Cubs RF Platoon

[Warning Track Power]

I know this helps us but I got to thinking if we were in the position how frustrated we would be...

 

I think we all agree that for the Cubs to even sniff the playoffs, more things would have to go right for them than they did for the Bears in 2010 (see 4 3rd string QBs faced). So it is pretty safe to assume that they are likely, at best, the 3rd place team in the Central in 2011 (I think this is plausible as I feel the Cards are the Cubs are both likely to finish right at .500).

 

With that in mind, how upset would you be as a fan if the Brewers plan would be to platoon Kosuke Fukudome and Tyler Colvin? Colvin seems to be a stud in the making and scares the heck out of me for the future. I understand he's a little bit older of a prospect, he will be 26 in September, but if all you are realistically playing for is 3rd place, I can't imagine why you would, under any circumstances, platoon RF. The kid's potential seems pretty high and I can only imagine the outrage in Milwaukee if this were our RF situation. It would be like the Brewers starting Jeff Suppan and making Mark Rogers the long man this season.

[dadofandrew]

Fokudome had a 800+ OPS last year, and hits RHP very nicely. He deserves to play. The cubs simply have too many quality OF's, and a contract they cannot move.

[Baldkin]

They should've moved Soriano to 1B this off season. That would've been the smart move. I would've been a lot more scared of them as a team then.

[HiAndTight]

I know this helps us but I got to thinking if we were in the position how frustrated we would be...

 

I think we all agree that for the Cubs to even sniff the playoffs, more things would have to go right for them than they did for the Bears in 2010 (see 4 3rd string QBs faced). So it is pretty safe to assume that they are likely, at best, the 3rd place team in the Central in 2011 (I think this is plausible as I feel the Cards are the Cubs are both likely to finish right at .500).

 

With that in mind, how upset would you be as a fan if the Brewers plan would be to platoon Kosuke Fukudome and Tyler Colvin? Colvin seems to be a stud in the making and scares the heck out of me for the future. I understand he's a little bit older of a prospect, he will be 26 in September, but if all you are realistically playing for is 3rd place, I can't imagine why you would, under any circumstances, platoon RF. The kid's potential seems pretty high and I can only imagine the outrage in Milwaukee if this were our RF situation. It would be like the Brewers starting Jeff Suppan and making Mark Rogers the long man this season.

Why would the Cubs concede the division at this point and operate under the assumption they are only played for 3rd?

 

Fukudome is a very solid RF'er and that team is talented enough that if they have some guys bounce back, they could be a very good team.

A 1-3 of Zambrano, Dempster and Garza could be very good.

Lineup of Aram, Soriano, Soto, Pena, Fukudome/Colvin, Castro and Byrd COULD very well provide a lot of pop, and they've got a loaded back of their pen.

 

What's more, Fukudome, as I said is a positive player. I'd welcome him in Milwaukee right now. Suppan was bad. I would never equate the two.

[Invader3K]

I drafted Fukudome in my NL-only fantasy draft last night, so that proves he's a winning player. /blue

 

Seriously, though, I don't think this is a really big deal for the Cubs like you're making it out to be.

[Ennder]

Fukudome is one of the most underrated players in baseball. The Cubs have a realistic shot at the division, there is no great team in the NL Central.

[JohnBriggs12]

Fukudome is not a $13.5 million dollar player and that's what he'll make this year. Cubs will play him enough that if and when they are out of it, they might be able to interest a team in renting him. But they'll also play Colvin enough both in RF and LF to get him 400 AB's. It's not a platoon. Both are left handed hitters.

[CheezWizHed]

When Corey Hart came up, I know the Brewers played him in a soft platoon with someone else. I know I was upset by it (Hart wasn't the stud in the system, but he recently had won the AA MVP, so no slouch either) at the time. But looking back on it, it wasn't a bad idea. He wasn't quite ready to tear up the league, but it gives him some experience without throwing him in the deep end.

 

BTW, the Suppan/Roger comparison is way off base. Its no where near that extreme. But I will add on that note, that breaking a pitcher in to the MLB in the bullpen is not a bad idea. Its not something for every pitcher, but for some it wouldn't be bad. If Rogers had been more developed when he had his arm injuries (say he already had put in plenty of AAA time), starting him in the bullpen the first year back from his injuries wouldn't have been a bad idea (then returning him to starting the next year of course).

[Warning Track Power]

Ok, well apparently everyone disagrees with me. However, a couple of points...

 

*I never said the Cubs should concede the NL Central, I stated that the Cubs are a .500-ish team right now and that everything would have to go right for them to win the division over the more talented Brewers and Reds. I actually am more afraid of them than the Cardinals because I think their pitching staff is better than StL. But I still believe they are a 79 to 83 win team.

 

*I wouldn't consider starting Colvin over Fukudome conceding the NL Central. Colvin is good, may be better than Fukudome and could be the RF in Chicago for the next decade. Fukudome as the 4th OF is legitimate as the Cubs may not be bringing him back to Chicago next season. Based off his rookie season, Colvin could be a 30 HR guy with 600 ABs. Why not play the kid who outperformed Fukudome last season and give him more ABs?

 

*I would welcome Fukudome in Milwaukee right now as well as the 4th OF. I would rather play Gomez though and see if he can reach his potential this season as he adds a dimension missing in the OF with D and on offense with his speed. To me, a Gomez/Fukudome question in Milwaukee is the equivalent of the Colvin/Fukudome question in Chicago.

 

*I also drafted Fukudome and Colvin in my NL-only draft. When combined last season, their stats are:

 

716 ABs (Each had 358 ABs)

105 Rs (Colvin had 15 more Rs)

33 HRs (Colvin had 7 more HRs)

100 RBI (Colvin had 15 more RBIs)

13 SBs (Fukudome had 1 more SB)

 

That is a pretty good stat line for one OF for one position in fantasy. Of course these are just fantasy stats.

 

*As for my Suppan/Rogers comparison...well it may have been off base with the explanation but I think is still valid. If Fukudome had a lesser contract, I wonder how much he would be playing or if he would be in Chicago at all? If he had say a $6MM/year deal, maybe the Cubs would have found a trade partner. I think we all realize Suppan only received a few starts last season because of his contract. As was mentioned, Fukudome is nowhere near as bad as Suppan but I believe he is only going to receive playing time because of his contract because he is blocking a potential stud in Colvin.

[Invader3K]

Fukudome may be overpaid by a bit, but you have to remember that the Cubs have a decently larger budget than the Brewers. They can afford to overpay guys and we really can't.

[rcon14]

I really like Tyler Colvin as a player. Think he deserves to play.