Thoughts on Pie

[TruffleShuffle]

Let me rephrase slightly, to be more specific:

 

By what projection is Pie estimated to be better than Jones over the couse of this season?

 

i can't speak for cheapseats, but i do know that PECOTA projects Pie to be better than Jones.

 

Jones -- .284/.343/.473 VORP: 12.3 WARP: 2.8 EqA: .279

 

Pie -- .288/.342/.480 VORP: 25.3 WARP: 5.0 EqA: .283

 

I have a hard time believing that a player with questionable plate discipline will be better in his first year in the bigs than he was in his first year at Iowa.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Let me rephrase slightly, to be more specific:

 

By what projection is Pie estimated to be better than Jones over the couse of this season?

 

i can't speak for cheapseats, but i do know that PECOTA projects Pie to be better than Jones.

 

Jones -- .284/.343/.473 VORP: 12.3 WARP: 2.8 EqA: .279

 

Pie -- .288/.342/.480 VORP: 25.3 WARP: 5.0 EqA: .283

 

I have a hard time believing that a player with questionable plate discipline will be better in his first year in the bigs than he was in his first year at Iowa.

 

He was much better as the season progressed. Over the last 3 months his OPS was approaching .900.

[cheapseats]

Let me rephrase slightly, to be more specific:

 

By what projection is Pie estimated to be better than Jones over the couse of this season?

 

i can't speak for cheapseats, but i do know that PECOTA projects Pie to be better than Jones.

 

Jones -- .284/.343/.473 VORP: 12.3 WARP: 2.8 EqA: .279

 

Pie -- .288/.342/.480 VORP: 25.3 WARP: 5.0 EqA: .283

 

I have a hard time believing that a player with questionable plate discipline will be better in his first year in the bigs than he was in his first year at Iowa.

 

I have a hard time believing your weather forecasts. :evil:

[TruffleShuffle]

He was much better as the season progressed. Over the last 3 months his OPS was approaching .900.

 

that's fine... I just think a player with his skill set will struggle to adapt at the big league level, at least right away

[soccer10k]

I think the long-term plan is for Pie to bat 2nd, for Soriano and Pie to be the dynamic duo at the top of the order in front of Lee and Ramirez. And if Pie starts heating up this year, I think they'll put him there. Why the hell not? Until then, the 2 void will be held by whomever is hot at the moment (currently Theriot -- who, like Neifi and Ronny before him, will probably turn into a pumpkin at some point, sticking us with Izturis in the 8 hole again.)

 

But it'll be okay, because those top four -- Soriano, Pie, Lee, Ramirez -- will one day be carved in stone as the lethal top half of the Chicago Cubs lineup for years to come. It's just a matter of when. If God loves the Cubs as much as I think He does, it will be soon. :roll:

 

I would think the best case scenario they envision has Pie adding more power and being the 5-6 hitter behind Lee and Ramirez(or splitting them up, whatever). Hopefully Lou has the sense to put Murton at the 2 spot when Theriot's BABIP fortune runs out.

 

That would require Lou to actually start playing Murton on a regular basis.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Mmmmmm Pie.

[killthegoat06]

Mmmmmm Pie.

:lol:

[Jazz]

The only thing I dislike about Pie is how his delicious name always makes me crave some delicious baked goods every time I see it, and I can't eat said baked goods due to my diet. DAMN YOU, PIE!!!

 

gross. Pie means foot in spanish. You like toe jam?

 

Does 'Felix' mean 'fleet of'? Cause that would be awesome.

 

i wish it did but it actually means "happy, or prosperous"

 

so one hand it could mean happy feet, or prosperous feet. Either way, the name fits :)

[NCCubFan]

Mmmmmm Pie.

Cherry pie. :D

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_457122.jpghttp://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_429712.jpg

[Ivy Walls]

IIRC, lou has at the very least hinted around that Pie was going to stick with the ball club even after Guzman gets called up. And I think that most people around here are in agreement with me thinking he should, but i was just wondering what most people really thought he could bring to the table THIS year.

 

The homerun certainly got my hopes up last night, but I'm basically hoping for a pretty decent #8 hitter with great defense that can gradually improve at the plate. Anyways, heres to another day we hopefully will see murton and won't see Izturiz starting.

 

Cubs roster is unbalanced with or without Pie, (Jones, Floyd & Ward) are essentially taking up one spot, (corner OF'er from left but), but circumstances will dictate whether Pie remains after Guzman's call up.

 

The question is whether Saturday's and hopefully today's performance of Jones in CF will engineer an early season trade or will the Cubs have to showcase Jones through May to get rid of him.

 

If-I-where-king-for-a-day(IIWKFAD) I would find a way to trade Jones for for Reggie Sanders of KC where playing Floyd in RF could be platooned and then at least Cubs have an experienced RF'er and one who is experienced. What to do with Murton is the question?

[questionmarkgrace]

Sanders might be okay but he'll definitely be injured at some point leaving murton and floyd in right. Somethings got to give for sure and I look for Hendry to make the least controversial move and send Cedeno back to AAA, thats assuming he has options I really dont know.

 

By the way how has theriot handled short I havent been able to see any games this week?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Cubs roster is unbalanced with or without Pie, (Jones, Floyd & Ward) are essentially taking up one spot, (corner OF'er from left but), but circumstances will dictate whether Pie remains after Guzman's call up.

 

The question is whether Saturday's and hopefully today's performance of Jones in CF will engineer an early season trade or will the Cubs have to showcase Jones through May to get rid of him.

 

If-I-where-king-for-a-day(IIWKFAD) I would find a way to trade Jones for for Reggie Sanders of KC where playing Floyd in RF could be platooned and then at least Cubs have an experienced RF'er and one who is experienced. What to do with Murton is the question?

 

How about not bringing in another guy limited to playing the position 3 are already fighting for? He's 39 and hasn't exactly been the poster child for health.

[killthegoat06]

IIRC, lou has at the very least hinted around that Pie was going to stick with the ball club even after Guzman gets called up. And I think that most people around here are in agreement with me thinking he should, but i was just wondering what most people really thought he could bring to the table THIS year.

 

The homerun certainly got my hopes up last night, but I'm basically hoping for a pretty decent #8 hitter with great defense that can gradually improve at the plate. Anyways, heres to another day we hopefully will see murton and won't see Izturiz starting.

 

Cubs roster is unbalanced with or without Pie, (Jones, Floyd & Ward) are essentially taking up one spot, (corner OF'er from left but), but circumstances will dictate whether Pie remains after Guzman's call up.

 

The question is whether Saturday's and hopefully today's performance of Jones in CF will engineer an early season trade or will the Cubs have to showcase Jones through May to get rid of him.

 

If-I-where-king-for-a-day(IIWKFAD) I would find a way to trade Jones for for Reggie Sanders of KC where playing Floyd in RF could be platooned and then at least Cubs have an experienced RF'er and one who is experienced. What to do with Murton is the question?

 

 

Trade Jones! His stock has never been higher after Saturday!

[weis21]

By the way how has theriot handled short I havent been able to see any games this week?

 

well i didn't see saturdays game (kicks closest fox), but from what i've seen he has been more than adequate. He's made all the routine plays that I can recall, however the only thing is his range maybe a little limited. When edmonds got gunned down by soriano friday night, theriot made a diving play but came up a few inches short. Maybe Izturis would have gotten to it in the infield, maybe not. Overall though, i think he will do just fine defensively.

[Rob]

Pie, Jones, and Murton all will produce about the same amount of offensive value given a full season of plate appearances. Floyd is a better hitter, but has some injury concerns.

 

Pie and Murton are under club control for a while longer... and given the difference between Jones and Floyd with their comprable contracts, it's better to be rid of Jones.

[muntjack]

I really think we have to put the idea of Murton being an everday player for the Cubs behind us. We just don't have enough left-handed hitters.

Between Jones, Floyd and Pie, two of them will ALWAYS be in the lineup when facing RHP. Not having any lefties in the infield is hurting us.

[Jazz]

I really think we have to put the idea of Murton being an everday player for the Cubs behind us. We just don't have enough left-handed hitters.

Between Jones, Floyd and Pie, two of them will ALWAYS be in the lineup when facing RHP. Not having any lefties in the infield is hurting us.

 

i find that to be a terrible idea of thinking

 

being left handed is great, but means nothing if you cant hit lefties.

 

 

Murton's career line vs. Lefties = .329 AVG .404 OBP .512 SLG

 

Jones' career line vs. Lefties = .226 AVG .280 OBP .370 SLG

 

I dont see the argument being made here?

[CubColtPacer]

I really think we have to put the idea of Murton being an everday player for the Cubs behind us. We just don't have enough left-handed hitters.

Between Jones, Floyd and Pie, two of them will ALWAYS be in the lineup when facing RHP. Not having any lefties in the infield is hurting us.

 

i find that to be a terrible idea of thinking

 

being left handed is great, but means nothing if you cant hit lefties.

 

 

Murton's career line vs. Lefties = .329 AVG .404 OBP .512 SLG

 

Jones' career line vs. Lefties = .226 AVG .280 OBP .370 SLG

 

I dont see the argument being made here?

 

He said against RHP, not LHP. Murton will obviously play every time a LHP is on the mound.

 

Also, I don't think he's trying to say what should happen, just about why it is happening. It is probably true that if the Cubs had a left-handed bat in their infield that they would be more apt to play Murton. Whether that's a right approach to take or a completely wrong approach to take, it probably is their approach.

[Yestheydo]

It is probably true that if the Cubs had a left-handed bat in their infield that they would be more apt to play Murton. Whether that's a right approach to take or a completely wrong approach to take, it probably is their approach.

I agree it probably is their approach, and it may not be that bad an idea. In 2004 they had a pretty powerful though predominantly righty lineup with Sosa, Alou, Ramirez, Lee, Barrett. Any time they faced a tough RHP (or mediocre one having a good day), they were practically helpless; I distinctly remember Todd Walker almost singlehandedly beating Clemens in Houston one night with two homers. Arguably, more lefty pop will make them less vulnerable to the types of pitchers who are toughest on right handed hitters and can shut down Murton way more easily than someone like Floyd or even Jones. We Murton lovers need to face the facts: if he were a lefty, he'd be perfect. But he's not, so he's just not a good fit for the Cubs right now.

[muntjack]

Just for the record, I was referring to the organization's philosophy, not my own. It's been that way for some time, and if it doesn't change for a very good, young, cheap hitter, then it's time to realize that it's not going to change at all.

 

I guess I'm just in the "accept it and move on" phase. I hate seeing Matt rot on the bench, and he has nothing left to prove in the minors. We could get something substantial for a Murton/Marmol package...