Hello and how are ya, Cubs fans. Another Thursday has arrived with much ballyhooing and brouhaha. Actually, it’s rather quiet at the moment as most baseball fans mull their teams off-season moves and countdown the days ’til pitchers and catchers report. (Or, as I call it, PCR Day.) Here are a few Cubs-related stories* to get you in the mood for…something:
Arb-down at the OK Corral. As I reported a couple weeks ago here at VFTB, Jim Hendry and Ryan Theriot appear to be headed for a straight-up throw down as the two sides cannot agree on a salary figure for the scrapacious shortstop. Bruce Levine reported yesterday that talks have ended so, unless a last-minute deal is brokered (Mike Fontenot! Where are you?!), Hendry and Theriot will sit with an arbitrator and hash the whole thing out death-match style. (Theriot wants $3.4 million; the Cubs are offering $2.6 million.) Want to read a couple good takes on the situation? The check out Bruce Miles blogpost on it as well as the Another Cubs Blog guys‘ stats-based assessment.
I was somewhat on Theriot’s side at first, based on his undeniably (and perhaps inexplicably) strong WAR showings the last two seasons as well as the fact that he’s been paid very little (relatively speaking). But I’m now thinking he shouldn’t be quibbling over the $800,000 difference – especially if, as it’s been reported (uh, somewhere, can’t find it at the moment) that the Cubs did up their offer to a flat $3 million. Much of Theriot’s value as a player is based on the fact that he’s played solid defense at a premium position. ((I know the defense thing is hard to believe but, if you buy into UZR, he’s done it.) Problem is, well, he’s just not a very good overall hitter and, assuming Starlin Castro is for real, Theriot won’t be playing shortstop for the Cubs for too much longer. (Uh, though if he could hold down the position for 2010, that’d be great.)
UPDATE: The Cubs and Carlos Marmol have agreed to a $2.125 million dollar deal. That leaves Theriot the only remaining arbitration-eligible player to have not settled.
Kevin Gregg likely to dodge draft unemployment by heading to Canada. I don’t believe it’s official yet, but reports are coming in that former Cubs closer – and prodigious giver-up of the home run ball in 2009 – Kevin Gregg is closing in on a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Implications for the Cubs: The, ahem, BJ’s may be willing to trade away one of their decent bullpen arms for (let’s hope middling) prospects. Chicago-area native Jason Frasor, for example, had strong numbers last season out of the pen and would probably make a good addition.
Lame MSM article alert! Although I generally enjoy and appreciate Yahoo! sports’ MLB coverage, this “Hot Stove Daily 2010″ piece by Steve Henson contains a blatant inaccuracy and is lamely snarky. (So why am I passing it along, you ask? Eh, slow news day and it’s kinda like finding spoiled milk in your refrigerator. “Ugh, you gotta smell this!”) The inaccuracy: He writes, “Nady is recovering from a shoulder injury…” BUZZ! Wrong answer! He had Tommy John surgery on his ELBOW.
And then Henson insists on ending the article with a mega-lame goat/Bartman joke. Are mainstream writers contractually required to bring that crap up in every freaking article? All that said, I can’t really argue with Henson’s overall thesis. Yeah, the Cubs gotta stay healthy. (So does, like, every other team.) And, yeah, we’ve got a lot of expensive, long-term deals on the books. (But, psst, many of them are coming due soon.) Anyway, enjoy. Or don’t. Just wanted to vent.
Lou Piniella wins an award. No, he wasn’t recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for his use of the word “look.” He won a Thurman Munson Award at a gala to benefit the AHRC-New York City Foundation, which assists children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Cool.
Andrew Cashner, you are so money. Are you familiar with the name Andrew Cashner? You should be. This right-handed fireballer (with a reportedly devastating slider) is among the Cubs top prospects. We may even see him pitch out of the pen in ‘10. (Hey, that rhymes.) Minor league pundits are currently debating whether the Moneyman should focus on starting or relief (he’s got closer stuff) so, while they do that, check out this nice profile.
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UPDATE: The Kevin Millar minor league deal and spring training invite is now official.
*Bolded phrases leading off paragraphs are hyperlinks. Click.
