Wilson Betemit: The Short Term Solution

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:00 AM CDT Comment 158 comments

The Cubs went out of there way this offseason to get more LH and in effect by diversifying the types of bats we had, decreased the flexibility of the roster; largely based on the loss of Mark DeRosa. An injury-free season may have covered up this hole, but such was not the case and when Aramis Ramirez went down (the most indisposable Cub piece), the Cubs lack of depth was exposed immediately.

Since that time we've been pining for solutions and now one may have just fallen into our hands. The White Sox decided to designate Wilson Betemit for assignment yesterday in order to promote uber-prospect Gordon Beckham. Congrats to Sox fans for getting to watch a young talented player who can play all over the diamond, best of luck to you and Mr. Beckham, I for one think he's going to be a very good player.

But today, I want to focus on Betemit. Betemit is a switch-hitting utility player that has never really been given consistent playing time at any major league stop, despite showing good skills. He strikes out too much (28% career rate), but he draws walks (10% rate), hits for power (9.7% extra base hit rate) and has played every position on the diamond except C and CF. He's the PERFECT solution for us right now based on his skill set and now his availability. The only seasons he's gotten more than 250 PA's, he's posted an OPS over .780 and he's just 27 years old.

Go get him Jim Hendry, like.... NOW

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/betemwi01.shtml

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.

1 recs | Comment 158 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I like Betemit, but...

… I quibble with your “he draws walks” statement. Last year in 198 PA, he drew six walks. That’s right, six. He had a .289 OBA. For people who bitched about Neifi never walking, they’d hate Betemit.

He has a .591 OPS this year. I think we’re better off with Andres Blanco.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 8:06 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i quibble with your sample sizes

45 AB’s this season?

in 2007 he drew 38 BB’s in 284 PA’s

for his career he’s drawn 113 BB’s in 1275 PA’s

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Betemit appears to have forgotten how to walk since 2007.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Andres Blanco???

of the career .633 minor league OPS??

Blanco’s a terrific defender and should have a spot on the roster in place of someone like Aaron Miles who is just as useless with the bat and a worse defender and making way too much money, but Betemit should be in the Blanco slot playing 3B now, allowing Fontenot to play 2B with Blanco being the backup 2B/SS

then when Aramis returns you have Betemit as the super utility guy

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:13 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd rather see the Cubs try to trade for Freddy Sanchez.

With the Pirates dealing Nate McLouth, it appears that anyone on their roster is available.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that costs us prospects....

Betemit will likely cost nothing

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Sanchez is a better player.

Well worth the prospects.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not if you don't have them

or the money….

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's debatable whether we have the prospects or the money...

remember – this team has a tight budget. Sanchez is better, but much more expensive both in terms of prospects and money. And we might not have enough of either to get him.

Betemit is obviously not the best player potentially available. But as a short-term solution, he might just be the most cost-effective option available. And we KNOW he’s available – we’re not as sure about Sanchez.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a bit of a leap

And Hendry’s patsy is no longer the Pirates’ GM.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jun 4, 2009 8:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think so...

When you dump the All-Star on a small market team, it’s officially rebuilding time. He won’t be the last to go, especially in this market climate. Look for them to try and save a couple of extra million by trading early too.

by Damen Jackson on Jun 4, 2009 8:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

True and true.

However, dumping McLouth only four months after signing him to a (relatively inexpensive) long-term deal sends the signal that they’re open for business.

Let’s take advantage, and I don’t mean necessarily fleecing them. A good player is available who fills a need. GET HIM.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

where did we suddenly get extra cash?

to pursue a player that expensive????

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:47 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

See, I'd rather we just went and traded for A-Rod.

by Wreckard on Jun 4, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way Pirates will deal with us anymore

I know it’s not Littlefield anymore, but do you think they could handle watching another player they traded to the Cubs come back and pound them year after year?

by burncruisin on Jun 5, 2009 1:50 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blanco and Betemit have different roles...

Blanco is a backup 2B/SS. Betemit can fill in at 1B, 2B, and 3B.

Offensively, he’s a HUGE upgrade over Blanco. He’s OPSed .756 in MLB and .767 in the minors, compared to .590 and .636 for Blanco.

As for Betemit’s walk rate, 2008 was the only time in his career in which his OBP wasn’t at least .050 higher than his average. He’s not Fukudome up there, but he’s not bad.

And on top of it all, Betemit has no expectations of being a full-time starter at this point. For a dumpster dive, this is about as good as you’re going to get to fill in and 3B. You’ll get a .750ish OPS and adequate defense at 3B. And you can move Fontenot back to 2B and not have a black hole in the batting order with Scales/Blanco.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Betemit had eye-troubles last year

which may have affected his walk rate. Or he may have been pressing to do something making contact. Whatever it was, the 2008 walk rate was an outlier in his career.

Is Sean Marshall our most dependable starter?

by DGU on Jun 4, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Blanco's out as soon as Miles comes back

The question is who’s most valuable: Freel, Scales, or Betemit, because there probably isn’t room for more than one of those guys.

by Poloplaya14 on Jun 4, 2009 7:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take a look

One thing I’ve sensed about Betemit and I could be wrong is that he isn’t the best clubhouse guy. As I said, maybe I’m wrong but I thought I heard that.

I don’t see Betemit as a Blanco replacement but rather as the Scales/Freel replacement. I don’t think Betemit would be able to play SS except as a late-inning emergency. I wouldn’t want him there if Theriot had to miss a game or two. However, he might have a better bat than Scales/Freel.

by rlpete on Jun 4, 2009 8:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

One problem with this idea...

Wilson Betemit isn’t good at baseball.

by kanderber on Jun 4, 2009 8:25 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

care to explain?

he’s basically a tad bit above replacement level and adds positional flexibility and whenever he’s been in the NL he’s been above average

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

People seem to be expecting a great option to pop up. Right now, we’re playing Blanco and Scales at 2B (terrible batting) and forcing Fontenot to play out of position at 3B. Betemit would allow Fontenot to play his natural position, and he’d upgrade the offense by probably 100 OPS points.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And most importantly, he'd be CHEAP

It’s a dumpster dive. To get a really good option, we’d have to trade something valuable (which we arguably don’t have right now).

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

EXACTLY

this IS a chance for us to make a move at relatively little cost and improve the team. As a team with a limited system and limited payroll flexibility we NEED to take advantage of these situations

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and its a quick temp fix

we are not looking for a franchise player, but a stop gap while we try to stay above water until ARam returns

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 Jun 4, 2009 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another good point...

We aren’t going to find a slam dunk 3B option for cheap and we aren’t going to find a slam dunk 3B option who will be willing/happy to go to the bench once Ramirez returns. Betemit is a league-average hitter who can play 3B, he’d come cheap, and he won’t have delusions that he has to be the everyday starter.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

League average?

Not even close. He has been horrible this year, and wasn’t close to league average last year.

by kanderber on Jun 4, 2009 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

His career numbers are league average...

he has a career .756 OPS. Last year, he was pretty close to league average (.718 OPS). This year? SMALL SAMPLE SIZE: 51 PA in sparce playing time.

He’s not great – I don’t disagree there. But throughout his career, he’s been at or above league average.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and it is amazing what some players do

when they leave one team or manager. Just ask Vasquez how he feels in Atlanta.

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 Jun 4, 2009 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is one area where Hendry has actually done well in the past...

He’s always been good at finding players who have lost favor with their current/previous club. Sometimes it’s worked (Dempster, Johnson, Edmonds), sometimes it hasn’t (Freel, for example). Hopefully Hendry jumps on this opportunity. I can’t imagine it will cost much to get him, and we certainly have the roster space to give him a look.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And I repeat...

… Freddy Sanchez. He hasn’t fallen out of favor, but the Pirates appear to be in salary-dump mode again.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 8:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I really have to ask again...

How do the Cubs explain looking at Sanchez, when reportedly the remainder of the DeRosa contract is deemed too expensive?

by Damen Jackson on Jun 4, 2009 8:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's a good question.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 8:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's why Betemit makes sense...

he’s cheap, both in terms of prospects and money.

