Today's subject: Mike Cameron

Based on something Sweet Lou said at RedsFest last night (and RedsFest?  Wow, that HAD to be exciting) the Sun-Times is reporting the Cubs' interest in recent Brewer center-fielder Mike Cameron.  The first responsible thing I did was then go to the Trib to check with Goatfriend Paul Sullivan, but all he reports is the Cubs are building a temporary ice rink where the Triangle Building is going to go.  No word on Cameron.

So, OK, Gordo's workin' it, and like the rest of us, he jumped out there on his skis and extrapolated a Piniella comment into a possible insight into the Braintrust's 2010 Plan.  Well, hey, I'm not going to criticize him...that's Andy's job, and he's far better at it than we.  The Witt's probably just as anxious and frustrated as we are at the glacial speed in which the Milton Bradley mess is being addressed, and hey, if it happens he's Nostrafreakindamus.  If not, then it's just another Witt Job.

My point today is, how DOES Cameron grab ya?  Now, he's a decent guy, with a decent glove, and slightly above meh-diochre production.  Sticking his 20 homers and .260 batting average in there for a full season would be permissable if Soriano reverted back to his 40 homer rate of production, and if Fukudome could step his production up a couple of notches.

I'm concerned that if both corner outfielders turn in what I think they are going to turn in in 2010 - a .260/.370/.420 for the Fooker and a .260/.330/.470 for the Fonz, that we will have one old, boring, expen$ive and ultimately useless offensive outfield.  One that averages $12 million, .260/.345/.450.  What is that, a .795 OPS?  For your entire outfield?  You might take that if it averaged 23 years of age, and $600k in salary,,,you'd figure it would only get better from there.

Cameron, for all his great catches, and occasional bursts of super-human power, has played for several teams in his 13-year career.  We're not talking about bringing in Andre Dawson in his prime.  He does tend to play on winning teams, as the Bright One points out.  But if he was so good, why don't teams try to keep him once his contracts expire? 

So it appears that center-field is the #2 priority, moving to #1 once the Milton Bradley Era ends here.  So would you rather have Cameron, or the Arlington-creation that is Marlon Byrd?  Or do you want to see Tyler Colvin come up and take his lumps for us?  I don't want to hear from you if you're a Fuld-head...I bet you also sleep in Doug Dascenzo pajamas, with the feet in them?  Or perhaps you want to see the Cubs try for a right-fielder (whoever THAT may be) although that option is probably out of the stated budget.

And no, don't even get me started about the concept of a BUDGET.  For all the money this team makes, there shouldn't BE one, in my humble opinion.  Unfortunately, that ain't my call.