Eric Patterson working on center field

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

Not sure if this has been posted yet, my search feature doesn't seem to work. If it has, just lock this.

 

Just saw this on Rotoworld:

 

Because they signed Mark DeRosa to a three-year deal, the Cubs have Eric Patterson learning to play center field.

What does that say about Felix Pie? We're skeptical DeRosa will be a quality regular for even the first year of the deal, and there's a good chance the Cubs will want Patterson at second base at some point during 2008. Considering that Patterson still needs to improve defensively in the infield, the Cubs could be hurting his chances of becoming a regular by trying him elsewhere.

[Banedon]

The Master Plan of ruining any and all Patterson's is coming along finely....muahahahahaha :devil:

[UMFan83]

Just like his big bro!

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Doesn't sound like much. From the source of Rotoworld's blurb:

 

Chicago Tribune[/url]"]With a potentially loaded lineup, the Cubs also could roll the dice and let Felix Pie or second baseman Eric Patterson vie for the center-field job. Both are left-handed hitters with speed, which is what manager Lou Piniella craves.

 

Patterson, who turns 24 in April, was an All-Star at Double-A West Tenn last season before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he hit .358 in 17 games. The Cubs are asking Patterson to learn to play center because Mark DeRosa signed a three-year deal to play second.

 

"Eric is starting to get on a path of doing things he needs to do," said Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs director of player development. "He has learned how to bunt, he's running a lot more. He's a very good base-runner. And we've asked him to explore the opportunity to go take balls off the bat so it isn't foreign to him if he's asked to go out and play center field.

 

"Right now he's a second baseman, but he's a left-handed hitter who can do a lot of little things. We're going to try to make sure that if he's ready, if there is a spot that's maybe blocking him, he can go play another spot."

[frostwyrm]

Doesn't sound like much. From the source of Rotoworld's blurb:

 

Chicago Tribune[/url]"]With a potentially loaded lineup, the Cubs also could roll the dice and let Felix Pie or second baseman Eric Patterson vie for the center-field job. Both are left-handed hitters with speed, which is what manager Lou Piniella craves.

 

Patterson, who turns 24 in April, was an All-Star at Double-A West Tenn last season before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he hit .358 in 17 games. The Cubs are asking Patterson to learn to play center because Mark DeRosa signed a three-year deal to play second.

 

"Eric is starting to get on a path of doing things he needs to do," said Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs director of player development. "He has learned how to bunt, he's running a lot more. He's a very good base-runner. And we've asked him to explore the opportunity to go take balls off the bat so it isn't foreign to him if he's asked to go out and play center field.

 

"Right now he's a second baseman, but he's a left-handed hitter who can do a lot of little things. We're going to try to make sure that if he's ready, if there is a spot that's maybe blocking him, he can go play another spot."

 

Only sense I can make of this is the Cubs are trying to increase EP's trade value by adding versatility to him. This would fit with Hendry's must-win-now-to-save-my job line of thinking. I have no doubt Hendry would sell the entire farm and probably his soul to win in 2007.

[Mephistopheles]

"Eric is starting to get on a path of doing things he needs to do," said Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs director of player development. "He has learned how to bunt, he's running a lot more. He's a very good base-runner. And we've asked him to explore the opportunity to go take balls off the bat so it isn't foreign to him if he's asked to go out and play center field.

 

"Right now he's a second baseman, but he's a left-handed hitter who can do a lot of little things. We're going to try to make sure that if he's ready, if there is a spot that's maybe blocking him, he can go play another spot."

Yeah we signed a utility infielder so we can move one of our better prospects to another position. Brilliant. Gotta love how Jim Hendry's not held responsible for his actions as closely as he should.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-061204cubs,1,1236144.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

Oh and then the article goes on to talk about how the Cubs are excited to have two 40 stolen base threats at the top of the lineup in a few years in Pie and Patterson to go along with Soriano.

 

I'm so thrilled. I hate ignorant people.

[TruffleShuffle]

Doesn't sound like much. From the source of Rotoworld's blurb:

 

Chicago Tribune[/url]"]With a potentially loaded lineup, the Cubs also could roll the dice and let Felix Pie or second baseman Eric Patterson vie for the center-field job. Both are left-handed hitters with speed, which is what manager Lou Piniella craves.

 

Patterson, who turns 24 in April, was an All-Star at Double-A West Tenn last season before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he hit .358 in 17 games. The Cubs are asking Patterson to learn to play center because Mark DeRosa signed a three-year deal to play second.

