G’mornin’, Cubs fans. (Well, it’s morning while I’m writing this at least.) I’m not going to say it’s a slow news day, because that got me in a lot of trouble on Tuesday. Let’s just say the baseball world is simmering at the moment, getting ready to begin a gentle, slow boil when pitchers and catchers report in just a couple short weeks. Let’s see what’s going on in the world of the Chicago Cubs*:
Andre Dawson’s cap is such a diva. After a lull of some weeks, the controversy over which cap The Hawk will wear into the Hall rose again this week as the powers-that-be proclaimed that Andre shall wear an Expos cap during his induction (and on his plaque). Problem is, Dawson has left little doubt that he wants to go in as a Cub. I’m not sure how seriously to take this story. On the one hand, I think the Hall has a pretty solid case – The Hawk played longer in Montreal and it was there that, statistically at least, he really laid the foundation for his soon-to-be immortalized career. Then again, his glorious years as a Cub did likely push him over the top and, clearly, Andre’s heart still lies in Chi-Town. Maybe he should wear two caps to the Hall of Fame induction ceremony – an Expos cap facing forward and a Cubs hat facing backward. When he gets to talking about the Cubs in his acceptance speech, he can just turn the two caps around with a knowing wink. There – everybody happy? Good, let’s move on.
The Schmoozefest is OVAH! Sorry for the blatant Hawkism, folks. I swear I mean it in only the most bitterly sarcastic way. In any case, if by any chance you didn’t hear the news yesterday, Mesa is now officially the Cubs spring training home for another 25 years. My condolences to the Naplese (Naple-ites?). Expect the team to move into a brand-new stadium in 2013.
Cubs just can’t get no relief – but they will, probably. Now that the fourth outfielder mystery has been solved two times over (Nady and Tracy? Way to go, Jimbo!), Jim Hendry is turning his attention to acquiring a right-handed reliever. The linked-to article describes the interest of one Joe Nelson in being a Cub. (Thanks for calling, Joe!) He had a decent 2008 but was mediocre-to-bad last season with a garish 5.65 FIP. Fox Sports reporter Jon Morosi also tweeted this morning that the Cubs are still in discussions with Kiko Calero and Chan Ho Park.
Starlin Castro is ascending to the fourth house of awesome. If you haven’t heard the name “Starlin Castro” yet, well, you probably don’t pay much attention to the Cubs’ minor league systems. And that’s a shame because, as I always say, “The farm system is the future.” (Actually, I’ve never said that – but I think it a lot.) Anyway, the buzz on this very young (19 years old) shortstop has been strong and only getting stronger for some time now. Apparently, Bruce Levine suggested in a live chat yesterday that he could even break camp with the Cubs this year to be the starting shortstop (with Theriot moving to second base). That seems way too rich for my blood – give the kid at least another season to develop, if not two. But, whatever the case may be, MLB.com has named Castro the 22nd highest ranked prospect in all of baseball. And he’s made the Top 10 lists of most other minor league pundits.
The revenge of Rich Hill is nigh! Remember, “Filthy” Rich Hill? He led the team in strikeouts in 2007 and made 32 starts with an ERA under 4.0. It was all downhill after that as he had major control problems in 2008, leading Lou to demote him to Triple A. Rich was eventually traded to Baltimore, where he continued to struggle last season. Many Cubs fans blame mental (i.e., lack of confidence) issues on Hill’s problems, though he did recently have surgery to repair a torn labrum. Wherein lies the truth? Perhaps we’ll find out in 2010, as Rich has been signed to a minor league deal with none other than the St. Louis Cardinals. While wearing the dreaded red, Rich will attempt to resurrect his major league career under the tutelage of miracle-worker pitching coach Dave Duncan. It will be a moment of high drama if Hill takes the mound against the Cubs.
*The bolded phrases leading off each paragraph are links. Click on them.
Hello, hello, hello. Check 1-2-3.
Okay…I’ll bite.