We KNOW we can afford Betemit. Sanchez? Highly questionable.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

problems with Sanchez

1. not necessarily available right now
2. costs $6.1 Million (where do we suddenly have this extra cash????)
3. costs prospects (where do we suddenly have these prospects)

Betemit is there right now, for cheap

a bird in the hand…

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how many years are left on his contract?

and if it is, say 2+, just how many infielders do we need (Freel, MIles, Riot, Font, etc)

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 Jun 4, 2009 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm relatively happy

with any scenario that gives us a reason to DFA Freel and Miles.

We’ve got enough OF depth for now (including having Hoffpaiur as a backup) and have shown we don’t use a 12-man pitching staff. If we can cover all of our needs (especially backups at SS and 3B) by carrying this crew of infielders, I think that’s okay.

by madcow256 on Jun 4, 2009 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

and how many players should we pay

to not play here this season? there has to be some financial awareness of DFA’ing everyone

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 Jun 4, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a sunk cost...

would you rather keep a guy around just because you’re paying him, or accept that it was a bad move and try to upgrade?

We’re paying Freel next to nothing in baseball terms. If he’s not going to cut it, DFAing him is no big deal. Miles is slightly more costly. But it’s possible we could salary dump him somewhere, eating most of the salary but not all.

But keeping a guy around just because he’s owed ~$3-4 million doesn’t make sense if we can have a better option instead.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hate all the money we've DFA'ed already

because it could have gone towards keeping some of the guys from last year, or upgrading to a better free agent.

That said, if the better players are the ones that cost us less, DFAing well-paid players shouldn’t stop us.

by madcow256 on Jun 4, 2009 9:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, it sucks that so much money was wasted...

but once it has been spent, it shouldn’t get in the way of getting better moving forward.

The only way those contracts should be allowed to continue to hurt us is if they mean we simply can’t afford the budget to add new players.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 9:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

if we were not

owned by a company in bankruptcy, and in the middle of being sold, it might mkae more sense to DFA players right now. Currently DFA’ing more players and then paying them not to play here is not feasible.

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 Jun 4, 2009 10:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What difference does it make?

Our payroll doesn’t noticeably go up if we DFA Miles and replace him with Betemit. I don’t see how the economy changes that.

Trading for Sanchez seems like the more unfeasible option here.

by madcow256 on Jun 4, 2009 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe I should clarify

We’d only be on the hook for a prorated portion of the league minimum salary to pick up Betemit (under $300k). The rest of his contract is paid by his previous team or teams.

$300k is a lot to people like me, but if Betemit could provide even one more win for the team over whoever he is replacing, then he would be an investment even Sam Zell could find worthwhile.

by madcow256 on Jun 4, 2009 10:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am agreeing with the idea

but the finances do not add up. The ownership is in bankruptcy, and that cannot bode well for paying players who are not in uniform currently, and then adding to it. I am not saying that it is a bad idea roster-wise, but financially it doesnt make sense to continue to pay players who are not here when you are in bankruptcy. Zell is not going to find it worthwhile to keep paying salaries of “former” employees.

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 Jun 4, 2009 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The difference in salary to DFA Miles and pay Betemit...

is something like $250-300k. It goes to zero if Miles is then picked up by another club. The same is true if we DFA Freel.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But, remember...

… dumping Miles means you have to pay him NEXT year’s salary, too.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

exactly

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 Jun 4, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So make it $650-700k

You’d have been paying him anyway, so the incremental difference is $400k for next year.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

More accurately, make it $400k...

as someone will offset the difference this year, so only the incremental $400k next year applies.

I think the team can afford a $400k increase in payroll in order to DFA Miles.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

so for a current owner

in bankruptcy, you suggest paying $1m (or more) to another player to sit at home? How does Zell benefit, since the Cubs will sell tickets with or without the move being made? There is no advantage to it, so it would not make sense for him.

Now to Hendry it has a different appeal, but he could tie his hands in the process from a future move.

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 Jun 4, 2009 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It benefits Zell if it helps the team make the playoffs...

As that added revenue would WAY more than offset the $400k difference.

