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According to the Baltimore sun, the Cubs have amazingly not only traded Gathright but have actually gotten a decent player back in return who will undoubtedly fit this team better than Gathright. I still think that the Cubs will dangle maybe Miles out there for maybe a bullpen arm.

6 months ago Lou-piniella-1_tiny lemon20pie 177 comments 3 recs  | 

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Don't know how I feel about this...

If the Cubs are taking on Freel’s whole contract, it’s a bad move. If not, I like it quite a bit. I’ve always been a Freel fan. But… he is on the wrong side of 30.

by kanderber on May 8, 2009 3:57 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Feel? anyway been out of touch for a few but this is good

Freel has the tools to contribute this year in multiple positions. He can play all the OF positions and hit for a decent effect.

As for Rami….this is not good, shoulder separations seems to continue I just hope it is a low to medium grade.

Injury bug is abound this year.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on May 9, 2009 5:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Definitely an upgrade

Gathright’s only value was his speed and he was too busy getting picked off first to do anything with it. Freel is a guy who gives us more flexibility off the bench and a significantly better bat. Nice work Hendry!

churchofbaseball.com

by MJMars on May 8, 2009 4:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Freel>>>>>>>Gathwright

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on May 8, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

IT's actually spelled Gathright.

Dude couldn’t even correctly spell his last name right.

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on May 8, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

when's the next spelling bee, teach?

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

4:20

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on May 8, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

LIGHT EM UP!!!

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 8, 2009 4:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Miles will stay out of a need for a backup SS....

 …but Freel does give us “DeRosa” type flexibility in being able to play 2b,3b, and the OF. Just hope that head injury he’s coming of the DL with is fine now.

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I've always like Freel

Is anyone thinking he could end up like Reed? Everyone was unsure about him, and he’s a similar guy who gos out and hustles everyday.

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on May 8, 2009 4:05 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

They're also

Around the same age.

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on May 8, 2009 4:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes they alot in common

Both were signed by our scouting director and his scouts with Toronto. They both are great bench players with Freel having very good versatility and very good defensive wise at alot of positions.

by Slamdog on May 9, 2009 12:57 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

And away we go.

Well, good news is, assuming Freel is healthy, the Cubs now have a pretty decent backup for Aramis at third base. Also, I will no longer have to waste keystrokes posting Joey Gathright’s UZR numbers.

Bad news: There’s still no one on the roster truly capable of backing up Ryan Theriot at shortstop. Maybe Hendry will work on that next.

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 8, 2009 4:06 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Cuz I'm Freel to do what I want, any old time...

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by dat cubfan daver on May 8, 2009 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Cause I'm as Freel as a bird now..........

..and this bird will never chayayayayayange………………

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ohhhhhhhhhh

i wont change

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 8, 2009 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stas

"Check the magic of a winning season and there are always reasons beyond the talent." Ned Colleti

by wrigleyrocker12 on May 8, 2009 4:08 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Another midget 5'10"

Well who is going to be our base stealer ? I think Gathright sealed his fate overunning 2nd last week. Lou hates that.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 8, 2009 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I agree, reminded Lou of Ronny Cedeno

which is a bad idea.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lou

Didnt like Gathright in Tampa when they were together

by Slamdog on May 9, 2009 12:58 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Actually a base stealing upgrade

Freel is a career 74 percent base stealer while Gathright is about 72.

by burncruisin on May 9, 2009 3:12 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Stasis, what?

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by dat cubfan daver on May 8, 2009 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

How does this help us?

this doesn’t free up a spot for Wells does it? Plus Freel sucks. We already have Aaron Miles sucking all over the field, do we really need Freel too?

Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.

by nji232 on May 8, 2009 4:10 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

No

it just means back to the minors for Bobby Scales.

by Josh77 on May 8, 2009 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

But I like Bobby Scales

Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.

by nji232 on May 8, 2009 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Poor Bobby.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Freel isn't the greatest no doubt

But he’s an upgrade over Gathright but also a downgrade over Derosa.

 Now, if the Cubs never traded Derosa, the Cubs never would’ve had a need for Freel.

Over time, your quickness with a cocky rejoinder must have gotten you many punches in the face - Al Swearengen

by lemon20pie on May 8, 2009 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Funny how we turned one of our greatest assets

Into the thing we will spend the whole season trying to replace.

Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.

by nji232 on May 8, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

One word: Flexibility

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Regardless of how this turns out

the most amazing thing is Baltimore’s continued willingness to take our crap players and give us the plus side of any deal, even if it’s the tiniest of plus sides.

Join the BCB Flickr Group: http://flickr.com/groups/bleedcubbieblue

by tony412 on May 8, 2009 4:10 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

MacPhail/Hendry

I’m beginning to wonder if Hendry has naked pictures of MacPhail with some of the stuff he’s pulled off since Andy went east.

And if he does let’s pray they never get out.

Jay is our Quarterback. I REPEAT JAY IS OUR QUARTERBACK. Did I mention we have a Quarterback who happens to be named Jay?.

by cubstoseriesby100 on May 8, 2009 4:14 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Pie, Hill, Patterson, Gathright

who is next to the O’s from us?

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 8, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Hill aside...

…I still find the Patterson-Pie-Gathright thing really weird. Assuming Felix never figures anything out at the plate, Hendry will essentially have traded the same type of player to Baltimore three times over.

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 8, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

definition of insanity

MacPhail making trades with the Cubs?

If you are an Orioles fan, do you look at the Cubs roster to pick out your next jersey?

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 8, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you're forgetting the Sosa deal

we got Fontenot in that

Go Cubs Go, Fly Eagles Fly, http://twitter.com/mlbtrivia

by ManBearPigMBP on May 8, 2009 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Technically, Sosa was a Cubs castoff at that point.

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 8, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

i was looking at players we gave them

that didnt meet expectations, Sosa had exceeded them. He atleast sold some tickets there

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 8, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Meh....

Freel was coming off the DL, he wanted out…..Baltimore was probably just going to have to release him, so they got a body in return.

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

which bodes the question

will Freel pass a physical?

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 8, 2009 4:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm more concerned on his acceptance of his role on this team....

….because he bitched about playing time at Baltimore.

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, really.

I would hope/assume he knows what he’s getting into. Given his rep, I’m hoping he and Milton Bradley don’t butt heads either.

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 8, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can see him

ousting Miles, but not Riot or Fonty.

"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 8, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The interesting thing about this

is that Freel has never had the chance to play on a winning team.

It will be interesting to see how he responds to playing on a big market team that is winning.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It's a salary dump

This is a great trade from the O’s point of view. Freel offers them little value this year.

Really this is the last remains of the Hernandez salary dump; they traded bad contracts with the Reds, and now they managed to get rid of (most of) the money owed Freel. It was a very smart move, no weird fantasies about naked pictures needed.

by Wreckard on May 8, 2009 4:31 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

But I like weird fantasies and naked pictures.

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 8, 2009 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

twss

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Marry her!

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 8, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

no team in Baseball is as scrappy as we are

woo hoo lets hear it from the Scrappy Squad

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 8, 2009 4:15 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Scrappy

The problem isn’t scrappiness it’s when scrappy plays crappy.

We also have cornered the market on players named Ryan all of whom coincidentally are scrappy.

Jay is our Quarterback. I REPEAT JAY IS OUR QUARTERBACK. Did I mention we have a Quarterback who happens to be named Jay?.

by cubstoseriesby100 on May 8, 2009 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We have really cornered the market

on crap players who play multiple positions, none of them well.

Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.

by nji232 on May 8, 2009 4:19 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Very good point

Hey the Cubs are good again! This will be a good test of a sig jinx.

by nji232 on May 8, 2009 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Good O's are paying part of salary

Maybe 2 million ? Ok that would be too much but one million would be nice.

"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux

by Doggie Stalker on May 8, 2009 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Puzzled

That is all I am now. I’ll have to go look up when Freel can come off the DL, but that seems an odd move, unless it is basically a roster move in disuise for now?

by Nibbles on May 8, 2009 4:18 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Went on 4/21....15 day....so he's eligible now

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

he'll be activated

when he arrives.

"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 8, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep, roster move Saturday, they said.

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

if he passes the physical

right?

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 8, 2009 5:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Freel can ably back up third base.

He can also play pretty decent defense in the outfield, not that the Cubs lack outfielders right now.

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 8, 2009 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

do the Pads want Freel?

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 8, 2009 4:22 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

more importantly

do they want Miles?

"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 8, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

They couldn't trade him until June

even if someone wanted him.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Because he signed as a free agent in the off season.

I believe it’s written in the basic agreement between the owners and players association. I’m not sure of the exact dat in June but free agents can’t be traded until a certain date each season.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Waidaminit.

Wasn’t Gathright also signed as a free agent?

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Which he probably did...

… because it keeps him in the major leagues. Why the Orioles want BOTH him an Pie, I have no idea.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Got it.

That’s bizarre. Gathright, with four years experience, goes to AAA, while Pie stays in the majors.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Right.

I remembered that as soon as I hit “post”.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

they're going to clone the two of them

into a single, really really fast yet bad-swinging, three handed outfielder.

