September call ups

[biittner77]

Yes, it's not even August but I thought it might be interesting to track who the Cubs might call up.

 

The obvious ones:

Wuertz

Ascanio

Hart

Pie

 

I'd like to see them bring up a 3rd catcher so they can PH for Blanco without having to put Soto back in on his days off or so they can PR for Soto if needed. Candidates there would be Hill and Mcgahee. Hill is better defensively but McGahee can also play 3rd and 1st.

 

A RH bat would be good. Does Craig get rewarded with a call up?

[Little Slide Rooter]

we'll definitely be seeing Hoff again, and possibly Jason DuBois' Chicago Cubs Farewell Tour.

Hector Carrascos another possibility.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Fox will probably come up.

[CubColtPacer]

Fox will probably come up.

 

I actually doubt this. I don't think he got called up last September (at least he never appeared in a game). Lou was furious with him, and that will probably be one of the names Hendry mentions to Lou, Lou says he will never play him, and that's the end of that.

 

I see Fuld as one of the names along with some of the others already mentioned in this thread. Angel Guzman as well.

Edited July 28, 2008 by CubColtPacer

[anabiono]

Fox will probably come up.

 

I actually doubt this. I don't think he got called up last September (at least he never appeared in a game). Lou was furious with him, and that will probably be one of the names Hendry mentions to Lou, Lou says he will never play him, and that's the end of that.

 

I see Fuld as one of the names along with some of the others already mentioned in this thread.

 

wow, remember when we all thought there was a pretty decent chance for a bit there of fuld being our starting center fielder?

 

yikes...it seems like such a long time ago too

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Fox will probably come up.

 

I actually doubt this. I don't think he got called up last September (at least he never appeared in a game). Lou was furious with him, and that will probably be one of the names Hendry mentions to Lou, Lou says he will never play him, and that's the end of that.

 

I see Fuld as one of the names along with some of the others already mentioned in this thread. Angel Guzman as well.

 

He's the only RH bat on the 40 man not on the active roster. He may not get used at all, but I have a hard time believing they send him home for September.

[Rob]

The 40 man as it stands now...

 

Jose Ascanio

Neal Cotts

Ryan Dempster

Scott Eyre

Chad Fox

Chad Gaudin

Angel Guzman (60 day DL)

Adam Harben

Rich Harden

Kevin Hart

Rich Hill

Bob Howry

Jon Lieber

Ted Lilly

Carlos Marmol

Jason Marquis

Sean Marshall

Billy Petrick

Carmen Pignatiello

Jeff Samardzija

Kerry Wood

Michael Wuertz

Carlos Zambrano

 

Of the pitchers, Fox and Harben almost certainly wont be up in September. Hill and Petrick are longshots. Everybody else will probably be up, health permitting... though we may lose Lieber, Eyre, or Howry when Wood comes off the DL.

 

 

Henry Blanco

Geovany Soto

Ronny Cedeno

Mark DeRosa

Mike Fontenot

Jake Fox

Micah Hoffpauir

Derrek Lee

Aramis Ramirez

Ryan Theriot

Daryle Ward

Jim Edmonds

Kosuke Fukudome

Sam Fuld

Reed Johnson

Felix Pie

Alfonso Soriano

 

With the hitters, I see no reason why we wouldn't bring all of these guys up... each of them has something to offer. Be it Fuld for pinch running or a defensive replacement, or Fox when we need that power righty bat off the bench.

 

Edit:

 

For any other names to get called up, like Craig... he'd have to be added to the 40 man. It currently stands at 39, but Guzman coming off the 60 day DL would be 40. So Hendry and Lou would have to clear some space off the 40 man. Off the top of my head, Veal needs to be added to the 40 man after this season or risk being taken in the Rule 5... I'm not sure of anybody else.

Edited July 28, 2008 by Rob

[jersey cubs fan]

Fox will probably come up.

 

I actually doubt this. I don't think he got called up last September (at least he never appeared in a game). Lou was furious with him, and that will probably be one of the names Hendry mentions to Lou, Lou says he will never play him, and that's the end of that.

 

I see Fuld as one of the names along with some of the others already mentioned in this thread.

 

wow, remember when we all thought there was a pretty decent chance for a bit there of fuld being our starting center fielder?

 

yikes...it seems like such a long time ago too

 

I honestly don't remember that.

 

What's the Fox/Piniella story? He was called up last year, but not in September. Did something happen that was worse than the Patterson sleep-in issue? He wasn't happy with Eric, but soon played him again.

[jersey cubs fan]

With the hitters, I see no reason why we wouldn't bring all of these guys up... each of them has something to offer. Be it Fuld for pinch running or a defensive replacement, or Fox when we need that power righty bat off the bench.

 

I highly doubt they bring up all of them. Team's just don't do that.

[Rob]

With the hitters, I see no reason why we wouldn't bring all of these guys up... each of them has something to offer. Be it Fuld for pinch running or a defensive replacement, or Fox when we need that power righty bat off the bench.

 

I highly doubt they bring up all of them. Team's just don't do that.

 

I wasn't trying to say that we would bring all of them up... just that there wasn't a good reason to leave any of them at home. (Sans budget concerns)

[Ding Dong Johnson]

What's the Fox/Piniella story? He was called up last year, but not in September. Did something happen that was worse than the Patterson sleep-in issue? He wasn't happy with Eric, but soon played him again.

as I recall, it had something to do with him hacking at the 1st pitch and grounding out very weakly in all 3 ABs. looking at his last game log, he saw 5 pitches in those 3 ABs, and he swung at 4 of them.

[craig]

Will be interesting. Several factors:

 

1. Clubhouse is small. Baker at least always fussed about it getting too crowded with extra guys around. Not sure how many they want if they aren't actually likely to contribute.

 

2. Fleita likes to use callups as a reward to players, even if they won't play much. Just a developmental thing, to see what the majors is like, get familiar with the coaches, etc.

 

3. Size of lead. Right now with a 1-game lead that's much shrunk and with the team having played sub-.500 over the last month, the assumption is that it will be nip-and-tuck. But in the event that they were to have a bigger lead entering September, and have at least the possibility of opening up some margin with time to spare, they might want to have some bodies just so that they can give more rest to the regulars in advance of the playoffs.

 

I'd think a 3rd catcher (Hill), an outfielder (Pie), and Hart are the only safe callups.

[TruffleShuffle]

yeah, pie is a no-brainer because even if he doesn't start, he can pinch run and be a defensive sub. that diving catch by edmonds to end the game yesterday, pie probably makes that without even laying out.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Definite:

Hoffpauir

Pie(for speed if nothing else)

Wuertz(unless traded)

Ascanio

Shark(if sent down before then)

 

possible:

Sam Fuld: as long as hes on the 40 man, he could be a good defensive replacement in the situation calls for it

Jake Fox: again, as long as hes on the 40 man, may as well use him.

Chad Fox: If hes healthy, and hasnt been DFAd.

 

not on the 40 man, but room could be made:

Jason DuBois: if he keeps dispaying the same power until then, it will be hard to say no

Hector Carrasco: you can always use a verteran arm in the pen.

[Guest]

possible:

Chad Fox: If hes healthy, and hasnt been DFAd.

 

not on the 40 man, but room could be made:

Jason DuBois: if he keeps dispaying the same power until then, it will be hard to say no

Hector Carrasco: you can always use a verteran arm in the pen.

 

I'm going to go ahread and guess these 3 aren't possiblities.

 

I could see Ceda added to the 40 man.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd think a 3rd catcher (Hill), an outfielder (Pie), and Hart are the only safe callups.

you think they'd foolishly waste a 40-man spot on Hill again?

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd think a 3rd catcher (Hill), an outfielder (Pie), and Hart are the only safe callups.

you think they'd foolishly waste a 40-man spot on Hill again?

 

They're gonna have to waste a 40 man roster spot on some 3rd catcher. Might as well be Hill rather than digging up Mike DiFelice's corpse again.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd think a 3rd catcher (Hill), an outfielder (Pie), and Hart are the only safe callups.

you think they'd foolishly waste a 40-man spot on Hill again?

 

They're gonna have to waste a 40 man roster spot on some 3rd catcher. Might as well be Hill rather than digging up Mike DiFelice's corpse again.

so what do they do with Jake Fox, drop him?

[SouthSideRyan]

I'd think a 3rd catcher (Hill), an outfielder (Pie), and Hart are the only safe callups.

you think they'd foolishly waste a 40-man spot on Hill again?

 

They're gonna have to waste a 40 man roster spot on some 3rd catcher. Might as well be Hill rather than digging up Mike DiFelice's corpse again.

so what do they do with Jake Fox, drop him?

 

I don't know when the last time Fox caught was, but whenever it was, I'm sure he was doing it poorly.

