Moore & McGehee

[biittner77]

Both of these guys are doing well in winter ball. One of them will have to change positions if they are both at Iowa to start next season. Who goes where?

 

Were it not for Patterson, I could see one of them switching to 2nd base.

 

Anyone have any ideas?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Both of them will move all over the place. Moore because Aramis might be blocking him and McGehee will be at 1B quite a bit and hopefully even C.

 

We'll see how long EPatt can stay at 2B if his regression on defense continues.

[mg420]

if they are going to move ep, they should do it in spring training imo. i say move him to cf and pie to rf. i also think that fox should give 3b a shot instead of catching. marmol should move to closing in iowa too instead of starting.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I'd rather Marmol get the innings as a starter, the more experience he gets the better. He can convert to the pen in the big leagues.

 

The Cubs won't move EPatt to the OF right away, and I don't blame them. He's more valuable at 2B, better to make sure his defense is completely sho t before moving him to another position.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Were there any reports of EPatt's declining defense during the season? I don't remember them aside from BA repeating their previous reports that he wasn't fantastic there. I don't think a bad 2 week spell in the AFL is grounds enough to move EPatt off 2B.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Were there any reports of EPatt's declining defense during the season? I don't remember them aside from BA repeating their previous reports that he wasn't fantastic there. I don't think a bad 2 week spell in the AFL is grounds enough to move EPatt off 2B.

 

Agreed, which is why I think the Cubs would be wise to keep him there for a while. The reason for concern though is that it appears to be a mental thing for Eric as he appears afraid of the ball being hit to him now.

 

So far today, he's had 3 chances at second base and done well on all three. If it's just a confidence thing, I would hope a little good play would bring his confidence back. He has the skills to be an above average defensive second baseman.

[Laura]

Were there any reports of EPatt's declining defense during the season? I don't remember them aside from BA repeating their previous reports that he wasn't fantastic there. I don't think a bad 2 week spell in the AFL is grounds enough to move EPatt off 2B.

 

He had at least one disaster game -- I think he committed something like 4 errors in an inning and a half. I could probably dig up the game given some time. From AZPhil's account, it sounds like part of his struggles are mental now and he's playing scared. (which I can understand, and I also think is very different than saying 'he's a headcase,' which I don't want to imply at all)

 

I had heard that the Cubs had some concerns and were working with him on his footwork and turning the DP while he was in West Tenn.

[NCCubFan]

He had at least one disaster game -- I think he committed something like 4 errors in an inning and a half.

If you're thinking of a regular season game (as opposed to the AFL), I believe you're thinking of the game at Carolina in August that I went to (that was the first game of a five-game sweep by Carolina that basically put the Jaxx out of contention). He had either three or four errors (I don't recall which) early in the game, including multiple errors in the same inning.

[Laura]

He had at least one disaster game -- I think he committed something like 4 errors in an inning and a half.

If you're thinking of a regular season game (as opposed to the AFL), I believe you're thinking of the game at Carolina in August that I went to (that was the first game of a five-game sweep by Carolina that basically put the Jaxx out of contention). He had either three or four errors (I don't recall which) early in the game, including multiple errors in the same inning.

 

That's the one, NC. The Jaxx broadcast wasn't working, so I was listening to the Carolina broadcast. It wasn't pretty.

[mhuber92211]

Wouldn't Moore be an option for some time at SS? They ahve been playing him there sporadically. That would surely increase his value as a UTL guy on the bench

[Outshined_One]

Wouldn't Moore be an option for some time at SS? They ahve been playing him there sporadically. That would surely increase his value as a UTL guy on the bench

 

He was originally drafted as a SS by the Tigers, but they moved him to 3B because he simply did not have the tools needed to play that position adequately.

[biittner77]

Both of them will move all over the place. Moore because Aramis might be blocking him and McGehee will be at 1B quite a bit and hopefully even C.

 

We'll see how long EPatt can stay at 2B if his regression on defense continues.

 

How long ago did they move McGehee from C? I seem to remember him there when he was at Daytona. I'd like to see if how well he and Moore can play OF. But if either of those guys could handle 2nd base defensively they'd be much more interesting as prospects.

 

Will Fox start the year at AA?