First Star - A. Soriano (.218)
Second Star - T. Iguchi (.135)
Third Star - K. Fukudome (.133)
Top Play - Alfonso Soriano singled to left (Liner). Kosuke Fukudome scored. Reed Johnson scored. Ted Lilly advanced to 2B. (+.153)
Rather than write a recap, here is the story you want to talk about anyway:
CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs today signed outfielder Jim Edmonds to a 2008 contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. To make room for Edmonds on the 25-man roster, outfielder Felix Pie was optioned to Triple-A Iowa after tonights game.
Edmonds will wear uniform No. 15 and will be available for tomorrows 1:20 p.m. game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field. Chicagos 40-man roster now stands at 39.
Edmonds is a four-time All-Star and eight-time Gold Glove Award winner during his 16 major league seasons with the Angels (1993-99), Cardinals (2000-07) and Padres (2008). The 37-year-old outfielder has appeared in the post-season six times, advancing to the World Series in 2004 and 2006. In 2004, Edmonds won a National League Silver Slugger Award after batting .301 (150-for-498) with 42 homers and 111 RBI.
The left-handed batter and thrower owns a career .286 batting average with 397 doubles, 363 home runs and 1,127 RBI in 1,840 major league games, including 1,639 games as a centerfielder. Edmonds boasts a .989 career fielding percentage in centerfield, the fifth-best mark among active players (minimum 1,000 games in centerfield). His 125 assists in his career rank second among all active outfielders behind only Ken Griffey, Jr. (148).
Edmonds joins the Cubs leading all active centerfielders with a .377 career on-base percentage, ranking second with a .526 slugging percentage and third in hits (1,817), home runs and doubles.
The Fullerton, Calif., native was traded to San Diego from St. Louis on December 15, 2007 but began the 2008 season on the disabled list recovering from a right calf strain. Activated April 5, he batted .178 (16-for-90) with one home run and six RBI in 26 games before being released on May 9. Edmonds joins the Cubs having batted .278 (5-for-18) with a .381 on-base percentage in six games in May after batting .153 (11-for-72) with a .235 on-base percentage in 20 games in April.
Edmonds boasts 10 seasons with 20 or more home runs and four seasons with 100 or more RBI, including his career-bests in 2004 that led to his Silver Slugger Award. He has been slowed by injuries the last three seasons, including post-concussion syndrome and injuries to his right shoulder, lower back and groin in 2006-07 and the right calf strain at the start of the 2008 season. Nevertheless, Edmonds averaged 123 games played per season between 2005-07 with an average of 20 home runs and 71 RBI per campaign.
Pie had been with the Cubs since Opening Day and is batting .222 (14-for-63) with one home run and seven RBI in 30 games for the Cubs this season.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:58 am
Lou joked about batting Edmonds ninth. Of course, we have Fukudome batting far out of position fifth in order to have a lefty in the middle of the order. Now do we go with:
Soriano LF
Fukudome RF
Lee 1B
Ramirez 3B
Soto C
Edmonds CF
DeRosa 2B
Pitchers
Theriot SS
If Edmonds has anything in the tank, this lineup could be dynamite. Soriano would certainly drive in some runs.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:02 am
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
I can not, will not, must not root for Edmonds. He is the anti-Cub. I hope that he goes 0-25 and we cut him next week.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:08 am
My initial reaction is that I don’t like this one bit.
But then again, what’s the worst that can happen?
He fails?
If so, I hope he doesn’t bring us down with him.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:30 am
Theriot batting 9th? What an insult to a guy who hustles his butt every time out.
I am still repulsed by the Edmonds deal. What’s next? Bonds? Bring Sosa back?
I’d rather they go and get Corey back from the Reds than this. Sheeesh.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I have no problem with this, because Pinella is our manager now. If this happened on Baker’s watch, it could have been disastrous. Baker played the people he wanted to, and kept on playing them, even if they consistently sucked. (Hell, he’s *still* playing Patterson.)
Lou doesn’t. Edmonds will play at least adequately, or he’ll quickly be given the hook. Meanwhile, maybe Pie gets his head on straight playing every day down in the minors. Hendry is right, this is basically a no-lose proposition.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:03 am
I really don’t understand the hate on this deal. It’s pretty much a win-win. Pie finally gets regular at bats to work out his long swing, Johnson is really a 4th outfielder anyway, and Edmonds could be a power lefty that could force Lou to finally move Fukudome to the two hole, and should have no problems manning a small centerfield at Wrigley. The gamble is well worth it.
What’s the worst that happens? It doesn’t work out and we have to resort to Plan A, which seems to be working ok anyway. This hatred because he was a Card is moronic. He was an Angel too. Blame modern day contracts and free agency, not the player.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:17 am
UGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH
that should sumarize it
May 15th, 2008 at 10:36 am
Well…long time no post. I was a little hesitant about this deal at first but after some thought I am ok with it. Edmonds has always hit well at Wrigley, maybe we will be pleasantly suprised.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I think gaining a championship with the help of an ex-cardinal is just the funniest, most stick it to them, thing I could possibly think of. I hope the friendly confines treat him with the respect due any player in the Cubs White and blue.
Lou will manage this new lineup just fine I think. He will have more real options and have a bit of pop now. Sad to see ward go onthe DL today just as he was heating up. He most likely have been battleing this for a while …Edmonds at least can give him a break o get 100%.
My hopes are that Edmonds is given the chance to play his heart out like he always has. Pie should be in AAA “developing his swing” not here…not right now. He is not ready accept it folks.
BTW at this same time back in 1908 Cubs fans were worried just as we are today. Let’s get a win today…and let’s welcome the newest Orphaned CUB!
May 15th, 2008 at 11:28 am
I think he will play well with a good team.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
As a Brewers’ fan, let me say…”Great signing”–an oft injured over-the-hill guy instead of Pie? Um, no wonder its been 100 years since the Cubs have won the World Series….
May 15th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
What kind of cub fans are u if u wont root for a player in a cubs uni? u gotta root for Jim theres not its or buts about it folks.
GO GET EM JIMMY!
May 15th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
I hope he does well, but won’t be upset if he stinks up the joint as long as we win. Isn’t that all that matters? I will not boo him today, like some others. If he has a bad attitude and plays poor then I will boo the guy. I dislike him, just as I disliked Jeff Blauser until he became a Cub (oh wait, I still don’t like Blauser). However, I will always hope anyone in a Cubs uniform performs well. Unless you are Michael Vick or Rae Carruth.
May 15th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
“The game is full of history of people that a lot of people were willing to write off and they had a change of scenery and did well again,” Hendry said
why can’t a reporter ask him: “Jim, can you give me an example of a 38 year old centerfielder that changed scenery and did well again?”
or
“Jim, isn’t the game full of MORE history of 23 year olds struggling out of the gate and then improving after getting some experience?”
May 15th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Gotta love Cards and Brewers fans signing up for a Cubs blog to try and bash us.
^ If I recall, Gary Gaetti was washed up when they got him in 1998. He carried that team toward the end.
As for the second quote, I’d say there probably even MORE history of 23 year olds struggling and never getting over the hump.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
Its a crap shoot and I think everyone should agree that this move is low risk/high reward. We have bashed our GMs for not trying to go after these type of guys in the past. The only reason Cubs fans are upset is because he is a former Cardinal. Lets keep our fingers crossed that this will work out well.
May 15th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I don’t typically read Jay Mariotti, but hit the nail on the head today. Emphatically.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I was just going to post that Matt. That is funny, because it is so true.
May 15th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Matt: “As for the second quote, I’d say there probably even MORE history of 23 year olds struggling and never getting over the hump.”
You take 37 year olds starting off with a 187/272/242 in 90 at bats and a previous year of 252/325/403.
I’ll take 23 year olds starting with 222/286/286 in 61 at bats and a previous year at AAA hitting 362/410/563.
Over the next 400 at bats, I have a feeling the 23 year olds would put up better numbers. No facts to base this on cuz I don’t want to look it up.
As for the Mariotti quote, he is right on. That’s Cubdom for you! Although I don’t think people are mad cuz he was a Cardinal. The reception he got today was void of boo’s.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:32 pm
Just because a man wears a Cub uniform doesn’t mean I love him. I don’t hate the man. This isn’t about hate.
OK maybe “repulsed” is a bit strong. Let’s say I’d rather they try Plan C whatever that is.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Boomer, I’m not saying I’d take 37 year olds over 23 years olds. I’m saying that there’s probably better odds that more 23 years have not made the cut over 23 years that have.
Make sense?
May 15th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Matt: yeah, that makes sense, but that’s not relevant. It could be 1 out of every 100 23 year olds make the cut. But if that hypothetically is the number, than its probably 1 out of 150 37 year olds suddenly turning things around.
Point being, no matter what the success rate of 23 year olds turning it around, I’m pretty sure the number of 37 year olds is less.