"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 8, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

UZR/UZR 150 numbers: +100/+100

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 8, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

from what i read about the deal...

over at mlbtraderumors.com , gathright immediately cleared wavers and was assigned to AAA Norfolk…

by ThisIsResolute on May 8, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Gathright signed a minor league deal

And I don’t think it’s June, I think it’s May.

by Wreckard on May 8, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think it was a major league deal as he was

on the 40 man roster this winter.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

really?

"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 8, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

This hopefully leads to a few more changes...

because we really don’t need three useless bats on the bench (Miles, Freel, and Scales). Freel makes one of Miles and Scales (if not both) more or less useless, because he can be the RH hitting backup for 2B (Fontenot would be the LH hitting 2B).

We still don’t have a player who can play SS. And this isn’t necessarily an upgrade with the bat. And Freel can give us a defensive backup in the OF too, so we don’t lose the OF depth.

Freel can at least play a tolerable 3B off the bench, which is good. Now if we could replace Scales or Miles with an option at SS, that’d be great.

by SouthernCub on May 8, 2009 4:23 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Honestly, I don't think Miles is going anywhere....

…and will be our backup SS the rest of the year. Not that that’s a great option.

Scales back down to Iowa. Freel a back up 3b, OF, and RH bat off the bench.

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on May 8, 2009 4:27 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Freel hasn't been the same

since his collision in 2007

Go Cubs Go, Fly Eagles Fly, http://twitter.com/mlbtrivia

by ManBearPigMBP on May 8, 2009 4:24 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, those offensive numbers have been really poor since 2006...

It’ll be a surprise if he gives us anything offensively. But he was a capable fielder at 2B, 3B, and across the OF at one point.

I’m not psyched about the idea of paying ~$6 million for Miles and Freel to give us two terrible bats on the bench.

by SouthernCub on May 8, 2009 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not excited about paying ~$4 million for the combo either...

Considering we could have gotten similar versatility from DeRosa and a better bat, and still had an extra roster spot lying around.

by SouthernCub on May 8, 2009 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

even having lost derosa..

we would have been much better served to have signed orlando hudson for 2b… i don’t know why he went unnoticed by so many teams.. and we could have gotten him cheap too.

by ThisIsResolute on May 8, 2009 7:00 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Freel

I guess we’ll find out if he’s healthy, he did hit 296 in limited service last yr.

by Slamdog on May 9, 2009 1:00 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The official press release says...
The Chicago Cubs today acquired infielder/outfielder Ryan Freel and a cash consideration from the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Joey Gathright, who had accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Iowa earlier in the day. In addition, right-handed pitcher Randy Wells has been recalled from Iowa and will make tonight’s start against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Freel is expected to join the Cubs on Saturday.

The “cash consideration” likely means that the Orioles are paying part or all of the contract. More info if I get it later.

I assume Scales goes back to Iowa when Freel arrives.

I’m not real happy with this deal. Yes, Gathright was useless, but Freel hasn’t been any good since 2006. Plus, he supposedly has some attitude issues, and he can’t play shortstop. I’d rather have had Scales.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:32 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Why?

Honest question. I don’t know much about him other than the fact that he’s a 31 year old rookie. Why do you feel as though he’s a better option than Freel?

by kanderber on May 8, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

well

for one thing, he’s millions cheaper, and he doesn’t have a ’tude.

"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 8, 2009 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You would have a bad attitude if you were treated shabbily

by the morons that are currently running the crappy-ass Orioles!!! Welcome to the Cubs, Mr. Freel and good riddance Jumpin Joey!!!

"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."

by Itchy on May 8, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

The attitude isn't from his time in Baltimore.

It’s well known in Cincinnati. Ask any Reds fan.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Maybe.

We’ll find out soon.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

We can hope,

if it doesn’t work, they can always get rid of him and bring Bobby Scales back up.

I don’t see much risk in the deal.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I suppose you're right.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Lou won't tolerate it

Freel will be gone if he becomes a problem

by dr stabbingworth on May 8, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, perhaps playing on a good team

will change that.

And, frankly, who cares about his attitude? If the guy is a better player than Scales, that’s all that matters.

by kanderber on May 8, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I dunno

he has to be able to play WELL with others. There are no worries about that with Scales; he’d be willing to do Lou’s laundry to stay in the bigs.

Freel may come in with a sense of entitlement. I’ll give him the benefit of teh doubt, but let’s see what happens..

"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 8, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, I don't

want him coming in and disrupting the club house but like you said give him a chance.

by sue369 on May 8, 2009 5:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Really? What's his problem?

