If we don't go after a big name first baseman then we should ...
by IndianaBoy on Aug 23, 2011 9:15 PM CDT
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PrintI think we should go after a guy like Brandon Phillips. I do understand that we have Barney and a lot of other holes, but Phillips plays with a certain passion that makes it hard for anyone who loves the game not to like him. He is always smiling and loves competing to win. And what a great guy to "mentor" Castro up the middle. I think it would be huge towards Castro's development.
Phillips is Gold Glove defender and can hit with the best of the second basemen in the league. It is his contract year and I'm not sure if the Reds have the cap to resign him with all of their young assets. Also, like I said earlier, Phillips could teach Castro the right way to play. With a guy like Castro, who has all of the potential in the world, it can be very easy for him to play half of the game hard like a lot of guys do (I.E. Aramis). It would be an excellent move to not spend most of the money we have this offseason on one guy and get other options like some pitching (Left Handers for sure).
I'm curious to what you guys think and if you have watched a lot of Philips play. My brother is a huge Reds fan, so I get stuck watching them a lot. Phillips also hates the Cardinals, if you can recall last years playoff race. I'm sure he's not a big fan of the Cubs, but maybe his hate towards that Cards could bring him to Wrigley. Also, maybe Barney could be a platoon guy at third base if Aram walks(I'm not sure about his arm strength). Tell me what you think. Thanks Guys.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.
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Your title is very contradictory....I thought this was going to be about signing Pujols or Fielder
and really doesn’t have much to do with your thought. Also spending $9 mil/yr on a 2B past his prime because he’s a decent fantasy baseball middle infielder with passion is just not a great idea.
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
I added ... to the title....
… makes more sense now.
The title, that is. Not the point of the post, with which I don’t agree.
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This post title reminds me a bit of my preganant wife....
….honey, what kind of gelato do you want?
….oh, I can’t decide between hazelnut or pistachio…...if I don’t get hazelnut, YOU SHOULD.
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
That's what I was thinking, it doesn't make sense.
lol.
never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 23, 2011 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Sept 1
great, just jinxed myself….
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
Good luck... get lots of sleep
We just had our first in mid June and I’m still a zombie.
I haven't recovered yet
and my little girl will be 2 next month. I’m beginning to think there isn’t any recovery. That sleep is gone forever.
I think the 1st 3 months of the baby are way easier than dealing with the last 3 months of a preggo wife
Just because we have chiseled abs and stunning features, it doesn't mean that we too can't not die in a freak gasoline fight accident.
by Fat Punk Kicker on Aug 24, 2011 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions
I'll beg to differ...
Maybe my wife wasn’t as bad as others, but i’ve never been more tired in my life as I am currently.
Sorry to contradict
But I do feel like the Cubs have very few guys who go out every day and play their asses off
I trust our new GM will
make a legitimate (read price appropriate) play for both first basemen, and whoever else fits his M.O.
It should be more fun going forward.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
tim, this post is not about a 1B
it’s about Brandon Phillips.
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
sorry, just feeling a little passionate tonight
wait, that came out wrong
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
He will determine a value for Phillips.
If he can get bhim below said value, he’ll get him.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
dude, it's a sentence fragment now
how about: “Brandon Phillips, why not?” or “Pujols, Fielder, Phillips?” or “Guys like Adam Lind”
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
by Fukudometer on Aug 23, 2011 10:09 PM CDT up reply actions
what I was thinking
but a little too well written
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
by Fukudometer on Aug 23, 2011 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Eric Hanna has been making posts at the Colts website, for other obsessers like me.
feet firmly nailed to the floor of the Tyler Colvin bandwagon...
by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 23, 2011 10:44 PM CDT up reply actions
Jason Kubel is a similar guy I'd like to take a flyer on
Below average defense in Right field. But at least he has shown the ability to play out there. Big left handed power bat in the middle of the lineup.
I’d be ok with taking low cost flyers on Kevin Kouzmanoff and Ian Stewart and letting them compete for the 3rd base job next year. Either guy can probably serve as a bridge until something better comes along.
" Tell me something Steve, How does a guy from Puerto Rico loose a ball in the Sun? "
Ok, help me understand....how does this title end?
If we don’t go after a big name first baseman then we should…..
(a)….go after a good first baseman.
(b)…..go after a guy with passion like Brandon ‘Passion’ Phillips
©…..see what Adam Lind’s availability is
(d)…..make a bunch of confusing fanposts
(e)…..limp to one side like our leg is broken, shakin’ and twistin’ kinda like a convulsion. Crazy ass funky. People say you look like M.C. Hammer on crack, Humpty,
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
The Reds have an option on Phillips
They will pick it up. He won’t be an FA until after 2012.
by jerry morales rules on Aug 23, 2011 10:33 PM CDT reply actions
Case closed.
'Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.'
by Unique on Aug 23, 2011 10:41 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
How about use the saved money
and buy all the fans lunch
~Ronald Reagan has held the two most demeaning jobs in the country; President of the United States and radio broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs~ George F. Will
Barney?
Fukudometer: Created 3/31/08 Wrigley Debut 4/5/08 WGN and Japan TV Debut 4/6/08 Sun Times Debut: 4/20/08 Coffee Table Debut: 7/17/08
by Fukudometer on Aug 23, 2011 10:56 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm not sure how to respond to this post so I'll give it a shot
I expected a cat fight on Brian lahair! Honestly the cubs have alot of holes to fill, and second base isn’t one of them! First on the cubs list is something resembling a TOR pitcher, and somebody resembling a clean-up hitter. Phillips is none of those. My guess is the TR will not sign either of the big two, which leaves not many options for first base. They could keep Pena and maybe sign him to a two year deal, or save a bunch of money and bring up lahair for a year or two, and hope one of the first base prospects pans out by 2013-14. It depends on the direction a new GM and TR are leaning towards. FWIW I don’t like any of those choices. I sure hope some of our prospects pan out!!!
Pena
I’m not all that opposed to signing PEna for one more year depending on the money.
Nothing happens unless it's first a dream
Correct
Many of us don’t expect to compete in 2012 anyway. Not really.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
The only reason...
I’m a proponent of signing a big FA is that Fielder/Pujols only come around once in awhile and will still be here when we are competitive.
Castro only hits doubles.
I'd want us to offer
either/both a legitimate offer. If either wants to come to play in Wrigley, I would welcome them. But we don’t have to show machismo by offering the biggest deal, or to ‘negotiate against ourselves’. Tha leads to franchise crippling deals, and fifth place finishes on occasion.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
Barney is not a hole.
He’s the least of our worries. I’m more concerned who is going to take the ball on the bump every 4th and 5th day.
We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.
I'm concerned with every 1st and 3rd day.
DeWitt probably has a Nolan-esque fastball.
"Beisbol been berry berry good to me." -Tony Oliva
Priorities
Going into next year, if you assume A-Ram has his option declined, and Pena is not offered arbitration, then we have far too little production from LF & RF, and no one at all at 1B & 3B. Those are the four premier offensive positions in the National League. We have a nice nucleus up the middle with Castro, Barney, Soto and some combo of Byrd/Jackson. But the corners all need attention.
On top of that, we have a weak rotation.
So I’m pretty sure that whatever this team does, signing an aging second baseman to a big money contract is the least effective path forward.
Great article in Grantland the other day, recommending no to Pujols or Fielder
I think Grantland has some of the best sports writing on the internet these days, and there was a thoughtful piece on rebuilding the Cubs.
I’m on board with the patience approach and signing neither Fielder or Pujols. We’re not going to be in a position to compete next year, so get the current money off the books and go from there. For those of you who want to read the article…
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/6884431/the-road-map-cubs-resurgence
Always loyal to Leon
One small comment on the article- Pujols age
I had no idea there was a dispute on Pujol’s age. I know it is common for Latino ball players to have age discrepancies, but it’s the first time I’ve heard Albert’s name mentioned.
Footnote #5 addressed this in an interesting manner.
Always loyal to Leon
by 239 Brigade on Aug 24, 2011 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
The Pujols age thing is a red herring.
If you were going to hide your age, about the dumbest way to do it would be to immigrate to the USA after 9/11 and play high school baseball.
So what, he was big. It happens. He is the age he says he is.
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Not to quibble
but Pujols came to the US in 1996, before 9/11.
Obviously, that doesn’t change the fact that his age has been vetted, and vetted yet again. I have no doubt he is 31.
by jerry morales rules on Aug 24, 2011 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Did you even read the article?
I think it’s a smarter article than anything that has been posted on BCB on the Cubs next moves,
and if five of six people in the business of baseball don’t think he’s the age he says he is, well there’s at least reason to be cautious.
Always loyal to Leon
by 239 Brigade on Aug 24, 2011 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions
I did, just now
What these guys are doing is speculating. I would rather base my opinion on evidence. Pujols has gone through the US Immigration process in the mid 90’s. A lot of people have gone through that and passed with false evidence for sure, but it still is somewhat of a filter.
The more convincing piece of information for me though is that fact that Pujols became a US citizen in 2007. At that time, he would have been thoroughly vetted by US Immigration.
Finally, there is not one piece of evidence that suggests his age is anything other than 31. Not one. Not one person that said he/she knew the family back in the DR and his age isn’t what it is. Not one document that suggests he was born on a different day. After all this time, if there was any truth to it, don’t you think that ESPN, CBSSports, SI, or TSN would come up with something (one shred of evidence) on the best player in the game? He was born in Santo Domingo. That’s not a small town. It’s the capital of the DR.
by jerry morales rules on Aug 24, 2011 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions 2 recs
Rec'd.
