Last Years Cubs Now

by ManBearPigMBP on May 3, 2009 4:32 PM CDT Comment 46 comments

Mark DeRosa

24G, 18R, 5 2B, 5HR, 19RBI, .235AVG, .301OBP, 22K

Ronny Cedeno

9G, 5R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, .154AVG, .241OBP

Henry Blanco

9G, 5R, 3HR, 4RBI, .179AVG, .233OBP

Felix Pie

22G, 4R, 1HR, 2RBI, 1SB, .167AVG, .250OBP

Casey McGehee

2-9, 1R

Jason Marquis

4-1, 35.1IP, 3.31ERA, 1..19WHIP, 17K

Kerry Wood

10 games, 9IP, 1-1, 3 Save, 0 Blown, 6.00 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, 15 K

Sean Gallagher-Sent to minors April 23

3G, 1-0, 3.1IP, 8.10ERA, 2.10WHIP, 3K

Scott Eyre

9G, 3.1 IP, 10.80ERA, 2.10WHIP, 4K, 2 Holds

Bob Howry

11G, 0-2, 8.1IP, 5.40ERA, 1.92WHIP, 9K, 4 Holds, 1 Blown

Michael Wuertz

13G, 1-1, 2 Saves, 1 Hold, 13.2IP, 1.98ERA, 0.88WHIP, 13K

Matt Murton-Called up April 29

2-5

Eric Patterson-Called up April 29

1-8, 1R

Chad Gaudin

2 Starts, 10.2 IP, 0-1, 5.06 ERA, 1.69 WHIP, 10 K

Rich Hill-Rehabbing for Baltimore, expected to make three more Rehab starts

here is how they were doing two weeks ago to compare

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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That was very interesting. Thanks.

by adam316 on May 3, 2009 4:36 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

so this year so far

Fontenot > DeRosa

Movement to make Jeff Samardzija our closer!

by Chanman25 on May 3, 2009 4:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, don't say that

The DeRomantics will be up in arms.

Seriously, though, good post. Interesting stuff.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 3, 2009 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

we still need DeRosa for that third base filler

but so far, its not been too bad

Movement to make Jeff Samardzija our closer!

by Chanman25 on May 3, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not the DeRosa vs Fontenot comparison that matters...

it’s DeRosa versus Miles. DeRosa’s winning by .300 OPS points.

by SouthernCub on May 3, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

At this moment it's a comparison with Miles

but starting tomorrow, presumably, it won’t be.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 3, 2009 5:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, it'll remain a comparison with Miles...

as presumably, there will be more injuries here and there. The idea being that Fontenot and DeRosa would get 100-120 games each.

Keeping DeRosa didn’t mean we couldn’t start Fontenot more frequently.

by SouthernCub on May 3, 2009 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

Would you have platooned them?

I really don’t think supposing there will be more injuries here and there makes it a valid comparison.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 3, 2009 7:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, I wouldn't platoon them...

As that would mean around 120+ games for Fontenot and around 40 or so games for DeRosa. Instead of platooning, I’d make Fontenot a platoon 2B against most RHP, and have DeRosa play all over the field, giving our 1B, 3B, LF, and RF rest and serving as the injury replacement. That’d get over 100 games for each of them.

And I don’t see why taking into account injuries is invalid. We have one guy who has a history of missing 50+ games a year due to injury and another guy who frequently misses 30 games a year or more due to injury. When you have guys who tend to get hurt a lot, you should be prepared for injuries.

It would make a lot more sense than paying for Miles, which was my point. The appropriate comparison isn’t to Fontenot – it’s to Miles. Piniella could have gotten Fontenot and DeRosa over 400 PA each without too much difficulty.

by SouthernCub on May 3, 2009 7:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree about Miles being overpaid

but like Al and I were saying below, if Koskie had worked out, this would all be moot.

IIRC, didn’t DeRosa not necessarily like playing all over the field? He was a good soldier, but I don’t think that’s what he preferred. Plus, how much rest do you want to give some of those guys? To the point where they aren’t able to settle into a comfort zone could be a problem.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 3, 2009 8:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What DeRosa would like to do is irrelevant...

