Anyone at all optimistic about Izturis??

[Bockstock]

There has been alot of complaining about the offensive production of Izturis(let alone his ability to remain healthy, and good reason for both based on the last year and a half).

Is anyone optimistic he can significantly improve his offensive stats for next year??

The only reason I bring this up is that he did significantly improve his OBP/AVG/SLG (by almost 30-40 points each year) from 02-04 while he was playing fulltime. Through the first couple of months of 2005 he was on fire and putting up numbers deserving of hitting at the top of the order (.350/.402/.436 through the end of May while he was playing almost every day). However, come June, it seemed he was sitting out alot more, and his avg took an extreme nosedive (he had a measely .105 avg in June) and he only played in 34 games after July 1.

Granted I would rather have Murton or Theriot (when he is playing) in the #2 slot, but it is unreasonable to think that Ceasar might get back his 2004 form if he is close to 100% healthy??.

[bringbacktuffy]

I dont think its outside the realm of possibility, Im more concerned with his ability to play SS than with his bat. Depending on how ST goes im guessing he will be in the 7 or 8 spot and any production will be a bonus. If he can get back to gold glove caliber defense ill be happy.

[Brutus T Manstrength]

I'm not as concerned about his gold glove status as long as he's producing offensively.. however, if he's not producing offensively, he'd better be playing gold glove calibur defense..

[Doba]

In a perfect world I would have Izturis on the field and Cedeno at the plate. Ronnie really needs to work on his defense. It got pretty frusterating last year watching him. I'm not sold on Izturis at all. He has the most to prove on the team next year in my eyes.

[chicubs]

I think he's decent defensively,but I'm not sure about his bat.If he's healthy then yes i think he can be pretty good on offense.

[Al Spanglers ghost]

If Izturis can stay healthy,and play the gold glove type shortstop he's played for the Dodgers in the past,the Cubs won,t need much offense from him.
One of the Cubs biggest problems the past few seasons has been the inability to turn doubleplays.We need Izturis most for his glove,anything you get from his bat,probably batting in the 8 hole,would be gravy.

[diehardnorthsider]

Izturis needs to work on his offense a bit, thats for sure. I'm not sold on him either but I hope he can prove me wrong.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Great arm
Good range
Good speed

I really like Izturis, we don't need power shortstop, we need good D at short and 2nd base. IMO theres nothing wrong with him, just needs to stay healthy.:p

[Webgem]

I willing to see what he can do this year before throwing him out to the wolves.....:D

[ChiCubs1984]

I think Izturis is better known for his glove. I dont really care just as long as he can turn a double play come playoff time...lol

[newt07]

I have to agree with the others as far as the offense goes. We need stellar defense at SS and any offense will just be a bonus. we have the big guns for the offense. Remember, hitting is contagious, especially when you are playing winning baseball.

[Brutus T Manstrength]

You tell that to Ryan Howard and Andre Dawson.

[newt07]

I don't think the Cubs were playing winning baseball when Dawson was here. I'm talking about when all facets of the game are going good for a team. the pressure tends to lesson for the weaker hitters.
I'm not sure about the Howard situation.

[HOLYCOW!25]

If we didn't have the offense we have now, I wouldn't want him. But I think with the offense we have, we can keep him, because he is a very good defensive player.

[Brutus T Manstrength]

Newt- that's what I'm saying.. you said that hitting is contagious. Dawson won the MVP in what, 87? On a last place team, too..

[newt07]

Newt- that's what I'm saying.. you said that hitting is contagious. Dawson won the MVP in what, 87? On a last place team, too..

It sounded like you were disagreeing with my comment about hitting being contagious. My point was that I think Izturis will hit better on a good offensive team, due to less pressure.

[Webgem]

I'm optimistic....especially with all these new players and new coaching staff.

[Ivy Killa]

i'm optimistic as well...all we need at that position is defense and if he doesnt do a good job we can always go get someone else.

[john h]

There has been alot of complaining about the offensive production of Izturis(let alone his ability to remain healthy, and good reason for both based on the last year and a half).

Is anyone optimistic he can significantly improve his offensive stats for next year??

The only reason I bring this up is that he did significantly improve his OBP/AVG/SLG (by almost 30-40 points each year) from 02-04 while he was playing fulltime. Through the first couple of months of 2005 he was on fire and putting up numbers deserving of hitting at the top of the order (.350/.402/.436 through the end of May while he was playing almost every day). However, come June, it seemed he was sitting out alot more, and his avg took an extreme nosedive (he had a measely .105 avg in June) and he only played in 34 games after July 1.

Granted I would rather have Murton or Theriot (when he is playing) in the #2 slot, but it is unreasonable to think that Ceasar might get back his 2004 form if he is close to 100% healthy??.

I feel very good about Izturis. Think his glove will be great and he will bat .275 and steal a few bases.

[ghardy51]

If Izturis can stay healthy,and play the gold glove type shortstop he's played for the Dodgers in the past,the Cubs won,t need much offense from him.
One of the Cubs biggest problems the past few seasons has been the inability to turn doubleplays.We need Izturis most for his glove,anything you get from his bat,probably batting in the 8 hole,would be gravy.

This is the second smartest thing I have heard lately. Hey AS Ghost either you are a genius or we are both way off.

Who wouldnt want Tejada or A-Rod in his prime at short? But the key to the infield is strong defense out of the SS. Ozzie Smith was not a great hitter but he contributed in a big way defensively. Better than Tejada or A-Rod in my opinion. In fact I dont think you find to many supper SS in history that play gold-glove defense and hit .300/30/100.

I dont think the Cubs have a problem at SS they have a gaping hole in CF, a questionable closer and rotation that got better but is suspect without a healthy Prior.

If Jones ends up in center I think we will be hurting defensively. I doubt he had the legs to play CF anymore. If we trade him we will miss his bat and so will Aramis Ramirez. Thats why CF is the Cubs biggest question mark right now.

[bringbacktuffy]

As the old saying goes, pitching and defense wins championships. Im not expecting the cubs to win it all this year but, Izturis is a huge improvement at short over Ronny. If we keep Izzy for another year, Ronny could showcase the talent he has next year and hopfully years after. But in the meantime, we need a solid glove over a big bat at short. As for CF, we are in a quandry. If Pie wins the job LP could bat him low in the lineup where there isnt much pressure on him to deliver as opposed to 1 or 2. I think its inevitable that someone will be traded.

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

Actually I think alot of people was so focused on the pitching staff last year that they never really paid attention to the terrrible offense the Cubs had. The Cubs were very poor in the offensive category last year. They were ranked 15th in the NL in runs Scored, RBI's. They were ranked 16 in OBP, 14 in OPS. That is also a category the cubs must improve with and if they plan on improving I don't see room for Pie and Izzy in the same line up there just isn't enough room for two terrible bats in the line up.

[cubbyfanforever]

I'm o.k. with Izzy,I'm done watching Cedeno in a Cubs uniform,I was at a game,this guy can't throw a relay home.and I agree that there is a hole in CF.

[Shwerve]

Cedeno is young. He'll be fine in time. Pie is young. If he comes up now, we'll be saying the same things about him around this time next year. I'm tuckered out. Crown my @$$!

[scuba]

I think Izzy will be fine. He really has only had one decent year hitting, so you can't really expect that he is going to give you much offensively. With the moves we've made, I think we can afford to have a guy who is in the lineup mainly because of defense and not offense. I just don't want to see him hitting 2nd. He isn't good enough to bat there. ;)

[Al Spanglers ghost]

I think Izzy will be fine. He really has only had one decent year hitting, so you can't really expect that he is going to give you much offensively. With the moves we've made, I think we can afford to have a guy who is in the lineup mainly because of defense and not offense. I just don't want to see him hitting 2nd. He isn't good enough to bat there. ;)


True,dat!
He's best suited for the 8 hole.And his value is certainly in his glove,and not his bat.I just hope he can stay healthy.

[rm3sparks]

I had him on a fantasy team a couple years ago. He was hitting at top of order and I was pleased with his hitting

[ryno4ever]

The way I see this year is a brand new beginning. More so than in the past years. I am going to give all of the players the benefit of the doubt until they prove me wrong. Even Prior...I honestly think a lot of his problem is between his ears. I don't think he liked playing for Dusty, so he didn't. After the 2003 season both he and his dad made comments on how Dusty overused his arm, which if you watch "The Inning" in 2003 playoffs, he was at the 110 pitch count with no one warming up.

I like Izzy's glove... If we can get his bat and OBP match his glove, I won't be able to complain at all.

[HOLYCOW!25]

Yea, I was watching The Inning (I like how if you type The Inning in Wikipedia, the 2003 NLCS comes up) and he seemed to have a little trouble finding the strike zone up to that. Nothing terrible, but enough to tell he was starting to get tired and overused, and that someone needed to start warming up well before they did. I mean, it was the 8th inning of the NLCS, he should of replaced him so he was well rested to be ready for the World Series.