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Eyre traded to the Phils

Tiny by DartmouthCubsFan on

I was just listening to the Phils-Marlins broadcast and heard the PA announcer had just announced that the Phillies acquired Eyre for a minor leaguer Brian Schlitter.

Here's our newest Cub!

 

http://minors.baseball-reference.com/players.cgi?pid=34300

 

minor league reliever, good K Rates and a good job limiting HR's, walks a few too many, but a decent return for the bullpen jester

 

Apparently I need seven more words. Sigh.

 

 

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief (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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Finally

when asked about his performance against the Reds - Lieber said the following
"Well obviously I made some bad pitches today, left to many over the plate and they got good wood on the ball. The only good thing was that I was able to get back into the clubhouse earlier then I planned so I could eat."

by 1060 W Addison on Aug 7, 2008 2:53 PM CDT   0 recs

Way to go, Jimbo.

"This is an environment of welcoming, and you should just get the hell outta here." --Michael Scott

by Reddevil on Aug 7, 2008 2:57 PM CDT   0 recs

Ooh....we could be seeing Stevie in the playoffs...

...let’s hope this doesn’t come back to bite us.

Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow from the prevailing 30 mile an hour southwest wind...
When my last remains go flying over the left field wall, I'll bid the bleacher bums adieu,
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue. --Steve Goodman

by NotSure on Aug 7, 2008 2:59 PM CDT   0 recs

If he does come back to bite 'em

they’re not nearly as good as I think they are.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Aug 7, 2008 3:37 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

A lefthander with middling stuff?

He’ll own the Cubs.

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 Aug 7, 2008 3:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

We'll see him before that.

The Phillies are at Wrigley Field in three weeks.

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

by Al on Aug 7, 2008 3:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good guy...

...I wish him success unless it’s against us.

by bergs55 on Aug 7, 2008 3:02 PM CDT   0 recs

Now if we could just get rid of Howry...

Somebody has to be willing to send us some used baseballs…

by lswaidz on Aug 7, 2008 3:12 PM CDT   0 recs

Used baseballs?

Thats pretty harsh…while I doubt we will resign him after this year. I am certain that there are few teams who would pick him up for a 2-year deal. Aside from his stuggles this year he was pretty decent for a middle reliever since he left Boston. I mean it could be worse he could be Timlin…I know I know he is not far off NOW.

by StevenABQ on Aug 7, 2008 3:36 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He's a something.

But aren’t the prospects starters in A ball? Need Josh to tell me whether he’s has any potential or the equal to an infield rake.

Sorry folks, parks closed. Moose out front should have told you.

by N Oakley on Aug 7, 2008 3:12 PM CDT   0 recs

For 2+ months of Eyre (who was DFAed)...

you aren’t likely to get much more than an infield rake.

by SouthernCub on Aug 7, 2008 3:31 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I know.

Just curious if I should be more excited.

Sorry folks, parks closed. Moose out front should have told you.

by N Oakley on Aug 7, 2008 3:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Not anymore really

It used to be true that all good pitchers in the low minors were starters, but since the mid to late 90s, organizations have started grooming pitchers they expect to be major league relievers in the bullpen from the beginning.

Having said that, Schlitter didn’t make the Phillies top 30 prospects list in this past off-season or John Sickels top 20. Sickels did mention him, along with 15 other players, as a C grade prospect.

Since then, he’s had a good season for Clearwater. I imagine he’ll make our top 30 prospects list, although probably near the bottom.

A good return for someone we DFA’d, actually. He at least has a chance to be good.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh77 on Aug 7, 2008 4:33 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

on schlitter

The Brian Schlliter that was drafted last year is a bit different than the one now. The one drafted and played pro ball last year was inconsistent with the fastball and out of shape. While more work can still be done on consistency, with the fastball and with secondary pitches, he has gotten better and he has been in much better shape. There was a MiLB article on him earlier in the year about him coming into camp in much better shape.

In saying that, he was probably still borderline top 20 for them, as he was a pen arm who was figuring out a juggling act between his control and stuff. That said, for a DFA’d guy, as good as we could expect.

by toonsterwu on Aug 7, 2008 11:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Thank you.

Sorry folks, parks closed. Moose out front should have told you.

by N Oakley on Aug 8, 2008 8:03 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good trade

Schlliter throws hard. Mid-90’s. It’s a bit flat, but it’s still mid-90’s. Secondary stuff needs work. That said, considering Eyre was DFA’d, that is as good as we could expect, and Schlliter has some potential to develop into a late inning arm..

by toonsterwu on Aug 7, 2008 3:16 PM CDT   0 recs

Agreed.

He’s 22, turns 23 in December. I see below that he’s from the Chicago area. Couldn’t hurt.

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

by Al on Aug 7, 2008 3:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Something for nothing, basically...

