Bleed Cubbie Blue

If Hoffpauir was a second baseman...

he would have made his major league debut about 4 years ago. There's good reason why he's a 28 year old minor leaguer.

it just seems like a waste

he's a pretty decent bat who would be a DH in the AL now..

there's a very good chance...

that that's where he'll end up. After this excellent spring, the Cubs would be shrewd to move Hoffpauir to an AL team for some value. Even if we don't get anything back, it would be nice to give Micah a chance somewhere else, as he's probably blocked on this team. They did the same for Scott Moore.

erm...

Baltimore?

I was thinking KC actually...

n/t

he'd be a good piece to that trade

for you know..

Hahaha....

If Baltimore had a lick of sense, they would have ran Millar and Huff out of there by now, in favor of some guys like Hoffpauir for this season. But they don't.

Interesting though. I was listening to CTL this evening. Kaplan says he chatted with source "close to the situation" this afternoon, and there was officially an offer made a few weeks ago, and that, wait for it.......Angelos personally nixed it. I love it.

This deal is never going to happen.

The Orioles are run by idiots.

They have Billy Butler

Not a good fit

Billy is getting time at 1st?

n/t

some time

but they have about 4 first baseman on that team. Bulters defense is not very solid but he can hit the sh*t out of the ball

Well...

I've caught a couple of KC games this spring with Teahen in left, and wondered what that was about. I can't really say I'm impressed with any of their 1st base candidates though.

KC star

They had a big article today about the four guys they have to pick from at first base....butler, gload, sheely and Teahen plus they have Gordon who can play first.

they moved Teahan over to left after they signed guillen in the off season

First basemen who only hit 16 home runs...

...in their second season of AAA don't have much trade value.

cwyers - March 18, 2008 reply

damn statheads...

spending time in your parents' basement compiling your irrefutable statistics and relentless logic. The world would be better without you.

He should still probably moved to give him a chance elsewhere. Let's be honest: he carries about as much "prospect" status as Les Walrond, but he should be moved to a system that actually has a use for him.

Note...

... the 16 HR came in 310 at-bats. Hoffpauir hit .319 /.365/ .552 last year in those 310 AB -- granted, the best he'd done in a six-year minor league career.

But maybe, just maybe, that's good enough to get someone interested in him.

Well...

"Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!" -Homer J. Simpson

TN_CubsFan - March 18, 2008 reply

I own my own basement now!

n/t

cwyers - March 18, 2008 reply

Spring training stats are meaningless

They're completely meaningless. Hoffpauir's spring doesn't mean he's a better hitter than the guy who hit .319 in Iowa last season or .267 the season before.

Last spring training, Jake Fox hit .462 in spring training. Cesar Izturis hit .311. Buck Coats hit .333.

Micah Hoffpauir has almost no chance of ending up as a DH in the AL. American League DH's need to be absolute mashers (Ortiz, Hafner, Thome, Thomas) to get a job without the ability to play another position. Hoffpauir's PECOTA projection this season is .258 with a .325 OBP and 11 HRs. That's utility infielder range these days.

I'm afraid the only team Hoffpauir would really have value to is the Yokohama BayStars.

Josh Timmers - March 18, 2008 reply

That's actually a logical destination for him.

He could have a fine career in Japan... a good comp is Randy Bass, another big, left-handed hitter who barely got a few AB in the majors before becoming a big star in Japan.

What a comeback. I was following the game on my phone during the ride home and the top of the 7th was long long long so I knew there was trouble. Got home right in time to see the bloop single, the triple and the game winning single with the infielders playing in. Great work!

is it too early for

go cubs go?

Funny you should say! I actually heard that song in my head. They werent playing it and the celebration didnt seem right without it (if they were playing it i didnt hear it)

I think the cubs can make lahey...

the ptbnl from the monroe trade, and therefore won't have to expose him to the waiver wire.

I think that's right, because...

... if they DID have to waive him, anyone claiming him would have to keep him for the entire season on the 25-man roster. There's not likely to be a team that would do that.

I Think That's Right, Too...

... there should be nothing stopping the Twins from naming him as the PTBNL in the Monroe deal if that's what they want to do, and avoiding waivers.

If the Twins want to keep him, though (and I am not sure why they would since they would have just kept him on the 40-man roster to begin with and not expose him to the Rule 5 draft), then he would have to clear waivers.

Several reporters out there were suggesting that Lahey would not pass through waivers - at least one team would be interested enough to pick him up.

HERES AN IDEA

Why dont we ALL sign up on the Royals site and let this gentleman know he is not upholding his end of the bargain? BTW, I wont do this I just think its annoying.

Hammer - March 18, 2008 reply

OUSTANDING IDEA!

The Plan For Wood

is to do the back-to-back day test tomorrow and the next. Cant wait to see him dominate in the 9th.

lilkimmer77 - March 18, 2008 reply

In that case...

... I'd guess he'll throw in the day game tomorrow, unless Lou really wants to test him by letting him go in the night game, and then the day game Thursday. We'll see.

I think you're right

about Woody, but I think the reason he didn't go today is because it would've been 4 of 6 days on the bump, and I think they're still babying him a little bit. Sooner or later, they need to see if he'll be durable enough to go 4 games in a week, as is required for the closer of a team (like the Cubs) that will win a lot of games.

If he throws tomorrow & Thursday...

... that'd be 4 games in 7 days (3/14, 3/16, 3/19, 3/20).

(testing)...so I guess you don't need a subject now

nope. and if the subject line does require something you can just hit the space bar to leave a blank

My Marquis Conspiraquis

I don't think he hit a pitch count. I think Lou saw he didn't have it that inning and pulled him so the scouts would leave with a positive impression.

I predict a Marquis trade is announced in the next 48 hours.

wow...

to whom would you presume?

Plenty of teams looking for a SP

We can rule out the Cardinals and the Braves. So, who needs a SP that eats innings? The Astros, the Tigers, the Rangers, the Marlins, the Nationals, and the Phillies could all use innings. Let's throw this out as an unorthodox possibility - Marquis for Ryan Langerhans, a lefty who can play all OF positions, but has a reverse platoon split, so that you can play him v. LHP and still have an added lefty bat in the lineup.

Do you one better...

Marquis for Jayson Werth.

Oh, I'd love to have Werth,

but I doubt the Phillies will trade him. A Jenkins/Werth platoon looks a lot better than a Jenkins/Taguchi one.

Perrhaps....

but I don't think they are expecting too much production out of their outfield this season either way. And a corner outfielder is a lot easier to pick up in-season than starting pitching. Just a thought.

Ok, here's an idea

how would you balance this trade - Marquis and Murton for Werth and ______.

Off the top of my head...

Send back Romero.

Werth ??

Isn't Werth a corner outfielder? I thought we were looking for a right-handed backup for Pie.
Isn't Werth a Murton-type, only younger?

ceegeewow - March 18, 2008 reply

He's played..

a number of games in CF as well, and is more than adequate.

Not to be the grammar police

but do you mean "life is boring" instead of "live is boring"? I wouldn't say anything, but it's on every post you make.

northofwrigley - March 18, 2008 reply

haha

that's been like that for nearly six months and I just figured that out!

My guess

is that they didn't showcase Cotts because that might just squash the trade. And perhaps with the split squads they can get Wood on the home mound 2 days in a row rather than home and away.

tharr - March 18, 2008 reply

Maybe so.

Could have had Wood on the home mound 2 days in a row today and tomorrow, too.

Cotts, I'd think, will throw in one of the games tomorrow. Let's hope he does well enough to get dealt.

Starting Pitching

Why is it a lock that Dempster is a number 3 starter. Why not have Lieber and Marquis in the rotation and leave Dempster as a long relief.

What am i missing

I'm hoping

that he's NOT a lock at this point - still time to let the thing play out on the field (unless Marquis is traded) in the next 2 weeks. Until I see Dempster go 5 or 6 innings, with at least marginal success, I won't buy him as the 5th starter, which he would be, if not in name, then at least in talent.

where did you get #3?

Hill is the #3, isn't he? Or maybe Leiber, who's been rock solid so far. Demp and Marquis are competing for #5.

drewishdrewid - March 18, 2008 reply

The Numbers Only Matter...

... on opening day and after the All Star Break.

Hill is slotted for the #4 spot, but has #3 stuff. Piniella just doesn't want to pitch Lilly/Hill back to back.

Similarly, one would argue that Lilly is a #3 pitching in the #2 spot.

