agustin, and others. I'm watching Sanchez on MLB TV when I can. He is impressive--a "calm" lefty counter part in the making to Z. He throws 93-95 with good control and mechanics and strikes out about 1 an inning.

Hindsight says we messed up on Hamilton. But not the way some here think. We didn't want him or anyone at that pick. Our 40 man roster was full. The Reds ask a favor of us that we draft him and then send him to the Reds. We did.

I'm happy with getting a pitcher as our top priority and leaving Johnson in CF. But those who keep talking up Pie are a year too early on him.

I have long stated Hendry made a mistake with Hamilton----a mistake worthy of firing considering we had a need for an OF anyway with Jones not getting it done...and yet, not many people on here agreed with me, until now

I have nightmares about that move....Those type of players come around once in a lifetime, and irregardless of off-field issues (which at the draft), he appeared to have overcome, I still would've taken that risk. What's the worst that could've happened? Oh, he gets caught for drugs...oh well, you just release him.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHhhhhhhhhhhh

Hey JimK...How about that SP Sanchez Kid. He has allowed more than 3 runs in just one game out of 10 starts...pretty impressive so far.

agustin - great point on Josh Hamilton. Could you imagine? what's worse is that the Cubs are the ones that drafted him prior to last year and traded him to the Reds (draft & trade). I don't know what his defense is like but he flat out rakes at the plate.

No.

I do not like Edmonds either but to say his defense is average is an understatement. We need somebody for CF. In order for Pie being the answer he has to come a long way...I think this lineup can handle him in the 7th spot and a platoon situation between him and Reed. Lets just get that 2starter and stick with Gallagher right now.

How would Josh Hamilton look in a Cubs uniform right now???

One more thing, before go trading the farm, realize that most of our relievers are done after this year. We are going to need money and people to man those positions. I know that everybody has a "win it now" mentality but I'd also like to see the Cubs contend every year so I don't have to wait another 100 years for the Series.

I'm with the Pie group but agree that batting him 1st would be bad for the team. Why not put him 2nd or better yet 7th with DeRosa behind him? DeRo has better bat control and more experience.

Here's my question. Why do we have Edmonds batting .125 in a Cubs uniform and average defense when we could have Pie in there with a .225 average and spectacular defense? Do you think Sori is in at the end of Pittsburgh game with Pie on the bench? Nope. I know that Lou wants him to work on staying balanced and shifting his weight but the Edmonds experiment is over. Do the same for Pie and after 120 ABs, I'll think about Lofton.

I'm not in favor of Lofton at all. I've read both sides of his not playing: GM's don't want the attitude and Lofton doesn't want anything less than 3mil on a contending team. Price goes up for a non-contender. How about just having a job?

And trading Gallagher/Hart? Who is going to be in the rotation when Marquis gets released and Dempster gets his money at the end of a contract year. I'd rather trade Murton/Cedeno/Hill and get a #2-3 pitcher instead of a center fielder/lefthanded bat.

sorry... great point SHOW. I misread who posted the comments about Lofton being picky as to what team he decides to sign with.

I agree with the first post, Joe S. PIE is the answer. He had his third good game in a row yesterday. There is a reason Lofton isn't working.

I hate a Soriano/Fuku/Hoffpauir OF. That turns us from a great defensive OF (with Pie), to a pretty bad one.

Hoffpauir isn't all that. He is a decent LH bat, who is defensively challenged at anywhere but 1B. He is the second coming of Ross Gload. Gload is a decent ML LH PH/1B/RF/LF kind of backup; and that about what Hoffpauir should be thought of.

JimK - Great point. Also I remember reading that he wanted to sign with a team that he would get some playing time with as opposed to a smaller role.

I like the idea. I think the addition would transition well with a ballclub that only needs minor tinkering at this point.

Isnt Jason DuBose back in the cubs organization?

Lofton didn't take those job offers b/c he wanted to contend. Can you blame him? Why tinker around for a last place team when a contender may call with an immediate need in two months? I think he's earned the right to do that.

Obviously he didn't think the Rays would be good and was wrong, but the point remains...he probably has enough money and experience to be picky enough to land in the post-season.

When Lofton says he doesn't know why he doesn't have a job, it may be because he wanted $4 or 5 million and the Rays and Reds offered a third of that. So he chose to sit. I would leave him sitting.

None of us knows, but I think JH has a tight salary budget. And he's saving what budget he has (beyond $1 million or so) for a starting pitcher to be obtained in a trade. If JH wanted to spend $4 or 5 mil on a CF, he could have Crisp or maybe DeJesus. But that would take players in exchange, and JH seems reluctant to do that--again maybe saving them for a pitching trade.

We could get a Reed Johnson-like CF who hits left from the Rockies--that being Cory Sullivan. He's at AAA now but has played very well defensively in the bigs and is a .250 contact hitter.

