A day of rest (for some)
Lou got the morning off from his media duties, but he sent Tram out with a lineup that features new No. 1 catcher Koyie Hill but not Soriano or Ramirez:
Fukudome, CF
Blanco, SS
Lee, 1B
Bradley, RF
Fox, LF
Fontenot, 2B
Baker, 3B
Hill, C
Lilly, P
If anybody needs a day off, it's shortstop Ryan Theriot. I pointed out yesterday that he has stood his walk and strikeout numbers on their heads from last year, and not in a good way. He has seen 3.69 pitches per plate appearance, which also is down from last year's 3.77. He trails even Soriano in that department this year. In August, Theriot took just 3 walks while striking out 19 times. Of his 34 hits in August, only 2 were for extra bases, both triples. That's got his isoloated power (ISO) down to .098. You can figure that one by subracting batting average from slugging percentage. Theriot's going to be an interesting arb case next February, if things get that far.
Reliever David Patton is back after a minor-league rehab. He didn't allow a run in his last 3 outings for Iowa.
In the minors, Mitch Atkins was named the Pacific Coast League player of the week for Aug. 24-30. He was 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 2 starts. Jeff Samardzija (6-4, 3.53) pitches for Iowa today at Omaha. If you read today's paper (online or print), you saw that Jim Hendry had some bullish words about Samardzija. Jeff may throw a little winter ball coming up, and if he does well, he could compete for a rotation spot next spring in Mesa.
At Tennessee (AA), Casey Coleman, a draft pick last year, went 6 innings, giving up 3 hits and 1 run. Coleman, son of former major-league pitcher Joe Coleman, leads the Southern League in wins. He's 14-6 with a 3.64 ERA. The Tennessee club, managed by Ryne Sandberg, took over first place in the Southern League's North Division last night.
A lot of talk about Ryan's offensive shortcomings, but my biggest concern is his defense. He makes the routine plays, and can go to his left, but any ball hit to his right is a hit. Not only does he have limited range, but his arm is useless from the hole. If his momentum is going toward the third-base line, forget it. Has there been any discussion of moving him to second and getting a shortstop?
The current free agent crop for 2010 matches up very well with the Cubs needs (for a change). The way I look at it, the Cubs need a second baseman, a top notch relief pitcher, and potentially a starting pitcher.
2nd base - Chone Figgins, Orlando Hudson, Felipe Lopez, Marco Scutaro
relievers - John Grabow, Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Billy Wagner
starters - Rich Harden, Randy Wolf
Cubs have 3 probable type A free agents and I think they should offer arbitration to all of them, Rich Harden, John Grabow, and Kevin Gregg. Yes, Gregg is a stretch, but I think he will not want to resign here. He won't get save chances, he is not going to make a ton even with arbitration, and if the Cubs sign another reliever, he would probably be used in the mop up role. I would not blame Hendry if he passed on Gregg, but I would probably roll the dice.
What would you sign Gregg for if he were a free agent next season? $2 million maybe? He'll make $5 mil in arbitration, I don't think he'll worry about save opportunities when he's making $5 million. He'll definitely accept arbitration.
While I don't want him as closer for the Cubs because Marmol is better, Gregg is having a solid season. Over 9K/9IP, WHIP is 1.22, 23 Saves. I think you put him in a bigger ball park where he is not hurt so bad by the long ball, and he is a very solid closer. I don't know...... if he would only make 2 million, then it would be a mistake. If he would make 4 -5 million somwhere else which is still cheap for a closer, then it would not be a mistake.
Unfortunately, Aaron Miles is still on the roster. Bruce, is there any hope for Hendry to finally admit this has failed and waive him (eating that final year of salary) next season? The team seems to be much better served by having the absolutely fantastic defense of Andres Blanco available off the bench to backup 2B and SS. Plus the fact that Jeff Baker as super-sub/platoon partner is a much superior option than having Miles. Having all three on the 25-man roster next season is unlikely, not to mention asinine.
And what's the deal with Heilman being pulled back? The move is inexplicable. His contract is up, arbitration seems unlikely to be offered seeing as to how he would cost more and isn't even worth the money he's earning now. Even if a trade wasn't able to be worked out, why not simply let the claiming team have him? It would save the money for the last month of his contract at least. It's not like the Cubs are in a pennant race and even if they won't admit that, Heilman isn't exactly helping.
Bruce, I'm confused, maybe you or someone else can figure it out, but I saw in the Kazmir to Angel's trade, Sean Rodriguez cleared waivers and was the player to be named.
Rodriguez is a 24 year old 2B who put up a 1.000 OPS in AAA in the last two seasons. How does this guy make it through waivers? Make it by the Cubs who have a glaring weakness at 2B going into the offseason?
Looking forward to what answer Bruce gets tomorrow.
I will definitely follow up and ask for you when I get to the park tomorrow.
I have a feeling the answer would be something along the lines that everyone knew that Sean Rodriguez was the PTNBL so everyone knew that the Angels would just pull him back and wait til the offseason to move him, so why bother?
