If TTTSNBN goes through, DeRosa wants chance to play short.

by pageian on Mar 23, 2008 9:22 AM CDT Comment 35 comments

Finally, somone with a chance of making something happen has said it. That someone is DeRosa, he's apparently making noise about playing short if Roberts is acquired.

I'm glad it's finally come up within Cub circles, or at least it appears that DeRosa will press the issue so it won't be dismissed too quickly. From what we can tell statistically DeRo will be approximately as good as Theriot on defense, and we know he's better with a bat. This is the best of both worlds, Roberts can join the team and there doesn't have to be so much angst on the part of Cub fan who don't want DeRo to go to the bench. Roberts would essentially be replacing Theriot in the lineup and Theriot would be replacing the 25th man on the bench. Stonger lineup, stronger bench. If DeRo is needed somewhere else due to an injury Theriot can step in at short, otherwise he can be the supersub, pinch runner extraordinaire.

Discuss.

According to Buster Olney:

• Heard this: If the Cubs finish their deal for Brian Roberts, or trade for Felipe Lopez, Mark DeRosa will want an opportunity to compete for the everyday job at shortstop.

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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Just read it....

I won't even debate the idea, but it's clear this situation is on the verge of becoming problematic. I think it's time to finish this, one way or another.

If I might hijack your thread a bit though, I see Reed Johnson was released from the Jays this weekend. After looking fully recovered, and with a good spring, mind you. Have we just seen our new backup CF? I like free. And I like his splits.

by Damen Jackson on Mar 23, 2008 9:33 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have always liked Reed Johnson.

However, he had a poor year last year. Ask yourself why the Jays would have let him go if he's still a useful player.

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

by Al on Mar 23, 2008 9:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Um...

No one knew how well he was going to rehab, so Toronto went a signed a slew of LFs. With Reed being one of the more expensive options, it made more sense to cut him now, and pocket the cash.

You knew about the herniated disk, right?

by Damen Jackson on Mar 23, 2008 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No.

I didn't. Did they cut him in time to be off the hook for his contract?

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

by Al on Mar 23, 2008 10:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not completely certain...

but I think it's about that time.

by Damen Jackson on Mar 23, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Waivers

He has to pass through waivers too. I'd be shocked if someone can't get him before us :(

by berselius on Mar 23, 2008 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is he more a LF or a CF?

He definitely can hit lefties, but can he handle all the day games, and how well can he play CF?

by Championship Vinyl on Mar 23, 2008 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A LF...

by trade, who has spent time at all outfield spots.

Not sure what you mean by all the day games though. My understanding is that Lou will give Pie every chance in CF, using his backup as exactly that, or at best a compliment against tough left handers. If all goes well, I'd still expect Pie to see 70% of the playing time out there.

by Damen Jackson on Mar 23, 2008 11:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thought I saw some stats...

...that his day numbers weren't so hot, but if he's not playing regularly, then maybe it's less of a factor.

I'm guessing the glove is more important, as right now only Pie and Fukudome can effectively play CF.

by Championship Vinyl on Mar 24, 2008 8:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sounds good

Reed, as long as healthy, would be a much better option to back up Pie then say Byrd who is being overpriced....

I am also open to giving DeRo a chance at SS...especially since he kinda seems to be emerging as a team leader in a lot of respects...reminds me of Karros...

D-LEE!

by airweino on Mar 23, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All over this plan

I especially like that Reed Johnson idea - his stats against lefties are .308/.371/.462 in 701 ABs. I am all over that. I get the vibe that his defense isn't that great in CF though

I would love DeRosa at SS, but the jury's still out whether his glove would play there. Certainly his bat would

by berselius on Mar 23, 2008 9:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Interesting idea...

... here's some info.

DeRosa has played 138 career games at SS. However, only eight of those were in the last two years, and only one last year. Could he handle it on an everyday basis? I suppose it's worth trying -- or, maybe simply add this to the list of "supersub" positions he would play if TTTSNBN happens.

There HAVE been players who have had fulltime jobs doing this. A recent example is Tony Phillips. He never really had a fulltime position, but played regularly for a decade or longer.

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

by Al on Mar 23, 2008 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bad year plus platoon guy

I think it's more a factor of the Jays' crowded outfield. He's really only a good LHP hitter, but they already have Matt Stairs to find ABs for, and Shannon Stewart hits lefties just fine. They simply ran out of space with their questionable infield situation.

by berselius on Mar 23, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

whoops

Meant to reply to the reed johnson comment above

by berselius on Mar 23, 2008 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Derosa's

getting a bit too lippy about this situation. Voice your concerns to Lou and Jim in the clubhouse; taking it public like this is just unprofessional. Like Al said above, Derosa can get all of his AB's in the supersub role just as well as he can if he has a set position. I don't do whiners.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 23, 2008 11:08 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Did DeRo really say this publicly?

Buster Olney isn't in the Cubs' clubhouse. He doesn't have a direct quote. He is inferring the same thing that we have been talking about on BCB all winter. I'm sure DeRo would love a chance to play SS (he has always said that it is his favorite position), but I doubt if he would say that to a reporter -- which would be campaigning for Riot's job -- though it is probably the way he feels.

