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Edmonds signing imminent, per Paul Sullivan

According to this article:

Veteran center fielder Jim Edmonds is expected to clear waivers Wednesday and sign with the Cubs, opening the door to what could be a prolonged debate.

Sorry, all . . . I thought that Sullivan story was new.  Here's one that really is new , again confirming the signing and saying:

The Cubs will have to make a roster move to make room for Edmonds. While Felix Pie is expected to be sent down to Triple-A Iowa, the Cubs may also put Daryle Ward on the disabled list within the next day or two. Piniella said Ward’s back is bothering him and he can’t run.

That would give the Cubs an opportunity to bring up another outfielder, perhaps Matt Murton or Micah Hoffpauir, to serve as the fifth outfielder behind Alfonso Soriano, Edmonds, Kosuke Fukudome and Reed Johnson.

I had a heart attack when I saw this in the new story, re Edmonds:

“He’s going to hit ninth,” manager Lou Piniella said. “I’m going to move the pitcher to eighth, and hit him ninth.”

But then I saw this:

Piniella was joking, of course, and spent most of Wednesday’s press conference trying to avoid talking about the new Cubs outfielder.

So thanks for not skewering me too badly for posting an old story.

 

For what it's worth, I think signing Edmonds is a terrible idea and worry about mucking up an otherwise happy and cohesive clubhouse with his presence.  But Lou has done pretty well so far, so I'm going to try to trust him on this until . . . well . . . until I can't.

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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I hope he proves me/us wrong

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on May 14, 2008 4:12 PM CDT reply actions  

That's last-night's news.

The latest information is that Hendry has confirmed this, pending a physical. His first game would be tomorrow if he is cleared by team doctors.

by cwyers on May 14, 2008 4:12 PM CDT reply actions  

More importantly

when is Paul Sullivan going to cut that hair…..........

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Swung on belted!!!"---Chip

by Hammer on May 14, 2008 4:18 PM CDT reply actions  

I agree with the pumpkin

May his stay be short and not very damaging to the team. Then maybe he can go on to a career in dinner theater with all the other drama queens. As Bugs Bunny would say, what a maroon.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on May 14, 2008 4:21 PM CDT reply actions  

Ha! Ha! Ha!

“I agree with the pumpkin!” Classic.

Even the vegetable knows not to sign Edmonds…or is a pumpkin a fruit?

by Rev Gunia on May 14, 2008 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions  

Waitaminute...the Cubs might sign former Padre, former Cardinal Jim Edmonds?

Why didn’t someone tell me about this?!

Nanika Ga Okoru!

Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.

by daver on May 14, 2008 4:27 PM CDT reply actions  

i think we should really try and acquire that Brian Roberts guy from Baltimore.

"I don't want to be a product of my environment. I want my environment to be a product of me." Frank Costello

by kalamazoo_cubs_fan on May 14, 2008 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions  

Brian Roberts? Great idea! Tell me more!

Nanika Ga Okoru!

Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.

by daver on May 14, 2008 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions  

who is jim edmonds?

2008 Cubs: Why Beat A Team in Regulation, when you can beat them in extras?

by Chanman25 on May 14, 2008 4:30 PM CDT reply actions  

Seriously!?!

Really Bad Day

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on May 14, 2008 4:51 PM CDT reply actions  

Old man dies...

...drama queen lives. That’s NOT how it should be.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on May 14, 2008 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions  

this is an amazing graphic

and exactly how i might feel if in one “un-damaging” month we are in third place

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on May 14, 2008 5:00 PM CDT up reply actions  

Is that

from Sin City? Looks like the Bruce Willis scene near the end.

Soriano should hit 5th. Period.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on May 14, 2008 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions  

Alba in the cowgirl suit...

good times, good times.

Soriano should hit 5th. Period.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on May 14, 2008 5:30 PM CDT up reply actions  

Sin City

That’s what it looks like to me.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on May 14, 2008 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions  

wtf hendry

not only do I think you can randomly pick a minor league center fielder out of a hat who is as good as edmonds, but isn’t there some bad blood between edmonds and the cubs. Especially with Zambrano.

by nks6911 on May 14, 2008 4:54 PM CDT reply actions  

Yea I think there was a game back in '04 where Zambrano hit him with a pitch in retaliation for showboating after a homerun or something along those lines

"We Are Not Fair Weather But Foul Weather Fans, Brothers In Arms In Streets and The Stands." -Eddie Vedder, Someday We'll Go All The Way

by ryanbrixenivy on May 14, 2008 5:08 PM CDT up reply actions  

I was watching that game in a St. Louis bar

...and worried about having my Cubs shirt on. Lots of drunken Cards fans were pretty pissed at the T.V. To my Cardinal fan buddy’s credit, he leaned over to me and said, “Edmonds deserved that. That’s what he gets for acting all cocky after a home run. I would’ve beaned him too.”

by Rev Gunia on May 14, 2008 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions  

pie to iowa

i think that he needs to play everyday. i don’t think he’s ready so I think the Edmonds addition could be a blessing in disguise. He might provide some veteran leadership and he does have a world series ring.

by columbusOHcubsfan on May 14, 2008 5:05 PM CDT reply actions  

I want to know

how everyone will deal with the past that Big Z and Edmonds have had….I assume that have kissed and made up? Maybe?

Plus is there an ex-Cardinal thing like the ex-Cub thing?

D-LEE!

by airweino on May 14, 2008 5:09 PM CDT reply actions  

worked for Gary Gaetti

He killed us when with the Cardinals, then had a pretty good stretch with the Cubs to end his career.

Still I don’t like this signing.

by Orval Overall on May 14, 2008 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions  

Why...

Do the Cubs need him? What’s the point? There is none.

by wrigleyrocker12 on May 14, 2008 5:29 PM CDT reply actions  

They have no faith

in Felix, and Lou won’t play him. It’s ridiculous! Edmonds blows, and will be gone in less than a month.

Soriano should hit 5th. Period.

by Canadian Cubs Fan on May 14, 2008 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions  

Gonna try some optimism

Edmonds is going to hit .260 with 15 homeruns for the cubs. He will murder the cards when we play them. Great on defense in center.

Can’t I be a dreamer some times….

by nks6911 on May 14, 2008 5:33 PM CDT reply actions  

I really don't like Edmonds ...

This decision makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.

I’m really torn about this … I just hate the guy …. total douche bag. Why don’t we just get Barry Bonds ?

by NorthSide87 on May 14, 2008 5:37 PM CDT reply actions  

exactly

bonds would MURDER pitching in our lineup – i really wish we would just sign him so we could be completely awesome in every way (i mean instead of signing edmonds, i really wish we would leave the offense and defense alone)

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on May 14, 2008 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions  

he could play right

move dome over. seriously, if we are going to sign a power hitting left-handed douche bag, why not just get bonds? i would love to have heard the conversation that lead to this signing.

"Anytime I want to throw 95 or 96 (m.p.h.), I can throw it. But it's not how hard you throw in the big leagues. It's how you locate your pitches and learn to pitch the game." - If Zambrano has truly figured out how to pitch, look out.

by kylejo on May 15, 2008 8:09 AM CDT up reply actions  

No, he can't play right.

Barry Bonds played almost 3000 major league games (I say “played” because I think he’s done). Know how many he played in RF?

ONE. In 1987, TWENTY-ONE YEARS AGO!!!

What on Earth makes you think he could do it now, on 44-year-old bad knees? And just “move Dome over”? Like it’s changing parking spaces on Addison?

Wow, this would be a really bad idea.

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

by Al Yellon on May 15, 2008 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions  

Maddux

David Kaplan was just on a local Sports radio station. He stated among other things that Greg Maddux told him personally that Edmonds still has some good in him and that he is “extremely motivated to stick it to the Cards”. Maddux told Kaplan that many of Edmaonds problems were due to the spacious centerfield in Petco.

by cubsfan25 on May 14, 2008 5:43 PM CDT reply actions  

Well, heck, if Maddux says he's OK.

His word is like gold ‘round here. GOLD!

In the middle of a good time, Truth gave me her icy kiss. Look around, you must be joking. All that way, all that way for this -Oysterband

by Ross on May 14, 2008 8:03 PM CDT up reply actions  

Often times

I see posters here say” to trust Lou’s judgement”......”he knows what he’s doing”........he knows how to evaluate talent”, etc, etc.,etc. Bringing in Edmonds and sending Pie down surely is what Lou thinks is right at this time or else it would,nt be happening. I am not saying Edmonds will show anything other than he’s washed up but….......let’s again trust Lou’s judgement here and hope Edmonds has something left. If he sucks…...he’s gone….if he’s good….......we are the best lineup in the NL. No downside to this IMO

by plenz on May 14, 2008 5:48 PM CDT reply actions  

you know

i am one of those that doesn’t just blindly “trust lou’s judgment” (its spelled w/no “e” which i always thought was weird lol). i wanted them to hire joe girardi because he showed a gift in developing young players when he was with the marlins.

i like lou and am a positive fan, but i disagree with him on this move (and on some other tactical tendencies that i wont get into). edmonds might tear it up – he has a swing as sweet as griffey when he’s on, and does take walks (despite high k totals) – and if he does i will loudly cheer and it will be awesome as you said. but i dont see it, he hasn’t good of any consequence since 2005 and hasn’t been “vintage edmonds” since 2004! to me, it looks about like if we signed jose canseco.

again, i support lou and this team – but i disagree with him very strongly here and about pie. i just hope this turns out well and that in the future the cubs look for a manager who can stick long-term. lou, i hope, can get it done right now.

"I'll play any day. I don't care if I'm 0-for-30, playing baseball is my PASSION. I'll go out and play." - Geo Soto

by CubbyBlues on May 14, 2008 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions  

If they were going to sign an aging released outfielder

I would have rather had it be Jaque Jones.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on May 14, 2008 6:21 PM CDT reply actions  

I know nothing

about Edmonds (other than what I’ve read in here) so answer me this…would Edmonds have made the “that catch” a few weeks ago that Reed made?

by sue369 on May 14, 2008 6:26 PM CDT reply actions  

I don't think so

He still reads the ball of the bat very well, but he’s lost a step, maybe two. Edmonds 5 years ago, possibly. Edmonds now, no.

