Some good news - ARam to start rehab games
by ak123 on Jun 30, 2009 11:00 AM CDT
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According to the Chicago Tribune Article Aramis Ramirez should start his re-hab stint this Thursday if batting practice goes well.
They state he could be back next week for the Atlanta Braves series.
So this is good news. News wanted to hear. How about winning the series (even a sweep) with the Pirate and take 2 of 3 from the Brewers and then end the All Star Break on a high note.
I think we can all agree, Ramirez is not going to be at 100%, win every game for us, etc but no one can take away the fact that his bat in the lineup is a gigantic improvement over the days of Fontenot standing there.
I guess the big question to ask is, who gets demoted to AAA or do the Cubs consider releasing someone like Ryan Freel?
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Hooray!
The question about who would go when he comes back is a tough one, though. Freel could be on the bubble, especially since Jake Fox has shown some surprising ability at third.
by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Jun 30, 2009 11:08 AM CDT reply actions
that's what I expect
RJ will be back from the DL by then, too.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 30, 2009 11:52 AM CDT up reply actions
I fear it'll be Andres Blanco
But I would send one Michael Fontenot down to Iowa.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
There is no reason to send Blanco down
He has been proving time and time again that he is a solid player at the plate and in the field.
Here is the best solution. Say goodbye to Aaron Miles for ever and send Fuld back down
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
But Fuld should go down once Reed Johnson is activated
Thusly making Fontenot expendable.
One day I hope to come up with something worthy of this space.
Solid player at the plate?
Um no he hasn’t. I love his defense though.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
Not solid I guess
But he has been good in some clutch situations.
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
Decent at the plate
Still significant VOM (value over miles)
by grand salamis on Jun 30, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
and he dives.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 30, 2009 12:54 PM CDT up reply actions
After my recent success in the batting cage...
…I’d estimate my VOM at +3.5.
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.
what's your
defensive Dive ratio?
Then we can calculate your DDR/VOM.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jul 1, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions
My wife and I played frisbee in the lake...
…and I was diving all over the place. I’d say 6.3/3.5.
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.
It'll be Freel getting released or Fontenot getting sent down
That is, of course, if nobody else has an injury, real or fictitious, that puts them on the DL.
So essentially, whichever position player is performing the most poorly will get the demotion. I’m kinda hoping Fonty can turn it around and start producing, but I have a feeling he’ll be gone so Farney can help the team win.
No way fontenot gets sent down.
Miles or Freel should be DFA’d.
Neither player will be DFA'd...
They might be traded or released, but they won’t be DFA’d.
As for who goes off the 25-man roster, it’ll either be Freel (traded or released) or Fox. The team isn’t going to send down either Fontenot or Blanco because they don’t want to be left with only two middle infielders on the team.
Fuld will go back to Iowa when Johnson is healthy, and either Freel or Fox will go when Ramirez is healthy. And it’ll probably be Freel with the way Fox is hitting.
by SouthernCub on Jun 30, 2009 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions
They could easily be DFA'd
as a precursor to a trade.
Freel could realistically be DFA'd... Miles will not be DFA'd...
the team isn’t going to just eat Miles’s salary for this year and next by DFAing (even though it’s a sunk cost). DFAing Miles hamstrings anything they can do. They’d want more time to figure out a gameplan.
The team is not as heavily invested financially in Freel, so they could DFA him and not care about the return.
by SouthernCub on Jun 30, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions
Would you really keep Hoffpauir over Fox?
I think Freel’s days are clearly numbered and he needs to do something starting yesterday or he’ll be gone.
Randy Wells - You continue to astound me.
I wouldn't, but I think Hoffpauir's place is set...
it was set when the team decided to get more LH.
I agree though that Freel’s days are numbered. I think he’s the guy that goes when Ramirez returns.
I think Hoffpauir and Fox remain as the team’s power bats off the bench from the right and left side. Then you have Blanco as the backup middle infielder and Johnson as the backup defensive OF, and Hill as the backup catcher.
by SouthernCub on Jun 30, 2009 12:23 PM CDT up reply actions
The fact is
That if Lou is starting Fuld in CF over Freel says something considering Fuld still hasn’t had a ML hit.
has that happened?
Fuld came into the game late for Freel as a defensive replacement.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 30, 2009 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions
That's correct...
The only reason Freel is playing CF is because he can bat RH and Johnson is hurt. I doubt Fuld takes over for Freel in that capacity, as he hits LH (meaning Fukudome would get the start).
Fuld is just up as a defensive replacement and pinch runner in the meantime until further notice.
Fuld starting next two games
I thought I read Lou was starting him in CF and then giving Bradley off two games.
I'll wait and see
what the lineups actually are. Bradley went 2-4 yesterday with a double and an RBI, and one of his outs was a SMOKING liner off a 94mph fastball.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 30, 2009 1:38 PM CDT up reply actions
The Tribune reports Fuld will play, with Fukudome in RF.
We’ll see.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Miles is on the DL
DFA’ing him – which won’t happen – doesn’t open a roster spot for Ramirez.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jun 30, 2009 11:44 AM CDT up reply actions
I think we found out solution
Keep punching Miles in the nuts, not only ensuring he stays on the DL, but giving all of us a bit of satisfaction.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
What I would do
This won’t ever happen because Lou wouldn’t do it but here’s what I would do:
-Move Fuld back down to AAA (that probably will happen).
-Have Blanco play SS. Since he has great defense hopefully that would be as solid in SS. He can help Aramis the first few weeks just in case A-Ram is playing it safe at 3B.
-Have Theriot play 2B.
Agreed
Making a bolod move now like theriot to 2nd base should make us better. Dave Kaplan called Theriot an all-star at 2nd base…..might be true. I see no need for Miles or Freel once Aramis returns. Fontenot becomes backup 3rd and 2nd with Theriot still a capable backup SS. Get one reliever via trade. Then, keep looking for a ’deal".
Once Aram comes back, roles will be defined as they were in the first month. Comfort should return. I can only hope.
This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).
There is need for Fontenot
Lou might feel more comfortable having Fontenot being a defensive replacement for Ramirez his first week back after the 8th inning just to make sure he’s back in the groove. There is value for Fonty on the team…just not that much.
I know you acknowledged...
that it won’t happen, so this post is directed at the general audience more than anything else, but…
Theriot hasn’t regularly played 2B since 2007. There’s no reason to think that Lou would even consider it. And there’s no reason to think he could even adequately do so anymore. I wish people would stop talking about this as if it’s realistic.
On the flip side
He did play Soriano there for an inning or two a few weeks ago.
You never know what goes on in Lou’s head.
Lou ran out of players
in an extra innings game, I think. There were no infielders to be found.
I'm a Cubs FANATIC. They are my team, through thick and thin. When they play over their heads, and when they play under the gutter. When they win the division, and then get swept in the division series. When they get no-hitters and when they blow no-hitters. And some day, when they go all the way and get those rings. This is the kind of fan I am.
by drewishdrewid on Jun 30, 2009 12:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes to all 3.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Jun 30, 2009 12:33 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, I must admit...
…your point about using Blanco at SS – who presumably has better range than Theriot – to help Aramis’ transition does make a lot of sense. I’ve started to worry that perhaps our greatest fear about Aramis’ return shouldn’t be about his offense but rather his defense. He might be a lot more hesitant about playing aggressively in the field given the very painful nature of his injury.
What exactly would you do with Fontenot in that scenario?
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.
Late inning replacement
Aramis doesn’t have to play all 9 innings for his first few games. Fontenot can come in and be a replacement in those late innings.
Basically, Fontenot should be relegated to his role the last 2 years as he hasn’t deserved any more playing time at the moment.
Fontenot used properly
is a valuable player. He hits RH well and could be a valuable platoon player, backup IF and PH.
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill
by lookingdeadred on Jul 1, 2009 8:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Agreed - he's also an excellent defensive second baseman.
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.
I would not call Fontenot
“an excellent defensive second baseman” but he is good enough, certainly better than DeRo was. Fontenot as the LH hitter in a platoon would be a valuable player IMO.
A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject.
--Winston Churchill
by lookingdeadred on Jul 2, 2009 8:57 AM CDT up reply actions
I think Blanco and Freel are on the bubble
It’s a 4 game set with Milwaukee, btw
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jun 30, 2009 11:37 AM CDT reply actions
The team has only 3 middle infielders on the 25-man roster...
they aren’t going to send down Blanco (or Fontenot) and go with no backups there. It’ll be Freel or Fox I think.
by SouthernCub on Jun 30, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions
You could be right
But they could try Freel in that spot….not that it’d be pretty.
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Jun 30, 2009 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions
I don't think they'd try Freel at 2B and certainly not at SS...
Blanco is safe because he’s the only option at SS. His only threat is from Miles, and it’s looking like that may not be an issue.
Freel was brought in to play 3B or OF and not 2B. When Ramirez returns, he’s expendable.
by SouthernCub on Jun 30, 2009 11:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Freel is the odd man out
We also have to consider that Soriano may need to go on the DL, which keeps Fox around.
I’m really loving the idea of Blanco at SS and Theriot at 2B, with Fontenot as the all-purpose backup.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
I don't think Soriano will be on the DL
I have a strong feeling he’s going to get hot once Ramirez is back. I don’t know why but some players are just better when the whole core is there. That’s not something you want from one of your most expensive players but it could be the case.
Ahh, the creative approach... just musical chairs on the DL!
That may be a possibility if Soriano continues to not produce. Then they’d just rotate Bradley, Hoffpauir, and Fox through LF. But I’m guessing he won’t be sent to the DL.
I was a proponent of playing Blanco at SS from the moment he was given regular time. But Piniella seems to not want to yank Theriot around positionally. So Blanco will only play SS when Theriot is not in the game.
by SouthernCub on Jun 30, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Where does he bat when he returns...
Do you throw him right back into the 4 spot?
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Jun 30, 2009 12:35 PM CDT reply actions
If
You let someone like Soriano flail away without regard to count or situation for the entire season, you sure let the team’s best hitter in Ramirez hit wherever he wants upon his return. That’s a no-brainer.
Who needs a stinkin' tag line? What are they for anyway?
Anyone know where his rehab will be at?
"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."
Peoria.
I just got tickets for the July 4 game. Will have pictures galore from it.
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 Jun 30, 2009 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Monday...
Looks like he’ll play 3 rehab games, and be back Monday night against the Braves at Wrigley.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-01-cubs-bits-jul01,0,4596651.story
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Jun 30, 2009 10:35 PM CDT reply actions
Great news.
Though he says he’s not a “savior”, if he’s even 90% healed, he will improve the offense.
He will have missed 49 games (from May 8 through Sunday). In addition, he missed 11 other games before the shoulder injury.
So he could still play in over 100 games, including two postponements (the Astros and White Sox) that he otherwise would have missed (for the St. Louis rainout, to be made up on Sunday, July 12, he would likely have played on the original date).
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I would settle for 75% or anything close
I just don’t know the history of coming back from this kind of injury.
"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 Jul 1, 2009 6:14 AM CDT up reply actions
Monday might be too late
I haven’t been a downer all season but if we get swept by Brewers…wildcard is best scenario.
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