Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Marmol both had to leave last night's game with minor injuries, and the injury to A-Ram, which doesn't sound too good:
"We'll see how it feels [Saturday]," Ramirez said. "Right now, it doesn't feel too good."
... points up how poorly constructed this team appears to be. The Cubs really don't have a legitimate backup third baseman, and by the 9th inning of last night's 4-3 loss to the Cardinals, had they managed to tie the game up and send it into extra innings, the only position player left was Koyie Hill (who, incidentally, has not played -- at all -- in 11 days). Right now, with Milton Bradley only able to pinch-hit, if he gets on base (as he did last night by walking), he has to be removed for Joey Gathright, who is nothing more than a pinch-runner/defensive replacement (he has started zero games and pinch-hit five times, striking out twice and walking once). You can't afford to carry such a player on your roster when you also insist on a 12-man pitching staff. That means, that among the five bench players currently on the roster, even with a healthy Bradley, you have:
This has resulted from Lou's obsession with lefthanded hitters -- because if Reed Johnson is starting, all five of them can hit lefthanded (Miles and Hill are switch-hitters). To which my response is, "So?" Last year's team did just fine -- until October 1 -- with the righthanded hitters they had. As I have written before, the reason they lost the NLDS wasn't because they didn't have enough lefthanded bats. Finally, Lou agrees:
"We've got no bench," Piniella said. "We've got an extra catcher [in Koyie Hill] and [Micah] Hoffpauir and [Joey] Gathright. We're going to have to get somebody in here."
Great, Lou. You didn't think of this during spring training? Or the offseason when you and Jim Hendry were putting this team together? All these lefthanded hitters have stopped hitting. The Cubs managed to tie up last night's game due to some questionable defense by the Cardinals, not because they were hitting the ball. Micah Hoffpauir's popup into short left went off the heel of Skip Schumaker's glove, scoring a run after the Cubs had made it 3-1 on a Derrek Lee single and Mike Fontenot double. With the bases still loaded and nobody out, it looked like a possible big inning. Instead, a double play took that big inning possibility away, even though the tying run scored.
Aaron Heilman threw a nice inning to keep it tied, but Marmol hurt himself, apparently landing wrong on a follow-through; he claims he's fine, but we'll see today. In any case, Albert Pujols' stolen base -- his third this year -- set the Cardinals up for the eventual winning run to be scored on a Ryan Ludwick single. Both hits in the inning -- the singles by Pujols and Ludwick -- just made it through.
But the bigger problem is the bench. Despite good starts from some players at Iowa, there really isn't much help there. Jake Fox has no defensive position, Bobby Scales is a career minor leaguer and Andres Blanco has a career major league OPS of .605. Looks like Hendry has to start scanning the waiver wire. And if Milton Bradley is still hurt, put him on the DL already -- he seems wasted now, since unless he hits a PH home run, you have to send Gathright out there to run for him if he gets on base. It doesn't matter what the lineup is, if you're playing, essentially, with a 23-man roster.
I'm not on the ledge -- at 8-7, the Cubs' record is, at least, better than some other teams expected to contend, such as the Indians (6-11), the Rays (7-10) and the Mets (7-9). It's too early for wholesale changes.
But Jim Hendry needs to start tweaking, and sooner rather than later.
0 recs | 284 comments
Good write up....
It is becoming painful to watch this team.. Absolutely painful.. The lack of a bench is really disturbing.. Time to DFA Gathright.. I am going to go out on a limb here but what about Nate spears? Or Jake Fox? I think his bat plays…
fischisgod - April 25, 2009
All things point back to Fukudome's 2nd half
If the Cubs would have known that Fukudome was going to come into this season at the level expected when he was originally signed the Cubs would not have signed Bradley.
In fact retrospectively speaking I would have been happy with Hoffpauir/DeRosa in RF with RJohnson thus having DeRosa play the role he did last year and be here for 3B. BUTTTTTTTT
That is not an option right now, the idea is to get to May 30th without digging a hole and see what the market place offers.
OK let us deal with the here and now. I would DL Bradley and Ramirez, early strains are troublesome for the rest of the year.
Got to move Fukudome to RF and play RJohnson and Gathright in CF now unless the Cubs go and find another CF’er——has Edmonds been staying in any playing shape? What the Cubs need is actually another middle infielder who can play 3B.
Ivy Walls - April 25, 2009
Gathright in CF?
If you’re worried about the offense, don’t play Gathright. Instead, cut him and sign Jim Edmonds.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
+1
Gathright makes no fricking sense on this team.. You cant afford to carry a pinch runner… He should never play…
fischisgod - April 25, 2009
I think they got Bradley assuming other things would work out differently...
Specifically, I think they wanted to have:
1) a 1B/3B with pop on the bench and
2) Miles be a productive hitter
That would mean a bench of:
Johnson (4th OF, potential platoon with Fukudome)
Miles (sub in the middle infield, potential platoon with Fontenot)
1B/3B power bat
Hill (backup catcher)
Gathright (5th OF, pinch running specialist and defensive sub)
In that scenario, it at least makes a bit of sense to have Gathright. You have your power hitting pinch hitter, two solid bats to pinch hit, and the speed/defense addition. Unfortunately, they didn’t find that corner IF power bat and Miles reverted back to his career norms as a weak bat after a career year last year. And Hoffpauir once again performed great in the spring and has started getting corner OF time. Hoffpauir’s emergence and the early failures elsewhere make Gathright look like an even more ridiculous signing.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
I think Gathright also made sense
a) if you were worried about Dome
and
b) if you thought you could turn him into this year’s Theriot – an all OBP, single through the right side guy.
Lou’s not playing Gathright suggests he doesn’t believe they can do b) and so far Dome has been the least of our worries.
At this point, Gathright should be let go, especially if we can find a speedy, slick-fielding infielder.
DGU - April 25, 2009
Agreed...
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Your last sentence is exhibit A of the problem with Miles...
We signed a guy to a 2-year, ~$5 million deal to be essentially a backup 2B who can’t hit. I’m guessing the team thought they were getting a more versatile player (and more capable hitter, though I’m not sure why), but that was a poor addition in my opinion. I’d have taken DeRosa and Andres Blanco over Gathright and Miles. I’m guessing the team thought that Miles would earn more playing time and that they’d need that extra $1.5 million. But it’s not looking like a great decision right now.
I wouldn’t put Gathright in the lineup. If anything, I’d rather go with Johnson/Hoffpauir in RF and Fukudome in CF. Gathright just can’t hit enough to get regular time in the lineup.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Well.
Miles DOES have a .287 lifetime BA, so it’s not likely he’s going to hit .095 all year. I don’t have a problem with Miles as a backup. It’s Gathright and the lack of flexibility that are an issue.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
A career .327 OBP and .689 OPS...
Batting average can be a very misleading measure of offensive productivity. Miles was a decent singles hitter, but he has a low-OBP and doesn’t get any extra base hits.
I agree that Gathright is a big problem, but it’s compounded by the fact that we replaced a good hitter (DeRosa) with a guy who can’t hit (Miles).
If we were paying Miles $500K to be the backup middle infielder, I’d be just fine with his expected .689 OPS (or worse). As I said, I’d be fine with Blanco as the backup middle infielder if it meant we still had DeRosa and not Miles/Gathright.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Oh, I understand he can't hit for power and doesn't walk...
…. but at least if he had hit .287 up to now, people wouldn’t be complaining about him.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
My problem is...
not only is he not hitting, he isnt even getting reasonable outs. His hits just dribble in the infield.
jkobus - April 25, 2009
His first few weeks are not the point...
I’m not complaining about Miles because he’s hitting under .100 through 3 weeks. I’m complaining about Miles because he’s being paid ~$2.5 million to be a sub-.330 OBP and sub-.700 OPS backup infielder. We could have gotten close to that for $2 million less from any number of guys.
People SHOULD be complaining about Miles (and should have been complaining since we got him), because it was a terrible acquisition. And that has nothing to do with his first three weeks this season.
The acquisition of Miles and Gathright were a terrible combination. Miles hitting only .095 only exacerbates the problem…
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
We could have gotten that
Out of Cedeno. I know he’s not very well liked by many here, but he is more versatile than Miles, while providing another backup option at 3rd, SS, and 2nd. And he’d cost a lot less.
Sobenergy - April 25, 2009
Agreed, but...
there are two problems:
1. He’s not capable of hitting LH
2. He’s dumb as bricks on a baseball field
3. He was never getting out of Piniella’s doghouse
The biggest issue is that the team couldn’t find a corner IF to replace DeRosa’s bat off the bench. Had Koskie worked out, for example, and been a .750+ OPS guy with power, we’d likely not be lamenting the loss of DeRosa so much.
But we instead wildly overpaid Miles (because he’s a LH bat and Piniella made it clear he wanted to be more LH) and Koskie didn’t pan out. And as a result, we have gaping holes in the lineup.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
when you talk about MB
please remember your own words
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Al according to many the only way for MIles to be a productive back up
is to trade/DFA him and bring back DeRosa
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Waiver wire/FA's/Iowa
not a ton out there..
I agree…why was this not adressed before now ???
cozmotaylor123 - April 25, 2009
Because we didnt expect the injuery bug
to hit every player… Its unreal
fischisgod - April 25, 2009
You have to account...
For Bradley’s injury history, Ramirez’s history of leg issues, Soriano’s past two years of leg injuries, etc, with a solid bench or back-up player that can play a bunch of positions.
CubsBullsBears - April 25, 2009
You are 100% correct
which makes this shenanigans even more unacceptable.. I would assume if we put rammy on the DL we will see fox at 3B…. I could be way wrong and that could have epic failure written all over it.. I just dont understand how we can afford to carry Joey
fischisgod - April 25, 2009
Doubt we'll see Fox at 3B.
He hasn’t been able to stick at that position – in the minors.
daver - April 25, 2009
Koyie Hill
can he play 1B or 3B ala Blanco?
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
No.
Blanco couldn’t really play 3B, either, even though he began as one.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
The Indians have this guy
named Mark DeRosa – he’s pretty versatile. I wonder if we could get him?
ChipSet - April 25, 2009
It baffles the mind
I can’t say it enough how signing Bradley was not needed. I said it in November I will say it now, Lou and Jimbo got lefthanditis.
