Ian Stewart to the DL

[El Duderino]

Cubs placed 3B Ian Stewart on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist injury.

Stewart dealt with similar wrist issues last year and could be out for an extended period of time. The 27-year-old is batting just .201 with a .627 OPS this year.

[Sammy Sofa]

Blah.

[CincyCubsFan]

Oh good, more Mather.

[CUBZ99]

He had a decent glove, but his bat was pretty bad. Watched him take batting practice on Sunday and he couldn't hit anything hard. Disappointing that his wrist is still bothering him. I'm guessing he is done.

[Clem Fandango]

Wes Darvill your table is ready

[El Duderino]

@BruceMiles2112

 

#Cubs to put Stewart on DL tomorrow; Valbuena likely to come up; not Vitters

[UMFan83]

The beat guys are saying that Valbuena is the most likely call up but it sounds like it's just speculation.

 

Edit: Beaten

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Calling up Valbuena is of course the right call. Vitters is barely holding his own at AAA, no need to ruin the development curve for him.

 

That said, it's kind of funny how far the Cubs have extended the concept of organizational filler into the majors.

 

If Stewart never really recovers this year, what does he get in arbitration and do you non-tender him?

[davell]

The FA class is weaker than [expletive]. He probably won't make more than 2.5 mill or so and our payroll, looks to be at 75 mill, including arb raises for Castro, Garza, Russell, and Shark. It also includes us keeping Maholm. Who knows if Vitters can win the job by then? If ever? Stewart was unlucky early, then he's battled the wrist. Worst case is we have a guy with some pop off the bench.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If it wouldn't cost a year of control, I would like to see Vitters come up, with the position opening up a full time one. I just hope that Cardenas is given the lion's share of the starts at 3rd while Stewart's out. Valbuena may stick around for a few years as a utility guy, so that's how we should be using him and the only benefit to giving Baker or Mather starts would be the possibility of upgrading their trade value from PTBNL to slightly better PTBNL.

 

And with Valbuena getting called up, any chance that Junior Lake will be promoted to take his place, or will they just send back Nate Samson?

[rawaction]

I'd call up Vitters. What the hell? I don't think he's a great enough prospect any more to worry about possibly ruining him somehow by bringing him up. Even though he's only 22, losing an option year isn't a huge deal to me, again because he's not a sure thing anymore to be part of the Cubs future. Plus, it would give the staff a first hand look at his ability to man 3B defensively for a couple weeks. The Cubs have too many non-factors on the team as is, Valbuena, Mather, or Cardenas getting the next 15-20 starts isn't going to show us anything except how bad this team is.

[SouthSideRyan]

Calling up Valbuena is of course the right call. Vitters is barely holding his own at AAA, no need to ruin the development curve for him.

 

That said, it's kind of funny how far the Cubs have extended the concept of organizational filler into the majors.

 

If Stewart never really recovers this year, what does he get in arbitration and do you non-tender him?

 

You definitely non-tender him.

[pitchcs]

non-tender all the way

[SouthSideRyan]

Vitters is already on the 40 man, the option was burnt in March. You don't bring him up because he's 22 years old playing okayish in AAA. He still has plenty to learn down there, and it's not exactly now or never for him.

[Guest]

If Stewart never really recovers this year, what does he get in arbitration and do you non-tender him?

 

If he only plays a few games between now and the end of the year, then yeah, you have to non-tender him. If you mean he comes back but the wrist is still clearly bothering him, then it's a more complicated situation.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd call up Vitters. What the hell? I don't think he's a great enough prospect any more to worry about possibly ruining him somehow by bringing him up. Even though he's only 22, losing an option year isn't a huge deal to me, again because he's not a sure thing anymore to be part of the Cubs future. Plus, it would give the staff a first hand look at his ability to man 3B defensively for a couple weeks. The Cubs have too many non-factors on the team as is, Valbuena, Mather, or Cardenas getting the next 15-20 starts isn't going to show us anything except how bad this team is.

 

I absolutely would not call up Vitters. I don't think he's a great enough prospect to worry about ruining him, but they could still try to maximize his value to the organization by matching up his prime years with his cheap years.

[Cubswin11]

I'd call up Vitters. What the hell? I don't think he's a great enough prospect any more to worry about possibly ruining him somehow by bringing him up. Even though he's only 22, losing an option year isn't a huge deal to me, again because he's not a sure thing anymore to be part of the Cubs future. Plus, it would give the staff a first hand look at his ability to man 3B defensively for a couple weeks. The Cubs have too many non-factors on the team as is, Valbuena, Mather, or Cardenas getting the next 15-20 starts isn't going to show us anything except how bad this team is.

