2007 Spring Training Discussion

[Coach C]

I never thought Ben Howland looked like Jason Alexander till today, and now I'll think of it everytime I see him. Damn you all!

 

:lol:

 

At least he's doing a good job on UCLA.

 

Anyways, back on topic, any of those 11, has a outside shot of making the bigs?

[sethuel1]

Mike Fontenot is a a limited talent midget.

says the guy that loved Jose Macias

[wvcbxl]

Anyways, back on topic, any of those 11, has a outside shot of making the bigs?

 

In 2007? I doubt it.

If any of those play for the Cubs in the upcoming season, it means a lot of guys will be on the DL again.

[davearm]

So much for Mike Fontenot"s future as a utilityman. I am glad to see Chris Walker being given a chance to show his ability in ST.

Mike Fontenot never had a future as a utilityman, because he doesn't do any of the things you'd want a utility guy to do.

 

He can't really play anywhere other than 2B (ruling out the utility part), his defense is average at best (ruling him out as a late-innings defensive replacement), he doesn't run particularly well (scratch pinch-running).

 

If he can't hit enough to stick in MLB as an everyday 2B (or at least a platoon 2B), then he's out of luck. It would appear that with the Cubs anyway, he's out of luck.

[goonys evil twin]

So much for Mike Fontenot"s future as a utilityman. I am glad to see Chris Walker being given a chance to show his ability in ST.

Mike Fontenot never had a future as a utilityman, because he doesn't do any of the things you'd want a utility guy to do.

 

He can't really play anywhere other than 2B (ruling out the utility part), his defense is average at best (ruling him out as a late-innings defensive replacement), he doesn't run particularly well (scratch pinch-running).

 

If he can't hit enough to stick in MLB as an everyday 2B (or at least a platoon 2B), then he's out of luck. It would appear that with the Cubs anyway, he's out of luck.

 

I don't see why you think defensive replacement and pinch running are the only uses for a bench player. If he can hit enough to be a quality pinch hitter, then a player is worth keeping around. A bench player's greatest asset is his bat. There's practically an unlimited supply of all glove no stick guys that can be brought in, there aren't many that can hit. I have no idea if Fontenot could, but his minor league numbers suggest he at least stands a chance. If he came close to replicating his minor league numbers in the majors (obviously not a guarantee), he'd be a perfectly suitable bench option.

 

But I'm interested in this Kinkade guy on the bench. Career .350 OBP in the majors, 102 OPS+, and solid minor league numbers. With minimal compensation, a guy like this has a chance to provide some help from the bench.

[davearm]

So much for Mike Fontenot"s future as a utilityman. I am glad to see Chris Walker being given a chance to show his ability in ST.

Mike Fontenot never had a future as a utilityman, because he doesn't do any of the things you'd want a utility guy to do.

 

He can't really play anywhere other than 2B (ruling out the utility part), his defense is average at best (ruling him out as a late-innings defensive replacement), he doesn't run particularly well (scratch pinch-running).

 

If he can't hit enough to stick in MLB as an everyday 2B (or at least a platoon 2B), then he's out of luck. It would appear that with the Cubs anyway, he's out of luck.

 

I don't see why you think defensive replacement and pinch running are the only uses for a bench player. If he can hit enough to be a quality pinch hitter, then a player is worth keeping around. A bench player's greatest asset is his bat. There's practically an unlimited supply of all glove no stick guys that can be brought in, there aren't many that can hit. I have no idea if Fontenot could, but his minor league numbers suggest he at least stands a chance. If he came close to replicating his minor league numbers in the majors (obviously not a guarantee), he'd be a perfectly suitable bench option.

 

But I'm interested in this Kinkade guy on the bench. Career .350 OBP in the majors, 102 OPS+, and solid minor league numbers. With minimal compensation, a guy like this has a chance to provide some help from the bench.

It's splitting hairs I suppose, but a "utility" player is different than a "bench" player.

 

Theriot is a utility player -- a guy that offers lots of flexibility and can do a lot of different things well, but isn't the first guy you'd look to in a pinch hitting situation. Guys like Daryle Ward and Randall Simon and are the polar opposite -- great PH options that are barely passable in the field and on the bases.

 

I don't see Fontenot providing nearly enough utility to be a utility guy.

 

And he doesn't offer the kind of power you'd want in a guy that is primarily a pinch-hitter.

 

So IMO that leaves his only real chance at a MLB career is as an everyday (or perhaps platoon) 2B. He doesn't earn his keep in any other role.

[BigbadB]

So much for Mike Fontenot"s future as a utilityman. I am glad to see Chris Walker being given a chance to show his ability in ST.

Mike Fontenot never had a future as a utilityman, because he doesn't do any of the things you'd want a utility guy to do.

 

He can't really play anywhere other than 2B (ruling out the utility part), his defense is average at best (ruling him out as a late-innings defensive replacement), he doesn't run particularly well (scratch pinch-running).

 

If he can't hit enough to stick in MLB as an everyday 2B (or at least a platoon 2B), then he's out of luck. It would appear that with the Cubs anyway, he's out of luck.

