Miles is out. (Phil Velasquez/Chicago Tribune)
2009:
The Cubs traded 2008 starting 2nd baseman Mark DeRosa last off-season. This left Mike Fontenot to start the every day. And it didn't quite work out like the Cubs expected it to. First off, since DeRosa was gone, there was no one to backup at 3rd base...so when Ramirez got hurt, Fontenot moved over there, leaving a big pile of crap to play 2nd base...particularly, Aaron Miles. Ignoring Miles for a minute, though, Fontenot was exposed in 2009. Little Babe Ruth turned to be nothing more than a scraptastic nothing.
By the end of the season, mid-season acquisition Jeff Baker turned out to be Lou Piniella's favorite over there.
Fontenot ended the season the 9 homers and 43 rbi...but with only a .236 batting average. Baker came in and batted a respectable .305 with 4 homers and 21 rbi in about 1/2 as many plate appearances than Fontenot had for the Cubs. (Just in comparison, Baker's OPS and PA/RBI was higher than Milton Bradley's for those of you who want Bradley to stay!)
Jeff Baker is also an Olympic hurdler.
But we have to talk about Aaron Miles because, well, his season was just so awful. The numbers? .185/0/5 in a quarter season of plate appearances. Ugh. I don't think you will see a line for a position player that bad for long, long time.
2010: What's likely to happen
While many in the press (and in the blogosphere) think the Cubs are in the market for a starting 2nd baseman, I really don't believe they are. They appear to be fairly comfortable with the platoon of Mike Fontenot and Jeff Baker. Hopefully by not playing everyday, Fontenot will be able to produce more while in the lineup. The big thing for Cub fans is not to get their expectations up too high at this position. For some reason some people thought that Fontenot was going to hit 25 homers and drive in 80 last year.
Fontenot needs to be lifted up to get a drink from the water fountain.
If the Cubs do get anyone else to play 2nd base, look for that person to be a utility infielder who can backup Ramirez at 3rd base too.
The other name to throw out there is Andres Blanco, who played a little time at 2nd last year. I'm not sure the Cubs are giving him much of a chance to do anything. He's not bad defensively, but his bat is suspect. If the Cubs don't get another infielder this offseason, Blanco will likley be on the team.
With the combination of Baker and Fontenot you can expect Fontenot to play better than in 2009, but Baker will likely not be as good.
Assuming they split time evenly between the two of them (Fontenot will likely have more ABs since there are more right handed pitchers...but for simplicity's sake) you can expect Fontenot to hit about .260 to .270 with about 10 homers and 40 rbi. Baker will bat .270 to .280 with about 7 to 10 homers and also around 40 rbi. Since Baker will likely fill in for Ramirez about once a week at third, you can expect slightly higher numbers for homers and rbi him.
Doc's comments
I think it is possible that Baker could very well emerge as the every day 2nd baseman if Fontenot struggles again. I was mildly surprised that Fontenot was tendered a contract this year, but with the financial restrictions on the Cubs this year, he is their cheapest option, especially with the raise they will have to give to Ryan Theriot this year.
But if Baker plays everyday, he very well could be exposed in the same way that Fontenot was last year.
If Starlin Castro is more ready for the big leagues than I think he is, Theriot might get some innings over the 2nd base as well. That would leave Baker in a utility role...and Fontenot with no place to go.
But, the truth is, 2010 is going to look a lot like 2009 over at 2nd base. We just won't have Aaron Miles to kick around any more.
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