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Inbox: Should Fuld be center fielder?
Beat reporter Carrie Muskat answers Cubs fans' questions
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com
11/23/09 9:46 PM EST
Sam Fuld, Cubs prospects, Rudy Jaramillo's influence and second base are among the topics in this week's Inbox. Please send your questions and include your full name and hometown to cubsinbox@gmail.com.
Have the Cubs considered Fuld to play center field next year? From what I've seen, he's by far the best outfielder of anyone on the roster and he has a great on-base percentage (both in the Majors and Minors). It would seem economically reasonable along with re-signing Reed Johnson. They both generate a lot of energy, something in short supply last year.
-- Mike H., Santa Ana, Calif.
Fuld, who batted .299 in 65 games with the Cubs, will get a chance, and could be a perfect option for a fourth outfielder. Lou Piniella has said he'd like another RBI guy in the mix. Fuld didn't help his case by totaling two RBIs, and those were in his last game, Oct. 4. Clarence H. of Jackson, Miss., wrote to suggest the Cubs go with youngsters like Nelson Perez, Tyler Colvin or Brad Snyder. I haven't seen Perez, but was impressed -- as was Piniella -- with Colvin in center during his brief call-up at the end of the year. Reed Johnson is a free agent, and his return will depend on whether he, his agent, and the Cubs can agree upon a workable contract.
I'm sick over this talk of trading for Curtis Granderson. The Cubs finally have a future foundation of impact prospects on their way, and we're talking about trading it away for Granderson? I agree with [ESPN.com's] Keith Law on the idea -- no thanks. Imagine in 2011 or '12 with [Josh] Vitters at third, [Starlin] Castro and Hak-Ju Lee up the middle, Brett Jackson or Colvin in center field and [Geovany] Soto behind the plate. Not to mention [Andrew] Cashner and [Jay] Jackson in the rotation with [Carlos] Marmol at the back end of the bullpen. The Cubs would be so flush with cash and flexibility, it'd be coming out of their ears. Kind of like, oh, I don't know, the Red Sox?
I'm so giddy about the solid foundation of homegrown talent that I would be completely fine with just competing in 2010. I'm sick of 100-year talk and every year having to be the year. Let's slow down once, be patient and build this baby for the long haul.
-- Peter O., Chicago
Baseball America recently projected the Cubs' 2013 lineup as: Soto at catcher, Derrek Lee at first, Castro at second, Aramis Ramirez at third, Hak-Ju Lee at short, Vitters in left, Jackson in center, and Kyler Burke in right. According to Baseball America, the rotation four years from now will be Carlos Zambrano, Jackson, Chris Carpenter (not the Cardinals' ace), Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells, with Cashner as the closer.
Would I like to see that? Yes -- or something close to that. Will the Cubs do that despite a fan base and media that seem to demand instant gratification? I don't know.
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I just wanted to say I believe signing Jaramillo will help Milton Bradley. I know Jaramillo does not take a lot of nonsense. It just seems like a great move to bring someone in that Bradley is familiar with (and has had success with) and can hopefully put him back on the right track. Has Bradley mentioned anything about the signing?
-- Greg H., Elmhurst, Ill.
The Cubs' decision to hire Jaramillo was not connected to Bradley. However, if GM Jim Hendry can't move the switch-hitting outfielder, having Jaramillo on the team will give Bradley someone he is comfortable with.
The Cubs had problems last year determining an everyday second baseman. There are many candidates such as Dan Uggla, whom the Marlins are trying to unload, and even free agent Chone Figgins. I see the biggest need this offseason is to get an everyday second baseman. What do you think?
-- Blair S., Chesterfield, Mo.
Figgins is versatile, but he has played more games at third base and outfield than second. Don't think teams are looking at him for second. Uggla is coming off a season in which he batted a personal-low .243 in 158 games with 31 homers, 27 doubles and 90 RBIs. He also struck out 150 times. He made 16 errors, second most among NL second basemen, and has committed double-digit errors every season. There has been talk that the Marlins want him to change positions. Uggla also is expensive. He was paid $5.35 million in 2009 and is arbitration-eligible.
The Mets are believed to be interested in moving Luis Castillo, 34. A switch-hitter, he batted .264 against lefties and .319 against right-handers, and he made 11 errors. He's also expensive. Castillo has two years remaining on his four-year deal, and he is owed $12 million ($6 million each year).
Cubs second basemen did struggle in '09, combining to hit .254 with seven homers and 49 RBIs. I think the in-house option of Jeff Baker is better than Castillo or Uggla. Baker posted a .288 average in 81 games, hit four homers, 15 doubles and drove in 24 runs. He made three errors total last year (two at second, one at third). Both he and Mike Fontenot, who is still on the roster, are arbitration-eligible, and both are better defensively than Uggla or Castillo. People need to stop suggesting Alfonso Soriano move back to second. He was switched to the outfield for a reason.
And the biggest need on my offseason wish list is moving Bradley.
How did Jackson, DJ LeMahieu, Austin Kirk and Christopher Rusin do in the Minor Leagues this year? Which one is most likely to make it to the Cubs roster or to any MLB roster?
-- Dean S., Goshen, Ind.
If I were a betting person, I'd put my money on Jackson and LeMahieu to get to the big leagues before Kirk and Rusin. Jackson, the Cubs' No. 1 pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, batted .330 in 24 games at Class A Boise with one homer, one double, one triple and 15 RBIs. He was promoted to Class A Peoria and hit .295 in 26 games with seven homers, five doubles, one triple and 17 RBIs.
In 28 games at Peoria, LeMahieu batted .316 with four doubles, two triples and 30 RBIs. Kirk pitched in five games with the Mesa Rookie League team and two games with Boise, which isn't enough to gauge. Rusin pitched in 11 games total. He started eight at Boise and struck out 27 and walked nine over 31 innings.
Do you think the Ricketts family would approve a "Goat Day" at Wrigley Field? On this day, a goat and its handler (like from a petting zoo) would be allowed onto the field to watch the game and therefore undo the curse of the billy goat. I say do it.
-- Scott R., Dixon, Ill.
The Cubs tried that in 1994, when a goat was led onto the field (and through the bullpen while Steve Trachsel was warming up). It didn't work. Besides, the Ricketts family doesn't believe in curses.
Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
