Lou Pinella, What the hell are you doing?

[Sammy Sofa]

/yelling at the top of my lungs

 

MATT MURTON.

 

Apparently misplaced his power.

 

Yeah. Good thing we finally got ourselves that power hitting RF we've been missing the last few years.

 

Some people are never happy...

 

I'm perfectly happy with our RF. I just like that we're winning and everyone loves Fukudome and he's hit for less power than Murton, who apparently didn't have enough power when he was in the majors.

 

I had no problem with Murton before. I don't have a problem with him now...just pointing out that nearly all of his XBH power suddenly up and vanished.

 

4 doubles and a triple in the last week. Maybe it's making a comeback.

 

Here's hoping.

[David]

/yelling at the top of my lungs

 

MATT MURTON.

 

Apparently misplaced his power.

 

Yeah. Good thing we finally got ourselves that power hitting RF we've been missing the last few years.

 

Some people are never happy...

 

I'm perfectly happy with our RF. I just like that we're winning and everyone loves Fukudome and he's hit for less power than Murton, who apparently didn't have enough power when he was in the majors.

 

Right now, whho would you rather have in RF Fukudome or Murton?

 

 

Offensively, they're closer than you might think. Closer than the salary difference warrants.

 

But Fuku.

[C.C.]

/yelling at the top of my lungs

 

MATT MURTON.

 

Apparently misplaced his power.

 

Yeah. Good thing we finally got ourselves that power hitting RF we've been missing the last few years.

 

Some people are never happy...

 

I'm perfectly happy with our RF. I just like that we're winning and everyone loves Fukudome and he's hit for less power than Murton, who apparently didn't have enough power when he was in the majors.

 

Right now, whho would you rather have in RF Fukudome or Murton?

 

 

Offensively, they're closer than you might think. Closer than the salary difference warrants.

 

But Fuku.

 

Offensively (for now) perhaps, but as an all-around baseball player Fuku over Murton.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm a huge Murton fan, but I kinda doubt he was touching a 400 OBP in the majors.

[Tracer Bullet]

/yelling at the top of my lungs

 

MATT MURTON.

 

Apparently misplaced his power.

 

Yeah. Good thing we finally got ourselves that power hitting RF we've been missing the last few years.

 

Some people are never happy...

 

I'm perfectly happy with our RF. I just like that we're winning and everyone loves Fukudome and he's hit for less power than Murton, who apparently didn't have enough power when he was in the majors.

 

Right now, whho would you rather have in RF Fukudome or Murton?

 

 

Offensively, they're closer than you might think. Closer than the salary difference warrants.

 

But Fuku.

 

Offensively (for now) perhaps, but as an all-around baseball player Fuku over Murton.

 

Fukudome is the better player. But he's making $5m more than Murton this year and he'll be making $13m in a couple years. It's just puzzling to me that we couldn't find a spot for a cheap source of league average production.

[Fro]

Considering the Cubs are racking in the $$$ from Fukudome merchandise and probably getting some Japanese TV money, it's not a straight apples to apples comparision with Murton and Fukudome's salaries. Fukudome obviously has bumped up the club's revenues, probably at least enough to cover the salary difference.

[nick23]

Lou's comments on Edmonds after Wednesday's game.

 

"We need to see improvement with the bat; let's be perfectly honest," Piniella said. "He needs at-bats. We're going to give him as many as we can."

 

I love this organization. Let's give at many bats as possible to the 38 year old washed up centerfielder. But lets not give our 23 year old top prospect any time to make adjustments at the major league leve. Is it possible that no one in the front office realizes how freaking stupid this is?

[nolanwood]

Lou's comments on Edmonds after Wednesday's game.

 

"We need to see improvement with the bat; let's be perfectly honest," Piniella said. "He needs at-bats. We're going to give him as many as we can."

 

I love this organization. Let's give at many bats as possible to the 38 year old washed up centerfielder. But lets not give our 23 year old top prospect any time to make adjustments at the major league leve. Is it possible that no one in the front office realizes how freaking stupid this is?