We will see Seth Smith this series, although he'll likely be in a corner given that Hawpe and Holliday are DL'd. He hits with power, has a strong arm and is 11-0 in SB's this year. He has played CF, although his arm and power have him mostly playing RF. I would include guys like Hart or Gallagher and a prospect like Ceda or Russell to possibly get a 3-6 lefty bat and a top OF for years to come.

I would rather have a aging Loften than a aged Edmounds.thats for sure.

it has been rumored that Lofton has attitude problems, which is why teams have stayed away from him, much like Bonds.

However, I remember 2003, and he was a HUGE reason we even made the playoffs, so I'm intrigued by that.

At the same time, I wonder about Hoffpauir. I mean, we're seeking more power from the left side, which is what Hendry's been saying all along, so Lofton doesn't appear to fit. The whole reason we even signed Edmonds to begin with was that he has a power bat---though that's debatable at this point in his career.

I wonder if Fukodome would even be open to a CF move. I've heard he is, but I seem to remember in the off-season that one of the reasons he signed with us is to be in RF where he is most comfortable. I wonder what that would do to his offense if he moved positions, as we've seen that affect some guys in the past.

I think if Fukodome is open to it, we should release Edmonds when Ward comes back, and insert Hoffpauir in RF. Hopefully that'll work, though our defense, much like if we had Murton there, will be compromised, as Fukodome has done an outstanding job out there defensively.

However, I'd be really excited to see Hoffpauir's bat in the lineup everyday.

I mean, in ST, the guy was mashing major league pitching----and he was doing it in the early AND late innings, so it wasn't against a bunch of minor league roster-fillers. The only thing I could see that he needs to work on is his strikeouts...but he's pretty imposing in there, and I think he'd provide that much needed power for us

I am torn on Lofton. Decent bat, would be a big ugrade offensively over what we have now. However I like the defense we have now. I would hate to sacrifice that.

I think Edmonds will turn it around and bat around .250. I would rather stick with Edmonds for awhile longer.

I know Pie's numbers are anemic at best. However, he's seen limited time in the bigs as well. We have such a solid line-up top to bottom that the team could absorb his hitting for stellar defense in CF. (And with Soriano's poor leg someone to cover ground is essential) There is more than enough offense, and the old addage of pitching and defense comes into play. Would rather have his speed and glove in CF.

As for his bat...there is a huge difference batting leadoff with a solid hitter behind him, than the 8 hole with the pitcher there. They worked on his bunting all spring and he should easily be able to get 10-15 bunt hits, not to mention leg out a dozen or so. Set him up for success instead of failure.

I do care that Lofton is 41 years old. Edmonds was brought in and doesnt have it anymore....why should anyone believe Lofton still has it? Wouldnt he be on a team if he did? He didnt even have a spring invite. I'd rather give Reed the full time job.

No personal offense, but batting Felix Pie leadoff right now is one of the most ridiculous ideas I've heard in a long time. His career OBP in the bigs is .275 and he's only getting on at a .208 clip in the minors right now.

I hate the idea of "wasting" Soriano's power leadoff as well, but he's hitting the ball very well since he came off his DL stint and we have the best record and best statistical offense in the NL. Major tinkering with the lineup will not happen as long as the team continues to hit at a high level. Face it, it's Soriano, Theriot, Lee, Ramirez, Fuku, Soto for almost every game.

And what's wrong with bringing in Lofton for the rest of the season? Who cares how old he is? You say Pie can't hit in the 8-hole, so put Lofton/Reed in a platoon there to get on base 35% of the time and get bunted over for Soriano. There's his RBIs and we don't have to worry about an apparently mentally weak Pie not getting his proper pitch selection.

I agree with your assessments that Pie's problem is hitting in the 8 hole.

What I would like to see is Theriot, Pie, Lee.

I like Fukudome in between Ramirez and Soto. It's made Soto into the league leading all star catcher.

LOFTON??? Hell why don't we call up Bobby Dernier from his roving coaching job instead. There's a reason he is not working...and it starts with the fact he is 41!! Quit with the aging vets already!

The answer is PIE in CF, but more than that it is Sweet Lou putting Soriano in check and taking the leadoff spot from him. Part of Pie's struggles is he was dumped in the 8 hole with the freaking pitcher hitting behind him. Now granted we have some good hitting pitchers--but still. He got curve ball aftr curve ball, breaking ball after breaking ball. Put him in the leadoff spot and bump Fukodome to #2. Someone with excellent bat control to protect Pie running. Then put your big boppers of Lee Soriano Ramirez and Soto followed by DeRosa and The Riot. Give Pie a freaking chance and set him up for success this time. When a tough lefty is out there, slide Reed into a spot start.

For those who suggest Cedeno out there, look I'm glad to see he is swinging a hot stick. And I'm sure he would be OK out there. But do we want to have someone out there in CF who is in a new position? I wouldnt want to take a chance of a muff in a crucial situation due to inexperience.

I heard Haufpauir took fly balls in RF today....I wouldnt mind seeing a brief experiment on that if Fukodome feels comfortable in CF. It would give us some more power in the lineup.

Anything but another aging veteran!!