Cubs Should Consider Aaron Rowand

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 10:43 AM CST

As numerous folks attempt to "predict" or at least speculate about the Cubs' "gaping hole" in CF, I suggest that Jim Hendry take a good look at the Phillies' Aaron Rowand.

A hard-nosed, speedy CF with a decent bat, Rowand helped that other team from Chicago win it all in 2005 (sigh).

If Hendry were to offer Jacque Jones, then the Phillies, of course, would have to include another player or other considerations. This could be a great deal for the Cubs.

I am not sure about this, but what if Rowand could move to one of the corner outfield spots once Pie is "ready" for CF? This would make Murton expendable by the trading deadline, which is not such a bad thing. (I know that Murton has a lot of upswing and that many people here at BCB really think he's something special, but a Rowand-Pie-Soriano outfield would be a stellar combo from left to right).

Murton, like Eyre, Marshall, Marmol, Guzman, and a few others, could be used as trade bait on or around July 31, 2007.

Rowand just avoided arbitration by signing a one-year deal, but he would be a free agent after this season. If a trade were considered, then Hendry and company would need to lock Rowand up to a long-term deal.

Of course, we first have to sign Zambrano to a six-year deal worth about $120 million, right?

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.

Tweet Comment 52 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 18, 2007 10:44 AM CST reply actions

Please allow me to clarify

OPS+ 87
OBP: .321
EqA: .256

In other words, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

For god's sake, give the job to Theriot before sending something useful for Rowand.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 18, 2007 10:45 AM CST up reply actions

"The Riot" is too valuable off the bench

The Cubs' bench is very weak now, as it is. Besides, Theriot is a great player... of the "utility" variety. He is not ready to start quite yet.

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

That doesn't even make sense

Theriot is a better player than Rowand. Give the better guy the job.

Besides, Theriot is not the point. Rowand is not a good hitter. That's the point.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 18, 2007 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

How much more hitting

do the Cubs need, anyway? We need to sort out the pitching, play good defense, and maintain a strong, healthy bench.

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

Uhhhhhh

Are you serious?

There's that big black hole at shortstop named Cesar Izturis. There's Mark DeRosa, who is likely to come down to his career levels. Yeah, one more big hole in the lineup is all that this team needs.

Why are people so easily forgetful that the Cubs have one of the very worst offenses in recent memory last year?

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 18, 2007 11:22 AM CST up reply actions

Because...

They made the biggest signing of the off-season.

Derek Lee is back AND healthy.

They signed a veteran (DeRosa).

They re-signed Aramis.

It's EXACTLY what John McDunough wanted people to think. The first huge signing ever, and D-Lee back. I'm still skeptical this team has had any real change in philosophy.

EINSTEIN!

by tyger1147 on Jan 18, 2007 11:53 AM CST up reply actions

Izturis will save us runs

Defense and pitching win titles. Yes, it's a cliche, but it's true.

Just bat Izturis and/or the left-handed-hitting Pie near the bottom of the order (less pressure) and move Murton to the second spot, because his contact potential outweighs his power potential.

Izturis is, at least, a switch hitter who can bunt Soriano into (closer) scoring position and, when healthy, he's a great defensive player.

DeRosa is the wild card here. I think that he will dip a bit in his stats, but the fact that he's finally found a home at second base with the Cubs (rather than being plugged into six positions over the years) should really help him and the team.

By the way, Hendry has identified the second and eight spots as being under review this spring.

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

There is so much wrong with this...

...that I don't even know where to begin.

Scoring runs, and not letting the other team score runs, is how games are won. Teams need to be able to do a lot of things.

Izturis isn't even that great of a fielder - but we've been over that before I think. Again, Theriot would be a better option.

And bunting. Don't even start with me on bunting.

And Hendry should not be determining who is going to hit where in the lineup.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 18, 2007 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

please stop neonverse...

...everytime you post one of your ideas I go puke in the trash can.

PINIELLA!

by theprognosticator on Jan 18, 2007 1:12 PM CST up reply actions

As Yogi said...

"Good pitching stops good hitting. And vice-versa."

"Eighty-five percent of the $#@&$ world's working! The other 15 come out here! A %&$&# playground for the $&&*@!"

by danimal15 on Jan 18, 2007 2:05 PM CST up reply actions

Next time

I get sick I'll think of you, too!

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

I don't think you get this concept:

because a week or two ago, you suggested that we put some of our better starting pitchers in the bullpen. You DON'T sacrifice the talent at the starting positions in order to bolster the bench. That is beyond foolish. As long as 2 + 2 still equals 4, that is a preposterous, half-baked plan.

Why don't we just keep Ram, D Lee, and Soriano on the bench. Then our bench will be the shit. Take Z and Hill and put them in the pen, and the Cubs will have the best backup players of all time. I'm sure they'll go far.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Jan 18, 2007 10:21 PM CST up reply actions

I think we talked about

this before. Yes, he is a hard-nosed guy who is willing to take his limps and give one for the team BUT his bat is very average and as gravegiggity pointed out so is his bat. Not worth giving up talent for. If CF isn't worked out early there will we someone to pick up at the deadline.

WARD!

by cubbieboy on Jan 18, 2007 10:50 AM CST reply actions

that should be

his defense is average

WARD!

by cubbieboy on Jan 18, 2007 10:50 AM CST reply actions

Thus, the Cubs could put Rowand in LF

to "hide" his defense, right?

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 10:54 AM CST up reply actions

From wht I've seen of him

his defense is not average. Throw out the highlight reels plays, he still gets to a ton of balls that most other CF's don't get to.

by NO100 on Jan 18, 2007 10:58 AM CST up reply actions

Even if he is

slightly above average his bat is not worth it. YOu could put Pie there and at least he gets some PT

WARD!

by cubbieboy on Jan 18, 2007 11:21 AM CST up reply actions

I'd prefer Pie

over Rowand.

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 18, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

I think he's more than slightly

above average, but that's beside the point and an argument of semantics.

Pie should be up when he's ready. From what I've heard, from the Cubs and others, Pie is not going to be ready on Apr 1, but he will be ready by Sept 30.

With Rowand out there, he could be brought up at his own pace and once here he could be used in situations that are favorable to him. This could work well to build his confidence and put him in a great position for the full time job come 2008 without putting 2007 at risk.

by NO100 on Jan 18, 2007 11:49 AM CST up reply actions

re: I think he's more than slightly

I think the question is, though, would Rowand be out there when Pie is ready? One running leap into the Wrigley Field ivy -- or, more specifically, the brick wall beyond -- and they'd be carting him off the field in pieces.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Jan 18, 2007 11:56 AM CST up reply actions

you can't predict injuries

If they happen, they happen.

by NO100 on Jan 18, 2007 12:01 PM CST up reply actions

Very true...

But not in this case.

You can count on two things:
Andres Nocioni will get hurt.
Aaron Rowand will get hurt.

These guys have shown, time and again, that they will go all-out 100%, regardless of the potential harm to their bodies. It is possible that they may make a turn and decide NOT to go all-out, but that would take away all of their "grittiness" and "hustle-ly-ness" which gives them such value.

It is impossible to predict injuries. But when a guy has shown to have the mentality, "I will catch that ball even if it means running full speed into that wall." I mean, one can only run into walls and other players a limited number of times before they get hurt.

I agree with you. But I just think this injury history (unlike, say... Mike Brown) is different.

EINSTEIN!

by tyger1147 on Jan 18, 2007 12:10 PM CST up reply actions

He's not even 30

A player can learn different traits. In this case, it's in Rowand's best interests to learn how to use his grittiness moe effectively.

by NO100 on Jan 18, 2007 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

I'm going to pass...