"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."

by Itchy on May 8, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

my brother is a reds fan

hes comments : “good trade for the cubs, Joey Gathright sucks”

by bheidge on May 8, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well, we know that about Gathright.

We’ll see about Freel.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

not to mention Scales will give you 120% every single moment he is on and off the field

….Who knows what kind of effort your going to get out of an injured malcontent

New sig currently under construction

by JB 23 on May 8, 2009 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

ok, I posted a link confirming that he is crazy

but I have seen nothing in writing regarding him being a malcontent a*hole. So where is this coming from?

by bheidge on May 8, 2009 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

there's a lot of talk

about him being very dissatisfied with the way he was played by the Orioles.

"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 8, 2009 6:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

well i dont blame him for that

he was barely playing on a crappy at best team.

by bheidge on May 9, 2009 12:41 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Scales

cant play shortstop either

by bheidge on May 8, 2009 4:45 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yes, he can.

OK, not well, but Freel can’t play it at all.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't worry about SS, Seattle will give back Onedec for a bag of balls

by the All Star break.

"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."

by Itchy on May 8, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wouldnt be comfortable with Scales

playing SS anyways. Another move will have to be made.

by bheidge on May 8, 2009 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Freel again

Freel did play Shorstop in the Toronto system and plays thee other five positions about as good as any utility player in either league could play them.

by Slamdog on May 9, 2009 1:02 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Also...

… I am moving this to the front page for more prominent display.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:34 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

hopefully this on the front page will get the other 4 people

who posted fanshots/posts about this to delete theirs.

Really kinda silly.

by Allie on May 8, 2009 4:42 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'll delete them.

I’ll also have more to say about it in the pregame post which will be up at 5 pm CDT.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

A poor man's DeRo? (BTW: I still miss DeRo)

Freel: .271/.357/.374, currently 33 y.o.
DeRo: .278 /.346/.423, currently 34 y.o.

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

by Reddevil on May 8, 2009 4:44 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Career stats... Yes.

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

by Reddevil on May 8, 2009 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

That SLG is quite a bit lower than DeRo's.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not very similar to DeRosa at all...

Freel is a slap hitter. He used to be fast, although we haven’t seen that from him in a while. He’s a more like a poor man’s Theriot (but able to play a bunch of positions – just not SS).

by SouthernCub on May 8, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is

Farney included in this trade or does he stay in Baltimore?

by bheidge on May 8, 2009 4:46 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Farney?

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 8, 2009 4:54 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

wow
“He’s a little guy who lives in my head who talks to me and I talk to him,” said Freel, acting as if he finally crashed into too many walls, ran into too many catchers and dived into too many dugouts. "That little midget in my head said, ‘That was a great catch, Ryan,’ I said, ‘Hey, Farney, I don’t know if that was you who really caught that ball, but that was pretty good if it was.’ Everybody thinks I talk to myself, so I tell ‘em I’m talking to Farney.’ "

by Allie on May 8, 2009 5:01 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Oh, so he's a wacko too?

Great.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah

suddenly our clubhouse has a lot of crazy in it.

scrappy cajuns. milton bradley. lou. and a guess hitting hack.

this… could get interesting.

by Allie on May 8, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't forget Big Z.

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 8, 2009 5:06 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

you're right

i forgot the biggest crazy of them all.

i love that guy.

by Allie on May 8, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

see

now it sounds like a mid-70’s sit-com.

Dah-dah-dah-dah… it’s the Cubs Show! With our very special guest star, RON SANTO! YAAAAAAAY!

"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 8, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Sun-Times' take
Gathright, 28, was hitting .214 (3-for-14) for the Cubs, who signed him to a one-year, $800,000 contract during the offseason. Sources said the Orioles were sending over enough money to cover the difference between what remains on Gathright’s salary and the what’s left on Freel’s salary this season.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1565085,ryan-freel-joey-gathright-cubs-trade-050809.article

Gathright was getting $0.8 million, so the Cubs should be getting a few million from Baltimore.

by Qixotl on May 8, 2009 4:48 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

well

that’s good, at least. Still, you gotta wonder why the Os are willing to do this. Is Freel THAT much of a headcase?

"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 8, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

who knows

hopefully we can win enough to keep the crazy at bay.

by Allie on May 8, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

He was probably having some fun

The media are so easily led along. Somebody probably double-dog-dared him to talk about ‘Farney.’

by dr stabbingworth on May 8, 2009 6:11 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

So there's little financial risk for the Cubs.

If he doesn’t work out, they can always bring Bobby Scales back up.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

True.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Thanks for the update.

That means, essentially, the Cubs pay Freel what Gathright was getting.

And the Orioles are paying $2.5 million (or so) for nothing. Good job, Andy!