For what it’s worth though, I think Reed might make that catch again once in ten tries. Unbelievable.

by jbgindy on May 14, 2008 6:32 PM CDT up reply actions  

I think Reed makes that catch 1 in 10 tries

That was a great catch and every OF out there is going to miss it more often than make it

"There are no curses here...Games are won and lost on the baseball field" - Lou Piniella

by El Borto on May 14, 2008 6:35 PM CDT up reply actions  

From a moonlighting Cardinals fan...

Jim Edmonds now would not make that catch. As jb said, he definitely has lost a step or two.

2005 Jim Edmonds might not make that catch either, but that’s for two reasons:
1) That was a once-in-a-career type of catch that Johnson made.
2) Jim Edmonds plays shallow to cut off a lot of base hits, because he’s had the range, especially circa 2005 and before, to get back to the wall on most catches.

Edmonds is a hell of a baseball player, and while it’s a huge longshot that he’s a HoF, if you look at his numbers and his baseball-reference HoF indicators, he’s a guy who will probably get enough votes to stay on the ballot for a few years. That certainly says something about the guy.

Having said that, he looked like he was used up last year, and he supposedly requested a trade over the off-season, so the Cardinals obliged. I’ll be interested to see how he does. I’ll be put in the situation of, of course, rooting against the Cubs, but for one of their players.

by mtalken on May 14, 2008 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions  

The question is......

At little cost and lots of time to evaluate is Edmonds a better fit now, today, then Pie…..if it doesn’t work over the next 5-6 weeks bring Pie back with a wished for better swing and able to contribute in Aug. and Sept…...... besides Johnson is going to get the lion share of the play out there anyway…..... nothing lost here.

by James031 on May 14, 2008 6:45 PM CDT reply actions  

On PLUS SIDE

Edmonds Signing > Traschel trade?

by ak123 on May 14, 2008 7:08 PM CDT reply actions  

I have my doubts but

I’ll give it a chance. If Edmonds really struggles, I don’t expect that Piniella will stick with him for very long. As we all know Piniella wants to win every game so I don’t think he’ll be stubborn on players like Baker was at times.

As fo Pie, it’s obvious Piniella doesn’t like him. Maybe he is convinced that Pie will never be a good hitter. I don’t know. I’m not sweating it. The Cubs are winning. It would be a different story for a non-contender.

by rlpete on May 14, 2008 8:42 PM CDT reply actions  

minority opinion

I like this move, to be perfectly honest. for about half a million dollars we get a quick look at somebody who had been one of the most feared hitters in the national league until very recently. I know he’s old, i know he’s slowed down a little bit, and i don;t expect a fourty+ home run year out of him… but what’s the danger?

Pie needs a complete overhaul on his swing, and the playoff race in the Central looks like it’s gonna be tight, so he’s better off doing that down in Iowa than using up a roster spot here. that means we need a back-up CF, and unless we wanna trade Sean Gallagher for somebody elses crappy outfielder, Edmonds is the best FA CF out there.

so, we give Edmonds a few weeks to see if he’s got anything left, and if he doesn’t, Pie’s right back up in the bigs, hopefully with a more consistent swing and a bit more patience. or, on the other hand, Edmonds thrives in the hitters mecca that is the Friendly Confines. slots in as a fourth outfields/bench bat, gives us that left-handed power we need when facing lefties, and generally becomes another useful tool for Uncle Lou to play with.

so, unless we seriously need Pie’s .222/.286/.286 avg/obp/slg right now, we’ve got absolutely nothing to lose.

oh, and for those of you who dispise Edmonds, here’s a fun fact about the man : he has Tourrette’s. hence he doesn’t give good interviews, hence he comes off as a bit Barry Bonds-ish. he’s never been a problem child in the club house or with the management… just a big pain in the ass for Cubs pitchers over the years.

by Petrie000 on May 14, 2008 10:53 PM CDT reply actions  

What do you think about...

Moving Fukudome to CF and Edmonds to RF ala Ken Griffey, Jr. (when Edmonds gets the nod to start). Put Fukudome back in RF and have Johnson in CF? Thoughts? Would Edmonds make that move if it meant more playing time? Thoughts?

by socalicubsfan on May 14, 2008 11:44 PM CDT reply actions  

why do we need to move him?

the guy was never that fast, just reads the ball off the bat very well. he’s comfortable in CF, Fukudome’s comfortable in RF, let them both do what they do best.

by Petrie000 on May 15, 2008 1:37 AM CDT up reply actions  

Dome was

promised he could stay in LF if he came here. They aren’t going to change that.

by sue369 on May 15, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions  

Yeah, and I would hope the Cubs wouldn't break that promise...

...just to accomodate Jim freakin’ Edmonds.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

Oh, and remember, folks: Alfonso Soriano is NOT batting leadoff. He's batting first.

by daver on May 15, 2008 10:47 AM CDT up reply actions  

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