We need a CF, Hendry

[SKIPPER 11]

Lou is obvoiusly unhappy with Pie, unless Pie tweaked something in last nights game. Lou came out the other day and said he was going to rest him 2 days and then he would be back in there. Pagan is playing today vs a RHP. That makes it 3 of 4 he has not played. Send him back down to work on things and go get somebody. I ll take a catcher too if you dont mind Jim.

[Doba]

Pagan and Pie can platoon that position all season for all I care. Pie is a good guy to have around. Him and Soriano get along real well. He is good defensively and fast on the bases.

Don't be so quick to demand changes. The chemistry feels good right now.

[SKIPPER 11]

Thats the problem he has to get the bases to show his speed. We need another bat either at C or CF. If Lou is gnot going to play him send him down to get ABs - thats all Im saying. Hes not getting any better picking splinters out of his butt. The Chemistry is good right now - we think. Everything is good when you win.

[zulusierra]

I wouldn't be so quick to send him down yet either. The cubs have been playing a lot better since he came back up. And I actually think a lot of Fontenot's success has come b/c he feels more comfortable w/ guys like Pie and Theriot around (but I could be wrong w/ that one). I like platooning him for now. In the games he is sitting out, he can be used as a pinch runner or a def. sub in close games. I understand your point about him needing the at bats, but w/ the team playing the way they are right now, I'd wait until we drop a series or two before I'd make any changes w/ the young guys.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Lou is obvoiusly unhappy with Pie, unless Pie tweaked something in last nights game. Lou came out the other day and said he was going to rest him 2 days and then he would be back in there. Pagan is playing today vs a RHP. That makes it 3 of 4 he has not played. Send him back down to work on things and go get somebody. I ll take a catcher too if you dont mind Jim.

They said at least 3 times I can remember that Pie is staying up. Send down Pagan hes proven to be inconsistent (The recent 3 run stop excluded) and Pie is our future center fielder. I may remind you guys that Pie is a true 5-tool player if one ever existed. After running Jones out of town (Its gonna happen) for what they call "bad defense", a loud minority should step back and see the double standard, but thats asking way too much from the field rushers.

[DLee25]

Hey guys we just won 6 games in a row with the catcher we have and pagan and pie in center. We need someone else. Sense of humor, but seriously we don't need anyone, We are doing fine right now, maybe a different catcher, I would not be a bit surprised if bowen gets moved again.

[SKIPPER 11]

If this guy, Pie , is so good he needs to step it up soon. All I have heard for 3 years is how great he is. He shows flashes but so did Cpatt. Im just saying we need offense from one of the 2 spots either C or CF.

[DLee25]

You need to realize the kid is 22-23 years of age. This is his first year in the majors, and I understand he is batting .228. The offense thing I sort of agree with, but we just did a back-2-back sweep, and that was without Derrek Lee even producing. He had NO RBI's that whole 6 games. IF our defense keeps up, and our run support keeps coming, then add lee in there, we don't need any offense from our CF or C. We are great defensively.

[SKIPPER 11]

A sweep is a sweep and we had 2 in a row. We did play the White Sox and Rockies though. The Rockies I think are a pretty good team. It does not matter wins all count the same and it is hard to beat anyone in baseball 3 straight. Everyone seems to be thinking that we should not try to improve our team because we are winning right now. I mean no one wants to see a change on the roster with Pie going down because it will mess something up. Well then why does everyone want JJ traded then. Hell, we cant let him go - it might mess the chemistry up. Eyre- we need him for chemistry purposes. We are not going to win 84 in row or how many ever is left. We have holes that need to be fixed.

[DLee25]

A sweep is a sweep and we had 2 in a row. We did play the White Sox and Rockies though. The Rockies I think are a pretty good team. It does not matter wins all count the same and it is hard to beat anyone in baseball 3 straight. Everyone seems to be thinking that we should not try to improve our team because we are winning right now. I mean no one wants to see a change on the roster with Pie going down because it will mess something up. Well then why does everyone want JJ traded then. Hell, we cant let him go - it might mess the chemistry up. Eyre- we need him for chemistry purposes. We are not going to win 84 in row or how many ever is left. We have holes that need to be fixed.

Actually, in all honesty, I wouldn't mind a big name guy to come to the cubs, it might look like i don't. Eyre? We need him for chemistry? Send him to texas to play with his brother for all I care. Jones? He needs a new team, he sucks with the cubs, and I honestly don't think it will hurt the chemistry, we can let him go, we just haven't got the right offers yet, and are not in a rush, that and noone wants to take his contract.

[SKIPPER 11]

I was being sarcastic about JJ and Eyre. Everyone seems to think to send Pie down will mess up the chemistry. Those 2 guys are part of this chemistry too, but no one minds seeing them go. Honestly, I would like to see JJ back in CF.

[SKIPPER 11]

You are right DLEE we need a big name. Look at our lineup. Friday we know who is playing 1st, 3rd, and LF and P. The other five positions we dont know. We can speculate and say certain guys will be in there but we dont know where. I dont care if it is Griffey, AJ, or whoever we need to stabilize at least one more spot. I mean Dero is going to play , but where. It would be nice if Font can play SS, but I just dont think can well enough at this level.

[DLee25]

If we get AJ, you honestly won't see me rooting on the cubs AT all this year.

[DLee25]

You are right DLEE we need a big name. Look at our lineup. Friday we know who is playing 1st, 3rd, and LF and P. The other five positions we dont know. We can speculate and say certain guys will be in there but we dont know where. I dont care if it is Griffey, AJ, or whoever we need to stabilize at least one more spot. I mean Dero is going to play , but where. It would be nice if Font can play SS, but I just dont think can well enough at this level.