On this slow news day, I would like to share that I met Tom Ricketts on Tuesday. The same Tom Ricketts who owns our favorite baseball team on the North Side of Chicago
I can sympathize with both sides of the Ryan Theriot situation.
In Ryan’s favor, he seems like a nice enough guy; his likeability quotient is high, and I like him. He shows up and gives you what he’s got.
And let’s don’t forget that the Cubs have thrown tons of money at the likes of Gregg, Heilman, Miles, Bradley, etc. lately. So I can understand Mr. Theriot feeling like: “Hey! what about me??”.
On the other hand, all of those players mentioned above received offers and accepted them. It wasn’t a matter of them making demands or issuing ultimatums.
And, with Starlin Castro and Andres Blanco standing in the wings, a demanding and ultimatum issuing Ryan Theriot becomes somewhat expendable, don’t you think?
I’m not happy about this development.
@Terrelle Pryor 2: You don’t say, Terrelle? Could you tell us a little more about how you met him and exactly what transpired?
@CubbieDude: I would doubt the Cubs see Andres Blanco as a successor or replacement for Theriot. He’s never shown the ability to hit consistently enough to be a full-time player and has had his share injury issues. And I’d be pretty shocked if the Cubs rushed Castro to the majors this year. I’m guessing the two sides will either work something out last minute or they’ll go to the arbitration hearing and, if I had to guess, Theriot will lose.
I agree with your take on Blanco, Daver. I like what Riot has done in the field, but when it all boils down he is not an upper tier player in the bigs. I’m guessing the brass has something in mind…Theriot is not expendable, but he is by no means the solution past the short term.
@jswanson: Yeah, if the Cubs can make do with Theriot for another year, we could see Castro ready to go in 2011 – though he’ll still be pretty young at that point. This is a rare instance when I almost wish a player was a year or two older.
Nice shout out on the Thurman Munson Award, Daver. I was a 12-year-old die hard Yankees fan when he died, it’s one of those things I remember like it was yesterday!
Daver – I was working as an election judge on Tuesday, and where I was working is where Ricketts votes. So he came to vote, and I was like, hey, you’re the Cubs owner. He was like yup, that’s me. I got a photo with him. He lives in the same town as me, and he’s been living there since the summer of 2004, just like me. He’s originally from Omaha, and he studied economics in college, just like I do. He was like that’s a good thing to be studying in this environment, I was like the concepts haven’t really changed, it’s just good to be able to apply them to real-life situations, and I had a guy suggest ethics courses be mandatory for econ and business majors, he was like that would be a good idea
Re: Theriot…give him what he’s asking for. I don’t care that he isn’t the “perfect” shortstop — the guy has done everything the organization has asked of him. He’s played serviceable enough shortstop. I am aware of the criticisms (no range, Miley Cyrus called and wants her arm back, etc.)
He plays everyday. He hustles and works hard. He’s a catalyst on a team that has been catalyst deficient for some time. He might end up being our second baseman of the future. $800K? Look at the money MLB throws around on lesser people and players. Give it to him and move on. In this day and age, I’d pay a little more for good character in certain circumstances and this is one of them. If the Cub payroll is out of whack, it certainly won’t be because of what Ryan Theriot makes.
Theriot deserves his cut of the pie. He has earned every penny and is a big hit with the fans. The Cubs are stupid for not just paying him what he’s worth. With Ryan on Facebook now I can follow his career regardless what the Cubs do.
@Terrelle Pryor 2: Wow, that’s really cool. I’ve yet to hear a bad story about the Ricketts. I know some people are a little frustrated about raising ticket prices some and apparently not adjusting the payroll a little higher, but they seem to be off to a pretty good start as owners.
@Sherm: I see what you’re saying but the Cubs do have a case against him. (See the links above.) And much of Theriot’s value is wrapped up in him being a shortstop – a position he’s more than likely not going to play too much longer. (His value will drop considerably when moved to second base.) Plus, the more the Cubs agree to in arbitration now, the more they’ll have to pay him later – when he really could start adversely affecting the payroll. It’s a tricky issue and, to be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever paid this much attention to an arbitration case.
@Tommy: Um, I’m highly doubtful any of those Facebook pages are legit. The one with 6,710 fans might be but, even if it is (or was), Ryan hasn’t done a thing with it since 2008.
