Some Trib CF targets

[KatJ]

That .335 SLG is Pierre-like.

 

yeah, but he's much more patient.

 

I do like Brady---he's gritty and comes to play every day. His defense looked to me to be very good.

 

But as the SLG indicates, he's a singles hitter

 

Who cares??? If a guy can get on base, that's 90% of the battle. There's enough power in the lineup from the corner IF, C, and the projected LF.

 

Honestly, when are people going to stop falling in love with bashers who K more than they reach base?

 

:steps off soapbox:

 

Because Brady Clark bashes and K's more than he reaches base?

 

An OBP near .350 takes a fair bit of sting out of that. But granted he's not worth the $$ Hendry shelled out for Pierre.

 

You missed the point. Clark doesn't bash and he doesn't K a lot.

 

Sorry, sarcasm is lost on me this week, for some reason. :shrug:

[CubinNY]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

[soapy]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

It really has been a strange off-season to me. Hendry is clearly throwing around tons of money, but he still seems to be ignoring the teams biggest problem; they can't get on base. Soriano is nice and all, but he doesn't help in that department. Jones actually puts up some reasonable numbers, and now he's (allegedly) trying to move him instead of trying him in CF where his numbers would be pretty respectable. Pitching-wise, he's again spent a truckload of money, but it's spent on a fly-ball pitcher (in the NL Central?) and a guy coming off a 6+ ERA after he failed with two of the more respected pitching coaches in the game.

 

In the meantime, he's (again, allegedly) willing to rely on a defense-only SS and CFer? A CF who he may very well be rushing to the bigs. That doesn't really fit into the whole "win-now" mold. Very strange.

 

It's frustrating because I want to get excited about this money getting thrown around, but it just seems like they're not spending it on the right guys.

[BigbadB]

Wonder what kind of relationship Piniella and Rothschild will have regarding the pitching staff?

[goonys evil twin]

Wonder what kind of relationship Piniella and Rothschild will have regarding the pitching staff?

 

It'll be platonic.

[erik316wttn]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

 

I think the situations have a chance to be quite different.

 

Patterson had less than 1000 pro PA before his first callup.

Patterson skipped high A ball.

Patterson had only a partial season of AAA under his belt (and it was really bad) - and his numbers regressed as he got promoted.

Patterson got the yoyo treatment, both in terms of callup, and usage. He sat the bench a lot as well.

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

Felix has well over 2000 pro PA. He's been in rookie ball, low A, high A, AA and AAA (with an extremely brief stop in short season ball). Felix's numbers improved at each level from low A to AA, and his AAA numbers improved as the season went along. Pie has had professional developmental people for 5 years, compared to Corey's 2.5.

 

If the Cubs callup Pie, and hit him 7th everyday this season, with a couple rest days against really tough lefties and/or when he's in a funk, I don't think he will necessarily have teh same fate as Patterson.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

 

I think the situations have a chance to be quite different.

 

Patterson had less than 1000 pro PA before his first callup.

Patterson skipped high A ball.

Patterson had only a partial season of AAA under his belt (and it was really bad) - and his numbers regressed as he got promoted.

Patterson got the yoyo treatment, both in terms of callup, and usage. He sat the bench a lot as well.

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

Felix has well over 2000 pro PA. He's been in rookie ball, low A, high A, AA and AAA (with an extremely brief stop in short season ball). Felix's numbers improved at each level from low A to AA, and his AAA numbers improved as the season went along. Pie has had professional developmental people for 5 years, compared to Corey's 2.5.

 

If the Cubs callup Pie, and hit him 7th everyday this season, with a couple rest days against really tough lefties and/or when he's in a funk, I don't think he will necessarily have teh same fate as Patterson.

 

Thank you. Agreed on all counts.

[C.C.]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

 

I think the situations have a chance to be quite different.

 

Patterson had less than 1000 pro PA before his first callup.

Patterson skipped high A ball.

Patterson had only a partial season of AAA under his belt (and it was really bad) - and his numbers regressed as he got promoted.

Patterson got the yoyo treatment, both in terms of callup, and usage. He sat the bench a lot as well.

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

Felix has well over 2000 pro PA. He's been in rookie ball, low A, high A, AA and AAA (with an extremely brief stop in short season ball). Felix's numbers improved at each level from low A to AA, and his AAA numbers improved as the season went along. Pie has had professional developmental people for 5 years, compared to Corey's 2.5.

 

If the Cubs callup Pie, and hit him 7th everyday this season, with a couple rest days against really tough lefties and/or when he's in a funk, I don't think he will necessarily have teh same fate as Patterson.

 

On top of that he's won three championships at the minor league level.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

 

I think the situations have a chance to be quite different.

 

Patterson had less than 1000 pro PA before his first callup.

