Rosenthal reports on ex-Cubs Edmonds, Gaudin

I gotta give Ken Rosenthal some credit. Today's column is rich with intriguing items - some loosely Cubs related.

Looks like Jimmy Ballgame is still game for a comeback. (See bullet points at bottom.) And check the sidebar for the apparent news that Kevin Towers is shooting to install Chad Gaudin as his fourth starter. Hope that works for ya, Kev.

almost 3 years ago daver 18 comments 0 recs |

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If any of our outfielders get hurt ...

I think looking at Edmonds again makes a lot of sense.

by elgato on Apr 21, 2009 12:35 PM CDT reply actions

it's possible

he’ll be gone before that, picked up by another team.

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 21, 2009 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Like the Angels?

"Pounding sand since 1982...."

by cubswynn on Apr 21, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Or the Yankees

Matsui and Nady, both looking very bad with possible long term injuries. I don’t think they’re going to let all that money they spent this off season go to a waste that easily.

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by tony412 on Apr 21, 2009 12:56 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

But I doubt he’d take a minor league deal, and there’s no reason to put him in the Joey G. role.

by elgato on Apr 21, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, I really don't see Edmonds having a place on this Cubs team.

He’s practically a defensive liability in the outfield at this point. The only role I wanted him for during the off-season was as a left-handed bat off the bench and, perhaps, first base backup. Y’know, Daryle Ward’s old job. But with Micah firmly ensconced, I don’t see Hendry going in that direction.

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by daver on Apr 21, 2009 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Defensive liability?

Seriously? He played a decent CF last year. I’d rather have him than Gathright.

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

by Al Yellon on Apr 21, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions

i highly enoyed

seeing edmonds in cf last year. i agree, i’d rather have him than gathright, it seems all we get with gathright is a pinch runner and a late defensive replacement.

It's not about money. It's about winning and getting over the hump. We've had the appetizer now, but we left the main course on the table.
-rod beck

by laidbackliam on Apr 21, 2009 12:59 PM CDT up reply actions

But what would Jim Edmonds be?

Even if Hendry released Joey Gathright, the Cubs would still have five outfielders seeing as how Lou insists on playing Hoffpauir in right field.

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by daver on Apr 21, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

he would be in charge

of procuring the cut-off Ts for practice in the sun.

"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella

by drewishdrewid on Apr 21, 2009 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions

Yep.

And rounding up some cuties at Murphy’s for after-game parties.

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by daver on Apr 21, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Edmonds

10X better than Gathright. I don’t even think he’ll be on the team by the trade deadline.

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by tony412 on Apr 21, 2009 1:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, he's obviously a better hitter.

Then again, I think I’m a better hitter than Gathright. But Slappy Joe has a lot more to offer defensively at this point.

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by daver on Apr 21, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm basing that on things I've read...

…and – wait for it – his UZR/UZR 150 numbers on Fangraphs. In 840 innings in centerfield last season, Edmonds turned in a -14.1/-23.3. That means he was costing the Cubs runs defensively – a lot of runs.

Now, granted, that number of innings is less than the 1,000 innings generally regarded as being necessary to get an accurate UZR rating but, still, I don’t think they would’ve gotten much better. He is simply not the Jim Edmonds of old defensively.

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by daver on Apr 21, 2009 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions

+2 for

using ensconced

by tim815 on Apr 21, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Edmonds should be playing...

I think he deserves that. He still has something to give, especially in a PT role. I get aggravated how sometimes people who can still play get pushed out, and people who can’t, keep getting chance after chance. That’s life…

by TheHawkRules on Apr 21, 2009 2:44 PM CDT reply actions

You need to look at Bradley

Bradley was brought in as the LH middle of order guy. Even though they play different positions, that was a direct offensive replacement for Edmonds. To free up $ for Bradley, DeRosa was exiled, and Miles brought in. Yes, Miles is a switch hitter, but the LH bat for 2B was already on the team.

So, while I think it is way to early to judge Bradley or Miles value, I can easily say that I would rather have Edmonds/Dero over Bradley/Miles. But, I would love to see Bradley have a monster year and prove that wrong.

by BatCubFan on Apr 22, 2009 11:05 AM CDT reply actions

Well, DeRo is certainly > Aaron Miles...

…but, when healthy, Bradley blows Edmonds out of the water at this point, IMHO. Both offensively and defensively. And, yeah, I know the “when healthy” is the tricky part.

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by daver on Apr 22, 2009 12:31 PM CDT up reply actions