 

 

Lou said the same thing about Pie when he was struggling - they worked with him, then got him more AB's & he didn't produce. The leash was very short with Pie, and I guarantee you it will be just as short with Edmonds. Hopefully soon Pie will (and should) be back up, as I would prefer to let him adjust at the major league level getting AB's everyday.

 

The problem is that he WON'T be getting AB's everyday, it'll be a platoon with Johnson. So, is a Johnson platoon beneficial to Pie?

[soapy]

Lou's comments on Edmonds after Wednesday's game.

 

"We need to see improvement with the bat; let's be perfectly honest," Piniella said. "He needs at-bats. We're going to give him as many as we can."

 

I love this organization. Let's give at many bats as possible to the 38 year old washed up centerfielder. But lets not give our 23 year old top prospect any time to make adjustments at the major league leve. Is it possible that no one in the front office realizes how freaking stupid this is?

 

 

Lou said the same thing about Pie when he was struggling - they worked with him, then got him more AB's & he didn't produce. The leash was very short with Pie, and I guarantee you it will be just as short with Edmonds. Hopefully soon Pie will (and should) be back up, as I would prefer to let him adjust at the major league level getting AB's everyday.

 

The problem is that he WON'T be getting AB's everyday, it'll be a platoon with Johnson. So, is a Johnson platoon beneficial to Pie?

 

HUH?!?! I'm pretty sure he didn't get more AB's after they worked with him and I'm pretty sure he did actually startto produce after that too. More or less the opposite of what you said.

[nolanwood]

Lou's comments on Edmonds after Wednesday's game.

 

"We need to see improvement with the bat; let's be perfectly honest," Piniella said. "He needs at-bats. We're going to give him as many as we can."

 

I love this organization. Let's give at many bats as possible to the 38 year old washed up centerfielder. But lets not give our 23 year old top prospect any time to make adjustments at the major league leve. Is it possible that no one in the front office realizes how freaking stupid this is?

 

 

Lou said the same thing about Pie when he was struggling - they worked with him, then got him more AB's & he didn't produce. The leash was very short with Pie, and I guarantee you it will be just as short with Edmonds. Hopefully soon Pie will (and should) be back up, as I would prefer to let him adjust at the major league level getting AB's everyday.

 

The problem is that he WON'T be getting AB's everyday, it'll be a platoon with Johnson. So, is a Johnson platoon beneficial to Pie?

 

HUH?!?! I'm pretty sure he didn't get more AB's after they worked with him and I'm pretty sure he did actually startto produce after that too. More or less the opposite of what you said.

 

Huh? Show me the difference in production. Furthermore, what the hell are you arguing with me for? I'm on your side to bring Pie up and dump Edmonds!

[nick23]

Lou's comments on Edmonds after Wednesday's game.

 

"We need to see improvement with the bat; let's be perfectly honest," Piniella said. "He needs at-bats. We're going to give him as many as we can."

 

I love this organization. Let's give at many bats as possible to the 38 year old washed up centerfielder. But lets not give our 23 year old top prospect any time to make adjustments at the major league leve. Is it possible that no one in the front office realizes how freaking stupid this is?

 

 

Lou said the same thing about Pie when he was struggling - they worked with him, then got him more AB's & he didn't produce. The leash was very short with Pie, and I guarantee you it will be just as short with Edmonds. Hopefully soon Pie will (and should) be back up, as I would prefer to let him adjust at the major league level getting AB's everyday.

 

The problem is that he WON'T be getting AB's everyday, it'll be a platoon with Johnson. So, is a Johnson platoon beneficial to Pie?

 

HUH?!?! I'm pretty sure he didn't get more AB's after they worked with him and I'm pretty sure he did actually startto produce after that too. More or less the opposite of what you said.

 

Huh? Show me the difference in production. Furthermore, what the hell are you arguing with me for? I'm on your side to bring Pie up and dump Edmonds!

