Daryle Ward to 15 Day DL, Hoffpauir up

[JohnF]

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/951615,CST-SPT-cubnt15.article

 

Regardless of what he has left, Jim Edmonds became available just in time for the Cubs, whose need for left-handed hitting reached dire levels this week with the news that the top lefty hitter on the bench, Daryle Ward, will need a two-week stretch on the disabled list because of a back injury.

 

That could open the way for lefty slugger Micah Hoffpauir, a first baseman/outfielder, to get the major-league debut a knee injury prevented last season.

[A New Era]

Good luck to Hoff or whoever comes up.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Hoff is the only logical replacement for Ward, plus he deserves a shot, as short term as it may be.

[UMFan83]

Ugh, Ward always has these random injuries that come out of nowhere. It probably has to do with his *ahem* stature...I know the guy plays 2 minutes a week, but c'mon he's being played millions to play baseball, why can't he be in better shape?

[hardcorecubfan]

Ugh, Ward always has these random injuries that come out of nowhere. It probably has to do with his *ahem* stature...I know the guy plays 2 minutes a week, but c'mon he's being played millions to play baseball, why can't he be in better shape?

 

Agreed, they should stock his refrig. with slim-fast

[Little Slide Rooter]

Ward has gotten some key hits lately, but I for one am glad that Hoff will finally get a shot. Hopefully he can put up some good numbers and build up some kind of trade value.

[Lefty]

Ward has gotten some key hits lately, but I for one am glad that Hoff will finally get a shot. Hopefully he can put up some good numbers and build up some kind of trade value.

 

Why are you worried about trade value? Why don't you hope he's a good replacement for the fading Ward?

[Post Count Padder]

Hoff is the only logical replacement for Ward, plus he deserves a shot, as short term as it may be.

Agreed, he's MLB ready, and while he may not be great in the majors he's certainly paid his dues in the minors.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Ward has gotten some key hits lately, but I for one am glad that Hoff will finally get a shot. Hopefully he can put up some good numbers and build up some kind of trade value.

 

Why are you worried about trade value? Why don't you hope he's a good replacement for the fading Ward?

 

Because hopefully, D-Lee wont be going anywhere soon, and if Hoff really is capable of what hes done in AAA the past few years as well as ST, he could land somewhere as a starter, an opportunity he'll never get with the Cubs. Some with Matt Murton.

[Lefty]

Ward has gotten some key hits lately, but I for one am glad that Hoff will finally get a shot. Hopefully he can put up some good numbers and build up some kind of trade value.

 

Why are you worried about trade value? Why don't you hope he's a good replacement for the fading Ward?

 

Because hopefully, D-Lee wont be going anywhere soon, and if Hoff really is capable of what hes done in AAA the past few years as well as ST, he could land somewhere as a starter, an opportunity he'll never get with the Cubs. Some with Matt Murton.

 

Hoff is 28. This is as good as it gets. Why can't he be our John Mabry type for a few years? Ward isn't going to last much longer.

 

Murton is different. He is a couple years younger and owns a .295 MLB average. If we didn't talk him down he might have some trade value since, we agree, there is no use for him here.

 

Is it possible if Edmonds continues his decline that we'd get a Soriano-Fukudome-Murton outfield?

[Derwood]

if only there were a top left-handed hitting prospect in the system who could pinch-hit and play the outfield....

[Little Slide Rooter]

Ward has gotten some key hits lately, but I for one am glad that Hoff will finally get a shot. Hopefully he can put up some good numbers and build up some kind of trade value.

 

Why are you worried about trade value? Why don't you hope he's a good replacement for the fading Ward?

 

Because hopefully, D-Lee wont be going anywhere soon, and if Hoff really is capable of what hes done in AAA the past few years as well as ST, he could land somewhere as a starter, an opportunity he'll never get with the Cubs. Some with Matt Murton.

 

Hoff is 28. This is as good as it gets. Why can't he be our John Mabry type for a few years? Ward isn't going to last much longer.

 

Murton is different. He is a couple years younger and owns a .295 MLB average. If we didn't talk him down he might have some trade value since, we agree, there is no use for him here.

 

Is it possible if Edmonds continues his decline that we'd get a Soriano-Fukudome-Murton outfield?

 

John Mabry?!? Come on now, give the guy some credit. At least he could be Todd Hollandsworth.

