Vitters, Jackson among Cubs cuts
Word out of Mesa this morning is that the Cubs have reduced their spring roster from 60 to 51. A pair of No. 1 draft picks were sent to minor league camp: third baseman Josh Vitters (2007) and center fielder Brett Jackson (2009). The Cubs want them to get started with their respective minor-league teams.
Right-handed pitcher Mitch Atkins was optioned to Class AAA Iowa. Righty David Patton, last year's Rule 5 pick, was optioned to Class AA Tennessee.
Also sent to minor-league camp were right-hander Jeff Kennard, left-hander Vince Perkins, catchers Steve Clevenger and Blake Lalli and infielder Matt Camp.
On other fronts, reaction was pretty swift to team president Crane Kenney's comment on the status of manager Lou Piniella, whose contract expires at the end of this season. Kenney told reporters in Mesa last week that if Piniella's health was good and he wanted to keep going that they'd have an "interesting conversation." I didn't know Crane was in charge of baseball operations. I thought that was GM Jim Hendry. Crane should have acknowledged that and said nothing more.
Of course, this isn't Kenney's first instance of foot-in-mouth disease. He won't live down calling in the Greek priest to bless the Cubs dugout before the 2008 playoffs and then fibbing about it afterward only to have the good father call him out. Crane's cheap shot at former Cubs manager Dusty Baker during the 2009 Cubs convention also was unnecessary. After that, I did a blog titled, "Memo to Crane Kenney: shhhhhh!" It holds true today.
In other news, my colleague Carrie Muskat of cubs.com reports that Aramis Ramirez says his right triceps is fine and that he'll begin throwing later this week:
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100314&content_id=878...
Thanks for that link, I guess. I read that site all the time, but I've stayed away from that thread. Sully, Gordo and Carrie, the folks I share the beat with, are top notch.
the results speak the truth. I hear a Cubs news bite/rumor, I come here.
All things considered, I don't see how the Cubs can afford to keep Nady off the D/L to start the season. Putting him there will give the Cubs a sound bench AND time to decide which move to make when he is actually ready to play full out.
Colvin is playing is way onto the roster, and Fuld is (not) hitting his way off; and Baker should be considered "trade bait" for any reliever trade.
This would make the opening day, 5 player bench:
2 Hill S
4/5/6/O Blanco S
3/5/7/9/PH Tracy L
3/5/7/9/PH Millar R
O Colvin L
This would be a sound veteran and well balanced bench. It offers both offense and defense from either side of the plate.
And if Colvin continues to hit better than Fukudome and/or Byrd, he should get plenty of playing time in either CF or RF, if for no other reason than, to get a 3rd LH bat in the lineup versus RH starters. This would also prepare him to play regularly later in the year as Fukudome hits his annual late season slump, and next year pushing Fukudome to the bench as the over paid 4th OF, as he plays out his contract.
By June 1st, when Nady is ready to play both offensively and defensively, if no injury has opened a slot, he replaces Colvin, if Colvin hasn't continued to hit or isn't getting enough ABs to continue his development, or he replaces Millar as the RH reserve OF/PH. And don't be surprised if a D/L and option juggling act doesn't develop keeping them all as busy as possible until September 1st.
Millar can't play outfield.
Tracy can't play outfield.
Blanco is not a 3B.
Spring stats mean nothing.
Millar has played more than 350 games in the OF as a Major Leaguer.
Tracy has played only about 50 such games, but his strength is as one of the top LH Pinch hitters in the game.
Blanco has played EVERY position in the minors except Catcher, and his pitching doesn't matter. He is a good glove and a switch hitter, but his main strength is his D up the middle, which can at times be compared to the wizardry of Meadowlark Lemon on the basketball court.
Your statement about "spring stats" might be worthwhile, if it were coming from someone that had the common knowledge of the players that you lack. You just want to see your name in print no matter how foolish it makes you look!
Hey I heard the Cubs called Gary Matthews Sr. for some extra outfield help. He may be 60 this year, but he's got over 15000 innings of outfield experience.
Millar hasn't played a single game in the outfield since 2007 (he played a total of parts of 3 games in the OF that season. Going all the way back through the 2005 season, Millar has played in the OF in only 37 games total. There's a reason for that, BRO. It's because he's a lousy outfielder, and now, at almost 39 years old, nobody in their right mind would send him out to play a position that he couldn't cover very well at 32.
He's strictly a PH, 1B and in a pinch could try to imitate a 3B.
Chad Tracy has a total of 52 games in the OF in the major leagues, but the last time he played as much as an inning out there was in 2005. Wanna guess why that might be?
BRO, who you crappin'?
No one is suggesting that either player will be starting more than one game (in emergency) in either OF position, but as long as we have Soriano playing regularly in LF, almost anyone could play those positions for an inning or so in a double switch, and be no worse.
Colvin would be the guy getting the "starts", leaving Millar and Tracy, to do what they do best: Pinch Hit. Any "starts" they would get to stay sharp, would come at 1b and both can handle that. As for 3b, they both have adequate experience to fill in for a game or two, but as I said before, if Ramirez is out for any extended period, the Cubs will call up Vitters and get his feet wet and evaluate him for the future.