Grockcubs - April 25, 2009
They've been listening to Steve Phillips too much
Every chance he gets, “Skeeve” blathers on and on about how the lack of LH bats was the Cubs’ undoing, how Chad Billingsley was able to set the tone on how to pitch to their lineup, blah blah blah. Sorry, Skeeve, the Cubs lost because their sphincters were tighter than Dick Tracy’s hatband.
CaliCub - April 25, 2009
But this isn't new for Hendry...
…I recall when we had to reduce the number of Ks in our lineup because Dusty didn’t like that, and after 2 seasons of shedding power we were left with that atrocious lineup that couldn’t get on base and had no power…
There’s a lot of risk associated with the 2009 lineup, some high injury risk and I would say risk of some players being done. I am not saying it will happen but that the risk is higher than “normal” whatever normal is.
The Cubs under Dusty carried too many pitchers and had a lousy bench. I thought this year’s bench was improved because Hoffbrau could hit (and couldn’t be that bad in the OF if they put him there) and Johnson could pick up the slack when Bradley was out for his cumulative month off. Gaithright was an awful pickup from the beginning but the saving grace of it is that Lou will launch him whereas Dusty would make him his favorite player/lap dog. So, the Gaithright experiment won’t last long. I overlooked the glaring lack of backup for 3B, Al’s right there really is no one on the team who can play it at major league level. So, I guess I was wrong in assessing the bench for 2009, good thing I don’t get paid for putting together the roster. I guess Hendry and Lu are collectively saying “OOOppss!!” and scanning the waiver wire.
12 Picthers is too many, 13 pitchers is idiotic, the bench is important and you can keep a worthless guy like Gaithright for that speed/defense niche if you carry fewer pitchers. The Cubs have never figured this out under Hendry.
DudeVf11 - April 25, 2009
+1 million
Bradley was a stupid signing, there is a reason a player with his talent has never had a long term deal.
Dealing Mark Derosa was stupid.
Not resigning Wood was stupid.
If the Cubs signed Bobby Abreu to a 1 year $5 million dollar deal, resigned Wood, I would have been much happier than all the other crap they did.
slocs55 - April 25, 2009
Agree....
Not sure about leavingg the bullpen alone though….GREGG was NOT the answer.
Strong bullpen will be key for whoever wins this division/NL
kcjones - April 25, 2009
With the economy etc blah blah blah
I think there will be options for just about anything the Cubs will need. Just have to be patience and see how it all shakes out.
Hammer - April 25, 2009
When Bradley is on the roster you have to have an adequate
replacement, not a guy who’s equivalent, but you need a guy on the roster who can play because Bradley is going to miss alot of games. If Hoffbrau could field he would be ideal but he’s horrible out there.
For Aramis, you at least need a guy on the roster who can field the position, not Moreland.
DudeVf11 - April 25, 2009
80 games of MB > 130 of Abreu
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Wrong, because...
… the other 50 games is Hoffpauir, who is clearly inferior.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
Disagree
It’s not like the Cubs were dismantling the ‘27 Yankees. And there really wasn’t much dismantling to begin with.
If this team can’t win because it doesn’t have Mark F. DeRosa — who from reading these posts is going directly to Cooperstown once his career is over — then it wasn’t that good in the first place.
And it is a little early for judgments. Not tweaking, but judgments.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
You wildly overstate things...
DeRosa is not the savior. But he’s an .800-.850 OPS guy capable of playing 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, and RF. We replaced him with Aaron Miles, who is a sub .700 OPS guy. Which one would you rather have?
I agree that it’s too early to judge. But it’s at least worthy of discussion. This team introduced a great deal of risk to a pretty darn good team. They made a lot of moves that didn’t make them better and possibly/probably made them worse.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
And this topic has been over-discussed
All season, from the gun. Looking at how DeRosa is playing now for the Indians, I don’t think the Cubs would want him, anyway, if all we’re going by are current statistics.
Look. DeRosa is, in all likelihood, never going to have another season like last year. And Edmonds is a prime candidate for the Gary Gaetti award for overstaying his welcome.
I thought the 2008 team was pretty darned good, too. But if it was, why did it go 0-3 and look absolutely lost in the postseason?
Perhaps Lou, Hendry and us don’t want to admit what might be the elephant in the living room — that there is so much pressure on this franchise to win it all that perhaps it never will. I hope that isn’t true, but …
Anyway, I will not make any rash decisions based on 10 percent of the season.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Why did it go 0-3?
Because sometimes you have three bad games as a team. It happens. It just happened at a terrible time. And I think the organization may have overreacted to those results. Were some changes necessary? Absolutely. Did we see the right changes made? That very much remains to be seen.
DeRosa is by no means a superstar. But he’s worlds better than what we replaced him with in Miles. That’s the point. As I said in another post, I’m fine with losing DeRosa, but I’m not fine with the replacement we got. And as I said, the first three weeks are not what I’m basing this on. I’m basing this on the careers of the players prior to spring training.
I agree with you about Edmonds (I don’t want to roll those dice again either), but we do have to acknowledge that the 2008 team did have that .900+ OPS from Edmonds last year, and now we have Bradley. When discussing how we stand compared to last year, you must take Edmonds’ 2008 performance (not his expected 2009) into account.
Lastly, this franchise will eventually win a World Series. I guarantee you that. To mention that the organization will perhaps never win a championship is shocking coming from the guy/girl who eternally berates anyone who says something slightly pessimistic.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Yes, it will win one someday
And it’s not berating because of slight pessimism. It’s berating because of unwarranted pessimism.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
I think you've berated slight pessimism plenty...
Perhaps that’s not your intent, but I disagree with your assessment there.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Read again
I don’t have a problem with people calling it like it is. I do have a problem with extrapolation and snap judgments in a game like baseball. That’s all.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
And that may be your intent...
but you have (if unintentionally) crossed the line at times (not necessarily in this thread, mind you).
My point was more that I was shocked that you’d even make reference to such a ridiculous notion as that this organization will never win another championship, given your stance against unwarranted pessimism.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
I'm wondering if that thought
hasn’t crossed the minds of some of us occasionally. Particularly after the playoffs last year.
When you judge the totality of the 2008 season, it might seem more justifiable than after 10 percent of any given season.
If you read any of the game threads, you know what I mean. I’ve avoided them until the last few days. Actually, last night’s game thread was pretty good.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
I don't think DeRosa...
Is going to the hall of fame…or he was any kind of savior….but he sure as heck is better than Miles …… and not quite the bat as Hoffbrau….but at least can offer some sembalence of defense in the outfield….I’ll take DeRosa righrt handed over Miles left handed w/ game on the line any day against a RHP….
DeRosa…though only hitting .215 (Like a 1st baseman I know) DOES have 15 RBI’s …which would be leading the Cubs right now
kcjones - April 25, 2009
i kinda agree, but.........
Wood wanted a long term deal, and he is as much an injury risk as MB.
Dealing DeRosa was the first time Hendry dealt a yaer early not a year late. DeRosa also is not a defensive wizard, he was less than average to be exact. Like him, but he is not a HOF player, he is a glorified Manny Trillo.
Abreu is no defensive wizard, and on the downside of his career, asnd had he signed with us, and gotten off slow, guess what…..same posts would be happening about how bad signign him was.
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
One year too early?
He’s only under contract through this season.
Don’t get me wrong, I wish we still had him. But there would be no dealing a guy who’s not under contract.
madcow256 - April 25, 2009
its a saying about when to trade a player
and Hendry decided to move him now instead of not getting anything when he likely was not resigned
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
I'll say it again...
the problem isn’t that we traded away DeRosa. The problem is that we replaced him (at least in the utility role) with Aaron Miles.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Who should the Cubs have
replaced him with, SC?
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
If you can't
find someone better, don’t replace him at all. That would seem to be the logical move to me.
qccub - April 25, 2009
Not sure who specifically, but they couldn't have done much worse...
Heck, I’d have been okay with sticking with a potentially declining DeRosa for one more year, as it’s not like we got anything in return for him.
And I don’t know who specifically was available. But paying $5 million for a sub-.700 OPS player who can only play one position (and a position that we have two other guys at already) makes no sense.
Pretty much anybody at the league minimum would have been a better value, allowing us to spend more on a 1B/3B type (or on pitching).
We essentially wildly overpaid for a backup middle infielder. Given that the reason DeRosa was traded was for financial reasons, that’s why signing Miles was a big mistake.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Ray Durham anyone?
Anyways – Im not a ledge jumper nor will I ever be and I am not freaking out but I am a little frustrated.
Aaron Miles for me will now be named Erin Inches. Honestly – please show me you can hit the ball out of the infield. He overthrew the cutoff man and I could having driven to St Lou and bopped him on the head.
Thing is its such a long season. Ill be thankful now that we are 8-7 when the way theyve been playing it should be 5-10.
Today is another day. It might be a radio day though – dont know if I can take Buck or Thumb Brennaman
Hammer - April 25, 2009
i am totally down for durham
excellent idea.. I like thinking outside the box
fischisgod - April 25, 2009
Durham can't play third base.
He has played exactly one game in the major leagues outside of 2B — in the outfield. Why would you want to sign him?
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
But he can play second..
and little babe ruth can play 3B… I was pretty sure he played some third for the brewers last year.. I could be wrong
fischisgod - April 25, 2009
You are wrong.
Like I said, Durham has never played 3B in the major leagues, not once. I wouldn’t ask him to start doing so at age 38.
Fontenot is OK at 3B, I suppose you could play Durham there occasionally and let Fontenot play 3B.
Plus, Durham hits lefthanded. I guess Lou would like that.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
Erin Inches
Funny.
chilango2 - April 25, 2009
pic above of Lue
is this another great pic for the Captain Morgan club???
remember he is a little older and can’t get his leg us as high as others…..
cozmotaylor123 - April 25, 2009
dang - 25 minutes late. That's exactly what I was thinking.
I know it’s only 15 games into the season, but you’d be hitting the hard stuff too if you had to deal with this roster…
ballhawk - April 25, 2009
Agree that something needs to be done
It’s not time to panic, but the makeup of this club is very questionable. At this point, they are depending (too much, IMO) on a career backup in Fontenot, DLee’s offense remains spotty with no power at all, Soto appears to be a prime candidate for a “sophomore slump”, the bench is poorly constructed and the bullpen is in flux. Some steps need to be taken now, before things get too far out of hand. Not sure what can be done at thie early date, however. Not too many options out there.
tommy veryzer - April 25, 2009
I’m probably going to do this all year, because I terribly miss the man, but if Mark DeRosa was on this team, this wouldn’t be nearly as much of a problem. He is one of the most versatile players in the game and could substitute in any OF and IF position outside of SS. I believe we have faced ONE starting left-handed pitcher thus far in the season, and it is quite clear to me that “Lou’s obsession” (I love it, Al, I think we could market this aftershave) with left-handed hitters is silly. I don’t like any of our bench players, sans Koyie.
dtpollitt - April 25, 2009
Also...