Buster Olney wrote about something like this in his blog today. The Yanks claimed Chris Carter from the Red Sox who were trying to pass him through waivers to finish off a trade. Red Sox had to pull him back and keep him on the 40 man roster for the time being. Yanks doin whatever it takes to make it difficult for the competition.
I was told that everybody in the industry knew what the deal was going to be and that there was no reason to block the Rays and Angels from making the trade, especially if you want to have good dealings with those clubs in the future.
but I think that's weak. Like the Angels or Rays aren't going to trade with the Cubs if they are offering the best deal? And how long are all these GM's going to last on their jobs to even worry about "future dealings"?
Aren't all these GM's trying to win a WS too? why make it easy on the Rays or Angels?
Again, the Yanks organization showing how its done by claiming and blocking Chris Carter moving off the Red Sox. I know the Yanks/Red Sox is quite different than Cubs/Angels/Rays, but do what you think will make your team better or your chances of winning better, and claim the 24 year old middle infielder with a 1.000 OPS over 2 seasons in AAA and see what happens!!!!
The player would have been pulled back and the Cubs wouldn't have got him.
Theriot was doing fine earlier in the season until Lou basically told him to swing for the fences. I keep hoping he'll go back to that "patented inside out swing" and start hitting to right field again. Let the big boys swing for the fences.
In spite of his problems, do you foresee the Cubs trying to trade him, or do you think he'll be back next year? I hate to admit it, but he's the biggest reason I've followed the Cubs the last couple of years.
I think this "blame Lou for Theriot" because he said to pull the ball a bit overblown. Did Lou say it in jest because of how little Theriot is? Is Theriot really THAT stupid to think he's a power hitter?
well I guess if you look at the way Theriot runs on the basepaths he just might be that stupid and take Lou seriously that he should swing for the fences.
And unless everything I've read is wrong, Theriot's 5'11". When did 5'11" become "little"?
Theriot is 5'11" when he wears spikes and stands on solid surfaces. I'd say he's 5'9" by any real measurement. Just like when Charles Barkley used to be listed as 6'8" in the NBA when he was 6'5" on a good day.
must agree with you.......
They're likely to keep Theriot. I'm sure each side will file arbitration numbers and they'll settle before a hearing can take place.
I'd like to see him remain a Cub, at least for a while longer. Thanks.
I've notice with-out any stats that Theroit is swinging at too many pitches early in the count so if he starts next year I can see him being the 8th place hitter and either playing 2nd or being that super-sub that DeRosa was suppose to be.
The other day, he made two outs on three pitches. He's OK batting second, seventh or eighth. Moving him to second would be an option if they can find a productive shortstop.
Theriot being moved back to 2nd has been discussed a lot on the blogs and around town, do you know if the Cubs have actually discussed this? Are they looking at it as a possibility, and is Theriot okay with it?
If this is an option it would be great. Not only does Theriot likely do better defensively at 2nd, the Cubs can target either SS or 2B this offseason and not be as limited with who they may sign/trade for.
As far as the batting order goes, I was happy to see Fukudome back on top, but then disappointed seeing Milton dropped to 5th. For next year, do you see Lou going back to the high-OBP combo of Fuku-Bradley at 1-2? The Cubs aren't likely to get another power guy to bat 5th, but is there really that much resistance from Lou to batting three straight righties in the 3-5 spots? It seems the rest of the lineup and the bench provide enough balance that we should be pretty good having Lee-Ramirez-Soriano in the middle.
He's be just fine at SS.
Look at the Fangraphs numbers.
Swing Percentage
2008: 40.1%
2009: 45.3%
Out of zone swing %
2008: 19.4
2009: 22.8
In zone swing %
2008: 57.9
2009: 66.1
Then note that his contact % "in the zone" is way down too...
He went from a patient, WAY above average, contact hitter to an average hacker.
He's fine to have on the team for his pre-arbitration years, but once he starts costing Aaron Miles money(!), its time to move on to the next minor leaguer.
He is fine will be makes no money or until somebody better comes along. Once he starts making real money, I would rather fill the hole from within.
Do you happen to know Theriot's BABIP difference between last year and this year? Do they have that for hitters or just for pitchers?
Maybe pitchers found out that balls he hit were going to fielders so they are throwing him more pitches in the zone this year since the difference in pitches/PA hasn't changed much.
Theriot's BABIP this year is .333. Last year it was .340.
.340 last year, .333 this year. Not much of a difference
http://www.fangraphs.com/statss.aspx?playerid=3811&position=SS#battedbal...
Three walks in August and horrible pitches per plate appearance, yet Lou kept putting him first in the order. I thought Lou paid attention to such things.
I was talking to somebody today about that, and a lot of this is on Lou. But that's what happens when you have an Aaron Miles on the roster. I tried to ask Lou about it yesterday, and he wanted absolutely no part of it. That whole thing earlier this year with wanting Theriot to "drive" the ball didn't help, either.
The Dome did well in the leadoff spot earlier, so nice to see him back up there.
Glad there's some success in the minors to offset the major disappointment at the bigs level.