Obviously, it’s not a given that we’d make the playoffs. But that’s the argument for it.

If $400k over two years holds up the team, then I’d argue that the situation is pretty dire.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 10:54 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

do we know as fact

playoff revenue > playoff expenses

and if Zell IMHO is looking at immediate not months out. The bankruptcy courts could also ask him "why is it you cannot pay your debts to “x” vendors, but can afford to add to the list of employees you pay to leave your organization" and he needs a solid answer, not “well, in October we might win because of it” since the courts could care less about wins and loses of the team. They have the creditors of Tribune Corporation as their only concern.

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 Jun 4, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, we do know that

playoff revenue > playoff expenses for a team with the attendance rate of the Cubs.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

can you show me proof?

I am not saying you are right or wrong, but to say yes for sure, please provide the supporting details.

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 Jun 4, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can't show you proof...

Just basing it on logic. The team makes about $1 million per playoff game hosted (more if they play deeper into a series) from ticket revenue.

That ignores merchandising and future ticket price increases associated with having a winning team.

So again – I can’t definitively state it, but I’m pretty confident of it being correct.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zell

and the Tribune Company ARE NOT looking at future ticket increases, stop looking at that as a way to justify it please.

That revenue is a guesstimate, and is before all expenses from the lights, ushers, etc.

The point you continue to skip is that the Tribune Company is in bankruptcy. To pay an additional $1M to a player to not play for the team cannot be justified to the bankruptcy court, when you (Tribune) are trying to explain why you cannot pay your creditors. The bankruptcy court would rip Zell and the Tribune Corporation apart for it. Ricketts would have to approve as well, and that is not guaranteed he would be accepting in it.

Just because we do not like MIles in Cubbie Blue does not mean that it is acceptable for the team (and the ownership that is in a make money now mode, not next season) to eat additional salary.

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 Jun 4, 2009 11:37 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And the point you are ignoring...

is that it would cost the Cubs LITERALLY nothing this year to DFA Miles and sign Betemit to the minimum.

If you are ignoring next year’s revenue benefits, then you also have to ignore the $400k increase in payroll that DFAing Miles would cost next year.

Again – I’m not saying it will happen. I think it won’t. But it’s very shortsighted to argue that it’s a bad idea financially.

It’s especially shortsighted if you consider that you can’t prove that playoff revenue < playoff expenses.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they are on the hook for

next season as well. in ase the sale drags out, they would have to be able to justify that. using “possible raise in ticket prices” would not be acceptable by the bankruptcy court.

I have been in credit and collections for 11 years, i have had to deal with companiesin bankruptcy and it is sick how much the courts will pick the fly shit out of the pepper (so to speak) and the over justification of every minor move is insane.

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 Jun 4, 2009 11:43 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's $400k...

and by the time the sale goes through, that ticket price hike (especially season tickets) may very well go from “possible” to “certain.”

Not to mention the revenue from the playoffs if we make it.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

bankruptcy court

wants certain, ifs and maybes are not acceptable.

i understand your points about making the team better, but the courts do not care about that. Zell does not care about that, and Ricketts has minimal say until it is finalized.

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 Jun 4, 2009 11:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And those revenues may be certain...

as the sale may very well go through after season tickets have been purchased, given how long it is taking Ricketts to come up with the funds to finalize the purchase.

Obviously we’re talking in circles here. You are clearly going to refuse to accept the possibility that making the postseason this year could offset $400k in added cost over the next year. Nothing I say can dissuade you from this.

Conversely, you are not going to be able to convince me that the team won’t make an additional $400k from making the playoffs, or that the sale will be finalized before the playoffs.

Thus, I think it’s best we both just agree to disagree.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the main part we disagree on

is the bankruptcy part of the equation.

once a company is in bankruptcy, everytime you fart wrong they are there to let you know. DFAing Miles is an expense to the corporation, and that is going to cause Zell another haedache.

I agree it is best for the team, but the courts care less about the team winning and losing, but where finances are being allocated by the corporation

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 Jun 4, 2009 12:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

technically

the team isn’t involved in the bankruptcy proceedings.

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 4, 2009 12:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Cubs as a team are not

but the ownership is. That is a grey area that the Tribune Corporation is tip toeing inside of.

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 Jun 4, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

everything I've read says

that the team is not part of bankruptcy considerations. I would take that to mean that the court isn’t worried about them taking a $400k flyer.

by drewishdrewid on Jun 4, 2009 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that could be

but to my understanding if any finances are allocated for the Tribune Corporation, the bankruptcy court has an interest. Same reason that the sale has been reviewed in the bankruptcy court, it is still an asset of the Tribune Corporation.

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 Jun 4, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he has an 8 million TEAM option next year

with a $600,000 buyout, so he’s a FA after this year or next depending on the club option

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

k, thanks

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 Jun 4, 2009 9:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Sure.

He’s been awful this year (sub 600 OPS) and his numbers have declined every year since he came into the league. Doesn’t walk much. No speed. Not sure how his D is, but it can’t be better than Blanco’s.

What’s to like about the guy?

by kanderber on Jun 4, 2009 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're focused on

230 of the 1143 AB’s we’ve seen at the major league level from him

the other 900 or so have been pretty damn good, like high .700’s OPS

his defense is below average but its mitigated a bit by his flexibility. He’s not a better defender than Blanco, but he shouldn’t be compared to Blanco, he should be compared to Scales, where he’s similar defensively and superior offensively

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 8:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly...

Blanco is a better defensive player for sure. But Betemit is a much better offensive player, and allows Fontenot to move back to 2B (which Blanco doesn’t do).

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

But again...

He’s gotten worse every single year he’s played. And this year he got so bad that he got cut. I don’t see how what he did in 2005 (when he was fairly decent) is relevant.

He’s 27 years old — he should be in his prime right now, getting better every year. But he’s getting worse. Just don’t see how it’s a good option at this point.

by kanderber on Jun 4, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

how about 2006 or 2007...

.795 OPS
.787 OPS

again you’re focusing on 230 of 1143 AB’s

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 9:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm focusing on what he's done the last two years, yes.

by kanderber on Jun 4, 2009 9:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

in the AL

see below

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Fair point.

I still don’t like the idea of bringing in a guy who’s gotten worse in his prime, different league or not, but I see your point.

by kanderber on Jun 4, 2009 9:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i guess my bigger point is

its a low cost, low risk move. If it doesn’t work out you just cut him (like the Sox just did)

any other moves have high costs associated to them (likely through further depleting a weak farm system)

we know Bobby Scales isn’t the answer, why not try Betemit… at least he’s had success before in that role

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Right - that first part is the key...

it doesn’t cost us much of anything to take a look. If he doesn’t work out, he’s gone.

There’s no harm in taking a look to see.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also note the league effects...

Betemit’s NL numbers are much better than his AL numbers. He has been consistently below average in the AL, and consistently above average in the NL.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 9:02 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

AL vs. NL

AL OPS

2007 (NYY) – .694 OPS (84 ABs)
2008 (NYY) – .718 OPS (189 ABs)
2009 (CHW)- .591 OPS (45 ABs)

NL OPS

2005 (ATL) – .794 OPS (246 ABs)
2006 (ATL) – .842 OPS (199 ABs)
2006 (LAD) – .742 OPS (174 ABs)
2007 (LAD) – .834 OPS (156 ABs)

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 9:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Exactly...

doesn’t seem like a decline at all – just an inability to adapt to the AL. He consistently topped .775 OPS as an NL player from 2005-2007. Then, he went to the AL and couldn’t adjust.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Strange.

Usually players hit BETTER when they go to the AL. Wonder what happened to him.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's completely inaccurate...

the AL is a far tougher league

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would have thought it was the other way...

players hit worse in the AL and improve when they come to the NL.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The AL is a higher-offense league.

Has been for many years. What numbers are you two quoting?

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's a higher-offense league because of the DH...

The pitching is supposedly also better though.

So while you have more runs scored (because there are 11% more good hitters), an individual hitter would fair better because the quality of the pitching in the AL is better too.

