Re: Peavy High on Cubs Wish List

[Tracer Bullet]

Good thing we don't have any albatross contracts that are going to suck up tons of cash over the next several years.

[Little Slide Rooter]

We just need to win this thing now, before the team gradually morphs back into its 1990's counterpart.

[Tyrant]

This definately reeks of an "impulse" buy for the Ricketts family.

 

I highly doubt it. Spending $900 million on a sports franchise after a nearly two-year process isn't the same as you buying an iPod at Target on a whim.

[UMFan83]

That's ok, we'll just do what we do best, which is build a farm system!

 

Oh wait.....

[Hairyducked Idiot]

$31 million in operating revenue without including the take from half of the televised games?

 

That's a pretty big chunk not to include.

[CubColtPacer]

Hoff will be on the opening day roster. probably 1 less in the pen, likely Cotts, especially if Marshall is in the pen.

 

How do you know Hoffpauir will be on the opening day roster?

 

I should have said probably. Otherwise, there wont be anything remotely resembling power on the bench.

 

I imagine Lou would choose the extra bat on the bench over the extra arm, especially since we have so many guys in the pen capable of pitching multiple inings.

 

Here's Lou's recent quote on that matter:

 

"With our pitching, it seems to me like we've got to carry 12 pitchers," Lou said. "I don't see how we can get by with 11, I really don't."

 

Lou has consistently wanted 12 pitchers since the day he got here. I would consider in very unlikely that he would have a sudden change of heart.

[SouthSideRyan]

Just because you keep saying Hoffpauir will be on the team doesn't mean he will be. Lou will not go with 11 pitchers early in the year, and he's not going to go with 1 backup IF either. Good thing we have Joey Gathright.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Just because you keep saying Hoffpauir will be on the team doesn't mean he will be. Lou will not go with 11 pitchers early in the year, and he's not going to go with 1 backup IF either. Good thing we have Joey Gathright.

 

Then we'll have a feeble bench. going from

 

Ward

Fontenot

Johnson

Blanco

Cedeno

 

to

 

Miles

Bako

Gathright

Johnson/Fukudome

Crappy middle infielder.

 

Make one miss the days of

 

Neifi

Macias

Walker

Bako

Hollandsworth

[Soul]

I'm also worried about our bench compared to last year.

[BigbadB]

The bench? yeah, it sucks. But, just wait until Theriot and Miles are hitting at the top of the order everyday.

[David]

I really don't think Miles will start over Fontenot vs. RHP, which is obviously a good majority of the games.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I really don't think Miles will start over Fontenot vs. RHP, which is obviously a good majority of the games.

 

Talk to me after Fontenot's first 0-for-7.

[abuck1220]

man, fontenot better do what he did last year.

[jersey cubs fan]

Cedeno was obvioiusly the least important part of the equation. Cedeno will likely be a backup MI for his MLB career. Why in the hell would he be traded (plus some unnamed, yet apparently equally untalented minor league player) for a successful and proven MLB picther?

 

A utility man and a relief pitcher, both have limited value.

[Keener98]

The way the bench stands with the addition of Paul Freaking Bako, it may have the least amount of power of any bench in the history of baseball.

[BigbadB]

I really don't think Miles will start over Fontenot vs. RHP, which is obviously a good majority of the games.

 

I hope you're right. But, if Fontenot gets off to a slow start, Piniella can very quickly bring the hook on the youngster in favor of the "proven veteran".

[Sever82]

I really dont like Lou for that reason alone. He has such a short leash on young player its ridiculous, the only exception is theriot, who Lou probably wouldn't replace even if he had just trade for Ramirez at short. He'd probably still make it an open competition because of how much man love he has for theriot. His Leash on Pie was way too short and also for Hill. I very highly doubt Samardizja, Marshall, or Gaudin become the 5th starter. I'm pretty sure Heilman will because according to Lou " He's a proven veteran."

[UMFan83]

I really dont like Lou for that reason alone. He has such a short leash on young player its ridiculous, the only exception is theriot, who Lou probably wouldn't replace even if he had just trade for Ramirez at short. He'd probably still make it an open competition because of how much man love he has for theriot. His Leash on Pie was way too short and also for Hill. I very highly doubt Samardizja, Marshall, or Gaudin become the 5th starter. I'm pretty sure Heilman will because according to Lou " He's a proven veteran."

