Cubs, Indians Interested In Roberts

If they can get marshall and cedeno the o's should do it tis second. Replace Bedard when he's traded and get a decent short stop.

joe morgan I agree with you about that trade...thats a good idea too.

Why exactly do the Cubs want or need Peralta, uww1? He doesn't bat left and he doesn't lead off, both of which seem to be what the Cubs are lacking at this point.

Well you're wrong about Roberts not leading off. Soriano is not the Cubs' leadoff hitter for their future. But regardless they still are heavily right-handed and Peralta does nothing to help that situation.

Oh please, I hope you don't buy into the crap the sports writers say about Soriano being unable to hit outside of the leadoff spot. Soriano is very predictable. It's cold he struggles, leadoff spot or elsewhere. When it warms up in Chicago so does Soriano. If he's worth the money, he can bat wherever they play him. And with his production, he should be batting 5th. You can't deny that. Also, I don't think Piniella has advocated that position this offseason. He said that last year when the Cubs had no other options. With Roberts he can move Soriano down in the order where he belongs.
Our batting order next year will begin Roberts, Fukudome, Lee, Ramirez, Soriano. You can book that.

Most likely we will get Roberts and thats what I am hoping. But there were rumors toward the beggining of the offseason that peralta might be available. He would be tons better then Theriot at SS. He would be a great 6th hitter for us, even could bat 5th and he is only 25 years old. Thats all I was saying.

Article says Mets had interest in Bedard, not Roberts- they just signed Castillo to 4 more years...

Article says Mets had interest in Bedard, not Roberts- they just signed Castillo to 4 more years...

i could not see a three way trade at all, it wouldnt happen. the cubs do need a ss, but i dont see your veiws on the deal going on at all.

yes, i agree with Soriano, Roberts, Lee, Ramirez, Fukudome. i could even see fukudome 3rd, then lee and ramirez. eh its just a thought...

I am just throwing this out there for an option and to see what you guys think. I have heard that Eric Patterson played some SS in the minors. Depending on what web site you look at he is listed as an OF or 2B. But what about getting him some experience at SS with a rotation with Theriot. If he can play good defensive there with our top 6 hitters, he wouldnt hurt us at all and he could work his way up to full time. What do you think? Just an idea...

Uww1-
Are you seriously trying to say that Soriano is one of the Best leadoff hitters in the league?

I mean I know most Cub fans are delusional just not this bad.

What makes Soriano so great at leadoff...is it his Stunningly awesome .345 OBP wait how about his 31 walks in 500 Plate apperances.

As a Brewer fan I am happy everyday that I see Soriano in the leadoff spot because he does not do enough to table set for Dlee and Aram... he does not walk enough...and I much rather have him hitting HRs with nobody on then 3 run HRs further down the order.

Just so everyone knows, Patterson's defense is below average at 2nd, so I'm thinking it would be pretty much atrocious at SS...hence trying him in the OF.

ahhh ok I for some reason had .345 in my head..but you are right it was a .337 last year and a .327 for his carrer.

So if they got Roberts his .376 or so OBP would be a much better option at the leadoff spot(top 5 in the league last year) and would make me more worried

If the Cubs were to get Roberts they would have to lead him off. A lineup similar to this would be very nasty.

Roberts
Lee
Ramirez
Fukodome
Soriano
Soto
Pie
Theriot

With the OBP of Roberts and Lee, Ramirez might get 150 RBI. You also get a nice mix of lefty and righty batters not stacked. Soriano also gets more protection in the lineup because of the high OBP of Fukodome.

The Cubs then can figure out a way to get DeRosa 450 at bats. For example, when the Cubs face lefties, Pie sits bench, Fukdome moves to center, and DeRosa plays right.

I see the Cubs making every push for Roberts, as they would significantly increase their OBP, which has been killing them. After adding him, I want them to add a starter to solidify a strong rotation. Then this offseason will be considered a great success.

Just throwing this out there but why not Roberts in CF? That gives Pie one more year in AAA and allows Derosa to play 2b. There would surely be a learning curve but.. I know Roberts has the speed. Its not something that I would think is impossible. Or.. he did start 47 games at SS in 2001.

I meant a SS of manily Theriot everyday. Then a Cedeno (unless traded) and DeRosa a couple times backup to rest Theriot will work for me. I have no problem of going for Roberts. But a big focus needs to be on another starter. Marquis and Dempster as 4 & 5 do nothing for me.

