Rudy Jaramillo available?

[CUBZ99]

From Heyman on Twitter:

 

cubs are in contact with rudy jaramillo about hitting coach job. it is believed he's likely to take the gig.

 

 

That's awesome if true.

 

Yes, if this is true, you have to love Hendry's aggressiveness.

 

AM I the only one who will find it amusing if after millions and millions of dollars worth of overpaid outfielders, 3 million or so for a hiting coach is the final piece of the puzzle?

 

Jaramillo is by no means the final piece of the puzzle. If this is the only move that Hendry makes in the offseason, I don't see it as a productive offseason.

[David]

I'm sorry, I'll never ask hypotheticals again. Jim Hendry is all-knowing, and I should always trust that he knows something I don't.

 

 

Well, I mean, the second part of that last sentence isn't all that unreasonable.

[Little Slide Rooter]

From Heyman on Twitter:

 

cubs are in contact with rudy jaramillo about hitting coach job. it is believed he's likely to take the gig.

 

 

That's awesome if true.

 

Yes, if this is true, you have to love Hendry's aggressiveness.

 

AM I the only one who will find it amusing if after millions and millions of dollars worth of overpaid outfielders, 3 million or so for a hiting coach is the final piece of the puzzle?

 

Jaramillo is by no means the final piece of the puzzle. If this is the only move that Hendry makes in the offseason, I don't see it as a productive offseason.

 

It all depends on Milton Bradley. A lot of reports suggest that he and Rudy got along and Rudy was a big part of Miltons success in Texas, although Arlington didnt hurt. If they get Rudy, I can see them giving Milton another chance. IMHO Jeff Baker has earned that 2B job, and Id rather him than over pay for someone like Ploanco, Uribe, Lopez, or Hudson. The bench is set between Fox, Fuld, Fontenot, Hoffpauir, and Blanco. If they want to resign Harden, great. If they can get Valverde for a reasonable price, great, but other than that, unless trading Bradley ends up being worth their while, just go with what we have.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'm sorry, I'll never ask hypotheticals again. Jim Hendry is all-knowing, and I should always trust that he knows something I don't.

 

 

Well, I mean, the second part of that last sentence isn't all that unreasonable.

 

The point is, the complaint seems to be that people complained about firing 2 good hitting coaches. No matter what you want to project on to Hendry, I think most can agree he didn't fire Gerald Perry with the idea of hiring Jaramillo in his head. When a move i stupid on the surface, I'm going to call it stupid rather than trust a blind faith in a GM who hasn't proven he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm sorry, I'll never ask hypotheticals again. Jim Hendry is all-knowing, and I should always trust that he knows something I don't.

 

 

Well, I mean, the second part of that last sentence isn't all that unreasonable.

 

The point is, the complaint seems to be that people complained about firing 2 good hitting coaches. No matter what you want to project on to Hendry, I think most can agree he didn't fire Gerald Perry with the idea of hiring Jaramillo in his head. When a move i stupid on the surface, I'm going to call it stupid rather than trust a blind faith in a GM who hasn't proven he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

 

The thing is, with veteran players, how much good is a hitting coach going to do them? Hopefully he can help Fontenot hit lefties, Reed hit righties, Fox to hit sliders, Soto hit period, but if Perry and Joshua couldnt do it, can this guy? Will he miraculously get Soriano to not swing at every pitch he sees? When your deadling with a lot of vetaran players, theres only so much tweaking that can be done.

[daske17]

It all depends on Milton Bradley. A lot of reports suggest that he and Rudy got along and Rudy was a big part of Miltons success in Texas, although Arlington didnt hurt. If they get Rudy, I can see them giving Milton another chance. IMHO Jeff Baker has earned that 2B job, and Id rather him than over pay for someone like Ploanco, Uribe, Lopez, or Hudson. The bench is set between Fox, Fuld, Fontenot, Hoffpauir, and Blanco. If they want to resign Harden, great. If they can get Valverde for a reasonable price, great, but other than that, unless trading Bradley ends up being worth their while, just go with what we have.

 

If our bench consists solely of those guys, that would be awful. The bench shouldn't just be for AAAA players. I'd appreciate some sort of veteran presence who understands the role of a pinch hitter for $1-2 million in addition to those listed.

[MSG T]

From Heyman on Twitter:

 

cubs are in contact with rudy jaramillo about hitting coach job. it is believed he's likely to take the gig.

 

 

That's awesome if true.

 

Yes, if this is true, you have to love Hendry's aggressiveness.

 

AM I the only one who will find it amusing if after millions and millions of dollars worth of overpaid outfielders, 3 million or so for a hiting coach is the final piece of the puzzle?

 

Jaramillo is by no means the final piece of the puzzle. If this is the only move that Hendry makes in the offseason, I don't see it as a productive offseason.

 

I will, because that will mean that Hendry:

 

didn't give Bradley+10 mil for Rowand

didn't give a crappy middle reliever a 3/15 contract

didn't trade three useful(notice I didn't say good, just useful) minor leaguers for another crappy veteran for the bench

didn't sign Grabow to a ridiculous contract

 

 

Of course it will probably also mean that he didn't offer Harden arb and still has a job with the Cubs, but there has to some bad with the good.

[MSG T]

I'm sorry, I'll never ask hypotheticals again. Jim Hendry is all-knowing, and I should always trust that he knows something I don't.

 

 

Well, I mean, the second part of that last sentence isn't all that unreasonable.

 

The point is, the complaint seems to be that people complained about firing 2 good hitting coaches. No matter what you want to project on to Hendry, I think most can agree he didn't fire Gerald Perry with the idea of hiring Jaramillo in his head. When a move i stupid on the surface, I'm going to call it stupid rather than trust a blind faith in a GM who hasn't proven he deserves the benefit of the doubt.

 

Hopefully he can help Fox to hit sliders

 

Bats, they are sick. I cannot hit curveball. Straightball I hit it very much. Curveball, bats are afraid. I ask Jobu to come, take fear from bats. I offer him cigar, rum. He will come.

 

Hopefully after working with Jaramillo, Fox won't have to sacrifice a live chicken.

Edited October 16, 2009 by MSG T

[Little Slide Rooter]

It all depends on Milton Bradley. A lot of reports suggest that he and Rudy got along and Rudy was a big part of Miltons success in Texas, although Arlington didnt hurt. If they get Rudy, I can see them giving Milton another chance. IMHO Jeff Baker has earned that 2B job, and Id rather him than over pay for someone like Ploanco, Uribe, Lopez, or Hudson. The bench is set between Fox, Fuld, Fontenot, Hoffpauir, and Blanco. If they want to resign Harden, great. If they can get Valverde for a reasonable price, great, but other than that, unless trading Bradley ends up being worth their while, just go with what we have.

 

If our bench consists solely of those guys, that would be awful. The bench shouldn't just be for AAAA players. I'd appreciate some sort of veteran presence who understands the role of a pinch hitter for $1-2 million in addition to those listed.

 

These are guys whop could have been major leaguers but have been onthe wrong team. Besides, weve already tried veteran bench guys. How did Ryan Freel, Aaron Miles, Joey Gathright, Rey Ordonez, Neifi Perez, John Mabry, Enrique Wilson and a few other journeymen I cant think of work out?

 

Fox gives us a 6th oufielder, occasional 3B and 1B, emergency catcher+pop off the bench

Hoffpauir gives us a 5th outfielder+backup for Lee+lefty pop off the bench

Blanco gives us a great defensive SS/2B plus can hit better than Miles

Fuld gives us a great defensive 4th outfielder+ a solid lefty off the bench

Fontenot gives us a platoon for Baker if he cant cut it as a starter

I want to know what cheap journeyman is out there that will be enough of an upgrade to make it worth out while?

Even Bobby Scales is a better option than paying 2-3 mil for another journeyman.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I'm not against this necessarily, but I would've preferred an OBP-first guy.

[Schwarber Fan]

It all depends on Milton Bradley. A lot of reports suggest that he and Rudy got along and Rudy was a big part of Miltons success in Texas, although Arlington didnt hurt. If they get Rudy, I can see them giving Milton another chance. IMHO Jeff Baker has earned that 2B job, and Id rather him than over pay for someone like Ploanco, Uribe, Lopez, or Hudson. The bench is set between Fox, Fuld, Fontenot, Hoffpauir, and Blanco. If they want to resign Harden, great. If they can get Valverde for a reasonable price, great, but other than that, unless trading Bradley ends up being worth their while, just go with what we have.

 

If our bench consists solely of those guys, that would be awful. The bench shouldn't just be for AAAA players. I'd appreciate some sort of veteran presence who understands the role of a pinch hitter for $1-2 million in addition to those listed.

 

These are guys whop could have been major leaguers but have been onthe wrong team. Besides, weve already tried veteran bench guys. How did Ryan Freel, Aaron Miles, Joey Gathright, Rey Ordonez, Neifi Perez, John Mabry, Enrique Wilson and a few other journeymen I cant think of work out?

