Quote:
Originally Posted by jd1020
It was less to do with your belief about the Cubs needing a leadoff hitter and more to do with your belief that Fowler was the answer. I've been saying since Fowler was technically no longer a member of the Cubs the second Rizzo caught the last out of 2016 that they need a leadoff hitter. I've always believed that you need a table setter no matter what the analytics say in regards to putting someone like Rizzo leadoff vs someone like what Fowler used to be.
I just dont have a clue where you find it. I was really hoping with the Phillies offering that deal to Kingery that the Cubs could have made a move for Cesar Hernandez and I dont think it would have cost much more than flipping them CJ Edwards at the time, before he stuck his head firmly up his ass. Hernandez isnt something to write home about but hes patient, takes his walks, and makes contact. I could live with his lack of power because that's all I care about from a leadoff hitter.
Do they try to trade for Inciarte? Do they even have the pieces where it would make sense?
I just struggle to see where they can go. My best thought is looking at the Padres and seeing what it would take to get Margot and hope by some ****ing miracle he keeps up his 2nd half pace of getting on base like hes still in the minors.
|
The mistake the analytics often make is that they assume an abundant supply of Anthony Rizzos.
Yes, if you have your choice to clone Anthony Rizzo or Ender Inciarte and put them at leadoff, you take Rizzo because he can put numbers in himself and getting more ABs for an overall better hitter is important.
But NOT when you only have one Rizzo and by putting him at leadoff you impacted his ability to drive in guys.
The Cubs have a wealth of options really - they don't need a premier leadoff hitter because so many of their RBI guys can also get on base to churn the lineup. But they need a credible one; they need a .340 OBP guy, IMO.
And if needed you can shop 2b, 3b (presuming Bryant moves to OF) or really any OFer so you have a nice pool to choose from. Even a guy like Robbie Grossman would be worth pondering.
If y'all had the bullets left, Merrifield would be perfect. A guy that could play 2b in early innings while someone like Schwarber played OF, then move to the OF in the late innings as a defensive sub. I ain't gonna let you have him, but Kolten Wong is FINALLY doing what he needs to do to be a successful hitter - he'd be a damn nice fit there. Does Sin Soo Choo have
anything left at all defensively? Probably not; he's likely Sub-Schwarber at this point. David Peralta would look good up there.
Cesar Hernandez is probably about as low as I'd wanna go and still consider that anything more than the best of bad options. BABIP dependent leadoff hitters will cut your throat in the long run. His keystone partner there in Segura is a similar problem.
Y'know who might be available - Brett Gardner. I think there's just enough tread on the tires there to be worthwhile. FA next year and perpetually underrated. You could probably get him on a reasonable deal; 2 years max I would think.