Bruce Levine: Cpatt to be recalled in 7-10 days

[David]

Since Lawton and Nomah will most likely have the 1 and 2 spots, I'd much rather have Patterson in cf. Even though Patterson has REALLY struggled this year, him and Hairston have near identical slugging %. I'll put my money on the 25 year old w/ 68 career homers giving me more production in the 8 hole than Hairston. Who knows, Patterson could catch fire. I"m not ready to put a fork in the guy like some.

 

I agree with this.. but did I miss some kind of report where Dusty or anyone said that Nomar would be hitting 2nd? At this point it would make more sense to leave Walker at the 2-spot (although his numbers admittedly have been better in the 6th spot) than to stick Nomar in the 2-hole right away...

 

Just wondering if you heard something or if you were just speculating...

[CubsHawks25]

Since Lawton and Nomah will most likely have the 1 and 2 spots, I'd much rather have Patterson in cf. Even though Patterson has REALLY struggled this year, him and Hairston have near identical slugging %. I'll put my money on the 25 year old w/ 68 career homers giving me more production in the 8 hole than Hairston. Who knows, Patterson could catch fire. I"m not ready to put a fork in the guy like some.

 

Despite all my "bashing" of Corey, I'm pulling like Hell for the guy. I like him. I like what he brings to the table in CF and his speed on the basepaths. I just wish he'd change his plate approach, he thinks he is/should be a cleanup-type hitter - aka, a "power" guy.

 

Don't get me wrong, he's got "pop in his bat", but he's no DLee, Ramirez, or Burnitz. I honestly believe that just because he plays CF, hits lefty, and has similar body-type/speed as Ken Griffey, Jr did early in his career, Corey thinks should be a HR hitter destined to hit 500+ like KG,Jr did/was. It just doesn't work that way. Griff, as a youngster and in his prime, was special. His swing was the prettiest/most effortless around during that time, and it still looks good.

 

Don't try and be the next KG, Corey... just be Corey Patterson and play to your strengths.

[CubfaninCA]

Calling up Corey now is stupid. It's incredible that the organization would bench Murton for a guy who can't even hit AAA pitching right now. Crap like this almost makes me believe the Cubs deserve to fail.

 

So who you going to bench for Murton?? Lawton or Burnitz?? I highly doubt Prior, Maddux and Z will appreciate either Burnitz or Lawton butchering plays in cf.

 

A team that fields a subpar defense deserves to fail.

[CubfaninCA]

Since some small sample sizes are being thrown out there, I'll throw this out. Patterson's ops batting 7th is .869. That's in 33 at bats.

[erik316wttn]

Calling up Corey now is stupid. It's incredible that the organization would bench Murton for a guy who can't even hit AAA pitching right now. Crap like this almost makes me believe the Cubs deserve to fail.

 

So who you going to bench for Murton?? Lawton or Burnitz?? I highly doubt Prior, Maddux and Z will appreciate either Burnitz or Lawton butchering plays in cf.

 

A team that fields a subpar defense deserves to fail.

 

But I think some people favor defense at the expense of the offense.

[frostwyrm]

Calling up Corey now is stupid. It's incredible that the organization would bench Murton for a guy who can't even hit AAA pitching right now. Crap like this almost makes me believe the Cubs deserve to fail.

 

So who you going to bench for Murton?? Lawton or Burnitz?? I highly doubt Prior, Maddux and Z will appreciate either Burnitz or Lawton butchering plays in cf.

 

A team that fields a subpar defense deserves to fail.

 

Hairston goes to the bench. If he's not at the top of the order there's no reason to use him.

[CubsHawks25]

Calling up Corey now is stupid. It's incredible that the organization would bench Murton for a guy who can't even hit AAA pitching right now. Crap like this almost makes me believe the Cubs deserve to fail.

 

So who you going to bench for Murton?? Lawton or Burnitz?? I highly doubt Prior, Maddux and Z will appreciate either Burnitz or Lawton butchering plays in cf.

 

A team that fields a subpar defense deserves to fail.

 

But I think some people favor defense at the expense of the offense.

 

 

Ok. But if you're allowing runs, that forces the offense to be that much better. I'm all for offense, believe me, but you can't always "outhit the opponent".

[CubfaninCA]

Since Lawton and Nomah will most likely have the 1 and 2 spots, I'd much rather have Patterson in cf. Even though Patterson has REALLY struggled this year, him and Hairston have near identical slugging %. I'll put my money on the 25 year old w/ 68 career homers giving me more production in the 8 hole than Hairston. Who knows, Patterson could catch fire. I"m not ready to put a fork in the guy like some.

