Something is in the works

by indytaz on May 5, 2006 7:59 AM CDT

I was reading the Cubs website this morning and in one of the articles (again I have to figure out how to add a link, sorry) Dusty said that help with a right handed bat was hopefully on the way. He said "something is in the works" and that "hopefully it happens soon". But of course, no names were mentioned. So now I open it up to suggestions. Who do you think is this mysterious right handed bat may be?

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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Someone on another team that is struggling...

I.E. Conine, Millar or Lopez from the Orioles.

by cubsfan2883 on May 5, 2006 8:03 AM CDT reply actions

Both the Trib and the Sun Times Have Links

To Articles that say they are waiting on the Orioles to come up with a price tag about the services of Millar and Conine.. Just out of curiousity could Hendry ask about Gibbons who although has a low OBP (in the .320-.330 range)can hit for power (26 hrs last year) and average (.280) and can more properly fill in a void rather than those two stiffs. I mean if the price is high anyway might as well just give up a Rich Hill to get Gibbons rather than giving up a lower guy to get one of those stiffs.

Those articles can be found

Trib:SoS

AND

Sun-Times:Waiting for the Phone

I really hope that Hendry does not make a move for the sake of making a move.. I truly realize that the Cubs are sliding and while I want the Cubs to make a move.. I want the move to have some significance toward making the offense work better as a whole. I personally do not believe Conine or Millar will do that for the Cubs offense. If the Cubs are going to make a trade, it should be a big one with eyes toward the future as well as the present. I cannot come up with any ideas because well I am a casual fan, not a GM, and if I did come up with an idea it would probably be so ludicrious that the opposing team GM would laugh it off.

by cubsfan2883 on May 5, 2006 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions

Javy on the DL

The dynamics may have just changed. Javy was sent to the DL with a back ailment. That might change the availability of either Conine or Millar.

Bring me the head of Rafael Furcal.

by Ross on May 5, 2006 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

a daily

scratch and win where one lucky fan bats 7th and plays RF

it solves their need for another bat, plus everyone would show up for batting practice giving the Trib more time to increase beer sales

by flyball on May 5, 2006 8:14 AM CDT reply actions

I agree

that we cant just trade a bunch of prospects for an aging player who might just fill a need for a month. I would much rather get a stick that going to be around and be a part of this team for a couple of years atleast. At this point, from what I have seen, I think Marshall is off limits, but Guzman and Hill should be made available.

First Boston, then the White Sox, its now the Cubs turn.

by indytaz on May 5, 2006 8:49 AM CDT reply actions

Guzman and Hill

Hill would benefit tremendously from a Leo Mazzone lesson in pitching.. Hill's issue last night was his location and command..

Hank would call for the ball low and away and Hill would hang it and not get it down.. also everything up was up in the zone and not up up. When you throw the ball 91 MPH you have to change speeds and locations.. You just cannot throw the ball by people at that point. Hill was not doing either very effectively last night and it showed to the tune of 5 runs in 4 innings.

by cubsfan2883 on May 5, 2006 8:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Conine

I say go for Conine. He is exactly the kind of guy Hendry should have picked up in the offseason. Sure Lee's absence is the big thing now, but let's be honest. Lee would not be saving the sorry state of affairs right now if he was healthy. Conine is someone who can fill in for Lee and platoon with Jones.

Eamus Ursuli!

by WGNstatic on May 5, 2006 9:16 AM CDT reply actions

To be honest

I really hope that whatever's in the works involves a lot more than those three guys. We need a spark--remember what a lift this team got in 03 when we suddenly had KENNY LOFTON leading off? We need to do something akin to that--and I'm willing to give up just about anyone to do it.

I'd trade 500 Lou Brocks if it meant one. . . oh god, can we please have just ONE???. . . World Series.

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 5, 2006 9:39 AM CDT reply actions

i found

an awesome shirt inmy closet yesterday that i had forgotten about. had "pennant fevor" across the top and had pictures of karros, gruds, moises, aramis, sosa and lofton. they picked the most random people. thank you unique.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 5, 2006 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Karros!

n/t

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 5, 2006 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

i don;t know what's worse

the fact that we're in such desperate need of help this soon in the season, or that we're turning to jeff conine or kevin millar as our salvation.

by tomas21 on May 5, 2006 9:53 AM CDT reply actions

Desperate?????

I just don't get this. Yeah, the Cubs' offense is pathetic right now. But for crying out loud, they're only 5 games out of 1st and are 14-13. Come back with the "desperate" talk when they're 14-30.

by BeerCub on May 5, 2006 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

14-20

is a couple exits away. you wait that long you;re done. yes the astros have done it twice, cubs teams haven't had the heart or balls necessary to do it. i amm not counting on this year binf any different.

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 5, 2006 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Another thing I don't get...

...is why bother with BCB in that case. If the season's done, move on. Kvetching only makes for ulcers. Isn't there a Bleed Beary Blue some place?

by BeerCub on May 5, 2006 12:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Windy City Gridiron

A pretty solid Bears weblog. I haven't talked on it for awhile cause it's baseball season, but it is a solid site.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 5, 2006 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

same reason

anyone bothers with the cubs to begin with. 90 odd years? why bother?

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 5, 2006 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Craig Wilson

I know it isn't likely with Sean Casey still out, but I think Craig Wilson would be an ideal pickup if we could get him from our Pittsburgh farm club. Power bat, could play first while Lee is out, then could fill in at the corner outfield positions (admittedly poorly) and catch in a pinch. Essentially, it would be like reacquiring Keith Moreland. I'd be OK with that.

Bring me the head of Rafael Furcal.

by Ross on May 5, 2006 1:58 PM CDT reply actions

what's more...

I just saw on Rotoworld that Ryan Doumit (Pitt catcher) has started taking grounders at first in order to get his bat in the lineup. I think Wilson could be a real possibility. We would probably trade Hill in a package for him, thus meaning that Hill would kick our ass at least five or six times a year.

Bring me the head of Rafael Furcal.

by Ross on May 5, 2006 2:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Another something that may not make a litlte sense

Bobby Abreu..

The Phillies need SP...

We have a bunch of extra SP

Bobby Abreu to the Cubs

Jac.. If only..

Angel Guzman, Rich Hill and someone else to the Phillies...

by cubsfan2883 on May 5, 2006 2:31 PM CDT reply actions

Bobby Abreu

Bobby Abreu, which is a totally quixotic wish, would definitely take felix pie in addition to the pitchers you mentioned. That being said, if it actually could happen, I'd drink to that!

BTW, signing Jones was one of the worst moves in Jim Hendry's entire tenure. I felt this way the minute he was signed...and its not just because he's been so crappy this year: we are stuck with like 15-16 million over THREE years. At this point, his being there is hindering a move more than anything else. Jim...listen close...next time you feel the need to sign a mediochre player, JUST WAIT TILL NEXT YEAR, and leave your old veteran (ie Burnitz) there to keep the spot warm while you wait.

Hendry really should have recognized that in an outfield with little to no power, a guy who has never hit 30 homeruns before (yes, I know at the metrodome) is just not a viable option for that long.

by CosmicCharlie911 on May 5, 2006 3:38 PM CDT reply actions

Selling the Farm for Abreu?

I dont necessarily believe it would take Pie in addition to those guys...

I think you could get away with dealing another minor spec such as C-Jake Fox .. As Lieb will be retiring in 07.

I don't know that I sell all three of those guys for Abreu..

by cubsfan2883 on May 5, 2006 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, Abreu!

Wouldn't it be nice to have a stat line like this in RF? .302/.345/.585 with 3 2B, 4 HR, and 10 RBI in only 53 AB.

Oh, wait, that's Jacque Jones against righties this year.

Admittedly, Abreu is the MUCH better player. (His OPS against righties this year is over 1.00). But if we just had a platoon partner for Jones, he wouldn't be THAT bad over the next couple of years.

Just trying to make a little lemonade today.

by cubzfan on May 5, 2006 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow....

... I hadn't realized just how good Jones is against RHP. You know, people say that Hendry and Baker are trying to justify his salary by playing him every day.

But doesn't that make him look WORSE? If he played against RHP ONLY, he'd probably start 120 or so games, put up his 20/80 numbers, and an OPS similar to the one you posted above, and everyone would call him a terrific player.

You're right that a platoon partner would be necessary. Well, Michael Restovich is .280/.331/.462 in his career vs. LHP (143 at-bats). If Baker would do this on a CONSISTENT basis, BOTH players would look better, and the team would hit better.

by Al Yellon on May 5, 2006 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions

Or as listed on the main post today...

...Aubrey Huff out of Tampa is a GREAT option.

Head over there to read it, but he's pretty much the perfect (and by perfect, I mean realistic) choice. He can play 1B/3B and the OF, is on a Tampa team that has no shot at the playoffs and that needs to clear room for its younger talent and would deal for pitching prospects, is in the last year of his contract, and is now coming off a slight injury.

He'd fill in for Lee, and then be able to spell a number of guys (JJones, Murton, ARam, even DLee) routinely....he hits lefties decently historically (from 2002-2004 his OPS against lefties was never below 830; last year he admittedly had a down year)...and he's produced in a weak lineup in Tampa (and by weak, I mean way worse than what we have right now). He'd be a great option, and one that makes sense.

Hendry, bring Huff. Now. We need him, he needs a change of scenery, and Tampa needs young pitching prospects. Please do it.

by Chadnudj on May 5, 2006 3:52 PM CDT reply actions

Sure, that'd work...

... if you could ever get Tampa Bay to even MAKE a trade. Even with the change in management there, they seem notoriously hard to deal with.

by Al Yellon on May 5, 2006 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Do you guys think

we could get Brian Giles?

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 5, 2006 3:53 PM CDT reply actions

Its a done deal

Brian Giles to the Cubs

Ronnie Woo Woo to the Padres..

by cubsfan2883 on May 5, 2006 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions

can't happen

Ronnie has a no trade clause

by jessica on May 5, 2006 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh he'll waive it.. or else

he will end up disoriented and strung out in some alley in the wrong part of town

by cubsfan2883 on May 5, 2006 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

which would be

different how?

by mike bornemann @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on May 5, 2006 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Ronnie woo woo

Is he a rightie...?

by CosmicCharlie911 on May 5, 2006 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I hate to even say I know this...

... but I have watched He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named sign autographs (and why anyone would want his signature is beyond me, but anyway)... and he writes lefthanded.

by Al Yellon on May 5, 2006 8:08 PM CDT up reply actions

A Southpaw!

I knew it! Let's get him on the block!

Or, at least he can throw batting practice. . .

"Aw, how could he lose the ball in the sun, he's from Mexico!"--Harry Caray

by cubbiejulie on May 5, 2006 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions

LOL!!

That knuckle-head throwing BP... now THAT'S funny shat.

"At the end of the day, don't tell me how rough the waters are... just get the ship into port." - Stoney

by BCurt10 on May 5, 2006 9:39 PM CDT up reply actions

True

Looking at Abreu's stats, you might be right. He's also a little older than I thought. I guess the question is whether the Phillies would be "smart" enough to trade him for an aging "prospect" like Hill who still has no success in the MLB, and a chronically injured pitcher, with great stuff, like Guzman. Throw Fox in and I still don't know if I'd make that trade if I was the Phillies.

You do have me salivating though. Bat Abreu third, Move Lee, when he comes back, to fourth in the lineup, and Ramirez to fifth, and with Lee and Abreu's respective OBPs, and Lee and Ramirez's power, that would make one hell of a middle lineup.

If it took Pie, I don't think I could say no. Abreu's career OBP is .412, and aside from power, that is exactly what the cubs are worst at.

by CosmicCharlie911 on May 5, 2006 3:57 PM CDT reply actions

Abreau`

Abreau is exactly the kind of dunderheaded move that has kept the Cubs from being an effective competitor. He's 32 and is about to enter the down phase in his career. His stats show an overall decline, and, at best, he's likely to be a first line player for only a couple of more years. Are the Cubs ONE player away? If the answer is really truely yes, it may be worth the gamble, but if the answer is "I think so" or "probably", is it really worth taking the bet.

My answer is no, and that the Cubs should build a team the right way and quit trying for the one shot deal.

by Frustrated Fan on May 5, 2006 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions