POLL: position that you'll least enjoy watching this year

[nathanKent]

Same as the other poll.... pick based on the entire depth of the position, not just the starter.

[nathanKent]

This one was a tossup for me. I'm concerned about the rotation. Lilly hasn't shown much in spring training, and you can't pay me enough to trust Dempster and Marquis. (Okay, you can. I accept PayPal.) I think we'll ultimately work it out though, because Lieber, Marshall, and Gallagher are all still viable replacement options. SS worries me too. I still don't like Cedeno. I like Theriot, but I, like just about everybody else, have little difficulty envisioning the wheels coming off the bus. Then there's the inevitable outing with Fontenot at SS.... hilarity ensues.... And I still miss Izturis, who was almost as valuable as Blanco in my opinion.

Ultimately though my area of biggest concern is CF.... same as last year. Last year we watched Soriano falter and potentially ruin some of his long term value. Then we watched Pie put on a Cedeno-esque performance at the plate (that's not entirely fair.... Pie was at least somewhat interesting to watch.... Cedeno just bores me). Then Pagan and Jones. Sam Fuld was probably the most exciting thing at CF last year. That speaks volumes.

This year we've put most of our eggs in the Pie basket. Moreover, in pursuing a right fielder instead of a steady centerfielder, we've robbed our second best offensive outfielder from even getting a spot on the roster. So we're trusting two unproven players in a year where I feel our entire efforts should have been focused on ensuring immediate success--Lee, Ramirez, and Soriano aren't getting younger, and Wood and DeRosa are both likely gone next year. But whereas I can see Fukudome coming around by June, I have little to no faith in Pie.

If I had some reason to believe that a Pie failure would translate into Fukudome at CF and the return of Murton, I would feel comfortable. But my gut feeling is that a Pie failure will translate into Pie at CF.

[Bob Sacamento]

Not totally getting the Q, but the position that I have the LEAST amount of concern over is 1B. Lee is a defensive monster who makes his 2B look good on range and his SS/3B unaccurate arms look better than they are. Lee is the best 1B the Cubs have had since the days of Mark Grace. Lee's had a power outage in 07 and spring but he'll spruce'n up as the season progresses, still don't look for him to ever duplicate his 2005 numbers yet better his 07 stats.

[nathanKent]

Not totally getting the Q, but the position that I have the LEAST amount of concern over is 1B. Lee is a defensive monster who makes his 2B look good on range and his SS/3B unaccurate arms look better than they are. Lee is the best 1B the Cubs have had since the days of Mark Grace. Lee's had a power outage in 07 and spring but he'll spruce'n up as the season progresses, still don't look for him to ever duplicate his 2005 numbers yet better his 07 stats.

The question is which position is making you wince. Which one makes you want to get up and go get another beer rather than watch the guys playing there?

[Bob Sacamento]

The question is which position is making you wince. Which one makes you want to get up and go get another beer rather than watch the guys playing there?

Oh well if that's the criteria than SS (b/c it will mostly be played by TheRiot) wins by far.

[wrigleybum]

Yes, Shortstop for sure. I love The Riot, but he is a big question mark. He can be solid at SS for sure, but I feel like he is a better bench player who can provide a spark.

Any the thought of Ronny Cedeno getting time, at some point in the season, makes me want a Old Style. I can see him sailing the ball into the 4th row right now...

[Scartissue]

Not totally getting the Q, but the position that I have the LEAST amount of concern over is 1B. Lee is a defensive monster who makes his 2B look good on range and his SS/3B unaccurate arms look better than they are. Lee is the best 1B the Cubs have had since the days of Mark Grace. Lee's had a power outage in 07 and spring but he'll spruce'n up as the season progresses, still don't look for him to ever duplicate his 2005 numbers yet better his 07 stats.

Speaking of Grace and Lee, when Lee's retired, it could be debatable who's better. Lee's 2005 is far better than any year Grace had, but Grace put together so many more solid years. Right now, Lee's behind grace by a fairly wide margin because he hasn't had as many good years. On the other hand, Lee's someone I think will age gracefully, so might string enough years together to make it at least arguable.

[nathanKent]

Speaking of Grace and Lee, when Lee's retired, it could be debatable who's better. Lee's 2005 is far better than any year Grace had, but Grace put together so many more solid years. Right now, Lee's behind grace by a fairly wide margin because he hasn't had as many good years. On the other hand, Lee's someone I think will age gracefully, so might string enough years together to make it at least arguable.

Are you of the same mindset about Lee as I am, insofar as that 2005 season was probably a fluke?

I'd love to know who thinks LF is a position of concern.

[Scartissue]

Are you of the same mindset about Lee as I am, insofar as that 2005 season was probably a fluke?

Yes and no. It will very likely be his career year, but he's come close to his 2005 average in 2007, .335 vs. .317. His OBP differential is exactly the same between 2005 and 2007. The flukish part is the slugging, at .662. He'll probably slug around .500 to .550 range for the next few years.

When Lee came over, I believed, along with a number of people, that he would do better than he did at Florida because Wriglye's a more generous home park and because he was one of those guys that had the tools to do really well but still hadn't put it all together yet.

[nathanKent]

Yes and no. It will very likely be his career year, but he's come close to his 2005 average in 2007, .335 vs. .317. His OBP differential is exactly the same between 2005 and 2007. The flukish part is the slugging, at .662. He'll probably slug around .500 to .550 range for the next few years.

When Lee came over, I believed, along with a number of people, that he would do better than he did at Florida because Wriglye's a more generous home park and because he was one of those guys that had the tools to do really well but still hadn't put it all together yet.

Even without 40 HRs a year though, I think we're definitely getting our money. The jump in his OBP (.389 now vs. .353 in SD/FLA) alone makes him worth whatever we pay him.

[dbacksfan95]

bullpen!!!!!!

[nathanKent]

Even without 40 HRs a year though, I think we're definitely getting our money. The jump in his OBP (.389 now vs. .353 in SD/FLA) alone makes him worth whatever we pay him.

I'm revising this statement. He could hit that 40 this year, and he's back to batting .400.

[nathanKent]

bullpen!!!!!!

masochist!!!!!!

[cpomeroy]

Are you of the same mindset about Lee as I am, insofar as that 2005 season was probably a fluke?

I'd love to know who thinks LF is a position of concern.

I was one that picked LF as a concern, mainly becasue who is occupying it. Don't get me wrong, I like Soriano, but he doesn't do much to help the team win. When we first signed him I was real happy becasue his ability to steal bases and hit for power. Now with the injury, it seems as though we won't be seeing him stealing many bases. With a career .251 batting average with RISP, I don't see him as being a clutch hitter by any stretch of the imagination.

He isn't getting any younger and it looks like he is going to be our leadoff hitter for sometime to come.

[nathanKent]

I was one that picked LF as a concern, mainly becasue who is occupying it. Don't get me wrong, I like Soriano, but he doesn't do much to help the team win. When we first signed him I was real happy becasue his ability to steal bases and hit for power. Now with the injury, it seems as though we won't be seeing him stealing many bases. With a career .251 batting average with RISP, I don't see him as being a clutch hitter by any stretch of the imagination.

He isn't getting any younger and it looks like he is going to be our leadoff hitter for sometime to come.

I'm starting to agree with you.