Suntimes: Cubs seek righty bat

[Schwarber Fan]

PITTSBURGH -- Another rough day scoring runs, in particular against a left-hander, has the Cubs looking even a little harder at trying to add a right-handed hitter to the roster before they resume play Friday.

 

The Cubs had a 4-3 road trip against bad teams in Washington and Pittsburgh but blew a chance to gain at least another game on first-place Milwaukee in the division-- mostly because they were held to six runs combined in the three losses.

 

Link

[Tracer Bullet]

This is incredible. I absolutely love it. One of Murton's several flaws, apparently, is that he's right-handed. So we have to send him down so Floyd can play more in part b/c we're a "right-handed heavy lineup." So now we're looking for another RH hitter. This team drives me insane.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

LOOK IN DES MOINES

[seanimal]

Ronny Cedeno, your table is ready.

[CUBZ99]

Jake Fox must make Michael Barrett look like Johnny Bench. If Fox could catch at all, he would have been a perfect call up.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Jake Fox must make Michael Barrett look like Johnny Bench. If Fox could catch at all, he would have been a perfect call up.

 

Fox is only catching maybe once a week. They've been working him at the corners for nearly two months now. And yes, his defense behind the plate is less than spectacular.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What about Pat Burrell?

[Banedon]

What about Pat Burrell?

 

I've quietly been hoping for that one for a while now.

[Tracer Bullet]

Word is the Tigers are looking to deal Monroe. I'm in no way suggesting this would be a good idea, but I wouldn't be at all surprised to see JH turn a young arm into a terrible OF like Monroe.

 

Though if we could pry Marcus Thames out of Detroit, I'd certainly entertain that idea.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

What about Pat Burrell?

Most patient...hitter...ever. His BA sucks and his fielding is crap, but man can that guy take a walk. Plus his power always seems to pick up in the second half, and he's been on the trading back on a seemingly annual basis. Maybe getting out of Philly would be good for his psyche as well, a la Scotty Rolen.

[Bruno7481]

What about Pat Burrell?

Most patient...hitter...ever. His BA sucks and his fielding is crap, but man can that guy take a walk. Plus his power always seems to pick up in the second half, and he's been on the trading back on a seemingly annual basis. Maybe getting out of Philly would be good for his psyche as well, a la Scotty Rolen.

 

I agree that having the ability to take a walk is a positive thing, but I'd like them to have other skills as well. If that is your only skill, you won't get very far. He does have power, but this year has been a very big struggle for him.

 

I don't think picking up Burrell would do all that much.

 

The artcile never mentions that a trade is in the works. I think its quite possible the RH bat could very well be Cedeno or Murton.

[cubweiser03]

Well, he is called Pat the Bat.

Is he still called that anymore?

Where is he going to play RF. Oh boy.

[Banedon]

If you could get Burrell cheaply though, and get the Phillies to take on a chunk of his salary, I think he'd be a good gamble. A change of scenery could really be what's needed for him.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

His slugging % is way down this year, but there's reason to believe it'll bounce back in the 2nd half. The last two seasons, his SLG% was .504 and .502. This year it's .408. Also his OPS in July is 1.462.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well, he is called Pat the Bat.

Is he still called that anymore?

Where is he going to play RF. Oh boy.

 

I doubt Burrell would be any worse in RF than Floyd. I understand the trepidation with Pat in RF. But we're already getting by with the immobile Floyd masquerading as a RF, so I think we could handle putting Pat or any other defensively challenged OF without missing a beat.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think we could do better than Burrell, but it would be hard to argue with him if the price was right. $14M for him next season could be ugly

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't understand why it took so long to figure out this was a necessity. The Cubs have sucked vs LHP for years now, and still do. Yet they are so hung-up on the RH heavy lineup that they've been thinking LH bat the whole time.

[Tracer Bullet]

I don't understand why it took so long to figure out this was a necessity. The Cubs have sucked vs LHP for years now, and still do. Yet they are so hung-up on the RH heavy lineup that they've been thinking LH bat the whole time.

 

B/c Jim Hendry is a moron.

[weis21]

I would be welcome to the idea of burrell if it only requires a B prospect and eating a portion of his salary. Doesn't he have a cannon? An outfield of Soriano and Burrell would be scary to run on. Not to mention if Pie starts hitting and gets some PT. However I would think he would be demoted if another OF is added.

[davearm]

If you could get Pat Gillick to take back Jones, Izturis, and Eyre, plus add enough cash to balance things out both this year and next (which is in the $5M range), then (and only then) does Burrell become a serious consideration.

 

If the cash part doesn't work, then add Blanco too. Maybe Ohman. That gets you somewhere close to a wash.

 

Basically I'd take Burrell if it didn't cost me anything in $$$ or young talent (at least not high-end young talent -- I'd throw in a mid-grade prospect or two).

[Bruno7481]

Does anyone think there is a possibillity that Hendry is talking to Atlanta about Andruw Jones? He's going to be a FA and he's really having a down year. Who knows, maybe Atlanta just wants to get what they can for him. Or they might want to keep him and try to resign him because they might be able to get him cheaper based on his down numbers this year.

 

just a thought...

[wekse]

What about Pat Burrell?

Most patient...hitter...ever. His BA sucks and his fielding is crap, but man can that guy take a walk. Plus his power always seems to pick up in the second half, and he's been on the trading back on a seemingly annual basis. Maybe getting out of Philly would be good for his psyche as well, a la Scotty Rolen.

 

 

http://www.ailurophile.com/karenslife/images/pat-burrell2.jpg

[moorecg]

What about Pat Burrell?

Most patient...hitter...ever. His BA sucks and his fielding is crap, but man can that guy take a walk. Plus his power always seems to pick up in the second half, and he's been on the trading back on a seemingly annual basis. Maybe getting out of Philly would be good for his psyche as well, a la Scotty Rolen.

 

 

http://www.ailurophile.com/karenslife/images/pat-burrell2.jpg

 

Ummm...someone is taking their man crush on Burrell just a "BIT" to far.

[CubinNY]

If you could get Pat Gillick to take back Jones, Izturis, and Eyre, plus add enough cash to balance things out both this year and next (which is in the $5M range), then (and only then) does Burrell become a serious consideration.

 

If the cash part doesn't work, then add Blanco too. Maybe Ohman. That gets you somewhere close to a wash.

 

Basically I'd take Burrell if it didn't cost me anything in $$$ or young talent (at least not high-end young talent -- I'd throw in a mid-grade prospect or two).

The Phillies are the same number of games out in their division as the Cubs, why would they want to take a bunch of garbage and pay the same amount that they are paying for Burell?

[daske17]

If you could get Pat Gillick to take back Jones, Izturis, and Eyre, plus add enough cash to balance things out both this year and next (which is in the $5M range), then (and only then) does Burrell become a serious consideration.

 

If the cash part doesn't work, then add Blanco too. Maybe Ohman. That gets you somewhere close to a wash.

 

Basically I'd take Burrell if it didn't cost me anything in $$$ or young talent (at least not high-end young talent -- I'd throw in a mid-grade prospect or two).

The Phillies are the same number of games out in their division as the Cubs, why would they want to take a bunch of garbage and pay the same amount that they are paying for Burell?

 

Well, they did trade Abreu and Lidle to the Yanks and that worked out for them quite well. Maybe they can capture that same trade magic again?