Derrek Lee disputes age cause for concern

Derrek Lee is well aware of the whispers. He finished with only three home runs and 23 RBIs in August and September last year, after hitting eight homers with 23 RBIs in April.

[Brad B]

Go get Justin Morneau and be done with it. Derrek has had a nice run for us, but I think it's time to move on. Either Morneau or Adrian Gonzalez.

[Jason]

Mr. Intensity, Derrek Lee.

Nothing to worry about. I'm fine. No, nothing's wrong. It is what it is.

This is why he's an underachieving ballplayer.

[Nada Surf]

Brad B wrote:

Go get Justin Morneau and be done with it. Derrek has had a nice run for us, but I think it's time to move on. Either Morneau or Adrian Gonzalez.

How do you plan on landing those guys?

[eddie]

since he had that wrist injury he never been the same player, I don't know who to replace him with. if he doesn't pick it up this year then he should be replaced, so the cubs can get some more pop in the lineup. but come on D-lEE TURN IT UP 2009 NO TIME TO WHINE.

[Gee]

I know it's only 2- games, this team has bored the heil out of me. I've watched the last 5 or games they've played and although 3- of these games were exhibition, this team seems to lack a spark. Soriano hits a couple of 1-run homers, Fukedome is STILL in a funk, D-lee is still solid defensively but putrid offensively, aand Ramos is still playing un-inspired ball.
I hope Lou addresses his teams uninspired start to the season real soon. Don't allow this team to sleep-walk through the first 25 games or so. This season the Central divison will be a little closer than last year

[Your Creator]

eddie wrote:

since he had that wrist injury he never been the same player, I don't know who to replace him with. if he doesn't pick it up this year then he should be replaced, so the cubs can get some more pop in the lineup. but come on D-lEE TURN IT UP 2009 NO TIME TO WHINE.

How about Micah Hoffpauir? The kid has been languishing in the minors long enough. And it never hurts to have another left-handed batter in the lineup.

[Nada Surf]

I think Lee is done at age 33.
I think you should send him off to the south side for a low-level prospect and pay a bulk of his salary.

Nada Surf
Sox Fan

[Oneproblem]

Your creator what is it like to be so stupid that if your brain was put in a gnat it would fly backwards into a tree.

There is a reason he has been languishing in the minors. HES NOT VERY GOOD.

[The rifleman]

D lee has no power and should be batting in the 5 hole. By the way how is Geo this morning

[yomomma]

Oneproblem, what are you basing this on? It's not the fact he's been tearing the cover off the ball when he's been in the lineup late last season and in spring training is it? He has even shown his glove off pickin some wild throws. Lee is a solid if not great glove at 1 bag, but he's hit into more double plays in the last 2 seasons than I can recall a Cub ever hitting into.

[Tom P]

Dear D. Lee, please start swinging at good pitches and let the bad ones go by. It will help your BA and RBI production.
Sincerely,
Your Little League Coach

[go tax ur self]

tune out til CUBS put a winner on the field....mopes

[yikes]

Dudes...I'm 31 and I feel old already!

[mvitch]

Lee has expanded his "stikezone" and the pitchers know it. He is not the same D. Lee anymore. Age or what, he is not the same hitter, almost desperate.

[WBrown Memphis]

Fellas, D Lee will be fine. If you remember he was the only player that offensively showed up in the playoffs last year. No RBI? Well ask Soriano and the worst player on the team fuku why they were never on base in front of him. Anyway, dude will be fine. He'll hit around .290 with 20-25 HRs. Mad about his rbi stats? Ok, well, you got Soriano and fuku in front of him, so, where is he going to get rbis from? Tell Lou to sit fuku and hit fontenot or johnson in the 2 hole and go from there. You could move Lee down to the 5 hole and slide Bradley into the 3 hole I guess, but let's see how this plays.

[Rod from Tennessee]

The problem here is, whether Lee is the same hitter he was 3-4 years ago or not, the Cubs have another player who's shown he can hit pretty well himself and hits from the left side, which is a side the Cubs are clamoring for more production from. I really like Micah Hoffpauir's bat and whether it's due to Lee sitting, or OF's sitting, i'd like to see Hoffpauir get his share of AB's. And when i say his share, Pinella needs to somehow, someway find 400+ AB's for him. The idea is run production, and i'm getting plenty tired of players calling the shots and Pinella being too afraid to stand up to these players.

[Rod from Tennessee]

Your creator.....Not that you need any help defending yourself from an idiot, who feels the need to name call someone he doesn't know, however, the obvious know it all oneproblem poster doesn't want to take into account Hoffpauir's primary position, is a position that the one currently manning at the major league level thinks of himself as an iron horse. So Hoffpauir has had an extended stay in the minors due to D.Lee and his huge contract, and not due to his lack of hitting.

[ty welke]

The Cubs NEED Lee at 1B. He saves the entire infield with his defensive skills. Ramirez was recently rated a TOP defender by ESPN Magazine! Lee saves him 20 errors a year with his scoops of errant throws from third. He is the first Cub 1B-man since Grace who can "catch a cold". He offensive production has slowed, but it is WAY too early to write him off as a liability. He is a SAVIOR given the defensive skills of his fellow infielders.

[doctor g]

I agree
Hofpair is ready.
Give him 25 starts or more this year.
Maybe the extra rest will help Lee.

[Brad B]

Nadarf wrote:

<quoted text>How do you plan on landing those guys?

We have money. Plus you can always swing a deal with a couple other teams involved. There's always a way to get something done. I'm a firm believer that minor leagues are for trades. I didn't understand why everybody was so up in arms over the offseason about trading Vitters for Peavy. Peavy is on the verge of a hall of fame career, and Vitters may or may not turn into anything at all. If he does great, but let's be realistic, most guys DO NOT. But yet everybody over the winter thought he was the next Brooks Robinson or Mike Schmidt. How can we pass on deals involving prospects for bonafide stars. There is absolutely no guarantee that Vitters will play a single MLB game. Look at Ryan Harvey. He was supposed to be the next big thing when we drafted him. Tyler Colvin is still in A-ball to start the season. Vitters might turn out to be an all star, but realistically, the odds are against him, just as they are everybody. It just boggles my mind that we hold on to prospects instead of trading them for guys who can help us now. I guess I'm the only one who is sick and tired of waiting til next year. The Cubs used to be "loveable" losers, now they are just losers. The beautiful thing about big market teams, is that they are supposed to trade away the farm to get the players they need. And then they can go out in free agency and get whatever they need. No reason at all to keep prospects around...that's what they are there for.