That’s my logic. I wasn’t quoting numbers, but it sounds as though those numbers are out there.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 10:53 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

uggh, typos...

“an individual player would fair worse” not better, because the quality of the pitching is better in the AL.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 11:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

here's just one example

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/22/sports/baseball/22score.html

“According to Nate Silver of Baseball Prospectus, a typical A.L. hitter moving to the N.L. can expect to gain about 10 points of batting average and on-base percentage and 20 points of slugging percentage. A.L. pitchers switching leagues will usually have their earned run averages decrease because of the absence of the designated hitter in the N.L., but Silver calculates that the E.R.A. of an A.L. pitcher switching leagues is likely to drop by 0.25 runs more than can be accounted for by the D.H.”

That’s from just over 2 years ago and was the first thing i found google searching around, dont have time to provide further supporting evidence, but plenty of it is out there

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 11:07 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Huh.

Intuitively, that makes no sense. AL pitchers have lower ERA’s in the NL, but AL hitters hit better? How does that work?

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

it makes perfect sense

the AL is HARDER

so… if you move as a pitcher from AL to NL (going from harder league to easier league), your ERA goes DOWN

if you’re a hitter and you move from NL to AL (going from easier to harder league), your OBP and SLUG go DOWN

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The DH is the key

AL pitchers face more good hitters (no easy out pitchers in the AL), so their ERA is higher.

HOWEVER, pitchers in the AL have been, on average, better than pitchers in the NL. So individual hitters do worse in the AL than they would in the NL.

But the reduction in performance for the individual hitters in the AL is offset by the fact that there are more real hitters in the AL than in the NL (thanks to the DH). So the AL pitchers’ numbers look worse than they would in the NL.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks.

This is the best explanation, rather than just say it’s “harder”.

And please, no one TWSS here.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just what the Cubs need

another player that is fundamentally challenged!

by cubdreamer on Jun 4, 2009 8:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Pass...

I don’t see Betemit as an appreciable upgrade.

We’re into June now. I think this is the time to either start setting the table for a quality pickup, or making some inquiries about who he’s willing to trade. Get in, or get out.

by Damen Jackson on Jun 4, 2009 8:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he's an appreciable upgrade over Blanco/Scales

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 8:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Betemit is the kind of player Hendry has gone for before -

- the former top prospect who hasn’t panned out yet. I could see this happening. If it happens its a better way to mark time than Ryan Freel.

Is Sean Marshall our most dependable starter?

by DGU on Jun 4, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Now, on THAT I will agree.

He’s probably a better player than Bobby Scales, too.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Betemit actually has some upside to him.

Although at this point it seems highly unlikely that he realizes it. Also, if he’s motivationally deficient – it doesn’t help the Cubs to bring him in and have him frustrate Lou.

I liked the idea of Betemit on this team last year, but I’m not as enthusiastic this year.

Is Sean Marshall our most dependable starter?

by DGU on Jun 4, 2009 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Marginal at best, I like

Al’s idea better, such as Sanchez.

by cubdreamer on Jun 4, 2009 8:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If we have the money and prospects, Sanchez is clearly better...

it’s highly debatable whether we have the money or the prospects to get Sanchez.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wilson Betemit would be upgrade over anything we have in place right now

So yes, I’d investigate adding him. Plop him at 3rd base and put Fontenot back to 2nd base in a platoon situation.

You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little messed up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny?

by BLou on Jun 4, 2009 9:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Freddy Sanchez or Jack Wilson would be a fine addition

Sanchez can play 2nd base and hit near the top of the order. Wilson can play shortstop and allow Theriot to move to 2nd base or a super-utility role so to speak.

by BLou on Jun 4, 2009 9:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Assuming we don't have the resources for a trade though

I like the idea of someone like Betemit in place of Scales spot on the roster. Blanco’s offense is certainly lacking but he gives us a true backup at SS, which we don’t have with Miles out (and its arguable that we have that even with him on the team).

by madcow256 on Jun 4, 2009 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ty Wigginton for 3B

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Jun 4, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That would have been a great pickup as a role player

And he’d be playing 3B now.

Too bad the Cubs had the LH obsession.

