Changes may be on their way?

[Keener98]

I know Lou likes to spout off after games and say stuff he usually completely doesnt mean or stick with, and heres another instance.

 

"You know, [Micah] Hoffpauir is hitting .300, and [Koyie] Hill is hitting .300. Sooner or later, I mean, I've got to do something. Let's hope these guys start hitting the way they're capable of and we can mix and match and rest our people and so forth. But gosh, it's a struggle at times for us."

 

Its funny that now, after Lee has had a few decent games, Lou supposedly is thinking about playing Hoff. Same goes for Soto who had an OPS over 1.000 over the last 7 games before the Stl series, but now hes talking about playing Hill. Lou cracks me up sometimes, and I love how the Chicago media said nothing about pulling the infield in in the 4th inning of a 0-0 game.

 

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-21-cubs-cardinals-chicago-may21,0,467023.story

[treebird]

switching to hill would be unforgivable. do what you have to do with lee, but there's just so little chance of hill being decent over any reasonably long period of time that to replace soto with him would be completely unacceptable.

[DiamondMind]

You have to sit Lee more often. You have to.

[Backtobanks]

With the way they've been struggling, you have to wonder how much longer they can leave Jake Fox at AAA.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Why isnt anyone talking trade? The Mets lose Delgado for 10 weeks and they're already weighing all their options. Meanwhile, we lose Aram, whose more important to us than Delgado is to them and were trying to plug in a bunch of journeymen to fill the void. It aint going to work.

[Derwood]

Lee is 7 for his last 15, so NOW he wants to bench him?

[dew1679666265]

With the way they've been struggling, you have to wonder how much longer they can leave Jake Fox at AAA.

 

Jake Fox just isn't a realistic option, I'm afraid. If he can't play defense his bat will have little impact for us.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Again I really wouldnt be surprised to see Fox brought up sooner than later. Yeah, Id rather make a trade for Huff or someone along those lines, but Ive heard 0 talk about it. The best thing to do with him is bring him up for interleague, let him DH and hope he can be good enough to entice some AL teams. Baltimore would be an ideal landing spot for Fox. We seem to have a good relationship with them and their DHs are Wiggington and some guy named Nolan Reimhold with a .726 OPS. Id take Huff, Wiggington or Mora.

[dew1679666265]

Again I really wouldnt be surprised to see Fox brought up sooner than later. Yeah, Id rather make a trade for Huff or someone along those lines, but Ive heard 0 talk about it. The best thing to do with him is bring him up for interleague, let him DH and hope he can be good enough to entice some AL teams. Baltimore would be an ideal landing spot for Fox. We seem to have a good relationship with them and their DHs are Wiggington and some guy named Nolan Reimhold with a .726 OPS. Id take Huff, Wiggington or Mora.

 

I could see him up as a DH, but there's no way Lou would have the patience (nor, probably, should he) to let Fox play the field.

[rynefan]

Why isnt anyone talking trade? The Mets lose Delgado for 10 weeks and they're already weighing all their options. Meanwhile, we lose Aram, whose more important to us than Delgado is to them and were trying to plug in a bunch of journeymen to fill the void. It aint going to work.

 

I knew the Aram thing would catch up with us sooner or later. I think it has. I would love to see Hoff in there more regularly.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cardinals Could Acquire A Third Baseman

By Tim Dierkes [May 21 at 8:31am CST]

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talked to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who said the Cardinals could look outside the organization for a third baseman if they get bad news about Troy Glaus next month. The team's current third basemen, mainly Brian Barden and Joe Thurston, have provided a .243/.323/.357 line. Mozeliak says top prospect Brett Wallace is not under consideration.

 

Who might be available for trade? Mark DeRosa, Garrett Atkins, Melvin Mora, and Adrian Beltre seem like possibilities.

 

Looks like everyones trying to plug in their holes but us.

[Backtobanks]

Why isnt anyone talking trade? The Mets lose Delgado for 10 weeks and they're already weighing all their options. Meanwhile, we lose Aram, whose more important to us than Delgado is to them and were trying to plug in a bunch of journeymen to fill the void. It aint going to work.

 

Apparently, Lou and Hendry think it will work as long as we can stay close in the NL Central. You do have to be optimistic about the offense rebounding when Lee, Bradley, Soto, and Fontenot return to anywhere near what was expected of them and Ramirez comes back from his injury. As frustrating as they have been, their record isn't bad considering all the injuries and slumps they have had. When you have Theriot, Fukudome, and Hoffpauir carrying your team offensively, you know you've been struggling.

[CP_414]

Are we sure he's talking about Hoff at 1b and not in RF?

[rocket]

Cardinals Could Acquire A Third Baseman

By Tim Dierkes [May 21 at 8:31am CST]

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talked to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who said the Cardinals could look outside the organization for a third baseman if they get bad news about Troy Glaus next month. The team's current third basemen, mainly Brian Barden and Joe Thurston, have provided a .243/.323/.357 line. Mozeliak says top prospect Brett Wallace is not under consideration.

 

Who might be available for trade? Mark DeRosa, Garrett Atkins, Melvin Mora, and Adrian Beltre seem like possibilities.

 

Looks like everyones trying to plug in their holes but us.

 

seriously? if there's a good thing about hendry it's that he's not the least bit shy about making mid-season deals to help the team.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cardinals Could Acquire A Third Baseman

By Tim Dierkes [May 21 at 8:31am CST]

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talked to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who said the Cardinals could look outside the organization for a third baseman if they get bad news about Troy Glaus next month. The team's current third basemen, mainly Brian Barden and Joe Thurston, have provided a .243/.323/.357 line. Mozeliak says top prospect Brett Wallace is not under consideration.

 

Who might be available for trade? Mark DeRosa, Garrett Atkins, Melvin Mora, and Adrian Beltre seem like possibilities.

