Felipe Lopez?

**Clonegrad07** · 02-25-2010, 10:49 AM

WHY... oh WHY are the Cubs not interested in bringing in Felipe Lopez to play second base? I mean really... we want to leave it up to jeff baker/mike fontenot, when we could get Lopez, probably pretty cheap (2-3 mil/year), for one year to back up Theriot at short and play second.

Then next year, Castro can come up and play short and move The Riot to 2nd. It's a full proof plan...

**CylentButDeadly** · 02-25-2010, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Clonegrad07

WHY... oh WHY are the Cubs not interested in bringing in Felipe Lopez to play second base? I mean really... we want to leave it up to jeff baker/mike fontenot, when we could get Lopez, probably pretty cheap (2-3 mil/year), for one year to back up Theriot at short and play second.

Then next year, Castro can come up and play short and move The Riot to 2nd. It's a full proof plan...

I've already accepted that the Cubs' front office has no faith in this team contending for the Central this year. If the Cubs aren't in contention of a playoff berth in mid-July, then watch out, because they will trade/sell off some big name guys.

Unfortunately, Soriano & Fukudome's contracts make them untradeable.

**dtclones** · 02-25-2010, 10:57 AM

I thought they were already moving Theriot to second. I know they've been talking more about it.

**TarHeelHawk** · 02-25-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally Posted by dtclones

I thought they were already moving Theriot to second. I know they've been talking more about it.

Such a move makes too much sense for it to actually happen.

**Clonegrad07** · 02-25-2010, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by dtclones

I thought they were already moving Theriot to second. I know they've been talking more about it.

They're not moving him there this year.... he's the SS this year. However, with Castro coming up, and Kim behind him.... I see 2B in Theriot's future. I like him and what he brings to the Cubs so I hope he adapts well over there. He came up as a 2nd baseman in the minors.

**JP4CY** · 02-25-2010, 11:15 AM

I thought you were talking about Felipe Lopez that played at St. Johns basketball team when I was in high school, boy was I way off.

**TarHeelHawk** · 02-25-2010, 11:18 AM

Originally Posted by Clonegrad07

They're not moving him there this year.... he's the SS this year. However, with Castro coming up, and Kim behind him.... I see 2B in Theriot's future. I like him and what he brings to the Cubs so I hope he adapts well over there. He came up as a 2nd baseman in the minors.

It would make sense to move Theriot to second, and would solve 2 problems at the same time. Blanco has better range and a slick glove (which we saw hints of last year), and moving him to short would improve the team defensively, and moving Theriot to second would put him back at his natural position while improving the teams hitting from that spot, which was a black hole all of last season.

**Clonegrad07** · 02-25-2010, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by TarHeelHawk

It would make sense to move Theriot to second, and would solve 2 problems at the same time. Blanco has better range and a slick glove (which we saw hints of last year), and moving him to short would improve the team defensively, and moving Theriot to second would put him back at his natural position while improving the teams hitting from that spot, which was a black hole all of last season.

Well... Two problems with that:
A) Theriot's natural position is SS. Played it in HS and College and didn't get moved to 2nd base until he became a pro. So while I think he's got some experience at 2nd base, his natural position is SS.
B) Blanco doesn't hit a lick either... so it's 6 one, half dozen the other. Do we want the fontenot/baker combo hitting or do we want blanco hitting?

I might agree with you that I'd rather give Blanco a shot, but we're not going to uproot our starting SS who hit .300 just to give a non-hitting, 2 year vet a shot. I would say put Blanco at 2nd and give him his shot there. Then he can fill in for Theriot on his days off and we can play Fontenot at 2nd on Theriot's off days.

**JohnnyAppleseed** · 02-25-2010, 11:29 AM

Theriot would be an upgrade hitting wise over the other options, but Blanco certainly isn't. Baker was more than serviceable during his time with the Cubs, sure that might not carry over a whole season (hopefully Fontenot doesn't have a bad year again). I think keeping Theriot at SS is the best decision right now.

I am actually pretty optimistic about this season and I'm not sure why anyone who was last year wouldn't be this year. We subtracted Bradley with Byrd which helps the outfield defense and hitting. We have a solid lefty reliever. Our closer situation is settled. We just need to stay healthy and I think we have a great shot at winning the Central. I think the players will be ready to get after it after missing out on the postseason last year.

**gocubs2118** · 02-25-2010, 01:20 PM

We don't have any money left to spend.

**dinger** · 02-25-2010, 02:18 PM

Originally Posted by CylentButDeadly

I've already accepted that the Cubs' front office has no faith in this team contending for the Central this year. If the Cubs aren't in contention of a playoff berth in mid-July, then watch out, because they will trade/sell off some big name guys.

Unfortunately, Soriano & Fukudome's contracts make them untradeable.

we'll take byrd back from ya. we wouldve never let him go if the new ownership was in place but tom hicks and his shallow pocket didnt even give marlon a chance to stay. by trade deadline all t's will be crossed and new owners in place and checks will be being written as necessary.