When Miles and Freel Return

[SouthSideRyan]

I've grown to like Blanco in the short time he has been with the Cubs. Incredible defense and he is finally starting to hit.

 

that part won't last

 

But that's just icing, right? Miles can't hit and his defense is worse than Blanco's. If 2 middle infielders can't hit, might as well take the great defensive player.

 

this.

 

having said that, Miles isn't getting DFA, IMO. they didn't give him a two year deal just so they could give up on him 2 months into the season.

 

And there lies the problem with this organization. They won't cut ties when it's apparent that the player they signed is no longer capable of doing the job. No siree, they won't admit to making a mistake. Of course, the Cubs never admit making mistakes, or so they say.

 

Except for when they're paying Marquis, Gaudin, and Vizcaino like 80 million dollars to not pitch for us.

[jersey cubs fan]

having said that, Miles isn't getting DFA, IMO. they didn't give him a two year deal just so they could give up on him 2 months into the season.

 

And there lies the problem with this organization. They won't cut ties when it's apparent that the player they signed is no longer capable of doing the job. No siree, they won't admit to making a mistake. Of course, the Cubs never admit making mistakes, or so they say.

 

Except for when they're paying Marquis, Gaudin, and Vizcaino like 80 million dollars to not pitch for us.

 

They signed Gaudin to a new deal this year and cut him. The fact that he has a 2nd year is more or less meaningless to the debate about whether or not they should cut him. He would hardly be the first guy cut with a year left on his deal. They won't do it because Hendry is a fool who sees value in a guy like Aaron Miles because he plays the game the right way, which is to say, really poorly. It's not because you can't justify cutting a guy who has a 2nd year on his contract.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Jacque Jones, who was actually decent for us was traded for a bag of chips with a year left on his deal.

[Old Style]

Blanco has to go.

 

I'm struggling to keep these guys straight, but isn't he the only one that's actually a really good defensive SS?

Yeah. I just don't understand the Blanco hatred around here.

[JonJayCutler]

Jacque Jones, who was actually decent for us was traded for a bag of chips with a year left on his deal.

 

I could never understand the hate for this guy. Was decent at the plate for us and showed good range in the OF. His arm wasn't good but I think he did enough to makeup for that. On the other hand some people still believe in Felix Pie even though the guy has done absolutely nothing (and continues to do nothing) at the major league level. I know he was a top prospect, but busts happen. And If he ever does turn it around, I'll be the first to admit I was wrong. Sorry I'm getting way off topic here. Boring day lol.

[Old Style]

Jones was a terrible outfielder and a very stupid player.

[SouthSideRyan]

Jacque Jones was my favorite Cub in '07. He was most certainly not a bad OF, and I don't understand where you're getting that he was stupid from.

[jersey cubs fan]

Jacque Jones was my favorite Cub in '07. He was most certainly not a bad OF, and I don't understand where you're getting that he was stupid from.

 

Probably from his Theriot like baserunning gaffes. However, if he was ever your favorite Cub, than maybe the stupid label is misapplied.

[Tracer Bullet]

Jacque Jones was my favorite Cub in '07. He was most certainly not a bad OF, and I don't understand where you're getting that he was stupid from.

 

Isn't Jones the guy who once threw a baseball directly into the ground about 10' in front of him?

 

I don't think that addresses either point, but that was funny.

[Old Style]

Jacque Jones was my favorite Cub in '07. He was most certainly not a bad OF, and I don't understand where you're getting that he was stupid from.

 

Probably from his Theriot like baserunning gaffes. However, if he was ever your favorite Cub, than maybe the stupid label is misapplied.

Didn't he get doubled off of 2nd base 3 times in a 2 week span?

[fromthestretch]

Jacque Jones was my favorite Cub in '07. He was most certainly not a bad OF, and I don't understand where you're getting that he was stupid from.

 

Probably from his Theriot like baserunning gaffes. However, if he was ever your favorite Cub, than maybe the stupid label is misapplied.