…it is crazy to see how much of an impact GameBoard’s absence from the lineup affects our entire defensive and offensive make-up. The middle of our lineup becomes all screwy—our best (if you wanna call him that) PH is forced to play a position he sucks at and we are left with bench players hitting .005. Our defense sucks when GameBoard is gone (thus, Hoffpauir). Last year’s team was much more capable of moving around in the lineup and in the field and not let it affect the make-up of the team as much.
dtpollitt - April 25, 2009
I TOLD you SO...
damn – if only we had the exact team we had last year back.
derv - April 25, 2009
No
That’s the team that got swept in the playoffs. Remember?
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
It's being exacerbated by Lee, Soto, and Fontenot stinking right now...
but yes, people should have realized how much risk we added by replacing Edmonds and DeRosa with Bradley and Miles.
Now, I’m not one to suggest we should have stuck with Edmonds (I think last year was an outlier in the positive sense, and I think he’d have fallen off this year. Bradley is a better hitter. But compared to what we had last year, Bradley shouldn’t have been expected to be an upgrade (especially considering his injury risk), and DeRosa is a much better utility option than Miles.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Lou's obsession with lefties
doesn’t trouble me as much as this board’s obsession with DeRosa.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
DeRosa...
probably had a career year last year. But has had a career BA of .278 and OBP of .346 and can play 1B, 2B, 3B, LF, and RF. What isnt to love about that kind of guy?
jkobus - April 25, 2009
For once, the Cubs got rid of a guy
before he started to decline. My only complaint is they could have gotten more for him.
Otherwise, to blame the ruination of the 2009 season on not having Mark DeRosa is silly.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Losing Mark DeRosa is not the problem by itself...
But losing Mark DeRosa and replacing him with a terrible replacement IS a big part of the problem.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
+1
jkobus - April 25, 2009
+ 2
Fraggin Judge - April 25, 2009
I'll wait more than 15 games
before rendering judgment on Miles.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
This isn't based on 15 games!
My goodness man! Miles is a career .689 OPS guy. DeRosa is a career .767 OPS guy. That’s a big difference. And DeRosa can actually play multiple positions, whereas Miles can only play 2B.
Perhaps that’s the problem here: you’re assuming everyone is making judgments based on 15 games. That’s not the case. Many of us were basing this on the players’ entire bodies of work.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Mark DeRosa has a much better body than Aaron Miles.
dtpollitt - April 25, 2009
Ha!
Like I said, the DeRosa love is out of control … :)
SouthernCub, we’ll see how it all plays out. If after another month things still are looking bleak, I’ll trust Hendry and Lou to make the proper move. I’ll be curious to see what DeRo’s numbers look like then, too.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Fair enough...
but do you honestly think Miles is nearly as good as DeRosa? I don’t personally think DeRosa is a superstar. I think he’s a very solid, .800ish OPS guy with the ability to play adequate defense at multiple spots. Miles has never been any of those things. What are your thoughts?
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Miles has been solid
with St. Louis, and his ability at 2B is better than DeRosa’s. He won’t hit much for power, but his defense is better. Is he as good or as versatile as DeRosa? No. But so far, I’m not seeing much to like out of DeRosa in Cleveland. I think it’s a bit of a wash so far.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
I think you're not judging these guys very well...
Miles is not better than DeRosa defensively. And offensively, he’s been terrible with the exception of 2008. And you’re still ignoring that DeRosa is way better defensively at other positions, even ignoring that I think you’ve misjudged their abilities at 2B defensively.
And I’m a bit amused that you’re discussing DeRosa’s first few weeks as evidence that he may be done rather than looking at his career, when you’ve complained about others suggesting Miles is worthless. Regardless, I wouldn’t call their performances this season to be a wash so far, either. Neither has been good, but DeRosa’s OPS is a whopping 400 points higher than Miles’ OPS.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Whatever, SouthernCub
You’ll never convince me, and I’ll never convince you. We agree to disagree. DeRosa for HOF!
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
And again
I liked DeRosa, too. But what’s done is done. And doing it wasn’t a bad idea.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
I never said letting DeRosa go was a bad idea...
I said that replacing him with a vastly inferior player (despite the fact that you don’t seem to realize that Miles is not good) was a bad idea. There’s a big difference.
If we were paying Miles $500k to be a backup/platoon 2B and we found a solid bat off the bench to back up at 1B and 3B, then I’d be fine with losing DeRosa. But replacing DeRosa with Miles is a big step backward.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Clever...
Ignore facts, misstate opinions.
But aside from that, I’m happy to wait until midseason to compare their seasons. I’m pretty confident we’ll see that DeRosa is still vastly superior to Miles, though if you consider a .660 OPS and a .260 a wash, perhaps you won’t agree. I’m also pretty confident that DeRosa is not an all-star caliber player.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Don't put words in my mouth
I never said Miles was better than DeRosa. But I think by the end of the season, there probably won’t be much difference between them. Could be wrong, but …
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
When did I say you said he was better?
I said that DeRosa was much better, and you said they’re probably a wash. I think you’re way off. It’s you who has been putting words in people’s mouths, overstating my opinions of DeRosa.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
What..other than RBI's or clutch hitting....
He has more RBI’s than any CUB
kcjones - April 25, 2009
And he got many of those
on one day against the Yankees, KC.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
OK.....
But DLEee doesn’t sseem to get any on any days against anybody…
Bradly’s been real productive in RF…..
And how many RBI’s do the Cubs haave from 2b?
kcjones - April 25, 2009
What day is it, KC?
Let’s talk again this time next month.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
And the Cubs have too MANY...
2nd basemen AGAIN……and no shortstop….TheRiot is “adequet” at SS….but I want spectacular at SS and theRiot at 2b
kcjones - April 25, 2009
"My only complaint is they could have gotten more for him."
That’s the other’s point as well.
Fraggin Judge - April 25, 2009
Didn't say not having DeRosa was "the problem"...
Said I’d take DeRosa over Miles anyday
kcjones - April 25, 2009
How many benches can replace Milton Bradley and Aramis Ramirez?
Rick B - April 25, 2009
last years Cubs bench.
Bricks and Ivy - April 25, 2009
The Texas team from RBI Baseball
Hammer - April 25, 2009
DeRo to 3rd, Johnson for Bradley
CubsBullsBears - April 25, 2009
well played
derv - April 25, 2009
but last years Cubs (second half)
would have needed a bench to repalce Fukudome-MB-ARam
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
I never understood the Piniella/Hendry love affair with Miles and Gathright
Maybe they saved a few million with DeRosa <—> Miles, but gee wiz….and spending money on Gathright when Pie could have done the same is lame.
zevkalman - April 25, 2009
+1
Grockcubs - April 25, 2009
I think Lou and Hendry get caught up in "intangibles" and "reputation"
It would be nice if their player evaluation skills were based more on quantifiable performance than the cut of a guy’s jib.
CaliCub - April 25, 2009
There is something to be said about intangibles and reputation.
But you’re right, this team also needs to look at statistical performance, too. Both are important.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
...and eaten a couple million by throwing away Guzmon
derv - April 25, 2009
Edmonds?
Signing Edmonds might not be a bad idea right now, replacing Gathright. Gathright can run, but that’s about it, and Edmonds can still hit well, field ok, and be a more complete player than Gathright. I wonder how much money it would take to sign Edmonds, and if he would agree to a bench role if/when Bradley starts hitting well and staying healthy.
Sobenergy - April 25, 2009
If? When?
Given Bradley’s injury history and his current continuation of it, Edmonds would get plenty of playing time. Give him a call, Jim.
NWIowaCubFan - April 25, 2009
I have a strong suspicion...
…there will be a meeting scheduled with Jimmy ballgame this wknd while the boys are in STL.
derv - April 25, 2009
I hope you're right.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
better would have been the Cubs contacting Kenny Williams
during the offseason when he wanted to move Dye.
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
That's for sure...I think I remember Al suggesting that move...
…might be a good one.
derv - April 25, 2009
I am at mild sense of panic
This team does not have the right feel. As mentioned above, Bradleys inability to be in the field causes this team to many issues.
The construction of this team is on Lou. He had to be in Hendry’s ear about needing the lefthanded bats, however to be fair I am sure Hendry felt the same. But to the life of me how they did not prepare for this is inexcuseable. The whole baseball world knows about Bradley and his injuries and they know Hoffpaiur is a butcher in the OF.
It was like Hendry and Lou made moves to make moves, this past offseason will not go down as one of Hendrys finest moments.
Cubs need to be careful, the way the Cardinals are playing we could get buried fast.
Early, yes, but I agree Al, Hendry needs to make some adjustments soon.
Grockcubs - April 25, 2009
If you want to make some adjustments...
Then make these guys practice fundamentals every morning. And start managing better.
SackMan - April 25, 2009
Agree....
I’d rather have GOOD hitters and not worrry so much about which side of the plate they bat from
kcjones - April 25, 2009
It's times like this where DeRosa's versatility
shows it’s true value. As is often said about things… you don’t what you have, until it’s gone.
At any rate, we’re still playing poor baseball. So, no matter how the roster is constructed, it’s a mute point until we start to play fundamentally sound.
We still can’t execute a sacrifice bunt properly with any consistency. Dempster moved the runner over last night, but it was nowhere near textbook.
We’re not hitting behind the runner to let him advance.
At least we didn’t get picked off last night, or make the 1st or 3rd out at 3rd base.
However, we completely ignored Pujols on 1st base, and let him get a jump big enough for LaRussa himself, to steal 2nd… in a crucial late inning moment.
Just boneheaded baseball.
SackMan - April 25, 2009
Not to be a wiseass or anything but
“We” didn’t ignore Pujols. Actually, it was Carlos Marmol.
A mistake that came back to bite “us” in the behind.
JFCubFan - April 25, 2009
DeRosa
is a glorified Manny Trillo. I wish people would stop praising him like he is the second coming
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Help!
Boy I’ll bet Lou is regretting listening to his boss now.
LarryCubFan - April 25, 2009
Here's one difference between this year and last year
Last year, Mr. Everything off the bench was Mike Fontenot. This year, it’s Aaron Miles. I can’t fault Fonty because he certainly earned and deserved a chance at more playing time. So I guess I fault Lou and Hendry for not finding a Fonty equivalent to replace him.
Sounds like that’s what they’re trying to do now, so I hope they succeed. But it’s gotta be a heckuva lot harder to try now than back in spring training.
Maybe the Indians still owe us a sympathy PTBNL in the DeRosa deal. Once Jamey Carroll comes back from DL, maybe Tony Graffanino will be available. But that won’t be till mid-May at the earliest and I don’t think Lou can wait that long. But that’s the kind of guy we need.
ballhawk - April 25, 2009
I love Fontenot
but he is a back up player.
tommy veryzer - April 25, 2009
true dat
cubsnlinux - April 25, 2009
No, I think Fontenot can start.
He’ll be fine. It’s the outfield where we have no depth.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
I really hope you are right
cubsnlinux - April 25, 2009
Bring back
Jimmy Edmonds, shouldn’t have let him go. Bring him back he’s a lefty and he still go get the ball.
Cubbinstrongsince86 - April 25, 2009
might be a decent idea
He could play out in RF with Dome in CF when Miltons out.
Get him (or Durham) and get some abs in the minors. They would require 3 weeks imp
Hammer - April 25, 2009
OT
Watching Sportscenter right now – I hate Papelbon. What a tool – act like youve been there before.
Hammer - April 25, 2009
I still think Valverde and F. Rodriguez are worse
CaliCub - April 25, 2009
Agreed.
I just havent seen them yet this morning. Exception for Valverde is I think he has OCD.
Guys a nutjob – at least Turk Wendell was funny.
Hammer - April 25, 2009
Admittedly I cut Papelbon slack 'cause I like Boston
But if he was a Cardinal, White Sox, etc then I’d probably hate him the most.
CaliCub - April 25, 2009
Valverde is the worse
fischisgod - April 25, 2009
+1000
I am a D Back fan when they aren’t playing the Cubs and I hated his histrionics when he was their closer. I love passion in players but his over the top crap will get him decked one day.
BigJohnAZ - April 25, 2009
"Career Minor Leaguer" or not....
Bobby Scales is hitting the piss out the ball down at Iowa.
Does he only play 2nd base?
carmen_fanzone - April 25, 2009
We screamed and yelled...
…about the lack of depth on the left side of the infield, and here it’s come to haunt the team early. On the bright side, the starting pitching has been pretty solid and the bullpen actually didn’t do all that bad last night.
We just have to hope a few guys can step up offensively and win the Cubs some games while these injury issues get resolved. I’m definitely not opposed to talking to Edmonds.
Hang in there, Cubs fans.
daver - April 25, 2009
If Detroit tanks, find out what they want for Polanco or Guillen
CaliCub - April 25, 2009
Polanco
can hit. I just cant stand when he grimmaces. Looks like he is sucking in air for a living.
Hammer - April 25, 2009
So...
is Lou planning a blowup?
Hammer - April 25, 2009
I'd like one soon...
CubsBullsBears - April 25, 2009
It seems obvious...
Worf, don’t light me up here. I just think there were too many changes to a good team. Jim Hendry and Lou took the philosophy of my workplace: If it ain’t broke, fix it until it is. I know it’s early but the team just doesn’t have the chemistry like they did last year. Hopefully with some more games they will start to look like a team again. The slow start is disappointing but it is still only April. Let’s keep our chins up and remember there’s still ~140 games left.
Fonzie2178 - April 25, 2009
Also
On that go ahead single in the 8th. Im sorry but Theriot needs to keep that ball in the infield.
Hammer - April 25, 2009
How nice would it be if we still had DeRosa?
God, what an awful “salary dump” that was.
Jim Edmonds needs to be given serious consideration right now. I love Reed Johnson, but the Cubs can’t win with him playing everyday while Bradley is hurt.
If only the Cubs would’ve kept Edmonds and DeRosa, and let Bradley go elsewhere to get hurt. Ugh.
kanderber - April 25, 2009
and signed
adam dunn
hoppy91 - April 25, 2009
Quick look at offseason options for RF
Dunn is hitting .300/.478/.600, Ibanez .339/.409/.695, Abreu .349/.408/.381 (8 SB). Bradley .043/.290/.174.
Sobenergy - April 25, 2009
It's still early...
But ouch.
CubsBullsBears - April 25, 2009
OT: ex-Cub Scott McClain heading back to Japan
didn’t think this was worth a fanshot/post but thought some folks might find this interesting. Scott certainly paid his dues in the minors for many years with the occasional cub of coffee in the bigs. Met him once briefly and have heard and read nothing but good things about the guy. From the SF Chronicle:
ballhawk - April 25, 2009
Hmmm.
McClain can hit. He can also play third base. Worth a flyer?
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
Hendry better hurry before Scott gets on that plane...
ballhawk - April 25, 2009
The lack of depth was my big issue with the offseason...
If Bradley stayed healthy, Fukudome bounced back, and Fontenot hit like last year, I figured we would be a better team offensively. But with guys like Soriano and Ramirez likely to miss 30-40 games a year and Bradley likely to miss 60-80 games a year, you need depth. Hendry and Piniella didn’t fix the “problem” of being too RH. They just replaced that “problem” with adding increased risk in the lineup.
I was okay with moving DeRosa, as I believed he’d be in line for a regression year offensively. But I was only okay with the idea if we brought in a capable hitting utility player to replace him. We didn’t do that – instead, we brought in (and overpaid) Aaron Miles. I’m guessing the team might be regretting paying those two guys a combined ~$3.5 million and not having DeRosa for $5 million.
That said, this is almost the worst-case situation: Ramirez and Bradley are both hurt, Lee, Fontenot and Soto aren’t hitting, and we don’t have a good fill-in infielder to keep the lineup productive. It’s still very early though. Fontenot, Lee, and Soto may still get on track, and hopefully Bradley and Ramirez will get healthy soon. We just have to hope the Cubs stay close enough to the Cards while the team is injured and struggling, and hope for an explosive offense when they get back.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Fontenot may get on _track_
but he is not an everyday player just like Theriot is not a SS. Ideally TheRiot should be starting at 2nd, we should have signed a more capable SS and Fontenot should be on the bench like last year
cubsnlinux - April 25, 2009
You may be correct about Fontenot...
But I’m not sure why you’re so willing to say that based on a few weeks. Is Soto not an everyday hitter?
It’s very possible that the Cubs overestimated Fontenot’s capability to be an everyday player. It’s also very possible that Fontenot is just in a slump and will ultimately be just fine.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
cubs
agreed derosa is missed.aramis gets hurt and you replace him with miles.awfull.there is no bench and bradley became a problem very quickly.pretty sad when the bucs and reds are ahead of you.does it get better???next 7 with az and fla.ouch.
NOMAR - April 25, 2009
Ignore
the trolls.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Indians, bah!
I thought this was an interesting perspective on the Indians bad start:
With Carl Pavano as the Indians #3 starter, who in their right mind would have picked the Indians?
:)-
Hey, maybe Jim Hendry should ask the Sox about Brian Anderson, or Alexei Ramirez.
DrCrawdad - April 25, 2009
Brian Anderson?
There’s a reason Anderson isn’t the starting CF for the White Sox. He’s awful.
Ozzie loves Alexei Ramirez — he isn’t going anywhere.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
Nix the deal...
Anderson is the starting CF now. He’s one of the best fielding OF around (not just a strong arm) and he’s actually hitting fine now.
The Sox do have a bit of a logjam in the middle infield. The Sox are very high on Gordon Beckham at SS. If Beckham continues to hit well the Sox will no doubt look to call him up. Then what do they do with Ramirez? They may move Ramirez to CF, but I don’t see them switching out Getz at this point. And then the Sox have Lillibridge and Nix, who’d hitting the heck out of the ball in AAA and playing SS.
DrCrawdad - April 25, 2009
So Anderson is hitting .278 now and you're happy?
He hit .300 in April 2008. How’d that work out?
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
Sure.
.278 and playing is better than .043 and not playing.
Speaking of “how’d that work out?” still sticking with your prediction on the Indians?
DrCrawdad - April 25, 2009
Yes.
Why should 6-11 make them a non-contender? The Rays are 7-10. Are they out of it? No.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
see article/link above
DrCrawdad - April 25, 2009
so that article
and its extensive statistical research means the Indians are out of it?
ballhawk - April 25, 2009
If the past is a predictor.
DrCrawdad - April 25, 2009
but are any of those teams in the past, the 2009 Indians?
and are any of all of those other teams and divisions in the past, the 2009 AL Central?
Think, Doc, think.
ballhawk - April 25, 2009
if the past is a predictor
the NL EAst will be tough for the Cubs to win this season :=)
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Hey, hey...
… the Cubs did win the NL East 2 times in 24 years.
DrCrawdad - April 25, 2009
Do you use this reasoning ...
… often on your predictions?
DrCrawdad - April 25, 2009
if you're dealing with a controlled environment, then yes it makes sense to weigh heavily on the past
Flipping a coin, for example. If I start out flipping a coin and after 7 flips, I have 1 heads and 6 tails, and you can produce studies that show out of all the other past times where someone started out with 1 heads and 6 tails, a vast majority of them ended up with a non-heads-winning record, then I’d most likely go along with the idea that hey – it’s not gonna happen.
But there are just waaaaaaaay too many variables here when you’re talking about baseball teams, players, seasons, parks, conditions, equipment, weather, money, health, media, etc. etc. for me to sit here and just passively assume, hey – it’s not gonna happen.
Whether or not the 2009 1-6 Indians amount to anything this year depends a heckuva lot more on the 2009 1-6 Indians than it does all the other 1-6 teams from years past.
Assuming you are a doctor of some sorts (I think you made mention of that somewhere here once), I’d be very curious if you diagnose your patients by simply quoting statistics from past studies of similar disease/injury. Or do you take into account their medical history, their current health, their supporting environment, current treatments available, etc. etc.
ballhawk - April 26, 2009
I think the White Sox will have an interesting year.