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

by DeRoMyHero on Mar 23, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He did a couple days ago,

and I believe there's diary on it, with Mark saying his bat deserves to be in the lineup, or something like that. The less chirping I hear about playing time form any player, the better. Mark will get his AB's, whether it's at 2B, or split between 3B, RF, 2B, and SS. He needs to calm down.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 23, 2008 1:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

He'll get at-bats all over the field if he's the super sub and in the process he'll go a long way toward keeping guys like Soriano and ARam fresh without losing too much production. Besides, all it takes is one pulled hammy for him to get back to starting regularly, and the guys he'd be backing up aren't exactly iron men. I'd much rather have him in the lineup as a starter but either way he'll get plenty of playing time.

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Mar 23, 2008 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's

the Trib article and here's the salient bit from Derosa:

"It's funny for me," DeRosa said Friday at Hi Corbett Field. "I feel like I've done enough … where I shouldn't be put in this position. Hopefully Jim and [manager Lou Piniella] realize I'm one of the best hitters they have and my bat should be in the lineup."

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 23, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He did say that he deserves to play...

but he didn't mention SS. It would be decidedly uncool to campaign publicly for Riot's job. That's what the Olney blurb is implying.

I don't blame DeRo for being upset. Rich Hill has sucked this spring, yet Lou says that he is a lock for the rotation because "we wouldn't have won the division last year without him". Would we have won the division last year without DeRo? Doesn't he deserve the same respect from Lou?

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

by DeRoMyHero on Mar 23, 2008 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is a difference...

You don't get better as a team by replacing good players with worse players (Hill/Marquis?) but you do get better by replacing good players with better players (DeRosa/Roberts). DeRo deserves all the respect that he's gotten for the way he's played last year but if you give guys jobs based on respect you won't win many games. DeRo will find a place on the team no matter what.

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Mar 23, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That was last year.

To my mind, if Derosa wants his spot, he needs to prove it ST. Hitting .207 isn't the way to do that. I agree that Derosa's a valuable piece, but he's more valuable as a 400 AB supersub than a 400 AB 2B or SS.

I think Olney took a little journalistic license with Derosa's quote, personally.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 23, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Since when do starters have to earn their jobs? Derrek Lee hasn't been hitting this spring and Micah Hoffpauir is. Should we replace Lee with Hoffpauir?

Anyway, I don't see that DeRosa quote as "complaining". He was simply stating that he feels he's a solid contributor to this team (which I think he is) and that you don't usually replace such players.

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

by Al on Mar 23, 2008 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

When a player states

"My bat deserves to be in the lineup" he better be hitting. Derosa's not hitting. DLee isn't out running his trap. He's not whining about Hoffpauir, he's not making a scene. Dome isn't moaning about Hoffapuir and Ward getting PT in RF, he's just going along. Note that I never advocated replacing a player with one who has a hot bat. Don't misconstrue my point. Derosa's the one who's talking and he's really not doing much to back it up. He should just be quiet and let what happens, happen, especially when he's hitting .207. He'll get his AB's regardless of whether He Who Shall Not Be Named comes over or not, which is yet another reason he should STFU. He didn't have a position last season and he got his raps, why should this year be different? Now, he seems to think he deserves an everyday position, and I think he's more valuable to the team as everyday supersub. Know your role, Mark.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 23, 2008 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neither

Lee's position, nor Dome's position is actively being shopped.

Mark's Role on this team is Starting 2B. That's what he was last year, that's what he should be this year.

2008: The year we put it all together.

by drewishdrewid on Mar 24, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

A middle infield of Roberts and Derosa

Go figure. How novel.

by lemon20pie on Mar 23, 2008 12:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

No kidding.

BTW, that Pie pic is frighteningly hilarious.

"I've always felt that starting pitching is the most important part of the rotation." - Joe Morgan, Sunday Night Baseball 8-12-07

by gary varsho on Mar 23, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who woulda though?

My guess is that was the plan all along provided Roberts was the one acquired to play second, because he can hit leadoff therefore no need for Theriot. DeRo could move over to short without disrupting the top of the lineup and the Cubs get to send a "fan favorite" to the bench, where he mostly belongs. No doubt DeRo isn't going to campaing for Theriot's job, that wouldn't be cool, though he's more than likely brought it up with Hendry/Piniella. Now that it's getting closer to the season DeRosa might be getting more worried about his starting gig and decided to make some noise about it.

DeRoMyHero: Doubtful that he talked to the press about this, Olney would have reported it that way and we'd have heard about it from other sources by now. This is coming from someone within the organization, maybe someone who is deliberately planting seeds?

As far as Reed Johnson goes, I like the idea more or less. Getting him for basically nothing would be good, having him handle lefthanders rather than Pie would be good. That could turn out to be a productive platoon. That said, I wouldn't expect too much out of Johnson, he's not a huge difference maker. He could help, and it might save us from Payton or Byrd. Combine that with the fact that getting him would likely take less than getting either of the other two and it's a no brainer.

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Mar 23, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs