply actions

You're probably right

It would be like having a left handed Soriano on the team to go along with the one we already have.

"Respect" ~ Ryne Sandberg

by gwood on Nov 10, 2009 1:40 PM CST up reply actions

Here's what a smart team does:

WAIT

W
A
I
T

WAIT

There’s going to be plenty of older dudes without contracts. We could get a bargain-basement deal on a player for one or two years if we wait long enough. Please, this team is good at waiting, please wait.

"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks

by dtpollitt on Nov 10, 2009 2:06 PM CST reply actions

Right.

There will be a TON of non-tenders in December. It will be a buyer’s market.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al Yellon on Nov 10, 2009 2:18 PM CST up reply actions

+1,000

by elgato on Nov 10, 2009 3:38 PM CST up reply actions

No way

Period. I want no Cardinal castoffs and that includes Mark DeRosa. Didn’t we learn anything from the Brock for Broglio trade?

And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.

by Ace Venom on Nov 10, 2009 2:11 PM CST reply actions

Who cares what team a player last played for?

By this logic, should teams avoid Matt Holiday?

by Wreckard on Nov 10, 2009 2:24 PM CST up reply actions

And Pujols...

I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT

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

by Shanghai Badger on Nov 10, 2009 2:29 PM CST up reply actions

Edmonds didn't work for ya?

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

by ballhawk on Nov 10, 2009 5:29 PM CST up reply actions

It's an interesting thought,

but I’d rather go after Cameron. For starters, Ankiel is only a defensive asset playing a corner OF spot, and I’d rather have Dome in right and Cameron in center than Dome in center and Ankiel in right. Then there’s the fact that Cameron is a better hitter, though that could change if Ankiel reverts back to his 2008 form. If he’s available on the cheap, I’d take a flyer on him, and worst case scenario he’s our 2010 Reed Johnson, with the upside being that he’s a very capable starter who we could semi-platoon with Cameron.

Metal sharpens metal.

And this guy right here understands and knows what leadership is all about: The coach, the hall of famer......... Dick Butka! George Ryan

by dakoose on Nov 10, 2009 2:19 PM CST reply actions

Obviously anyone would rather have Cameron

He’s one of the best center fielders in baseball.

But assuming we can’t afford Cameron, an Ankiel / Reed Johnson platoon in center wouldn’t be a terrible idea for a team trying to stay on the cheap like we will be.

by Wreckard on Nov 10, 2009 2:23 PM CST up reply actions

Given the splits of each player, we could reasonably expect about an .800 OPS out of that platoon

And it would be relatively cheap. Ankiel’s defense in CF is a bit troublesome though.

by madcow256 on Nov 10, 2009 6:11 PM CST up reply actions

Ankiel hit .231/.285/.387 last year with severely below average defense in CF.

Bill James projects a 2010 line of .253/.310/.453.

So, here’s my question – why all these proponents for Ankiel, and no fanpost for a LH CF with speed, defense, and power that Baltimore doesn’t have playing space for?

Is he traded yet?

by DGU on Nov 10, 2009 2:33 PM CST reply actions