It also depends on what inning they would be considered to play 3b or the OF. Fontenot could switch to 3rd and let Blanco could play 2nd, or Blanco could play 3b, himself. Blanco would be a step up defensively at either position, and Fontenot, if given the chance to work out there, has shown that he can play a good 3b, although it seems to detract from his hitting.
I'll take my "bench" against ANY I have seen or ANY that Piniella seemingly has considered. And "BENCH" is the operative word. We need a strong VET led, but balanced, bench that can deliver in the clutch, and mainly that means PINCH HITTING, and emergency D.
As long as the Cubs feel they are in contention and if Baker is on the team (and there's no reason to assume that he won't be), the Cubs won't be calling up Vitters, should Ramirez miss significant time to injury. Also, according to a couple of different sources, it's looking like Blanco doesn't even go north with the team when the season opens, and that Fontenot will be the back up at SS, as apparently Lou favors keeping both Millar and Tracy for their hitting prowess.
The fact that Nady might not be ready to open the season weakens the team defensively in the infield (one solid glove man short) and weakens them offensively in the outfield (no reliably proven bat to platoon or back up the starters).
Also, BRO, I find it funny that you assume both Tracy AND Millar will be getting spot starts at 1B, as Lee (barring injury) rarely takes a day off. There's barely time for one guy to get any innings over there, much less two - and as I said before, nobody really wants to see either of those guys at 3B.........or Fontenot, either for that matter. How can you say that he played a "good" 3B last year? What games were you watching? They weren't Cubs' games!
It won't be "funny" when Lee is sitting on the bench or on the D/L. He has been bothered by neck and back trouble for the past few years and doesn't know why, and has done nothing to solve the issue. At 35, it's not going to just disappear. There is a reason for it.
Even if we are fortunate to avoid a Lee injury this year, he is going to get more rest this year. Both common sense dictates that and Lou has already confirmed it.
In Lou's mind, he would like to give most of the backup 1b ABs to Tracy or Hoffpauir, and let Millar get a few ABs at 3b and LF, with Nady taking the extra RF ABs and Colvin or Fuld getting ABs in CF. It's interesting, however, that Lou is now talking about trying Millar in RF. He must at least be thinking about putting Nady on the DL until he is ready. Common Sense dictates that move as well!
Should the occasion arrive when you get your wish and see Millar in the OF, you'll wish you hadn't. Why are you so anxious to see an almost 39 year old guy who really hasn't played the OF in five years out there?
You're right, Boozer, I didn't even consider who would back up at 3B if Ramirez gets hurt again. Nobody wants to see either Tracy or Millar over there for an extended stretch. Baker has to make the team, which is okay with me since I like him better than Fontenot at 2B. He can also play some RF if Nady's not ready to go.
If Ramirez is hurt for an "extended" period of time, NO ONE, including Baker, could adequately replace him. If that were the case the Cubs would call up Vitters; but for a rest or short term injuries, Blanco, Tracy or Millar would be fine!
Vitters isn't ready for everyday duty and the Cubs wouldn't be likely to hurry him along, even in the case of an extended Ramirez absence. A more likely call up would be Castro, with Theriot moving to 2B and Baker manning 3B on a regular basis. Nobody wants to see Tracy or Millar there, if it can be avoided, and Blanco doesn't hit well enough to fill the slot (2009 Fontenot, all over again - BLEH!).
Fontenot did a good job at 3b, and Piniella has said so. The problem was that he let it affect his hitting. Maybe he is mature enough in his Major League experience now not to let that affect him as much.
And they definitely would consider calling up Vitters, because they are "on the fence" about where his future lies, defensively; and there is no better way to determine that than to see, first hand, if he can handle 3b at his level.
Given your scenario, who plays RF against LH pitching.? Your assumption that Tracy and Millar play corner OF spots is seriously flawed. Both are corner IF's and nothing more.
Think again...
As I already pointed out Millar and Tracy have about 400 games played in the outfield corners as Major Leaguers...
But until Nady was ready, I'd play the kid, Colvin in CF and move Byrd to RF against LH pitching.
I think I debunked your 'Millar and Tracy as outfielders' theory. Neither has played the OF since 2005. Neither is really an OF.
What advantage would you gain, essentially subbing Colvin for Fukudome against LH pitching? Colvin also bats LH and he's probably no better than Fukudome against LH pitching. The idea of sitting down Fukudome against lefties is to get a bat in the lineup that is more effective against LHP. Colvin, in limited MLB duty, has yet to get a hit off of a LHP. A better argument could be made of leaving Fontento at 2B - or putting Blanco there, and playing Baker in RF against LHP until Nady is healthy enough to take the field.
See "you are the one" above...
Baker is "dead wood" given the choices that Piniella has. He has LESS experience in the OF than either Millar or Tracy...so much so that Lou has announced that they will "try" him there later this Spring.