 

Fox gives us a 6th oufielder, occasional 3B and 1B, emergency catcher+pop off the bench

Hoffpauir gives us a 5th outfielder+backup for Lee+lefty pop off the bench

Blanco gives us a great defensive SS/2B plus can hit better than Miles

Fuld gives us a great defensive 4th outfielder+ a solid lefty off the bench

Fontenot gives us a platoon for Baker if he cant cut it as a starter

I want to know what cheap journeyman is out there that will be enough of an upgrade to make it worth out while?

Even Bobby Scales is a better option than paying 2-3 mil for another journeyman.

 

Excellent post, although as much as we hate to admit it, Neifi was good for us and the other guys really were never all that good anyway. The only signings that worked out for the bench were Daryle Ward and Reed Johnson. The bench right now is good enough with what we have - that I agree with.

[David]

Neifi was good for us? What in the hell?

[Schwarber Fan]

Neifi was good for us? What in the hell?

 

At least he wasn't Aaron Miles/Jose Macias/Freddy Bynum/the list goes on bad

[MSG T]

Neifi was good for us? What in the hell?

 

Don't you remember? He saved us.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Neifi posted a .681 OPS in his only full year with us. No matter who you want to compare him to, in no [expletive] way was he good for us. That might be the dumbest thing I've ever read here.

[daske17]

Fox gives us a 6th oufielder, occasional 3B and 1B, emergency catcher+pop off the bench

Hoffpauir gives us a 5th outfielder+backup for Lee+lefty pop off the bench

Blanco gives us a great defensive SS/2B plus can hit better than Miles

Fuld gives us a great defensive 4th outfielder+ a solid lefty off the bench

Fontenot gives us a platoon for Baker if he cant cut it as a starter

I want to know what cheap journeyman is out there that will be enough of an upgrade to make it worth out while?

Even Bobby Scales is a better option than paying 2-3 mil for another journeyman.

 

Personally, and I know this is a pipe dream, but I would love for Hendry to play on Jim Thome's lifelong dream of playing for the Cubs to sign an incentive-laden contract to serve as our primary left-handed bat off the bench. I realize that he's done virtually nothing as a PH for the Dodgers, but that's the type of weapon you want on the bench.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Thome's not any better of a PH than Hoff or Fox at this point.

[Keener98]

Something I was thinking about regarding Jarmillo. He didnt accept Texas's 1 year contract offer because he wants more security. Ok so how is he going to get more security with the Cubs right now? We have a manager in his last year of his contract, and its pretty much a foregone conclusion this will be his last year, and we have a new owner who once he gets full control may or may not get rid of Hendry in the next year or so.

 

Jaramillo becoming the Cubs hitting coach offers no more job security than his job with the Texas Rangers. I suppose if Lou leaves they can ask the new manager to keep Jaramillo, but its not a given that the new manager would be ok with that.

[jersey cubs fan]

Something I was thinking about regarding Jarmillo. He didnt accept Texas's 1 year contract offer because he wants more security. Ok so how is he going to get more security with the Cubs right now? We have a manager in his last year of his contract, and its pretty much a foregone conclusion this will be his last year, and we have a new owner who once he gets full control may or may not get rid of Hendry in the next year or so.

 

Jaramillo becoming the Cubs hitting coach offers no more job security than his job with the Texas Rangers. I suppose if Lou leaves they can ask the new manager to keep Jaramillo, but its not a given that the new manager would be ok with that.

 

Was it really security or was it something more like he'd been there forever and thought the offer was an insult and is moving on out of pride?

[Keener98]

Something I was thinking about regarding Jarmillo. He didnt accept Texas's 1 year contract offer because he wants more security. Ok so how is he going to get more security with the Cubs right now? We have a manager in his last year of his contract, and its pretty much a foregone conclusion this will be his last year, and we have a new owner who once he gets full control may or may not get rid of Hendry in the next year or so.

 

Jaramillo becoming the Cubs hitting coach offers no more job security than his job with the Texas Rangers. I suppose if Lou leaves they can ask the new manager to keep Jaramillo, but its not a given that the new manager would be ok with that.

 

Was it really security or was it something more like he'd been there forever and thought the offer was an insult and is moving on out of pride?

 

His comment was about security at this point in his career Im pretty sure.

 

"The Rangers did what they felt they had to do in offering me a one-year deal," Jaramillo said. "That's understandable with the sale of the club and the situation the club is in. I just felt that I wanted some security, and the way to get security is to go out and find out where you stand on the market.

 

There is his quote

[jersey cubs fan]

His comment was about security at this point in his career Im pretty sure.

 

"The Rangers did what they felt they had to do in offering me a one-year deal," Jaramillo said. "That's understandable with the sale of the club and the situation the club is in. I just felt that I wanted some security, and the way to get security is to go out and find out where you stand on the market.

 

There is his quote

 

I understand, but that doesn't mean much. He's been a major league hitting coach for a decade and a half, unless he's got a nasty coke, gambling or whore problem I doubt he's desperate for security. I'm sure some of it was not wanting to take a 1-year deal at a place he'd been at for very long. Mark Grace left the Cubs after being insulted by the offer they gave him, then he took less to go to Arizona. Either way, a 2-year contract is very easy to offer and provide that security, even if they clean house next offseason he'd be guaranteed the security of that 2nd year.

[Gingerballs Lives]

It all depends on Milton Bradley. A lot of reports suggest that he and Rudy got along and Rudy was a big part of Miltons success in Texas, although Arlington didnt hurt. If they get Rudy, I can see them giving Milton another chance. IMHO Jeff Baker has earned that 2B job, and Id rather him than over pay for someone like Ploanco, Uribe, Lopez, or Hudson. The bench is set between Fox, Fuld, Fontenot, Hoffpauir, and Blanco. If they want to resign Harden, great. If they can get Valverde for a reasonable price, great, but other than that, unless trading Bradley ends up being worth their while, just go with what we have.

 

If our bench consists solely of those guys, that would be awful. The bench shouldn't just be for AAAA players. I'd appreciate some sort of veteran presence who understands the role of a pinch hitter for $1-2 million in addition to those listed.

 

These are guys whop could have been major leaguers but have been onthe wrong team. Besides, weve already tried veteran bench guys. How did Ryan Freel, Aaron Miles, Joey Gathright, Rey Ordonez, Neifi Perez, John Mabry, Enrique Wilson and a few other journeymen I cant think of work out?

 

Fox gives us a 6th oufielder, occasional 3B and 1B, emergency catcher+pop off the bench

Hoffpauir gives us a 5th outfielder+backup for Lee+lefty pop off the bench

Blanco gives us a great defensive SS/2B plus can hit better than Miles

Fuld gives us a great defensive 4th outfielder+ a solid lefty off the bench

Fontenot gives us a platoon for Baker if he cant cut it as a starter

I want to know what cheap journeyman is out there that will be enough of an upgrade to make it worth out while?

Even Bobby Scales is a better option than paying 2-3 mil for another journeyman.

 

Agree 100%. I one positive from this year is we have found some guys who can provide adequate production off the bench on the cheap. Why pay for trash like Kevin Gregg and Aaron Miles when you have guys in the farm system who can do the same or better.

 

Although I do want the Cubs to get Orlando Hudson and let Baker become more of a supersub type player. Fox, Blanco, Hoff and Fontenot are sufficient bench players.

[PrimeTime]

Carrie Muskat's Twitter

 

#cubs have asked #rangers for permission to talk to Rudy Jaramillo to fill their hitting coach vacany. could be an announcement early Nov

 

http://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/status/4924013381

[David]

It is believed Hendry and Jaramillo have talked and that Jaramillo is far and away Hendry's No. 1 candidate to fill the Cubs' vacancy at hitting coach. (The Rangers have granted permission to other teams to talk with Jaramillo, who this week turned down a one-year contract to stay in Texas.)

 

Hendry has been a big admirer of Jaramillo, 59. The Rangers and Cubs suffered similar fates offensively this year, falling from the top spots in their respective leagues in several key offenisve categories to middle of the pack.

 

Rangers president Nolan Ryan bemoaned the Rangers' high strikeout and low walk totals of this year. The sabermetrically inclined view strikeouts as often no worse than any other type of out and certainly preferable to a batter grounding into a double play and making two outs in 1 at-bat. The Cubs, who were accused of being slow on the sabermetrics uptake, agree nowadays with the sabermetricians on strikeouts. They also do not assign blame for the Rangers' offensive fall-off to the hitting coach.

 

All that said, my guess is that the Cubs and Jaramillo get something done in the coming days. They feel that would get their off-season off to a good start.

 

 

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2753

 

 

There's a tidbit on Bradley in the blog entry as well.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I may have to get a Jaramillo Cubs jersey if this pans out.