Gaub, Montanez and LaMahieu Called Up

[BeerHere]

Per Bruce:

 

http://dailyherald.com/sports/pro/cubs/

[UMFan83]

I guess Chris Carpenter was not thrilled about not getting called up...

 

CCarp37 Chris Carpenter

Nice to know how ppl really feel about you....headed back home for the offseason.

 

CCarp37 Chris Carpenter

9 hr drive home... To much time to think bout things, driving myself crazy... #hardworkpaysoffonlysometimesiguess

 

[jersey cubs fan]

an emo pitcher?

[apete6]

I guess Chris Carpenter was not thrilled about not getting called up...

 

CCarp37 Chris Carpenter

Nice to know how ppl really feel about you....headed back home for the offseason.

 

CCarp37 Chris Carpenter

9 hr drive home... To much time to think bout things, driving myself crazy... #hardworkpaysoffonlysometimesiguess

 

 

Which one of Carpenter's terrible big league outings made him think this way? Get bent, kid. You're a dime a dozen minor leaguer/fringe major leaguer with a 98 MPH fastball. Good for you, there's probably about 10 other guys in the organization with the same gripe about not being called up.

[javy knows my name]

This is staggeringly immature. Jesus, kid.

[pitchcs]

He's just mad he looks exactly like Chris Young (white).

[SouthSideRyan]

Oh good, maybe we can dump a guy with end of game stuff for nothing because he got pissy.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I definitely think he should have gotten a call up, but he still has no business publicly bitching about it. I hope he hasn't screwed himself out of a spot for next year, because id sure as hell rather he be in the pen over Justin Berg or Jeff Stevens.

 

Wellington Castillos also reportedly at Wrigley but is still dealing with a hammy issue so hasnt been activated. It would be nice to see him in the lineup every 5th game over the extra pitchers spot.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

LeMahieu*, who is the man. I think he's basically a bigger, possibly more upside version of Barney, a fellow former college SS with an intelligent defensive game and a contact approach at the plate. He's been a better hitter than Barney in the minors, and he's got 2+ years of youth on him for some power to show up (not to mention more size). His power has gotten better on a year by year basis, and I still hold out hope that he'll eventually ISO closer to .150. He's arguably the best of the bat handlers in the organization, and is a natural hitter. I think he's got alot of growth ahead of him and can end up a solid starter type when it's all said and done. He's one of those prospects that people like but won't hang their hat on because the flaws are obvious while the skills are subtle and most obvious through what are considered obsolete stats (BA and a lack of K's).

 

Good to hear that Castillo is up too. Gaub should also be interesting.

[Outshined_One]

Oh good, maybe we can dump a guy with end of game stuff for nothing because he got pissy.

 

Maybe he'll save the Cubs some time and cut himself.

[SouthSideRyan]

Oh good, maybe we can dump a guy with end of game stuff for nothing because he got pissy.

 

Maybe he'll save the Cubs some time and cut himself.

 

It's an immature and petulant thing to do. It probably doesn't mean he should kill himself.

[Drew Doughty]

Oh good, maybe we can dump a guy with end of game stuff for nothing because he got pissy.

 

Maybe he'll save the Cubs some time and cut himself.

 

that's a pretty awful thing to say

[toonsterwu]

Well, someone should tweet him and let him know that his ridiculous walk rate is unacceptable, even in the pen. I like the arm, but honestly, I didn't want him back up. I thought it was time for him to take a break and try and regroup for next year. I didn't think he even really deserved that first call-up.

 

I really am at a loss on what to think about LeMahieu. Prior to his call-up, there were some positive signs, as reports suggested he was driving the ball better. Then ... AAA, he seems to be spraying things around a lot more. I hope the Cubs are right and that power comes, but people have been expecting more power since he was in HS, and it's been a long time now. If he could play 2nd well enough defensively, then it wouldn't be as big an issue, but the general feeling seems to be that he can only be a stopgap type of 2nd baseman, not an everyday guy.

 

If working on his power is a goal this offseason, then he might have to bulk up some more, and that might reduce his chances of playing any meaningful time at 2nd. A question to be asked has to be whether or not he'll contribute enough pop at 3rd to justify regular playing time. Even a .140-.150 ISOP, which is still more a dream right now, is very borderline and we'd need more power from other spots (of course, the hope would be that Starlin adds some more pop).

[CyHawk_Cub]

Yay, so happy we get to see more Lou Montanez. :roll:

[jersey cubs fan]

Oh good, maybe we can dump a guy with end of game stuff for nothing because he got pissy.

 

Maybe he'll save the Cubs some time and cut himself.

 

It's an immature and petulant thing to do. It probably doesn't mean he should kill himself.

Cutters generally don't kill themselves, do they?

[Guest]

Oh good, maybe we can dump a guy with end of game stuff for nothing because he got pissy.

 

Maybe he'll save the Cubs some time and cut himself.

 

It's an immature and petulant thing to do. It probably doesn't mean he should kill himself.

Cutters generally don't kill themselves, do they?

No. It's usually attention maintained. I'd say he's getting his need met in this thread but I don't know if he's a reader.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Well, someone should tweet him and let him know that his ridiculous walk rate is unacceptable, even in the pen. I like the arm, but honestly, I didn't want him back up. I thought it was time for him to take a break and try and regroup for next year. I didn't think he even really deserved that first call-up.

 

I really am at a loss on what to think about LeMahieu. Prior to his call-up, there were some positive signs, as reports suggested he was driving the ball better. Then ... AAA, he seems to be spraying things around a lot more. I hope the Cubs are right and that power comes, but people have been expecting more power since he was in HS, and it's been a long time now. If he could play 2nd well enough defensively, then it wouldn't be as big an issue, but the general feeling seems to be that he can only be a stopgap type of 2nd baseman, not an everyday guy.

 

If working on his power is a goal this offseason, then he might have to bulk up some more, and that might reduce his chances of playing any meaningful time at 2nd. A question to be asked has to be whether or not he'll contribute enough pop at 3rd to justify regular playing time. Even a .140-.150 ISOP, which is still more a dream right now, is very borderline and we'd need more power from other spots (of course, the hope would be that Starlin adds some more pop).

 

Since I'm a fanboy:

 

1 - He just turned 23 so while it has been a while since expectations were laid on him, he's still very young. The fact that he's had success, tremendous success really, since then shows why those expectations have been laid on him and why they'll remain.

 

2 - His defense at 2B is very good, and overall his athleticism remains underrated...my guess because he's 6'4 playing everything but 1B in the IF and white (therefore not that athletic but WAY more intelligent amirite!?!?). I thought he showed plenty of athleticism when he came up to the show for 2B.

 

To me his power will come from better mechanics (using more lower body) than coming from packing on size and muscle. I expect more power from other places, and I'd rather LeMahieu use the skills he has than force the issue on a skill that 1. usually arrives later than others anyway and 2. isn't going to be the focal point of his offensive game. I expect much of the power to come from one of Pujols/Fielder, for instance. Long term I expect much of his power will come between the gaps. When he's on his swing his tailor made for hitting the ball into the gaps.

 

As far as Carpenter...I thought we'd see him up and I like the arm more than most of the many other relief arms, but that was a dick move on his part. I find his reaction to not getting called up this September more disturbing than his walk rate, as he's maintained better walk rates before while a starter.

[jersey cubs fan]

I find his reaction to not getting called up this September more disturbing than his walk rate, as he's maintained better walk rates before while a starter.

 

You find the fact that he's bummed he didn't get called up more disturbing than the fact that he was an ineffective pitcher?

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I find his reaction to not getting called up this September more disturbing than his walk rate, as he's maintained better walk rates before while a starter.

 

You find the fact that he's bummed he didn't get called up more disturbing than the fact that he was an ineffective pitcher?

 

Due to the fact that he's maintained better walk rates when throwing more innings, yes. I know the numbers define everyone and everything completely in this day and age, but an individual who handles such a small, short term piece of adversity like he did (complaining in a public domain) would irk me numbers or no numbers.

 

Carpenter walk rates in the minors:

 

2008 - 33 IP/6.3 BB/9

2009 - 130 IP/3.6 BB/9

2010 - 134 IP/3.8 BB/9

2011 - 42 IP/5.7 BB/9

 

He's also had better HR rates throughout the minors (significantly so), and better K rates (which picked up significantly while in the hitter friendly PCL). Maybe he was just having trouble adjusting to life as a full time reliever and was coming into games too amped up. I think the results problem is something he can overcome next year pretty easily so long as his little brat moment doesn't get in the way of his work. Results are the end of a process...a process that according to his tweet he was working hard on...being butthurt can be something that throws off that process.

[Illini Iceman]

Quade has declared he will play the veterans the rest of the year (which apparently now includes Barney and his amazing shrinking batting average) so we won't get the chance to see LeMahieu play for an extended period at this level to determine if he might be able to help the team next season.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Quade has declared he will play the veterans the rest of the year (which apparently now includes Barney and his amazing shrinking batting average) so we won't get the chance to see LeMahieu play for an extended period at this level to determine if he might be able to help the team next season.

 

He'll get his ABs. I rarely expect significant playing time for September callups. For someone like LeMahieu, who might/probably/could/should have a long career ahead of him it's more a matter of seeing the world he'll be trying to build a career in. I think he'll need some minor league ABs next year anyway, and he'll probably start the season there unless the improvements we're looking for manifest this month and in March.

[jersey cubs fan]

, but an individual who handles such a small, short term piece of adversity like he did (complaining in a public domain) would irk me numbers or no numbers.

 

 

 

I think the results problem is something he can overcome next year pretty easily so long as his little brat moment doesn't get in the way of his work. Results are the end of a process...a process that according to his tweet he was working hard on...being butthurt can be something that throws off that process.

 

 

That's a really weird way of thinking.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

That's a really weird way of thinking.

 

Understandable given the day in the sport, where anyone can pick up the numbers game and suddenly be an expert on player evaluation. I think it's a more common thought process than most would give it credit for, especially when it comes to minor league players who are in the minors to develop and hone their skills, which are probably not perfect.

 

In the end I just want him to keep working like he claims he was, and things will work out best for him. If he lets this moment in time get to him then the only person he's really hurting in the long run is himself...and he won't get the results that will eventually define him.

[SouthSideRyan]

Cockiness is good. Thinking you belong in the majors is a good thing. A good coach will channel this energy into proving it on the field. A bad coach will call him a baby for whining and put him the doghouse until he's claimed by another team.

[apete6]

Cockiness is good. Thinking you belong in the majors is a good thing. A good coach will channel this energy into proving it on the field. A bad coach will call him a baby for whining and put him the doghouse until he's claimed by another team.

 

It's a great thing to have cockiness in your own mind. It's not a great thing to tweet it to the detriment of your organization. Also, it helps when your performance backs it up. In Carpenter's case, he hasn't done that.