 

If Edmonds doesnt produce, theyd probably go with Pie again. Murton was never much of a right fielder as I recall.

[anabiono]

if only there were a top left-handed hitting prospect in the system who could pinch-hit and play the outfield....

 

i know right...

[Tracer Bullet]

if only there were a top left-handed hitting prospect in the system who could pinch-hit and play the outfield....

 

ugh. Pie either needs to be starting in Chicago or starting in Iowa. Having him used as a PH every 2-3 days for 1 AB at a time doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

[Outshined_One]

So, the Cubs will soon hassle the Hoff?

[Illini Iceman]

Do they have a spot on the 40 man roster available to add Hoffpauir?

[Roast]

Do they have a spot on the 40 man roster available to add Hoffpauir?

I thought he was already on it?

 

But no, they don't. The signing of Edmonds filled up the 40-man.

[TruffleShuffle]

Do they have a spot on the 40 man roster available to add Hoffpauir?

I thought he was already on it?

 

But no, they don't. The signing of Edmonds filled up the 40-man.

 

adam harben should be removed; he's pitched terribly this year.

[NCCubFan]

Ward is not on the DL. He MAY go on the DL, but that won't be decided until Sunday.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Do they have a spot on the 40 man roster available to add Hoffpauir?

 

If only there were someone we could remove from the 40 man roster *cough*Jason Marquis*cough*

[Warren Brusstar]

Ward has gotten some key hits lately, but I for one am glad that Hoff will finally get a shot. Hopefully he can put up some good numbers and build up some kind of trade value.

 

Why are you worried about trade value? Why don't you hope he's a good replacement for the fading Ward?

 

Because hopefully, D-Lee wont be going anywhere soon, and if Hoff really is capable of what hes done in AAA the past few years as well as ST, he could land somewhere as a starter, an opportunity he'll never get with the Cubs. Some with Matt Murton.

 

Hoff is 28. This is as good as it gets. Why can't he be our John Mabry type for a few years? Ward isn't going to last much longer.

 

Murton is different. He is a couple years younger and owns a .295 MLB average. If we didn't talk him down he might have some trade value since, we agree, there is no use for him here.

 

Is it possible if Edmonds continues his decline that we'd get a Soriano-Fukudome-Murton outfield?

 

No. But I can see a Soriano/Fukudome/Hoff outfield. The Matt-Murton-as-a-starting-OF-for-the-Cubs ship has sailed. He just simply will not be given the chance.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

This is the perfect spot for Hoffpauir: backup pinch hitter you stash in the minors in case you need an MLB adequate bat for a few weeks when someone gets hurt. He probably could fill Ward's spot adequately for the full season, but I'm not too upset that he doesn't get a chance. Guys like him are a dime a dozen in the minors, virtually. He has no future as an MLB starter, and even sticking long-term on a MLB roster helps.

 

His MLEs at Iowa last season were .285/.332/.487, and the fact that he's right-handed helps, but he also has no defensive position.

 

He's the sort of guy that it's good to have one at Iowa, and I'm really glad we are going with a guy like him instead of resurrecting some carcass like Lenny Harris, but that's about it.

[BCVM22]

At least he could be Todd Hollandsworth.

 

Hollandsworth had the mullet working, though.

 

Do they have a spot on the 40 man roster available to add Hoffpauir?

I thought he was already on it?

 

But no, they don't. The signing of Edmonds filled up the 40-man.

 

The 40-man actually sits at 39 after the Edmonds signing. They'd need only to clear a 25-man spot, accomplished by DLing Ward.

[CubColtPacer]

Sounds like it's happening:

 

Manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs will call up 1B Micah Hoffpauir before Monday's game at Houston, after Daryle Ward goes on the disabled list with a bulging disc in his lower back. Ward was available to pinch hit.

 

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-080517-chicago-cubs-pittsburgh-pirates,1,2192665.story

 

I'm sure Ward's available, but they're also probably pretty hesitant to use him tomorrow. First, you don't want him hurting his back worse on one pinch-hitting appearance, and also if he doesn't hit tomorrow, they can officially start his DL time at last Wednesday rather than Monday, allowing him to come off sooner if he feels better.

[chuckywang]

Am I the only immature a-hole who giggles at "bulging disc"?