Where were you when the Cubs’ season ended this year? I was passed out in my bed with the game on. I awoke in time for the big Cubs’ rally and was completely disoriented about the lack of Derrek Lee.ÂÂ
Now, the day after the big news that he’s gone for two months (at least), I’m still disoriented. I guess I shouldn’t have drunk all that cough syrup.
Despite the wailings of less thoughtful Cubs fans than us, the Cubs have not cornered the market on season killing injuries. Every team has big injuries. The Braves seem to lose Chipper Jones for two months every year.
What the Cubs have cornered the market on though is their inability to cope with a serious injury. The last time I checked, the season is six months long. If you lose your best player for a third of that, you need to go find another player. The Cubs do not seem intent on doing that. This is why they lose. Not because somebody gets hurt, but because they patch the hole with a collection of mediocrities and wonder why it doesn’t work.
Better news, of course, would be to check in on the boys at Lambda Lambda Lambda to see if they can use the same technology they incorporated into Lamar’s winning javelin toss into a bat for Derrek so that he could at least pinch hit for the next couple months? Besides, how often does your first baseman have to throw, anyway? It’s not like it ever stopped Frank Thomas or anything.
That’s probably not going to work. In all of the papers today, Jim Hendry is basically saying that since you can’t replace Derrek Lee, why trade for somebody?
Any good GM would probably say the same thing, then run back to the office and start calling other GMs like crazy. Jim’s track record is that he’s saying that and meaning it.
Why bother trading for a stopgap at first base when you have these attractive options?
1. Just play John Mabry at first base. Oh, here’s a good one. Take a guy whose best role is as a pinch hitter and spot starter and expose him to 60 games of four or five at bats a night. I’m sure he’ll hit .300 with power. All this move does is serve to weaken your bench. If Lee was out for a week, or even two, you can get by this way. When he’s out until after the Summer Solstice, you can’t just use John Mabry.
2. Play Todd Walker at first base with Jerry Hairston and Neifi! splitting time at second. This is the most logical of the in-house options. It’d be especially nice if Hairston got most of the time at second. You can bat Jerry second and drop Walker down a little in the order, probably to fifth or sixth. The problem is that you have Todd Walker playing first base. For two months. Todd Walker. I think I just blacked out.
3. Call up somebody from the minors. The Cub Reporter says that Michael Restovich has been added to the 40-man roster and will be called up. The Cubs could only do that by transferring somebody to the 60 day DL. With the Cubs, there’s never a shortage of guys eligible to be put on that bad boy. Right now, they have five guys who could do that, three of whom are probably safe bets to be out two months, including Wade Miller, Angel Pagan and Lee, and that doesn’t even include the Bobbsey Twins. Great?
Restovich is a Twins wash out who was hitting pretty well at Iowa. He’s Jason Dubois without the Sling Blade accent. For those of you still upset that Dusty gave up on Dubois and that Hendry traded him, well guess what, he’s back, only a little shorter. Congrats.
What’s most distressing about the current situation is that the Cubs, seemingly, had finally gotten a clue about how to put together an offense. Sure, the Jock Jones signing is just as dumb as ever, but the Cubs’ regular lineup featured decent power, good speed, and seven guys who could work the count and hit to the opposite field when necessary. They’re actually better equipped than in the past to handle the loss of a good hitter. But the distressing part is that they’ve only had this clue for 14 games. They could regress in a heartbeat. A couple of 3-1 losses in St. Louis and Dusty could tear up the lineup and start telling Matt Murton he’s got to start hitting homers and telling Juan Pierre it’s time to muscle up and see if he can plunk a few in the basket.
So is Hendry’s assertion that you can’t trade for a first baseman in April valid? Or is it all something that falls away from the backside of a bull?
Oh, it’s bullshit all right.
Last night on Sports Central (I only listened to about five minutes of it, honestly I just wanted to hear Dave Kaplan cry like a little girl) Kap and Waddle kicked around some names of guys the Cubs might be able to get. Kaplan suggested Rafael Palmeiro. Waddle offered up Tino Martinez. Guh.
