The cornerstone of the offense for the North Siders is one year older, but one year removed from possibly his most impressive all around season. During 2009, Lee stayed healthy when no one else seemed to stay on the field, so those numbers were a little inflated.
Whether or not Lee hits like he did last year, his defense is always stellar. He has turned Aramis Ramirez and Ryan Theriot, two below average defensive players, into an extremely above average left side of the infield. If anyone would like to know what Aramis looks like without Lee, take a look at some of the "Aramis the Pirate" years on tape. It aint pretty. Lee sucks up everything that is within that basketball player's wingspan, and he does it day in and day out.
There are few things that I can promise about this upcoming Cubs season, but one is for certain. Lee will hit around .300. He will have somewhere in the vicinity of 30 home runs and drive in somewhere around 100 runs. Although there are a lot of first basemen in this league, even this division, that will do that exact same thing, there are not many who will save as many runs with the glove and will be as much of a leader on the field as Lee. Derrick's contract is up at the end of the season, and with an aging Ramirez at 3B (who probably will move to 1B sooner than later), and Josh Vitters in the system taking more and more ABs as a 1B rather than 3B, the need for a 35+ first basemen would normally not be something of great value. Lee's leadership and his willingness to be the front man for this organization have earned him the right to at least a 1 or 2 year deal. Retiring a Cub would be as much or more of an honor for the Cubs than it would Lee.
2010 Derrick Lee Predictions
0.310, 32 HR, 102 RBI, 0.365 OBP
Paul Konerko
Similarly, this is Pauly's last year of a multi-year contract. Konerko has been the model of consistency for the Sox. Gone are the days of Thome and Dye, but Pauly still stands as the leader of a franchise living in the memory of 2005. At least that is better than 1908. Pauly is not the face of the franchise; the kid with the great hair playing next to him is now that. Konerko does not have the glove his neighbor to the North has, but by the end of the season his numbers are usually pretty similar. Pauly will hit some memorable home runs, have some extremely timely hits, but his leadership is what he will be most remembered for. He takes the big questions from the press when no one else will. He tells you when he sucks, takes the blame, but when he does come up big, it is always a team win.
Whether or not this is Konerko's last season on the south side, he has been a class act in Black and White, and he will be remembered for much more than a painted seat in the bleachers - although it's pretty freakin cool that he can always look out there and see where that picturesque home run landed. Much like Lee, he too deserves the option to retire in Chicago.
2010 Paul Konerko Projection
0.279, 26 HR, 95 RBI, 0.340 OBP
2 Comments
TOM COTNER said:
IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THE WRITER FORGET TO INCLUDE THE # OF DOUBLE PLAYS THAT LEE IS BOUND TO HIT INTO. WHY DOES EVERY LEE SUPPORTER ALWAYS TRYN AND SKEW THE INFO. IN A POSITIVE, BUT UNREALLISTIC MANNER ??? MAKE A TRADE FOR ADRIAN GONZO, PUT HIM AT 1ST BASE, AND DEAL LEE AWAY TO ANY TEAM THAT HE WOULD ACCEPT A TRADE TO, SINCE HE HAS A NO-MOVEMENT CONTRACT. GONZO WOULD BE AN UPGRADE OVER LEE, AND HIS $5.5 MILL. SALARY IN 2011 MAKES IT EVEN A BETTER DEAL THAT THE CUBS SHOULD ACT ON IMMEDIATELY !!!
Andrew Ferguson said:
"Gonzo" would be an excellent upgrade. Huge power numbers, gold glove, hits to the opposite field often. You are correct, but what do we have that San Diego would possibly want, other than Vitters and Castro who are the future of this franchise. If 2010 is a bust, Hendry is most likely gone, Lou is gone, and this team has a completely different look. Ramirez has an option. Lee will be a free agent. Lilly will be a free agent. Fukudome will be in his last year of a worthless contract, so the need to play him will be minimal at best. Ricketts is not going to keep throwing money at the problem, and he will play with youth until the debt is gone, or Soriano, whichever goes first. Gonzalez's contract is nice now, but when he wants 8 yrs and 125 million (do those numbers sound familiar?) Ricketts will not pay that.
As far as the double plays are concerned, you are somewhat right. That was a 2008 weird stat. His DP numbers were not bad last year and they never were that bad before. #3 hitters hit often with men on base. It is just a fact. So the probability of them hitting into a DP is far greater than, say, a 6 or 7 hitter. Does Albert Pujols hit into a lot of DP, no, not many, but he has his fair share, because people are on base.
Lee's value is far greater than you are giving him credit for. Is he Pujols? No. Is he Fielder? Well, check the defensive stats and get back to me.
Thanks for commenting, and I would love to continue this conversation further.
Leave a Comment?
What your comment will look like:
said: