Many of us here had, after we heard that former Twins and Brewers 3B Corey Koskie was working out, that the Cubs might sign him to a minor league deal if he was healthy; his LH bat and experience at 3B are exactly what the Cubs need.
This has now happened. From the official release:
The Chicago Cubs and infielder Corey Koskie have agreed to terms on a 2009 minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training. The deal is pending Koskie passing a physical.
Koskie is scheduled to report to Team Canada next week and will participate in the World Baseball Classic. He will report to Cubs camp following Canada’s participation in the WBC.
Presuming he passes that physical, the Cubs will get a chance to scout him playing in the WBC, and if he does well there, I think he has a real good shot at making the team as a backup 3B/1B. Most likely, assistant GM Randy Bush was behind this, with his Twins connection.
0 recs | 48 comments
at the risk of jumping to conclusions so soon...
…is it safe to say Koskie and Hoffpauir are fighting for the same roster spot?
ballhawk - February 28, 2009
Yes, I think they probably are.
Hoffpauir has the advantage of being on the 40-man roster.
Koskie has the advantage of experience and being able to play 3B.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
Hoffpauir
has the advantage of having played a professional game since July 5, 2006.
Although seriously, Hoffpauir does not have a very good track record of staying healthy. That’s one reason he spent so long in the minors.
Still, Koskie is 36 years old and hasn’t played a game in 2 1/2 years. I suppose it’s worth a shot, but I can’t see Koskie being a productive player at this stage.
Josh Timmers - February 28, 2009
Why?
If he’s healthy, why not?
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
Healthy, but past his prime
Still, I think this is a wise move, low dollars, low risk (not even a locker yet) and a guy who is an actual third baseman. When the Cubs were working Jake Fox at third I knew something was wrong with the world. Rivas didn’t make me feel better.
Harry Pavlidis - February 28, 2009
Agreed.
Past his prime? Sure, but that’s known ahead of time. We’re not looking for a starting 3B, we need a backup. If healthy, he could be a solid addition.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
Nice that the Cubs may have found their backup 3B...
…but if Koskie does indeed make the roster, doesn’t that make the bench VERY lefty-heavy, particularly on days when Aaron Miles and Reed Johnson are both in the starting lineup? Teams with good left-handed relievers could potentially present a big headache for the Cubs.
hip2bsquare - February 28, 2009
Not really...
I think the two above are right…Koskie would take Hoff’s spot if he makes the team. Lefty for lefty.
Bildo1805 - February 28, 2009
This is a good point...
… and why the obsession Lou has with LH hitters may be unhealthy.
It may also give Koyie Hill a good shot at the backup catcher job, since he’s a switch-hitter. Incidentally, so is Miles.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
How does adding Koskie ADD a LH bat?
Koskie would be taking the place of a LH bat, if he made the roster. He’s not taking Miles’ spot (only SS backup). He’s not taking RJ’s.
That leaves Hoff, Gathright, and Bako. All hit LH.
Bildo1805 - February 28, 2009
Koskie doesn't add a LH bat.
I think the poster above was worried the bench would be TOO LH-heavy, whether it’s with Hoff or Koskie. I pointed out that if Koyie Hill makes the team, at least two bench players would be switch-hitters.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
"If Koskie does indeed make the roster."
That “if” tells me otherwise.
I’m worried about it being too LH heavy as well, which is why I would have wanted Aurilia…a guy who mashes lefties and nothing else. But, that ship’s sailed.
Bildo1805 - February 28, 2009
two bench
and a regular, don’t forget that bradley switch hits too. and z as well, right?
laidbackliam - February 28, 2009
I think the Cubs go north with 14 position players until April 25th or so
If you look at the starters: Soto-Lee-Fonty/Miles-Theriot-Ramirez-Sori-Fuku/RJ-Bradley you have 10 + back up catcher and Gathright making 12….leaving two spots. If Koskie makes the squad it allows the Cubs to keep Hoffpauir for the 14th spot and they can option him to AAA and bring up a pitcher until Mid May when again they have a series of offdays until mid June.
As for thinking about Koyie Hill, I think he is on the hot seat for if he can hit better than .250 he wins.
The other option is to keep So Taguchi but I think that is far fetched unless Gathright falls apart.
Ivy Walls - February 28, 2009
OT - tickets
Brewers tix went on sale today. There was actually a VWR and the entire May series plus the saturday of the april series against the Cubs were sold out.
hop on em now.
///thread jacked
mjk83 - February 28, 2009
This is fine here...
…. since a game thread is about to post (12 noon CST). But this info might have actually been worth a FanShot.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
I think many of the tickets
were sold earlier this week during the pre-sale.
cowsarecool220 - February 28, 2009
Does Milton Bradley remind anyone else of Allen Iverson?
Practice? We’re talking about practice.
Rick B - February 28, 2009
Not really.
At all.
In fact, if you were so inclined…you could look at this from the other way. He knew he had a tight muscle, he played anyway.
Unfortunately, there’s not many willing to look at it from the other way.
Bildo1805 - February 28, 2009
No sense of humor.
Rick B - February 28, 2009
The real reason for the signing
Its obvious that the Cubs wanted a Dempster/Harden friend, you know, a fellow Canadian with extensive experience who can help them continue to ease through the difficult transition of being a Canadian living and playing in the states. Someone who can speak Canadian with them, peppering phrases with “eh” so they feel comfortable. Someone who can explain why the money doesn’t have moose or rodents on it. That sort of thing.
Ross - February 28, 2009
isn't that harden?
laidbackliam - February 28, 2009
Gee, any other Canadian stereotypes you'd like to get out?
carmen_fanzone - February 28, 2009
hockey
mullets
beer
celine dion
Thanks, that helped. And, by the way, “It’s pronounced Canada. And no, I haven’t.”
TC Cubby - February 28, 2009
i was aboot to say that, eh
Cubbie-Tim - February 28, 2009
If I may...
Hockey is great, I see more mullets in the stands at NASCAR events than I do here in Canada, Americans can’t handle Canadian beer (Labatt’s and Molsen don’t count) and… doesn’t Celine live in Las Vegas now?
daubs - February 28, 2009
Le Fin du Monde?
Great stuff…
MN exile - February 28, 2009
Dont forget..
Curling
Moose
Calling the letter Z “Zed”
but then there’s always:
cheap meds and low crime
northernsails - March 1, 2009
Canadians love to hunt baby seals
Clutche - February 28, 2009
I really like this signing
According to baseball Reference he has a career OPS of over .800. That is pretty good. I dont necesarrily thik that he could steal Hoffs spot as much as Jake Fox’s spot. I have a feeling we are going to carry 11 pitchers for a bit. Or maybe the Car jumper doesnt make the team. We still dont have a SS on our roster. I like this move
fischisgod - February 28, 2009
Fox is competing for the same spot, though.
I suspect this signing might put Fox out of the running, unless Koskie just can’t play any more.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
Also, if Koskie makes the team...
… he’ll have to switch from the #47 he wore in Minnesota. Aaron Heilman will be #47.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
I think it hurts Fox more than anyone.
Unless Fox tears the cover off the ball or learns how to hit left-handed, he’s looking at April in Des Moines. That said, if Koskie struggles, or has physical issues, maybe he goes to Iowa early in the year to continue to get his timing back.
Bill Potter - February 28, 2009
Full text of official press release
Linky
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
me likey
I like this. I hope it works out.
Floyd10 - February 28, 2009
WBC US v Canada
I’m going to the US v Canada WBC game in Toronto on March 7th. It’ll be good to see another potential Cubs player in the game. I really hope Lilly pitches that day, though.
daubs - February 28, 2009
Psst...
There was already a Fanshot on this topic…
GoCubbies34 - February 28, 2009
Thought it was worth a front page post.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
I guess it makes sense..........
because Miles will be busy at 2nd when Fontenot swoons
Clutche - February 28, 2009
What is it with you and Fontenot?
I don’t get it. You think Hoffpauir, a marginal talent, should be a starter, and Fontenot, who proved he CAN hit while starting, should be benched. Do you actually want the Cubs to win?
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
Is Hoffpauir....
really a marginal talent? I know the jury is still out, but I think he deserves a shot, especially over Koskie. Don’t give me that he’s too old or that he’s been in the minors too long….Soto spent 6 yrs in the minors before blossoming. Soto is a few years younger, but Hoff has had good numbers at AAA & even in his short stints in the majors. I’d be very, very disappointed if Koskie were to get the last roster spot ahead of Hoff.
cubbie08 - February 28, 2009
I wouldn't, because...
… Koskie has major league experience and can play 3B. We need a backup 3B.
Al Yellon - February 28, 2009
Koskie has been through a lot
Yes he was a fair player at 3B, average power, fair OPS but then this happened
The corresponding article
This is February 2008 (a year ago)
But then hope!
.
"We were talking, and Justin asked me, ‘Does it feel like everything is going by in slow motion — like stuff has sped up and you’re always a half-second behind everything?’ I told him, ‘Yeah, that’s exactly how I feel!‘’’ Koskie said.
Koskie is encouraged by his progress with Smith, a certified athletic trainer who worked at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics and helps run the Twins Cities Northern Lights, a Junior A hockey team in Bloomington, Minn. Smith takes a "holistic’’ approach to recovery that allows Koskie to work out at his home, where he can be free of distractions and avoid getting behind the wheel of a car, which tends to trigger his symptoms….
Thus since 2006 he has not played since he fell on his head. It will be interesting to see how he does in the WBC, where I think he does not come up with the club in April.
He could be a comeback player of the year even if he just gets 125 AB’s. We will see.
Ivy Walls - February 28, 2009
I hope this works.
Koskie can play – if he still has game and stays healthy, Hendry will look like a genius.
MN exile - February 28, 2009
Past His Prime
Reminds me of another player the Cubs signed last year that was “past his prime”
Anyone remember Jim Edmonds?
Galvan316 - February 28, 2009
That's right. Edmonds was D-O-N-E.
Many doubters were W-R-O-N-G.
If Hendry can catch lightning in a bottle, maybe it can strike again.
flachimesa - February 28, 2009
Whoa!
Can you mix metaphors with the best of em.
northernsails - March 1, 2009
i agree with you 110%!
ballhawk - March 1, 2009
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