He’s paid good money to do whatever the manager tells him in to do. He’s not going to mutiny because he’s not playing 2B everyday.

As for how much rest for the other guys? I wouldn’t give them too much rest: 15 games each at 1B, 3B, LF, and RF for DeRosa would be plenty of rest for the others. Then 60 games at 2B puts DeRosa at 120 starts and Fontenot at 102 starts. f you’re concerned about Reed Johnson not getting enough PT, give him more of the OF days and give DeRosa 10 games in LF, 20 games at 3B, and 15 at 1B. Still over 100 starts each for Fontenot and DeRosa, not counting pinch hitting. And that assumes no serious injuries to anybody. With injuries, the playing time increases, and all of the all-star caliber guys would still get 140+ starts if they’re healthy.

I agree that having Koskie succeed would have alleviated a lot of the problems. But that was a reach (Koskie hadn’t played in 2 years), and it didn’t work out. Nobody should have expected Koskie to make it. It was a longshot decision made in hindsight after Piniella realized that Miles may have been a bad decision.

And I’m not saying that we should have kept DeRosa at all costs. I just think that replacing him with Miles – and that was the replacement for the utility player role when you consider that we have a very injury-prone team – was a very shortsighted move. If we’d replaced DeRosa with a versatile guy capable of a .750+ OPS, I’d have been fine. But we didn’t do that.

by SouthernCub on May 3, 2009 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Should have kept Jason Marquis

Cubs were already on the hook for his salary, and we could use his reliability in the rotation which also would have meant Sean Marshall could operate out of the pen (where he is best and most needed in my view). Cubs had to eat $4 million of Luis Vizcaino in the end. Keeping Marquis would have been most wise decision.

The window for winning a World Series may have waned.

by BLou on May 3, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Marquis

Didnt deserve to be villified the way he often was in Chicago, doesn’t deserve to be beatified now. The team knew it was giving up a solid SP, but also thought it could better apply the $ savings elsewhere and replace Marquis cheaply with Marshall (and they were right, they could, Marshall has been just fine so far).

Those others certainly look like smart moves to unload at this point, though obviously I expect DeRo will improve to the point where we regret losing him.

by Orval Overall on May 3, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

The key to not having DeRo...

… is to have the starting lineup have more health than they have. The injuries have exposed the weak bench; a versatile player like DeRo would be useful right now.

However, the team is now winning; hopefully, they’ll be back at full strength soon.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on May 3, 2009 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I suspect

Hendry is on the lookout for a bench player. Had Koskie worked out, he would have been ideal.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 3, 2009 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly.

When Koskie couldn’t make it, that really threw a wrench into the bench. Maybe there will be someone available in a month or so.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on May 3, 2009 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just saw. . .

Tony Graffanino was released. Obviously not a regular player but I could see him being useful for an infielder on the bench.

by Seattle Cubs Fan on May 3, 2009 10:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking about that.

But Graffanino was pretty bad this year before he was let go. His last decent year was 2005, and he’ll be 37 next month.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on May 4, 2009 3:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think Koskie was a reaction move, and it was a longshot at best...

Koskie hadn’t played in 2 years, so nobody should have been expecting him to work out. And I’m pretty sure the Cubs only signed Koskie after they realized that they overestimated Aaron Miles.

by SouthernCub on May 4, 2009 7:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

DeRosa

the loss of him will be easier to judge after the ASB. Right now it looks like we need him, but lets see how health plays out as time goes on.

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on May 4, 2009 8:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

Marquis will come back down to earth or have a career year and some dummy will overpay.

I didn't get the players I wanted in the offseason!! Hopefully I get what I want in the Regular Season---The World Series Trophy!! Go Cubbies!!

by cubsluver22 on May 3, 2009 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm starting to change my mind on Marshall, btw.

I’ve been skeptical he can be a six-inning pitcher, but he’s doing well. He deserved this shot and he’s making it work so far.