 

"Eric is starting to get on a path of doing things he needs to do," said Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs director of player development. "He has learned how to bunt, he's running a lot more. He's a very good base-runner. And we've asked him to explore the opportunity to go take balls off the bat so it isn't foreign to him if he's asked to go out and play center field.

 

"Right now he's a second baseman, but he's a left-handed hitter who can do a lot of little things. We're going to try to make sure that if he's ready, if there is a spot that's maybe blocking him, he can go play another spot."

 

Only sense I can make of this is the Cubs are trying to increase EP's trade value by adding versatility to him. This would fit with Hendry's must-win-now-to-save-my job line of thinking. I have no doubt Hendry would sell the entire farm and probably his soul to win in 2007.

 

if so, die cubs die

[mg420]

"Eric is starting to get on a path of doing things he needs to do," said Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs director of player development. "He has learned how to bunt, he's running a lot more. He's a very good base-runner. And we've asked him to explore the opportunity to go take balls off the bat so it isn't foreign to him if he's asked to go out and play center field.

 

"Right now he's a second baseman, but he's a left-handed hitter who can do a lot of little things. We're going to try to make sure that if he's ready, if there is a spot that's maybe blocking him, he can go play another spot."

Yeah we signed a utility infielder so we can move one of our better prospects to another position. Brilliant. Gotta love how Jim Hendry's not held responsible for his actions as closely as he should.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-061204cubs,1,1236144.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

Oh and then the article goes on to talk about how the Cubs are excited to have two 40 stolen base threats at the top of the lineup in a few years in Pie and Patterson to go along with Soriano.

 

I'm so thrilled. I hate ignorant people.

 

me two

[CubinNY]

"Eric is starting to get on a path of doing things he needs to do," said Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs director of player development. "He has learned how to bunt, he's running a lot more. He's a very good base-runner. And we've asked him to explore the opportunity to go take balls off the bat so it isn't foreign to him if he's asked to go out and play center field.

 

"Right now he's a second baseman, but he's a left-handed hitter who can do a lot of little things. We're going to try to make sure that if he's ready, if there is a spot that's maybe blocking him, he can go play another spot."

Yeah we signed a utility infielder so we can move one of our better prospects to another position. Brilliant. Gotta love how Jim Hendry's not held responsible for his actions as closely as he should.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-061204cubs,1,1236144.story?coll=cs-home-headlines

 

Oh and then the article goes on to talk about how the Cubs are excited to have two 40 stolen base threats at the top of the lineup in a few years in Pie and Patterson to go along with Soriano.

 

I'm so thrilled. I hate ignorant people.

 

I agree. It hurts so much to see this crap happening. If they move Patterson from second permenantly he goes from a good prospect to a roster filler.

[Geech]

me two

 

I'm pretty sure that was intentional.

[weather2]

You can interpret this move several different ways.

 

1. Patterson's bat is major league ready. A versatile Patterson could provide an in-house solution to the left handed hitter search.

 

2. Patterson's defense at second base is poor enough that he will not be able to hold down a starting spot at second.

 

3. Patterson is not a good enough prospect to displace DeRosa. His best hope for a major league career (with the Cubs) is to play multiple positions.

[E.J.]

You can interpret this move several different ways.

 

1. Patterson's bat is major league ready. A versatile Patterson could provide an in-house solution to the left handed hitter search.

 

2. Patterson's defense at second base is poor enough that he will not be able to hold down a starting spot at second.

 

3. Patterson is not a good enough prospect to displace DeRosa. His best hope for a major league career (with the Cubs) is to play multiple positions.

 

I interpret it a different way. I think Hendry is looking to add EPatt to some trade he's working on, and this is a way to up Epatt's trade value a little bit by saying he's versatile enough to play more than one position.

[Balsa]

Doesn't sound like much. From the source of Rotoworld's blurb:

 

Chicago Tribune[/url]"]With a potentially loaded lineup, the Cubs also could roll the dice and let Felix Pie or second baseman Eric Patterson vie for the center-field job. Both are left-handed hitters with speed, which is what manager Lou Piniella craves.

 

Patterson, who turns 24 in April, was an All-Star at Double-A West Tenn last season before being promoted to Triple-A Iowa, where he hit .358 in 17 games. The Cubs are asking Patterson to learn to play center because Mark DeRosa signed a three-year deal to play second.

 

"Eric is starting to get on a path of doing things he needs to do," said Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs director of player development. "He has learned how to bunt, he's running a lot more. He's a very good base-runner. And we've asked him to explore the opportunity to go take balls off the bat so it isn't foreign to him if he's asked to go out and play center field.

 

"Right now he's a second baseman, but he's a left-handed hitter who can do a lot of little things. We're going to try to make sure that if he's ready, if there is a spot that's maybe blocking him, he can go play another spot."

 

Only sense I can make of this is the Cubs are trying to increase EP's trade value by adding versatility to him. This would fit with Hendry's must-win-now-to-save-my job line of thinking. I have no doubt Hendry would sell the entire farm and probably his soul to win in 2007.

 

if so, die cubs die

co-sign

[Jon]

EPatt still needs work on his approach at the plate (namely the strikeouts). He's not ready quite just yet.

 

EPatt was rated one of the top defensive position players in the minors recently, no?

 

And I sure as heck it isn't #3.

 

It could be a trade value thing, but if they're serious...

[mg420]

me two

 

I'm pretty sure that was intentional.

 

i tend to find irony one of the more humorous literary decives...

[TruffleShuffle]

The guy has played 2B for five years at least, including two in the Cubs' organization. Now they're going to try him out at another position? What's the point? DeRosa is 31 and no better than average. Patterson is a good prospect and might be better than DeRosa in 2008. You can't block a potential second baseman of the future with a stopgap type of player.

 

What should be done - keep Patterson at 2B. Play DeRosa this year and give Patterson a full year at 2B in Iowa. If he does well and has an adequate spring in 2008, give him the 2B job with the big club - assuming DeRosa doesn't go wild in 2007. If he bombs (he won't obviously), then you've got a guy who can play everyday 2B already on the roster in DeRosa. If Patterson plays well, then you've got a solid utility guy in DeRosa and a good, cheap second baseman.

 

This probably makes too much sense for the Cubs to consider it.

[Geech]

The guy has played 2B for five years at least, including two in the Cubs' organization. Now they're going to try him out at another position? What's the point? DeRosa is 31 and no better than average. Patterson is a good prospect and might be better than DeRosa in 2008. You can't block a potential second baseman of the future with a stopgap type of player.

 

What should be done - keep Patterson at 2B. Play DeRosa this year and give Patterson a full year at 2B in Iowa. If he does well and has an adequate spring in 2008, give him the 2B job with the big club - assuming DeRosa doesn't go wild in 2007. If he bombs (he won't obviously), then you've got a guy who can play everyday 2B already on the roster in DeRosa. If Patterson plays well, then you've got a solid utility guy in DeRosa and a good, cheap second baseman.

 

This probably makes too much sense for the Cubs to consider it.

 

I think Patterson probably has a chance of being a better second baseman that DeRosa in 2007.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

He's had some defensive problems despite whatever ratings he got from the publications.

 

Those certainly weren't big enough to move him to the OF, especially considering his rebound in the AFL.

 

This looks like a case where the Cubs would like him to learn to play OF a bit because they expect DeRosa to block him at second base (meh) and want to get his bat up sooner than later.

[TruffleShuffle]

The guy has played 2B for five years at least, including two in the Cubs' organization. Now they're going to try him out at another position? What's the point? DeRosa is 31 and no better than average. Patterson is a good prospect and might be better than DeRosa in 2008. You can't block a potential second baseman of the future with a stopgap type of player.

 

What should be done - keep Patterson at 2B. Play DeRosa this year and give Patterson a full year at 2B in Iowa. If he does well and has an adequate spring in 2008, give him the 2B job with the big club - assuming DeRosa doesn't go wild in 2007. If he bombs (he won't obviously), then you've got a guy who can play everyday 2B already on the roster in DeRosa. If Patterson plays well, then you've got a solid utility guy in DeRosa and a good, cheap second baseman.

 

This probably makes too much sense for the Cubs to consider it.

 

I think Patterson probably has a chance of being a better second baseman that DeRosa in 2007.

 

he might, but I didn't really bother making that argument since DeRosa is obviously going to be the 2B all of this year, assuming he's healthy.

[Omar]

Lets hope his fielding follows his brother's rather than his bat..

[abuck1220]

With a potentially loaded lineup

 

that's adorable.

[sunnydoo]

Just like his big bro!

 

Kill me now then please.

[Mizzou]

That's odd, considering that Pie is close to being ready for the big leagues.

[NCCubFan]

I have no doubt Hendry would sell the entire farm and probably his soul to win in 2007.

He'd sell anything but his Krispy Kreme stock. (Sorry, I had to get in the act. :D )

[Northsider]

Err, trying to get in Hendry's head and most definitely not suggesting anything, . . .

 

Pie to Florida/Colorado/Angels for pitching

Jacque to somewhere for pitching

Epatt -> Cubs CF for 2007

Sign Lilly/Meche?

 

I don't like that plan at all.