Ryan Dempster and Jon Lieber are virtual locks in the rotation

It is Jason Marquis who is on the outside looking in. Piniella and Rothschild have been falling over themselves in praise for Dempster and Lieber all spring. And I think they geniunelly like and are excited about Dempster in the rotation.

Tomorrow is a big test for Dempster.

Marquis threw well today. Maybe he can be traded.

I hear ya, but....

I think Ryan Dempster wrapped up a spot in the rotation a long time ago. I'm not saying I agree with the process or the conclusion, I'm just saying. I also think that if we start the season with all these pitchers then Jason Marquis is headed to the bullpen no matter how much kicking and screaming he wants to do. It will be a shame because he has never operated out a bullpen and insists he can't do it. But that's the way I predict this cookie will crumble.

Also, I know that I am in the minority on this one, but unless the Cubs eat some of Marquis' salary or take on an ugly contract of somebody else, then the man is untradeable in my book. There ARE pitcing options available to teams on the open market that cost a heckuva lot less than Marquis and are only slighly more risky in terms of performance expectation.

You're real sure of yourself, aren't you?

I don't think anything has been decided for sure yet.

Well...

Keep in mind also that there is no love loss between Marquis and Piniella. The pitcher has irritated the manager since the near beginning of the marriage. I think Piniella ultimately grants clemency to those players in his doghouse, but nevertheless I think the player / manager history will factor into the current competition.

One more thing. Piniella doesn't eat crow too well. He's bent over backwards signing the praise of both Dempster and Lieber. I don't see him doing a 180 and informing either of these guys that they are out of the rotation.

We can disagree on points, but this is what I think.

However

another Sullivan article just posted says that Dempster has "all but wrapped up the 3rd spot in the rotation".

I DON'T GET IT!!!!

If Dempster gets beaten up tomorrow, there's no way he should get a spot. Hasn't earned it! I'd rather give it to Marshall or Gallagher...even though I know that won't happen.

I'm also getting tired

of hearing how much of a great attitude, and how nice a guy Dempster is. That's fantastic, and I'm sure he's a great teammate, but the bottom line is results, and aside from a couple so-so seasons for Florida, the guy has NEVER been a proven starter!

Okay, I'm done now:)

I agree.

Demp can go be a nice guy for some other team. The Cardinals are looking for ~~pitchers~~ anyone with an arm semi-attached to their shoulder.

BlueSox - March 19, 2008 reply

Nice Technique...

... with the ~~strikethrough!~~!

Thanks!

I really like this new site. I just hope it doesn't get dog slow when 99 people are trying to post at once and at least 1 of those, who will remain nameless, is posting an animated graphic.

BlueSox - March 19, 2008 reply

I Think The Cubs Are At $118M Now...

... would you trade Marquis to a team and pay for all of 2008 as long as they pick up 2009?

I would.

That could take out half of the increases in salary for existing players in 2009...

In a word...

no. The pitching market is so thin that Hendry would essentially be acknowledging publicly that he is a buffoon. He overpaid, competed against himself for Marquis in the first place, now was to eat more than a 1/3 of the salary,...and oh yeah, can't find a deal in a market where Carlos Silva is worth 12 million dollars.

Lahey

I'm pretty sure that Lahey could be the PTBNL and thus not exposed to waivers. This happened to Lavale Speigner last year, he was a rule 5 draft by the Nationals from the Twins and they ended up designating him for assignment but gave the Twins Darnell McDonald for Speigner so they could put him in the minors. I don't know if it is different because Speigner likely would of passed through waivers but it seems like it would work.

SuperRat - March 18, 2008 reply

Well..

thanks for that example. It helps. We know about the trade provision, but I think there's a question about whether you could get Lahey through waivers right now, and whether he could be used to complete a trade that was pending at the time of his acquisition.

Tim Lahey is a keeper

Given his unique situation it may be the case that that Cubs bring him north to start the season. I think he is intriguing enough that Hendry wants to keep him in the organization.

The point is...

... that any team claiming Lahey on waivers would have to keep him on the 25-man roster all season. There isn't likely to be a team that would do that, so I'd think he'd clear waivers.

I know there have been other players who have been "traded" using a process like this. Just can't think of who they are off the top of my head.

The way the Rule 5 draft works

If a player is selected in the Rule 5 draft he must be kept on the 25 man ML roster for the entire next season. Everyone knows this. If he is not, then there is a process that must be gone through.

1. He must be placed on irrevocable waivers for any other team to pick him up as a Rule 5 player. This team would then be constrained by the same rules as the original drafting team and would have to keep Lahey on their 25 man roster for the entire season.

2. If no other team claims this player, he must be offered back to his original club for half of the $50k drafting fee. Minnesota could pay the Cubs $25k for Lahey and get him back.

3. If the original team refuses, the player can be outrighted to the minors.

In Lahey's circumstances, the Cubs WOULD have to place him on waivers and he would have to clear those waivers. Since Minnesota does owe the Cubs a player to be named later in the Craig Monroe trade, they would likely pay the $25k if Lahey does clear waivers, reclaim him and then turn around and send him right back to the Cubs. However, they might put him back into AA and send us someone else. It does make sense, however, that he would be the PTBNL.

He DOES have to clear waivers first, though. It is pretty unusual for a player to be claimed off of these waiver, however, as no one else really has a spot for him either at this time of the spring. Someone might want to take a flyer on him, though.

Archie - March 18, 2008 reply

Thank you for this explanation.

It does take several steps, but I think all of them lead to Lahey being that PTBNL and once he is, to be optioned to Iowa.

Sure

And you are likely correct. I think that is the most likely scenario too.

Archie - March 18, 2008 reply

So, This All Falls Through...

... if another team claims him.

While I hear your opinion that he likely would clear, I disagree... I think another team would pick him up and can hide him in the pen all year.

My take exactly...

There seems to be a trade clause in the Rule 5 provision though. So, I think the real question is whether you can use a Rule 5 player to complete what was a pending trade at the time of his acquisition. I've never seen it personally, and I could easily imagine a Selig -ran commish office squashing it.

The Rays...

... received $150K from the Cubs.

Does this mean that $50K of this was passed through to the Twins?

And then, when the he is returned, do the Cubs get the $25K back, or do the Rays?

I know it is chump change - I am just curious.

Another question, then: how did the Rays "trade" him to the Cubs? Can't the Cubs just "trade" him to the Twins for, say, ca$h considerations (say, $1?), and then the Twins return him to the Cubs as the PTBNL? This way, they can avoid the waiver wire?

The Jason Marquis dilemma

I understand that there are quality teams out there that have need for starting pitching, to include Boston, Philadelphia and perhaps Anaheim. But I still have hard time believing that somebody will be willing to take on his $16.5 million due. The Cubs will need to gulp a good size chunk of salary, either that or take on a bad contract or two in return.

Continuing with Marquis --

We do not need to be taking any "bad contracts" for Marquis. Most of the teams mentioned above are looking for starting pitching -- not giving it up. Marquis has pitched well this spring. When he keeps the ball down, he is effective. When he gets it up, he gets clobbered. When he was with the Deadbirds, I relished the thought of him facing the Cubs on nice warm summer days. The Cubs beat him like a rented mule on those days.
He is strong in the spring and early season because of the cooler days. He cuts down on his gopher balls because the ball doesn't carry like it does later in the season.
Don't give him away for some marginal OFer who is going to be nothing more than a backup for Pie.
If he holds to history, we can ride him for 2 or 3 months and if he slides down after that, we have Marshall and Gallagher in the wings.

ceegeewow - March 18, 2008 reply

Hey why does Murton get such a bad rap?

I have a real reason to dislike the guy. He went to Georgia Tech and I went to Clemson.
Every time I see a mock trade I see Murton tossed in. Sure there are better players out there but it seems like he gets extra flack. I happen to like the guy. Every game I go to he's one of the 1st players out. Doing those old school drills and basics, and helping others. I think he's at the least a great option on the bench.
My views have been less than popular here so I'm sure this one will end up the same. So have at it...please.

Murton lacks versatility

It's as simple as that. He is limited to playing left field. Which translates into him not having a role on this ballclub. The need is for a right-handed hitting outfielder who can help out across the outfield, to include in CF as a platoon mate with Felix Pie.

fair enough. I for sure see his lack of versatility. Other than that I havent seen him do much to hurt the ball club. He's one of these 'nice guys finish last' players I guess.

I like Murton, he just doesn't fit the Cubs and the Cubs have the money to tailor their club as finely as they want. I mean, who pays what we're paying Fukudome, just to get a left-handed, better-defending version of the same hitter we already had?

