2nd Base

#7 Todd Arthur Walker


2004:
.274 AVG, .352 OBP, .468 SLG

The players that are the most fun to root for are the ones who want to be on the Cubs, take the game seriously, and can help the Cubs win. With Todd Walker at 2nd base the Cubs not only have all of those things, but also a player who was willing to take less money to be on a good team with his buddy Nomar. What's not to like?

Todd was only granted 424 PAs from King Dusty in 2004 despite being one of the healthier Cubs and 1 of 6 to have an OBP over .350. Now Todd has been promised 2nd base all to himself and is a good offensive contributor for his position and salary. Walker has above average power for a 2nd baseman which is great, but what the Cubs need from Todd is for him to keep his OBP as high as possible...prefferably at the top of the order so the big boys can drive him in.

Generally regarded as a poor fielder, Walker is not going to help the team with his glove. Fortunately for the Cubs they are striking out as many batters as a team ever has...so Walker won't get as many chances as any other 2nd baseman. I don't think he is as bad as people say and I don't think he'll hurt the club at all, but I'm not too familiar with useful defensive stats so I can't prove it either way.

Will Jerry Hairston Jr. encroach on Walker's playing time at 2nd? I have a feeling he will, but only time will telll. The only way I want to see Hairston play over Walker is if Hairston can put up that .375 OBP he showed in limited ABs last season(which I don't think he can), and if Burnitz and Dubois/Hollandsworth were tearing the cover off the ball. In that case Hairston would be a legitimate leadoff man....otherwise Todd is our man in 2005.