 

He's arguing with you because what you wrote is the complete oppisite of truth. Pie never got more at bats and the at bats he did get were producing more than earlier in the year.

[nolanwood]

Lou's comments on Edmonds after Wednesday's game.

 

"We need to see improvement with the bat; let's be perfectly honest," Piniella said. "He needs at-bats. We're going to give him as many as we can."

 

I love this organization. Let's give at many bats as possible to the 38 year old washed up centerfielder. But lets not give our 23 year old top prospect any time to make adjustments at the major league leve. Is it possible that no one in the front office realizes how freaking stupid this is?

 

 

Lou said the same thing about Pie when he was struggling - they worked with him, then got him more AB's & he didn't produce. The leash was very short with Pie, and I guarantee you it will be just as short with Edmonds. Hopefully soon Pie will (and should) be back up, as I would prefer to let him adjust at the major league level getting AB's everyday.

 

The problem is that he WON'T be getting AB's everyday, it'll be a platoon with Johnson. So, is a Johnson platoon beneficial to Pie?

 

HUH?!?! I'm pretty sure he didn't get more AB's after they worked with him and I'm pretty sure he did actually startto produce after that too. More or less the opposite of what you said.

 

Huh? Show me the difference in production. Furthermore, what the hell are you arguing with me for? I'm on your side to bring Pie up and dump Edmonds!

 

He's arguing with you because what you wrote is the complete oppisite of truth. Pie never got more at bats and the at bats he did get were producing more than earlier in the year.

 

 

Pie's #'s from May 1- May 12: 5/19 1BB 7 K's

 

Pie's #'s from April 16-April 30: 5/18 2BB 6K's

 

 

Where is the improvement, and how is this the oppOsite of the truth?

Edited May 22, 2008 by nolanwood

[soapy]

Huh? Show me the difference in production. Furthermore, what the hell are you arguing with me for? I'm on your side to bring Pie up and dump Edmonds!

i wasn't really trying to argue with you. i just didn't get the statement you made. Pie never started getting more at-bats after Lou (and Keller) worked with him. additionally, he actually started getting better results in the few at-bats he did get after that.

[nolanwood]

Huh? Show me the difference in production. Furthermore, what the hell are you arguing with me for? I'm on your side to bring Pie up and dump Edmonds!

i wasn't really trying to argue with you. i just didn't get the statement you made. Pie never started getting more at-bats after Lou (and Keller) worked with him. additionally, he actually started getting better results in the few at-bats he did get after that.

 

Pie's #'s are above. The article about them taking the extra time to work with him was on 4/17.

[soapy]

Pie's #'s from May 1- May 12: 5/19 1BB 7 K's

 

Pie's #'s from April 16-April 30: 5/18 2BB 6K's

 

 

Where is the improvement, and how is this the oppOsite of the truth?

 

When did they start working with him? April 17? By your numbers, he hit .270 with a .325 OBP after they started working with him. I'd say that's improvement from his number pre April 17, no?

[nolanwood]

Pie's #'s from May 1- May 12: 5/19 1BB 7 K's

 

Pie's #'s from April 16-April 30: 5/18 2BB 6K's

 

 

Where is the improvement, and how is this the oppOsite of the truth?

 

When did they start working with him? April 17? By your numbers, he hit .270 with a .325 OBP after they started working with him. I'd say that's improvement from his number pre April 17, no?

 

The article on Cubs.com came out on 4/17, they worked with him during the 3rd week of April. He played a full game on 4/15 with some "adjustments" to his swing, and went 0/4 with three K's. Given the fact that he was working on his swing, I'd say his #'s that game are reflective of his adaptation to the "improvements" Lou and Keller made, and I can recall BB discussing this during the game as Pie's swing looked horrid at times.

 

Before 4/15, his #'s were: 4/22 8K's

 

April 16-April 30: 5/18 2BB 6K's

 

May 1- May 12: 5/19 1BB 7 K's

 

There's minimal improvement there, but nothing out of the ordinary for such a small sample size. Hey, I want him up here like the rest of us.

[CUBZ99]

Any bets as to how long it is before Fukudome plays CF vs. righties and Hoffpaiur(sp?) plays RF?

 

This Edmonds experiment has to end soon. It is disappointing that every single person not named "Jim Hendry" forcasted that Edmonds was not going to hit, but Hendry still signed him anyways based on a gut reaction. Hopefully, Lou runs out of patience soon.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The first action Pie got after Keller came to Chicago to work with him was April 21, and he hit a PH HR against the Mets. He then went 2 for 5 the following day in a start, 0 for 1 in a PH opportunity the next game, and then 2 for 3 in a start the following day. In other words, a 5 for 10 stretch with a HR. He was rewarded with barely starting half the games until he was sent down, facing Sheets, Suppan, Wainwright, Cueto, Harang, Volquez, and E. Gonzalez, while Johnson inexplicably started against the likes of Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Scherzer.

 

And even then, the idea of Pie getting 40 PA's in 20 games as some sort of legitimate playing time is lunacy. Edmonds has 16 PA's in 7 games already and we faced 3 straight LH starters that kept him completely out of the series this weekend, so it's essentially 16 PA's in 4 games, or in other words, an actual platoon, and not arbitrarily holding him out of games against RHP to give someone who is inferior in every way except age playing time instead.

[Sammy Sofa]

The first action Pie got after Keller came to Chicago to work with him was April 21, and he hit a PH HR against the Mets. He then went 2 for 5 the following day in a start, 0 for 1 in a PH opportunity the next game, and then 2 for 3 in a start the following day. In other words, a 5 for 10 stretch with a HR. He was rewarded with barely starting half the games until he was sent down, facing Sheets, Suppan, Wainwright, Cueto, Harang, Volquez, and E. Gonzalez, while Johnson inexplicably started against the likes of Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Scherzer.

 

And even then, the idea of Pie getting 40 PA's in 20 games as some sort of legitimate playing time is lunacy. Edmonds has 16 PA's in 7 games already and we faced 3 straight LH starters that kept him completely out of the series this weekend, so it's essentially 16 PA's in 4 games, or in other words, an actual platoon, and not arbitrarily holding him out of games against RHP to give someone who is inferior in every way except age playing time instead.

 

Give this post a standing ovation until your hands bleed.

[C.C.]

I'm shocked on a daily basis how Lou doesn't give Cedeno some more starts. What more does this kid have to do?

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm shocked on a daily basis how Lou doesn't give Cedeno some more starts. What more does this kid have to do?

 

Ronny is doing a horrible job making sure Theriot doesn't make outs on the basepaths.

[nolanwood]

The first action Pie got after Keller came to Chicago to work with him was April 21, and he hit a PH HR against the Mets. He then went 2 for 5 the following day in a start, 0 for 1 in a PH opportunity the next game, and then 2 for 3 in a start the following day. In other words, a 5 for 10 stretch with a HR. He was rewarded with barely starting half the games until he was sent down, facing Sheets, Suppan, Wainwright, Cueto, Harang, Volquez, and E. Gonzalez, while Johnson inexplicably started against the likes of Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Scherzer.

 

And even then, the idea of Pie getting 40 PA's in 20 games as some sort of legitimate playing time is lunacy. Edmonds has 16 PA's in 7 games already and we faced 3 straight LH starters that kept him completely out of the series this weekend, so it's essentially 16 PA's in 4 games, or in other words, an actual platoon, and not arbitrarily holding him out of games against RHP to give someone who is inferior in every way except age playing time instead.

 

Give this post a standing ovation until your hands bleed.

 

After his 10AB-small-sample-size-batting-rampage he went 5/25 with 11 K's until he was sent down. He struck out 4/6 AB's immediately following this 10AB-batting-rampage-miracle-turnaround.

