Rosenthal: Cubs looking at Cameron

[JohnF]

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7413882

 

The Cubs are looking at Cameron and other right-handed hitting outfielders even though their preference would be to trade for a left-handed hitter. Felix Pie, a left-handed hitter, could end up in either left or center depending upon whom the Cubs acquire. Japanese free agent Kosuke Fukudome, a left-handed hitting corner outfielder with strong on-base skills, would be an excellent fit .

 

Cameron might come at a discount, but I don't know if he's much of an upgrade over Jones.

[treebird]

i've been a big cameron guy for a while, and i recognize that he's been in pitchers' parks forever, but i really don't think there's a lot left there.

[BCVM22]

Urgh. Just say no, Jim. We already have enough players on the roster who typically decide not to turn it on until 25 games into the season; we don't need a guy who, among other shortcomings, can't actually play until 25 games in.

[Mephistopheles]

i've been a big cameron guy for a while, and i recognize that he's been in pitchers' parks forever, but i really don't think there's a lot left there.

 

<3 There is a reason you're in my signature. Cameron was good.

[SweetZombieJesus]

Cameron did post 294/404/914 vs. lefties last year. I wouldn't mind him as a cheap platoon CF with Pie.

[Backtobanks]

Cameron did post 294/404/914 vs. lefties last year. I wouldn't mind him as a cheap platoon CF with Pie.

 

Cameron and cheap are oxymorons.

[SweetZombieJesus]

Cameron did post 294/404/914 vs. lefties last year. I wouldn't mind him as a cheap platoon CF with Pie.

 

Cameron and cheap are oxymorons.

 

meh, I don't see him getting more than Jacque's contract calls for especially with the 25 game suspension.

[Post Count Padder]

Well, he has power, speed, walks a bit and is a good fielder.

 

However, he's getting up there in age and usually struggles to hit .250.

[Keener98]

Cameron did post 294/404/914 vs. lefties last year. I wouldn't mind him as a cheap platoon CF with Pie.

 

So now Pie is a guy who needs platooned? Come on, how is a kid supposed to learn to hit lefties, when he never faces them? Let Felix play, and lets see if he makes his normal adjustments like he has at every level so far.

[SweetZombieJesus]

Cameron did post 294/404/914 vs. lefties last year. I wouldn't mind him as a cheap platoon CF with Pie.

 

So now Pie is a guy who needs platooned? Come on, how is a kid supposed to learn to hit lefties, when he never faces them? Let Felix play, and lets see if he makes his normal adjustments like he has at every level so far.

 

he hit 190/254/547 in AAA against lefties last year in Iowa and that's not even bringing up his struggles at the majors vs. lefties

 

in 2006 256/322/649 in Iowa

 

in 2005 he hit 253/295/743 in West Tenn

 

If the cubs were not contenders I would be okay with him learning on the job.

 

However, they are not and you can't have a guy in the lineup who hasn't shown he can at least hit somewhat marginally vs. southpaws.

[badnews]

Comparing his career numbers and what he can expect on the market, I'd rather have him than Rowand or Hunter.

[Keener98]

Cameron did post 294/404/914 vs. lefties last year. I wouldn't mind him as a cheap platoon CF with Pie.

 

So now Pie is a guy who needs platooned? Come on, how is a kid supposed to learn to hit lefties, when he never faces them? Let Felix play, and lets see if he makes his normal adjustments like he has at every level so far.

 

he hit 190/254/547 in AAA against lefties last year in Iowa and that's not even bringing up his struggles at the majors vs. lefties

 

in 2006 256/322/649 in Iowa

 

in 2005 he hit 253/295/743 in West Tenn

 

If the cubs were not contenders I would be okay with him learning on the job.

 

However, they are not and you can't have a guy in the lineup who hasn't shown he can at least hit somewhat marginally vs. southpaws.

 

 

You do realize that hitting .253 and .256 would mean he can hit them somewhat marginally, right?

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

Doesn't Cameron have a suspension coming his way next season?

[E.J.]

Doesn't Cameron have a suspension coming his way next season?

 

Yep. He has to sit out the first 25 games of next season.

[jersey cubs fan]

Cameron has put together some pretty significant seasons. The Cubs do need guys who can hit LH pitching. If the suspension brings his price down low enough, this could be an interesting move. It could give Pie a month to try and show something. No, that's not enough time, but it's a start. He could be used in some sort of platoon with Jones, which could be some solid production.

 

I wouldn't be against looking at Cameron.

[CubColtPacer]

Cameron did post 294/404/914 vs. lefties last year. I wouldn't mind him as a cheap platoon CF with Pie.

 

So now Pie is a guy who needs platooned? Come on, how is a kid supposed to learn to hit lefties, when he never faces them? Let Felix play, and lets see if he makes his normal adjustments like he has at every level so far.

 

he hit 190/254/547 in AAA against lefties last year in Iowa and that's not even bringing up his struggles at the majors vs. lefties

 

in 2006 256/322/649 in Iowa

 

in 2005 he hit 253/295/743 in West Tenn

 

If the cubs were not contenders I would be okay with him learning on the job.

 

However, they are not and you can't have a guy in the lineup who hasn't shown he can at least hit somewhat marginally vs. southpaws.

 

 

You do realize that hitting .253 and .256 would mean he can hit them somewhat marginally, right?

 

.253 and .256 is not very good when combined with a below average walk rate and horrible power against left-handers.

 

I'll combine some of the stats he posted above.

 

Between the majors and AAA, Pie batted .159/.225/.223 against LHP in 102 plate appearances. He had over a 400 point split between right-handers and left-handers in the majors, and had almost a 600 point split in AAA.

 

That's after Pie had a horrible winter ball season (.216/.263/.296) specifically because he was mainly put in against left-handers at the Cubs request.

 

The Cubs did that because of his .256/.322/.327 effort the year before against left-handers, which is pretty close to what Jacque Jones has done in his career against left-handers.

 

Could Pie get better against left-handers? Possibly, he's still very young. At the same time, it's about as automatic of an automatic out as you can get when he does start against a left-hander. He did hit them a little better at lower levels, but even though he made the adjustment to right-handed pitching very well at AAA he still hasn't figured out left-handers at AAA in 2 years. Considering the Cubs have some troubles against left-handers already, putting Pie in there against left-handers pretty much makes sure that the Cubs will be terrible against them for another year. Those ISOP's especially are horrifying for a player of his type.

[brinoch]

Cameron's not a bad guy to have around for a 4th OF, platoon partner -- whatever. If he's cheap, signing him could be a low risk/high reward deal.