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The Lazy Blogger’s Offseason Improvement Thread: The Infield

Posted On 17 Oct 2007 By Bad Kermit. Under: Cubs, Transactions. .

The Shoutbox is down for some reason, so I’m still going to take a lazy man’s approach to the next couple days of blogging.

With that said, you guys again do the work. For shits and giggles, let’s assume the Cubs have an owner sometime before December (impossible, I know, but necessary for any sort of discussion). How would you improve the infield? Who goes? Who stays?

CT

How would I improve the infield? I’d make sure it’s mowed daily so that Juan Pierre can’t get any of his damn bunt singles.
Steve Stone

Obviously you need an infield full of Ryan Theriots to be able to play baseball the right way. Aramis was so lazy he didn’t even play in about 30 of the cubs games. He is definitely not a gamer and doesn’t play baseball the right way.

Sign Eckstein, move his lazer arm, dirty uniform, and pesky bat to 3rd.
Jeff

Sign Renteria, let theriot and DeRosa fight it out over at second
Jeff

oh, and soto as starting catcher, duh
Jeff

also, are we counting pitching as the infield? Probably not, but thought I’d ask.
CT

Actually, I think guys who play baseball the wrong way are awesome. Remember how Candy Maldondo used to hold the bat upside down? And George Bell refused to face home plate while playing the outfield?
bocaj

Sign A-Rod and Renteria, put A-Rod at second and Renteria at SS, then keep Aramis at 3rd and Lee at 1st and keep Soto at C with Derosa and Theriot and Blanco playing back-up posisitions…
bocaj

By the way, it was CT who kidnapped the S-Box. I mocked him previously, questioning how he could kill it, and I believe he took offense to it. So now he has stolen it and tyed it up in his basement to try and find out a way to destroy it once and for all. And I can only blame myself… Oh, God, what have I done…?
http://hirejimessian.com Bad Kermit

We’ll do starting pitching separately and the bullpen separately, Jeff.
http://thedomeishaunted.blogspot.com In a Nutsack

Actually, the infield is pretty set. Sadly, the only position that will realistically be sought to upgrade will be SS. I say “sadly” because I really like Theriot and I don’t want to see him sit. So, I propose this: sign A-Rod, move Theriot to 2B, move DeRosa to RF. Unfortunately, that benches Murton, but I can live with that with DeRosa being the superior option at this time.

So, I have Ramirez, Rodriquez, Theriot and Lee rounding out the infield. I’m assuming that catcher are separate, but I’ll throw in Geo as the starter with Kendall backing him up. I don’t know how realistic that is, especially with Kendall’s salary. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m most sure he’s making more than Geo.
senator

sign A-Rod so that we can spend more money and get eliminated in the playoffs even faster
Weebs

C: Soto
1B: Lee
2B: DeRosa
3B: Ramirez
SS: ARod

Theriot can stick around as a utility player, and since Ramirez will probably go down at some point, he’ll probably get plenty of time at 2B cause DeRosa will be playing 3B. Soto should obviously be the starter, but I think it was already said that Kendall isn’t coming back. Blanco is still under contract, so I assume as long as he can play, he’ll be the backup for Soto. That’ll be MUCH better for Soto’s sake, being taught by a guy who’s actually thrown out baserunners.
http://thedomeishaunted.blogspot.com In a Nutsack

Weebs, I hadn’t heard that Kendall won’t be back. But, I’m okay with Blanco backing up Soto. He’ll help out Geo’s defense, even though it really doesn’t need it. Maybe it’ll make him stay consistently solid behind the plate.

I know I mentioned signing A-Rod, but I’d be content with Renteria at SS as well.
Section 242

Getting ARod would be welcome, but not likely to happen so I don’t see the present infield configuration changing.
I would give Ward at least one start a week at 1B to give DLee more frequent rest and hopefully coax a little more power out of his bat over the course of the season.
bocaj

My options the best ’cause it gives us a little depth…
Pre

I don’t understand the love of DeRosa in RF instead of Murton.

DeRosa played real well last year, and his ability to play multiple positions is handy, but do you really want .293/.371/.420 (and those are all over career averages) sitting in RF all year? His defense is better, but not amazing. I’d rather see Murton (.281/.352/.438) out there and see if the 26 yr old can improve. I don’t think Murton is great, but I think DeRosa in RF isn’t much of an upgrade. I’d keep DeRosa at 2B and try and spend what resources the Cubs do have this off season on a real upgrade in CF or RF. If we could get a good CF, than Jones/Murton in RF wouldn’t be so bad.

I’d like to see:
C: Soto
1B: Lee
2B: DeRosa
3B: Ram
SS: Theriot

IF Bench:
C: Blanco
1B: Ward
2B: Fontenot – if he hits well next year, let him see a lot of games at 2B, DeRosa can always give Ram a day off or go to RF or shave
3B: DeRosa
SS: Cedano :(

SS, as several have said, is the only real place to upgrade. However, the market this off season is minimal. I think Omar Vizquel might be the best one available. (Renteria’s signed through 2008 with a 2009 option). I’m been looking around for a while, and I can’t figure out who we could even trade for for a better backup. Any ideas?
RTI

One thing we do know is that Vance Law will not cut it at 3rd.
Section 242

I would also put on “The Shift” for random players just to fuck with them once in a while.