 

I don't really think its Lou prefering "proven veterans" as much as it is Lou choosing his favorites and stubbornly sticking with his first impression. When the Cubs won the division in 2008, Lou was lauded for winning with players from the farm system who weren't exactly regarded highly. Theriot, Soto, Fontenot, Marmol, Samardzija, even Gallagher all played key roles. He just traded his .860+ OPS second baseman to make more ABs for Fontenot.

 

However, the other side of the coin is players that he seems to not favor from the start for whatever reason. Players like Pie, Hill and Murton for whatever reason were out of favor from the start and Lou just never gave them the chance they deserved.

[MixmastaMiguel]

I don't see why we traded Cedeno if we were just gonna sign another infielder as a backup. That's why I really see Hoffpauir as the last roster guy. We only need 1 backup IF. And if that person gets hurt, we can call up Luis Rivas the next day.

[SouthSideRyan]

Just because you keep saying Hoffpauir will be on the team doesn't mean he will be. Lou will not go with 11 pitchers early in the year, and he's not going to go with 1 backup IF either. Good thing we have Joey Gathright.

 

Then we'll have a feeble bench. going from

 

Ward

Fontenot

Johnson

Blanco

Cedeno

 

to

 

Miles

Bako

Gathright

Johnson/Fukudome

Crappy middle infielder.

 

Make one miss the days of

 

Neifi

Macias

Walker

Bako

Hollandsworth

 

I know. That's what everyone is pissed about. And if Fontenot hits like he did in '07, we're gonna be pretty mediocre and Kosuke doesn't turn it around, we're gonna be pretty mediocre.

[anabiono]

just face it

 

we are going to be pretty mediocre

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't see why we traded Cedeno if we were just gonna sign another infielder as a backup. That's why I really see Hoffpauir as the last roster guy. We only need 1 backup IF. And if that person gets hurt, we can call up Luis Rivas the next day.

 

What do you do if you have to replace Ramirez and a 2B in the same game? Lou makes a heck of a lot of switches, but he, like most managers, waits to use the backup catcher so he's not potentially stuck with nobody to back him up. I cannot see Lou being comfortable with only one guy who can backup 3B, SS and 2B in any one game, let alone starting on opening day, when cold weather can lead to a lot of muscle tweaks.

 

It really doesn't make any sense to have Johnson, Gathwright and Hoffpauir on the same bench.

[CUBZ99]

I really dont like Lou for that reason alone. He has such a short leash on young player its ridiculous, the only exception is theriot, who Lou probably wouldn't replace even if he had just trade for Ramirez at short. He'd probably still make it an open competition because of how much man love he has for theriot. His Leash on Pie was way too short and also for Hill. I very highly doubt Samardizja, Marshall, or Gaudin become the 5th starter. I'm pretty sure Heilman will because according to Lou " He's a proven veteran."

 

I don't really think its Lou prefering "proven veterans" as much as it is Lou choosing his favorites and stubbornly sticking with his first impression. When the Cubs won the division in 2008, Lou was lauded for winning with players from the farm system who weren't exactly regarded highly. Theriot, Soto, Fontenot, Marmol, Samardzija, even Gallagher all played key roles. He just traded his .860+ OPS second baseman to make more ABs for Fontenot.

 

However, the other side of the coin is players that he seems to not favor from the start for whatever reason. Players like Pie, Hill and Murton for whatever reason were out of favor from the start and Lou just never gave them the chance they deserved.

 

Lou gave Hill every shot possible, including letting him start in the playoffs. For some reason or another Hill just completely lost it. I seem to recall Lou liking Pie very much his first year, but you are right his leash was very short and eventually Pie got into Lou's doghouse. Gallagher had a couple of rough outings, but Lou continued to give him chances. Overall, Lou plays whoever is producing. He wasn't shy about giving Hill the start over Marquis in the playoffs, simply because Marquis was a "proven veteran." He wasn't shy about benching Kendall for Soto. He wasn't shy about benching Izturis for Theriot. He wasn't shy about benching Fukudome at the end of last year.

 

Lou is nowhere near as bad as Dusty used to be in regard to veterans.

