Three little words: No. Trade. Clause.
Couple of administrative notes first:
The Cubs said today that the Brewers have claimed infielder Casey McGehee off waivers. McGehee had a cup of coffee with the Cubs this year after several years in the minors. He's a good kid, and here's wishing him well.
In another move, the Cubs outrighted right-handed reliever Billy Petrick to Class AAA Iowa. Petrick battled shoulder problems in the minors this year after getting into a few games last season. The moves leave the Cubs' 40-man roster at 37.
Jim Hendry heads to the GM meetings in California over the weekend. He'll try to lay the groundwork for a deal or two. Such a deal could take place in the coming weeks or at the winter meetings, which take place in Las Vegas in early December.
Let's clear up a couple things. First, the Cubs aren't trading third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Yes, he's had two bad playoffs, but he's on his way to becoming the most productive third baseman in team history. During the season, a lot of people were singing his praises as the Cubs' most "clutch" perrformer after some late-inning heroics. Ramirez also has no-trade protection in his contract.
Speaking of no-trade clauses, the same thing applies to first baseman Derrek Lee, whom everybody wants to deal this winter. I got news for you _ the Cubs aren't trading Lee, who took a lesser deal to stay with the Cubs a couple years ago in exchange for that no-trade clause. That's not to say there aren't some red flags about Lee and where his career is headed. Among first basemen in the NL Central, he ranked sixth in OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) behind St. Louis' Albert Pujols, Houston's Lance Berkman, Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, Cincinnati's Joey Votto and Pittsburgh's Adam LaRoche. That should be a major concern to Hendry, but the Cubs don't seem to be panicked over Lee's drop in slugging (even though his on-base was good this year). On top of it, Lou loves Lee's quiet leadership in the clubhouse. And although Micah Hoffpauir appears to be the flavor of the month among many observers, there's no evidence he can produce every day at the big-league level. The bottom line, like it or not, is that Lee will be the Cubs' first baseman come Opening Day 2009.
Lou was at it again this week, talking to his old buddy Bill Madden, a noted New York scribe:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/2008/10/23/2008-10-23_no_swee...
Lou told Madden the Cubs will move embattled right fielder Kosuke Fukudome to center and platoon him with Reed Johnson. There might be something to that. When it all shakes out this winter, the Cubs will add a left-handed bat in the outfield. It might mean somebody who can play the corners or a center fielder. The Cubs could very well move Fukudome to center and platoon him, just as they did with Jim Edmonds this year. They aren't ready to give up on him, but they will get some insurance. Late in the season, Lou told Madden the grind was getting to him, setting off speculation Lou would retire at season's end. That didn't happen, and Lou signed a contract extension.
When and if the World Series ends, the hot stove should heat up even more.
...one ingrediant the Phillies had (it showed up big in the playoffs) that the Cubs struggled with the entire year? Legitimate base stealing threats, especially at the top of the lineup.
There were numerous times during the world series, that Phillie base runners really got into the Tampa Bay pitching staff's head and it had an impact. Even when their sluggers were struggling a bit, they still had the capability to pressure the defense with this threat.
Besides the obvious need for a power LH bat, the Cubs desperately need a REAL leadoff hitter that can steal 30+ bases, with a high success rate. In general, the Cubs are not a good base running team, and when your offense can get shut down against good pitchers in the playoffs, this can help generate some offense and momentum.
But Soriano's legs gave out both years they've had him. The stolen-base threat is fine as long as your leadoff man can get on base. Theriot's OBP was .387, but he didn't have a good enough success rate at stealing bases, so he really isn't a viable threat.
...that Soriano's legs were not going to be reliable, and he also appears extremely tentative even when he is healthy. Regarding Theriot, his base running instinct/skill leaves quite a bit to be desired, and I can't see him ever being a legit base stealer. This is why they need to go full bore for a new leadoff man - either Roberts or Furcal would do nicely.
Roberts would be the best choice, but Furcal would be an upgrade and would also allow you to solidify an important position were defense matters - SS. Theriot has survived there, but I can see his "double clutch" and limited range being exposed more as time goes on.
Yeah, it was alarming how easily he seemed to get thrown out. You know how when you're watching a play and the clock is ticking in your head and you think, "he should be safe by now". With Theriot, eh, not so much.
Or has anyone else noticed that every time a big name player/manager with a successful winning history signs up with the Cubs, they go down the tubes or struggle mightily to stay afloat?
(Durocher, Baker, Jim Frey, Garciaparra, Soriano, Don Baylor, Derrick Lee, Don Zimmer)
Something tells me there is bad Ju-Ju at that Wrigley place.
How else do you explain the amazing collapses of the team on the field year after year after year.......after year, after year, after year.
How else do you explain the above mentioned individuals, or the ones that have left the organization to successful careers?
Steve Stone, Greg Maddux twice, Ken Holtzman, Dennis Eckersley, Matt Stairs, etc.)
I cannot imagine what it takes to be a die hard Cub fan based on the above, but I would equate it to living with a 24/7 stomach virus.
Maybe this will change when new owners eventually buy the organization and move them out of Wrigley.
Think about it.
This is a ballpark that had the neighborhood screaming when they wanted to play night games, for gosh sakes.
This is a ballpark that had the neighborhoodd screaming when they wanted to extend the left and right field bleacher sections.
This is a ballpark that put view-blocking screens up in left and right field to obstruct the rooftop views of the neighbors.