As for the bad rap, I think some people here underrate his defense because he doesn't make it look easy and because Wrigley's RF is harder to play than most people give it credit for.

I'd like to have Murton still on the Cubs, because the likelihood that Soriano and Fukudome both play 150 games is low, but it's not really fair to Matt, so I'm ok with giving him a chance on a team that might play him everyday.

Oh yea, I didnt think of that. I guess I'd like to see him everyday on another team then sit the bench all year.

The thing I see out of Murton is major hussle. Running out ever at bat, diving for every ball. I think thats why people have the underrated defense opinion. I think he almost over hussles making a routine play even harder. I cant fault the guy for that.

I want

Matt to get to play everyday too but I hate to see him leave the Cubs. You never know how it might end up.

sue369 - March 19, 2008 reply

i bet

behind the scenes hendry is pushing for a trade badly in the next day or 2. dempster was given a shot at starting for the purpose of handing wood the closer job w/o a big stink. niether marquis or dempster is a clear cut choice. IMO i want niether on this team as a starter. piniella is holding off a decision for this sole purpose and i would just about bet if hendry cant make a fair deal he overpays in the next day or 2 to make a couple of trades.

cubsluver22 - March 19, 2008 reply

I see no evidence...

... for "next day or two". Do you have any?

For whatever it's worth...

from Buster Olney this morning...

"• Executives with other teams say the Cubs are pushing Jason Marquis as trade bait. Meanwhile, he says he wants to be with the Cubs, as Gordon Wittenmyer writes. Within this notebook, there is word that Kerry Wood could make the decision on who will be closer very easy this week. "

I find "pushing" an interesting choice of words, but maybe it's just me.

I think it's just a word.

They're trying to trade him. I think we all figured this, as he's got a lot of $ left on his contract and they'd probably like to dump some or all of that.

I wouldn't...

at least not in this case, but we'll see I guess. Call me old-fashioned, but you'd expect that a manager would like to play that last run through the rotation with the guys he's breaking camp with, so I can see something happening quickly here. Again, we'll see.

Now, what was REALLY interesting in the Olney blog was that the bullpen situation in Detroit has gotten worse. They're stinking up the joint, and Fernando Rodney is hitting the shelf. Let's see if our 2nd favorite trading partner starts begging for relievers.

I think the kicker...

...with Marquis is that I don't think Piniella is comfortable with him and that will go a long way in determining how much money the Cubs eat in dealing him.

If Dempster has a decent start today, I'll bet Marquis is gone within a week.

MPH73 - March 19, 2008 reply

I agree with this 100%.

n/t

well al...

my thinking on this is z,lilly,hill are locks. lieber has earned his spot IMO and i think that is a general consensus. kerry wood is our closer. that leaves 2 spots open in the rotation. marquis or dempster?? pick your poison. marquis has been on record saying he isnt do anything but starting. i gotta believe dempster isnt gonna be to happy about not starting after losing his job. trading one or the other has to be done in the next couple days cause a final decision has to be made soon. both gm and manager have said publicly they do not have enough offense. so i'm pretty sure a trade or 2 will be made by this weekend.

cubsluver22 - March 19, 2008 reply

Has "Deep Goat" Been Quiet On All Fronts?

Yes.

n/t

Perhaps Deep Goat...

...has something stuck in his Throat?

bubbamike the one and only - March 19, 2008 reply

lol @ "Deep Goat" gotta love the inside info

Keystone80435 - March 19, 2008 reply

Is a trade necassary right now. I've read here about SS needing to be upgrade...the outfield....spots in the batting line-up. If the Cubs do make a move what would be the smartest move that would have instant impact? The most important move...

Keystone80435 - March 19, 2008 reply

"Deep Goat"

He wouldn't happen to be one Ivy Walls would he. Seem to remember he always had inside information that never came true.

Of course I could be wrong.

The answer to that is no.

n/t

Ko-Fu

The AP is saying Fukudome was injured when the throw to second hit him under the collarbone. No word on severity. I'm guessing it's not too bad but it's probably possible (probably possible?) that he'll miss a game or two.

rob9802 - March 19, 2008 reply

Kerry Wood

I hear that Kerry Wood is scratched from the game(s) today (and possible longer) due to back pains?