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 4:50 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was the same kind of deal Hendry made in the off-season.

The O’s wanted to get rid of Ramon Hernandez (sp?) and dumped him to the Reds and had to take back Freel in return.

Kind of like dumping Marquis for Viz.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

remember, he loves speed...

fast freddie bynum, cpat, pie, and now gathright.

by tootle on May 8, 2009 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Don't forget Luis Montenez, who was our bust of a #1 draft pick

"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."

by Itchy on May 8, 2009 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

thought montanez

was released or became a minor league free agent?!?!?!?

by tootle on May 8, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

You are correct

minor league free agent.

by SouthernCub on May 8, 2009 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep. Where is CPat these days?

"He can't hit, he can't field, he can't run—all he can do is beat you."

by Itchy on May 8, 2009 4:59 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Syracuse.

He’s hitting .125 with a .197 OBA. He’s done.

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

by Al on May 8, 2009 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Os fan here

Freel was never really in the Orioles plans, he was just a salary dump back from the Reds when the Orioles salary dumped Hernandez. He has had negative trade value since the day the acquired him, and the Orioles have seriously contemplated just releasing him several times.

In light of that, getting even a little salary relief plus some organizational depth that won’t take up 40-man roster space is a win from the Orioles perspective. And the Cubs get the better player without paying much additional salary.

This trade looks win-win to me.

by dkdc on May 8, 2009 5:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Fair enough.

Thanks for the background!

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 8, 2009 5:07 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm all for any upgrade to this offense.

OK, we didn’t exactly trade for Albert Pujos. So what? We got a guy who has been a good ballplayer for a long time, always plays hard (didn’t he give himself a concussion by going Rick Ankiel on the CF wall a couple of years ago?), and the way our offense has underachieved this year so far, I’ll trade a guy whose biggest career achievement is a YouTube video for Ryan Freel. That’s just me, but I’ll take it. It doesn’t bring DeRosa back, it doesn’t guarantee another playoff spot, but I’ll take it.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on May 8, 2009 4:55 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I was watching that game.

It was very scary to see him lying there so still.

Hey, it's a new century!

by cowsarecool220 on May 8, 2009 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

wait! We don't know the answer to the MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION OF ALL!

Can he bunt for a hit? What are the condition of his HAMSTRINGS?

"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 8, 2009 5:07 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Better than his head, I hope.

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 8, 2009 5:17 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

seems like

Reed Johnson Part II

Regarding his attitude, hopefully he will be happy just getting out of Baltimore. I can actually see him fitting in on this team. Now if we can get a backup SS and another arm in the bullpen not named Chad Fox this team will be a little more complete.

Feel bad for Scales but atleast he got a hit while he was up, off Lincecum too.

by bheidge on May 8, 2009 5:16 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I'd be thrilled

if he turns out to be a player like Reed.

by sue369 on May 8, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Da Bench

I think the bench is pretty strong now. That was a good trade any way you look at it. Hate losing the speed but what good was it up until now. There are plenty of options if someone else gets hurt except at SS. You can’t have everything!!!

by matt_g3 on May 8, 2009 7:11 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

well

Freel, Fontenot, Theriot, Scales, Hoffpauir and Lee. Thats our infield for the next couple weeks. ugh

by bheidge on May 9, 2009 12:44 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

If Rami's out for a significantly long period of time ...

I would expect Hendry to make a move fairly quickly to address the position for the rest of this year. Maybe see if the possibility of trading for Bobby Crosby or Mark Teahen is still there?

by burncruisin on May 9, 2009 3:26 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I think Tejada

He is having a similar type of disappointment in the power supply that Edmunds had, although Miquel has a few more hits. At $14M Houston will be wanting to unload this monster before July approaches and if Rami is out for some time this could be the kind of acquisition that could help the Cubs then he could move over to SS and have Theriot and Fonty platoon.

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on May 9, 2009 5:47 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

I like your thinking

In fact he was one name I had thought of, another was Chone Figgins, he’s a free agent at seasons end. I would be happy with either one. Even if Rami is only out for six weeks, it might not be a bad idea to make a move anyway. I’m not sure we have what it takes to pull off that kind of trade though…

by burncruisin on May 10, 2009 3:03 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Miggy Stardust a Cub?

Ugh…I’ll have to think about this one.

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 11, 2009 10:01 AM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, me too, especially since his power seems to have vanished.

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

by Al on May 11, 2009 3:15 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

freel

say hello to your new 3rd baseman for possibly the rest of the season. ryan freel.with z aramis and maybe lee going down we suddenly became a very average team. hell even the reds are looking better.

by NOMAR on May 10, 2009 8:42 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

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