This is a ballpark that has had sections of concrete falling off of it.
And every year the team finds the most amazing ways to jinx themselves and lose in this place.
I thought the Bartman fiasco was the top of all toppers....until this lunatic organization decided to bring a Greek priest in to the dugout before this year's playoffs.
Bad Ju-Ju.
Time to move.
Very well then, the Cubs think the positives of having Derrek Lee on the team outweigh the negatives. THEN QUIT BATTNG HIM 3RD !!!!! We can bat numbers around all we want but the evidence is there, he is not the best hitter on the team.
I'm not sure about Fukudome in center. Anyone see the routes he ran playing out there last year?
...on my part, but I would not be surprised if Lee had a nagging injury that bothered him most of this year. He started the year with much better power numbers and than really dropped off considerably the 2nd half. To me, he certainly appeared to not be attacking the hittable pitches with the same aggressiveness in the 2nd half. His bat was slower through the hitting zone, he wasn't driving the ball to right center field like he can, and he was beating a high number of balls into the ground.
It's possible, the neck issue he has had lingered throughout the year. If you have ever had neck problems, you can relate to how they can effect you in a multitude of ways. I also see Lee as a guy who would keep this to himself and try to play through it. I could be completely wrong, but Lee is not that advanced in his career, where his bat should slow as much as it did the 2nd half without it may being a physical issue.
You just might have to move him. How about to second, where his OBP might be helpful? I agree that he may no longer be a three-hitter.
...just may be the right spot for Lee, at least to help get him going again.
Tony LaRussa has been one of the best in using the 2 hole to help get some of his better hitters going - he did it with Fisk in 83, and it helped Glaus this year.
I remember Fisk being moved up. The Sox started the season 16-24 and wound up 99-63, with Fisk providing a spark batting second. Might be worth a try with Lee.
Bruce- As always great job.
The Cubs are in a percarious situation with so many players having no trade clauses, and so many few holes to fill.
If they trade for Brian Giles, the poster boy for what is the roid era based on his STEEP decline of stats, his shrinking biceps/forearms, I will probably go ballastic. I don't care if his OBP is over 400 or any other bs. He's not the answer.
Glad to hear that Piniella wants Fukudome only in a platoon situation. Rightfully so.
I sung the praises of Ramirez being clutch, and it seems that Pepsi and MLB agree with me as they showed numerous highlights of him coming up big during the season in the team award highlights, that the Cubs won. No where was D Lee found.
I like D-lee, but his alarming rate of a power decline can't be ignored. Nor can his inability to perform late in games. He may be a nice quiet leader, but maybe the problem with the Cubs is that the leadership during playoff time is coming from guys who have had no success lately, and can't really talk. Lee didn't heat up against the Cubs in the 2003 NLCS until he tagged Farnsworth. Soriano had a good run in 2001, and then imploded so badly that the Yankees shipped him to Texas. Ramirez was OK in 2003, but has 2 hits in 6 games the past 2 years.
That's my point. No leadership. The guys who are talking or leading, shouldn't, and the Cubs need to get a guy who has proven himself late in games, and in the postseason.
Some guys shine when the heat is on, and some wet themselves. The cubs seem to have a LOT of the latter.
...with your general premise that the club is void of a player or two that can spark the club when things aren't going well.
That spark, does not have to be a homerun or a pitcher who throws 9 shutout innings, but something that sends a message to the other guys that keeps them on top of their game. It could be a key stolen base, a big base hit when the club is struggling, and key defensive play, or the pitcher geting out of a jam - when it really matters.
IMO, the Cubs had a couple of these occurances during the regular season and it seemed to help interject life into the club when they were struggling.
1. Reed Johnson broke up a double play (forcing a bad throw) in game one against the Brewers in Milwaukee. The Cubs were down by a run and the double play gets them out of the 7th inning with the lead and it may have changed the entire complexion of that series (which the Cubs swept). Johnson was smart enouph to get a huge lead at 1st, because Fielder was not holding him on, and it payed off big time.
2. After Lou blew up on them, Lilly runs the Cards catcher (with his pitching shoulder) and low and behold, the club is out of their 10 day funk and they go on to win the division by 7.5 games.
IMO, both Lilly and Johnson are at the top when you consider Cub players who compete hard on a day to day basis. They don't have the most talent, but they refuse to leave anything on the table and this rubs off on the other guys. My thought is, they need a couple more guys who simply don't like to lose.
I haven't heard his name, but I'll keep my ear to the ground. Seems the ship has sailed on that one, or it should have. I'm with you on this one, Mr. Rain.
The winter meetings in Vegas? Not bad.....
As I sit here and watch the Phillies celebrate, I can only think of the fact that now there are only 3 teams....I believe.....who haven't made it to the World Series since the Cubs were there...
-Washington/Montreal
-Texas
-Seattle
That right there just aggravates the hell out of me. Any sane Cubs fan should walk away if those 3 teams beat the Cubs to the fall classic.
for clearing up the rumors, especially the D. Lee ones. The one that was most intriguing involved Jake Peavy and D. Lee, with others thrown in. Guess Hoffpauir better start shagging fly balls.
A left 'hand' corner outfielder... He needs to be able to play defense or Fuke/Johnson will have their hands full. Just imagine if you were in center and had Soriano on one side, and someone like Dunn on the other. I'd ask for a big raise if it were me.