Hendry on WMVP yesterday

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The problems with our bench are magnified by the ineptitude of the better part of our starting lineup.

[davearm]

What team's bench are you really impressed with and envious of?

 

It should be cake to come up with 10 or so teams that are significantly better, if ours is so miserable.

 

Atlanta, Arizona, Cincy, Minnesota, Boston, White Sox, Houston, Dodgers, Milwaukee, Philly, STL, Texas and Toronto all have more threats on their benches than the Cubs. The Cubs have no threats, and none of their bench players are doing anything good.

Before I posed that question, I took a cursory look at some rosters around the league. Two that I looked at were Boston and StL.

 

I'm sorry, but you're just not going to convince me that they're any better off than the Cubs.

 

Boston

Mirabelli - Blanco - wash

Snow - Mabry - wash

Cora - Neifi - wash

Harris - Pagan - wash

Mohr - Hairston - wash

 

St. Louis is the same story, with Bennett, Aaron Miles, Spiezio, Taguchi, and Bigbie.

 

Who exactly are the huge threats on those teams again?

[Banedon]

Hendry is on Mike Murphy's show right now on the Score. I only caught the beginning, but nothing really new being said.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

What team's bench are you really impressed with and envious of?

 

It should be cake to come up with 10 or so teams that are significantly better, if ours is so miserable.

 

Atlanta, Arizona, Cincy, Minnesota, Boston, White Sox, Houston, Dodgers, Milwaukee, Philly, STL, Texas and Toronto all have more threats on their benches than the Cubs. The Cubs have no threats, and none of their bench players are doing anything good.

Before I posed that question, I took a cursory look at some rosters around the league. Two that I looked at were Boston and StL.

 

I'm sorry, but you're just not going to convince me that they're any better off than the Cubs.

 

Boston

Mirabelli - Blanco - wash

Snow - Mabry - wash

Cora - Neifi - wash

Harris - Pagan - wash

Mohr - Hairston - wash

 

Seriously? Mirabelli is so much better than Blanco it's not funny. Mohr is exactly what our bench needs, a platoon split power hitter from the right hand side. And even then, an AL bench is constructed differently because of it's frequency of use.

[goonys evil twin]

Boston

Mirabelli - Blanco - wash

Snow - Mabry - wash

Cora - Neifi - wash

Harris - Pagan - wash

Mohr - Hairston - wash

 

Just because you put the word wash next to the names doesn't mean it's true. Just like putting the words "history of being a good pinch hitter" or "versatile decent player" doesn't make the guy a good bench candidate.

 

The Cubs bench is doing nothing this year. They all stunk last year. Those others benches I mentioned all have threats that are actually doing something with the bat. They have their fair share of no-hit utility guys, but their entire bench does not consist of that type of guy. Many have a legit platoon option who puts up solid numbers against one type of pitcher (exactly what the Cubs need), some of them have guys who, while they might not have a good avg or obp, do provide a good power threat, or maybe they have no power, but they manage to get on base quite often. The Cubs bench has nothing. They suck.

[abuck1220]

the only time blanco's name should have the word 'wash' next to it is if it's his turn to do the laundry. he's old, overpaid, his contract is too long, and he's terrible.

 

blanco's career OPS is .640, mirabelli's is .744.

[badger1679666666]

the only time blanco's name should have the word 'wash' next to it is if it's his turn to do the laundry. he's old, overpaid, his contract is too long, and he's terrible.

 

blanco's career OPS is .640, mirabelli's is .744.

 

Yea but he can catch the ball dude.

[Caryatid]

the only time blanco's name should have the word 'wash' next to it is if it's his turn to do the laundry. he's old, overpaid, his contract is too long, and he's terrible.

 

blanco's career OPS is .640, mirabelli's is .744.

 

The thing is, I can live with one guy like Blanco on the team if he brings "intangibles" to the table (handling pitchers, coach-on-the-field type). I think every team needs one of those guys.

 

The problem is that every single guy on our bench could fit into the category of "brings very little to the table in actual tangible contributions." One guy is fine. Five is a disaster.

[goonys evil twin]

the only time blanco's name should have the word 'wash' next to it is if it's his turn to do the laundry. he's old, overpaid, his contract is too long, and he's terrible.

 

blanco's career OPS is .640, mirabelli's is .744.

 

The thing is, I can live with one guy like Blanco on the team if he brings "intangibles" to the table (handling pitchers, coach-on-the-field type). I think every team needs one of those guys.

 

The problem is that every single guy on our bench could fit into the category of "brings very little to the table in actual tangible contributions." One guy is fine. Five is a disaster.

 

At least if you have 5 guys like that, bring in a 6th who actual provides some level of production.

[davearm]

Seriously? Mirabelli is so much better than Blanco it's not funny. Mohr is exactly what our bench needs, a platoon split power hitter from the right hand side. And even then, an AL bench is constructed differently because of it's frequency of use.

So much better?

 

They were virtually the same hitter in 2005 (barely better than crap), and they are again in 2006 (total crap).

 

Mirabelli 2005: .228/.309/.412

Blanco 2005: .242/.287/.391

 

Mirabelli 2006: 6 for 37

Blanco 2006: 2 for 32

 

And we had our own Dustin Mohr when Restovich was up.

[davearm]

Boston

Mirabelli - Blanco - wash

Snow - Mabry - wash

Cora - Neifi - wash

Harris - Pagan - wash

Mohr - Hairston - wash

 

Just because you put the word wash next to the names doesn't mean it's true. Just like putting the words "history of being a good pinch hitter" or "versatile decent player" doesn't make the guy a good bench candidate.

 

The Cubs bench is doing nothing this year. They all stunk last year. Those others benches I mentioned all have threats that are actually doing something with the bat. They have their fair share of no-hit utility guys, but their entire bench does not consist of that type of guy. Many have a legit platoon option who puts up solid numbers against one type of pitcher (exactly what the Cubs need), some of them have guys who, while they might not have a good avg or obp, do provide a good power threat, or maybe they have no power, but they manage to get on base quite often. The Cubs bench has nothing. They suck.

What are the names of these Red Sox and Cardinal bench players that you're so enamored with?

 

Are you another big Doug Mirabelli fan?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Seriously? Mirabelli is so much better than Blanco it's not funny. Mohr is exactly what our bench needs, a platoon split power hitter from the right hand side. And even then, an AL bench is constructed differently because of it's frequency of use.

So much better?

 

They were virtually the same hitter in 2005 (barely better than crap), and they are again in 2006 (total crap).

 

Mirabelli 2005: .228/.309/.412

Blanco 2005: .242/.287/.391

 

Mirabelli 2006: 6 for 37

Blanco 2006: 2 for 32

 

And we had our own Dustin Mohr when Restovich was up.

 

That's a 40+ differential in OPS, it's not trivial like you're making it out to be. And there's also the fact that Mirabelli has the vastly superior career.

 

Perhaps Restovich would be like Mohr, but we never gave him a shot. Look at Mohr's numbers v. LHP, he's the ideal platoon OF.

[davearm]

Seriously? Mirabelli is so much better than Blanco it's not funny. Mohr is exactly what our bench needs, a platoon split power hitter from the right hand side. And even then, an AL bench is constructed differently because of it's frequency of use.

So much better?

 

They were virtually the same hitter in 2005 (barely better than crap), and they are again in 2006 (total crap).

 

Mirabelli 2005: .228/.309/.412

Blanco 2005: .242/.287/.391

 

Mirabelli 2006: 6 for 37

Blanco 2006: 2 for 32

 

And we had our own Dustin Mohr when Restovich was up.

 

That's a 40+ differential in OPS, it's not trivial like you're making it out to be. And there's also the fact that Mirabelli has the vastly superior career.

 

Perhaps Restovich would be like Mohr, but we never gave him a shot. Look at Mohr's numbers v. LHP, he's the ideal platoon OF.

Well let me ask you this.

 

Would you use the term "threat" to describe a 35YO career backup catcher that's coming off of a .721 OPS and is doing significantly worse than that this year?

 

Because what I'm hearing here is that the Cubs bench would be so much better if only we had that sort of "threat".