Nevin to the Cubs

[Guest]

I like the move quite a bit, actually. We needed some right handed pop on the bench (any pop, actually) and this provides that after Lee returns. In the meantime, Hendry has improved the team by removing one middle infielder and adding a backup corner IF. After Lee returns, Nevin can spell Aramis and his legs once in a while; rest Jones versus some lefties (though Nevin might hurt himself again trying to play the OF); and be a very solid bench presence. This is not a move to put us in the series, but any move that improves the team is a good one.

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

This deal is a big "screw you" to Restovich. We didn't really give up anything of value, but it's a pointless move and it unfortunately sends the message that Hendry thinks we should be adding short term pieces to contend.

 

I must have missed the part where Restovich showed he could hit major league pitching with us. Or the Pirates. Or the Twins.

[UMFan83]

Don't see the problem here. Since the Cubs are not going to make their players take walks, then our biggest problem is no power. We just traded one of our 30 2B for someone who can play 1st and hit for a little more power, and when Lee comes back, he will be our power off the bench. If the splits against lefties are true, he could even platoon with Jones.

 

Not a great move, but a necessary one.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

Beat me.

[Elrhino]

Reports out of Dallas radio says the Rangers are picking up 3.5 million of his remaining contract.

 

oh man

that makes this deal even worse for the cubs

hahaha, way to go hendry!

 

 

....as in the Rangers are giving the Cubs $3.5 million; picking up that part of Nevin's contract.

 

i understand this. nevin is making ten million. we're still going to be paying him quite a bit.

 

edit: we've played 51 games, which leaves 111 left in the season. so, 68.5% of the season remains - that means nevin is still due $6.85 million. deducting the $3.5 million we're getting from texas, that means we're paying him $3.35 million.

 

And Hairston makes 2.3 this year, so factor in that the Cubs are moving 1.6 out of the current payroll. Considering the Cubs are much more likely be sellers than buyers as the trading deadline nears, I think an increase of 1.5 in salary on a contract that ends at the end of the year is splitting hairs.

Edited May 31, 2006 by Elrhino

[Mark Priors Calves]

I'd like to see him in RF vs. lefties but he hasn't played the OF in years and I'm guessing he'd be a butcher out there.

[CuseCubFan69]

I like the move quite a bit, actually. We needed some right handed pop on the bench (any pop, actually) and this provides that after Lee returns. In the meantime, Hendry has improved the team by removing one middle infielder and adding a backup corner IF. After Lee returns, Nevin can spell Aramis and his legs once in a while; rest Jones versus some lefties (though Nevin might hurt himself again trying to play the OF); and be a very solid bench presence. This is not a move to put us in the series, but any move that improves the team is a good one.

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

You make a good point Tim but please don't forget that Johnnie B is the manager and his love for vets may find Nevin a role as a starter somewhere in this lineup. I see him going to left once Lee comes back.

[Jon]

Restovich got so many splinters, though, that Dusty even blamed himself for his struggles when Michael was sent down. That had to be a first for him.

 

And I don't believe Restovich even started a single game.

[Mizzou]

I just thought of the Womack issue...not that I think Tony is good by any means, but its just like us to make a move to ensure that our currently hottest hitter gets less playing time.

 

(Again...I'm not saying Womack should be an everyday hitter on any team...just that he's been the best guy on the cubs for the last two days)

 

He could be 10 for his last 10 and any trade that gets Tony Womack less playing time is still a good one.

...because Womack has been horrible with the Cubs so far.

 

Because Womack is a good player over his career? He has Neifi written all over him. A couple more good games for Womack and Hendry will be hailing how he saved the Cubs this year while he gives him a 2-year, $5 million extension.

I highly doubt that.

[goonys evil twin]

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

You are putting stock in 12 lousy at bats?

[Guest]

I like the move quite a bit, actually. We needed some right handed pop on the bench (any pop, actually) and this provides that after Lee returns. In the meantime, Hendry has improved the team by removing one middle infielder and adding a backup corner IF. After Lee returns, Nevin can spell Aramis and his legs once in a while; rest Jones versus some lefties (though Nevin might hurt himself again trying to play the OF); and be a very solid bench presence. This is not a move to put us in the series, but any move that improves the team is a good one.

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

You make a good point Tim but please don't forget that Johnnie B is the manager and his love for vets may find Nevin a role as a starter somewhere in this lineup. I see him going to left once Lee comes back.

Baker likes defense even more than veterans, though. Nevin is an absolute butcher in LF (or RF). Good enough for a game or two, but you wouldn't want him to be a starter out there.

 

I'm more worried that you'll see Nevin push Walker back to 2B, who pushes wonderboy (Womack) out to LF.

[Guest]

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

You are putting stock in 12 lousy at bats?

Nope. I'm saying that in the 12 lousy at bats he did get he managed to strike out almost half the time and put up a .481 OPS. I'd call that failing pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

How would you characterize it?

[RyCubsFan]

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

You are putting stock in 12 lousy at bats?

 

To be fair, they were a REALLY bad 12 at bats. He struck out in 5 of them. But if that sample size is too small, add his 84 at bats with the Priates last year, in which he hit .214, whiffing 24 times. I'm not confident that Nevin will hit, but I have much less faith in Restovich.

[CuseCubFan69]

I like the move quite a bit, actually. We needed some right handed pop on the bench (any pop, actually) and this provides that after Lee returns. In the meantime, Hendry has improved the team by removing one middle infielder and adding a backup corner IF. After Lee returns, Nevin can spell Aramis and his legs once in a while; rest Jones versus some lefties (though Nevin might hurt himself again trying to play the OF); and be a very solid bench presence. This is not a move to put us in the series, but any move that improves the team is a good one.