Finally, someone is the voice of reason on this topic.
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Thank you for the thoughtful reply
Considering that most of the thread is devoted to do you sign Pujols/Fielder, or a Brandon Phillips, what do you think of the author’s opinion to stay out of the bidding war.
It seems like the author put into one article, many of the BCB themes of the past few years: baseball metrics, Garza/Hak-Ju Lee, Brett Jackson. To me, it’s the most comprehensive article on rebuilding the Cubs.
As for Pujols, age speculation aside, it scares me the contract he’ll get. I’d rather hit the reboot button and spread the dollars across more players.
Always loyal to Leon
scares me less
with a new GM.
I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.
At 31, I think he's too old to offer a contract for more than 6 years
Though I’m sure he will be able to get one for longer than that. I just can’t see how he’s more valuable to any team more than the Cardinals. Ultimately, I don’t think the Cubs should match the price that I think StL will offer him.
Fielder, however, is a unique talent and the Cubs have the opportunity to sign him just as he is entering his prime years. I’d be much more comfortable offering him a 7 year deal at around $23M per. There are no Cub prospects that are capable of playing 1B in the next few years and Fielder is a special player. I think the Cubs should go after special players that they need when they become available.
I’d be happier if Fielder hit FA after next season, but you can’t control that. The reason the Cubs have Soriano and not Beltran is because when Beltran was available the Cubs weren’t ready. Soriano was simply the best FA when the Cubs had the money. I don’t think that either Philly or Boston really wanted to sign the FA’s they did this last off season, but if they wanted to get Lee, Gonzalez, and Crawford, they had to do it when they were available. That’s why they are 2 of the best teams in each league.
Timing isn’t always perfect, but talents like Fielder are not available often, and especially not when the Cubs have such a glaring hole. .
by jerry morales rules on Aug 24, 2011 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Color me unimpressed
The author’s basis for rejecting Pujols, as others have noted in more detail than I will, is based on conjecture about his age.
His basis for rejecting Fielder is based on a fangraphs comparison with a single other “barrel chested” player, Mo Vaughn, whose late career decline had a lot to do with injuries that don’t necessarily provide a basis for predicting Fielder’s career. If you made the comparison to a different player, like David Ortiz, you’d get a much more favorable projection. Either way, its as close to a back of the hand analysis as you can get, and not very impressive considering the subject is a 28 year old MVP candidate who comes from a division rival (and would therefore weaken them as he improves the Cubs).
To be sure, there is a great unknown with Fielder – will he put the work in once he’s gotten paid, or will he increasingly resemble his dad as time goes on. No one knows, and its a risk worth giving a lot of thought to. But the dismissive notion that you shouldn’t even consider the guy because after all, Mo Vaughn got hurt and saw his numbers decline rapidly, isn’t all that persuasive.
by Orval Overall on Aug 25, 2011 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
Also....
In discussing the salary coming off the books he completely neglects Fukudome’s $13.5 mm contract coming off this year. So to the extent his analysis was based on an estimate of how much money was available, that $13.5 million should greatly affect his thinking. A contract that pays Fielder $22 mm per year, for example, would be the ‘Dome money plus a further $8.5 million. That’s a pretty big oversight.
by Orval Overall on Aug 25, 2011 12:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Also, Phillips is going to get a pretty big contract
Maybe not Fielder money, but he is a tier one starter and a lot of teams will be trying to woo him and the winner will have to overpay. We want less old players with big contracts going forward, not more.
Anyone read about Zambrano not being his real age?
I think it was maybe a week ago. Maybe it’s not true, but if it was nobody was making any kind of big deal about it.
I did not read this.
And I don’t believe any such stories I do read.
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Total speculation, as far as I'm concerned.
Z was born June 1, 1981. He was signed in 1997 — when he was 16, which is when Dominican players usually sign. I can’t imagine his age isn’t correct.
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now if that article said he was really younger than we thought.....well maybe :)
"Well-behaved women seldom make History"---Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
by cooliogirl47 on Aug 24, 2011 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Doesn't it seem strange that Bruce Levine
would speculate so cavalierly about something so serious, though? And to say that “baseball people think” Z is older than he says? I found it pretty shocking, and I called on Levine to say more on the subject if he was going to make a claim like that.
(just wanted to make clear that the Z age thing was not my speculation)
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by Brett Taylor on Aug 24, 2011 8:51 PM CDT up reply actions
No, it doesn't seem strange at all.
I doubt anything more will be said.
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What about signing
Michael Cuddyer. Character guy who busts his butt and plays darn near every position. i am pretty sure he could sell peanust and take over as GM between innings if he was asked too. I cant see the guy making the team worse and he can play any of the corner positions infield or out.
by LovableLousSirs on Aug 26, 2011 7:04 PM CDT reply actions
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