Jim Edmonds Signs With Cubs, Pie to AAA

[Soul]

Ok guys, I have not posted in a while and I am sure I am going to be ripped for this one, but I have to share it with everyone nonetheless.

 

I live here in DSM and David Kaplan was just on a local Sports radio station. He stated among other things that Greg Maddux told him personally that Edmonds still has some good in him and that he is "extremely motivated to stick it to the Cards". Maddux told Kaplan that many of Edmaonds problems were due to the spacious centerfield in Petco. To my surprise he also ripped Pie saying basically that he has a case of and I quote "Big League-itis". He said several veterens are not happy that he does not get the park and work and that the Chicago nightlife is a problem for him. He said he thought this was becoming quite a problem and he needs to come here to Iowa and regain a focus if he wants to fulfill his talent.

 

That was the jist of the discussion. I know it will probably be ripped by most, but I have to admit it made the whole thing a bit more paletable for me!

 

That's the first I've heard about Pie living too much of a night life in Chicago. I don't know if it's true or not, but I hate when reporters spread these kinds of things if they don't absolutely know it's true.

 

Big-league-itis? What does that even mean? That's alot of crap IMO.

[Bruce Miles]

My story, with some quotes:

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=190917

[CoolHandLuke]

stupid hendry. What's Edmond's numbers in Wrigley?

 

Career at Wrigley .254/.378/.540

 

Jim Hendry loves anyone who used to be good against the Cubs at Wrigley.

 

career overall: .286/.377/.526

 

His line in Wrigley means next to nothing - it was just a small random slice from the entire Jim Edmonds pie.

 

 

this move doesn't matter too much to me. They realize there isn't much left in the tank and if he sucks he won't be around long. The move cost almost nothing in terms of dollars, and absolutely nothing in terms of players. If somehow he resembles even like 70% of his former self he will give us a boost, so its a good low risk situation in my mind. I think a lot of people are somewhat blinded by their own personal dislike for Edmonds.

 

And if Pie is destined to become a superstar or even a solid player, this probably won't do anything to hinder that.

 

I just wish if we were going to get an old, angry, hated player we would just sign Barry and stick either Fuku or Sori in cf.

[hawkcub]

If you take the fact that he is Jim Edmonds away and just look at this move as getting a player that is a multiple gold glover and was a very good hitter. Who may get it back even if it's only for a year. Couple that with you get the guy for the league minimum. This is a good move.

 

But this is JIM FREAKING EDMONDS. Let me pick up my torch and pitch fork again.

[javy knows my name]

Ok guys, I have not posted in a while and I am sure I am going to be ripped for this one, but I have to share it with everyone nonetheless.

 

I live here in DSM and David Kaplan was just on a local Sports radio station. He stated among other things that Greg Maddux told him personally that Edmonds still has some good in him and that he is "extremely motivated to stick it to the Cards". Maddux told Kaplan that many of Edmaonds problems were due to the spacious centerfield in Petco. To my surprise he also ripped Pie saying basically that he has a case of and I quote "Big League-itis". He said several veterens are not happy that he does not get the park and work and that the Chicago nightlife is a problem for him. He said he thought this was becoming quite a problem and he needs to come here to Iowa and regain a focus if he wants to fulfill his talent.

 

That was the jist of the discussion. I know it will probably be ripped by most, but I have to admit it made the whole thing a bit more paletable for me!

 

That's the first I've heard about Pie living too much of a night life in Chicago. I don't know if it's true or not, but I hate when reporters spread these kinds of things if they don't absolutely know it's true.

 

Big-league-itis? What does that even mean? That's alot of crap IMO.

Ditto. That sounds like nothing more than spin control to me. I've heard that about Ronny, maybe that's why they think they can sell it with Pie.

And besides, if you are in Pie's situation where your time with the big-league club is dependent upon a handful of PA's, why would you even think about losing focus (see: money)? For Ronny, it was believable because he had the starting job in 2006, despite horrible offensive numbers.

[tfarks]

"He's got experience," said manager Lou Piniella. "He's played in big situations. I think here at Wrigley Field with the crowd and so forth and the fact that this club can win, I think those are all positives for bringing in a veteran player."

 

I hate Lou. That doesn't even make any sense.

[NomarSammy]

I am just telling you guys what Kaplan said. and to be honest, I have always thought that Kaplan is a pretty big fan and wants to win as bad as most of us. I just dont think he would fabricate this. But I honestly have now way of actually knowing if he speaks the truth. Just stating what he said

[Coach C]

This makes no sense at all.

[jersey cubs fan]

If you take the fact that he is Jim Edmonds away and just look at this move as getting a player that is a multiple gold glover and was a very good hitter. Who may get it back even if it's only for a year. Couple that with you get the guy for the league minimum. This is a good move.

 

But this is JIM FREAKING EDMONDS. Let me pick up my torch and pitch fork again.

 

I don't care that he's an obnoxious former Cardinal. I care that he's a bad baseball player and they are once again going with washed up proven veterans instead of seeing if a kid can work his way through his struggles.

[Outshined_One]

From the quotes coming out, it sounds like Lou Piniella had next to no hand in this. This one's all Hendry.

[jersey cubs fan]

I am just telling you guys what Kaplan said. and to be honest, I have always thought that Kaplan is a pretty big fan and wants to win as bad as most of us. I just dont think he would fabricate this. But I honestly have now way of actually knowing if he speaks the truth. Just stating what he said

 

He's also an idiot who said Reed Johnson should start everyday and leadoff despite loads of proof that Reed Johnson would fail miserably as an everyday player.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

My story, with some quotes:

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=190917

 

 

Bruce, I'd give you some quotes, but nothing I could say about Edmonds could be printed.

[javy knows my name]

"He's got experience," said manager Lou Piniella. "He's played in big situations. I think here at Wrigley Field with the crowd and so forth and the fact that this club can win, I think those are all positives for bringing in a veteran player."

 

I hate Lou. That doesn't even make any sense.

That sounds so much like Dusty, it makes me die a little inside

[jersey cubs fan]

And if Pie is destined to become a superstar or even a solid player, this probably won't do anything to hinder that.

 

I don't believe in destiny.

[BCVM22]

Someone change the thread title.

[Flames24Rulz]

"He's got experience," said manager Lou Piniella. "He's played in big situations. I think here at Wrigley Field with the crowd and so forth and the fact that this club can win, I think those are all positives for bringing in a veteran player."

 

I hate Lou. That doesn't even make any sense.

That sounds so much like Dusty, it makes me die a little inside

 

Exactly what I thought of that quote.

 

He's becoming more and more like Dusty everyday.

[CoolHandLuke]

And if Pie is destined to become a superstar or even a solid player, this probably won't do anything to hinder that.

 

I don't believe in destiny.

 

I meant destined in a talent and opportunity (which this hinders to some extent, yes, but at 23 this isn't really a worry) sense.

 

Listen, I'm not really trying to defend the move all that much, I just think a lot of people are wearing their Edmonds hating hat when judging this move. We are currently getting slightly more than nothing production wise from cf and a few more weeks of that is worth the chance that Edmonds has something left, in my opinion. I guess it might be a stretch to assume Edmonds won't get longer than that if he struggles, but I really trust Lou's knee-jerk, reactionary managerial style to provide the correct result in this case.

[BleacherBadger]

My story, with some quotes:

 

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=190917

 

Shameless plug.

 

 

 

 

joke. love the work. cry myself to sleep everynight because I don't have a job like that.

[Jon]

And if Pie is destined to become a superstar or even a solid player, this probably won't do anything to hinder that.

 

I don't believe in destiny.

The Cubs like to use results to retrospectively justify their actions. If Pie still turns out, it'll be because they didn't play him while struggling in the majors and sent him back to the minors. If Pie doesn't turn out, they were right in not giving him more of a chance.

[YearofDaCubs]

This veteran fetish the Cubs have is so annoying..

[jersey cubs fan]

And if Pie is destined to become a superstar or even a solid player, this probably won't do anything to hinder that.

 

I don't believe in destiny.

 

I meant destined in a talent and opportunity (which this hinders to some extent, yes, but at 23 this isn't really a worry) sense.

