cubsfan26

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090314&content_id=3986650&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc gross. Here's to Mike Fontenot hitting lefties unbelievably awesome to start the yr. I want nothing to do with Miles getting the same amount of at-bats as Fontenot. Thats kinda what I expected with Miles helping out Fontenot against LH pitchers and taking Cedeno's AB's.

If they did it wouldn't really make a whole lot of sense since Miles hit 289/335/698(little better then career numbers) over the last three years with the Cardinals. So if anything his numbers with the Rockies bring his career numbers down some.

Thats because we don't know how these moves will work out yet and I'm giving them a chance. Like I pointed out before I don't mind having Aaron Miles on the team. I'm fine with him coming off the bench, and think he will be a asset to the team. Do I think he should have gotten a two year deal? No, but if he hits like he did most of the last two seasons, it won't be a bad deal no matter what you think.

Hendry didn't make nearly the questionable moves that people were trying to claim he did. But give it some time, Hendry is coming off a two seasons when plenty of somewhat questionable moves worked out well for him. So sorry if I'm gonna give a few of them a chance, before I bash the guy. Especially when the Heilman, and Gregg trades are already started to look much better then they did a few months ago. The numbers would disagree with you. Yes if Juan Pierre was a middle infielder and a bench player, I would be fine with having him on the bench for 2m. Because the guy can hit the baseball. Can he hit to be a regular? No, do I want him out there everyday? No. Even though he's only getting singles can still be a asset to the team as a bench player. Again there's a difference between productive bench players and everyday players. You gotta hold bench players at different standards, you can't expect many bench players to hit for average, have power and take walks. Especially back up middle infielders, so I'm fine with having a bench player who can hit pretty well for average. Alex Cora-245/313/662 Jerry Hairston-260/330/700 Felipe Lopez-262/330/725(worse then Miles the last two years) Ramon Vazquez-257/328/686(numbers inflated by playing in Texas) Nick Punto-252/319/651 Aaron Miles-289/329/693 So I don't see many 410 SLG guys on this list, especially recently. Then when you factor in Miles put up those numbers while averageing over 400 plus a season. Well I rest my case, but as others pointed out I'm not gonna waste my time defending Miles anymore. He's a not a good baseball player, but he can be a asset to a team and is fine to have off the bench. If you disagree with that fine, I don't care anymore.

German only has 900 something career AB's, he's really only been a major leaguer since 06. He's been really good for a year and half, and really bad the last year and half. Thats the thing I don't really call three seasons much of a career. I'd be fine with Miles as a bench player if he put up his 04 or 07 numbers as well. Maybe getting less AB's will improve Miles numbers. Since he's pretty much averaged 400 plus a season. Getting say 300 or 330 AB's could make him more effective in a smaller sample size.

A minor league deal is never a bad signing. German is on the same contract as Mike Stanton, So Taguchi, Chad Fox and others. If he's not needed or he sucks, you release him. I think thats a little unfair, Miles is a career 289/329/693 guy in 2077 career major league AB's. German career numbers are better, but alot smaller sample size. In 2006 German hit 326/422/881 in 279 AB's and in the first half of 07 he hit 279/375/768 in 219 AB's. So he was a pretty good bench player, and alot better then Miles. But the last year and half German has been bad. In the second half of 07 he hit 240/308/657 in 129 AB's, and last year he hit 245/303/641 in 216 AB's. So the league might have caught up to German, and Miles is much more of a sure thing. There's nothing wrong with giving German a chance, but we can't count on him right now.

You do ever wonder why you get on so many people's bad side on this board? First of all I don't defend Hendry moves at all cost, what I do is give them a chance. Many people can't do that including yourself, and freak out over something and then are wrong about the move months later. But I never said giving him a two year deal was a good idea, because it wasn't a good idea. But 2m or 2.3m is about the going rate for a player like Miles this offseason. In the first part I was talking about Theriot, and the second part I'm not gonna bother explaining that to you. If you don't think having a guy who can get hits consistently off the bench means anything, then thats fine. I don't think you understand what role players are, and how they can be assets to a team. I disagree with giving Miles a two year deal, but there's nothing wrong at all with having him on the bench. Baseball isn't played on paper, and if you can't understand that I'm not gonna waste my time talking to you. Really? They might have simliar career OBP to Miles, but I'd take a 290/330 guy over a 260/330 guy any day of the week. Because more good things can happen with a hit then a walk. Again you think Miles is worthless, thats your opinion and I disagree. Is he a bad everyday player? Yes because he doesn't hit for power or walk enough, but there's a difference from everyday players and bench players.

Name them. Aside from last year and his fluke BA, it's fun to try and name any guys like Miles that stick around in the big leagues. 70something OPS+, can't play SS.. he owes Tony LaRussa quite a bit for putting him there when he clearly should never ever be playing the position. Off the top of my head, Ramon Vazquez, Jerry Hairston, Nick Punto, Alex Cora, and Felipe Lopez are all making over 2m next year. I'm sure there's others making around that or simliar salaries or as well, but I don't feel like looking it up right now.