On ESPN Radio this morning, Peter Gammons called Todd Walker an “excellent” first baseman. This came just seconds after saying that Julio Franco is an “outstanding” defender. Peter should not drunk dial radio shows. It’s very un-Hall of Famerish.
Saberweenies are decrying the lack of foresight on Hendry’s part and not signing either Hee Seop Choi or Carlos Pena when they were waived in spring training by the Dodgers and Tigers. Huh? The problem with signing Hee Seop or Carlos is that…you’d have Hee Seop or Carlos.
However, that leads us to the question of whether or not there are first basemen to be had this early on in the season?
The answer, of course, is yes. Guys are available all the time.
In an ideal world, the Cubs would find a guy who would be an acceptable first baseman for a couple of months, but who could play another position or two, since Lee will be back (hopefully) in late June with plenty of season left. Actually, in an ideal world, the 6’5 guy would break the 5’9’s wrist in a collision, not the other way around.
(Is now a good time to point out that the ramifications of Jim Hendry not pressing Furcal on a deadline back over the winter and getting him signed before he ever left for LA to visit, continue on? It set dominos in motion that cost the Cubs an extra prospect in the Juan Pierre trade, put Hendry in a panic situation where he overpaid for Jock, the money that he overspent on Jock took them out of the running to add a veteran starting pitcher to deepen up the rotation, and then Furcal runs into the Cubs’ best player and… No, this probably isn’t a good time for any of that.)
So who might be candidates to be had in trade? The list is long, if not particularly attractive.
1. Kevin Millar, Orioles ($2 million in ’06)– He only signed with the O’s because he needed a job, and he’s stuck in a situation where he’s sharing time at first base and the outfield and DH with a host of guys including Jay Gibbons, Jeff Conine, Javy Lopez and yes, Corey Patterson. Millar’s not a great hitter, but he has a history of getting on base (his on base was .355 last year in a “down” year and he’s only two years removed from a .383 on base average in 500 at bats) and has some power (not a lot.) He can play third in a pinch (it’s ugly, though) and the outfield. I’ve always thought he seemed like kind of an ass, so there’s a downside. Would the Orioles trade him? Have you seen that pitching staff? I think he could be had for a bullpen arm (Mike Wuertz, anybody?)
2. Eric Hinske, Blue Jays ($4 million in ’06) — Remember this guy? The Blue Jays obviously think so much of him that they’ve stockpiled guys at the two positions he can actually play and made him into a platoon outfielder. With Troy Glaus, Shea Hillenbrand and Lyle Overbay around, there’s no room at first or third for him, and with Alexis Rios finally playing to his ability now there’s little room for him in right field. He’s only batted twice in the last six Blue Jays’ games. Hinske’s not cheap, but he’d be a pretty valuable guy to have around, especially since E-ramis is always just a pulled butt muscle from the DL.
3. Doug Mientkiewicz, Royals ($1.8 million in ’06) — Steve Phillips actually said something smart today. He talked about how the Royals end up overpaying for average veteran players and it makes it hard for them to trade those guys for value because teams don’t want to pay them what it took the Royals to get them for. Dougie Eyechart is a good example of that. He’s a righthanded JT Snow. Decent average, no power, great defense. He could help you, but how much? Probably not much.
4. Randall Simon, ??? — Last seen playing first base and bashing eating hot dogs for The Netherlands team in the WBC this spring, how great would it be for Randall to come back for a couple months? We all remember his clutch hitting down the stretch in ’03, the homer in game three of the NLCS that brought the Cubs back from the dead (actually, without him, Steve Bartman would still have a listed phone number). He plays atrocious defense, he swings at everything and his power is occasional at best. He’s basically a fatter version of Neifi! And yet, we love the big guy. Why do I have a feeling that all a return visit from Randall would do, would be to erode the love?
