Have the Cubs been suckered again?!

by CubFaninNY on May 23, 2006 10:03 PM CDT

We all know what FL did to the Cubs in the Willis trade. Yet, it seems like the Cubs and Jim Hendry will not learn their lesson. This series has shown us what they got for Pierre, a guy they wouldn't resign after next year anyway, 2 solid pitchers, but we knew that. Most of us were excited by the idea of getting JP, but boy, has he EVER disappointed. Not to rehash an old idea, but Corey Patterson has just upped his average to .300. with 4 HR's and 17 RBI.

So to recap: The once-prized farm has been depleted.

Sosa - Hairston. advantage ?
Corey Patt - Theriot. advantage ?
Pinto, Nolasco Wellemeyer- JP. advantage ?
Koronka - Bynum. advantage?
Sisco was lost in the rule 5 (after all, we had Rich Hill, right?)
Wood is average
Prior is damaged
Are there more?

You get the drift.

Is JH a sucker or what?
He must have some bridges in Alaska that somebody sold him.

This will be some rebuilding task, especially now that they won't be willing to make more trades after the last few years of disaster. Then again, some fools never learn.....

Yeah, Yeah, we all thought that was Corey was washed up, but I guess a change of scenery, especially a trip out of Chicago, does everybody good.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Maybe

For example, C-Pat may only be showing that few weeks of good that even bad players can show (See Perez, N). Or it may well be that he turned around because Sam Perlozzo figured out how to turn the switch in his head and Dusty and Donnie could not.

I don't think that we can fairly judge the trades until we have a competent manager.

by Frustrated Fan on May 23, 2006 10:25 PM CDT reply actions

As far as Corey...

...goes. It never helps to be pulled in 10 different directions by 5 different coaches. Nothing like beating a dead horse but the Cubs problems isn't only president,g.m. and manager. Their instructional leagues and scouting dept. are in shambles. Explains why they haven't developed a position player in twenty years. I knew Corey would become a decent player. Just not with the Cubs.

cubsfan4life

by cubfan4life on May 23, 2006 10:29 PM CDT reply actions

Pulling in Multiple Directions

Its interesting that the Orioles said that they were going to leave Corey down in the seven hole even though he was hitting well because he appeared to hit better in the seven hole. So the O's appear to have decided where to put him and get production.

by Frustrated Fan on May 23, 2006 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Re

What? You mean players aren't supposed to jump all over the lineup from game to game? If Dusty didn't have to draw names from a hat every morning, how would he spend his time?

Visit The Digital Gazette

by Jed Taylor on May 24, 2006 6:08 AM CDT up reply actions

My guess is

whittling.

she

by Sarah Hope on May 24, 2006 8:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Absolutely..

..I was trying to think earlier about the last time the Cubs actually got the best of another team in a trade.

The Jose Hernandez/Bobby Hill for Lofton/Ramirez trade comes to mind. Or the Choi for DLee trade. But those were back in July and November of '03. But since then? Notta. Oh, and don't forget...Jody Gerut and Jerome Williams (Yes, Hawk and Dubois sucked but trading crap for crap doesn't make it a success.)

So I guess this front office hasn't made a good move for more than 2 seasons.

Chicks dig the long ball

by Will23 on May 23, 2006 10:30 PM CDT reply actions

We need to...

stop dissing the Willis trade. At that time no one knew how good he would be, and we did get 2 things in return: Clement who gave us quite a few quality innnings, we just did not resign him (I dunno- how is he doing in Boston?), but he still gave us a lot of good innings. And a closer which we desperately needed- although that side of the deal did not work out so well. I would venture to say that without Clement in 2003, we might not have made it to the playoffs, and you know as I remember the Cubs were not planning on bringing Willis up that year...

People who live in glass houses, change in the basement...

by Mooch on May 23, 2006 10:32 PM CDT reply actions

But it is..

..a symptom of a larger sickness that has management giving away our AA pitchers for vets that aren't panning out. Koronka/Willis/Nolasco, it's almost an annual ritual.

Chicks dig the long ball

by Will23 on May 23, 2006 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Forgotten

Hundley to LA for Karros/Gruzlanek? Selective memories when things are going bad.

by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on May 24, 2006 1:30 AM CDT reply actions

FWIW...

... Ryan Theriot is a product of the Cub farm system, not a trade acquisition.

Patterson was traded for Nate Spears, who is 21 years old and playing at Daytona this year. Spears isn't a great prospect, but might in a few years' time become a decent utility infielder.

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2006 8:28 AM CDT reply actions

Corey Pat

looks like he may finally be putting together "the" season. He's got an average over .300, an OBP over .375, slugging at over .500, and 15 steals with only one caught stealing. Last night he went 3 for 3 with a home run and two steals (and more importantly TWO walks).

Would this have happened if he had stayed with the Cubs? Who knows, but I submit its another nail in the coffin of the image of Dusty as the great motivator of players.

by Frustrated Fan on May 24, 2006 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

Let me remind you...

... that on May 31, 2005, Patterson was 54-for-194 (.278), with five doubles, ten home runs, 19 RBI, nine walks (OBA .310), and 6 SB.

The rest of the year, he sucked.

We've seen these sorts of streaks from him before. If it lasts all year, I'll be mightily surprised.

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2006 9:57 AM CDT up reply actions

Corey and Streaks

Yes, we have seen these streaks from him in the past. But what is telling, and what suggests that we are seeing a major change, is the number of walks. That's something we never saw from Corey, even during his streaks. His OBP is more than 70 points more than his batting average. That's different than the prior streaks. And the steals are at 15 with only one caught stealing, and that's also much better than any of the prior streaks.

by Frustrated Fan on May 24, 2006 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

More reasons not to doubt Corey

is the fact that he did do well in 2003 and 2004. LAST year was the fluke, and that could've been adjusted if only we'd have the right people. The fact that he's doing well again should not surprise anyone.

by CubFaninNY on May 24, 2006 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Last year...

... at the end of June, he had 13 steals with two caught stealing.

I'll believe it when I see it for an entire season, not seven weeks.

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2006 2:26 PM CDT up reply actions

2004

Don't forget the Murton deal. Hendry traded a pile of garbage and got Murton and Mr. Hamm. At the time, Nomar was obviously the big piece in that deal, but history may show the trade a little differently 10 years from now. Nomar was a likeable guy I guess, and now he can go down in history as the answer to 2 trivia questions. Who was Mr. Hamm and who was the throw in in the Orange Guy deal. Hendry has made mistakes, so I am not giving him a pass, but you have to give him his due as well. The 2004 trade didn't bring a post-season appearance, but the failure to make the post-season was more about Hawkins and Dusty choking away a season than anything else.

by MHef08 @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 24, 2006 11:59 AM CDT reply actions

Korey

will turn back into a pumpkin soon enough. The people who are lovin on him now are probably the same people who hate Mark Prior right now. Very shortsighted. We know what Korey is, give him time and he'll revert to the mean. As soon as his confidence is high his attitude will kick in and he'll start swinging like the guy we all grew to hate.

by pageian on May 24, 2006 11:09 PM CDT reply actions