felix pie: realistic shot next year??

[mspcanes1]

while reading in the transactions forum i noticed that a lot of posters believe for some reason that felix pie has a realistic shot at being on the big league club next spring. is that the general consensus? i know he finished the year strong in iowa, but his numbers hardly jump out at ya'. if they were thinking about looking at him for next year, i woulda' thought we woulda' seen a little more of him this fall. i'm not sure if i am misinterpreting what everyone is writing, but i haven't seen anyone correcting these people. would like to hear your thoughts on the matter. i personally think he's a year away from getting a shot that .283 ba along with his .341 obp and .792 ops is pretty shaky (also what's with him only swiping 17 bags in 141 games?). he's 21 he can afford another year to mature as a player.

[A New Era]

I'd like to give him a shot if it means you can spend more money on RF and P. For example if you decided to go after Soriano for 2B and traded Jones away for a bigger RF bat.

 

However I think it's smart to have a good CF stopgap for a year. However Soriano could play CF for 1 year and then easily just move to 2B to make way for Pie. . If we have someone at 2B who isn't doing too good, Pie could be called up after the all-star break to get a shot in CF. .

[mspcanes1]

i can see the point in it, i just have this nagging feeling that he's gonna have some significant growing pains in the bigs. now, just about every player has 'em i just didn't see the type of comfortability at the aaa from him that i'd like to see b4 bringing him up to the bigs. maybe i'm just gun shy cuz of dirty bobby hill and corey patterson...uhhh i just threw up in my mouth a little.

[A New Era]

Then that's why it's important to either talk Soriano in trying CF letting him know he WILL be used as a 2B once Pie comes up. Or get a 1 year stop-gap. Because if we are going to make some serious moves and legitimatly contend next year. You don't want to have Pie as your only CF option, incase he is struggling when you are in the middle of a pennant race. .

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I'd prefer he get another (at least) half season at Iowa with a stopgap like Dave Roberts or Kenny Lofton with the Cubs next season. But I'd rather the Cubs play Pie at the big league level than go after an overpriced veteran option in CF. He'd certainly take his lumps in his first few seasons, especially with his poor plate discipline.

 

His SBs are down because he's really not that great a base stealer.

[Soul]

LOL, Soriano will agree to play CF for the Cubs right about the time cows jump over the Moon.

 

You guys do realize he's one of the most prized F.A.'s out there, right? Not only is he going to cash in to the tune of the better part of $100 million, he can pretty much choose his team. Sound like a player who is begging for a job so much he's willing to switch positions? Not to me.

[Mephistopheles]

id prefer we trade him and get an impact bat with discipline.

 

im looking at you jd drew

[A New Era]

LOL, Soriano will agree to play CF for the Cubs right about the time cows jump over the Moon.

 

You guys do realize he's one of the most prized F.A.'s out there, right? Not only is he going to cash in to the tune of the better part of $100 million, he can pretty much choose his team. Sound like a player who is begging for a job so much he's willing to switch positions? Not to me.

 

How many teams want him for 2nd base. How many teams NEED him for 2nd base? When was the last time he PLAYED second base. I say if the Cubs tell them they want him to lead off, but might need him at CF for 1 year before he goest o 2nd, and the price is right. Then I don't see how a cow would have to jump over the moon, before he joined the cubs. . I'll also see a cow jump over a moon before a team signs him to 5/20.

[NorthsideAvenger]

LOL, Soriano will agree to play CF for the Cubs right about the time cows jump over the Moon.

 

You guys do realize he's one of the most prized F.A.'s out there, right? Not only is he going to cash in to the tune of the better part of $100 million, he can pretty much choose his team. Sound like a player who is begging for a job so much he's willing to switch positions? Not to me.

 

How many teams want him for 2nd base. How many teams NEED him for 2nd base? When was the last time he PLAYED second base. I say if the Cubs tell them they want him to lead off, but might need him at CF for 1 year before he goest o 2nd, and the price is right. Then I don't see how a cow would have to jump over the moon, before he joined the cubs. . I'll also see a cow jump over a moon before a team signs him to 5/20.

 

NO TEAM in MLB is going to offer $100 million to Soriano, not even Texas. Best guess....Soriano ends up at 5 and $75.

[Soul]

LOL, Soriano will agree to play CF for the Cubs right about the time cows jump over the Moon.

 

You guys do realize he's one of the most prized F.A.'s out there, right? Not only is he going to cash in to the tune of the better part of $100 million, he can pretty much choose his team. Sound like a player who is begging for a job so much he's willing to switch positions? Not to me.

 

How many teams want him for 2nd base. How many teams NEED him for 2nd base? When was the last time he PLAYED second base. I say if the Cubs tell them they want him to lead off, but might need him at CF for 1 year before he goest o 2nd, and the price is right. Then I don't see how a cow would have to jump over the moon, before he joined the cubs. . I'll also see a cow jump over a moon before a team signs him to 5/20.

 

NO TEAM in MLB is going to offer $100 million to Soriano, not even Texas. Best guess....Soriano ends up at 5 and $75.

 

$75 million IS the better part of $100 million.

[CuseCubFan69]

I would like Pie on ther big club if he is the 8 hitter and the Cubs are stacked 1-7. Also, I don't want him leading off unless he shows he can handle it. I do not want to go into the season with him being the leadoff guy, I want the pressure off him as much as possible.

[soapy]

While Pie's Iowa numbers don't jump out at you, he showed a great ability to adjust as the season went on, just as he did at the lower levels. I see no reason to think he won't be able to do that at the big league level. As others have stated, the Cubs would need to upgrade the offense in other spots (RF, 2B, SS), but if they did, I'd be happy with Pie (and his minimum salary) in CF. If he's relatively productive, you've got minimal dollars going to your starting LF and CF and can allocate that money elsewhere.

[Donzo1679666396]

while reading in the transactions forum i noticed that a lot of posters believe for some reason that felix pie has a realistic shot at being on the big league club next spring. is that the general consensus? i know he finished the year strong in iowa, but his numbers hardly jump out at ya'.

 

Pie's 2nd half numbers: avg/obp/slg/ops--.323/.373/.538/.912

 

There's a little "jumpin'" there...

[UK1679666180]

I think at this stage, I would lean more towards him starting out at Iowa, but a solid showing with Licey and Mesa next Spring could sway me. Of course, if the Cubs aren't sure he's ready now, they have to go into FA thinking they need to fill that spot.

[C.C.]

LOL, Soriano will agree to play CF for the Cubs right about the time cows jump over the Moon.

 

You guys do realize he's one of the most prized F.A.'s out there, right? Not only is he going to cash in to the tune of the better part of $100 million, he can pretty much choose his team. Sound like a player who is begging for a job so much he's willing to switch positions? Not to me.

 

I'll bet you 5\75 million he plays CF.

[Derwood]

From what I've read, Pie's numbers in the 2nd half were very good....for a 21 year old. Okay, they were good for anyone, but I don't want to see Corey Patterson Pt. 2 next year

[soapy]

From what I've read, Pie's numbers in the 2nd half were very good....for a 21 year old. Okay, they were good for anyone, but I don't want to see Corey Patterson Pt. 2 next year

I don't think Patterson ever showed the kind of progression Pie has shown in the minors (from what I can remember).

 

Another key is to make sure the Cubs don't try to turn him into something he's not, like they did with Patterson.

 

I agree that there should be some caution used to avoid "rushing" him, but I think there are some differences between he and Corey.

[Derwood]

From what I've read, Pie's numbers in the 2nd half were very good....for a 21 year old. Okay, they were good for anyone, but I don't want to see Corey Patterson Pt. 2 next year

I don't think Patterson ever showed the kind of progression Pie has shown in the minors (from what I can remember).

 

Another key is to make sure the Cubs don't try to turn him into something he's not, like they did with Patterson.

 

I agree that there should be some caution used to avoid "rushing" him, but I think there are some differences between he and Corey.

 

The fact that Dusty, Clines or Sarge will never get their mitts on Pie is reason for optimism

[soapy]

From what I've read, Pie's numbers in the 2nd half were very good....for a 21 year old. Okay, they were good for anyone, but I don't want to see Corey Patterson Pt. 2 next year

I don't think Patterson ever showed the kind of progression Pie has shown in the minors (from what I can remember).

 

Another key is to make sure the Cubs don't try to turn him into something he's not, like they did with Patterson.

 

I agree that there should be some caution used to avoid "rushing" him, but I think there are some differences between he and Corey.

 

The fact that Dusty, Clines or Sarge will never get their mitts on Pie is reason for optimism

And Baylor

[fiver]

Pie likely would have joined the big club at the end of this past season if Hendry intended for him to compete for the CF job next spring...just my opinion.

[goonys evil twin]

Pie likely would have joined the big club at the end of this past season if Hendry intended for him to compete for the CF job next spring...just my opinion.

 

On the surface, that seems true. But Jim also said he would have called up Pie in 2005 if healthy. Perhaps he just knew Dusty was gone, and it was a bad idea to introduce a key prospect to Dusty's wrath. His best bet for playing time would have been a platoon with Murton, as Pierre would not have sat, and Jones wasn't going to sit for a LH bat.

 

If he can get better infield production, I would not be surprised if Felix gets the shot. It's not like Piniella has no experience introducing young, dynamic, athletic outfielders to the big leagues.

[Abe Frohman]

I think Pie is trade bait. That is just me. I don't know, though. I don't like his plate discipline (at this point), but I do like his tools. I think he is 2 years away, if he isn't traded. There is a reason he didn't get a call up when the roster expanded - because he wasn't ready. I don't see a guy who doesn't get a late season call up being 1 year away.

 

He has great tools, and is an exciting prospect - but so was Corey Patterson, Mark Prior, and Kerry Wood. They all have yet to really meet their potential.

 

The Cubs need better people in the system developing these prospects. In my opinion, Pie needs to learn plate discipline. Otherwise, he is going to be at best, a productive bat in the 6 spot in the lineup.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

LOL, Soriano will agree to play CF for the Cubs right about the time cows jump over the Moon.

 

You guys do realize he's one of the most prized F.A.'s out there, right? Not only is he going to cash in to the tune of the better part of $100 million, he can pretty much choose his team. Sound like a player who is begging for a job so much he's willing to switch positions? Not to me.

 

Thats true, but he's not going to get a HUGE contract simply because he's going to be like...what?...31? 32?

 

Tops he should get a 3 year contract.

 

And Pie is trade bait IMO. Bad plate discipline, bad baserunner, still more a potential guy than a baseball player. He's highly regarded and since he just had a decent season in AAA at 21 he could help net us something good.

 

The Diamondbacks seem to favor Justin Upton and Carlos Gonzalez over Chris Young, and Gonzalez could be ready by '08. This is way in advance of when it should be talked about, but if/when Young gets on the trading block I want the Cubs to pounce. Thats if Pie doesn't magically get good or we don't find something in CF.

[MPrior]

If the Cubs want to contend next year, they have to approach this offseason assuming Pie will not be their starting center fielder. That said, if Pie really impresses over the next few months, I could see him getting an early callup.

 

So I think he deserves a shot, but I think the Cubs should assume he won't make it to start out with, as he'll probably be better off in Iowa to start with.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Stick Pie in CF and leave him there until the next decade rolls around.