Stevens up, Fuld waiting in the wings
Jeff Stevens got as far as “downtown Chicago,” as he put it this morning, before the Cubs called him and told him to stay put. They officially recalled him this morning as they put center fielder Reed Johnson on the DL with his broken left foot.
For today, the Cubs will go with 13 pitchers on the roster. Center fielder Sam Fuld is on his way to Chicago. He’ll board the charter for Florida tonight to be called up from Iowa for tomorrow’s opener of a three-game series against the Marlins.
Johnson said he feels pain more toward the arch of the foot, even though he fouled a pitch off the top of his foot yesterday, breaking a bone. He also said he hopes to be back in less than one month.
The Cubs’ focus before tomorrow’s trading deadline is still a lefty reliever. GM Jim Hendry said Johnson’s injury won’t necessarily force the Cubs to go get a right-handed hitting center fielder.
“I talked to the doctors today,” Jim said. “I don’t think anybody thinks it’s going to be 30 days now. It may be 15 days, what we’re hoping for. We’ve got some good people at Iowa. Fuld, even though he’s left-handed. You don’t want to start overrating the left-right thing for an extra outfielder. We’re going to be facing a lot more right-handed pitching the next week or so than left.
“Off the top of your head, name me all the right-handed hitting center fielders that could really help that are better than we have right now that might be available. Willie’s not playing anymore.”
Willie, of course, is Willie Mays.
In general, Jim says the trade talk has heated since last night, if ever so slightly.
“We didn’t have much action the day before yesterday or yesterday,” he said. “Last night, some of the people we had been calling all of a sudden called back, and they were maybe looking at things a little differently. From an optimistic side, we might be able to do something by tomorrow. Some of the people we’ve inquired about, unfortunately, other people also want. It makes sense for what they’re trying to do, too.
“We had a lot more calls last night and today than we had the two days before that.”
The Cubs are not looking to find a platoon partner for Milton Bradley. They say they like the way he’s coming around at the plate.
Lineup
Fukudome, CF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Fox, 3B
Bradley, RF
Soriano, LF
Fontenot, 2B
Hill, C
Hart, P
Jim Hendry added that Geovany Soto could be back by the Colorado series next weekend, if not perhaps by the series before that, in Cincinnati.
Ortiz gets cut after the loss and Hart gets shipped to baseball purgatory in Pittsburgh. thanks for playing
...for Grabow/Gorzy.
EDIT: Add Josh Harrison, a 3B who I'm not familiar with.
The Tennessee Smokies, Class AA minor league affiliate of the Chicago Cubs, announce a series of roster moves Thursday. RHP Chris Carpenter has been promoted from High-A Daytona. In a corresponding roster move, RHP Jay Jackson has been sent to Daytona.
http://www.wbir.com/news/national/story.aspx?storyid=94582&catid=5
Why in the world would Jackson be sent DOWN? unless he's part of a trade???
I might throw up.
...apparently thinks so as well.
If the Astros starting pitching based on how Hampton and Ortiz got knocked around is any indication, these guys should be out of it by the end of August. I hope, anyway. But after 2004 and 2005 I never count these guys out. But they had Oswalt/Pettitte/and A.P. Clemens back then (A.P. = arrogant p***k).
...says the Cubs seem to be close to getting Grabow and possibly another pitcher.
Could be a big finish to the day. Thanks.
Could it be 2 lefties (both Beimel and Grabow) so Marshall moves to the rotation and Hart goes to swingman? I think both pitchers are good fits but I think Beimel is the best value pitching well on a bad team in a good division...Personally I would like to see Hermida come to town. I think he has underperformed in his career and he loves hitting in Wrigley.
Of course all of this is great right now but it comes down to who you have to give up.
I don't think they'll deal for both Grabow and Beimel. I'm not so sure how fast they could stretch out Marshall to start. With Hermida, the Cubs like him, but I'm told by Cubs people this morning that the Marlins want way too much in the way of prospects.
Nothing too exciting. Does Gorzelanny take Hart's spot in the rotation?
Pitt paper says no deal in place yet:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09211/987529-100.stm
Working on it from this end.
I'm told there's interest in both pitchers. The Grabow thing is not new. The other one is interesting, though.
If Gorzelanny is included in any trade, there's no guarantee he'd be wearing a Cubs uniform though. Let's remember it was Hendry in 2004, who put together a 4 team trade to acquire Nomar. I wouldn't put it past Hendry to flip Gorzelanny to a third team for another hitter despite everyone saying that we don't need another hitter.
...the deal could include Gorzelanny.
Kovacevic says nearly done. DeLuca says done. But, of course, I'm waiting for Bruce to tell us - his word is golden!
