Felix Pie Working With Bobby Dernier

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Cubs.com Notes[/url]"]Notes: Pie getting a jump with Iowa

Outfield prospect gets base-stealing help from former Cub

By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

 

CHICAGO -- Felix Pie is off and running, and former Cubs outfielder Bobby Dernier deserves some of the credit.

 

Dernier, who swiped 218 bases in 10 seasons, joined the Triple-A Iowa team for a few days in July to work with Pie, one of the Cubs' top outfield prospects.

 

As of Saturday, Pie had 14 steals and had been caught 10 times. He was batting .282 in 124 games with 12 homers, 29 doubles, six triples and 54 RBIs.

 

"One thing we addressed is that he was having trouble getting a good jump stealing, and it was because he's tall," Dernier said Saturday. "He was bent over at the waist and his feet were pitter-pattery, so he'd get caught with his foot slightly in the air when the guy makes a move to home and he was a tick late.

 

"All I suggested was be natural," Dernier said. "It has to feel right to you. Try to stand up a little bit and get on the balls of your feet and ready to launch, so when he makes that move you're gone and running downhill."

 

After going 0-for-5 in stolen base attempts in May, Pie is 9-for-11 in July and August.

 

Dernier also worked with the Cubs' Class A Peoria team, and will join the instructional league staff in September.

 

"I'm tickled to death," Dernier said of his involvement with the young Cubs. "It's fun to me, and I enjoy it. I've learned from some of the best in the game, and I just pass it on."

 

Pie has plenty of potential.

 

"He's young, he's in Triple-A, he's a great talent," Dernier said. "We'll see how he matures and develops, and hopefully he'll be here and be part of a world championship. We want a parade, for crying out loud."

 

Not Pie-related, but the part about what Dusty said about Z makes me mad.

[NCCubFan]

Not Pie-related, but the part about what Dusty said about Z makes me mad.

A perfect example of why Dusty should have been fired already rather than waiting until after the season and giving him an opportunity to screw things up even more.

[NorthsideAvenger]

Are you kidding me? Baker doesn't think averaging 112 pitches per start isn't "very high" for a pitch count? Are ya serious?

 

That is why...he IS the Paris Hilton of managing.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

A fluff piece on Felix from MiLB.com

[Soriano12]

Pie is on fire...4-5 the other night if I am not mistaken.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm curious on how many coaches these kids get. I like them getting instruction and having someone watching/guiding them from the beginning until they get to Chicago.