 

I agree with this.. but did I miss some kind of report where Dusty or anyone said that Nomar would be hitting 2nd? At this point it would make more sense to leave Walker at the 2-spot (although his numbers admittedly have been better in the 6th spot) than to stick Nomar in the 2-hole right away...

 

Just wondering if you heard something or if you were just speculating...

 

I haven't heard anything. Just assuming that Nomah will be at the top of the order. Dusty loves his vet stars.

[rawaction]

Since Lawton and Nomah will most likely have the 1 and 2 spots, I'd much rather have Patterson in cf. Even though Patterson has REALLY struggled this year, him and Hairston have near identical slugging %. I'll put my money on the 25 year old w/ 68 career homers giving me more production in the 8 hole than Hairston. Who knows, Patterson could catch fire. I"m not ready to put a fork in the guy like some.

 

Despite all my "bashing" of Corey, I'm pulling like Hell for the guy. I like him. I like what he brings to the table in CF and his speed on the basepaths. I just wish he'd change his plate approach, he thinks he is/should be a cleanup-type hitter - aka, a "power" guy.

 

Don't get me wrong, he's got "pop in his bat", but he's no DLee, Ramirez, or Burnitz. I honestly believe that just because he plays CF, hits lefty, and has similar body-type/speed as Ken Griffey, Jr did early in his career, Corey thinks should be a HR hitter destined to hit 500+ like KG,Jr did/was. It just doesn't work that way. Griff, as a youngster and in his prime, was special. His swing was the prettiest/most effortless around during that time, and it still looks good.

 

Don't try and be the next KG, Corey... just be Corey Patterson and play to your strengths.

 

Corey is playing into his strengths....the problem is his strengths expose his weaknesses. He led the MWL in SLG in his 1st pro season. He was top 3 in the Southern League in HRs. He hit 24 HRs last year. He slugged .511 the year before. I believe that people think because he's small he has to be a slap hitter. That's not his strength, although it'd be nice if he had the ability to do it a little.

[CubfaninCA]

Calling up Corey now is stupid. It's incredible that the organization would bench Murton for a guy who can't even hit AAA pitching right now. Crap like this almost makes me believe the Cubs deserve to fail.

 

So who you going to bench for Murton?? Lawton or Burnitz?? I highly doubt Prior, Maddux and Z will appreciate either Burnitz or Lawton butchering plays in cf.

 

A team that fields a subpar defense deserves to fail.

 

But I think some people favor defense at the expense of the offense.

 

With Lawton and Nomah, 1-7 will be pretty dang good.

 

The Cardinals are good for more reasons than taking walks and having Pujols, Carpenter and Edmonds. That team can field w/ the best of them.

[David]

Since Lawton and Nomah will most likely have the 1 and 2 spots, I'd much rather have Patterson in cf. Even though Patterson has REALLY struggled this year, him and Hairston have near identical slugging %. I'll put my money on the 25 year old w/ 68 career homers giving me more production in the 8 hole than Hairston. Who knows, Patterson could catch fire. I"m not ready to put a fork in the guy like some.

 

Despite all my "bashing" of Corey, I'm pulling like Hell for the guy. I like him. I like what he brings to the table in CF and his speed on the basepaths. I just wish he'd change his plate approach, he thinks he is/should be a cleanup-type hitter - aka, a "power" guy.

 

Don't get me wrong, he's got "pop in his bat", but he's no DLee, Ramirez, or Burnitz. I honestly believe that just because he plays CF, hits lefty, and has similar body-type/speed as Ken Griffey, Jr did early in his career, Corey thinks should be a HR hitter destined to hit 500+ like KG,Jr did/was. It just doesn't work that way. Griff, as a youngster and in his prime, was special. His swing was the prettiest/most effortless around during that time, and it still looks good.

 

Don't try and be the next KG, Corey... just be Corey Patterson and play to your strengths.

 

Corey is playing into his strengths....the problem is his strengths expose his weaknesses. He led the MWL in SLG in his 1st pro season. He was top 3 in the Southern League in HRs. He hit 24 HRs last year. He slugged .511 the year before. I believe that people think because he's small he has to be a slap hitter. That's not his strength, although it'd be nice if he had the ability to do it a little.

 

Yup.. He's up there with anyone on the team in upper-body strength.

[CubfaninCA]

Corey won't be a Griffey, but can be a Andruw Jones type. The Cubs should just give up turning Corey into a 1 or 2 hitter. Dusty telling Corey he can be another Lou Brock doesn't help matters either.

[CubsHawks25]

Since Lawton and Nomah will most likely have the 1 and 2 spots, I'd much rather have Patterson in cf. Even though Patterson has REALLY struggled this year, him and Hairston have near identical slugging %. I'll put my money on the 25 year old w/ 68 career homers giving me more production in the 8 hole than Hairston. Who knows, Patterson could catch fire. I"m not ready to put a fork in the guy like some.

 

Despite all my "bashing" of Corey, I'm pulling like Hell for the guy. I like him. I like what he brings to the table in CF and his speed on the basepaths. I just wish he'd change his plate approach, he thinks he is/should be a cleanup-type hitter - aka, a "power" guy.

 

Don't get me wrong, he's got "pop in his bat", but he's no DLee, Ramirez, or Burnitz. I honestly believe that just because he plays CF, hits lefty, and has similar body-type/speed as Ken Griffey, Jr did early in his career, Corey thinks should be a HR hitter destined to hit 500+ like KG,Jr did/was. It just doesn't work that way. Griff, as a youngster and in his prime, was special. His swing was the prettiest/most effortless around during that time, and it still looks good.

 

Don't try and be the next KG, Corey... just be Corey Patterson and play to your strengths.

 

Corey is playing into his strengths....the problem is his strengths expose his weaknesses. He led the MWL in SLG in his 1st pro season. He was top 3 in the Southern League in HRs. He hit 24 HRs last year. He slugged .511 the year before. I believe that people think because he's small he has to be a slap hitter. That's not his strength, although it'd be nice if he had the ability to do it a little.

 

Yup.. He's up there with anyone on the team in upper-body strength.

 

Well something needs to happen, and unfortunately, maybe that will prove to be with another team/hitting instructor. He either needs to be a power guy with speed, or a speed guy with power. He's clearly confused right now as to which it is, both what he is now and what he should be.

 

I'm not saying Sarge, or whoever the hitting coach is, is incompetent or not smart enough, but so far this year and in this big slump of Corey's, they either obviously haven't helped him much - or he's too damned stubborn to want to change his ways.

 

Personally, I see Corey as a 2Bs (few 3Bs mixed in) hitter with ~15-18 homers per season kinda guy and I think that's what this current Cubs team needs most out of him, especially if they had wanted him to leadoff like Dusty did. But with that uppercut swing that has a huge hole on the down-and-in pitches, he just makes it TOO easy to get him out.

[jjgman21]

The Cubs scored the decisive run in the ninth inning, when Corey Patterson walked to lead off the inning. Patterson then stole second base and advanced to third when Portland catcher Nick Trzesniak’s throw sailed into centerfield. David Kelton’s fielder’s choice ground ball scored Patterson to give the Cubs the lead.

 

FWIW, I looked a little more carefully into Corey's stats, and there are things that are encouraging. some mentioned the SBs already.

 

some other things that are encouraging. for instance, his BB/K/AB is 4/13/67 which isn't fabulous, unless you consider this is Corey Patterson. it's easy to get down on his average, but we are talking about a small sample size, and for all we know he's hitting rockets at people.

 

tonight he was 0-3 with 2 more k's, which is discouraging unless you consider the I-Cubs were two hit tonight, ,and this little snippet from the I Cubs website...

 

The Cubs scored the decisive run in the ninth inning, when Corey Patterson walked to lead off the inning. Patterson then stole second base and advanced to third when Portland catcher Nick Trzesniak’s throw sailed into centerfield. David Kelton’s fielder’s choice ground ball scored Patterson to give the Cubs the lead.

[burnt out cubbie fan]

I think that the rockets comment might be accurate. 7 out of his 15 hits have been doubles or homers. Also, to quote someone at was at the game tonight,

Just got back from I-Cubs 2-1 win in Portland. A few observations...

 

Corey worked the count in his first AB then lined a hard out to RF. In his middle 2 AB's he looked, well...horrible...striking out on the usual slow stuff after a couple foul balls. Leading off the ninth, patient at the plate , took a 3-2 ball for a walk, had a great jump on a steal and advanced to 3rd on the throw into center. After a SO, he scored on a FC that should have been a double play ball hit by Kelton - wide throw to second - for the winning run.

[Lefty]

I posted this in the "Outfield Alignement" thread, but felt it needed it's own thread. Bruce Levine was on ESPN 1000 a while ago and said that Corey would be recalled in the next 7-10 days. With the 3 coming back on Friday, and then if Corey gets recalled in the next 7-10 days, that's a lot of shuffling. Can't say I'm that big of a fan of this if it's true. :?

 

Has Bruce Levine ever got anything right?

[Wheelimus]

If Hairston was getting himself on base, I'd defend him against being replaced with Corey. But he just isn't. We're not getting the 2004 Jerry Hairston now, we're getting the 2001 Jerry Hairston. .253/.308/.384/.692 in July. No way that Patterson doesn't top that.

 

I think by telling Corey he might be coming back up in 7 to 10 days, hopefully you give him some incentive to really light it up down there to come on strong.

[JC]

It doesn't surprise me at all if Corey is recalled sooner rather than later. With the presence of Lawton at the top of the order, the need for Hairston disappears. Hairston was never a Dusty favorite, anyway, and I don't think that is even up for debate.

 

With the infusion of Lawton and Nomar in the lineup, Corey's offensive struggles are more tolerable. Despite his obvious troubles, Corey remains at least a partial threat with his speed and power, moreso than most .220-.230 hitters, anyway.

 

While I liked the idea of sending Corey down, I was never convinced that the Cubs were committed to it. I always thought he'd return pretty quickly, with or without the adjustment results the Cubs had hoped for.

 

I suspect within the week we will see:

 

Lawton

Walker

Lee

Burnitz

ARam

Nomar

Cpatt

Barrett

 

Or, if Dusty wants to get wacky:

 

Lawton

Lee

Walker

Aram

Burnitz

Nomar

CPatt

Barrett

[bluedog]

This is the one thing that I see if CPatt is in center and Hairston is on the bench. Hairston will be playinf every third day or so at 2B, putting walker on the bench.

[Roast]

Well, not that I beleive a word that Levine says, but:

 

I am torn on this idea. It'll be awful nice to have a real centerfielder with great defense on the squad. Real nice. But, This, obviously, means sending Murton down. Unless Dusty has decided to go with 11 pitchers instead of 12, in which case maybe it means having one less Pitcher.

 

Maybe:

 

Bring up Patterson, Activate Nomar, Activate Williamson, Activate Wood, Send down Cedeno, DFA Macias, DFA Remlinger, Send down Wuertz.

 

Of course, thats pretty much a pipe dream, I think.

[WindyCity]

Maybe:

 

Bring up Patterson, Activate Nomar, Activate Williamson, Activate Wood, Send down Cedeno, DFA Macias, DFA Remlinger, Send down Wuertz.

 

Of course, thats pretty much a pipe dream, I think.

 

Replace "DFA Macias" with "Send down Mitre" and that's how I expect the transactions to go down.

[fallingpieces]

Of course he gets called up right before Iowa comes to Omaha to play so I don't get to see him. Bah!

[Roast]

Maybe:

 

Bring up Patterson, Activate Nomar, Activate Williamson, Activate Wood, Send down Cedeno, DFA Macias, DFA Remlinger, Send down Wuertz.

 

Of course, thats pretty much a pipe dream, I think.

 

Replace "DFA Macias" with "Send down Mitre" and that's how I expect the transactions to go down.

 

That wont work. Nomar and williamson currently do not count against the 40 man roster, since they are on the sixty day DL. So, we need to clear two spots to make room for the two players. Hense I am DFAing two people. Allthough, i agree, they will find some way to keep macias.

 

 

 

Doh, now that I think about it, i think we only have 39 guys on the 40 man right now, so we only have to DFA one person. *sigh*

[JC]

Maybe:

 

Bring up Patterson, Activate Nomar, Activate Williamson, Activate Wood, Send down Cedeno, DFA Macias, DFA Remlinger, Send down Wuertz.

 

Of course, thats pretty much a pipe dream, I think.

 

Replace "DFA Macias" with "Send down Mitre" and that's how I expect the transactions to go down.

 

That wont work. Nomar and williamson currently do not count against the 40 man roster, since they are on the sixty day DL. So, we need to clear two spots to make room for the two players. Hense I am DFAing two people. Allthough, i agree, they will find some way to keep macias.

 

 

 

Doh, now that I think about it, i think we only have 39 guys on the 40 man right now, so we only have to DFA one person. *sigh*

 

Koronka, and to a lesser extent, Rohlicek, may be considered as possible 40 man casualties. With the squeeze coming next year, ridding the 40 man now of one of these guys could provide future flexibility.

[cheapseats]

I posted this in the "Outfield Alignement" thread, but felt it needed it's own thread. Bruce Levine was on ESPN 1000 a while ago and said that Corey would be recalled in the next 7-10 days. With the 3 coming back on Friday, and then if Corey gets recalled in the next 7-10 days, that's a lot of shuffling. Can't say I'm that big of a fan of this if it's true. :?

 

Has Bruce Levine ever got anything right?

 

Yes. Corey's demotion, for example, was first reported by Levine.

 

Bruce was also first on the Sosa trade, the Ozzie Guillen contract extension, the trade for Gerut, the acquisition of Enrique Wilson, and the Nomar trade just off the top of my head.

 

A better question is has he ever gotten anything wrong?

 

A lot of people got worked up over his report that a major trade was brewing in late May. That trade didn't happen, but it wasn't because Levine made it up. The Cubs talked to the Mets and Marlins, but decided on making a smaller deal with the Giants - the Hawkins for Williams and Aardsma trade.