Padres looking for a 3B

[StMarksCubs]

This from MLBTradeRumors.com:

 

Tom Krasovic, a writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, mentioned all sorts of options for the Padres' third base problem in his article yesterday. The Padres have gotten an offensive line of .227/.266/.330 out of Vinny Castilla, Geoff Blum, and Mark Bellhorn at third base. And that truly is offensive. Krasovic says that GM Kevin Towers has shown interest in Bill Hall, Corey Koskie, Wilson Betemit, and Andy Marte. He also mentioned that Towers was not interested in Aaron Boone and names Morgan Ensberg as a slight possibility. Aramis Ramirez cannot be had.

 

I wouldn't be so sure... and I'd love to make that deal...

[goonys evil twin]

This from MLBTradeRumors.com:

 

Tom Krasovic, a writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, mentioned all sorts of options for the Padres' third base problem in his article yesterday. The Padres have gotten an offensive line of .227/.266/.330 out of Vinny Castilla, Geoff Blum, and Mark Bellhorn at third base. And that truly is offensive. Krasovic says that GM Kevin Towers has shown interest in Bill Hall, Corey Koskie, Wilson Betemit, and Andy Marte. He also mentioned that Towers was not interested in Aaron Boone and names Morgan Ensberg as a slight possibility. Aramis Ramirez cannot be had.

 

I wouldn't be so sure... and I'd love to make that deal...

 

What deal? What would they be willing to give up for a third baseman? Or do you just want to get rid of Aramis?

[Caryatid]

Get ready for this year's scapegoat: Aramis Ramirez.

 

The majority of Cubs fans think they would be happy with a guy who hits .230 but "tries real hard."

[badgercub]

Get ready for this year's scapegoat: Aramis Ramirez.

 

The majority of Cubs fans think they would be happy with a guy who hits .230 but "tries real hard."

 

For the right deal I would trade anyone on the Cubs roster. I don't think people want to give Aramis away but his attitude and lack of hustle leave something to be desired. You can critcize him for his effort, that doesn't mean you want to give him away.

[Caryatid]

Get ready for this year's scapegoat: Aramis Ramirez.

 

The majority of Cubs fans think they would be happy with a guy who hits .230 but "tries real hard."

 

For the right deal I would trade anyone on the Cubs roster. I don't think people want to give Aramis away but his attitude and lack of hustle leave something to be desired. You can critcize him for his effort, that doesn't mean you want to give him away.

 

I don't disagree, but judging by what I'm hearing on the radio, reading in the sportspages, and seeing on other message boards, there's a growing sentiment that Aramis is a big problem and needs to be shipped out for whatever they can get. He's quickly becoming the player many fans are scapegoating.

[Banedon]

Get ready for this year's scapegoat: Aramis Ramirez.

 

The majority of Cubs fans think they would be happy with a guy who hits .230 but "tries real hard."

 

For the right deal I would trade anyone on the Cubs roster. I don't think people want to give Aramis away but his attitude and lack of hustle leave something to be desired. You can critcize him for his effort, that doesn't mean you want to give him away.

 

I don't disagree, but judging by what I'm hearing on the radio, reading in the sportspages, and seeing on other message boards, there's a growing sentiment that Aramis is a big problem and needs to be shipped out for whatever they can get. He's quickly becoming the player many fans are scapegoating.

 

I actually agree...I think the Aramis issue is far bigger than it should be. After having had horrible third baseman for so long, you'd think we'd be happy with having Aramis...guess not.

[goonys evil twin]

Get ready for this year's scapegoat: Aramis Ramirez.

 

The majority of Cubs fans think they would be happy with a guy who hits .230 but "tries real hard."

 

For the right deal I would trade anyone on the Cubs roster. I don't think people want to give Aramis away but his attitude and lack of hustle leave something to be desired. You can critcize him for his effort, that doesn't mean you want to give him away.

 

I don't disagree, but judging by what I'm hearing on the radio, reading in the sportspages, and seeing on other message boards, there's a growing sentiment that Aramis is a big problem and needs to be shipped out for whatever they can get. He's quickly becoming the player many fans are scapegoating.

 

I actually agree...I think the Aramis issue is far bigger than it should be. After having had horrible third baseman for so long, you'd think we'd be happy with having Aramis...guess not.

 

Aramis could have had a down year with or without Lee's injury, but because baseball works the way it does, his reputation will be forever tarnished by his struggles during Lee's absence. And the Cubs are just the type of organization that would standby that label that was earned in 2 months instead of a players entire career. Odds are he's going to finish the year with some very solid numbers, and at his age he'll do that for several more years.

[Banedon]

Aramis could have had a down year with or without Lee's injury, but because baseball works the way it does, his reputation will be forever tarnished by his struggles during Lee's absence. And the Cubs are just the type of organization that would standby that label that was earned in 2 months instead of a players entire career. Odds are he's going to finish the year with some very solid numbers, and at his age he'll do that for several more years.

 

But goony, it doesn't matter what his numbers are....he doesn't hustle.

[NCCubFan]

I am dead set against trading Ramirez unless a stud is received in return. Third base has been a revolving door ever since Santo was traded (except for a few years with Bill Madlock). That problem has finally been solved, and could be for years to come. It's true he's having a down year offensively, but he's also having a very good year with the glove. I feel confident he'll rebound and have a good second half. I'd like to see how he responds to a new manager before giving up; maybe he'll put forth more effort if the manager actually holds him accountable for it. The only situation where I'd actively seek to trade him is if he's told the Cubs he's going to exercise his out clause and play elsewhere next year.

[badgercub]

Get ready for this year's scapegoat: Aramis Ramirez.

 

The majority of Cubs fans think they would be happy with a guy who hits .230 but "tries real hard."

 

For the right deal I would trade anyone on the Cubs roster. I don't think people want to give Aramis away but his attitude and lack of hustle leave something to be desired. You can critcize him for his effort, that doesn't mean you want to give him away.

 

I don't disagree, but judging by what I'm hearing on the radio, reading in the sportspages, and seeing on other message boards, there's a growing sentiment that Aramis is a big problem and needs to be shipped out for whatever they can get. He's quickly becoming the player many fans are scapegoating.

 

I actually agree...I think the Aramis issue is far bigger than it should be. After having had horrible third baseman for so long, you'd think we'd be happy with having Aramis...guess not.

 

Aramis could have had a down year with or without Lee's injury, but because baseball works the way it does, his reputation will be forever tarnished by his struggles during Lee's absence. And the Cubs are just the type of organization that would standby that label that was earned in 2 months instead of a players entire career. Odds are he's going to finish the year with some very solid numbers, and at his age he'll do that for several more years.

 

I don't think anyone would argue with his production or his upside. The fact is Aramis had the same reputation when the Cubs got him from Pittsburgh, I don't think this is anything new but it is being magnified because of the teams poor play. I think Dusty et al... have to shoulder some of the blame for this, don't get me wrong Aramis should give 100% all the time, but I think it is only human nature that when someone gets discouraged by how things are going that they may not always give 100%, that is not an excuse, but I think it is at these times that a good manager needs to do something to help them through it and get max effort from the people under him.

[USSoccer]

Hearing the Ramirez scapegoating and watching the Paul Sullivan's of the world hop on the "Ramirez is the problem" train makes me ill. This whole issue with his effort is being magnified about 1000x because the Cubs are 20 games under.

 

Ramirez is a very good player who is going to be very productive for the next 4 years or so. Is it a bad thing that he doesn't run all out? Yeah, I'd rather he did, but it's not the reason we're losing, and it is not reason at all to dump him on the first taker. Has he had a rough season thus far? Yeah, and so has the rest of the offense. Losing Lee affected Ramirez in a big way.

 

I'll echo what Goony said, though. The Cubs are the kind of knee jerk club that would put more stock in the last 3 months than in the previous 3 years.

 

I swear, people in Chicago would worship mediocrity if it played like David Eckstein.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't think anyone would argue with his production or his upside. The fact is Aramis had the same reputation when the Cubs got him from Pittsburgh, I don't think this is anything new but it is being magnified because of the teams poor play.

 

Are we talking about the lazy reputation or the "can't carry a club" reputation? He had a lazy rep, but the Cubs didn't seem to have a problem with that when they traded for him. They rightfully thought they could get production out of him. My concern is they will take the can't carry the club rep to the extreme and decide he will always wilt under pressure, and is therefore not clutch, and dump him.

[goonys evil twin]

I swear, people in Chicago would worship mediocrity if it played like David Eckstein.

 

Augie Ojeda.

[USSoccer]

I swear, people in Chicago would worship mediocrity if it played like David Eckstein.

 

Augie Ojeda.

 

The average fan loved that guy. The average fan loved Doug Dacsenzo. The average fan loved Ozzie Guillen as a player. I could go on and on. Chicago has some syndrome where they can't wrap their minds around the fact that just because you're a scrappy hustler doesn't mean you're any good, and just because you don't treat every grounder to short like it's the 7th game of the WS doesn't mean you need to be run out of town because you don't "play the game the right way".

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

While I'm not opposed to moving Aramis, the Padres have no one in the minor league system that would be worth Aramis and I doubt they would trade anyone in the major league team that would make the deal worthwhile either.

[KaiserCesar]

There's no solution at 3B to readily replace Ramirez. Taking out the 2nd best bat out of a lineup with no replacement strategy is just a dumb move, hustle or not. You at least have to try to add some major talent in the offseason and turn the team into a contender before you can dump players like this.

[badgercub]

I don't think anyone would argue with his production or his upside. The fact is Aramis had the same reputation when the Cubs got him from Pittsburgh, I don't think this is anything new but it is being magnified because of the teams poor play.

 

Are we talking about the lazy reputation or the "can't carry a club" reputation? He had a lazy rep, but the Cubs didn't seem to have a problem with that when they traded for him. They rightfully thought they could get production out of him. My concern is they will take the can't carry the club rep to the extreme and decide he will always wilt under pressure, and is therefore not clutch, and dump him.

 

I was referring to the "lazy" reputation. It has been magnified due to the losing. Dusty has let it get out of hand by not disciplining Aramis, obviously just talking to him behind closed doors isn't working. I would have pulled a Bobby Cox on him and sat him after that lack of hustle, or as Dusty would call it "hustling at the wrong time", in Milwaukee.

[badgercub]

There's no solution at 3B to readily replace Ramirez. Taking out the 2nd best bat out of a lineup with no replacement strategy is just a dumb move, hustle or not. You at least have to try to add some major talent in the offseason and turn the team into a contender before you can dump players like this.

 

If you got rid of Ramirez you would obviously have to get someone back in return to play third. I would love to see Hendry get creative and possibly pull off some kind of deal to get ARod from the Yankees, and the only way they would give up ARod would be if they got some talent in return, Ramirez, Jones, maybe a couple of youngsters, or get some other team involved. I don't think it is totally absurd to think this could be a possiblilty as the fans BOO him. If Hendry could work some kind of package to fill some of the Yanks immediate needs (Pitching, Outfield) He could possibly get something done. Not sayings there is a chance this will happen, I just don't think it is out of the realm of possiblity.

[KaiserCesar]

There's no solution at 3B to readily replace Ramirez. Taking out the 2nd best bat out of a lineup with no replacement strategy is just a dumb move, hustle or not. You at least have to try to add some major talent in the offseason and turn the team into a contender before you can dump players like this.

 

If you got rid of Ramirez you would obviously have to get someone back in return to play third. I would love to see Hendry get creative and possibly pull off some kind of deal to get ARod from the Yankees, and the only way they would give up ARod would be if they got some talent in return, Ramirez, Jones, maybe a couple of youngsters, or get some other team involved. I don't think it is totally absurd to think this could be a possiblilty as the fans BOO him. If Hendry could work some kind of package to fill some of the Yanks immediate needs (Pitching, Outfield) He could possibly get something done. Not sayings there is a chance this will happen, I just don't think it is out of the realm of possiblity.

 

So Ramirez to the Yanks for ARod, not to the Padres for any deal, I like that a lot better. If a corner OF is added, it comes down to which is better, Ramirez and a Jones/Murton platoon or ARod and Murton? I think I'd be willing to take my chances on Murton to get the guy with better defense, less injury concern and much better offense.

[ChiCubsFan]

I like Cesar Carillo and George Kottaras, but not nearly enough to trade them Aramis.

[USSoccer]

There's no solution at 3B to readily replace Ramirez. Taking out the 2nd best bat out of a lineup with no replacement strategy is just a dumb move, hustle or not. You at least have to try to add some major talent in the offseason and turn the team into a contender before you can dump players like this.

 

I don't think it is totally absurd to think this could be a possiblilty as the fans BOO him..

 

If Hendry continues to make personnel decisions based on whether or not talk show hosts trash and fans boo players, then this organization will quickly become worse off that ever.

 

Hendry needs to take a deep breath, realize that Aramis is a talented player stuck in a tough season, is a key building block, and not make a rash decision based on some goofs booing because he didn't sprint to 1B on a popup.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I like Cesar Carillo and George Kottaras, but not nearly enough to trade them Aramis.

 

I agree on Kottaras, but he's not worth Aramis. I'd offer them Maddux and others for Kottaras.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

I like Cesar Carillo and George Kottaras, but not nearly enough to trade them Aramis.

 

I agree on Kottaras, but he's not worth Aramis. I'd offer them Maddux and others for Kottaras.

 

Kottaras looks pretty good in the little bit I saw of him in the Futures game. I know the Padres need hitting. How is there hitting at the catcher postion going.....Piazza/Bard?

 

Would Barrett interest them for Kottaras?

 

Granted the Cubs would need to find a catcher(this year and next) until Kottaras is ready.

[Hosak8]

I like Cesar Carillo and George Kottaras, but not nearly enough to trade them Aramis.

 

I agree on Kottaras, but he's not worth Aramis. I'd offer them Maddux and others for Kottaras.

 

Kottaras looks pretty good in the little bit I saw of him in the Futures game. I know the Padres need hitting. How is there hitting at the catcher postion going.....Piazza/Bard?

 

Would Barrett interest them for Kottaras?

 

Granted the Cubs would need to find a catcher(this year and next) until Kottaras is ready.

 

If they took Kottaras for Barret, the Cubs could then turn and deal Maddux for Toby Hall, who reportedly already wants out of LA. Not ideal, but it is a ready made catcher scenario.

[NCCubFan]

If Hendry continues to make personnel decisions based on whether or not talk show hosts trash and fans boo players, then this organization will quickly become worse off that ever.

I'd be happy, however, if he made managerial decisions based on that. :D