Fontenot and Marshall have been really impressive this spring. Fontenot is trying to make everyone forget about DeRosa and show that he's a good everyday player. I'm also starting to think Marshall might have a break out season this year, kinda like Joe Saunders did for the Angels last year. As for Gaudin, I dunno what the heck is wrong with them. He's had two horrible games now this spring, I hope he can figure it out before the end of camp or he could be released. I think having a good Gaudin is important depth to have with Harden on the roster.

There's plenty of middle infielders who had very little power had good careers and made some money. Luis Castillo, David Eckstein are just a few off the top of my head, even Craig Counsell had 5 years or so when he was a everyday player. Jason Kendall had a pretty good career, with no power as well. If you're a middle infielder or catcher, and you hit for average and can take a walk you can have a good career as a regular in the majors with no power. Miles doesn't get on base at near the rate of any of those guys. Last year's BABIP inflated season was the only time he's ever exceeded a .330 OBP. The lowest of those guys you mentioned is Counsell at a career .343, with Eckstein over .350 and Castillo and Kendall pushing .370. That's the problem. Miles has one thing he does well, hit singles. His physique and approach prevent him from having any type of fluky power success, he doesn't take enough walks to have value as a Theriot/Eckstein type player, he's too old to have any type of age related improvement, and he's a below average defender wherever he plays. There's zero upside to having him on the roster, and we paid well over his value to guarantee he's around for 2 years. That's why people are continually upset about him. I agree, I was talking about Theriot when i was bringing those guys up. Miles is a bench player, not alot of back up infielders career numbers are better then 290/330 and thats why there back ups. I would say Miles sucks to if he was playing everyday, but as a bench player I'm fine with him.

Miles career numbers of 290 and 329 OBP are just fine for a bench player. If Miles could get on base at a higher rate, he would be seen as a everyday player(like Theriot and many others). Last year he had a big year and the media started thinking he might be a regular this year, but obviously the Cubs don't expect him to repeat those numbers. Most back up middle infielders don't have higher then a 329 career OBP, and thats why there back ups. Miles asset to the bench is he could hit for average. He can fill in for a regular and go 2 for 4 on any given day, and he can come off the bench and get a big hit off a good pitcher. Having a guy who can consistently hit the ball off the bench is valueable to a team, even if he's only getting singles. There was plenty of times last year, when if Cedeno or Ward just got a single, we would have gotten runs and won a game we lost. Of course the bench also needs power, and thats why Hoffpauir or even Koskie need to be on the roster, and be at the plate with alot of guys on base. But I don't see how having Miles as a back up is bad for the team.

There's plenty of middle infielders who had very little power had good careers and made some money. Luis Castillo, David Eckstein are just a few off the top of my head, even Craig Counsell had 5 years or so when he was a everyday player. Jason Kendall had a pretty good career, with no power as well. If you're a middle infielder or catcher, and you hit for average and can take a walk you can have a good career as a regular in the majors with no power. The stats tell me Theriot OBP will be alot closer to 380 then 326. When you look at Theriot minor league numbers after he gave up switch hitting his OBP was 365,365 and 367. He also put up a 412 OBP in 134 AB's in the majors in 06. Plus most of his 07 season, his OBP was alot closer to 350 for most of the season, before he ran out of gas. Like alot of players do, after getting so many AB's for the first time. So right now the 326 OBP looks alot more like a fluke then the 380s. Theriot doesn't have the power to be a star, but as long as he hits for average and gets on base he's still a good/solid player in my eyes, and helps the team win. Theriot is a good fit for a team like the Cubs, because they have plenty of power, and he gets on base alot for those hitters.

If Miles was a everyday player, I would say he sucks. But putting up his type of numbers as a bench player is fine with me. Theriot is a everyday player, so people are harder on him. Part of the reason why Theriot gets bashed though, is because people have a opinion of him, and they won't allow themselves to admit there wrong. So they just say Theriot 08 season was a fluke, and point out his low power or his average defense at SS to bash him. I think the biggest problem with fans these days, is they only focus on how much power a guy has. But people need to realize there are a ton of major league players with very little power, and they make alot of money and have good careers, because they hit for average, take a walk and do other things. People wanna rate every player the same way, and personally I can't do that. If a SS hits for average and gets on base, I'm not gonna bash him for not having a 400-500 SLG. On a team like the Cubs who have alot of guys with power, Theriot is just fine hitting for average and getting on base. Of course if he was on another team that needed more power he wouldn't be as valueable.

Yes and Aaron Miles had 8 teams after him, but only Cubs and Cards would offer two year deals. Still he would have made over 2m with whoever he signed with. Point is thats the going rate for back up middle infielders this offseason. I see you disagree with it, but that doesn't make you right. Major League GM's don't always just rate guys on how much power they have. Some GM's don't mind having a guy who can hit for average off the bench, even if he doesn't walk alot or hit for power, especially if he can play a few postions. I'm not saying Aaron Miles is good, but he's not worthless either. I have a feeling people won't hate Miles as much by the end of the season. Cardinals fans didn't seem to hate him all that much when he played there, and most I know liked having him off the bench. So once we actually see the guy play, the opinions might be a little different. We will have to see, but overreacting about his contract over and over again is kinda overdone. Maybe, German was horrible last year, and was released by the Royals for a reason. German is gonna be 32, and wasn't even a major leaguer until 2006. He had two good seasons in 06 and 07, so it's ok to take a flyer on him. But he shouldn't be someone we should count on as a main back up. Miles has no power, but I'll take 290/330 off the bench from my back up middle infielder.

Talk about his injury, and how were gonna replace them then. Or how much time we think he will miss or whatever then. I really gotta learn not to pay attention to this stuff. But I'm just sick of seeing every thread turn into complaining about Miles or DeRosa.

OMG you guys are still talking about Aaron Miles? Ok we get it you don't like him or his contract. That sucks, but thats the going rate for his type of player this offseason. Five to seven very simliar players signed very simliar contracts. Get over it, he's fine helping Fontenot out against tough LH pitchers, and he'll be a upgrade over Cedeno offensivly off the bench most likely. Plus giving Fontenot more playing time, and saving 3.3m the reason DeRosa was traded. Then we signed Miles because he was one of the better back up middle infielders on the market at the time, to help our bench after losing Fontenot from it and knowing we were gonna get rid of Cedeno still. Anyone who can't see that or realize it, just wants to complain to complain then.

Nothing wrong with this signing. German gives us some more depth, and will probably have to start the season in Triple A. It's funny that people actually bash these minor signings. For all we know German might be released in May, after not being called up to the big club.

Yes he's thrown 4 scoreless innings, while striking out four, giving up two hits, and walking one batter. You probably haven't heard much about him since he's throwing well. If he had a 7 era right now, fans would be freaking out about him.

I guess we shouldn't be that surprised, since Reynolds was a poor hitting middle infielder, like Cedeno. Harold Reynolds career numbers were 258/327/668, and Ronny Cedeno career numbers 252/289/639. Harold Reynolds probably felt he was a important part of a team. So it shouldn't come to a shock that he would feel that way about Cedeno.

Yeah it's not that Theriot is really bad, and once again he's having a monster spring. So the guy has shown no signs of slowing down at the plate, but people are always going to expect less then more from a guy like Theriot. But the reason why he will bat 8th, has nothing to do with his ablity. He will be hitting 8th, because he's RH and doesn't have the power to hit three through six. The Cubs are all about having a balanced line-up this season. So if Soriano is leading off, and Lee is hitting third. That means either Fukudome or whoever plays second will be hitting 2nd. I know it's uncommon to have such a good average/OBP hitting 8th. But that just shows how good our line-up is. But when you have other good OBP guys with a little better power in Fukudome and Fontenot, it allows you to go with a little more balanced line-up, and put a guy like Theriot 8th. Theriot would probably be hitting 1st or 2nd on most major league teams, but having him 8th almost gives us two leadoff guys. He could get on base alot and be in a postion to score when Soriano comes up.

I liked this trade from day one, I thought Heilman had the stuff to be a solid number 4, or lights out set-up guy. Plus I didn't think Cedeno had any value, and Olson was simliar to many other pitchers we had in our system already. I think this move has a good chance to be one of those Hendry moves that got bashed at first, but people are very happy with in the long run. I know it's only still spring training, and im not sold on him as a starter. But I do think he got himself back on track to at least being a dominant late inning reliever like he was from 05-07.

I'm worried about Angel Guzman, there's no way he passes through waivers. The Cubs better not lose him for nothing, I know he had a few rough games early this spring. But he needs to be on the roster on opening day.

Played yesterday, with still a month left of spring training, there's no point to play him alot right now. He will probably be back in the line-up tomorrow.

I wonder if Luis Vizcaino(3.5m salary in 09, and 500,000 buy out at end of the season), with average to below prospect for Crosby(5.5m salary in 09) and 500,000 in cash would work. Thats the only way I could see a trade getting done, unless the A's would eat 4-4.5m of his salary. But I don't see the A's having much interest in Vizcaino with their bullpen pretty full right now.

The A's did have a good offseason, they added some good hitters and relievers. But should have probably tried to get some bargin free agent pitchers. There current rotation is Justin Duchscherer, Dana Eveland, Dallas Braden, Sean Gallagher and one of Gio Gonzalez, Josh Outman or Edgar Gonzalez. Right now they might be one starter short, especially with Duchscherer having arm issues. Right now they could use a Joe Blanton, Greg Smith or even a Chad Gaudin. I think they might have traded away too much pitching over the last year, but they needed to trade some guys to get a few other players.