[NCCubFan]

I think, though, that Fox would suffice as a THIRD catcher (who would only catch in an emergency). I think that's more likely than using a 40-man roster spot on somebody who would be nothing but a third catcher. And I see the other Fox (Chad) as more likely a 60-day DL move to provide postseason roster flexibility than a September callup.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

With the small clubhouse, they aren't likely to bring up too many.

 

I think we'll see some extra arms for the pen and a few bats.

 

Pie will get called up. Hoffpauir will as well. If he's still hitting, Dubois could get added to the 40 and then removed when the season is done.

 

Fuld and Fox are long shots. I don't see either returning. Neither has done much in the minors this year. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see either or both traded or removed from the 40-man this offseason.

 

As far as pitchers, I think Wuertz, Guzman, Ascanio, Hart, and Lieber will be it. Oh, and maybe Hill. I think if Hill can find his control and the Cubs have a four game or greater lead, he could be given a start to rest someone in the rotation like Dempster or Harden.

[jersey cubs fan]

They have the 40-man spot available, so I would be fine with them adding Hill again. He's perfectly functional as a defensive catcher. He probably holds some value to the franchise to keep around in case of emergencies. Perhaps giving him a Sept call-up makes him consider signing with Iowa again next year. An emergency C's only real value is the off chance that he'll need to catch a couple innings in extra innings at some point. I think I'd rather have that guy be a solid glove with no bat, so as to not lose that game by bad catching.

[Athletics36]

Definite:

Hoffpauir

Pie(for speed if nothing else)

Wuertz(unless traded)

Ascanio

Shark(if sent down before then)

 

possible:

Sam Fuld: as long as hes on the 40 man, he could be a good defensive replacement in the situation calls for it

Jake Fox: again, as long as hes on the 40 man, may as well use him.

Chad Fox: If hes healthy, and hasnt been DFAd.

 

not on the 40 man, but room could be made:

Jason DuBois: if he keeps dispaying the same power until then, it will be hard to say no

Hector Carrasco: you can always use a verteran arm in the pen.

 

This is gonna be interesting to see how the call-ups go with the Cubs in a playoff race. I can say that the "clubhouse" is tiny and don't see them adding very many. I would say the more interesting question is who is going to be dropped from the 40 man after this season as the cubs have decisions to be made. I would have to say that for call-ups in Sep I only see Guzman(if he's throwing like I have heard reports about), would have to say that Rich Hill will also be up and that Hoff would be the only position player added(Lou's got a man crush on him). Pie is interesting as there were reasons why he was sent packing as quickly as he was and not sure if Lou is willing to give him a second chance. Cubs are in a win it all now and Lou's not going to want the youngsters hanging around....

[craig]

They have the 40-man spot available, so I would be fine with them adding Hill again. He's perfectly functional as a defensive catcher. He probably holds some value to the franchise to keep around in case of emergencies. Perhaps giving him a Sept call-up makes him consider signing with Iowa again next year. An emergency C's only real value is the off chance that he'll need to catch a couple innings in extra innings at some point. I think I'd rather have that guy be a solid glove with no bat, so as to not lose that game by bad catching.

 

Agreed. I don't think I can ever remember the Cubs going without a 3rd catcher in September, whether they were contending or not, whether that 3rd catcher was any good or had any potential or not. If they clinch with a week to go, they might be happy to let Soto get some extra rest. If Soto or Blanco get hurt (which thankfully and somewhat unusually has not happened thus far), they want to have somebody ready and in baseball shape. If they let Koyie go home first week of September, but then need him on September 15, he'll be out of shape. Plus, with extra pitchers called up, having an extra bullpen glove helps, too.

 

Can call him up and deroster him again once the season is done.

 

As for Fox, I think he's pretty likely to get derostered after the season. He's a PH/DH/1B guy who's 26, they've got him in AA rather than AAA, he's an undisciplined hacker, and he's hitting only .268 on the minor-league season. I don't think you hold 40-man spots for 26-year-old AA DH's who hit .268.

 

That said, he has actually improved this year at Tenn. After only 2 walks in 117 AB at Iowa, they sent him down and he's maybe gotten the message: in AA he's got 28 walks/268 AB, which is uncharacteristic for him. His IsoP at AA is over .250, and on the season he's got 21 HR in only 385 AB's, which is pretty good bombing.

 

But I assume his day has kind of passed in the organization, if they took him at all seriously they'd have probably kept him or returned him to Iowa.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I have a feeling that Koyie and Dubois will both get call ups. Theres the empty 40 man spot, plus, as its been stated multiple times, theres really no point in keeping Chad Fox around. Unless of course, hes in their September plans.