Neyer on E Patt
ESPN's Rob Neyer has an interesting take on Eric Patterson's future or lack of one with the Cubs.
* As the Cubs continue to covet Brian Roberts, Eric Patterson might reasonably wonder about his future in the organization. As MLB Trade Rumors notes in a new series called "Blocked Prospects," Patterson is one of the young players "who seem to be buried on their current team's depth chart." The problem is that he's not good enough defensively to play second base and not quite good enough offensively to play center field. At least not for the Cubs, who already have Felix Pie. And at (almost) 25 he's not so young that we should expect him to improve significantly. Baseball America ranks him as the No. 12 prospect in the organization (not good for a player his age). If he's blocked, it's mostly by his own talents.Shouldn't have been late last September Eric...that might have been your shot. Discuss
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23 comments
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i believe...
by cubsluver22 on Mar 1, 2008 6:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
'Superstar Syndrome' strikes early
by petrie on Mar 1, 2008 6:57 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
i agree with this
by kylejo on Mar 1, 2008 9:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Completely agreed...
by Al on Mar 2, 2008 4:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
What value?
by rlpete on Mar 2, 2008 12:51 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly.
Now, if you come across a deal that makes the Cubs a better team, and Patterson is involved, you take it under serious consideration. He's not "untouchable" or anything. But Billy Beane said something that really sticks with me: the second you convince yourself you have to make a deal, you're going to make a bad deal. Trading E-Pat just to trade him is pointless.
by cwyers on Mar 2, 2008 12:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
And this is...
Case closed, as far as I'm concerned.
by Al on Mar 2, 2008 4:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Opine
I'd assume that right now the Triple A team will have Sam Fuld in center field and Mike Fontenot at 2nd. So where does that leave Eric Patterson?
by MDBNIU on Mar 2, 2008 5:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I think something is getting confused somewhere
Al said, "Because the Cubs don't have to make a trade for Roberts, they shouldn't."
When is it ok to make a trade, then?
Seriously, cwyers makes a great point, or at least repeats Beane's great point. Patterson's value shouldn't go down any more than it is right now, but if someone's 2B goes down, like Cinci's SS just did, Patterson picks up trade value. Or what if he gets tried out in CF and really takes to it? Or what if something finally clicks?
I think this is relevant with Matt Murton, too. Murton's value is not going to go down if he spends a month or three raking in AAA and learning to play RF.
by DGU on Mar 2, 2008 7:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed...
Contrast that with the Juan Pierre situation. In that case, we NEEDED to trade for him. So, we made potentially a bad trade (though it may turn out okay). With Roberts, the team is in the position to make a good trade for themselves, because they know that if they don't make a deal they still have a good option at 2B.
by SouthernCub on Mar 2, 2008 7:50 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I do agree with this concept...
That does, however, imply that you have to have a willing trading partner who's going to accept what you are offering. My guess is that MacPhail's asking price is still too high, and for the very reason that they don't "have" to, the Cubs won't do this deal.
by Al on Mar 2, 2008 8:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
I just wish it would go away... n/t
by IowaCubs- on Mar 3, 2008 2:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
You & me both.
by Al on Mar 3, 2008 2:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
And what if...
I didn't say Hendry should absolutely force a deal. That would be the opposite scenario (the Juan Pierre scenario). It's just that this is the perfect position to TRY to make a deal. Hendry is in the position to walk away if MacPhail doesn't eventually get to a reasonable price. And if MacPhail does get to a reasonable price, we get an all-star caliber, switch-hitting, top-of-the-order 2B with great speed. That's a good reason not to walk away from discussions, in my opinion.
by SouthernCub on Mar 3, 2008 4:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
HOW ON EARTH
That was a BAD DEAL. It had BAD DEAL written all over it.
I'll tell you how BAD that was.... my ridiculous opinion about getting Rondell White was probably a better option for this ball club over the long run. We would have been FAR better off with a 50 year old Kenny Lofton.
Those players that were traded were highly regarded. They could have been traded for a potential ace or for a long term position player. Instead we got NOTHING.
I'm still bitter about that.
by nickler on Mar 2, 2008 8:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Because they all flamed out utterly...
by cwyers on Mar 2, 2008 8:53 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
That was Josh Donaldson, right?
by Al on Mar 3, 2008 3:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly...
by SouthernCub on Mar 3, 2008 4:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Methinks it a bit............
All three pitched for the Marlins last season, and while I would agree they might not have been doing the same with the Cubs, they are still hurling at the ML level.
When Mitre, Pinto and Nolasco are officially retired, then we can take a look at the results. Right now, however, I'd say the Cubs paid too much for renting Juan Pierre for the 2006 season.
by tville on Mar 3, 2008 7:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Eric Patterson
by MDBNIU on Mar 2, 2008 12:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs
Patterson's offseason
by kranskie on Mar 3, 2008 11:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs
The lazy and disinterested gene runs in the family
by MDBNIU on Mar 3, 2008 2:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs
Winter ball is limited to foreign countries...
I don't think Patterson's failure to play in Fall/Winter Leagues is evidence of laziness on his part. Since we don't know what he did instead of playing in Winter League, I think it's a bit unfair to say he didn't put forth effort this offseason.
by SouthernCub on Mar 3, 2008 4:52 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

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