Patterson skipped high A ball.

Patterson had only a partial season of AAA under his belt (and it was really bad) - and his numbers regressed as he got promoted.

Patterson got the yoyo treatment, both in terms of callup, and usage. He sat the bench a lot as well.

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

Felix has well over 2000 pro PA. He's been in rookie ball, low A, high A, AA and AAA (with an extremely brief stop in short season ball). Felix's numbers improved at each level from low A to AA, and his AAA numbers improved as the season went along. Pie has had professional developmental people for 5 years, compared to Corey's 2.5.

 

If the Cubs callup Pie, and hit him 7th everyday this season, with a couple rest days against really tough lefties and/or when he's in a funk, I don't think he will necessarily have teh same fate as Patterson.

 

On top of that he's won three championships at the minor league level.

What does that have to do with anything?

[C.C.]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

 

I think the situations have a chance to be quite different.

 

Patterson had less than 1000 pro PA before his first callup.

Patterson skipped high A ball.

Patterson had only a partial season of AAA under his belt (and it was really bad) - and his numbers regressed as he got promoted.

Patterson got the yoyo treatment, both in terms of callup, and usage. He sat the bench a lot as well.

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

Felix has well over 2000 pro PA. He's been in rookie ball, low A, high A, AA and AAA (with an extremely brief stop in short season ball). Felix's numbers improved at each level from low A to AA, and his AAA numbers improved as the season went along. Pie has had professional developmental people for 5 years, compared to Corey's 2.5.

 

If the Cubs callup Pie, and hit him 7th everyday this season, with a couple rest days against really tough lefties and/or when he's in a funk, I don't think he will necessarily have teh same fate as Patterson.

 

On top of that he's won three championships at the minor league level.

What does that have to do with anything?

 

I have no idea. Just wanted to throw it out there.

[rawaction]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

 

I think the situations have a chance to be quite different.

 

Patterson had less than 1000 pro PA before his first callup.

Patterson skipped high A ball.

Patterson had only a partial season of AAA under his belt (and it was really bad) - and his numbers regressed as he got promoted.

Patterson got the yoyo treatment, both in terms of callup, and usage. He sat the bench a lot as well.

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

Felix has well over 2000 pro PA. He's been in rookie ball, low A, high A, AA and AAA (with an extremely brief stop in short season ball). Felix's numbers improved at each level from low A to AA, and his AAA numbers improved as the season went along. Pie has had professional developmental people for 5 years, compared to Corey's 2.5.

 

If the Cubs callup Pie, and hit him 7th everyday this season, with a couple rest days against really tough lefties and/or when he's in a funk, I don't think he will necessarily have teh same fate as Patterson.

 

On top of that he's won three championships at the minor league level.

What does that have to do with anything?

 

I have no idea. Just wanted to throw it out there.

 

Patterson won a championship in AA in 1 of his 2 full seasons in the minors. I believe Lansing was the runner up in his other full minor league season.

[davearm]

With Pie, I'm not too concerned that making him the everyday starter right out of the gate this year will somehow ruin him forever.

 

What I'm worried about is that Pie could turn into this year's Brian Anderson, and hit under .200 for the first four months of the year.

 

I'm not real confident that this Cubs' lineup could withstand that sort of void for such a prolonged period.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

With Pie, I'm not too concerned that making him the everyday starter right out of the gate this year will somehow ruin him forever.

 

What I'm worried about is that Pie could turn into this year's Brian Anderson, and hit under .200 for the first four months of the year.

 

I'm not real confident that this Cubs' lineup could withstand that sort of void for such a prolonged period.

 

They could if DeRosa plays like he did before September and SS was upgraded with anyone.

[C.C.]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

 

I think the situations have a chance to be quite different.

 

Patterson had less than 1000 pro PA before his first callup.

Patterson skipped high A ball.

Patterson had only a partial season of AAA under his belt (and it was really bad) - and his numbers regressed as he got promoted.

Patterson got the yoyo treatment, both in terms of callup, and usage. He sat the bench a lot as well.

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

Felix has well over 2000 pro PA. He's been in rookie ball, low A, high A, AA and AAA (with an extremely brief stop in short season ball). Felix's numbers improved at each level from low A to AA, and his AAA numbers improved as the season went along. Pie has had professional developmental people for 5 years, compared to Corey's 2.5.

 

If the Cubs callup Pie, and hit him 7th everyday this season, with a couple rest days against really tough lefties and/or when he's in a funk, I don't think he will necessarily have teh same fate as Patterson.

 

On top of that he's won three championships at the minor league level.

What does that have to do with anything?

 

I have no idea. Just wanted to throw it out there.

 

Patterson won a championship in AA in 1 of his 2 full seasons in the minors. I believe Lansing was the runner up in his other full minor league season.

 

It was just a observation. Gimme a break! I'm still drunk from last night.

[Twiggy]

Unless Pie has a crazy spring training I hope management keeps him at Triple A atleast for half a season if not all of next year. Don't rush him and hurt his confidence.

[biittner77]

On top of that he's won three championships at the minor league level.

 

Last year he got the chance to play on a bad AAA team thus preparing him to start for the 2007 Cubs

[biittner77]

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

One of the added benefits of bringing in Soriano is it allows the Cubs to permanently scrap the idea of doing the same thing to Pie ie. shoe horning him into the leadoff role.

[Magnetic Curses]

in summation, brady clark would be cheap to acquire player wise. a mid-level prospect would do it. he'd likely put up a superior OBP to any CFer we've had in the past 3 years and he can play anywhere in the OF. he's decent defensively and his contract is up at the end of the season. a perfect stop-gap to pie.

 

if hendry wanted to bring pie along, he could platoon him with clark as well.

[nilodnayr]

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

One of the added benefits of bringing in Soriano is it allows the Cubs to permanently scrap the idea of doing the same thing to Pie ie. shoe horning him into the leadoff role.

 

Yes, because we are already putting a middle of the order hitter at leadoff!!! Hooray for idiocy.

[davearm]

With Pie, I'm not too concerned that making him the everyday starter right out of the gate this year will somehow ruin him forever.

 

What I'm worried about is that Pie could turn into this year's Brian Anderson, and hit under .200 for the first four months of the year.

 

I'm not real confident that this Cubs' lineup could withstand that sort of void for such a prolonged period.

 

They could if DeRosa plays like he did before September and SS was upgraded with anyone.

Well as we all know deep down, the only realistic "upgrade" available at SS is for a healthy Izturis to flourish under Gerald Perry's influence.

[hawkeyecub]

I'm not convinced the Cubs have a CF target.

 

This is perhaps the most ridicilous offseason of the Hendry era.

 

They may just rush Pie.

 

They shouldn't rush Pie. Because, you know, rushing Patterson had such fantastic results.

 

I think the situations have a chance to be quite different.

 

Patterson had less than 1000 pro PA before his first callup.

Patterson skipped high A ball.

Patterson had only a partial season of AAA under his belt (and it was really bad) - and his numbers regressed as he got promoted.

Patterson got the yoyo treatment, both in terms of callup, and usage. He sat the bench a lot as well.

And I believe the biggest problem was that when he was drafted, they said "despite the fact that he's a fast CF, he's not a leadoff hitter, he's more of a middle of the order guy", and then they let silly old school managers try to turn him into a slappy leadoff hitter.

 

Felix has well over 2000 pro PA. He's been in rookie ball, low A, high A, AA and AAA (with an extremely brief stop in short season ball). Felix's numbers improved at each level from low A to AA, and his AAA numbers improved as the season went along. Pie has had professional developmental people for 5 years, compared to Corey's 2.5.

 

If the Cubs callup Pie, and hit him 7th everyday this season, with a couple rest days against really tough lefties and/or when he's in a funk, I don't think he will necessarily have teh same fate as Patterson.

 

I simply do not understand why people continue to ignore all of this. Playing him everyday in CF this year is not rushing him that much. He's had a chance to play at each level and because of his production, he's earned promotions. That combined with how early he started leads you to why he's been so young at AA and AAA.

It's not like they were just trying to get him through the system quickly and elevating him without results.

 

As you said he hasn't been jerked up and down and had his role change as he went between levels. They really aren't that comparable at all.

[goonys evil twin]

I simply do not understand why people continue to ignore all of this. Playing him everyday in CF this year is not rushing him that much. He's had a chance to play at each level and because of his production, he's earned promotions. That combined with how early he started leads you to why he's been so young at AA and AAA.

It's not like they were just trying to get him through the system quickly and elevating him without results.

 

As you said he hasn't been jerked up and down and had his role change as he went between levels. They really aren't that comparable at all.

 

All that being said. I'd prefer it if they didn't have to call him up this April.

[hawkeyecub]

I simply do not understand why people continue to ignore all of this. Playing him everyday in CF this year is not rushing him that much. He's had a chance to play at each level and because of his production, he's earned promotions. That combined with how early he started leads you to why he's been so young at AA and AAA.

It's not like they were just trying to get him through the system quickly and elevating him without results.

 

As you said he hasn't been jerked up and down and had his role change as he went between levels. They really aren't that comparable at all.

 

All that being said. I'd prefer it if they didn't have to call him up this April.

 

Same here, I've been in favor of a short-term stopgap or just hanging onto Jacque in CF, at least to begin the year.

But if he does get the everyday job and gets consistent time at the bottom of the order, he won't have been rushed all that much and won't be doomed to follow Corey's path.