His gritty highlight reel is going to convince some nitwit GM to overlook his offensive deficiencies, and pay too much. So, with no place to put him after this year, and a deal likely involving pitching...I pass.

by Damen Jackson on Jan 18, 2007 10:52 AM CST reply actions

I like Rowand

He's a stopgap though. Not a guy I would sign after this contract year. Giving up Jones for him to me seems kind of a wash. 2 years left on Jones contract and one left on Rowand's. The Cubs would have to get a prospect thrown in as well.

Rowand would "hold down" that position until Pie is ready, though I don't see him long-term on the CUbs. I'd rather have Murton for that.

by NO100 on Jan 18, 2007 10:56 AM CST reply actions

No thanks

My immediate reaction to this idea is negative as well.

Rowand's career line: 279/.334/.446

Jacque's career line: .280/.328/.461

That's pretty close. Rowand does have more experience in CF, but he also bats right-handed -- something we really don't need. And Jacque has more experience at Wrigley Field at this point.

Plus, Rowand has a nasty habit of running into walls/other players/foul poles/passing freight trains and getting seriously injured -- something we really don't need.

And if it's a question of trading Murton, I'm even more against this idea. Why trade a player with such potential just to accomodate a stop-gap guy whose numbers will likely decline if he manages to stay healthy, which, as mentioned, is unlikely in Rowand's case.

Another interesting idea, neon, but I'll pass.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Jan 18, 2007 10:59 AM CST reply actions

You're right on two fronts:

One, we don't need more righties in the lineup, and two, we don't need guys who get injuried easily and pretty darn seriously (although I do admire Rowand's consistently "gutsy" play).

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:24 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks, I try.

Maybe that's the problem!

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:42 AM CST up reply actions

on the upside

I know of at least 1 person whose head would explode a the thought of him in Cubbie blue

keeping mediocrity at bay

by flyball on Jan 18, 2007 11:01 AM CST reply actions

I don't see....

... why the Phillies would make such a deal. Why would they want Jones?

Rowand had a good year in 2004. Apart from that his offense has been pretty poor. I'd rather go with Felix Pie if Rowand is the other choice.

by Al Yellon on Jan 18, 2007 11:16 AM CST reply actions

Good point, Al

What are your thoughts on moving Soriano to CF, putting Pie in RF and letting Murton stay in LF, then?

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

That might work...

... in 2008.

by Al Yellon on Jan 18, 2007 11:26 AM CST up reply actions

Another good point, Al

Why not this year, though (or at least by August 1 or September 1, 2007?)

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:28 AM CST up reply actions

Well...

... I don't think Pie is ready for Opening Day. Thus, someone else is going to have to be out there.

If the Cubs are serious about winning -- and spending as much as they have, you'd think that they are -- you don't just give an arbitrary 8/1 or 9/1 date for putting him out there.

Now, I could be wrong about all of this, and Pie has an on-fire spring and wins the job outright. Time will tell.

by Al Yellon on Jan 18, 2007 11:36 AM CST up reply actions

You are correct

in noting that those dates mean nothing. You know what happens when you assume things, right?

Yeah, you make an "ass" of "u" and "me."

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:40 AM CST up reply actions

Or

"Never make an assumption, because you make an ass out of you and mption."

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 18, 2007 11:41 AM CST up reply actions

Ha!

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

I like your sig

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Jan 18, 2007 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

Thank you very much!

I'm not a big Beatles or Lennon fan, but I thought that it was somewhat "clever."

All we are saying... is give Pie a chance

by neonverse1 on Jan 18, 2007 11:46 AM CST up reply actions

I can almost hear...

... Lennon singing your sig line.

by Al Yellon on Jan 18, 2007 11:48 AM CST up reply actions

I think the Phillies could really use Jones

for the simple reason that Victorino is their starting RFer. Assuming that Burrell is staying, if I were a Phillies fan, I would much rather have Victorino in CF and Jones in RF than Rowand in CF and Victorino in RF.

by NO100 on Jan 18, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions