Pods to Cubs?

by plenz on Nov 24, 2007 5:31 PM CST

If...........and only if Fukodome does'nt pan out.....any thought on taking a chance on Podsednik?
Maybe a one year sparkplug? He seems worth a chance given the free agent market for OF's and the uncertainty with Pie. He would certainly come cheap. Again.........this only if Fuko does not sign. Get him Jimbo!!!!!!!!!!

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Yikes! Please no.

Podsednik sucks. Sam Fuld is better. Heck, Chris Walker is probably better, when you factor in defense.

Geo! (clap-clap-clap) Soto! (clap-clap-clap)

by cubzfan on Nov 24, 2007 5:16 PM CST reply actions

Pods CANNOT play RF...

he has a weaker arm than Jacque Jones, and Hendry just got rid of Jones. If nothing else, that alone should eliminate him from consideration. And that doesn't consider the fact that, even if you ignore his inability to play RF, he's an offensive liability. I very much hope that Podsednik is not on any list of options to join the team.

by SouthernCub on Nov 24, 2007 5:28 PM CST reply actions

I'd take a flyer on a Rangers reject...

...before I go after Pods.

Texas just released right-fielder Victor Diaz. Played parts of three seasons with the Mets and about 100 ABs for the Rangers last year. Was supposed to be an up-and-coming slugger but never really panned out. Memory's a bit hazy, but I seem to recall him hitting a key 3 run homer against the Cubbies a couple years ago. Bottom line - getting cut from the Rangers is about as low as you can go.

And I'd still rather have him than Pods.

With any luck, St. Louis will pick him up. Seems like a perfect kind of washed up slap-hitting outfielder that LaRussa likes to trot out there in the 8th inning...

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 24, 2007 5:40 PM CST reply actions

victor diaz

some nice pop there, id definitely take a flyer on him.

Kevin Hart Watch: IP: 11 K: 13 ERA: 0.82 WHIP: 1.00 K/BB: 3.25 a productive farm system is a wonderful thing.

by kylejo on Nov 24, 2007 5:59 PM CST up reply actions

isn't Diaz

the one who hit the homer against Hawkins in September 2004...that lost sent us to our final week collapse.

by DC Cubbie on Nov 24, 2007 7:10 PM CST up reply actions

Yep.

I'd surely take a shot at signing Diaz, maybe a minor-league deal with a spring training invite. He had a pretty good half-season with the Mets in 2005 (.257/.329/.468 with 12 HR in 280 AB).

One thing no one has mentioned about him is that he is from Chicago. Maybe he'd like to give something back to his hometown. Yes, I know he was born in the Dominican, but he graduated from Clemente HS in Chicago, where he was an Illinois All-State baseball player. Here's a good article about Diaz's background, from the NY Times in May 2005.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 24, 2007 9:04 PM CST up reply actions

I remember him!

I went to high school with him, He passed American History because of me.

"It's a good situation here: things can't get any worse. The only way to go is up!" Larry Bowa

by VivaLosCubs on Nov 25, 2007 11:29 AM CST up reply actions

Cool!

Was he really that good a player in HS?

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 25, 2007 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

oh yeah!

He played on the varsity team when he was a freshman. He also hit a couple of homers at wrigley and comiskey when he was a sophomore.

"It's a good situation here: things can't get any worse. The only way to go is up!" Larry Bowa

by VivaLosCubs on Nov 25, 2007 10:52 PM CST up reply actions

Please no!!!

n/t

by Damen Jackson on Nov 24, 2007 6:14 PM CST reply actions

He is at best a 4th outfielder.

He is weak in almost all aspects of the game besides base stealing. He is a poor fielder with a weak arm, he cant hit for power and doesnt get on base with any regularity.

Let me get back to you, will ya, Charlie? I got a guy on the other line asking about some white walls.

by JB 23 on Nov 24, 2007 6:31 PM CST reply actions

Cheaply

And for a minor league contract, sure.

by Snake Plissken on Nov 24, 2007 6:41 PM CST reply actions

Things Scott Podsednik cannot do:

Play center field
Play right field
Play anywhere but left field
Hit for average
Hit for power
Take walks
Stay healthy

Maybe at some point in his career he could do some of the above... but not particularly well, and those days are behind him.

Players who are in the Cubs organization who are currently more valuable as fourth/fifth outfielders than Scott Podsednik:

Matt Murton (if he isn't starting)
Sam Fuld
Angel Pagan
Eric Patterson
Josh Kroeger
Jake Fox
Omar Infante

This list is not complete; I welcome suggestions for additonal players.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Nov 24, 2007 7:07 PM CST reply actions

Others in the Cubs organization...

...that could probably outplay Pods:

Bob Dernier (Outfield/Baserunning Coordinator)
Billy Williams (Special Assistant to the President)
Roger Baird (Head Groundskeeper)

Heck, I bet Jimmy Farrell (Umpires Room Attendant) could have given Pods a run for his money had he not retired this past year.

Lou Brown: "My kinda team, Charlie, my kinda team..."

by ballhawk on Nov 24, 2007 7:16 PM CST up reply actions

Hendry is not going to go for reject

like Pods, he has said they need a left handed impact bat. Pods is not that bat. Fukudome is obviously option one, if that fails other options like Crawford, Abreu, and Griffey will be explored.

by DC Cubbie on Nov 24, 2007 7:13 PM CST reply actions

Not for us

The OF is packed. Pods is worse than Sam Fuld at this point. Maybe the Brew Crew or the Cards could use him, not us.

As someone else mentioned, Victor Diaz is available. I wouldn't mind picking him up. He's not the solution to our problem in RF, but not a terrible backup plan or trading chip either.

by IllinoisCubs on Nov 24, 2007 7:57 PM CST reply actions

Let me join the chorus here...

... all the details on why this would be a horrendous idea have been well stated above.

But let me also note that this is the sort of thing that you get when a player gets a reputation for being better than he really is, because some of his peripheral stats (in Pods' case, SB) are pretty good, even when his overall numbers aren't. Plus, he was a World Series hero, winning a game with a walkoff HR, quite uncharacteristic of him (he hit ZERO HR in the regular season, but two in the 2005 postseason), thus raising his public image even further.

He's a bad baseball player. IllinoisCubs is absolutely right. Sam Fuld is a better player. I suspect Podsednik's career, which was far longer than it had any right to be, is over.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 24, 2007 9:00 PM CST reply actions

It depends...

I wouldn't mind Pods being signed to a minor-league, make-good contract with a ST invite. If he were to have a good spring, he might have marginal trade value, or be insurance in case of injuries to Pie and others. If he sucks, adios -- not much lost.

Signing him to a ML contract and having him waste a 40 man roster spot would be a horrible move.

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Nov 24, 2007 9:14 PM CST reply actions

I rather see his wife

playing for the Cubs.

by cubswin on Nov 24, 2007 9:31 PM CST reply actions

wow...

http://www.soloenanos.com/lisadegan/lisadergan3.jpg

"Prince Fielder Dies Of Inside-The-Park Homerun" - The Onion

by DTJchris on Nov 24, 2007 10:14 PM CST up reply actions

I'd rather see kerrysotherwife...

...playing for the Cubs.

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2008 Chicago Cubs starting outfield: Soriano-Pie-Fukudome. Let it be.

by daver on Nov 26, 2007 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

Pagan

isn't he a decently fast switch hitter who has done well in limited action with the Cubs? if we don't get Fukudome i'd rather give him a shot in Right... he already probably has more career home runs the Podsednik.

by petrie on Nov 24, 2007 10:10 PM CST reply actions

pagan

I've often wondered why Pagan doesn't get a shot at an everyday job. I'm not saying I'm sure he'd pan out ...

Anybody have insight on this?

by elgato on Nov 25, 2007 8:25 AM CST up reply actions

For one thing...

... the colitis (or something like colitis) he was suffering from late last year may not have resolved itself yet.

Second, I don't think he's talented enough to play every day.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 25, 2007 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

Everyday spot, that's pushing it...

But he's a solid, versatile 4th OF, which is all Pods is at this point, which makes Pods worthless to this organization.

If the Cubs sign Pods and he somehow is starting on Opening Day, I will give up all hope for the upcoming season, just as I did when the Cubs opened the season with Burnitz.

by lemon20pie on Nov 25, 2007 7:27 PM CST up reply actions

Burnitz...

... wasn't the reason the Cubs flopped in '05. He actually had a fairly decent season, hitting .258/.322/.435 with 24 HR and 87 RBI. His OPS+ was 94, so he was just slightly below league average.

The Cubs flopped in '05 because they didn't have a decent left fielder, and played Enrique Wilson at SS for a handful of games (and Neifi for most of the rest), lost Nomar to injury for three months, had only three decent starting pitchers (losing Prior for a month to the broken elbow) and because Corey Patterson had a historically bad season in CF.

Eeiuw. I had to clean off the keyboard after typing that.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Nov 26, 2007 3:53 AM CST up reply actions

Pods

Forget Podsednik.

Is someone going to take a gamble on Elijah Dukes getting his you-know-what straighened out by leaving TB?

Should it be the Cubs?

by davearm on Nov 25, 2007 11:28 PM CST reply actions

Word on "the street" is...

...Dukes is all but a National already.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Nov 26, 2007 1:49 AM CST up reply actions

Excuse me.

I got confused there... Delmon Young is the Rays outfielder that's likely headed to D.C., so as to be reunited with the Meat Hook, who can provide him a positive influence.

Sure, the Cubs should get Delmon Young. It addresses that pressing "clubhouse cancer who can't hit as well as Matt Murton" niche the team is looking to fill out in right. And he won't cost as much as the top free-agent clubhouse cancer, Milton Bradley.

FREE CARMEN PIGNATIELLO!

by cwyers on Nov 26, 2007 1:52 AM CST up reply actions