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on May 4, 2009 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Michael Wuertz

gonna be interesting to see if he keeps it up

baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out

by Cubbie-Tim on May 3, 2009 4:46 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

true

Will Wuertz be better than Patton? I’d guess that when it’s all said and done, Wuertz will have the better year.

by elgato on May 3, 2009 6:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say that's a safe bet

Wuertz has been a solid reliever for years. The Cubs just paid a guy with a similar track record several million to be the closer. Patton may eventually be better down the road, but he has no track record at all. It’s completely reasonable to assume Wuertz will be better.

by SouthernCub on May 3, 2009 6:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

forgot Gaudin

just added him

Go Cubs Go, Fly Eagles Fly

by ManBearPigMBP on May 3, 2009 6:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Gaudin kicked all over

Chavez Ravine by the Dodgers today in his second start for the Padres…

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 3, 2009 9:52 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Isn't that bizarre?

Gaudin throws five shutout innings in Coors Field, then gets pounded in a (moderate) pitcher’s park.

"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra

by Al on May 4, 2009 3:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't think it had anything to do with Gaudin

Undefeated at home, the Dodgers relentlessly are tearing through all ballclubs there regardless of opposing pitchers.

by JFCubFan on May 4, 2009 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's the very definition of inconsistency.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on May 4, 2009 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's the very definition of a swing man

Gaudin’s highest and best use is to be somebody who gives you innings out of the pen and can spot start. He is what he is. Not the greatest stuff in the world, but he has proven that he can contribute when everything is aligned right. Classic definition of somebody who is considered an invaluable and versatile part of a pitching staff one month, and the next month a goat. Hence why he will continue to have a nomadic existence jumping from team to team.

The window for winning a World Series may have waned.

by BLou on May 4, 2009 11:21 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't disagree with that assessment.

Pity the Padres all the more then – from what I understand, they’re planning on leaving him in their rotation long-term.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on May 4, 2009 11:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look at Wuertzy tearing it up!

He always was a serviceable pitcher…

by lswaidz on May 4, 2009 12:32 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Especially when he isn't left rotting in the bullpen for 10 days without pitching...

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on May 4, 2009 3:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Felix Pie

Anybody HONESTLY surprised with the results so far? There already is loud clamoring for putting Luke Scott in Left Field and using somebody else as DH. Pie can’t hit. Lou Piniella was thrown under the bus for allegedly short-changing Pie, but the results continue to STRONGLY support his evaluative skills. In remarkably similar fashion to how Dusty Baker was vindicated on a few key prospects who turned sour during his tenure in Chicago.

Maybe Felix and Corey can open up a hitting academy for younsters when major league teams get sick and tired of investing faith in these two clowns.

The window for winning a World Series may have waned.

by BLou on May 4, 2009 10:30 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Henry Blanco has 3 HR?

by Mapmaker on May 4, 2009 12:12 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

He had two in one game.

I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.

by dat cubfan daver on May 4, 2009 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pie and Cedeno

Both players have interesting stat lines when you dig a little further.
So far Pie’s walk rate is up significantly and strikeout rated is down significantly. He’s also upped his LD% and FB%.
So far Cedeno’s seeing similar results – his K-rate is up, and his LD% is way down, but otherwise he’s also walking more and hitting more fly balls, tripling his HR rate from last year.

Here’s to hoping those guys can finally get their careers on track.

Derrek Lee is good.

by DGU on May 4, 2009 3:41 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

they deserve the chance,

both of them.

"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 May 4, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's hard to say what's "significant"...

… when it comes to Pie, because he just hasn’t had all that many major-league at-bats. Looking at the numbers from last year, it’s amazing that he had a .358 BABIP and still such poor overall numbers. This year he seems to have been fairly unlucky so far.

As far as Cedeno goes, I think it’s silly to say his HR rate has tripled when he’s hit one home run.

They’re both hitting lots of infield pop-ups so far. Hopefully they’ll start squaring it up more and their production will fill in their improved K/BB stats. But it’s certainly no guarantee. These are guys that succeeded in the minors with the plate approaches they had, and changing it could turn out worse for them. Corey Patterson cut his strikeouts considerably in 2007 and had a terrible season, losing half his power (see ISO and HR/FB) and not gaining any walks (and I think he’s a very appropriate comparison for these guys).

by aldimond on May 4, 2009 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs