Hudson vs. Nady... ? what is the rationale ?

again I’m happy to give the Cubs and Fontenot the benefit of the doubt for now. But if I had to guess? He’ll probably see a few too many at-bats, at least to start the season.

then I’m fine with him working to refine his skills at other positions for the future. But only then. We just don’t have any major need for him to play OF this season.

There’s no reason to do it this year, with more competent outfielders on the roster/in camp. That wasn’t the case in 2007. As noted above, Baker needs the reps at 2B in ST, not outfield innings just because some think he can be a DeRosa-type “supersub”. We don’t need that type of player.

I don’t really know what to do with Fontenot.

I completely agree that his best bet is as a spot-starter and PH. I also agree that Lou will probably be inclined to play him a good bit, if he bounces back at all, to balance out the line-up.

I don’t really love a platoon of Fonty and Baker, but I’m not really afraid of it. If the other players perform as they are capable (granted, a sizable “if”), then SS and 2B are our “weak” spots in the line-up In that context, Fonty/Baker doesn’t look as bad… in that there are piles of other teams who have a bigger whole in the line-up (like catcher).

I also fully agree on Fontenot’s lack of versatility being a hindrance to his role as a bench player. So, IMO, he needs to hit enough to start 70 times a year to justify his roster spot.

I don’t see him as competing with Tracy, unless you view Fonty as the primary PH. We know Lou favors the 12 man staff (might start with 11 in April)… and as such, there are five bench spots. Four of those seem set: Hill, Nady, Fuld (presumably as the 5th OF / PR / defensive replacement), Blanco (because someone has to back-up SS… so he has a spot unless there’s a trade or Castro does make the squad). You could send Fuld back to Iowa and use Baker as a 5th OF, but then you have no PR or real defensive replacement.

So that leaves one spot on the bench. That spot has to go to Fontenot, unless you think one of two intertwined things: 1) Baker is good enough to start 120-140 games at 2B and 2) you’re okay with Blanco getting the rest of the starts (meaning you think he’ll hit enough to not be a total liability). IMO, both of those are shaky… so Fontenot has to stay, unless he proves he has to go. In that case, Tracy and Millar (etc.) are really competing against the 12th pitcher for a roster spot.

BTW, ALL of this changes if Castro makes the team… which I am hesitant about (not sure if I’m for or against yet – probably against).

For me, I’m a pessimist by nature, but I seem to be a bit more optimistic on a couple of questionable Cubs. There have been lots of calls to replace Soto and/or Fontenot (among others). The logic seems to be that their 2008 seasons were flukes, with 2009 showing the real them.

Both were admittedly subpar in 2009. On the other hand, do the Cubs really need them to replicate 2008 (obviously would be great if they would) to be successful? What if they each just split the difference between the two seasons? Wouldn’t that make them useful contributors (i.e., at least not a “weakness”)?

So, I guess I would be inclined to go into ST hoping Fontenot can split the difference between his two seasons and start 60+ games at 2B. If that doesn’t work, IMO the Cubs should look to the market for a short-term LH fix.

that i agree with 100%

With Micah – you watch that big swing wave at pitches way out of the zone and you know he’s going to have to make adjustments – adjustments I don’t really see him making.