2010 BCB Community Projections: Andres Blanco

by Al Yellon on Mar 2, 2010 8:00 AM CST in Community Projections Comment 36 comments

Andres Blanco's biggest worth to the Cubs, obviously, is his defense; he can capably back up SS and 2B.

His offense, not great, did seem to improve as he got more playing time in the second half of 2009. He hit .276/.323/.368 after June 18 (94 plate appearances). Granted, that .691 OPS isn't stellar, but with his outstanding defense, and the fact that he's still fairly young (26 in April), the Cubs have a solid infield backup.

Post your projections for Blanco after the jump.

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Not to cause a s**t storm,

but this seems like as good a place as any to ask the question of whether anyone thinks that Lou would really dump Blanco – and use Fontenot as a SS backup – in order to find a spot for Kevin Millar?

by Damen Jackson on Mar 2, 2010 8:40 AM CST reply actions

Yeah, I do.

I think Piniella is the best manager the Cubs have had in the last 40 years, but he has his blind spots. And Hendry ihas long been obsessed with fixing the problem du jour. Character was one of the issues that got focus with MB; I think Millar’s got a shot.

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 Mar 2, 2010 10:03 AM CST up reply actions

I think he would as well, especially considering they would only use a backup SS

on a limited basis. However, the issue with Theriot is that he disappears in September probably from overuse. He needs a game or two off a week but isn’t getting it and no one wants to see Fontenot at SS a couple times a week. The best option, IMO, is to start the season with 6 bench players – Baker/Fontenot, Hill, Nady, Fuld, Millar/Tracy, and Blanco. They could do this for about the first month with all the off days and then see how Nady’s arm is feeling. If he’s healthy enough to play center in a pinch then they let Fuld go back to AAA and have a legit backup SS in Blanco still along with position flexibility in Baker (2B, 3B, 1B, OF), Nady (OF, CF, 1B), Fukudome (OF, CF), and Millar/Tracy (1B, 3B, OF) and Blanco (SS, 2B).

by thehat34 on Mar 2, 2010 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

You forgot Micah Hoffpauir

All sorts of flexibility (1B, OF)

by sheamcmurray on Mar 2, 2010 1:18 PM CST up reply actions

ST seems like more of a competition this year ...

than in any year of the Lou era. Assuming that Caridad is a lock, four bullpen spots could really be up for grabs, if Guzman isn’t healthy. The fifth-starter spot is up for grabs, as is the fourth-starter spot until Lilly returns.

Meanwhile, it’s unclear who will complete the bench after Nady and Hill. That means three spots are up for grabs for Fontenot, Millar, Tracy, Hoff, Blanco, Fuld, Snyder and maybe even longshots like Scales and LaHair — and I’m probably forgetting someone. Frankly, I wouldn’t be shocked if Castro ends up on the big-league roster, though I’m not advocating that decision at this point.

I don’t think the competition is a bad thing, though I’m a little nervous about the pen. If I were Lou — based on what we know right now — I’d go with Blanco over Fontenot, Fuld as the fifth outfielder and Tracy or Millar as the 25th man, depending on who has a better March.

The downside, of course, is that releasing Fontenot puts a lot of pressure on Baker to produce. But if the Cubs think Baker can be as good, or close, to what he was in the second half last year …

by elgato on Mar 2, 2010 12:21 PM CST up reply actions

Agree with you...

… I’d rather dump Fontenot than Blanco, Fontenot’s had plenty of chances and hasn’t delivered. He is NOT as shortshop. If they did this and Baker faltered, couldn’t we just move Theriot to second and play Castro if we have to?

Also, I’d rather have Tracy over Millar because at least Tracy can play a position and more than one. Millar is a DH at this point and has no place on this team despite how much Dempster likes him and how “funny” he is.

by tripdenten on Mar 2, 2010 1:21 PM CST up reply actions

Question....

seeing Blanco in that strange but yet striking position, I see he has the ball in his hand, did he just catch it or is he throwing it….I cant figure out what just happened in that picture. can someone enlighten me yet again?

baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it

by cooliogirl47 on Mar 2, 2010 10:05 AM CST reply actions

That is a striking picture.

I wonder if he just nailed a triple axel.

"Fasten those seatbelts"-Pat Hughes

by katie casey on Mar 2, 2010 10:29 AM CST up reply actions

LMAO

baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it

by cooliogirl47 on Mar 2, 2010 10:49 AM CST up reply actions

Blanco

is throwing the ball on the run. He most likely just fielded a little infield dribbler that he had to get rid of quickly. It’s an awkward throw to make.

"The more i practice, the luckier i seem to get" -Yogi Berra

by ChiCubsFever on Mar 2, 2010 11:52 AM CST up reply actions

Hmm...

I’m going to side with Casey on this one:

He caught the ball in the air, did a back flip, landed a triple axle, and is merely throwing the ball back to the pitcher.

from Cubs Stats and Twitter @BradleyWoodrum

by BWoodrum on Mar 2, 2010 11:59 AM CST up reply actions

awkward, but sure looks cool....and thanks

baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it

by cooliogirl47 on Mar 2, 2010 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

Will there be projections for Bobby Scales?

I like him infinitely more than Riot or LBR.

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

by dtpollitt on Mar 2, 2010 10:12 AM CST via mobile reply actions

Yes. One of the categories is starts in September in left field.

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 Mar 2, 2010 10:41 AM CST up reply actions

I see what you did there.

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

by dtpollitt on Mar 2, 2010 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

I put zeroes

I don’t think Blanco sticks with the team. I think he deserves a spot but I gotta believe that Millar and Fontenot will push him out. I’d love to see Fonty traded to retain Blanco though

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Mar 2, 2010 11:16 AM CST reply actions

At first I was ready to disagree with you...

But it appears Blanco (a switch hitter) might actually be okay as Baker’s platoon partner. Hitting left handed is definitely Blanco’s strength (thus far in the majors), so he could balance Baker (until Baker suddenly explodes into an amazing 2B, like we all hope he might). However, I kind of feel like Bobby Scales could fill that role too, plus be able to back up a lot of other positions too.

On the other hand, I’m also a big believer that ‘09 Fonty was not the real deal and that we’ll get a (marginally) better version in 2010.

Ultimately, what I’m trying to say is: let’s play some baseball already1 [/cabinfever]

from Cubs Stats and Twitter @BradleyWoodrum

by BWoodrum on Mar 2, 2010 11:33 AM CST up reply actions

Scales won't be with the club on opening day

by elgato on Mar 2, 2010 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

He’s in camp as a reward for a good job last year.

I think you trade Fontenot and try and get something for him. There have been a few names for relief candidates bouncing around (Gregarson, Frasor). I’d like to know if either are interested in Fontenot

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Mar 2, 2010 12:43 PM CST up reply actions

well, I think it's more than a reward

Scales could make the club if a bunch of injuries occur.

by elgato on Mar 2, 2010 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

If we keep Millar/Tracy and Blanco in the minors

I kinda doubt it. Even for the OF, we have Anducci and Colvin

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Mar 2, 2010 12:55 PM CST up reply actions

Oh, I agree

I’m just saying that Scales has a very slim chance of making the roster IF a lot of injuries occur in March.

by elgato on Mar 2, 2010 1:06 PM CST up reply actions

Same here.

I was just observing that Scales and Blanco have similar skill sets. Scales won’t probably have a shot to join the ML club until well into the season, when the injuries really begin to add up. BUT: when that does happen, he will make a decent, emergency 3rd infielder option.

from Cubs Stats and Twitter @BradleyWoodrum

by BWoodrum on Mar 2, 2010 6:48 PM CST up reply actions

Other than that he's played a total of 3 games at SS

Which is Blanco’s most important asset as a potential Cubs.

Not to mention that we have Chad Tracy and Kevin Millar who can play third and have better track records than Bobby Scales.

by madcow256 on Mar 2, 2010 7:55 PM CST up reply actions

Excellent points.

I actually forgot about Tracy. I guess that makes him the 4th emergency infielder?

from Cubs Stats and Twitter @BradleyWoodrum

by BWoodrum on Mar 2, 2010 9:34 PM CST up reply actions

Scales?

Seriously? Let’s be honest he is not a backup SS by any reasonable measure, while Blanco is a true SS, defensively at least.

I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren

by lookingdeadred on Mar 3, 2010 12:44 PM CST up reply actions

Last roster spot probably comes down to Sam Fuld vs. Andres Blanco

I think Hendry and Piniella have gotten it into their head that Koyie Hill (or Geovany Soto), Mike Fontenot (or Jeff Baker), and Xavier Nady (assuming his arm is okay) are the three locks. Kevin Millar and Chad Tracy are vying for one spot, while Fuld and Blanco are vying for the other.

Not saying I agree.

The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.

by BLou on Mar 2, 2010 12:37 PM CST reply actions

so, either we have good backup defense ...

in the OF or in the middle infield. Interesting take.

by elgato on Mar 2, 2010 12:39 PM CST up reply actions

I think it should come down to Blanco vs Fontenot

I think you have to have Fuld on your bench not only for the defense but for the speed. In those 12+ inning games it’s nice to have a pinch runner who is a threat and puts pressure on the opposing team. Fuld provides that. I agree with everything else you said though

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." ~ Bill Veeck

by Musicdude10 on Mar 2, 2010 12:45 PM CST up reply actions

I know someone can help

I cant remember the name of one of my fav Cub utility infielder. He had a very common name, something like Jose Gonzalez. He may have even shared a name with a much more popular player. He was sure handed, and a professional hitter. He played for the Cubs 5 years ago or so…

by daily2b on Mar 2, 2010 2:25 PM CST via mobile reply actions