ESPN Chicago is saying it's close as well.
...Cot's Baseball, Grabow is making $2.3M and Gorzo $0.433M.
don't be giving up anything worthwhile for these guys.
That's the word I got seconds ago from a Cubs person.
CNNSI's Jon Heyman is saying the Cubs/Pirates are having serious discussions about Grabow. I wonder if the Bucs will ask for Fontenot so they can have a Cedeno/Fontenot double play combo for years to come.
Nice of Heyman to read my stuff. I wrote about that a couple days ago. The Cubs seem to like Joe Beimel a little better. We'll see what comes of it.
Grabow is okay, though he'd only be fair at best as a LH specialist. Gorzellany is worse. Has there been any mention from Cubs people of Scott Downs, especially now that Sherrill has been dealt to LA?
Heyman didn't mention you. Is there no honor among journalists?
You need to get your bosses to revamp the blog aspect of the site so that people can click on your name and be taken to all of your entries. You have to have an intern or two around those parts who can put that together.
I was kind of kidding about my friend Jon Heyman, although I did write about it the other day and ran numbers on both Beimel and Grabow. I don't know how that blogging stuff works. An intern, I'm sure would have a greater grasp than I on some of this.
Sounds like the Reds are about to pick up Scott Rolen for some reason.
For all the money that newspapers are reportedly losing, and I'm guessing the DH is no different, they are missing out on some revenue opportunities with your blog. Not just with advertising, either. People would pay for the information you are giving them.
Why don't they trade Fontenot? So what if he is a lefty, I like Blanco alot better. he seems to be just a low-mid level player. The Cubs have enough of those. We call him "Font OHNO"
Hey Bruce,
Thanks for the chock full of daily information! I am still hopeful that they acquire a better bat to play 2B - does Fuld hav eany middle infield history?
Speaking of which, with tomorrow being the non-waiver trade deadline, will you be down in Florida with the team giving us a minute-by minute, detail-by-detail update on the potential transactions, rumors, Hendry quotes, insights, etc...? I can't speak for everyone, but I get very eager to hear "in the field" news from my team on this sort of day.
Thanks,
Hoops
Hoops,
I have Mr. Hendry on speed-dial. Hopefully he has me on speed-answer.
Sam Fuld throws left-handed, so maybe he can come in out of the pen if the Cubs don't get that lefty reliever.
Could be a busy 26 hours or so. I never did like that 11 p.m. Chicago time trading deadline.
The steady stream of injuries stink, but I do like the fact a lot of guys with the I-Cubs are getting major league experience. So far, so good on the DeRo trade. Hopefully that trend continues.
So Bruce, gonna be in FL tomorrow so you can scoop Big Jim at the trading deadline?
No, but to simulate the environment, the rec center where I work out is going to let me work from the sauna. Don't worry, I'll wear a towel.
Well, you better tell the rec center to crank it up. Tomorrow in the Miami area they are talking: air temp of 92, humidity above 75% and heat index around 105. I hope Lou plans on giving Koyie Hill one day off...
Yeah, and on Sunday, the game starts at 5:05 p.m. local time. That's just about the time it starts raining there every single day.
I like the fact that Lou didn't change the normal line-up even though Ramirez has the day off. Hopefully, Fox gets a couple of hits and continues to make the plays at 3rd so Lou trusts him when Ramirez needs more days off.
I'm shocked how much time they are giving Hill behind the plate. Why not put Fox back there, he does well and can supply power. It'll be nice to have Soto back.
"You don’t want to start overrating the left-right thing for an extra outfielder."
I kind of wish he would take that approach with all of his acquisitions.
So how are the transactions going to work exactly? Stevens is back today because of the injury but when Fuld gets into town then Stevens goes back or can Atkins go back even though he was brought up to replace Stevens and not Johnson?
Yes, Stevens is back because of the injury. We'll see what they do tomorrow. Atkins can go back.
I was waiting for someone to mention the "overating" the left-right thing.
this is actually a situation where you would want to take the left-right thing into account with Fukudome hitting .172 against lefties. I guess if Johnson is only going to be gone for 15-20 days you might be able to live with it. I wouldn't be surprised if Fox was out in CF shagging flies this morning.
I didn't know how the transactions would work because I believe the guys have to be down at Iowa for 10 days to be called back, except for injury. I guess Fuld would come up and replace Atkins, who replaced Stevens who is replacing Johnson, so there wouldn't be an issue. Overanalyzing on my part.
If they asked him, he'd be out there tomorrow morning at Joe Robbie/Pro Player/Dolphin/Land Shark Stadium or whatever they call it. I told Jake the other day he should just go for the all-nine-positions-in-one-game thing.
...to watch Fox play shortstop.