Cubs Sign Koskie to Minor League Deal

[TruffleShuffle]

With Koskie playing in the WBC you think it might be kinda hard for him to make the team. So I wonder how long Koskie is willing to play in Triple A, if he doesn't make the team. Because I don't see Gathright getting cut, or Hoffpauir not making the team out of spring training, if he keeps hitting like he has.

 

Bruce's blog:

 

I’m told that if Koskie doesn’t make the big-league roster, he’s open to playing at Class AAA Iowa for at least 30 days.

Confirmed in an article on cubs.com.

 

You have to confirm what I've told you?

 

a good message board poster always gets multiple sources.

[Gingerballs Lives]

I like this move.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He's no Mark DeRosa, though.

[Bruce Miles]

With Koskie playing in the WBC you think it might be kinda hard for him to make the team. So I wonder how long Koskie is willing to play in Triple A, if he doesn't make the team. Because I don't see Gathright getting cut, or Hoffpauir not making the team out of spring training, if he keeps hitting like he has.

 

Bruce's blog:

 

I’m told that if Koskie doesn’t make the big-league roster, he’s open to playing at Class AAA Iowa for at least 30 days.

Confirmed in an article on cubs.com.

 

You have to confirm what I've told you?

 

a good message board poster always gets multiple sources.

 

I can live with that, then.

[Illini Iceman]

With Koskie playing in the WBC you think it might be kinda hard for him to make the team. So I wonder how long Koskie is willing to play in Triple A, if he doesn't make the team. Because I don't see Gathright getting cut, or Hoffpauir not making the team out of spring training, if he keeps hitting like he has.

 

Bruce's blog:

 

I’m told that if Koskie doesn’t make the big-league roster, he’s open to playing at Class AAA Iowa for at least 30 days.

Confirmed in an article on cubs.com.

 

You have to confirm what I've told you?

 

a good message board poster always gets multiple sources.

 

I can live with that, then.

 

If he makes the team I hope it is at the expense of Gaithright, not Hoff. However, since Hoff has options and the Cubs would have to eat the Gaithright contract I have my doubts.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Or maybe Hendry just got word that Kevin Towers has had his eye on Koskie.

 

Seriously though, I do hate to say this, but if healthy a guy like Koskie probably has more of a place on this team than Hoff. Hoff has a nice bat, and I have a feeling that if being given the oportunity, he could be a .850ish OPSer with 20-25 home runs. However, the only position he can play semi competantly is 1B(wasnt he voted the best defensive 1B in his division in AAA for whatever thats worth?), and he wont get much of a chance. For this reason, Hoff would be better off if he were moved to a low level AL team where he could DH and play the occasional 1B, somewhere like KC or Baltimore. Other than that, he'll be a bat off the bench and nothing else, and Lou prefers the guys who can do a bit more, and we really don need another middle infielder on the team, be it Koskie, Luis Rivas, or whoever. I dont know much about Gathright defense, but his speed is great to have, especially if he can get on base. I doubt that they'll want to eat the 2.5 mil they just gave Miles.

[Wheelimus]

Or maybe, gasp, we can forgo the "12th pitcher who is used twice a month and demoted every time he blows up" position and just carry an extra positional player?

 

No matter how the pen breaks down, you're going to have a LOT of guys who can go more than 1 inning. And probably Shark at Iowa just waiting for a spot to open. We don't need 12 pitchers. Especially since we probably won't need a 5th starter until several weeks into the season.

 

I'm intrigued to see what Koskie can do. And relieved that our backup plan at 3B might actually exist now.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I agree that we could go with 11 pitchers, especialy when we have several guys in Heilman, Gaudin, and Vizcaino who are capable of going long inning relief. However, Lou has made it clear that he prefers to start out with the 12 pitchers.

 

Micah Hoffpauir, as Daryl Ward was before him is esentially a designated hitter on an NL team. Looking at other NL rosters, I dont see too many teams who have that player on the bench, just for his bat who doesnt have a specified defensive position. Someone like that is great to have on the roster come September, but until then, it takes up space. Especially when you have a guy like Hoff who has been an everyday player at every minor league level, and then you take these guys and give them a bench role, an they're not used to it. As every announcer will happily tell you every time a pinch hitter comes to the plate, when a guys used to playing everyday, its not that easy to come off the bench and take his hacks at the plate.

[Wheelimus]

I guess the bright side there is that Hoff won't be hurt at all playing everyday at Iowa (though I don't think he has anything to learn there). And some eye popping stats at AAA just might get someone to overpay for him when someone gets in a 1B pinch.

[cubbinalltheway]

With Koskie playing in the WBC you think it might be kinda hard for him to make the team. So I wonder how long Koskie is willing to play in Triple A, if he doesn't make the team. Because I don't see Gathright getting cut, or Hoffpauir not making the team out of spring training, if he keeps hitting like he has.

