Comments on: A Loss Means A Discussion http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/ A Chicago Cubs Blog and Fan Site Sat, 13 Mar 2010 21:11:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Mike http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10989 Mike Thu, 15 May 2008 00:29:37 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10989 I'm excited about the Edmonds signing. I think he can really do great things in this lineup. I see him playing well for us, because we are in contention. There was really nothing going for the Padres this year and there was really no motivation for him, except the money. I just think that the Cubs great play so far will rub off on the him this season. Just look at Ronny Cedeno. I think if Cedeno were on the Padres he would be doing poorly as well. I’m excited about the Edmonds signing. I think he can really do great things in this lineup. I see him playing well for us, because we are in contention. There was really nothing going for the Padres this year and there was really no motivation for him, except the money. I just think that the Cubs great play so far will rub off on the him this season. Just look at Ronny Cedeno. I think if Cedeno were on the Padres he would be doing poorly as well.

]]> By: 100yrs http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10988 100yrs Thu, 15 May 2008 00:11:48 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10988 I'm fine with signing Edmonds. What to do with Pie is the question. For one thing he is only 22 years old which we all seem to forget. The average position player does not reach his peak until he is 27. They will start to show their true colors at 24 and 25. Although I did not do much of a player search, off the top of my head there are very few players 22 years and less that are playing any significant amount of time. If you take out the Uptons it might be hard to come up with 10 players 22 and under that are making any significant contributions. Guys like Longoria and Upton would qualify but they are going to be superstars. Pick up Edmonds or some other bandaid for centerfield...preferably someone who can play great defense, and send Pie back down to AAA. If he does great we can call him up in September, otherwise we will see him next year. Let the guy grow and develop his skills. Again he is only 22. Let me bring up the development of Cedeno. It seemed that something clicked this year and he took another step forward. Not suprisingly he turned 25 this year. As well remember R. Hill going up and down between AAA and the majors three or four times in 05 and 06 before it clicked with him. Give Pie some time, and by time I mean one or two years. Than we really can get an idea of what he is capable of in the majors. I’m fine with signing Edmonds.

What to do with Pie is the question. For one thing he is only 22 years old which we all seem to forget. The average position player does not reach his peak until he is 27. They will start to show their true colors at 24 and 25. Although I did not do much of a player search, off the top of my head there are very few players 22 years and less that are playing any significant amount of time. If you take out the Uptons it might be hard to come up with 10 players 22 and under that are making any significant contributions. Guys like Longoria and Upton would qualify but they are going to be superstars.

Pick up Edmonds or some other bandaid for centerfield…preferably someone who can play great defense, and send Pie back down to AAA. If he does great we can call him up in September, otherwise we will see him next year. Let the guy grow and develop his skills. Again he is only 22. Let me bring up the development of Cedeno. It seemed that something clicked this year and he took another step forward. Not suprisingly he turned 25 this year. As well remember R. Hill going up and down between AAA and the majors three or four times in 05 and 06 before it clicked with him. Give Pie some time, and by time I mean one or two years. Than we really can get an idea of what he is capable of in the majors.

]]> By: Collin http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10987 Collin Wed, 14 May 2008 23:50:14 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10987 But last year is a very small sample. Sometimes teams just get cold and if it happens at the wrong time playoff experience probably won't help. 3 games shouldn't determine whether this team can get it done in the playoffs. Also, playoff experience by no means guarantees a run each time in the playoffs. But last year is a very small sample. Sometimes teams just get cold and if it happens at the wrong time playoff experience probably won’t help. 3 games shouldn’t determine whether this team can get it done in the playoffs. Also, playoff experience by no means guarantees a run each time in the playoffs.

]]> By: jose http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10986 jose Wed, 14 May 2008 22:19:57 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10986 Boomer: Good points. specifically around where Edmonds might bat. My only concern with the current playoff experience that we have, is that it did not help us last year. Boomer:
Good points. specifically around where Edmonds might bat. My only concern with the current playoff experience that we have, is that it did not help us last year.

]]> By: boomer http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10982 boomer Wed, 14 May 2008 19:33:18 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10982 As I said, if he bats 8th, or even 7th, than fine. But all we've heard over the last few weeks is the Cubs want a LH "power" bat. So if that means he's batting 5th, than I will just be sickened by the deal. As for playoff experience, worthless, IMO. I'm not going to go back and look at the rosters, but the BoSox, ChiSox, Cards all won their first Series without the so called experience. And despite the Cubs lack of postseason success, they have PLENTY of guys with playoff experience and a few that DO have World Series experience; D. Lee and Soriano for instance. As I said, if he bats 8th, or even 7th, than fine. But all we’ve heard over the last few weeks is the Cubs want a LH “power” bat. So if that means he’s batting 5th, than I will just be sickened by the deal.

As for playoff experience, worthless, IMO. I’m not going to go back and look at the rosters, but the BoSox, ChiSox, Cards all won their first Series without the so called experience. And despite the Cubs lack of postseason success, they have PLENTY of guys with playoff experience and a few that DO have World Series experience; D. Lee and Soriano for instance.

]]> By: Tommy http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10981 Tommy Wed, 14 May 2008 18:41:38 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10981 Speaking of Corey, he's 6 for his last 10 - against the scorching Marlins! Speaking of Corey, he’s 6 for his last 10 – against the scorching Marlins!

]]> By: ndacct1 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10980 ndacct1 Wed, 14 May 2008 18:02:46 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10980 Boomer - It's not like Cubs position players that have been discarded have done any better. Gary Matthews Jr., who got MORE than a shot with the Cubs is one of the few that come to mind that panned out when he left the Cubs (assuming you ignore the steroid allegations). Potentially poor decisions at the big league level aside, the Cubs position development has sucked. The word suck may not do enough justice to the poor performance. As I've said before, the Cubs seem to have no plan or strategy for development. Also, I think SD cut him loose because SD sucks, and it makes no sense to take up the roster spot with an aging vet when you're out of the race in May. They instead made a decision to bring up the younger guys and see what they have (confirmed by the SD GM's exact comments to this effect in the Tribune this morning). This puts them in the opposite position of the Cubs, in that the Cubs are definitely in it, and if a vet can come back up to snuff and contribute, it could help the Cubs, especially come October. If Edmonds sucks it up, we gave up little. Boomer – It’s not like Cubs position players that have been discarded have done any better. Gary Matthews Jr., who got MORE than a shot with the Cubs is one of the few that come to mind that panned out when he left the Cubs (assuming you ignore the steroid allegations). Potentially poor decisions at the big league level aside, the Cubs position development has sucked. The word suck may not do enough justice to the poor performance. As I’ve said before, the Cubs seem to have no plan or strategy for development.

Also, I think SD cut him loose because SD sucks, and it makes no sense to take up the roster spot with an aging vet when you’re out of the race in May. They instead made a decision to bring up the younger guys and see what they have (confirmed by the SD GM’s exact comments to this effect in the Tribune this morning). This puts them in the opposite position of the Cubs, in that the Cubs are definitely in it, and if a vet can come back up to snuff and contribute, it could help the Cubs, especially come October. If Edmonds sucks it up, we gave up little.

]]> By: jose http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10979 jose Wed, 14 May 2008 18:02:39 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10979 I believe last year he was not 100%. Also one more point, he brings playoff and WS experience to the club. I think that we all need to remember, this is a low cost risk. Unlike Marquis which has turn out to be a high cost risk. I had to get that in there. Bring him in, check him out, if he does not work out after 30-60 days, cut him and let's hope Pie figured things out by then. I really do not see the down side. I believe last year he was not 100%. Also one more point, he brings playoff and WS experience to the club. I think that we all need to remember, this is a low cost risk. Unlike Marquis which has turn out to be a high cost risk. I had to get that in there. Bring him in, check him out, if he does not work out after 30-60 days, cut him and let’s hope Pie figured things out by then. I really do not see the down side.

]]> By: boomer http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10977 boomer Wed, 14 May 2008 16:58:56 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10977 If Lou bats Edmonds 5th, then this is an even bigger mistake because he hurts the offense. (hitting 8th its an even swap at the moment) Playing Edmonds in CF hurts the defense. Pie/Johnson are also the better baserunners. Edmonds sucked last year as well. SD is the worst offensive team in baseball, yet they throw him away. I don't like this one bit. Cubs have a history of poor position player development, I see why. They give him 14 starts and that's that. If you're young and you don't come out on fire, you're done with this team. If you're mediocre but you come out on fire, you're a godsend. If Lou bats Edmonds 5th, then this is an even bigger mistake because he hurts the offense. (hitting 8th its an even swap at the moment)
Playing Edmonds in CF hurts the defense.
Pie/Johnson are also the better baserunners.

Edmonds sucked last year as well.

SD is the worst offensive team in baseball, yet they throw him away.

I don’t like this one bit. Cubs have a history of poor position player development, I see why. They give him 14 starts and that’s that.
If you’re young and you don’t come out on fire, you’re done with this team. If you’re mediocre but you come out on fire, you’re a godsend.

]]> By: ndacct1 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10976 ndacct1 Wed, 14 May 2008 16:51:10 +0000 http://viewfromthebleachers.com/blog/2008/05/13/a-loss-means-a-discussion/#comment-10976 Said it before, and I will say it again. This team is too old to be building for the future. I don't have a problem letting Pie develop in the majors, taking a few lumps. However, despite my misgivings about the Cubs being able to develop and evaluate talent (they have been atrocious at both aspects), I tend to trust their assessment of Pie, especially Piniella's. Lou has consistently gotten the most out of his players (I saw something recently that showed Lou is in the top 10 of managers whose teams have won more than the sum of the parts would suggest: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=3366287) His swing is long, and he looks overmatched by the pitching as evidenced by his 33% K rate. I liked the idea of keeping him in the bigs and working like hell with him in the cages, taking advantage of his speed and defense in late innings and getting him ABs. However, if the Cubs have a chance to upgrade in CF for the year, they should take it. I don't think anyone knows what to expect from Edmonds, but why not take a shot with the guy? I don't think he's as bad as he was in San Diego, and he's lost 4 steps, but he can handle CF at Wrigley still. I hate the guy, but if we as a city can root for Sammy, we can root for Edmonds. Said it before, and I will say it again. This team is too old to be building for the future. I don’t have a problem letting Pie develop in the majors, taking a few lumps. However, despite my misgivings about the Cubs being able to develop and evaluate talent (they have been atrocious at both aspects), I tend to trust their assessment of Pie, especially Piniella’s. Lou has consistently gotten the most out of his players (I saw something recently that showed Lou is in the top 10 of managers whose teams have won more than the sum of the parts would suggest: http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=3366287) His swing is long, and he looks overmatched by the pitching as evidenced by his 33% K rate. I liked the idea of keeping him in the bigs and working like hell with him in the cages, taking advantage of his speed and defense in late innings and getting him ABs. However, if the Cubs have a chance to upgrade in CF for the year, they should take it. I don’t think anyone knows what to expect from Edmonds, but why not take a shot with the guy? I don’t think he’s as bad as he was in San Diego, and he’s lost 4 steps, but he can handle CF at Wrigley still. I hate the guy, but if we as a city can root for Sammy, we can root for Edmonds.

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