Because of the uncertainty of 3B for the future, its doubtful the Indians would trade Peralta. His size has led many to ponder a move there for a while, but the only thing is that he is currently one of the best fielders around at SS (most don’t realize this at all, but his range is rather amazing) I would think they would only move him to third if the bat upgrade was extreme (Roberts probably fits this) and/or they feel he will stay healthier physically resulting in possibly more power… If it did take place, it would happen with AsCab to SS (his natural position), Peralta to 3B, Blake to RF (where he proved to be a very good defender) and FrankieG to LF. It would also allow them to bat Sizemore 3rd, ie adding the big middle of the order bat. Does make sense if they do like Peralta to 3B, he might prove to be the best defending 3B in the game and Cabrera is a sick fielder at SS…

The biggest problem (for all teams interested) is that the O’s don’t even really want to trade Roberts. They have said that out of everyone on the club, he is the one they least want to move. Will he actually be traded? I doubt it, they openly wanted to deal Tejada if finding an attractive enough package and that took 2+ years for them to do. I don’t see him moving unless the other team blatantly overpays…

"By the AS break, it would probably be DeRosa as the everyday RFer."

What an idiot.

Darkstar = ignorance and loves to come on any cubs post and say stupid things. Yet another example...

How did we get on the DeRosa topic? I guess because the Roberts thing could happen. DeRosa in RF everyday is like DeRosa at SS everyday, no good. If the Cubs do not get Roberts, I guess we will have DeRosa at 2nd and that will clear up that.

I would really hope that Pie gets a full shot at CF this year. Good organizations not only nurture their players through the minors but put them in a position to succeed when they arrive. This team should not need Pie's offense to succeed. Put him in CF, bat him 8th and give him a season. His arm and his instints in the field should be enough. Doesn't it seem like if Corey Patterson never existed that Pie would be getting more love from the fans?

BTW, the outfield arms of Soriano/Pie/Fukodome should be entertaining - to think 2 years ago it was Murton/Pierre/Jones.

The lineup with or without Roberts is immaterial. There has been a lot of statistical evidence stating any random number of ways you put the same 9 guys in a lineup and simulate an entire season with them. The difference in runs scored is so close, it's concludes the lineup irrelevant. Obviously, putting your best hitters in the top 5 spots will score more runs than leading off with your worst 4 hitters, but it's because your best hitters will get more at-bats.

The Soriano can only bat leadoff argument is not well-researched. There has been only two seasons in which Soriano batted anywhere but leadoff more than 72 at bats. 2004-2005 when he was in Texas. You'd be really stretching it by saying his lone reason for struggling in Texas on him not batting leadoff. Unless you are facing single A ball, pitchers are going to try to get you out the same way no matter where you bat in the lineup. Hitters have tendencies batting 1st, 5th, or 9th. Soriano is likely to have an .850ish OPS wherever you bat him and it doesn't make too big of a difference where he bats.

"BTW, the outfield arms of Soriano/Pie/Fukodome should be entertaining - to think 2 years ago it was Murton/Pierre/Jones."

If Pie is not in a big SP trade, I'd love to see him get a full shot and do well. Quit pointing to the sky on a basehit and just shorten the swing and the strikezone. The arms you mentioned brought back horrible memories.

Theriot isn't a good hitter, but he could and should be average. He crapped out for the last month and a half or so of last year, so lets hope he can keep it up a full year this year.

If and when Pie bombs? Pie is still one of the best CF prospects in all of baseball, and the Cubs only need the guy to hit like .250 to be very helpful. Defensive STUD! Thats whats important here, the lineup doesn't really need him, he will just be nice to have.

Fuld's stock is rising, and you can bet that he will be at least getting a chance to get some playing time as well. I think he is a 4th outfielder at best, but he could develop into a very good 4th outfielder. And yes, Murton would be playing the OF before DeRosa would...period. There isn't any question there...really none at all. He is just as good defensively and a better hitter, its just logical.

The outfield defense and arms are going to be sick next year, thats for sure. I can't wait for that, its been a long time since I really liked the outfield defense. A LONG time.

I think Hendry has one more big move up his sleeve, and I feel like its EITHER Roberts or a starting pitcher. The problem is, I really think that Gallagher is as good as anyone they could get without giving up the farm.

Oh, and Soto's defense alone improves this club tremendously. Look at the hitting production of the catchers last year...he could hit .200 and be an improvement. Its not really hard to see what a guy that Bill James projects to have a .850ish OPS will bring to this team. I can't wait for next year. Go get Roberts Jimmy! I hope they don't have to give up Gallagher...but I have a feeling McPhail knows better than to substitute Marshall...