Eyre wasn’t going to play a meaningful role for the Cubs the rest of the way. He was going elsewhere in the offseason. Getting anything at all in return is a plus.

by SouthernCub on Aug 7, 2008 3:52 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Brian Schlitter is my friends older brother, he went to Maine South

this is so crazy, of all the minor leaguers they could have got they got schlitter

by fuku-domenation on Aug 7, 2008 3:17 PM CDT   0 recs

6 Degrees

Wheres Kevin Bacon in this connection?

by StevenABQ on Aug 7, 2008 3:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This one is too easy

Kevin Bacon was in Animal House with John Belushi who is Jim Belushi’s brother who starred in “Takin’ Care of Business” in which the Cubs won the World Series, the National League baseball club of which now employs Brian Schlitter

Dome-san!!

by Goat Whisperer on Aug 7, 2008 11:21 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Mark Grace was in that movie!

Didn’t the Cubs play the Angels in the WS? That could be a preview for this year

by daeviant on Aug 8, 2008 6:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Steve Goodman Could Watch

He’s got season’s tickets to watch the Angels.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Aug 8, 2008 7:50 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Cool, thanks.

It’s always kinda inspiring when Cubs fans grow up to play on the team (uh, or at least join the organization). IIRC, other examples include Billy Petrick and Carmen Pigniatello.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 8, 2008 8:56 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Don't forget our old pal Latroy Hawkins

At least he claimed to have been a Cub fan growing up in Gary.. Kenny Lofton, too.

I can think of more examples of Cub players who grew up as Sox fans – Jerry Hariston Jr., Cliff FLoyd, .....ummm, maybe not. Wasn’t Neal Cotts a big Cardinals fan growing up?

My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.

by JohnM on Aug 8, 2008 9:25 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Oh, yeah. I think you're right about Latroy.

I’m not sure about Cotts. I guess he could have been a Cubs, Sox or Cards fan, growing up downstate.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 8, 2008 9:44 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I believe he grew up a Cards fan...

I think I read that somewhere. Of course, I could just be confusing him with Mark Buehrle, but I think that’s right.

by SouthernCub on Aug 8, 2008 10:16 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Buehrle

is definitely a huge Cards fan, has said so multiple times

by DartmouthCubsFan on Aug 8, 2008 11:46 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

He's a big boy...

It’s so crazy how bullpen guys are being developed at such an early stage in their careers.

by smitster2008 on Aug 7, 2008 3:20 PM CDT   0 recs

Schlitter looks somewhat promising

Here is the Cub’s press release

"Very adroit in the outfield." - Lou, on Dome

by gwood on Aug 7, 2008 3:23 PM CDT   0 recs

Good looking stat:

Only 1 HR allowed in 48 innings.

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

by Al on Aug 7, 2008 4:09 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Better stat:

He’s not Scott Eyre

Dome-san!!

by Goat Whisperer on Aug 8, 2008 9:55 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I hope Schlitter makes the bigs...

...just to hear Ron Santo struggle with his name. Man, that’s gonna make for some good listenin’.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Aug 8, 2008 11:08 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I hadn't even seen

that Eyre had been DFA’d. Had that been widely publicized and I just missed it because I’ve been traveling the past few days, or had it actually been relatively quietly done? Now, if we could only do that with Howry…Hey Jose Vidro was DFA’d by the Mariners, I wonder…(joke, joke, joke).

Time is an illusion--lunch time doubly so.

by snowyman28 on Aug 7, 2008 3:24 PM CDT   0 recs

yeah it was publicized

the day Kerry was activated a decision had to be made and they decided instead of sending down Marshall and keep Eyre on the roster that they’d DFA Eyre and actually utilize a full 25 man roster

by DartmouthCubsFan on Aug 7, 2008 3:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Eyre should be just a LOOGY for the Phils

So this is how the Cubs Lefties have fared against Eyre:

Edmonds who is 4-9, 2B, RBI
Fukudome: N/A
Ward: 0-3
Fonty: N/A

If the Righties get a shot at him:

Fonzi: 2-6 with 3 Ks
Amram: 0-3
DLee: 2-2 with HR
DeRo: 0-2
Cedeno: 0-1
Kevin Tapani: 1-1 with a 2B and an OPS of 3.000 (Maybe we can bring him back as a pitch hitter?)

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Aug 7, 2008 3:25 PM CDT   0 recs

Eh...

not really much of a sample size. Wonder if we’ll even face him this year. Only the four-game stretch is guaranteed.

by SouthernCub on Aug 7, 2008 3:43 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Next shoe to drop involves Bob Howry or Jon Lieber

How long can Lieber stay on the DL with his phantom injury? Would the Cubs keep him on there until September 1st? Or will they activate him soon and DFA Howry?

by MDBNIU on Aug 7, 2008 3:46 PM CDT   0 recs

Yes, Lieber will likely stay on the DL till September 1...

... then be activated, not pitch in September and quietly retire.

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

by Al on Aug 7, 2008 3:49 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

In a perfect world

The Cubs lock up the division with three weeks to go and let Lieber take Harden’s spot in the rotation so he can rest before the play-offs.

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Aug 7, 2008 3:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If the Cubs indeed do that...

... it won’t be Lieber taking Harden’s spot, it’d be Sean Marshall.

And in any case, would you really want Harden to sit for three weeks before a playoff start and be all rusty? I wouldn’t.

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

by Al on Aug 7, 2008 3:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Agreed...

While I don’t want to overextend Harden and risk reinjuring him, I think sitting him for an extended time makes no sense either. I want him sharp but rested. A more realistic scenario might be limiting Harden to 5 innings (or a pitch count of ~80) for a few starts in September, and then gradually increasing towards the playoffs. Then, we’d use Marshall and/or Lieber in long relief for those outings.

That way, hopefully you keep Harden from wearing down, but keep him sharp as well.

by SouthernCub on Aug 7, 2008 4:30 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

there was too much rust on this team

LAST year. Hopefully the playoff schedule won’t be so screwed up.

’’If somebody had told me we were going to lose Soriano for eight weeks, lose [Carlos] Zambrano and Kerry Wood for a couple of weeks apiece, and then at the same time lose [Reed] Johnson, and then when we played the American League not have a DH [then-injured Daryle Ward], and be in first place by two games, I’d tell you we were pretty fortunate.’’ Lou Piniella (7/23/08)

by drewishdrewid on Aug 7, 2008 4:39 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

How do you mean?

The Cubs only clinched with a couple of days left on the season. They didn’t really have time to sit around and rust, did they?

My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.

by JohnM on Aug 7, 2008 5:29 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

there were several days

of just sitting around, IIRC. Nearly a week, wasn’t there?

’’If somebody had told me we were going to lose Soriano for eight weeks, lose [Carlos] Zambrano and Kerry Wood for a couple of weeks apiece, and then at the same time lose [Reed] Johnson, and then when we played the American League not have a DH [then-injured Daryle Ward], and be in first place by two games, I’d tell you we were pretty fortunate.’’ Lou Piniella (7/23/08)

by drewishdrewid on Aug 7, 2008 9:17 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

No, they clinched in Cincinnati, the last series of the year..

I know because we expected them to clinch in Florida, but they lost ALL THREE games to the Marlins….it was at that point I began to worry about last year’s team.

Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow from the prevailing 30 mile an hour southwest wind...
When my last remains go flying over the left field wall, I'll bid the bleacher bums adieu,
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue. --Steve Goodman

by NotSure on Aug 7, 2008 10:48 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Well

I think they clinched on the Friday and had two whole “meaningless games” on the weekend, then on the Monday they had to fly to Arizona. I’m not sure if the first NLDS game was Tuesday night or Wednesday, but I remember the players and Lou were a little disappointed they didn’t have time to go home to Chicago before it started.

My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.

by JohnM on Aug 8, 2008 6:08 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

It was on Wednesday.

It surprises me that they didn’t come back to Chicago. They had an extra day.

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

by Al on Aug 8, 2008 7:19 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I would agree that Marshall is a good pitcher

But I would want him to stay sharp in the pen. Learn the roll, etc…

Harden down for 3 weeks is a bad idea but he should pitch two three innings a start and sit after that. No more “Dead Legs” for him.

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Aug 7, 2008 7:05 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

i would want harden

to throw 3 innings on scheduled rest to stay sharp

the pink hat guy is my father

by joeschmitt on Aug 7, 2008 3:59 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

What the heck happened to the Lieber of ST??

And what about early season? I hope that choosing Marquis over him didn;t cause us to miss out on a quality season from him. Maybe he just petered out. This is disappointing to me.

In the Howry vs Lieber issue…Howry appears to have the least value IMO.

Kwa...Ki...Sur...Pee...Nee...Ku?

by Kinky Reggae on Aug 8, 2008 7:54 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I found it strange

that an injured reliever three three innings in his first rehab appearance. Makes me think that A) he wasn’t really injured (as you and others have insinuated) and/or 2) that the Cubs are trying to trade him as a swingman/starter once he potentially clears waivers. He wasn’t that bad in the first half.

My next sig line quote will also be from Lou Piniella, and the first word will be either "Look", or "Listen", followed by a comma.

by JohnM on Aug 7, 2008 5:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Good All Around....

.... good for Eyre that he ended up with a contender, and that the Cubs actually got something for him. I had posted in another Eyre thread I hoped it would be either the Astros or the Phils, because I’ll be in Chicago to see both teams later this month. Considering he was a good guy while he was here and even better class act since his DFA, I hope Wrigley gives him a nice hand when he appears.

"When they signed Fukudome, I knew they were trying to get me fired". - Ron Santo, January, 2008

by BeerCub on Aug 7, 2008 3:53 PM CDT   0 recs

and not throw any kinds of processed food at him.

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Aug 7, 2008 3:55 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I remember Gallagher's comments

about how Eyre was a good teacher to him. I think Eyre may be missed more than folks now in terms of clubhouse dynamics, but it was time to move on, particularly since he wasn’t going to be here next year.

by toonsterwu on Aug 7, 2008 11:26 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

More good news.

Per Bruce Miles, the Phillies are picking up what’s left of Eyre’s contract, about $1.2 million.

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

by Al on Aug 7, 2008 4:27 PM CDT   0 recs

Wow

I guess there was some demand for him. Rumors were the Red Sox wanted him too.

Borowy . . .Sutcliffe . . .Harden?

by Josh77 on Aug 7, 2008 5:12 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

I'm confused....

How did Erye clear waivers if these teams wanted him so bad, couldn’t the phils or Red Sox have just claimed him and had him for just the 1.2 mill left on his contract?

by JPetey on Aug 7, 2008 6:08 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

This is my guess

Waiver claims are determined by standings. If multiple teams claim a player, then the team with the worse record wins. I would guess that prior to making a waiver claim, a GM will call the other GM and ask about activity on the guy, remaining salary obligations, etc….

It seems to me that interested teams were probably all told that the guy is in demand and as a ‘gentlemens agreement’ no one chose to undercut the other on the waiver wire and to make an offer.

I’m guessing there’s a file cabinet of these agreements in every GMs office.

WOXY.com - The Future of Rock and Roll

by Gibbon Jockey on Aug 7, 2008 9:13 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

probably something like that

the cubs ran him through waivers (as more people than we think do) and nobody claimed him. if someone had, hendry probably would have (been tempted to, at least), pulled him off.

at that point, he became trade bait.

the redsox opted to claim brian giles, figuring he was a legit addition to their team. the phillies figured they could avoid the hassle and get him for an a level prospect.

by tim815 on Aug 8, 2008 9:49 AM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Pretty Ironic two years later...

The Cubs set the market on middle relievers when they signed Howry and Eyre, now theyre both scuffling and/or being sent out of town

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Aug 7, 2008 4:34 PM CDT   0 recs

All and All two long term contract for middle relievers

We got good mileage off of them. They held the pen together in 2007 and created a bridge to 2008.

They will be very cheap compared to what Wood and Marmol will cost to resign.

Theriot, Fonty, and Johnson = The Scrappy Pyramid of Victory

by BrewCrew'sPrinceofDarkness on Aug 7, 2008 8:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

Just listened to Eyre's interveiw on waddle and silvy show today

He was really classy about being DFA’d (this was before the trade).
I hope the best for him but aren’t to worried about him coming back to bite us…the only hitters he would be brought in to face are fukudome edmonds ward and fontenot

C.C.+Feilder+Gagne=The brewers just ran out of XXXL Jerseys

by jds2 on Aug 7, 2008 5:06 PM CDT   0 recs

Me, too...but...

I just finished reading Paul Sullivan’s article on Eyre in the Tribune. I was very impressed with Eyre’s comments. It’s refreshing to see a professional speak honestly about his circumstance and ability. I hope that we see him in the playoffs.

by DudeVf11 on Aug 7, 2008 9:11 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

phils

I am a cub fan living in philly. I have been saying for several weeks to friends out here that Eyre would fit perfectly in the phills bullpen. I met stevie last year when the cubs were in philly and he was the most gracious athlete I have ever met, signing my sons ball and glove and chatting with us. I really feel like Lou just didn’t like him. He has pitched well often (despite his numbers) and was great end last year and at times, far far better than Howry but he was in Lou’s Dog house. Stevie will help this team. AND, I pray he doesnt come back to bite us…dont be suprised. Good move by the phils, my guess is his numbers are very good in philly. The good news is hopefully he helps them burry the mets and marlins…bad news, he could see us in the NLDS.

by thisisitflyfishing on Aug 7, 2008 6:44 PM CDT   0 recs

More likely the..

NLCS rather than DS.

I think we are destined for a rematch with Arizona in the first round and then either Philly or Milw in the NLCS.

by BartlettBob on Aug 7, 2008 9:38 PM CDT to parent up   0 recs

If AZ gets there

The Dodgers and Manny aren’t going away.

The critical thing to understand is that major-league pitchers don't appear to have the ability to prevent hits on balls in play. There are many possible reasons why this is the case, and I don't really have a concrete idea as to why it is.

But the one thing I do know is that it is the case.

--Voros McCracken

by nbt on Aug 7, 2008 11:39 PM CDT