Normally, I couldn’t care less, but with that division shaping up to be anyone’s to claim, there is a lot of potential in the system that could pan out nicely for them, and will be fun to watch. It could also be a complete mess, but at least it looks promising for the future. The starting rotation is another matter, but I’m sure you already know this.
Also, thanks for having your links open a new window. Seems simple enough, but I find it kind of annoying when people don’t do that.
Goodie1969 - April 25, 2009
Thanks!
And I’ll take the Sox starting 3 over any other top 3 in the AL Central.
Contreras may be on his way out of the rotation and if he is I’m comfortable with Poreda stepping in his place. The Sox 2nd tier BP is what concerns me more than the rotation, their terrible and I don’t know about replacements in the Sox system who’ll do better.
DrCrawdad - April 25, 2009
Bad bullpens.
The fear that unites North and South.
Goodie1969 - April 25, 2009
THREE WORDS the Cubs will rue the rest of the year
MARK
DE
ROSA
Yes, I can count .. and three sounds better than two with all of the bench depletion.
cubnational - April 25, 2009
Oh, please!
Can we all stop with all this man love for DeRosa! I’m a Penn alum, I really like DeRosa, so I was crushed when he was traded—but he is gone. The bottom line is he had the 2B range of an iceberg on the ocean—Fontenot is not much better. Fontenot and Dero have basically the same BA and LBR has an OBP 70 pts higher. Yes DeRo has a lot more RBIs, but he also has 23 more ABs but you would also expect that in the AL where you have the DH.
But more importantly, DeRo is not coming back, so let’s LOOK FORWARD and not back. It is not like DeRo’s #s are astronomical compared to LBR (that was my point).
Our real problem it seems to me is that neither of our starting middle infielders has much range as last night’s game painfully showed. We can’t get to too many grounders hit up the middle. That is often the difference in these close games. Let’s stop focusing on DeRo as he isn’t/wasn’t the answer. Middle infielders with RANGE are critical with pitchers who induce ground balls.
LAcarl519 - April 25, 2009
Rec'd
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
- rec
derv - April 25, 2009
Yeah, whining about a bad trade
that was made in the offseason will probably help the team’s lack of depth.
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
it helps me feel better
derv - April 25, 2009
Haha, we should coax Neifi out of retirement...
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
Gosh I miss him too...
smart guy
derv - April 25, 2009
Dude, Nefi can flat out pick it from anywhere...
JB 23 - April 25, 2009
The thing that gets me is that I'm pretty much always willing
…to give the Cubs the benefit of the doubt with the moves they make.
Like a lot of people, I hated to lose DeRo but I was convinced that the Cubs knew what they were doing when they traded him and signed Bradley.
I never had any confidence in Fontenot as an everyday player (don’t get me wrong-I like him..off the bench but, I had a bad feeling that, playing everyday, his flaws would be exposed).
In the off season, Lou said that this was the team he wanted. I went into the season with guarded optimism. But, already, the flaws and lack of depth are being exposed.
I know it’s still early, but so far, I’m NOT encouraged. I’m having bad feelings that this could be like ’04 when the Cardinals ran way in the first few months and that was pretty much it.
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
Someone mentioned it earlier...
I can’t believe Pujols stole 2nd so easily. Ugh. That was deflating.
And the strike zone last was pretty hilarious.
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
When I watched the replay my jaw just dropped
at how big of a lead and jump he got.
And strike zones used to not bug me, but this season idk what it is but the strike zone seems to be all over the place.
jkobus - April 25, 2009
I thought the same...
…was that his first SB?
derv - April 25, 2009
Al said....
it was his third. It almost seemed like Marmol just didnt care Pujols was there.
jkobus - April 25, 2009
Right.
I understand that you need to bear down on the hitter there, but you can’t let the go-ahead run waltz into scoring position…If Marmol is checking on him at 1st, no way he takes off.
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
I've been forced to follow
a few games on Gameday so far this season and, assuming that the accuracy of Gameday (within 1/3 of a ball) is true, the strike zone has been completely laughable so far. The normal 24" plate seemed to be about 30" last night.
gwood - April 25, 2009
Yeah, and pitches that should have been strikes were balls.
Even Molina and Soto didn’t seem to know what was going on.
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
Been watching gamedays....
and I fully agree. I think I have caught about 5 of the games on gameday. I know you cant take it to be exact, but even with a little give and take for balls and strikes, it is just atrocious. Called strikes arent even touching the white.
jkobus - April 25, 2009
That's what I've noticed
There have even been times where the ball ends up in that little white box and it will be called a ball.
gwood - April 25, 2009
I am not as optimistic
as many of my fellow Cub fans here having been jilted at the alter since 1966.
With that said, Hendry made a couple atrocious gambles as has been said. I do not think De Rosa is the second coming of BAbe Ruth – just baseball’s best “6th man”. Having lived through 2006, as many of you, I have seen this movie before.
It is way early in the season, but Lou is no LaRussa, and we do not have the MiLB depth of a team such as the Cards.
Hendry screwed us all again.
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
I feel your pain E-Man
as I’ve been going through this myself since 1971.
It’s like I have two sides to my Cubs’ fandom; 1) Pessimism born out of years of disappointment and 2) Optimism because of how much I love and want to believe in this team.
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
That is so well said -
I am going to use your quote as part of my screen saver!
“It’s like I have two sides to my Cubs’ fandom; 1) Pessimism born out of years of disappointment and 2) Optimism because of how much I love and want to believe in this team.”
Awsome bluekoolaide!
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
Glad to help, E!
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
reminds me of something i said to my step father
when my mother was in the ICU
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Cubs are a mess...this is looking like 2004 all over again
Like I said many times, the 2008 Cubs were blessed with health and a big proportion of players who put up career years or big years.
This team REALLY missed Mark DeRosa. His departure from this team is inexcusable.
Mike Fontenot? Nice role player who is being over-exposed playing everyday.
Aaron Miles? Awful signing. 2 years and $5 million for an infielder with limited versatility.
Derrek Lee? Diving faster than a submarine.
Bullpen? Wretched overall.
Solutions?
1. Get Jim Edmonds back here.
2. Acquire a legitimate middle infielder from somebody, even if it means trading away some attractive young pieces.
3. Move Sean Marshall to the bullpen and give Jeff Samardzija a trial period…Marshall is too needed in that bullpen.
4. DFA Neal Cotts
5. Put Miltion Bradley on the DL…YESTERDAY!!!!!!!
6. Pray like hell Geovany Soto wasn’t a one-year wonder with the bat ala Rick Wilkens
And pray like hell the St. Louis Cardinals don’t run away and hide in the NL Central.
BLou - April 25, 2009
You read my mind with the Soto/Wilkins analogy
I was just talking with a friend about that last night.
For me though, the question is how proactive will Hendry be in making moves to correct things. I mean, i don’t want to wait until we’re buried in August for him to acquire a Phil Nevin.
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
It would be a lot worse if the Cardinals had a closer
and Carpenter was healthy…Don’t even wanna think about that. Wainwright is a stud, this could finally be his breakout year if he stays healthy.
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
Ryan Franklin does have five saves
But, yes, the Cards bullpen is their main weak point.
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
I mentioned that to a friend last night...
That I hope this doesn’t turn into 2004 all over.
CubsBullsBears - April 25, 2009
Let's look at your points one by one.
1. Agreed.
2. Agreed, except I wouldn’t sell the farm to get one unless it’s an All-Star.
3. No.
4. Yes. I think Jason Waddell will be here soon.
5. What’s the point? He played yesterday, now he’s out for 15 MORE days?
6. I don’t think he is, but I DO think he needs to drop a few pounds.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
Glad to see you've come around on Miles...
I’ll wait and see on Fontenot and Lee. I don’t think Fontenot will be the hitter he was last year, but I can see a .750ish OPS guy. That’d be fine. Lee has shown flashes of the power, but he’s really struggling overall. It’s not looking good.
As for your solutions, I agree with #2 and #4. At this point, I’m not sure I agree with #5, and I’m REALLY not sure about #3. I think going with #1 would be a poor decision. I think we got WAY more than what should have been expected from Edmonds last year (that turned out to be the signing of the season). But you can’t ignore the fact that the guy was terrible the previous few years, and he’s getting old. The gamble paid off last year, but I’m wary of going to the well one too many times. Further, once Bradley comes back, what does Edmonds give you?
A lot of folks were excited to get Bradley in spite of the injury risk, but the reality is that he may very well play 80 games this year and he may very well not be available in October. And when he’s hurt, the lineup is much worse than last year’s lineup. I don’t think DLing Bradley now makes sense, unless he’s going to be out for another two weeks. I think we should have DLed him a week or so ago, but now I wonder if the opportunity has passed. But I fear it’s going to be touch and go all season with Bradley’s health, and that’s a problem.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
A good list to start with...
1. Agree that another OF needs to be brought in. I hesitate on Edmonds because of his age. I wouldn’t be upset if they gambled on him but it could just another guy on the DL for extended periods. Probably should look for younger player.
2. Yes, but might have to settle for an older guy to plug the hole.
3. Disagree. The bullpen needs a better Manager in addition to throwing strikes.
4. Yes, and reduce the total number of pitchers n the roster to 11.
5. I agree if he’s that badly hurt. if he needs that time to recover then put him there and use the roster spot.
6. Yes, nothing can be done but wait and see. I am not panicked about him yet but there is some risk there. I think a drop off should be expected but we should be hoping for something still very productive v. TH numbers.
DudeVf11 - April 25, 2009
2004 Was not as
bad as you are thinking.
Weren’t they in the Wild Card lead until the last week?
2006 was the DLEE “wrist” year. We had Neifi everyday after.
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
2004 was rip my heart out horrible.
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
Well, my point is
they were in the hunt until they blew it (once more).
2006, Hendry was completely unprepared and had no bench, and few starters to fill in (MArmol was one of those starters)
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
Oh. From a roster standpoint, yeah...Then I agree.
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
Exactly...
the 2004 team won 89 games. They were pretty good. A few more wins, and nobody is complaining about them.
The 2006 season was the real disaster.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
I think one of the problems with the '04 team was that the expectations were so high
Signing maddux, acquiring DLee, etc., a lot of people were predicting the Cubs to run away with it and then, when they didn’t, (and the Cards went on auto pilot) it was deflating.
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
Right.
And the Nomahhhh trade at the deadline…
PurpleLineToWrigley - April 25, 2009
I still remember how pumped I was when he pulled that off
That’s the Jim Hendry that we’re going to need-the guy who wasn’t afraid to pull the trigger on a big move.
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
But shouldn't we have
high expectations? They haven’t won shit since 1945. Tickets are outrageous. We are a major market team!
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
True
I just finished reading “Sweet Lou and the Cubs” and there’s a line in there that refers to the Yankees, Red Sox and Cubs as the three large market, superpowers.
It’s eternally frustrating to me that teh Cubs never seem to be able to put it together (or sustain it) like the other two teams.
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
There's a key difference between NYY/BOS and the Cubs
Yankees and Red Sox have pretty good minor league systems – although some would argue that the Yankees’ system is more ballyhoo than bonafide. Once the Cubs create a development system like those two or the Marlins, the Cubs will rightly be a “superpower”.
CaliCub - April 25, 2009
The Cubs farm system is on the right track...
with management like Davis, Sandberg, et al. The trouble is that we have given up most of our decent near-ready prospects.
derv - April 25, 2009
The Cubs sshould be using the Marlins as their FARM system...
Not giving the Marlins a team of the players the Marlins out-scout them
kcjones - April 25, 2009
we had more wins in 2004 than 2003 IIRC
so thats fine with me, we can be like 2004 and win more in 2009 than in 2008
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
88 wins in 2003, 89 in 2004.
So what? The 2003 team made the playoffs and the 2004 team didn’t.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
that is cuz
other teams improved and in some cases played above their heads. no one gives credit to the teams it seems, just like when Cuerto/Harang pitched steller, everyone blew up on the Cubs hitting, instead of acknowledging that the other team is also paid to play, and they brought their A Game those days.
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
It was one of the most unpleasant years I can remember.
The numbers don’t tell the full story. I hated that team, they were a bunch of excuse making ass-hats with a clueless Manager and I rooted against them. 2005? 2006? “I can’t win without my horses.” B.S.! He should have been put out to pasture after the colossal choke in 2004 and the same for Lou if they choke AGAIN this year.
DudeVf11 - April 25, 2009
Exactly. No depth. Bad off-season moves.
Back in the winter, when the trades were being made, I wrote here that I was going to suspend passing judgment until I could see how the team would finally look like. Now we know that for financial reasons mainly, and also in the look for left-handed hitters, the team has less depth than last year’s. It’s a good group of starting position players with no backups (or mediocre ones), and less talent.
Miles is no better backup than Fontenot was and the latter is no better starting 2nd baseman than De Rosa was. But Fontenot is a lefty, which satisfies Lou’s criteria. Hendry didn’t give a 2 year deal to Kerry Wood but hired Gregg, an injured closer with less talent? How does that improve the Cubs? Really? Milton Bradley, with his anger and injuries issues? While a lefty like Bobby Abreu was available for a comparable amount of money? And what did we get for De Rosa?
The pending sale and Lou’s requirement for more left-handed hitters put the team in this position. Tht’s why I don’t think this is the year. We’ll win more games than we’ll lose. The team might even win the division. I’m not jumping off any ledge. But this is not a championship-caliber team.
Fraggin Judge - April 25, 2009
Here's where we're really going to see what Hendry is made of
If he decides to stand pat and wait for things to sort themselves out, then I think we’re in big trouble.
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
I would be very surprised
if Hendry does anything. His words this offseason: “Getting Bradley is a risk, but sometimes its just the price of playing poker.”
Well, Jimmy, I would wait to go to Vegas if I were you.
The combination of a shit economy, coupled with the new owner mess, would certainly have a bearing on what Hendry will be able to do if it means anything else than a trade. Unfortunately, we are not “stocked” in the minors with ready-to-go talent like some other teams have with excellent farm systems.
It just appears as if Hendry will be caught with his pants down once more. UGH!
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
You might be right
Thanks for inching me slightly closer to the ledge-lol
So, if the Cubs do underperform, does that mean the sun is setting on the “Jim Hendry era”?
bluekoolaide - April 25, 2009
Somebody help me out:
What’s that MLB website I can go to and find out if a game will be shown on FOX in my market??
dtpollitt - April 25, 2009
Found it, thanks for the help, Dan.
http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/5619630
dtpollitt - April 25, 2009
Tweets from Gordo...
Rejo? Is that like HoJo? Well, hope rejo has his mojo working today…
ballhawk - April 25, 2009
Bench today: Hoff, Hill, and Gathright...
Ugh.
carmen_fanzone - April 25, 2009
Danny Trejo?
By the way, the fake movie trailer of “Machete” from the Death Proof/Planet Terror starring Danny Trejo is being turned into a real movie and will start filming this summer. Good useless info for ya.
dtpollitt - April 25, 2009
HAHA!
I dig Danny Trejo! There was a rumor that he was a former East LA gang member.
He was really funny in “The Mexicans”
Johnny Depp: “Well, are you a Mexi-CAN, or a Mexi-CAN’T”
Trejo: “A Mexi-CAN!”
They then shoot-’em-up. lol.
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
Errrr, the guy's been in jail, apart of gangs, drugs, etc.
back in his earlier days. I think he’s great and love all his work with Tarentino and Rodriguez.
dtpollitt - April 25, 2009
Was he in all three
of Rodriguez’ “Mexican” films?
He was also in one of the promotional films BMW made by Tony Scott. HE was “the devils assistant”, in “Beat the Devil” where Clive Owens drives for James Brown’s soul against the devil – Gary Oldham.
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
I think he died in one of them and some how came back, IIRC.
dtpollitt - April 25, 2009
Those BMW films were awesome
forgot about those.
derv - April 25, 2009
Link
http://www.vimeo.com/652163
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
This team looks awful
I’m typically one to stay calm, and not worry so much when a team goes through a bad stretch. However, this doesn’t feel like a bad stretch, this feels like the beginning of Act 1 in a potentially long season.
It’d be one thing if they just weren’t ‘coming up with the big hit’ or not ‘getting the big out’ when they need them. But the only things that’s been alright in the early going has been the rotation. Which also leaves one to wonder why in the world were the Cubs even thinking about getting Peavy when the team had obvious needs elsewhere.
It’s still far too early to come to any definitive conclusions about the 2009 Cubs, but it’s never too early to have a feel for where a team is heading. And I am compelled to agree with one poster that said that this team has a feeling that reminds me of 2006. I don’t want to say that, but I can’t deny that it’s felt that way following this team thus far. It’s almost as though they used up all their good karma in 2008, and now that the calendar has turned, things aren’t going to be coming up Cubs so much.
When it looked liked the Cubs were going to sign Bradley, I didn’t really like it, but I was OK with it because 1. The man can hit (from both sides), and 2. Because with the CF platoon and DeRosa, there was plenty of RF depth to cover the fact that there is no way Bradley is starting more than 100 games in RF. And I also wasn’t against dealing DeRosa, because for once the Cubs would be selling high on a player. But destroying the depth at RF while signing Bradley was just dumb, which is made even worse since the Cubs seemed to get absolutely nothing in return for a guy whom was arguably their most valuable player.
If Hendry knew all along he needed to get rid of DeRosa to afford a new RF (although I have no idea how saving $3 million by replacing DeRosa with Miles made the difference), then why in the world would you get a RF that was going to miss a ton of time? If one of the options was going to be Hoffpauir in RF to maintain some offense, then why in the world not just sign Dunn and live with the crappy defense anyway?
Yes, hindsight is 20/20, and nobody could have predicted that only a few guys would be hitting at all, and that both Bradley and Ramirez would be down so soon. But this team was pretty poorly built.
If they were going to destroy the teams depth by jettisoning DeRosa, they needed to replace him with someone better than Miles. LF, RF, and 3B on the Cubs are all guys who are likely to miss time during the year, and a guy with a sub .700 career OPS is hardly a reasonable backup for those offensive pieces. Juan Uribe would have been a much better fit for Miles’ role, at least he has power and a good glove, even if he doesn’t get on base.
I really was hoping that Hendry would sign Dunn and pretty much be done with it. It would have been nice to keep Wood, but figuring out that extra position player was a little more important than keeping a closer, maybe.
Maybe by mid-season, when everyone will finally admit that Lee has a bat that is too slow to be productive, (really, when was the last time he’s been out in front of anything? I don’t think he’s pulled a ball foul yet this year) Lou will shift Bradley to 1B and they can shop for yet another OF.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
Lee
I agree with a lot of what you said, but have to say you’re wrong about Lee. Yes, his bat is slow, but at the one game I attended this year, he pulled several balls, including a home run. But in general, he doesn’t seem to be the same player he was a few years ago. And his running has deteriorated dramatically.
danimal15 - April 25, 2009
I don't agree
that this feels like 2006. Not by a long shot.
For one thing, Dusty isn’t the manager. For another thing, the pitching is significantly better. For a third thing, no player (so far) has sustained a potentially season-ending injury.
Relax. Actually, if this were really like 2006, you might think they’d win the World Series, considering how hot that team started.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Indeed the team started hot
but DLEE broke his wrist in LA in May. I was there the day before. The season was over for all intent then.
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
Right
That’s what I mean about the fallacy of saying this feels like 2006 all over again.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Oh, yep -
That’s true Bruce. No compare with that.
It is really early in a baseball season to throw the towel in!
That said, I’d like to see some of the players bats come alive before the team gets too many games behind the Cards…
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
It'll happen, E
Hang in there. A victory today and everybody will feel better, just you watch.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Man, Bruce, my kids let me have it
about my usual Cubs, tongue-in-cheek pessimism – but I wish I could carry your optimism throughout all areas of my life. I could make the 4-foot putts. Get a new job quicker. Find a way to pay for my kids college. Believe the Bears will be in the Super Bowl soon…
The E-Man - April 25, 2009
I don't mean in terms of roster
Yes, this roster is infinitely superior to one the one fielded in 2006, especially once Lee went down.
I’m merely referring to the feeling that I’m getting watching this team. In 2008, I was watching games expecting them to win even when they were behind, and even when they were behind late, and even when they were behind big late. But in 2006, it always felt like they were going to lose, even if they were ahead, even if they were ahead late, and even if they were ahead big late.
The team looks lifeless (which can change quickly to be sure), but they are poorly constructed, and it seems apparent that the Cubs holes have been exposed early, and will continue to be exposed often.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
This team has looked lifeless
for three games. Three games. Again, three games.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Um
Not just three games.
I haven’t been particularly impressed with the team as a whole thus far this season. It’s easy to show some life, or at least appear to, when the team wins.
To be certain, this team hasn’t clicked as a whole yet. A couple of guys having big games does not a team make.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
No
It’s just three games.
Not Bruce Froemming - April 25, 2009
Well, I disagree
Again, it’s easy to ‘have life’ when Soriano and Ramirez come up with some big blasts late in games. And I won’t deny that some guys have had some big games so far, and at times make the team look good.
But the team is consistently putting itself in a position to force a guy to be a hero. This team isn’t playing as a cohesive team the way the 2008 team did, seemingly, all year.
This doesn’t feel like a different hero every day, this feels like ‘please let Ramirez be the guy coming up with RISP’. That is a team that, to me, looks lifeless.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
Agreed on the 2006 thing...
this team is so much better than that team that it’s a joke. I’m just not sure that we’re as good as the 2008 team. Not that that would be a problem. The 2008 team was pretty darn good. The bigger fear is that we’re not as good as 2008 even when healthy, AND we wind up with poor health in October. But that of course is a long way away.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Hmm
Perhaps I need to see more of his ABs, but from I’ve been seeing he’s done pretty much nothing but weakly fouling off balls that he is super late on.
I’ve seen him hit some balls to his pull field, sure. Some hot-shots towards third, and the some warning-track shots to deep Left Center, but I haven’t really seen him hook anything foul, or even be so far out in front that he misses entirely. To me, it looks like his bat is too slow to do anything with the pitches that he needs to be mashing.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
Except Dunn is not a right fielder
People can criticize Hendry for numerous things. Gathright and Miles are two but Dunn could not be signed to play RF. He hasn’t played it much at all and when he did, he was awful. Think Hoffpauir all year long.
rlpete - April 25, 2009
Oh, I'm aware
I’m very much aware that Dunn is a poor OF. He’s pretty bad in LF, and would be a butcher in RF, especially one as tough to play as Wrigely.
But with depleted depth in RF, I’d feel more comfortable with needing to pull the starting RF for late inning defense, than needing to carry 2 everyday RF.
Also, I’d like to think that by mid-season, Dunn would be shifted over to 1B, and Hendry would be looking for another OF. I want to think that Lee can still be productive, but I’m really thinking otherwise.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
Your scenario is fine, except...
… Lee has a no-trade clause and isn’t going anywhere. I still would have liked Dunn — he could have fit the scenario you put forth, that way you’d have pulled him after the 7th or 8th, whenever he had his last AB, and put whoever wasn’t playing in the Fukudome/Johnson platoon in RF, with the other in CF. Or put Gathright out there for defense, where he has played exactly one inning this year.
This team is already dysfunctional. Jim Hendry needs to get on his cellphone and start fixing it, now.
Al Yellon - April 25, 2009
No Trade
Yeah, I think that was an unspoken problem this past off-season. There was pretty much no way to address a declining Lee other than to hope he finds it again, because of his no-trade clause.
My thinking on the FA RF that Hendry signed (my preference was Dunn), was that they could shift him to first whenever they accepted that Lee was done. Despite how awful it would be, I don’t think they’d have much choice but to accept Lee as a sunk cost and keep him on the bench. That way they could get the best offensive OF option (Dunn), and then just look for depth in RF at the deadline. Jermaine Dye could be available, maybe.
The bench is a mess. I don’t think I’ll get over the idea that Cubs brass was trying to sell Miles as good hitter and “a good OBP that could hit at the top of the order”. Nor do I think I’ll forget the garbage that they are excited about the guys they got for DeRosa.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
I think it was Bruce Miles who addressed this early in the offseason
Hendry was considering trading Lee, but Lou believed in Lee and wanted to keep him.
DGU - April 25, 2009
I must've missed that
i would imagine that Hendry would have at least explored to option of trading Lee, but I would’ve thought that it was the NTC, not Lou keeping him here.
If it really was Lou who wanted to keep Lee, it makes me question Lou’s judgment a little. Surely he is a far more knowledgeable baseball man than I, but I’m not even on the fence when it comes to Lee. I’m all but certain that he is done, and I would hope his manager would recognize the signs before I would.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
Derrek Lee went through a similarly bad stretch early in his career
a stretch that went from the second half of 2001 through the start of 2002. It’s way too early to conclude Lee is done. Think back to what we thought of Alou before he broke out the last year of his Cub contract – and then Alou had another strong 3 years.
I really don’t get why so many people are such anti-fans when it comes to Lee.
DGU - April 25, 2009
Same thing for Carlos Delgado...
He was terrible (by his standards – sort of average by other standards) in 2007 and terrible (period) early in 2008. Everyone said he was done. Then he had an MVP-like second half of 2008 and has looked solid early this year. And he’s 36. Lee is only 33.
I’m not going to say that Lee will bounce back to being an upper-tier type of hitter, but I certainly wouldn’t be so ready to assume he’s done either.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
I would like nothing more than to be wrong
Really, a productive Lee would be awesome, and solve a potentially major problem for the Cubs. I just really don’t think that I am.
It would be one thing if it looked like he needed to revamp his swing, a project to be sure, but fixable. It would be one thing if his timing appeared to be off, that he was out in front of breaking balls, and late on fastballs, he’d probably be able to work his way back around from RF back to LF and getting his timing back simply by playing.
But it doesn’t appear to be his swing, and it doesn’t appear to be his timing. It’s looking more and more like it’s his bat speed. And bat speed, is virtually impossible to fix. It’s very likely that Lee has a productive month or two left in him. But he is going to have to cheat his swing, and start really early in order to get around a fastball on the inner third. And once word gets around that he’s starting early, breaking balls are going to eat him alive.
Again, I would love to be wrong and have the pre-2005 Derrek Lee hitting in the heart of the lineup (hoping for the 2005 version would be a bit much, but I’d gladly take it). But I really don’t see it happening unless he somehow finds away to regain the bat speed that he’s lost. Really, I would not be surprised in the least to see him hit like .260-.270 with 12 HRs and a sub .350 OBP.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
I do not have a trained scouting eye, so I can't say, but
I imagine that if it was bat speed related to age, and not a nagging shoulder injury, that Lou would see that easily and the Cubs would not believe in Lee.
Minor mechanical flaws and bad timing can be a bear and drag a player down for weeks. This year, probably every Cub player will go through a stretch where they hit under .200 for at least 10 days.
DGU - April 25, 2009
Agreed...
if Lee’s bat speed were the problem, you’d think the team would have figured that out long ago, and not continued to bat him in the 3rd spot for so long.
Clearly, something is wrong. It’s not just luck that is resulting in the numbers Lee has put up since cerca May of last year. But at the same time, the Cubs seem to believe it’s fixable, otherwise they wouldn’t keep him in the 3rd/4th spot in the lineup.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
If they thought Lee was hurt
I think you’d be seeing more Hoffpauir at 1B trying to keep Lee rested.
I recognize that poor mechanics or off-timing can lead to atrocious offensive output. And if I was under the impression that Lee had poor mechanics or timing, I probably wouldn’t be so concerned. But his poor last 5 months of ‘08 showed me the same thing I feel I’m seeing now, a slow bat.
It would be great if his bat has been slowed by an injury unbeknownst to the fans, but knownst to the Cubs, and that he’s likely to break out of it and start hitting. I don’t know if it’s age or injury, and I won’t presume to say for certain either way. I just know that I wholly believe that a slow bat is incredibly difficult t rectify.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
I think the lack of Hoffpauir at 1B is telling.
If it was bat speed, how did Lee murder the ball against RHP in the playoffs?
The season is still young, and last I looked, Lee is out-hitting David Ortiz and Conor Jackson and Milton Bradley for that matter.
If Derrek Lee is still scuffling in 3 weeks, we’ll have more to go on.
DGU - April 25, 2009
I'll agree that he looked solid in the NLDS
And maybe he’s got enough in the tank to get his bat going for big games, but 3 games worth of ABs offers a whole lot less information than 5+ months worth of ABs.
I don’t know much about Conor Jackson, but the word on Ortiz is that his bat is slow as molasses. They’re talking like he might be a sub .250 hitter this year, and lots of scouts are shocked at his sudden decline, but his bat looks unbelievably slow. I’m speaking completely second hand, and I don’t really watch AL baseball, so have yet to see him bat, I’m just telling you what I’ve heard about Ortiz, who has been mentioned in same breaths as Derrek Lee as guys who’s bats have slowed down considerably.
Bradley’s lack of hitting isn’t as alarming for a couple of reasons. 1. He is still having good ABs, working deep counts, and is often fouling off pitches, even though those ABs have not been resulting in hits, 2. His most recent track record indicates that he will hit, 3. His bat doesn’t look slow, it just looks like he’s not squaring anything up, and likely his timing is off, which will come back with playing time.
I’m all for giving Lee every conceivable chance to concede, and you won’t witness me screaming ‘bench Lee, start Hoff’ or straight up ‘DFA Lee’. Lee’s history warrants giving this guy the chance to prove that he still belongs. But saying that DLee not hitting is the same as MB not hitting is completely unfair.
WittyUserName - April 25, 2009
I'm not saying it's the same
I’m saying it’s early in the season. If you were a professional scout, or were passing on information from one, I’d be all ears about what the problem with Lee might be. That’s a conversation I’d love to have.
But just looking at the stats, the stats suggest Lee should bounce back eventually this year. And looking beyond the stats, you see trust in Lou’s treatment of Lee.
DGU - April 25, 2009
Too many pitchers
I agree with Al – 12 pitchers is too many and 13 is outrageous.
Lou has a case of Tony LaRussa-itis – the disease in which a manager thinks he needs a separate pitcher for every batter after the 6th inning (well, not quite, but almost). A good MLB reliever should be able to pitch effectively for 2 or 3 innings, and changing pitchers every other batter for L/R advantage slows the game to a crawl and wastes roster space. Unfortunately, pitchers are conditioned now to only pitch to 2 or 3 batters at a time, setting up a ridiculous situation on most teams in which there are 5 starters expected to go 6 or 7 innings an outing, and 7 other guys who can only throw an inning or less. What happened to the true “long reliever”?
danimal15 - April 25, 2009
This team is not even close to awful; the main problems are minor.
Milton Bradley is not a problem. We knew this is what we would get. We can stand to play half the season without him.
Our other position players are not a problem. At least one of Soto, Lee, and Fontenot will have a down year, but it’s not likely that all three will; plus the apparent bounceback of Fukudome helps to alleviate if two manage to have down years. Remember that Fontenot was a slow starter last year, too.
Where things have been ugly is Lou and his bench not meshing well. It’s not any single player’s problem. We could stand to have Miles as a platoon partner with Fontenot and not much else. We could stand to have Hoffpauir useful for nothing except hopefully eventually pinch-hitting. We could stand to have Gathright do nothing but pinch-run and defensively sub. The problem is that we can’t have all three.
I’d rather see our pinch-runner be a slick-fielding middle infielder; I’d rather see our slugging pinch-hitter be able to play 3B. I think the bench will get worked out, probably with neither Gathright nor Hoffpauir being here in the end.
Maicer Izturis would do a lot to fix the IF depth problem right now.
DGU - April 25, 2009
Your first paragraph is ignoring some key facts...
For one, I’m not sure we will make the playoffs with the roster as is if Bradley only plays 80 games. The other key point is that you’re ignoring the fact that if Bradley misses 80 games, it’s 50/50 that he’ll be available for the playoffs. That’s potentially a major problem.
I agree with you about our bench, It’s not well-constructed. But the construction is a depth issue. Last year, the bench had Fukudome/Edmonds/Johnson and DeRosa/Fontenot to turn to. This year, it’s Hoffpauir/Johnson and Miles.
But I think you’re undervaluing the amount of risk we’re carrying for largely no reason. If we can find a corner IF who can hit with some pop and Hoffpauir can continue to hit well enough to be a fill-in in RF, then we are fine. But right now we’re missing the depth that we had when we had DeRosa and the rejuvenated version of Edmonds to fill the gaps. I’m not saying we need to go get Edmonds or DeRosa, but we need to consider that the lineup isn’t as deep as it was last year, when we were able to withstand Fukudome’s second-half collapse and the occasional injury to Soriano or Ramirez.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Oh yeah. I totally agree that depth has been the obvious problem from the moment Hendry signed Miles.
The odds were never good that Aramis would play 155 games this year. We needed a legitimate 3B option. And all we tried to get was Koskie. We even let Dallas McPherson go by, which made no sense – he offers everything Hoffpauir offers, at a better chance of success, with 3B eligibility.
I wasn’t worried about the OF depth, because I thought Gathright was worth trying. I’ll defer to the Cubs’ coaches on this; they’re not playing him and his track record is not close to good enough to doubt their decision.
Another player who would have helped this roster was Mark Teahen, but he’s locked into KC’s 3B slot until Alex Gordon gets back.
As for what I wrote about Bradley, I think the odds are good the Cubs’ trainers can get him healthy in time for the playoffs.
DGU - April 25, 2009
You're more confident than me on Bradley...
but it’s obviously possible that he’ll be fine in October. And if he’s healthy for (and we’re in) the post season, then Bradley addresses a lot of needs.
I think the biggest problem though is that we overpaid wildly for Miles rather than getting a cheap middle-IF and paying the $2.5 million or so for an adequate bat at the corner IF spots.
The other thing to consider is that with big risks in the rotation and the lack of depth, the margin for error during the time that Bradley is injured is much less than last year. It’s certainly possible that we can survive 40-60 games without Bradley, but we have to consider the very real possibility that this team’s current lack of depth could leave the Cubs watching the postseason. I don’t think it will be the case, but it’s a possibility.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Bradley will always be perceived as a problem whenever one of the other big bats is injured.
He’s also been perceived as a problem, because Lou decided to try Micah’s glove in the OF until that lost us a game. I’m similarly worried that Mike Fontenot is going to have to go through a rough day or two on account of trying to force him into the 3B position.
Jim and Lou should have been on the same page. They should have gone into the season with ready backups for our two great lottery tickets – Harden and Bradley. I think they’re great lottery tickets because they are game changers if we manage to get one or both of them on the post-season roster fully healthy.
At the same time, you have to expect them to get injured in-season and you have to have ready backups. I thought Gathright would work and I think Lou thought Hoffpauir would work. Well, now we have to find someone who will work. Maybe Fernando Tatis is the guy.
Note that this same situation applies to Harden. We do not currently have a starter stretched out and ready to step in for him. We burned that option because of Lou’s impatience with relievers.
DGU - April 25, 2009
I don't disagree at all...
the problem is that I think people on this board really discounted the lack of fallback plans for Bradley and Harden. I think they did so largely because the team was incredibly deep offensively last year.
On a team with somewhat injury-prone players at 3B and LF, picking up Bradley was a huge risk. And I agree that the team has not done a good job of insulating the team from that risk. As you said, if you have a solid fallback plan for when Bradley (or Soriano or Ramirez) is hurt, then gambling on Bradley is a good move. I’m sure they thought that they had the right fallback plan, but I think it’s highly debatable whether or not we have that.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Oh, I agree, too -
Lou has made it clear that the only bench player he will start in the OF is Reed Johnson, who doesn’t hit RHers particularly well. That’s a problem that needs fixing. 3B is also a problem.
I just think these problems appear larger right now than they should be all season, because right now we’re facing the ill effects of some poor defensive alignments by Lou and because we’re stacking injuries.
DGU - April 25, 2009
He's started Hoffpauir a few times, no?
And yes, the problems are certainly magnified right now by the fact that Lee, Fontenot, and Soto are struggling and Ramirez is now hurt. But Fukudome and Theriot aren’t necessarily going to keep hitting the cover off the ball, either, and I doubt Soriano keeps up his .400 OBP for too long. The depth issue is something worth keeping an eye on at the very least.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
I thought Lou said the other day that Hoff in the OF was done.
I think we’re pretty much agreed on the rest.
DGU - April 25, 2009
Soto's "sophmore slump"
Might be due to the fact that his “buddy” Mr. Blanco is now the Padres’ backstop.
Ron Trauma - April 25, 2009
or that his shoulder was fine last season
and is bothering him this season already
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Not the buddy BS again
We heard this same BS regarding Soriano and his buddy Pie. Supposedly Soriano did better when Pie was with the team even though Soriano had an MVP type season with the Nationals probably before he even met Pie.
Soto did well in the minors without Blanco. Sure Blanco helped him but do the Cubs need to keep Blanco until he is 45 because he is Soto’s buddy? Soto has been hurt most of the season. Let him get healthy and see how he does.
rlpete - April 25, 2009
I said this and got ripped during the offseason
LBR is my biggest question mark in the everyday line up. He has not played a full season as a starter, and like Hoff is not getting younger. I like LBR and want him to do well, but to go from a career high 243 ABs to an everyday player, we all knew would have some challanges for him. Hell the season is 10% oer, and he has already had 20% of the ABs he has last season.
And call me crazy, but doesn’t Cedeno (i know, Lous doghouse) fit the bench need of cheap and versatile? Take out Lous doghouse and he would be a better fit than Miles IMO.
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Cedeno isn't any better than Miles in my opinion...
The difference is that Cedeno is $2 million less expensive.
But Cedeno isn’t the only option. Andres Blanco or others would fit the bill just as well.
The biggest problem with Miles is that he’s being paid way too much for what little he brings to the table. If he were making $500k, I’d be fine with him.
SouthernCub - April 25, 2009
Cedeno is better at SS and 3B and can play a little OF
he is more versatile and has a stronger arm.
and all those in love with DeRosa, how many were ripping his signing before
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2006/11/14/16736/679
he is no longer a Cub, lets move on from talking about him as a Cub in 2009 since it will not happen
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
Cedeno had backwards splits
so he didn’t make a good platoon partner for Fontenot. Miles splits like a regular righty, which made him ideal to Hendry – a switch-hitter for the bench, plus a platoon partner for Fontenot, plus taken from the Cards with the hopes of putting their 2B spot into a tailspin.
DGU - April 25, 2009
I had visions of Dunn smashing baseballs out of Wrigley.
Bradley was the worst signing ever. I know it is only 10 or so games into the season but for the same money we could have had a legitimate 40/100 guy in the outfield for the next 5 seasons. Who cares about his atrocious defense when he is lofting the ball out of Wrigley every game? Is Bradley’s defense really that good that we couldn’t have taken a flyer on Dunn?
Woody’s departure is understandable. He was too costly for too big of a risk.
The DeRosa deal was 1 year too early. Miles definatly is not the answer.
Personally I would have gotten rid of DLee 2 years ago, but the no-trade clause and amount of cash he is owed is a huge anchor on this club.
Here’s how I wished the cubs would have handled things this offseason:
1b Adam Dunn
2b Mark DeRosa
3b Aramis Ramirez
ss Ryan Theriot
LF Reed Johnson/Fukudome
CF Aquired in the DLee deal.
RF Soriano
C Soto
Bench:
Fontenot
Hoffpauir
2b/ss/3b with pop
Johnson/Fukudome
Hill
Veteran guy (Matt Stairs?)
Starting Rotation:
Z
Lilly
Dempster
Harden
Szmardja
Pen:
Marmol(closer)
Gregg
Heilman
Marshall
Guzman
Someone other than Vizcaino
Ron Trauma - April 25, 2009
and that line up
is doomed
Soriano in RF at WF….INSANITY just to start with
I stopped reading there. it showed you didnt pur enough thought into it
Cubbie-Tim - April 25, 2009
You must have been a big Dave Kingman fan...
and how do you get the “CF acquired in the DLee deal” when he has a NTC?
Never mind, I don’t want to know. These “offseason hindsight roster” posts are just ridiculous.
carmen_fanzone - April 25, 2009
Dunn
We had the same player 30 years ago in Dave Kingman. Can’t recall any very successful seasons with him. And his OF defense did cost the Cubs games.
danimal15 - April 25, 2009
Kingman
But it was fun watching his 600-foot homer fly out of Wrigley (hence the Lou Boudreau call below)
danimal15 - April 25, 2009
The latest Twittermyer is horrifying:
Put Z out there, let’s see what he can do.
Schwa - April 25, 2009
Z at 3B would be awesome
until he injured himself.
DGU - April 25, 2009
It might actually help him mature as a pitcher when...
…he makes some errors. Who am I kidding, he’s never going to change. He’d laucnh a throw into the stands 20 feet over the 1Bman’s head and then glare at him for not having a ladder.
DudeVf11 - April 25, 2009
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