5. Hee Seop Choi, Red Sox ($725K) — This move actually seems kind of likely. With Kevin Youkilis hitting everything in sight and with JT Snow in town as the backup, the Red Sox only need for Choi is if Mike Lowell goes back into the tank and they need to move Youk over to third. Even then, they’d probably go with Snow anyway. Theo and Jim seem to enjoy filling out each other’s rosters, Jimmy Anderson, anybody? Jermaine Van Buren? Nomar? Matt Murton? You get the idea. Dusty always showed a little fondness for Choi, who is still Darren’s favorite player, right?
6. Carlos Pena, Yankees — The Yankees sent him to Columbus after claiming him off waivers when the Tigers cut him in favor of some hack named Chris Shelton (oh.) The Yanks seem to have plans for him. Jason Giambi’s a complete hack at first and they’d rather DH him, of course that creates a problem of having to actually play Bernie Williams’ decaying body in the outfield then to get him ABs. Screw it, let the Yankees worry about it.
I’m sure there are other possibilities I haven’t thought of.
Personally? If I were Jim Hendry (and my hair is thankful that I’m not) I’d go after Hinske. Are you telling me that even when Derrek is back you couldn’t find the guy some at bats at third or in right? He’s the most expensive of the lot, which in some odd ways might make it easier to pull off. You know the rule in baseball now, right? The more expensive the player the less talent you have to trade for him. I’m sure there are a couple of minor leaguers that JP Riccardi can convince himself he likes for Eric.
Right?
But you get the feeling that Hendry will do nothing, and that we’ll get lots of Neifi throwing balls over Todd’s head. I can hardly wait.
You know it was broken when they announced that x-rays were “inconclusive” early yesterday morning. It just meant they looked at it and said, “Damn, I think that thing’s broken!” I feel bad for Derrek, but I feel worse for me. I have to continue to watch this crap. And I don’t get $13 million to do it.
Here’s the quote of the year so far.
Scott Eyre: If I feel like having a doughnut, I’m going to have a doughnut.
Scott Skiles isn’t just an asshole. He’s more than that. A good coach, with a hot wife.
The Bulls are getting some attention in the playoffs this year. It’s not because they’re playing Shaq and Dwyane, though, right?
Looks like Helen Huntermeyer will return next year so that teams can gain 10 yards whenever they want by throwing a screen pass at him, and Ricky Manning is ready to sign on the dotted line.
Cubs podcasts. They’re like blogs only you don’t need to read them and you never have to worry about laughing out loud and having your co-workers glare at you.
Some things are reassuring. None more so than the continued and undeniable talentlessness and complete lack of depth that Mike Kiley exhibits on a daily basis.
Looks like Oscar Acosta will be refusing to work with Carlos Zambrano for a long time.
I don’t know much about racing. But I know handsome men, and Tim Tuttle is all over both of them.
It looks like the rumors that Ohio U coach Frank Solich got slipped some GBH on the night of his “DUI” might actually be legit.
A guy got fired for writing on a blog that he wastes time at work using MLB Gameday. That’s unAmerican. That company should be shut down.
America’s finest news source says that Barry Zito has demanded a trade to a world without war.
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I was watching the play as it unfolded and after it occurred, I thought to myself:
1) why did Lee stand there without making either an attempt to jump for the ball or (more sensibly) out of Furcal’s way – it was an odd looking play to say the least, and 2) I would like an opportunity to throttle that wretched little Furcal.
“On ESPN Radio this morning, Peter Gammons called Todd Walker an “excellent†first baseman. This came just seconds after saying that Julio Franco is an “outstanding†defender. Peter should not drunk dial radio shows. It’s very un-Hall of Famerish.”
Good stuff
I’m back female doges! Did you miss me?
This line:
“It set dominos in motion that cost the Cubs an extra prospect in the Juan Pierre trade, put Hendry in a panic situation where he overpaid for Jock, the money that he overspent on Jock took them out of the running to add a veteran starting pitcher to deepen up the rotation, and then Furcal runs into the Cubs’ best player and… No, this probably isn’t a good time for any of that.”
made me laugh and cry out loud at the same time.
Awesome “Revenge of the Nerds” reference, BTW.
PAN DOWN!
That Rafael Furcal is my kind of player. I just admire how he goes about his business. A true professional.
We’re going to propose a new California law prohibiting DUI offenders from running the bases.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Lang_(basketball)
Er, actually you can read about me here. I think.
Hey guys, everything is just fine. We’ll get by okay without Derrek but by gum, we’re sure going to miss him. He’s one of the best players in baseball and is really important to our team. We’re going to miss him a lot. We’ll just have to get by. You can’t replace someone as great as him. But we’ll be okay. Everything is fine.
Andy: saw our friend Randall Simon last week wearing the Tijuana jersey in the Mexican League. He’s hitting .288 with a OBP of .424 and a SLG of .481
with 3HR and 15 RBIs in 15 games. Yesterday: 2AB, 2R, 1H, 1HR, 1RBI.
Randall’s in good (hot dog eating) shape and he’s “only” 30.
Greetings from Latin America my friend.
No, Scott Skiles is just an asshole. But Jerry Angelo is worse. How could sign Brian Greise? How could he betray Kyle Orton like this? You ungrateful Chicago Bears fans should always remember how lucky you were in 2005 to watch Orton Sominex opposing defenses into submission. I will always love and remember you Kyle. Always.
What was I talking about? Oh yeah, fire Skiles.
Christopher,
It didn’t look like Lee was trying to catch the ball flipped to him nowhere near him. I think he was turning to try and chase it down so Furcal couldn’t take 2nd also.
The last time I checked, the season is six months long. If you lose your best player for a third of that, you need to go find another player. The Cubs do not seem intent on doing that. This is why they lose. Not because somebody gets hurt, but because they patch the hole with a collection of mediocrities and wonder why it doesn’t work
MASSIVE APPLAUSE.
What about me?
hey guys, I could be made available…maybe…
Remember when the Cubs forced Latroy into the closer role instead of getting someone else? You went from having no closer and a great setup man to no closer and no setup man. Now they can use Mabry at first and weaken their defense, offense and the bench. Its perfect logic in Cubs world. I say (and I will admit this is risky) move Jockor Murton to first, keeping Mabry on the bench (where he is good) and promote Pie to play the outfield. Everyone has the Cubs falling out of contention now anyway, what would it hurt??
Hi?
Brian, if you’re insinuating that you should be called up, look down. Your broken foot has landed you on the 60 day DL.
Of course if Pie came to the majors and played to his potential, and Jock continued on like he is, when Lee returns who would you bench? The guy who “needs at bats and has options” or “the 3 year 15 million dollar man”. Not a tough decision for a business man or a Cubs fan, unfortunately their answers are not the same and the Cubs would never want to put themselves in the position. So I guess its probably goodbye to the season.
Dream big, Jim Hendry. I can play 1B till D-Lee returns, then RF. I am also insurance if E-ramis opts out of his contract at the end of the year.
I found this online “And right fielder Jacque Jones included three new first baseman’s gloves in his luggage, because he could wind up playing first base.
That’s correct.
“I’m not afraid to do that at all,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Jones never played the position professionally, but played first base as a kid all the way until he started college. On Saturday and Sunday, he worked out at first and took groundballs, and will get more practice early Tuesday afternoon on the natural grass at Bank One Ballpark.
“If I have to play there, I’ll play there,” Jones said. “Wherever I end up, that’s where I end up”
Hey its worth a try!
That was from 6-5-05 with the Twins
Quit your damn crying. You sound like a Redsox fan. We have had some bad luck, but shit happens. I know it sounds familiar, but if we stick around and get healthy, we are the best team in the national league on paper. You are not a true cubs fan!..I live in St Louis, where they claim to be the best fans, but these idiots are celebrating the fact that we lost are best player. What class. These fans give up on the Cardinals if they fall out of first for a day(Which unfortunatly is rare). I would also like to see them compete w/out albert, marquis, and moulder. We need to rally together, put walker at first and sack up.
If you dont want the Cubs to succeed, great idea. Of course your from St Louis so you cant be trusted.
Yes, when a key manager in me falls ill and is out of commission for months at a time, mediocrity is accepted until said manager returns.
Cub fan, thanks for the info. IMHO, if Jock is even OK at first, play him and bring up Pie.
Miguel, to get you we would need to give up the farm, and I mean the wholes system. Well, we might get to keep Peoria. Iowa, WTenn, Daytona, and Boise would all need to be packaged up and sent the other way.
But if you have invested huge amounts of money in one item and very little in another, do you want to look like a fool and possibly lose your job if the less expensive item was the smarter choice?
NO, you spin it to try to make it look like a good decision and pretend that you didnt waste millions of company dollars. You would NEVER admit that you made a mistake and everyone should go for the less expensive option.
Its reported outfielder Michael Restovich is being promoted to the big club. An outfielder WTF?!?!?!?!?!?
At least Derrek Lee will have a few months where his supporting cast isn’t lousy.
If Mabry is at first instead of Lee, we better start Neifi at short over Cedeno because Neifi’s arm is more accurate. Also Cedeno would add much needed speed to the bench. And you have to give the veteran Restovich (played for Twins) the nodd over Murton, you just cant have enough veteran presence in the lineup now that Lee is out.
Pierre
Neifi
Aramis
Jock
Restovich
Walker
Barrett
Mabry
Now thats scary
It sure would make this injury a lot easier to endure (and by “endure” I mean “pretend we can play .500 ball for the next two months”) if Pancakes decided he was going to start hitting the ball again. Hell, even Michael Restovich could replace Pancakes’ current production.
Of course, that still leaves a black hole at first base for throws from the left side of the infield to disappear into.
The only thing that could make this worse is if Wood and Prior return before Lee does and we lose each of their first two starts 1-0.
When D-Lee broke his wrist, dude, should I have just stayed in L.A.? Cuz I ain’t coming back here next year, right dude? We’re gonna suck and I’m going down with the ship.
Pierre CF
Walker 2b
Ramirez 3b
Barrett C
Restovich 1b
Jones RF
Murton LF
Cedeno SS
When Blanco is in the lineup — who knows
I was at the game on the first base side when Fucal plowed into Lee. In my opinion it was an avoidable, cheap shot but I didn’t see the replay. I haven’t read any discussion of this. Any other opinions?
Dusty doesn’t have a hair on his ass if Furcal doesn’t get drilled in Wrigley in September.
Sorry, I’m out for at least a month with a broken foot. Maybe next year, kids!
> When D-Lee broke his wrist, dude, should I have just stayed in L.A.? Cuz I ain’t coming back here next year, right dude? We’re gonna suck and I’m going down with the ship.
No, Dusty. You now have one more of me.
Was it any coincidence that I ran into Sean Casey, effectively shutting him down until June, and effectively taking Craig Wilson, the hottest 1b commodity in baseball, off the market? Furthermore, is it any coincidence that I was on St. Louis last season? Conspiracy? You bet your ass.
#39, I like the way you think!
I would love to see Furcal catch some of Zambranos high heat in his rat face!!
#34 – I’ll hit cleanup… and clean up like I did the last time a similar lineup had to be contemplated.
The Cubs gave Maddux a second try. Why not me?
#43. That’s because rats don’t fit in Chicago.
What I would do is move Murton to first base then call up Pie and play him in left.
Line-up would be:
Pierre
Murton
Walker
A-Ram
Jock
Barrett
Cedeno
Pie
Pitcher
I could handle the errors made by Murton for two months. Hey if the great Pujols made a move from left to first then Murton can.
Um, Mr. Hendry?… Uh, yes, this is Adam Katz and I’m calling on behalf of my client, a former employee of yours… Yes, and how are your children? … Ah, very nice… Ah, great to hear that there was a sale on doughnuts at Morningfield’s Bakery in Park Ridge… … Well, yes, I understand that you lost your fan favorite cleanup hitter … Very sorry to hear that. ,,, Yes, I know you’ll probably want someone who could put a little muscle in your lineup… A fan favorite… A gladiator, even, if you’d allow me to use the term… I have just the guy for you… Yes, Sammy’s been working out in the DR with a first-baseman’s glove… Well, actually, it’s a milk carton fashioned into a first-baseman’s glove… Yes, he’s given up his Flintstone Vitamins, of course… Uh, Jim, are you there?
Honesty compels me to say that this is not as crippling a blow to the Cubs as an injury to the great Chipper Jones here in Hotlanta, or as bad a blow as a season-ending injury to Craig Biggio.
Matt Murton couldn’t carry my jock strap!!!! I’ll hit more HR’s in April than he will all year.
If they bring up Pie, it’s a huge mistake!!! He needs at least half a season at AAA. Plus, what happens when Lee comes back? Murton, Pierre, and Jones…none of them are going anywhere. Who’s going to trade for Jones? Pie comes up, he’s up to stay. Don’t give him a few months up in the majors only to send him back down.
Albert, you probalbly don’t need a jock strap because of the shrivelled up balls you have due to your age and roids.
I agree, I played first base in high school and college because I was tall, big and slow. It is, by far, the easiest infield position. There’s a reason so many ex catchers or bad outfielders who can hit have played some first base. Murton is very athletic and Pie in the outfield with Jones and Pierre would be awesome. Not to many balls would drop on that outfield. Anyway, this might happen with a more open minded manager but not with Dusty. He will never be accused of being an innovator, he likes to know what a player can do, he’s not much of a gambler on young talent. Its a shame because that would be a fun team to watch.
49, I would send you back down again. Plus I have a feeling Lee is gone more that 10 weeks. You might be here to stay. But even if we do send you down, Sept 1st you will be right back up.
whatever happened to playing your best players? if Pie is tearing it up and someone else (jones) isnt then sit that player and keep Pie in the line up. what really sucks is that since Jock is signed for 3 years and no one will want him via a trade, the cubs will let Pierre go after the season and replace him with Pie. i hate the business side of baseball, if everyone on this team made the same money, wouldnt it be interesting to see what moves would be made then.
It was a cheap shot all the way.
Imagine if Jones or Murton goes to first to make room for Pie. When Lee returns if everyone is playing well then put Pie on the bench to play as much as he can. By this time he will have had plenty of at bats and the Cubs could release Fast Freddie. If Jones is still sucking when Lee returns then sit him and release Fast Freddie. Its a win/win situation.
last point, what would be better late in the year. A combo of Pie/Pagan on the team or Bynum/Aardsma….hmmmm
I’m a first baseman now. I hope that was meaningful, because I just heard something pop in my hand. Must click Submit before shredding starts.
#36 – now that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day!
It make no difference, you see. It’s still about the bimbos, the louts, and Bud Lights.
No matter what we think about the Cubs moves today, how sweet would it be to sweep or take 2 out of 3 from the deadbirds with D-Lee hurt. The bird fans were glad Lee got hurt because they were worried this team was better than they thought. They wont have shit to say monday if the Cubs win this series. GO CUBS!!!!
Which was a more memorable character of mine…Booger from “Revenge of the Nerds” or Miles from “Risky Business”?
“That was just bullshit, Joel. I’m surprised you believed me.”
Just a thought: Do you think the guy in Chicago who suggested the Cubs get Rafael Palmeiro to replace Derrek Lee is on as much Viagra as Mr. Bonds was on BALCO Brand Ego Pills in his heyday? And a few of those B-12 vitamins with stanolozol that the Viagra-and-Steroids Man made famous, for that matter….
What’s all the hype with this Felix Pie goy anyway? I have more major league at-bats than he does.
At least I have a vague recollection of one.
Actually Adam, you and Pie have the same number of at-bats in the majors.