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jun 4, 2009 11:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He's in Baltimore... with Hendry's new trading partner.

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Jun 4, 2009 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Say, my offseason thought about picking up Luke Scott would have been a pretty good idea, huh?

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 1:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have to give props on that one :)

"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)

Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
.

by SackMan on Jun 4, 2009 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why can't the Cubs ever have a Gordon Beckham ?!?

Beckham should prove to be an exceptional major league player. Drawing lots of comparisons to Michael Young in Texas. Seriously, why can’t the Cubs EVER have somebody like that come up through the system? And don’t say Geovany Soto because he went from non-prospect, to overnight hitting sensation, back to crap. And don’t say Josh Vitters either because he is playing in low-A ball and a lot can happen between now and when/if he ever makes the big leagues.

Sigh.

by BLou on Jun 4, 2009 11:19 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

You mean a great prospect that isn't ready for the major leagues, that we promote anyway?

We could always promote Vitters, it would be about the same thing.

by Wreckard on Jun 4, 2009 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't argue with the clueless

Gordon Beckham was ready for the big leagues yesterday. Look at his collegiate and young professional career to date. He tears the cover off the ball wherever he plays. Meanwhile Josh Vitters is a kid who is playing low A ball and several years removed from major league consideration.

by BLou on Jun 4, 2009 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beckham's bat is ready but his defense is awful

But don’t let that stop you from pretending to know what you’re talking about.

by Wreckard on Jun 4, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL. Spot on Wreck!

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 4, 2009 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

If you think Beckham's defense is awful then...

… what about Vitters? Vitters is much worse.

"People shouldn’t bust your chops just because you’re a Sox fan on a Cub board — but I know it happens. FWIW, I think sites like this are more interesting when fans of other teams join in the conversation." by Shanghai Badger on Mar 13, 2009

by DrCrawdad on Jun 6, 2009 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please just stop those who suggest the Cubs cut Aaron Miles

Jim Hendry has already gulped a lot of bad contract money. There is a snowball’s chance in hell that he will swallow Miles contract two months into the deal, especially with Hendry’s job status very much on the line given the impending arrival of a new boss in Tom Ricketts. Hendry is already faced with a very bad and bloated $136 million payroll without drawing further attention to the ugliness of matters by eating the Miles deal. It won’t happen no matter the merits for doing so. We’re stuck with the craptastic Miles.

by BLou on Jun 4, 2009 11:22 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Blou, this is somethign different for me......rec'd

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 Jun 4, 2009 11:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh I'm not saying it WILL happen...

I’m just saying that it might very well be cost-effective to cut him.

Especially this year, when it would cost the team literally nothing incrementally to cut Miles and sign Betemit to the minimum.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 11:39 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

And it would almost certainly be cost-saving to cut him

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 11:42 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How much longer is A-Ram out?

Are we 3 weeks into his 4-6 week injury?

by Ghost of Fred Merkle on Jun 4, 2009 11:54 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think tomorrow

marks 4 weeks since the injury, if I’m not mistaking.

"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." ~Alvin Dark

by DamonBerryhillsMitt on Jun 4, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

(In my best Ed McMahon voice):

YOU ARE CORRECT, SIR!

Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! --Homer J. Simpson

by Shanghai Badger on Jun 4, 2009 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was always going to be longer than 4-6 weeks...

It was going to be at least 4 weeks from the time he resumed baseball activities. He has yet to resume baseball activities. Therefore, he’s still more than 4 weeks away from returning.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

he is running a little, 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 Jun 4, 2009 12:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably, but that's not really important...

The shoulder is the problem. So until he begins baseball activities with the shoulder, the clock to return doesn’t really start ticking.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just about threw up in my mouth

Badmit can’t make the White Sox roster (for very good reasons) and they have about as many issues at 3rd base as the Cubs do.

The guy cannot field, at all. Jake Fox is at least his equal.

by jerry morales rules on Jun 4, 2009 12:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I will second that.

What I have seen and heard of Betemit’s fielding, it has been poor with limited effort. This should be taken with grains of salt and all, but if the Cubs don’t go for Betemit, it would likely be for this reason.