Lou should also think about pulling the position players off the field anytime Marmol is pitching with two outs. This would be a good way to bolster Marmol’s ego after his performance in the NLDS.
http://thedomeishaunted.blogspot.com In a Nutsack

There goes Pre with all his “facts.”
http://www.gameservers.com Weebs

Pre, while Renteria is still signed through 2008, the Braves have said they’re trying to unload him. The White Sox balked at a deal this past year for Renteria, giving back Garland in return. Otherwise, he would’ve been traded by now. I’m pretty sure the Braves will continue to shop him.
Jack

Marmol’s still the nuts in my book. Anyone can have a couple bad innings, his just came a really bad time. If we’d hit in the series, no biggie. My infield would be:

C: Geo
1B: DLee
2B: DeRosa
3B: ARam
SS: Theriot (Unless we have an owner who has the cajones to give ARod 30 Mil per for 10 years)

I don’t really beleive we’ll have an owner in time to do much on the FA market this year. The Tribune has fucked everything else up over their tenure, so you know the sale isn’t going to go smoothly. Mark Cuban will not be permitted access to the old-boy’s club that is MLB ownership, especially not with Jerry Reinsdorf on the commitee who can choose our owner.

If Geo Soto continues to shine, we may have a legit catcher for the first time in my 31 years a Cub fan.
Barry Rozner

Trade Ramirez because he had three terrible games.
Hugo Chavez

Donde est� el amor para el cedeno ronny???

Imperio est�pido de los Estados Unidos de Am�rica!!!!!
Jim Hendry

Great news, Cubs fans. Both Izturis AND Neifi Perez are going to be available this off-season. Looks like we are going to be *stacked* in middle infield positions.
StPatrick

Renteria = too expensive on the trade market. The Braves want starters, or potential starters of very high quality. As long as Dempster is being considered as a starter, I will maintain that the Cubs can not afford to deal pitching prospects that are anywhere near ready for the big club.

I say go balls-out for Alex Rodriguez, with your backup plan being anybody that can play RF and increase the offensive output of that position over the course of a season.

p.s. Hugo Chavez – if I ever run into you in a dark alley, I will cut off your populist balls, and promptly shove them down your fascist commie throat. Do the world a favor – google the pictures of Mussolini’s last day, think about how things could go for you, and then do us all a favor and disappear.
http://startkyleorton.blogspot.com TFranck

fascist commie… that can’t exist… owwwwwww my head.

1b: Lee
2b: Derosa
ss: ARod
3b: Ramirex

honestly if we go for A-Rod I have a feeling it’s that crazy fucker Cuban as our owner so why not grab a CF while we’re at it? Hey a guy can dream…
Jiraiya

C:Soto
1:Lee
2:Theriot/DeRosa (let ‘em slug it out in the preseason)
S:A-Rod
3:E-Ram

With Hank backing Geo, Ward backing Lee, and Fontenot doing his very best Doug Dascenzo impression.

Of course, this is pure fantasy, as it’ll take actual proof to convince me that anyone who owns the Cubs has the stones to go after A-Rod as aggressively as it would take, without crippling any other attempts at signing talent. Even Cuban.
http://hirejimessian.com Bad Kermit

I feel bad for Theriot if he’s forced to slug it out with anyone older than 12.
Ivory

Well… actually now that Toothpick has been with the Reds for a couple days contract negotiations with Neifi are in their final stages.

1B- Lee
2B- DeRosa/Theriot
3B- Ramirez
SS- A-Rod (if we have an owner) Renteria (if not) and if we can trade Dempster for him, screw A-Rod the team will automatically improve
PenFoe

No Changes – ain’t shit available out there in free agency.

C: Soto
1B: Lee
2B: DeRo
SS: The Riot
3B: Aramis
http://hirejimessian.com Bad Kermit

Good stuff is going on the (temporary shitty) Shoutbox about upgrading the SS position with Renteria. I just thought I’d put it in here for posterity.

Should Hendry make a phone call and try to get Renteria from the Braves by offering a deal starting with Marshall? He’s a big upgrade over Theriot, and he could easily hit 1 or 2 in the lineup.
Jiraiya

“Don’t cry for me, Rentaria.”

I admit he can hit for average, but he’s on the wrong side of thirty-two, has become a slightly below-average fielder, and not only injured his ankle but re-injured it the day after being activated, leading to him playing the second-lowest number of games in his career this year.

I don’t like it.

I don’t think he’d be horrible, but I really don’t trust him to be good, especially for a full season.
Jiraiya

Oh, hey, anybody hear about that Alexei Ramirez kid from Cuba?

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