Didn't he get doubled off of 2nd base 3 times in a 2 week span?

 

I think that was Moises Alou.

[jersey cubs fan]

Jacque Jones was my favorite Cub in '07. He was most certainly not a bad OF, and I don't understand where you're getting that he was stupid from.

 

Probably from his Theriot like baserunning gaffes. However, if he was ever your favorite Cub, than maybe the stupid label is misapplied.

Didn't he get doubled off of 2nd base 3 times in a 2 week span?

 

I think that was Moises Alou.

 

Alou had some issues as well, but I'm pretty sure Jacque did the same or similar things. And I believe it was during his first couple weeks with the team.

[fromthestretch]

Jacque Jones was my favorite Cub in '07. He was most certainly not a bad OF, and I don't understand where you're getting that he was stupid from.

 

Probably from his Theriot like baserunning gaffes. However, if he was ever your favorite Cub, than maybe the stupid label is misapplied.

Didn't he get doubled off of 2nd base 3 times in a 2 week span?

 

I think that was Moises Alou.

 

Alou had some issues as well, but I'm pretty sure Jacque did the same or similar things. And I believe it was during his first couple weeks with the team.

 

I don't doubt that, but I definitely remember Alou getting doubled off second multiple times within the span of about a month.

[Coach C]

And there lies the problem with this organization. They won't cut ties when it's apparent that the player they signed is no longer capable of doing the job. No siree, they won't admit to making a mistake. Of course, the Cubs never admit making mistakes, or so they say.

 

Very few teams will ever cut a player who is both making over 1 million dollars and has another year left on his contract. Teams will cut high salary players that are gone at the end of the season, but they will rarely commit to having dead money in future years.

 

Both Miles and Freel should not be DFA'd and there's a good reason why..depth. If they both leave the team and Scales and/or Blanco get hurt, who gets called up next? You could end up in a situation where you have a player that is absurdly bad getting playing time instead of just being a fringe major leaguer like those four are.

 

That doesn't even take into account that Miles had a .229 advantage in OPS in 07 over Blanco and a .090 advantage last year, and that's with him playing in the major leagues and Blanco in the PCL. A healthy Miles is almost certainly a decent upgrade with the bat to Blanco (unless Blanco is finally starting to figure hitting out, which is somewhat unlikely but still possible at his age). Yes, Blanco is a very big upgrade defensively from Miles. So it's really a tossup if you want the extra hitting or the extra defense, and since their primary position is going to each be second base, which lowers the defensive advantage that Blanco has over Miles, I'd still rather take Miles. I wouldn't take Miles if I had to pay him that contract, but the team has to pay the contract anyway at this point.

 

Freel vs Scales is a different argument I think. Scales is probably the better hitter and defender at this point. I would probably keep Freel for depth purposes until Ramirez comes back and then he would be the one who I would let go to make room for Ramirez on the roster.

 

Of course the teams won't ever cut a player, because they are afraid to admit that they are wrong. Of course teams could have easily prevented that so-called "Dead money" had they not signed them in the first place, as most of us knew that Miles wasn't that good to begin with anyways. Besides, while Miles may be a little bit better on the offensive side, Blanco is worlds better on the defensive side than Miles is, and if we're gonna use "depth" as of this point, Blanco is the perfect defensive infielder sub that the Cubs could use in the late innings.

 

Basically though, it just comes down to the teams not wanting to admit they were wrong, especially when the fans are getting tired of that certain player. It took forever for Kansas City to release Scotty Elarton. He was just awful before he came to Kansas City, and he really sucked and the fans were really letting him and the Royals have it, and the Royals somehow mysteriously put Elarton on the 15 day DL, just to save face, and even when Elarton was in the minors, he was flat out getting dominated in the minors. Yet The Royals brought him back, against the Yankees, full house, and what happens? He got his rear-end handed right back to him, and I have never heard the crown boo at anybody merciously than that day.

 

They finally DFA'ed him the next day.