 

=D>

[jersey cubs fan]

The first action Pie got after Keller came to Chicago to work with him was April 21, and he hit a PH HR against the Mets. He then went 2 for 5 the following day in a start, 0 for 1 in a PH opportunity the next game, and then 2 for 3 in a start the following day. In other words, a 5 for 10 stretch with a HR. He was rewarded with barely starting half the games until he was sent down, facing Sheets, Suppan, Wainwright, Cueto, Harang, Volquez, and E. Gonzalez, while Johnson inexplicably started against the likes of Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Scherzer.

 

And even then, the idea of Pie getting 40 PA's in 20 games as some sort of legitimate playing time is lunacy. Edmonds has 16 PA's in 7 games already and we faced 3 straight LH starters that kept him completely out of the series this weekend, so it's essentially 16 PA's in 4 games, or in other words, an actual platoon, and not arbitrarily holding him out of games against RHP to give someone who is inferior in every way except age playing time instead.

 

Give this post a standing ovation until your hands bleed.

 

After his 10AB-small-sample-size-batting-rampage he went 5/25 with 11 K's until he was sent down. He struck out 4/6 AB's immediately following this 10AB-batting-rampage-miracle-turnaround.

 

=D>

 

spread out over how much time?

[SouthSideRyan]

The first action Pie got after Keller came to Chicago to work with him was April 21, and he hit a PH HR against the Mets. He then went 2 for 5 the following day in a start, 0 for 1 in a PH opportunity the next game, and then 2 for 3 in a start the following day. In other words, a 5 for 10 stretch with a HR. He was rewarded with barely starting half the games until he was sent down, facing Sheets, Suppan, Wainwright, Cueto, Harang, Volquez, and E. Gonzalez, while Johnson inexplicably started against the likes of Lohse, Wellemeyer, and Scherzer.

 

And even then, the idea of Pie getting 40 PA's in 20 games as some sort of legitimate playing time is lunacy. Edmonds has 16 PA's in 7 games already and we faced 3 straight LH starters that kept him completely out of the series this weekend, so it's essentially 16 PA's in 4 games, or in other words, an actual platoon, and not arbitrarily holding him out of games against RHP to give someone who is inferior in every way except age playing time instead.

 

Give this post a standing ovation until your hands bleed.

 

After his 10AB-small-sample-size-batting-rampage he went 5/25 with 11 K's until he was sent down. He struck out 4/6 AB's immediately following this 10AB-batting-rampage-miracle-turnaround.

 

=D>

 

spread out over how much time?

 

2.5 years.

[CubColtPacer]

I'm shocked on a daily basis how Lou doesn't give Cedeno some more starts. What more does this kid have to do?

 

I'm surprised that Lou doesn't give him more end of the game at-bats (pinch-hitting and coming into the game defensively). I'm not surprised that he isn't starting him. Cedeno has a few walks and a few bloop singles this month. Granted, his at-bats have been sporadic, but he hasn't been hitting the ball very hard this month, and it shows in his results: .217/.333/.217

 

Then when you compare Cedeno and the people fighting with him for playing time as far as what types of balls they've hit,

 

Cedeno: 16.4 LD, 41.8 GB, 41.8 FB, .382 BABIP

Theriot: 24.5 LD, 49.7 GB, 27.8 FB, .355 BABIP

DeRosa: 21.7 LD, 37.5 GB, 40.8 FB, .372 BABIP

Fontenot: 26.0 LD, 46.0 GB, 28.0 FB, .286 BABIP

 

Cedeno's had the most balls fall in despite having the fewest linedrives, and the highest fly ball percentage. That isn't normal. I think Cedeno's great new approach at the plate has masked that he has hit a lot of bloops this year, and his sporadic playing time the last couple weeks has masked that he really hasn't played well recently.

 

With that being said, I feel that Lou's riding all the starters a little hard right now. You have two capable middle infielders on the bench, and I'd be using them to make sure two players who have gotten tired in past seasons (DeRosa and Theriot) get regular rest. I know Lou has already said that as the weather heats up, Soto will be sitting more, so I hope that is true for those two as well.