The Castro thing is interesting. Even if he is defensively ready for the show, he is not likely going to able to hit big league pitching consistently. Bringing 0-3 or 0-4 baggage to the field is going to lead to errors, so I’m saying that we are better off letting Riot and Baker do their things while Castro gets his at-bats in AAA.
Regarding the cap issue, I think the player should be able to choose. Whose head is it anyway? I heard the reason the Hall took the choice away from the players was that some players received financial inducements to choose one team over another.
Rumor has it the Reds tried to pay Joe Morgan to go in as an Astro but were unsuccessful.
The problem with the player choosing came to a head with the ridiculous choice that Wade Boggs wanted to wear a Tampa Bay hat. And I believe you’re right, memories are trying to tell me it was Gary Carter and the Mets who were doing the purchasing. In this new era of players playing for many different teams, the Hall doing the choosing is the best way.
Now, the player should have input, and if there is a deep-seeded hate for the team chosen, which I have heard suggested in Dawson’s case, then the Hall should lend more to that player’s thought.
@jswanson: Definitely agree. I realize everyone – including Cubs management, apparently – is excited about Castro, but bringing him all the way up to the majors this season seems ridiculous. We’re talking about a 19-year-old (maybe 20, I’ve read conflicting reports) kid here. Plus, doing so would start his arbitration clock ticking. I say start him in Double A, maybe promote him to Triple A midseason if he’s doing well and MAYBE give him a September callup. Then the team could revisit the issue of giving him the starting SS job in 2011, at best. In the meantime, we just have to hope Theriot can regain some of the OBP he lost in ‘09 and Blanco can continue being his ace glove-man backup.
@Seymour and Moondog: One interesting point about Capgate that was brought up on Cubscast was this: The Baseball Hall of Fame is really a museum and, as such, it’s main purpose is to represent the history of the game. From that perspective, I can see why they want to put Dawson in as an Expos player – because that was the organization that developed him and he played in Montreal longer. And maybe they feel historical relevance is all the more important now that the Expos no longer exist. Just a thought. I’m not going to get too riled up about this topic.
I agree with Daver on the historical perspective of the Hall. as the Hall is the keeper of the games history and the Expo’s are now defunct I was not suprised the Hall choose the Expo cap to keep the Expo franchise in the Hall. What cap does Gary Carter wear? If not an Expo cap than all the more reason. Are there any other Expo in the Hall?
The Hall began choosing the players caps after Dave Winfield opened up the bidding on his cap choice between the Padres, Yanks and Twins. The Padres were prepared to pay Winfield for choosing a Padres cap when the Hall stepped in and took it out of the players and agents hands. A wise move by the Hall.
Interesting point: Did you know that the Hall is a separate entity from MLB and has no legal obligation to follow any MLB directive like keeping Pete Rose out. The Hall follows the MLB directive simply out of respect for the symbyotic relationship they have together. Therefore, Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe could be inducted into the Hall if the Hall choose to put them on the ballot.
The Cubs were playing Naples Fl for leverage with Mesa. They never wanted to leave the greater PHX area. Bus rides in the Cactus league are 30 minutes relative to 3-5 hours in the Grapefruit league.
@Doc Raker: I think Carter did go in as an Expo. I’m fairly certain I heard at least one other Expos player has previously gone in. And I actually didn’t know the Hall was a separate entity. I kinda doubt they’d ever do anything to jeopardize their relationship with MLB but ya never know.
What are the realistic chances of us getting both Calero and Park? How confident are we in our bullpen?
Daver- I agree that the Hall won’t ever do anything to jeopardize there relationship with MLB. I visited the Hall in October of 2004. I attended one of there small educational gatherings and we chatted about this exact topic. The museum representative said they wouldn’t go against MLB for that exact reason.
I highly recommend a trip to the Hall if you haven’t been. It is a wonderful museum.
I think Carter went in as an Expo also but I can’t think of any other Expo. Maybe Randy Johnson will go in as an Expo.
Think of all the great players the Expo’s brought up, Tim Raines, Ellis Valentine, Moises Alou and the two above mentioned HOF’ers. Others?