Re: Casey Blake?

[RynoRules]

It's reported on ESPN Insider that he absolutely will be traded before the 31st.

 

He's 34 and has the following line this yr:

 

.282 .359 .449 .807

 

That would be a pretty solid pick-up for the bench, IMO.

Edited July 17, 2008 by RynoRules

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Blake would be a decent pick-up, but I'm just not sure whose spot on the bench he'd take.

 

With the 12-man pitching staff, room on the bench is short. He could replace Fontenot, but with the way he's hit lately, I don't see that happening.

[kjfoster 1553]

Isn't it Casey?

 

It would be ok, but just ok. He would be an ok backup for ARam at 3rd, but DeRo is my boy and wouldn't really like his playing time being depleted (although he doesn't see much time at 3rd)

 

As much as I don't like Fontenot, I prefer him over trading for Casey and losing whatever it costs.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Blake would be absolutely perfect if he or Fontenot or even DeRosa could play SS. As it stands the bench construction doesn't lend itself to easily adding a bench bat unless we go to 11 pitchers.

[kjfoster 1553]

Blake would be absolutely perfect if he or Fontenot or even DeRosa could play SS. As it stands the bench construction doesn't lend itself to easily adding a bench bat unless we go to 11 pitchers.

 

I don't like 11 pitchers as much as I do 12. At least until Marmol figures out what his deal is.

[SouthSideRyan]

Casey Blake would be perfect for an ~August 28th pickup. In the organization for the playoff roster when we go down to 11 pitchers, and you can survive a couple games without Cedeno or the 12th pitcher until September callups.

[Tracer Bullet]

Is there a reason we need both Ward and Fontenot?

 

Seems to me, a bench of Blanco, Blake, Cedeno, Fontenot, Johnson/Edmonds (platoon) would be just fine. Fontenot hits the crap out of RHP and Blake isn't terrible against RHP, so I don't see the need for Ward, esp if Blake can be had cheaply.

 

How's Blakes defense in the OF? I can't imagine he's worse than DeRosa has been this year (admittedly I'm going on the several miscues I remember DeRosa making in the last several weeks).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Is there a reason we need both Ward and Fontenot?

 

The same question becomes "Is there a reason we need both Blake and Johnson?" I guess Blake is better against RHP than Fontenot is against LHP, but on the other hand there are a lot more RH relievers than LH relivers.

[Tracer Bullet]

Is there a reason we need both Ward and Fontenot?

 

The same question becomes "Is there a reason we need both Blake and Johnson?" I guess Blake is better against RHP than Fontenot is against LHP, but on the other hand there are a lot more RH relievers than LH relivers.

 

My understanding is Blake plays adequate defense at 4 positions (corners of the IF and OF). Ward plays adequate defense at DH. With Fukudome getting days off against LHP more frequently than I expected and the fragility of Soriano and Edmonds, I'd like another OF that can actually play the OF (sorry, DeRo).

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I don't really think DeRosa is a problem in the OF. He had a bit of a rough week there, but on the whole he's fine. I doubt there's a significant difference between him and Blake defensively.

[rawaction]

Derosa's fine in the OF. Unfortunately he's been stuck out there long-term and has had trouble recently. I agree with the sentiment that one of Fontenot, Derosa, Blake would have to have the ability to play SS as a backup. The only person Blake could replace on the bench would be Cedeno. I'd go with 1 less pitcher, but that's not going to happen.

[Laura]

There was some speculation on xm that Blake was on the Mets' short list of replacements for Alou.

[rawaction]

There was some speculation on xm that Blake was on the Mets' short list of replacements for Alou.

 

I heard this list of OFs the Mets are interested in. The last word I was use to describe it is "short".

[Laura]

There was some speculation on xm that Blake was on the Mets' short list of replacements for Alou.

 

I heard this list of OFs the Mets are interested in. The last word I was use to describe it is "short".

 

ha, true!

[Post Count Padder]

I wouldn't mind Blake for the bench.

[twothousandfive]

Is there a reason we need both Ward and Fontenot?

Because Fontenot is the preferred back-up at 2B (ahead of Cedeno) and DeRosa is the non-defensive back-up for corner OFs (and sometimes 1B and 3B). In essence, Fontenot backs up three-five positions.

 

I think you could make the case that a clear upgrade to DeRosa as back-up corner OF would step into Fotenot's spot, but it is unlikely to happen. If Hart and Ceda could bring back Blake, I'd do it.

 

He can be very useful if the Cubs are in a position to rest some players in September, and he's the RH DH if they make it to the world series.

 

 

EDIT: Meant Hart OR Ceda -- basically depending on if Cleveland wanted a pitcher for next year, or someone who might take longer.

Edited July 17, 2008 by twothousandfive

[Tracer Bullet]

Is there a reason we need both Ward and Fontenot?

Because Fontenot is the preferred back-up at 2B (ahead of Cedeno) and DeRosa is the non-defensive back-up for corner OFs (and sometimes 1B and 3B). In essence, Fontenot backs up three-five positions.

 

I think you could make the case that a clear upgrade to DeRosa as back-up corner OF would step into Fotenot's spot, but it is unlikely to happen. If Hart and Ceda could bring back Blake, I'd do it.

 

He can be very useful if the Cubs are in a position to rest some players in September, and he's the RH DH if they make it to the world series.

 

I don't really follow, but as between Ward and Fontenot, I think I'd rather have Fontenot.

[davearm2]

Is there a reason we need both Ward and Fontenot?

Because Fontenot is the preferred back-up at 2B (ahead of Cedeno) and DeRosa is the non-defensive back-up for corner OFs (and sometimes 1B and 3B). In essence, Fontenot backs up three-five positions.

 

I think you could make the case that a clear upgrade to DeRosa as back-up corner OF would step into Fotenot's spot, but it is unlikely to happen. If Hart and Ceda could bring back Blake, I'd do it.

 

He can be very useful if the Cubs are in a position to rest some players in September, and he's the RH DH if they make it to the world series.

Hart and Ceda for 2 months of a minor bench upgrade? Ugly.

[JeffH]

Didn't Blake fall apart late in last year's ALCS?

 

Do we really want anybody with that kind of Cub-karma?

[ddwyer]

Is there a reason we need both Ward and Fontenot?

Because Fontenot is the preferred back-up at 2B (ahead of Cedeno) and DeRosa is the non-defensive back-up for corner OFs (and sometimes 1B and 3B). In essence, Fontenot backs up three-five positions.

 

I think you could make the case that a clear upgrade to DeRosa as back-up corner OF would step into Fotenot's spot, but it is unlikely to happen. If Hart and Ceda could bring back Blake, I'd do it.

 

He can be very useful if the Cubs are in a position to rest some players in September, and he's the RH DH if they make it to the world series.

Hart and Ceda for 2 months of a minor bench upgrade? Ugly.

 

 

I wouldn't trade Hart OR Ceda for 2 months of Casey Blake.

[CubColtPacer]

Casey Blake would be perfect for an ~August 28th pickup. In the organization for the playoff roster when we go down to 11 pitchers, and you can survive a couple games without Cedeno or the 12th pitcher until September callups.

 

Agreed. If it's Blake or somebody else, the Cubs should try to find a right-handed pinch-hitter late in August. Anything before that and you lose somebody on the bench that could be useful. If you do it late in August though, you can get the person playoff eligible, which is really the main key to a deal like this.

 

Now, the fact that you are waiting until the end of August means that you are limited in the people you can pick up through waivers, but a right handed bat whose only qualification need be that he hits left-handed pitching well, regardless of anything else he does, shouldn't be that hard to sneak through waivers.

 

Releasing Ward to pick up a guy like Blake now solves very little, IMO. Blake is not as good of a hitter as Ward, isn't used to coming off the bench, and really is probably at least as bad as DeRosa in the OF due to being rusty (no games out there this year, only 7 last year) and age (34). There are much better ways of filling that need for the playoffs that give you both Ward and a RH pinch hitter to be available off the bench.

[sporrer17]

If they were willing to go to an 11 man pitching staff, we could do it. With Marshall and Lieber both down there (assuming Cotts is replaced by Eyre, although that may not be right) I think we can get by for a month like that, but I don't see them going for it.

 

I'd also say picking up a RH bat off the bench should be doable through waivers, especially since we can probably afford to take on a little bit of salary being as it would only be for a month or so.

 

Just an interesting option, and I doubt that Washington would go for it...but Cristian Guzman is crushing LHs this year.

.362/.381/.512. He's also a free agent after '08, but it might take more than usual to get him since he is an "all-star" this year.

[CubColtPacer]

If they were willing to go to an 11 man pitching staff, we could do it. With Marshall and Lieber both down there (assuming Cotts is replaced by Eyre, although that may not be right) I think we can get by for a month like that, but I don't see them going for it.

 

I'd also say picking up a RH bat off the bench should be doable through waivers, especially since we can probably afford to take on a little bit of salary being as it would only be for a month or so.

 

Just an interesting option, and I doubt that Washington would go for it...but Cristian Guzman is crushing LHs this year.

.362/.381/.512. He's also a free agent after '08, but it might take more than usual to get him since he is an "all-star" this year.

 

Marshall would also be exiting if there were only 11 pitchers. The bullpen would be Wood, Marmol, Howry, Eyre, Gaudin, and Lieber.

 

And honestly, that 12th pitcher is probably needed more than the RH pinch hitter right now. Neither are that important, but the 12th pitcher is hopefully going to lessen your work on your big 3, and plus, they might want Marshall to stay up to long relieve and start every 10 days or so to given Harden an extra day when they don't have an off day. Of course, Lou also needs to use all his guys regularly, which he hasn't shown to be great at.

[twothousandfive]

I wouldn't trade Hart OR Ceda for 2 months of Casey Blake.

EDIT:ddwyer wrote that statement.

 

Fair enough disagreement, even after my edit. Among my big worries is the DH against a lefty in the WS. Let's say it is the Red Sox, and the Cubs face Lester twice (games 2 & 6, though very unlikely). What would you think the Cubs line-up should be? And the Red Sox can bring Okajima in in the eighth, so it is an ongoing problem.

 

I don't want to see Cedeno or Blanco in the starting line-up, as of right now. Who is your DH, and if it's Soriano, who is in LF and CF (and RF for that matter).I think preparing for that scenario, and gaining a valuable PH for Aug, is worth the price of Hart or Ceda.

[RedFlash]

I don't want to see Cedeno or Blanco in the starting line-up, as of right now. Who is your DH, and if it's Soriano, who is in LF and CF (and RF for that matter).I think preparing for that scenario, and gaining a valuable PH for Aug, is worth the price of Hart or Ceda.

 

Absolutely not. Maybe Hart, MAYBE, but not Ceda. I might consider a guy like Novoa, I mean Ascanio, or perhaps a guy like Wells, not that is a no on Jose Ceda. Cubs can get a better player then Blake for Ceda.