Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters called up!

[Little Slide Rooter]

@PWSullivan: Sveum says they are "shifting gears" on playing time for Vitters. Valbuena to get bulk of starts down stretch.

 

Because in the final month of meaningless games, giving Valbuena the chance to prove that he's as good as Neifi Perez takes precedent over giving a struggling 22 year old who could still be a big part of the Cubs future as much PT as possible. Hopefully, winter ball is in Vitters' near future.

[jersey cubs fan]

@PWSullivan: Sveum says they are "shifting gears" on playing time for Vitters. Valbuena to get bulk of starts down stretch.

 

Because in the final month of meaningless games, giving Valbuena the chance to prove that he's as good as Neifi Perez takes precedent over giving a struggling 22 year old who could still be a big part of the Cubs future as much PT as possible. Hopefully, winter ball is in Vitters' near future.

 

I think it's more about stopping the bleeding on Vitters value than giving Valbuena a chance. They probably want to overhaul a whole lot about Josh's game. If the goal was to bring him in and let him face guys he could conceivably pad his stats against, it has so far failed.

 

It's too bad they didn't just keep him down there all year to look like a AAA killer.

[Guest]

Preserving Vitters' trade value is probably more important at this point. Also relevant is that Valbuena is better at baseball and stands a pretty decent chance of always being better.

[davell]

Yeah, I don't have an issue with it. Vitters definitely isn't ready and Valbuena hits arb after the season. They can at hopefully figure out if Valbuena can be a utility guy next year and beyond. All they can find out on Vitters is what he's already shown: A definite lack of being ready right now.

[Sammy Sofa]

@PWSullivan: Sveum says they are "shifting gears" on playing time for Vitters. Valbuena to get bulk of starts down stretch.

 

Because in the final month of meaningless games, giving Valbuena the chance to prove that he's as good as Neifi Perez takes precedent over giving a struggling 22 year old who could still be a big part of the Cubs future as much PT as possible. Hopefully, winter ball is in Vitters' near future.

 

Just stop. Playing time isn't some automatic cure-all.

[imb]

@PWSullivan: Sveum says they are "shifting gears" on playing time for Vitters. Valbuena to get bulk of starts down stretch.

 

Because in the final month of meaningless games, giving Valbuena the chance to prove that he's as good as Neifi Perez takes precedent over giving a struggling 22 year old who could still be a big part of the Cubs future as much PT as possible. Hopefully, winter ball is in Vitters' near future.

 

Just stop. Playing time isn't some automatic cure-all.

 

how else will he earn the xp needed to level up

[Pushfrog98]

They won't want to send Vitters down because he wouldn't be eligible for the post season, right? Or do they just have to be on the big league roster at any point before Sept. 1st?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Preserving Vitters' trade value is probably more important at this point. Also relevant is that Valbuena is better at baseball and stands a pretty decent chance of always being better.

 

I could be wrong, but I'm thinking that Vitters trade value is what it's going to be unless he has some type of offensive explosion the last month. Sticking him on the bench the rest of the season would drop it if anything, and I don't know how much further that the fumes of his AAA numbers will take it at this point whether he plays or not.

 

As for Valbuena, he's had parts of 5 seasons now to, and shown that he's utility at best. I would, howeve be interested in seeing Cardenas get more PT, now that the rest of Iowa's seasons been canceled due to Issac.

 

Still, my firm belief is that our 2013 3B will be one of Josh Vitters or Ian Stewart.

[davell]

My prediction is Valbuena is a utility guy next year for us, Vitters is dealt in the offseason and we sign Rolen to a one year deal.

[imb]

My prediction is Valbuena is a utility guy next year for us, Vitters is dealt in the offseason and we sign Rolen to a one year deal.

 

plz god no

[davell]

Is that THAT bad of a scenario? We're not contending(at least not by anything we've heard from the FO anyway). If Vitters is dealt, he's probably a piece in a deal that nets us a young pitcher. Valbuena? I don't care one way or the other on, but I can at least see him plugging a roster spot for a full year. Rolen? Yeah, he's like 90, but he's probably as good as there is on the FA market this year and he's the epitomy of a stopgap until Baez is ready, which I could see happening quickly and I'm starting to think the FO does too, since he's headed to the AFL already.

[jumbo]

Is that THAT bad of a scenario? We're not contending(at least not by anything we've heard from the FO anyway). If Vitters is dealt, he's probably a piece in a deal that nets us a young pitcher. Valbuena? I don't care one way or the other on, but I can at least see him plugging a roster spot for a full year. Rolen? Yeah, he's like 90, but he's probably as good as there is on the FA market this year and he's the epitomy of a stopgap until Baez is ready, which I could see happening quickly and I'm starting to think the FO does too, since he's headed to the AFL already.

 

I think you're right on Valbuena, but I think Ian Stewart is more likely to have another crack at 3B than Rolen or someone similar.

[Schwarber Fan]

Valbuena isn't that bad. He's hit into a ton of bad luck this year, but he works the count, drives the ball to the opposite field, and is an excellent defender.

 

I don't have a problem with him

[Cubswin11]

Valbuena isn't that bad. He's hit into a ton of bad luck this year, but he works the count, drives the ball to the opposite field, and is an excellent defender.

 

I don't have a problem with him

His BABIP is low, .262, but it's only a little bit off his career average of .270. The rest of his % LD, GB, FB, HR/FB are all right in line within his career averages as well with him being now more +/- than 2% off his career average. I don't have a problem with him either as the 24/25th guy on the bench who can back up multiple positions but to expect his numbers to improve a ton next year "due to a ton of bad luck this year" is wrong. He's putting up offensive numbers now that reflect the player he's been all his career. I'm hoping Stewart is brought back for 3B if the surgery he had went well and the FO feels that was potentially a major fix for him moving forward.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Is that THAT bad of a scenario? We're not contending(at least not by anything we've heard from the FO anyway). If Vitters is dealt, he's probably a piece in a deal that nets us a young pitcher. Valbuena? I don't care one way or the other on, but I can at least see him plugging a roster spot for a full year. Rolen? Yeah, he's like 90, but he's probably as good as there is on the FA market this year and he's the epitomy of a stopgap until Baez is ready, which I could see happening quickly and I'm starting to think the FO does too, since he's headed to the AFL already.

 

I expect 2013 to be another building year, though not nearly as painful as thise one has been. This being said, there's really no reason to bring on Rolen when Ian Stewart is going to be coming off of a wrist surgery and has 2 more years under team control. I really can't imagine him getting more than the 2.24MM through arbitration, so he should be given another chance. Meanwhile, Vitters can play some Winter Ball, spending a good deal of time in the OF and if he looks good and has a good spring training he should be considered for an OF spot.

[Sammy Sofa]

Meanwhile, Vitters can play some Winter Ball, spending a good deal of time in the OF and if he looks good and has a good spring training he should be considered for an OF spot.

 

Over who?

[sneakypower]

who is the Astros' left fielder?

[CincyCubsFan]

Is that THAT bad of a scenario? We're not contending(at least not by anything we've heard from the FO anyway). If Vitters is dealt, he's probably a piece in a deal that nets us a young pitcher. Valbuena? I don't care one way or the other on, but I can at least see him plugging a roster spot for a full year. Rolen? Yeah, he's like 90, but he's probably as good as there is on the FA market this year and he's the epitomy of a stopgap until Baez is ready, which I could see happening quickly and I'm starting to think the FO does too, since he's headed to the AFL already.

 

I expect 2013 to be another building year.

 

I think you may be on to something this time...

[davell]

Is that THAT bad of a scenario? We're not contending(at least not by anything we've heard from the FO anyway). If Vitters is dealt, he's probably a piece in a deal that nets us a young pitcher. Valbuena? I don't care one way or the other on, but I can at least see him plugging a roster spot for a full year. Rolen? Yeah, he's like 90, but he's probably as good as there is on the FA market this year and he's the epitomy of a stopgap until Baez is ready, which I could see happening quickly and I'm starting to think the FO does too, since he's headed to the AFL already.

 

I think you're right on Valbuena, but I think Ian Stewart is more likely to have another crack at 3B than Rolen or someone similar.

Wow, I honestly forgot he existed. You're right though, he'd make more sense than Rolen. He basically announced on Twitter a while back he'd take 1.5 mill to stay with the Cubs.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Wow, I honestly forgot he existed. You're right though, he'd make more sense than Rolen. He basically announced on Twitter a while back he'd take 1.5 mill to stay with the Cubs.

 

I'd pay $1.5 million to have him play for anyone else.

[Sammy Sofa]

Syrup or whipped cream?

[treebird]

Syrup or whipped cream?

 

LOVE IT

[Guest]

Wow, I honestly forgot he existed. You're right though, he'd make more sense than Rolen. He basically announced on Twitter a while back he'd take 1.5 mill to stay with the Cubs.

 

I'd pay $1.5 million to have him play for anyone else.

 

I think it's worth seeing if surgery makes the early season Ian Stewart closer to being the current one (or perhaps, better than that).

[XZero771679666304]

Wow, I honestly forgot he existed. You're right though, he'd make more sense than Rolen. He basically announced on Twitter a while back he'd take 1.5 mill to stay with the Cubs.

 

I'd pay $1.5 million to have him play for anyone else.

 

I think it's worth seeing if surgery makes the early season Ian Stewart closer to being the current one (or perhaps, better than that).

 

 

Yeah, I don't see any significant drawback to retaining Stewart and giving him another shot. Maybe his wrist was holding him back, and if not, it buys Vitters some more time at AAA. It's not as if there are any 3B prizes to be had on the FA market, either.

[javy knows my name]

Syrup or whipped cream?

 

ahhahaha