 

I don't see why you think defensive replacement and pinch running are the only uses for a bench player. If he can hit enough to be a quality pinch hitter, then a player is worth keeping around. A bench player's greatest asset is his bat. There's practically an unlimited supply of all glove no stick guys that can be brought in, there aren't many that can hit. I have no idea if Fontenot could, but his minor league numbers suggest he at least stands a chance. If he came close to replicating his minor league numbers in the majors (obviously not a guarantee), he'd be a perfectly suitable bench option.

 

But I'm interested in this Kinkade guy on the bench. Career .350 OBP in the majors, 102 OPS+, and solid minor league numbers. With minimal compensation, a guy like this has a chance to provide some help from the bench.

 

Yeah, I agree with Kinkade. Sounds like a good bench guy. I don't see any reason at all to keep Cedeno on the big league roster. He either needs to work on his development in AAA at SS or get cut loose. If he can't hit his weight at the major league level playing everyday, I see no hope of any kind of improvement playing sporadically as a bench guy.

 

McGehee intrigues me as well. That could end up being the battle for that last roster spot in ST, McGehee vs. Kinkade.

[hardcorecubfan]

Didn't want to start a whole new thread for one question, and it kind of /almost doesn't deal with ST.

 

Why aren't the rest of the months tickets on sale and when do they go on sale?

[Chris]

From the Cubs:

 

The Chicago Cubs today announced its spring training broadcast schedule, which will feature a club-record 14 games televised by Cubs rightsholders (10 by Comcast SportsNet Chicago and four by WGN-TV). In addition, WGN Radio will carry 10 spring games.

 

The first spring game to be televised by WGN-TV will feature the Cubs against the Chicago White Sox, March 4 at 2 p.m. CT from HoHoKam Park in Mesa, Ariz. Comcast SportsNet Chicago’s first telecast will be March 9 at 2 p.m. when the Cubs host the San Diego Padres.

 

The Cubs’ spring schedule opens March 1 as the Cubs will host San Francisco at HoHoKam Park.

 

DAY/DATE OPPONENT SITE

 

Thursday, March 1 San Francisco Giants Mesa*

 

Friday, March 2 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Mesa

 

Saturday, March 3 Oakland Athletics Phoenix

 

Sunday, March 4 Chicago White Sox Mesa*+

 

Monday, March 5 Seattle Mariners Peoria

 

Tuesday, March 6 Milwaukee Brewers Mesa

 

Wednesday, March 7 Oakland Athletics Mesa

 

Thursday, March 8 San Diego Padres Peoria

 

Friday, March 9 San Diego Padres (split squad) Mesa^

 

Texas Rangers (split squad) Surprise

 

Saturday, March 10 Kansas City Royals Surprise*^

 

Sunday, March 11 Milwaukee Brewers Mesa*

 

Monday, March 12 San Francisco Giants Scottsdale^

 

Tuesday, March 13 Arizona Diamondbacks Tucson

 

Wednesday, March 14 OFF

 

Thursday, March 15 Seattle Mariners Mesa

 

Friday, March 16 Chicago White Sox Tucson

 

Saturday, March 17 San Diego Padres Mesa*+

 

Sunday, March 18 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Tempe*^

 

Monday, March 19 Seattle Mariners (split squad) Mesa

 

Milwaukee Brewers (split squad) Maryvale

 

Tuesday, March 20 Colorado Rockies Tucson

 

Wednesday, March 21 Texas Rangers Mesa^

 

Thursday, March 22 San Diego Padres Peoria^

 

Friday, March 23 San Francisco Giants Mesa

 

Saturday, March 24 San Francisco Giants Scottsdale*^

 

Sunday, March 25 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Mesa*+

 

Monday, March 26 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Tempe^

 

Tuesday, March 27 Kansas City Royals Mesa

 

Wednesday, March 28 Colorado Rockies Mesa

 

Thursday, March 29 Arizona Diamondbacks Mesa (12:05 PM MST)^

 

Friday, March 30 Seattle Mariners Las Vegas (7:15 PM PST)*+

 

Saturday, March 31 Seattle Mariners Las Vegas (1:05 PM PST)*^

 

*WGN Radio +WGN TV ^Comcast SportsNet Chicago

[mspcanes1]

Mike Fontenot is a a limited talent midget.

 

fontenot is a friend of mine from lsu. i'll admit he hasn't panned out in the bigs, but he's got more talent in his pinkie toe then you have in your whole body. he might've had one of the best seasons by a freshman in college baseball history...but you're probably right, his talent is limited

[mg420]

Mike Fontenot is a a limited talent midget.

 

fontenot is a friend of mine from lsu. i'll admit he hasn't panned out in the bigs, but he's got more talent in his pinkie toe then you have in your whole body. he might've had one of the best seasons by a freshman in college baseball history...but you're probably right, his talent is limited

 

who's talent isnt limited? many guys have gone on to have productive ML career's with limited talent but work that much harder to make up for it. i wonder how many 5 tool players who were drafted the year eckstein was are now selling insurance.