To get both? If it could even happen, it would take something like

Gallagher\Murton\Pie\Veal\Patterson\Cedeno\Marshall

And thats if they would take a quantity trade instead of quality, which they would probably be stupid to do. Why would they take this trade if they could get the Homer Bailys of the world?

Oh and as far as how Soriano hits elseware (and this could be some coincidence of course, but you have to admit it’s a little striking…)

~ 2007: His first 29 games he is hitting .312/.353/.512 and on a 10 game run of hitting .348/.400/.609. He is moved to the 3 hole and proceeds to go .179/.258/.286 over the next 7 games.

~ 2006: .273/.333/.606 line in first 9 games of the season out of the 5 spot, he is moved to Leadoff and goes .372/.413/.651 over the next 9 and .324/.377/.535 over the next 77 PA before being moved back to the 3-hole. Once hitting 3rd, he instantly plummets back to .175/.195/.400 for 10 games and they put him back at leadoff ~ where he goes .324/.419/.730 the next 10 and .287/.366/.588 the rest of the way until they again try him in the 3 spot for some reason… The final 7 games of the season, .120/.258/.280 from the 3 spot.

~ 2004 & 2005 of course you looked up the splits

~ 2003 we see the same exact thing though. .316/.383/.577 over first 49 games and .325/.357/.575 over the previous 9 when the Yankees move him to 3rd ~ he goes .233/.244/.465 the next 9 games from the 3-hole. He didn’t actually break out of the little slump as soon as moving back to the leadoff spot like he has done in recent years, and as a whole he finishes the season with a .283/.323/.505 over the final 98 games in the leadoff-spot (other than a 8&9 for a couple random games)

…Its just trippy to look at, its really the most unusual thing I have ever seen from a player. Its like as soon as he is taken out of that leadoff spot he puts up a mental block and tanks until they put him back into it. As soon as he is back in it, almost always right back to the good stats. I would say its probably just coincidence if it didn’t happen every single time ~ with it happening with each and ever move out of that leadoff spot though…well…

Doesn’t matter though, I just really cant see them hitting him anywhere but Leadoff; and if I had him on my team that’s exactly where I would want him…

dark-

We all know Soriano will chase junk. This is not news. The question is where to bat him. Hmmm. He likes leadoff because it is fact leadoff hitters see more fastballs. He can hit a fastball. He can crush a low fastball. Okay, his strikeouts are high and his walks are low for leadoff. Bat him lower. Okay, say at 4th or 5th or even 6th...the RBI spots. What about his speed? You got to get on first, first. Does anyone think pitchers will throw a BP, beach ball, come and get it fastball with runners on? Sometimes they will. Mostly they will not. Back to the throwing junk. Slider low and away. The numbers over time point out he hits well at leadoff, no where else. It is a thing you live with if he is on your team. Not the traditional leadoff guy as far as OBP, but bats best at leadoff with other stats. I would bet Soriano leads off most of the time. Not just because he demanded it when signed, but because it works best for him. If The Cubs get Roberts, I still say Soriano leads off and Roberts bats 2nd.

Just my thought.

God, I am so tired of hearing this crap about Soriano. They need to have a batting coach LIVING with Soriano 24/7 teaching him patience. End of story. He needs that bad. I need that bad. And I dont understand why everyone is bagging on Theriot. The guy is a late inning sparkplug. Who says he hasnt grown or matured yet either. Now that said, I still bench him if Roberts comes and play DeRosa at short, IF HE'S COOL WITH THAT! Seriously you snakes give Theriot some time to grow a little, learn how to hit and what's most likely to be thrown in what count, by what guy. See it's alot to know. Imagine if everyone wanted their Big Mac made different! You're telling me you'd never mess it up the first few times. I know you would you bastards cuz you mess up my order all the time and I get whats already on the freakin menu! Apply your harsh criticisms to your own work. It sucks. Im a brain surgeon, I killed like four dudes before getting it right.

I asked Keith Law about Gallagher and he said he is probably a middle of the rotation guy who could be starting at the back of the rotation right now. Thats why I would dump Marquis and or Dempster and just start Gallagher. Then trade Colvin\Marshall to get Roberts and you are good to go. The Cubs win 90 games next year if they get Roberts and start Gallagher in the 5 hole.