 

Looks like everyones trying to plug in their holes but us.

 

seriously? if there's a good thing about hendry it's that he's not the least bit shy about making mid-season deals to help the team.

 

We need help now, not mid season.

[soapy]

why are people assuming that Hendry isn't considering/trying to find a replacement for Aramis at 3B and/or also trade Fox? you seriously think this stuff hasn't occured to him? i have my problems with Hendry, but i have to believe he's working on a solution.

 

I'm in favor of calling up Fox to use off of the bench with some occasional action at 1B or possibly RF, but I really can't see Lou letting him anywhere near 3B.

 

on one hand people are getting on Lou for panicking (rightfully so), but then they want Hendry to turn around and do exactly that; panic.

 

Before the last two games the offense has put up the following run totals in May: 8, 6, 6, 4, 2, 6, 8, 2, 6, 4, 6, 6, 11, 5, 5. That's 5.6 runs per game. Lee and Soto are (seemingly) starting to hit and the Cubs are three games back.

 

I'm all for finding someone to fill in at 3B while Ramirez is out or if they think he won't be the same when he comes back, but I don't want to see Hendry make a panic trade.

[rynefan]

Cardinals Could Acquire A Third Baseman

By Tim Dierkes [May 21 at 8:31am CST]

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talked to Cardinals GM John Mozeliak, who said the Cardinals could look outside the organization for a third baseman if they get bad news about Troy Glaus next month. The team's current third basemen, mainly Brian Barden and Joe Thurston, have provided a .243/.323/.357 line. Mozeliak says top prospect Brett Wallace is not under consideration.

 

Who might be available for trade? Mark DeRosa, Garrett Atkins, Melvin Mora, and Adrian Beltre seem like possibilities.

 

Looks like everyones trying to plug in their holes but us.

 

seriously? if there's a good thing about hendry it's that he's not the least bit shy about making mid-season deals to help the team.

 

Right, because the Brewers and Cardinals are looking good. No time to wait, in my opinion.

 

We need help now, not mid season.

[bukie]

The Cubs are currently without their #1 starter and best hitter. Of course they're going to struggle. Now is not the time to make a panic move.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I wonder if Brian Roberts is a possibility. The O's aint going anywhere this season, but have some great young players to build around in Jones, Markakis, and Wieters. Is Roberts really in their future, or would they rather use that money on pitching, which they sorely lack?

[erik316wttn]

Why isnt anyone talking trade? The Mets lose Delgado for 10 weeks and they're already weighing all their options. Meanwhile, we lose Aram, whose more important to us than Delgado is to them and were trying to plug in a bunch of journeymen to fill the void. It aint going to work.

 

I'm sure the Mets are looking to acquire more than a 1B who can't hit anymore.

 

And I'm all for playing Hoff more, but Soto will come around. However, if Lou saying that he'll play Hill over Geo if he doesn't turn it around soon lights a fire under him and gets his bat going, then I'm all for it.

[CubColtPacer]

I wonder if Brian Roberts is a possibility. The O's aint going anywhere this season, but have some great young players to build around in Jones, Markakis, and Wieters. Is Roberts really in their future, or would they rather use that money on pitching, which they sorely lack?

 

Roberts just signed an extension 3 months ago. He isn't going anywhere.

 

And the Orioles aren't going to use money on pitching. They are following the MacPhail strategy he had with the Cubs to buy bats and build from within through pitching prospects. They don't want to rush any of their prized prospects which is why they have so many stopgaps in the rotation/bullpen this year.

[Keener98]

So now all of a sudden the Cardinals are looking good? Since when?

[jersey cubs fan]

I wonder if Brian Roberts is a possibility. The O's aint going anywhere this season, but have some great young players to build around in Jones, Markakis, and Wieters. Is Roberts really in their future, or would they rather use that money on pitching, which they sorely lack?

 

Roberts just signed an extension 3 months ago. He isn't going anywhere.

 

And the Orioles aren't going to use money on pitching. They are following the MacPhail strategy he had with the Cubs to buy bats and build from within through pitching prospects. They don't want to rush any of their prized prospects which is why they have so many stopgaps in the rotation/bullpen this year.

 

I don't know if the MacPhail strategy is to not spend money on pitching. Yes, he was all about drafting pitchers and acquiring major league bats, but they spent a good deal of money on pitching, and did acquire major league pitching. The Clement/Alfonseca trade, Lieber and Valdez acquisitions, Tapani signing and multiple relievers pick-ups, not to mention the money they started to allocate to big ticket "organizational" guys like Wood and Prior and the near signing of Hampton when it was either him or Sosa suggests he is flexible in going away from that spend on hitting draft/develop pitching philosophy.

[soapy]

Why isnt anyone talking trade? The Mets lose Delgado for 10 weeks and they're already weighing all their options. Meanwhile, we lose Aram, whose more important to us than Delgado is to them and were trying to plug in a bunch of journeymen to fill the void. It aint going to work.

 

I'm sure the Mets are looking to acquire more than a 1B who can't hit anymore.

 

And I'm all for playing Hoff more, but Soto will come around. However, if Lou saying that he'll play Hill over Geo if he doesn't turn it around soon lights a fire under him and gets his bat going, then I'm all for it.

 

But wouldn't you say Soto already is coming around (or even has come around)? His SLG is still pathetic but he's got a .280 BA and .362 OBP in May.

[biittner77]

I wonder if Brian Roberts is a possibility. The O's aint going anywhere this season, but have some great young players to build around in Jones, Markakis, and Wieters. Is Roberts really in their future, or would they rather use that money on pitching, which they sorely lack?

 

The O's aren't going to trade Roberts. They just aren't. It may not make baseball sense but Roberts is still the face of the franchise.