 

Bruce's blog:

 

I’m told that if Koskie doesn’t make the big-league roster, he’s open to playing at Class AAA Iowa for at least 30 days.

Confirmed in an article on cubs.com.

 

You have to confirm what I've told you?

oh snap!

[Sosa21MVP]

Another former Fort Wayne Wizard! \:D/

[nilodnayr]

Another former Fort Wayne Wizard! \:D/

 

 

OMG there are wizards in Fort Wayne??!?!?!?

[NCCubFan]

I saw the Cubs' A team play in Ft. Wayne a couple of times when my mother was still alive and I visited her in Wabash every summer. I believe that at least the first time was when the Cubs' affiliate was still the Lansing Lugnuts. One of the times was 2004 when Dempster made a rehab start.

[BCVM22]

Could we handle Koskie and Kosuke on the same team?

[NCCubFan]

Could we handle Koskie and Kosuke on the same team?

From the first page of this thread:

Koskie and Kosuke both on the Cubs. Too bad Harry isn't with us anymore; I'd love to hear him try to deal with that. It would be Sandberg and Sundberg all over again.

Don't be thinking that you were the first person to think of this. :P

[RedFlash]

It's a good thing we brought in another guy who can speak Ryan Dempster's language. Maybe NOW Demp can relax as a Cub. 8-)

[Magnetic Curses]

i wanted to acquire koskie years ago, before the concussions. i had this dream of the cubs going cheap and focusing on obp and isod.

 

now, he's a good corner infielder that can take a walk and hit for a little power.

[jersey cubs fan]

Or maybe, gasp, we can forgo the "12th pitcher who is used twice a month and demoted every time he blows up" position and just carry an extra positional player?

 

No matter how the pen breaks down, you're going to have a LOT of guys who can go more than 1 inning. And probably Shark at Iowa just waiting for a spot to open. We don't need 12 pitchers. Especially since we probably won't need a 5th starter until several weeks into the season.

 

I'm intrigued to see what Koskie can do. And relieved that our backup plan at 3B might actually exist now.

 

Generally speaking, I would agree with this. They don't need to have a 5th starter until April 25. However, with Harden possibly not even starting the season in the rotation, or if he does, unlikely to go past 5 at the start. And also a 5th starter who in all likelihood did not start much, if any last year, they are going to be burning through that bullpen early and often. As it stands now, the bullpen is more about quantity of arms rather than quality. And with as much as Marmol was used the past couple years, I don't want to see them in a position where he's throwing every other day. You can start the season with your 5th starter in the bullpen, but once you've stretched that guy out, does it make a lot of sense to then use him in short stints over the first three weeks, and then go right back to starting?

 

I'd like to see them go away from the 12th pitcher, but I doubt they do.

[Cubswin11]

Or maybe, gasp, we can forgo the "12th pitcher who is used twice a month and demoted every time he blows up" position and just carry an extra positional player?

 

No matter how the pen breaks down, you're going to have a LOT of guys who can go more than 1 inning. And probably Shark at Iowa just waiting for a spot to open. We don't need 12 pitchers. Especially since we probably won't need a 5th starter until several weeks into the season.

 

I'm intrigued to see what Koskie can do. And relieved that our backup plan at 3B might actually exist now.

I thought there was an article before ST, maybe during the Cubs Convention that said that Lou plans on carrying 11 pitchers and 14 position players.

 

Found it:

While thinking out loud, Piniella said he'd like to carry 14 position players and 11 pitchers if possible

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090217&content_id=3841016&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[Soul]

i wanted to acquire koskie years ago, before the concussions. i had this dream of the cubs going cheap and focusing on obp and isod.

 

now, he's a good corner infielder that can take a walk and hit for a little power.

 

Well, maybe he's ready to put in one more quality season before heading off into the sunset.

[Derwood]

They don't need to have a 5th starter until April 25.

 

This is the case nearly every year, but I don't remember them skipping the 5th spot much. seems like they usually just give everyone an extra day rest

[Schwarber Fan]

It's a good thing we brought in another guy who can speak Ryan Dempster's language. Maybe NOW Demp can relax as a Cub. 8-)

 

Yea, it's not like we have Rich Harden or anything.

[RedFlash]

It's a good thing we brought in another guy who can speak Ryan Dempster's language. Maybe NOW Demp can relax as a Cub. 8-)

 

Yea, it's not like we have Rich Harden or anything.

 

It was a joke in the mold of a Ryan Dempster style joke.

[Hall7810]

Meanwhile, infielder Corey Koskie , who signed at the end of February, has not yet received medical clearance to play because of post-concussion syndrome. A final decision could come Saturday.

[Illini Iceman]

Meanwhile, infielder Corey Koskie , who signed at the end of February, has not yet received medical clearance to play because of post-concussion syndrome. A final decision could come Saturday.

 

They way that reads makes me think they are close to releasing him.

[mhuber92211]

Len announced it as official on the broadcast this afternoon