If Theo was really telling the truth about wanting guys to play a full season at each level in the minors, 162 games, yesterday on his interview then I don't think Vitters qualifies to be called up. I'd also imagine there are some things in his game (patience, being more selective in the zone, defense, walking more) they'd like him to work on before they call him up. The whole line about 162 games could have been Theo's way of sidestepping the question on keeping Rizzo down just to keep him under team control longer, which for obvious reasons Theo isn't going to come out and just flat out admit that's the reason they are keeping Rizzo down.

[SouthSideRyan]

If Stewart never really recovers this year, what does he get in arbitration and do you non-tender him?

 

If he only plays a few games between now and the end of the year, then yeah, you have to non-tender him. If you mean he comes back but the wrist is still clearly bothering him, then it's a more complicated situation.

 

I don't think it's too complicated. He's making 2.25M this year. He's not getting that on the open market after his '11 and '12.

[rawaction]

Vitters is already on the 40 man, the option was burnt in March. You don't bring him up because he's 22 years old playing okayish in AAA. He still has plenty to learn down there, and it's not exactly now or never for him.

 

This is true. But he's also not at the Rizzo or Jackson level any more where he has to be coddled and you risk ruining a promising career by bringing him up too early. He's also not at the Valbuena level where he hangs out in AAA until the Cubs need someone. He's kind of in-between. If Valbuena comes up, tears it up, it doesn't show the Cubs anything. He's still never going to be more than a utility player. If you bring Vitters up, he tears it up and plays good D, he could potentially be a full-time solution at 3B. I don't imagine Stewart could do much the rest of the way to be brought back next year, especially with the wrist.

 

But best case with Vitters is he hits well and fields adequately enough to stick. Worst case is he sucks, gets sent back down and a guy that is iffy to stick in the majors in the first place doesn't stick. Whether he's bad or he's in Iowa the rest of the year, you're still going to need a long-term option at 3B anyway. I'd at least take the chance that he is actually good while you have a chance.

[jersey cubs fan]

The decision to not bring Vitters up has nothing at all to do with coddling him.

[Cubswin11]

If Vitters were to be called up right now, I don't think he'd hit higher than .240 and have a sub .300 OBP and probably not hit for a lot of power all while playing below average D at 3B. He needs more time to develop in the minors, IMO. I am one of the guys on here who really still likes Vitters as a prospect, but I honestly don't think he'd be ready right now in the majors and it could be embarrassing for him.

[Sammy Sofa]

Vitters is already on the 40 man, the option was burnt in March. You don't bring him up because he's 22 years old playing okayish in AAA. He still has plenty to learn down there, and it's not exactly now or never for him.

 

This is true. But he's also not at the Rizzo or Jackson level any more where he has to be coddled and you risk ruining a promising career by bringing him up too early. He's also not at the Valbuena level where he hangs out in AAA until the Cubs need someone. He's kind of in-between. If Valbuena comes up, tears it up, it doesn't show the Cubs anything. He's still never going to be more than a utility player. If you bring Vitters up, he tears it up and plays good D, he could potentially be a full-time solution at 3B. I don't imagine Stewart could do much the rest of the way to be brought back next year, especially with the wrist.

 

But best case with Vitters is he hits well and fields adequately enough to stick. Worst case is he sucks, gets sent back down and a guy that is iffy to stick in the majors in the first place doesn't stick. Whether he's bad or he's in Iowa the rest of the year, you're still going to need a long-term option at 3B anyway. I'd at least take the chance that he is actually good while you have a chance.

 

Coddling him? What the [expletive]?

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If you can't ask a 22-year-old to start hitting in the majors after a half-season at AAA, then really, what good is he?

[rawaction]

I don't know. You guys make some good points. And he is a guy that has taken a couple stops at each level to start hitting. I guess my line of thinking has a lot to do with the fact that I really hate the thought of filling the team full of retreads with no future. The team is basically Castro, DeJesus and a bunch of guys that have no business being in the starting lineup in 2013. At least Ian Stewart had/has a chance to be decent (LaHair was worth a shot too, but not sure anymore). Calling up Vitters would serve the double purpose of making this team slightly more bearable and also fast forward his adjustments that he has made his 2nd time around at every level. But those are kind of stupid reasons to want him called up before he's ready.

[Guest]

I mean, has it even been a day since Theo said they want guys to get a full 162 games at AAA? Sure some of that is pandering so that the doesn't reveal the true (and obvious) service time motive for Rizzo, but Vitters of all people would probably benefit the most from that type of extended stay.