It isn't that I don't like Jeff, I do. But not at the expense of any of the other choices, THIS Spring. He is not as good defensively as Blanco, nor as good Offensively as either Millar or Tracy, and it should be obvious that Colvin is ready for at least a good "shot" at playing regularly enough to warrant losing his everyday status in the minors.
There is FAR TOO MUCH emphasis now on whether Fonty can back up Theriot at SS, to avoid carrying Blanco. Fonty can, but that misses the real point....Baker can NOT and the Cubs can not afford to have only Baker backing up the infield. Blanco is MUCH better on D, and from the bench THAT is the MOST important thing for an infielder. If he can hit 240 that's enough to warrant having such defensive excellence and speed, available.
The numbers and the choices crowd out Baker, or should. The question is whether Lou will wake up to that fact or not?
"Baker is "dead wood" given the choices that Piniella has. He has LESS experience in the OF than either Millar or Tracy...
______________________________________________
Baker has "less experience" in the OF, because he has less MLB experience than either Millar or Tracy. Interestingly enough, though, Baker has played MORE games in the OF over the course of the last three years than both Tracy and Millar COMBINED. Face it, Millar and Tracy are no longer physically up to the task of playing the outfield, but Baker is.
Furthermore, apparently you've been mesmerized by Colvin's ten day performance in spring training games. I'm guessing that this time last year you were doing somersaults and backflips over the prospect of seeing Micah Hoffpauir play on a regular basis. Until Colvin proves he's more than the career .176 hitter that he isn in regular season games, I'm going to view him as a weak link on this team. Again, this is where Nady not being ready really hurts. In a perfect world, Nady is healthy and assumes regular platoon duty in RF, Fuld makes the team as the OF defensive replacement and Colvin goes to the minors to develop and get 4 AB's everyday.
Barring any trades, and if Lou decides to keep both Tracy AND Millar, Baker makes the team (as he should) and Blanco doesn't - unless Lou shorts himself a pitcher (not likely). The difficulty with this scenario is that Blanco is out of minor league options, so he would be subject to waivers.
Baker is being treated the same as Millar as both will a try in the OF over the next few days.
As for Colvin and Hoffy, apparently the Cubs were "mesmerized" by Hoffy & Colvin as well. They are being extremely patient with both so they must see what I see. Hoffpauir will probably not make the club, since they have both Millar and Tracy that Lou WANTS to keep, and rightly so considering what they bring to the bench.
Like Hoffy, Fuld is not hitting well, and Lou is ignoring the trend of the game today, away from waiting for the 3 run HR, and playing the pitching and D game. He is looking for an Offensive bench. Net result, unless he turns on the O, Fuld will be playing at Iowa, and Colvin will get a shot with the Cubs.
Keeping Baker at the expense of Blanco is a huge mistake, but see "Lou ignoring" above. The team simply can not afford a back up infielder that can not play ss, and isn't hitting either. Blanco plays D at a level that few players ever reach. That could be a great comfort with a lead late!
You should keep in mind that there is more to evaluating players than "guessing" and quoting hackneyed words and phrases like "mesmerized"!
There's almost nothing that you've posted in this most recent posting that rings true. It's a bunch of gibberish. The only parts that make any sense are when you say that Fuld and Hoffpauir (Hoffy?.......ugh) will probably not make the team. You're WAY too in love with Blanco, and your assessment that, "he plays D at a level that few players ever reach", is hyperbolic nonsense.
Hi Bruce,
With all the talk about Millar and Tracy, where do you see Micah Hoffpauir? Does he still have options, or do you think he'll be used in a trade for a reliever?
Also, when players are sent to "minor league camp", does that indicate that they will be moved to triple-A or lower?
thanks,
Steve M B
Hoffpauir has options. I don't know how much interest there would be in him as far as a trade goes. He's 30 years old, and every organization has guys like him in their system. Players assigned to minor league camp are those not on the 40-man roster. It will be up to the organization as to which club they're assigned. They can be assigned to any minor league club the organization chooses. I suspect Jackson and Vitters will go to either Daytona or Tennessee.
Was his contract recently extended by the Ricketts'?
I believe his contract was extended by the previous owners, just as Kenney extended Hendry's contract.
3 things I'm sensing...
1) That Kenney doesn't think much of Hendry anymore since he continues to speak on Hendry's behalf.
2) Kenney doesn't delegate very well or trust his underlings and feels compelled to take charge of matters beyond his immediate responsibilities. A classic control-freak.
3) That ANY move/opportunity Hendry comes upon needs to go thru Kenney for approval.
On a potentially positive note, it sounds like Kenney has been able to move forward with the projects which will generate the new revenue streams that Ricketts said will be plowed back into the team.... which can be used to make the team more competitive upon completion.
.......is that both Kenney's and Hendry's days are numbered with the organization. If the Cubs fail this season, Hendry is gone. Kenney is done, win or lose.
Kenney is one of the holdover "suits" from the Tribune days. UGH!!!!! Though Bruce Willis sounded cool saying it in "Die Hard", in this case it's not so funny:
"Just a fly in the ointment, Hans, just a fly in the ointment."