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

You make a good point Tim but please don't forget that Johnnie B is the manager and his love for vets may find Nevin a role as a starter somewhere in this lineup. I see him going to left once Lee comes back.

Baker likes defense even more than veterans, though. Nevin is an absolute butcher in LF (or RF). Good enough for a game or two, but you wouldn't want him to be a starter out there.

 

I'm more worried that you'll see Nevin push Walker back to 2B, who pushes wonderboy (Womack) out to LF.

 

But the Cubs haven't had a guy like Nevin on the bench and I'm curious on how Baker is going to deal with him. I agree with your scenerio but once Lee comes back I see Nevin pushing somebody out of a job. It's not like Murton is a defensive specialist in left.

[CubinNY]

Jesus Christi, the Cubs do love the washed up vets.

 

Do they have a shot at Jose Lima?

[goonys evil twin]

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

You are putting stock in 12 lousy at bats?

Nope. I'm saying that in the 12 lousy at bats he did get he managed to strike out almost half the time and put up a .481 OPS. I'd call that failing pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

How would you characterize it?

 

I'd characterize it as nothing. It was 12 at bats spread out over 3 weeks, a terrible usage pattern by a terrible manager.

[UMFan83]

Jesus Christi, the Cubs do love the washed up vets.

 

Do they have a shot at Jose Lima?

 

You know Rickey Henderson is probably still available. I bet he's somewhat fast and can somewhat catch the ball still...

[Transmogrified Tiger]

This deal is a big "screw you" to Restovich. We didn't really give up anything of value, but it's a pointless move and it unfortunately sends the message that Hendry thinks we should be adding short term pieces to contend.

 

I must have missed the part where Restovich showed he could hit major league pitching with us. Or the Pirates. Or the Twins.

 

He's hit LHP at a decent clip and is pounding the ball at Iowa. Sure Nevin will likely be marginally better, but all that's doing is promoting a lost cause at this point. The far more important part of my post was that Hendry thinks this team can still compete somehow, and it doesn't give much hope for good moves to be made moving forward.

[Jon]

Restovich's OPS against lefties at AAA is 1.333 in 29 ABs with 3 HRs, though, and they couldn't even give him one start for a player who had just horrendous stats against lefties. Heck, they demoted him for a guy who was completely redundant while they actually needed a power right-handed bat.

 

Now, with Lee's return probably less than two weeks away, they make a move and add salary while doing it. It would have made sense to actually give Restovich a chance first.

[Guest]

 

I would have liked to have seen Restovich get more of a shot, but he failed pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

You are putting stock in 12 lousy at bats?

Nope. I'm saying that in the 12 lousy at bats he did get he managed to strike out almost half the time and put up a .481 OPS. I'd call that failing pretty miserably in the small shot he did get.

 

How would you characterize it?

 

I'd characterize it as nothing. It was 12 at bats spread out over 3 weeks, a terrible usage pattern by a terrible manager.

Hence the words, "small shot".

 

I'd still be in favor of ditching Bynum and adding Restovich to the roster to platoon with Jones, btw, even with Nevin on the team. It just won't happen.

 

That doesn't mean that swapping Hairston for Nevin is a bad move in any way.

[CubinNY]

 

That doesn't mean that swapping Hairston for Nevin is a bad move in any way.

 

Except for when Murton goes into a slump and never again gets regular playing time.

[goonys evil twin]

That doesn't mean that swapping Hairston for Nevin is a bad move in any way.

 

It eats away at whatever financial resources could be made available for other moves. It makes the team older. It hands Dusty another crutch, and opens up the practically inevitable situation in which the Cubs fall in love with their marginal veteran and inexplicably resign him at years end.

[Guest]

This deal is a big "screw you" to Restovich. We didn't really give up anything of value, but it's a pointless move and it unfortunately sends the message that Hendry thinks we should be adding short term pieces to contend.

 

I must have missed the part where Restovich showed he could hit major league pitching with us. Or the Pirates. Or the Twins.

 

He's hit LHP at a decent clip and is pounding the ball at Iowa. Sure Nevin will likely be marginally better, but all that's doing is promoting a lost cause at this point. The far more important part of my post was that Hendry thinks this team can still compete somehow, and it doesn't give much hope for good moves to be made moving forward.

I don't want Hendry giving up on the season yet. I don't hold much hope, but I haven't extinguished my hope yet, either. And I certainly wouldn't want Hendry to do so. I hope that any moves that are made fit one of two categories:

 

1) they improve the team for this year while sacrificing nothing of the future

2) they improve the future of the team

 

This move clearly fits into category #1, so I'm quite happy with it.

 

Restovich has had playing time in five different MLB seasons and has yet to win a job outright with a career OPS of .728. He's 27 years old and is pretty much what he is going to be at this point. I'd love to see him get more of a shot and have called for that ever since Hendry acquired him, but I'm not going to really worry over it, either.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm personally hoping this pushes Womack to CF and Pierre out the door. Personally, I've grown weary of the Juan Pierre suck-fest.

[Guest]

 

That doesn't mean that swapping Hairston for Nevin is a bad move in any way.

 

Except for when Murton goes into a slump and never again gets regular playing time.

I'll believe that when I see it. He's already slumped badly a couple of times this year and hasn't lost any PT.