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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

I can't understand why they don't just put Hoffpauir out there. The guy had 25 homers and 100 RBI in under 300 at bats in AAA and performed outstandingly with the Cubs too. Maybe they just dont trust him in such limited big league at bats? Or maybe they don't like him as an outfielder?

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Go Cubs!!!!

Teahen > Haufpower. By far, its not even close.

Us Sox fans see him enough with the Royals. He's a teriffic hitter, and has gone from a mediocre 3rd basemen to a solid rightfielder. I would take Teahen over Fukudome, Haufpaiur, Reed Johnson, and maybe even Soriano 8 days a week.

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His career numbers do not really support that type of praise Frank.

He is a career .268 hitter averaging 14 HRs 74 RBIs

What makes him so great?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Teahen typically did well against the Sox. The thing I remember about him is that he's a wierd one as lefties go since he does better average wise versus LHP than RHP, but has more power against RHP. He's also entering the 'prime' at age 27. The Cubs could do much worse than Mark Teahen.

Easier to hit HRs in Wrigley and easier to get more RBI with an offense like the Cubs. Teahen would probably be near 30HRs nad 90 RBI if he had 500 at bats with the Cub.

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oh man...thats good... whew...that was rich...



ok ok ok, i think ive got it together now...







ok ok - now im good...

frank, really, all kidding aside, how do you think teahen would do for the cubs?

.268 14 74 does not impress me. A guy who hits 25 homers and knocks in 100 in under 300 AB's -thats HALF a season!!!! that impresses me. What he did with the Cubs in hitting .342 with a couple homers, also impressed me. He has more power than Teahen, and would likely hit for a higher average than .268. Just because a guy hits one team well, means nothing. His career numbers are much more telling. They tell me-No thanks. I would much rather give Hoffpauir the opportunity. This smacks of Jacque Jones all over again.....

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Go Cubs!!!!

YES....A leadoff hitter. If they want to go get an outfielder, it should be a full time CF. Then, they can either get Roberts and play a platoon of DeRosa and Hoffpauir in Right, or sign Furcal, move Theriot to 2B and do the same in RF. What to do about Fukadome is the big question? They still are on the hook for 3 more years. Yet based on what he did the last half of the season, they really can't be counting on him as the everyday right fielder.

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Go Cubs!!!!

first off, they need to trade Hoffpaur before he's exposed as just another Cubs prospect.

Secondly, yes I'm agreeing with Frank. Teahan is better than anything the Cubs have. Put him in right and move Fuk to center.

Third, get Roberts or Furcal. That will make the difference. I'd prefer Roberts.

Fourth, make a hard advance on just one more pitcher...the big man, Lowe. Forget about Peavy and his Petco stats. Get a groundball pitcher.

Fifth, bring in Johnson and find out if Lieber has anything left in the tank. Another sinkerballer for Wrigley.

Sixth, resign Hank Whitey.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I would love to see them get Lowe and Roberts. That would be ideal in my book.

I am not sold on Furcal, seems he is hurt more than actually playing.

We can do without Peavy.

Moving Fukudome to center? Hopefully he will return to his hitting form from the first couple months last year, but would it be wise to move him into such a key position while he is trying to regain his hitting?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

It's being reported that KC has traded for Coco Crisp which means they have an extra OF to trade. I would target DeJesus over Teahen but either would be an upgrade over Sukudome.

im not against lowe or roberts, but my question is what do you do with derosa if you get roberts - RF everyday, or make him the supersub him and get rid of fontenot? the cubs have a lot of 2nd basemen, and if they got roberts, someone would have to go, and i would assume then fontenot would be the odd guy out.

i would not give up on fukudome altogether as the starting RF - yes he looked HORRIBLE for the last 3 months last year, but it will be interesting to see how much of a chance he gets to work things out in the spring and early season next year. it is hard to imagine that swing working long-term in the big leagues, but he is a pro, maybe he can get things worked out this off-season. i still love him as a defensive RF, and depending on what else the cubs do, bat him 8th and see if he can work it out. its not like this club cant score runs without his stick.

Hoffpaur is 28 years old. He's looking more and more like a prototypical 4A player. He's not a good defensive player and strikes out a ton. I understand wanting him as an extra bat, but counting on him as an everyday RF is a stretch.

even if they got roberts, this team still has a huge left-handed deficiency in the middle of the lineup, now that fukudome has shown it unlikely he can be a middle-of-the-lineup guy. this needs to be addressed, or this team could be facing the same fate next season.

I've said it before and I'll have to defend it again, but center is easier to play than right. I'm confident he can play center in Wrigley, and just about everywhere else too.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

To me this is the biggest problem in the Cubs lineup and should be the Cubs top priority moreso than getting a Roberts or Furcal. Even if you get a leadoff hitter, it means that Soriano is now in the middle of the lineup with Lee, Ramirez, Soto, Derosa etc. Way too many righthanded hitters.

soriano batting leadoff did not end up being as big a problem for the cubs as feared, because the bottom of the lineup was so productive. he had a lot of men on base, and he did a pretty good job getting them around. still, with his talents, he should be a middle-of-the-lineup guy, so i can understand the want for a leadoff guy, but i dont think it is a big a need as a left-handed power bat., 6-7 righties in a row in the middle of your lineup is a pretty big issue.

a leadoff man's job is to see as many pitches in his first at bat as he can. Soriano may have had decent numbers, but he's not a leadoff hitter. Lofton was an excellent leadoff hitter because he wasn't concerned with much other than seeing a ton of pitches and then going the other way with something. That's what a leadoff hitter should be, even though he may not leadoff an inning after the first.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

no disagreement - i am just saying leadoff isnt the cubs BIGGEST problem. they were able to overcome the lack of a true leadoff man thanks to a very good lineup, and in a lot of situations it was a real benefit to have a slugger at the top. they need a decent lefty bat to throw in the middle of that lineup more, in my opinion.

Teahen is a complementary player. He's not a difference maker. The Cubs would have been better off (should they make a move like this) in just giving the job back to Fukadome, hope he earns his salary this season, and try to get Wood signed for a 1 year deal.

the Cubs need complementary players...players who fulfill specific roles. They won 96 games. The fact that they choked doesn't mean a total team makeover or a pursuit of the best player available. They have very specific needs and they don't need superstars.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

they need a productive left-handed bat. that is why they got fukudome, to be a productive middle-of-the-lineup guy. i still think fuk can be valuable, but they have a very important need to fill here, and they CANT go into next season without addressing it. im not saying the team needs an overhaul, but they need that missing piece, and it is more than complementary.

Personally I have crunched some numbers and would rather have Bobby Abreu over Teahen Dejesus or Ibanez.....

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personally post those crunched numbers. I don't want Abreu, but I could be convinced...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Teahen 27 years old

AB 572 R 66 H 146 2B 31 3B 4 HR 15 RBI 59 SO 131 Avg .255 OBP .313 OPS .715 SB 4

Ibanez 36 years old

AB 635 R 85 H 186 2B 43 3B 3 HR 23 RBI 110 SO 110 Avg .293 OBP .346 OPS .818 SB 2

DeJesus 28 years old

AB 518 R 70 H 159 2B 25 3B 7 HR 12 RBI 73 SO 71 Avg. 307 OBP .360 OPS .782 SB 11

Abreu 34 years old

AB 609 R 100 H 180 2B 39 3B4 HR 20 RBI 100 SO 109 Avg .296 OBP .371 OPS .842 SB 22

The way I see it Teahen seems like a bit of unrealized potential. Ibanez is going to be 37 next season and I think a decline for him could come quick and suddenly. Abreu has the highest OBP and OPS out of the group plus he has played in Philly and New York so he wouldn't be new to the pressure of the playoff push that the Cubs are trying to make. The only downside could be his price-tag but since the Trib knows they won't be picking up the tab on the remainder of these contracts they sign this year they might go for it. Plus you could plug him into the 3 spot in the lineup and move the Human DP machine to 5th or 6th. Just one man's humble opinion.

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well done. You're officially on my good list, Phil. I'd still rather Teahan, because he'll come cheaper even after arbitration. I woudn't be opposed to Abreu...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

I wouldnt be completely opposed to Teahen if all they have to give up to get him is Pie but at best he seems like a 4th outfielder to me and will end up splitting time with DeRosa. I don't think its a terrible move I just don't see how its going to push the Cubs over the hump in a playoff series.

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I think I would rather have Adam Dunn over any of those guys if we are going for a lefty OF with some pop.

But Teahen does not sound too bad, and hopefully he would live up to his potential.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Adam Dunn 29 years old

AB 517 R 79 H 122 2B 23 3B 0 HR 40 RBI 100 SO 164 AVG .236 OBP .386 OPS.895 SB 1

In my mind I still rather have Abreu. Dunn is a butcher in the field and if you put him and Soriano at the corners that is going to seriously impare your team defense. And on top of that he is a stiff who either hits a homerun strikes out or walks. He didn't do much to help the D-backs reach the playoffs after they aquired him last year. For the money Dunn is going to get I hope the Cubs stay far far far away.

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