[jersey cubs fan]

I really dont like Lou for that reason alone. He has such a short leash on young player its ridiculous, the only exception is theriot, who Lou probably wouldn't replace even if he had just trade for Ramirez at short. He'd probably still make it an open competition because of how much man love he has for theriot. His Leash on Pie was way too short and also for Hill. I very highly doubt Samardizja, Marshall, or Gaudin become the 5th starter. I'm pretty sure Heilman will because according to Lou " He's a proven veteran."

 

I don't really think its Lou prefering "proven veterans" as much as it is Lou choosing his favorites and stubbornly sticking with his first impression. When the Cubs won the division in 2008, Lou was lauded for winning with players from the farm system who weren't exactly regarded highly. Theriot, Soto, Fontenot, Marmol, Samardzija, even Gallagher all played key roles. He just traded his .860+ OPS second baseman to make more ABs for Fontenot.

 

However, the other side of the coin is players that he seems to not favor from the start for whatever reason. Players like Pie, Hill and Murton for whatever reason were out of favor from the start and Lou just never gave them the chance they deserved.

 

Lou gave Hill every shot possible, including letting him start in the playoffs. For some reason or another Hill just completely lost it. I seem to recall Lou liking Pie very much his first year, but you are right his leash was very short and eventually Pie got into Lou's doghouse. Gallagher had a couple of rough outings, but Lou continued to give him chances. Overall, Lou plays whoever is producing. He wasn't shy about giving Hill the start over Marquis in the playoffs, simply because Marquis was a "proven veteran." He wasn't shy about benching Kendall for Soto. He wasn't shy about benching Izturis for Theriot. He wasn't shy about benching Fukudome at the end of last year.

 

Lou is nowhere near as bad as Dusty used to be in regard to veterans.

 

I agree, for the most part. But it's much more about first impressions with Lou than proven veteran.

 

Also, yes, he was shy, and almost apologetic about starting Soto over Kendall. He had every intention of sticking with Kendall down the stretch until Soto made that option virtually impossible with a huge breakout. It's troubling that people have to be great from the outset in order to unseat such mediocre players as Kendall.

[UMFan83]

I really dont like Lou for that reason alone. He has such a short leash on young player its ridiculous, the only exception is theriot, who Lou probably wouldn't replace even if he had just trade for Ramirez at short. He'd probably still make it an open competition because of how much man love he has for theriot. His Leash on Pie was way too short and also for Hill. I very highly doubt Samardizja, Marshall, or Gaudin become the 5th starter. I'm pretty sure Heilman will because according to Lou " He's a proven veteran."

 

I don't really think its Lou prefering "proven veterans" as much as it is Lou choosing his favorites and stubbornly sticking with his first impression. When the Cubs won the division in 2008, Lou was lauded for winning with players from the farm system who weren't exactly regarded highly. Theriot, Soto, Fontenot, Marmol, Samardzija, even Gallagher all played key roles. He just traded his .860+ OPS second baseman to make more ABs for Fontenot.

 

However, the other side of the coin is players that he seems to not favor from the start for whatever reason. Players like Pie, Hill and Murton for whatever reason were out of favor from the start and Lou just never gave them the chance they deserved.

 

Lou gave Hill every shot possible, including letting him start in the playoffs. For some reason or another Hill just completely lost it. I seem to recall Lou liking Pie very much his first year, but you are right his leash was very short and eventually Pie got into Lou's doghouse. Gallagher had a couple of rough outings, but Lou continued to give him chances. Overall, Lou plays whoever is producing. He wasn't shy about giving Hill the start over Marquis in the playoffs, simply because Marquis was a "proven veteran." He wasn't shy about benching Kendall for Soto. He wasn't shy about benching Izturis for Theriot. He wasn't shy about benching Fukudome at the end of last year.

 

Lou is nowhere near as bad as Dusty used to be in regard to veterans.

 

I agree, for the most part. But it's much more about first impressions with Lou than proven veteran.

 

Also, yes, he was shy, and almost apologetic about starting Soto over Kendall. He had every intention of sticking with Kendall down the stretch until Soto made that option virtually impossible with a huge breakout. It's troubling that people have to be great from the outset in order to unseat such mediocre players as Kendall.

 

I guess to hurt my first point, starting Tracshel over Marshall down the stretch in 2007 was pretty inexcusable, but then again so was even have Steve Trachsel to begin with.