 

Listen, I'm not really trying to defend the move all that much, I just think a lot of people are wearing their Edmonds hating hat when judging this move. We are currently getting slightly more than nothing production wise from cf and a few more weeks of that is worth the chance that Edmonds has something left, in my opinion. I guess it might be a stretch to assume Edmonds won't get longer than that if he struggles, but I really trust Lou's knee-jerk, reactionary managerial style to provide the correct result in this case.

 

A) I don't believe players are destined for the majors, teams have to develop talented players and give them an opportunity to play there. When you screw around with a guy in his pre-prime and pre-arbitration years, you lose developmental time as well as cost effective time, which can lead to decisions like cutting ties with a guy prematurely. Look no further than Matt Murton for a guy that was clearly capable of producing in the majors but whose prime has been wasted by the Cubs in part due to their something left in the tank nonsense like Cliff Floyd.

 

B) We are getting nothing out of CF because Lou is playing a guy who can't hit RHP against RHP. Yet, the Cubs are still scoring runs and winning games. They can live with getting nothing out of CF for a while because so many others are producing, that is the perfect time to let a kid work in the majors.

 

C) Lou's knee jerk reactions occur with young guys and those who fail to make a good first impression. If Edmonds happens to run into one in a crucial spot early, he's going to get a much longer rope to hang himself with than is appropriate.

[Wheelimus]

Sigh. Best praise I can offer is that Pie was going to rot on the bench otherwise and Edmonds probably won't do worse against RHP than Johnson. High praise indeed...

 

I would rather have thrown Cedeno out there and gotten a longer look at his bat.

[gerby23]

Should we change the title of the Forum to Trannysactions until this hits page 2?

[Athletics36]

Just saw this scroll across the ticker "being reported by Cubs and Hendry Edmonds will be signed pending a physical"...

[CoolHandLuke]

And if Pie is destined to become a superstar or even a solid player, this probably won't do anything to hinder that.

 

I don't believe in destiny.

 

I meant destined in a talent and opportunity (which this hinders to some extent, yes, but at 23 this isn't really a worry) sense.

 

Listen, I'm not really trying to defend the move all that much, I just think a lot of people are wearing their Edmonds hating hat when judging this move. We are currently getting slightly more than nothing production wise from cf and a few more weeks of that is worth the chance that Edmonds has something left, in my opinion. I guess it might be a stretch to assume Edmonds won't get longer than that if he struggles, but I really trust Lou's knee-jerk, reactionary managerial style to provide the correct result in this case.

 

A) I don't believe players are destined for the majors, teams have to develop talented players and give them an opportunity to play there. When you screw around with a guy in his pre-prime and pre-arbitration years, you lose developmental time as well as cost effective time, which can lead to decisions like cutting ties with a guy prematurely. Look no further than Matt Murton for a guy that was clearly capable of producing in the majors but whose prime has been wasted by the Cubs in part due to their something left in the tank nonsense like Cliff Floyd.

 

B) We are getting nothing out of CF because Lou is playing a guy who can't hit RHP against RHP. Yet, the Cubs are still scoring runs and winning games. They can live with getting nothing out of CF for a while because so many others are producing, that is the perfect time to let a kid work in the majors.

 

C) Lou's knee jerk reactions occur with young guys and those who fail to make a good first impression. If Edmonds happens to run into one in a crucial spot early, he's going to get a much longer rope to hang himself with than is appropriate.

 

 

I think the major difference in how we feel about this situation is that my view is attempting to work inside the framework of the Cubs ridiculous decision making.

 

As far as part A goes, I think a club definitely can ruin a young player. However, I think more often than not talent wins out, as long as opportunities are presented. At 23, Pie will definitely receive more opportunity. Matt Murton is a bad comparison, in my opinion, as he had already shown himself to be a quality major league hitter before he was thrown under the bus.

 

 

I would definitely let Pie play a majority of the games, even against lhp if I were in charge. I just know that that is looking pretty unlikely at this point, and I'd prefer the potential upside Edmonds brings (however small it is) over Johnson.

 

I guess C is a solid point, I just hope Edmonds is given a really short leash.