Font is lightin' it up. He looks like he can do it at this level. Personally we need to trade Cesar before we get a CF and trade JJ too.

[SKIPPER 11]

I know Font can hit and play 2b, I was saying I dont know if he can be an everyday SS. His fielding % in the minor leagues playing SS was .930. At least thats what the stats say. His range looks great, I just dont know about the arm.

[zulusierra]

I was being sarcastic about JJ and Eyre. Everyone seems to think to send Pie down will mess up the chemistry. Those 2 guys are part of this chemistry too, but no one minds seeing them go. Honestly, I would like to see JJ back in CF.

I can't speak for the others but my point about the chemistry is that the team has been playing a lot better since Pie came back up. Soriano seems to play a lot better w/ him around and Fontenot is swinging like crazy. Am I saying Pie is the reason for this? No. Am I saying we should keep him around if he becomes a liability? No. All I am saying is be careful w/ the moves we make. In my opinion having these young guys up here is providing a spark that some of the veterans needed.
I have always been a fan of JJ's. Even through most of this year. But to argue that we need him in CF b/c of his offense doesn't seem right to me. He's just as much of an easy out as Pie. Throw him 3 breaking balls down and in (which is a pitch he used to kill w/ the Twins) and send up the next batter. I guess I just don't see where you are coming from on this one.

[SKIPPER 11]

I agree JJ has had it rough, but its like I said he just did not roll over one day and suck all of a sudden. To me he is one of those proven vets that can hit. He just has not shown it this season. Im all for trading him- but if we have to pay most of his salary and not get anything major league ready in return- I think we made the right move. Im like you- Ive been waiting for his breakout game all year and it just has not happened.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

You need to realize the kid is 22-23 years of age. This is his first year in the majors, and I understand he is batting .228. The offense thing I sort of agree with, but we just did a back-2-back sweep, and that was without Derrek Lee even producing. He had NO RBI's that whole 6 games. IF our defense keeps up, and our run support keeps coming, then add lee in there, we don't need any offense from our CF or C. We are great defensively.

Well said DLee, well said! So many misconceptions about the Cubs.

[SKIPPER 11]

best case scenario- Font can play SS

1. sORIANO LF
2. FONT SS
3. DLEE 1B
4. RAMMY 3B
5. FLOYD RF
6. DERO 2B
7. PIE CF
8. C

i JUST DONT SEE OUR CATCHERS HITTING .230 and Font scares the crap out of me playing SS

[SKIPPER 11]

What misconceptions?

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

What misconceptions?

The one I see is on their end considering our young talent is acceptable but the Brewers are no good because they are young. Go figure :confused: :confused: :confused:

[CubsFan23]

With some of the moves JH has made lately, I am leary of any trade he may put together right now. What we need most is a consistent lineup day in and day out.

[SKIPPER 11]

Thats the main point Im trying to make Cubsfan. We basically know 4 positions tomorrow. Im sure Font and Derosa will be in there too, but we just dont know where yet. This makes for a lot of question marks about our team. We need to solidify some things. If we go out and get a big name to play one of these positions that would seem to make things easier. I would love to see Font, Theriot, and Dero all in the same lineup. If you do that though that would take Floyd out, whom we need badly. I wonder of Theriot could play CF. If so that could help, but this would make us weaker in CF and at SS DEFENSIVELY. Taht diamond in the middle is key to having a good D. cf, ss, 2b, c

[BigZ38]

Pie is struggling but what kind of message will it send to him if you keep sending him up and down. They need to keep him up so that he can learn how to fight through adversity and a tough stretch. If you keep sending him up and down he'll never be able to work his problems out. Let him play and work out his problems in the bigs.

[SKIPPER 11]

Then let him play BigZ. He has been on the bench 3 of the last 4.

[SKIPPER 11]

Excellent point Sheffield and Waveland. The Brewers will falter because of their youth seems to be the thing. As far as Im concerned, if a player has started for 2 plus years he is considered a player. The only ones they have that havent started for 2 years is Braun- who leads their team in average and Hart- their leadoff hitter.
I guess Hardy could be considered in that group since he was injured most of last year. Their pitching staff are all vets- with exception of Guardado and a reliever named Villanueva. There bench is loaded with grizzled vets- Graffanino, Counsell, Mench, Miller.

On our side- people with less than 2 yrs experience- Koyie Hill, Bowen????, Theriot, Fontenot, Pie , Pagan, R. Hill, Marshall, Marmol, Guzman, when he returns, Petrick

It looks to me like we are counting on more younger players than they are. Age is not the factor- experience is.

[HEYHEY]

Ya know guys "If it ain't broke don't fix it" The double "p's" or "P twice" Pie and Pagan are both career centerfielders.Defensively there is no downside.You WILL see them both accel.plus Pagan's a switch hitter.Your looking at the wrong spot.Right field is the problem.If Floyd can play it everyday fine.

[SKIPPER 11]

We are 1 game under .500. Sure we are playing better right now but I dont think it has ever been fixed. It has always been broken. If Pie plays then I am fine with it. If he is going to play 25% of the time send him down, so he can get his ABs. That leaves Pagan and to me he is at best a fourth OF.

[SKIPPER 11]

Floyd will never be traded, not that I want him too- but he does need a couple of days off a week. Floyd is where he wants to be - HOME

[BigZ38]

Then let him play BigZ. He has been on the bench 3 of the last 4.

He had been playing everyday when he was struggling and Lou gave him a chance to come out of it but he didn't. Then Len and Bob mentioned if you had seen it that when Lou played with Torre their manager gave Torre a couple of days off when he struggled and it seemed to really help him. That's the only thing Lou is doing here is giving him a rest to let him recooperate so that he doesn't press as much.