@Lizzie: Thanks! It may bother some Cubs fans, but I like the way Lou keeps in touch with his Yankee roots.
Why is email notification off? Yeah, I don’t think they are bad owners at all, and even though Ricketts is on the Forbes 400, or really close, he lives a modest lifestyle. He has maybe a 2M house, a few normal cars, and then 2 Escalades, but that has more to do with his 5 kids than being rich. One of the election judges I worked with is his neighbor and said that right now he is retrofitting his house to run on green electricity, or at least it looks like it.
I think the increase in ticket prices is so they can fund those projects and renovate Wrigley. Once they finish their projects and renovate Wrigley, that’s when the money will really start flowing in, and we can truly spend like the Yankees
Not sure what’s up with the e-mail notification. Joe has been conspicuously absent of late…
I am of the mindset that players are over paid to begin with. But I think TheRiot has a case insofar as the Cubs paid that fantasy camper AAAron Miles $2M and if you pay him $2M, TheRiot is then worth more than that. On the other side of the coin it can be said that fantasy camper AAAron Miles should of paid for a ticket to get into Wrigley Field last year and should not be a comparable contract in this case.
Kevin Gregg to Canada’s Toronto Blue Jays, how about the Saskatoon River Tout more like it.
I wonder how they say Gregg in French
I am of the opinion that the Cubs should do their best to compromise with Theriot – if Theriot isn't willing to give a little then trade him to Baltimore or Toronto or KC or some place like that. If the Cubs lose an arbitration case then everybody else will be tempted to take a chance; conversely if he loses he'll possibly have attitude issues. Make a deal or trade him for value.
Mastrick correctly makes the point of the clubhouse harm these arbitration hearings can bring. I agree, make a deal or trade him. I find it hard tobelieve that $400,000 (split the difference of the $800,000 divide) in this day and age is a reason for an arbitration hearing. Unless the Cubs don't see TheRiot staying at ss long term and have his value declining as he is switched to second base. If that is the case then maybe a trade is in order as his value is at it's highest.
Mastrick correctly makes the point of the clubhouse harm these arbitration hearings can bring. I agree, make a deal or trade him. I find it hard tobelieve that $400,000 (split the difference of the $800,000 divide) in this day and age is a reason for an arbitration hearing. Unless the Cubs don't see TheRiot staying at ss long term and have his value declining as he is switched to second base. If that is the case then maybe a trade is in order as his value is at it's highest.
Well, Theriot almost certainly isn't a long-term solution at shortstop. Not with Starlin Castro on the way and Hak-Ju Lee coming up behind him. No matter how this arb. hearing turns out (assuming there is one), my guess is the Cubs will ultimately either trade Theriot or nontender him.
I think it’s been said that Theriot will be more than willing to move to 2nd to make room for Castro. The question will be what will happen if Lee starts to make a fast track to the majors as well. If that happens, which is a good problem to have, would Theriot be willing to accept a bench role at that point. Lee projects a little better than Castro overall.
Yeah, Theriot has said that. Problem is, IMHO at least, Ryan's value really drops when he moves out of the shortstop position. Defensively speaking, he's played there adequately (and, granted, this is controversial among Cubs fans) at a very low cost. But unless he gets his OBP back up to 2008 levels, he just doesn't offer much with his bat.
I've heard the same thing about Lee – that he projects as a better defensive shortstop than Castro, so let's hope someday soon we see Lee and Castro in the middle infield with Brett Jackson standing behind them in centerfield.
I think it’s been said that Theriot will be more than willing to move to 2nd to make room for Castro. The question will be what will happen if Lee starts to make a fast track to the majors as well. If that happens, which is a good problem to have, would Theriot be willing to accept a bench role at that point. Lee projects a little better than Castro overall.
Yeah, Theriot has said that. Problem is, IMHO at least, Ryan's value really drops when he moves out of the shortstop position. Defensively speaking, he's played there adequately (and, granted, this is controversial among Cubs fans) at a very low cost. But unless he gets his OBP back up to 2008 levels, he just doesn't offer much with his bat.
I've heard the same thing about Lee – that he projects as a better defensive shortstop than Castro, so let's hope someday soon we see Lee and Castro in the middle infield with Brett Jackson standing behind them in centerfield.