Is Sean Marshall our most dependable starter?

by DGU on Jun 4, 2009 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I want to add

that I’m talking about his 2009 fielding since spring training – not anything prior to that.

Is Sean Marshall our most dependable starter?

by DGU on Jun 4, 2009 1:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Here's what you do...

You trade Fontenot, Miles, Scales, and a couple of minor league arms- say Jackson, to Pittsburgh, and you free up money- and go get Sanchez before someone else does… If we don’t, someone else certainly will!

I was told I was out of my gourd last year for saying we should try to get McLouth. I was told he won’t be available, etc. Now he’s in ATL! Pittsburgh does not care about their fan base, they care about the bottom line…

Sanchez started as a third baseman, he is playing second now. You put him at third in place of Rami, then when Rami comes back you put him at 2nd. Blanco can hold down 2nd for the interim, and Sanchez’s bat will make up for Blanco’s lack of offense…

Go get ’em Jimbo!!

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 4, 2009 3:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

imagine if the team was sold a while back

when Marc Cuban made an attempt to buy them. He wanted his home town team, and it would have been good for the fans in Pitt and for baseball as a whole IMO.

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 Jun 4, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Pirates are cutting payroll...

they aren’t going to take Miles.

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

They insist the McClouth deal had nothing to do with payroll

Rather, they were blown away by the offer they received from the Braves.

by Wreckard on Jun 4, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they did

get 3 of the braves Top 10 prospects for a guy who over the last 12 months hasn’t really hit “all that much”

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 3:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Pirates pulled off a heckuva deal for a good but overrated Nate McLouth

You can say what you want about Pittsburgh, but Neal Huntington appears to have made a heckuva deal with Frank Wren. And Andrew McCutcheon is going to make Pirate fans forget all about McLouth in center field soon enough.

by BLou on Jun 4, 2009 10:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

All the more reason why they wouldn't take Miles...

by SouthernCub on Jun 4, 2009 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Uhh

1. Pittsburgh may be dumb, but I don’t see them wanting to fill up their roster with our crappy backup infielders when they’re trying to get younger and probably have some of their own prospects.

2. How are we paying for this again?

by madcow256 on Jun 4, 2009 3:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Meant as a reply to Jimmy

Fail on the bottom post reply.

by madcow256 on Jun 4, 2009 3:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which is why...

… I’d suggest a deal offering, say, Steve Clevenger and Chris Archer, to start off.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 3:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Throwing in Miles, etc. He's a throw in. He also saves face for them...

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 4, 2009 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

thats an insult to the fans of the Pirates

to say Aaron Miles saves face…

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 3:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just because Cubs fans don't value a veteran Miles...

Doesn’t mean that the Pirates will. I have been reading their posts all over the net, they don’t want another slew of prospects that they believe will eventually be traded off AGAIN.

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 4, 2009 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pirates FANS may want that.

What Pirates management wants may be an entirely different story.

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

by Al on Jun 4, 2009 3:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I understand.

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 4, 2009 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you take that to mean

they want terrible overpaid veterans?

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 4, 2009 3:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It means whatever you want it to mean.

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 4, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

"You want a piece of me? You got it, baby!"

"I'll never forget how I felt last October." ~Kosuke Fukudome

by Goodie1969 on Jun 4, 2009 7:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What planet do you live on to suggest that the Pittsburgh Pirates of all teams would have interest in Aaron Friggin Miles and his $5 million contract

In fact, I’ll do you one better. I bet you can’t find a single team across baseball who would want to acquire Aaron Miles.

by BLou on Jun 4, 2009 11:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Unless they have a glaring need for a weak hitting, poor defensive overpaid infielder. I'm

sure there are loads of GMs just burning up Hendry’s cell phone just begging to make a deal.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jun 4, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why don't you just be quiet?

Everyone is tired of your incessant shit.

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on Jun 4, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I actually agree with BLou on this one

Miles contract is an albatross, especially when considering that it was signed when the economy was already tanking. The fact of the matter is that there are a lot of players like Aaron Miles to be had around the majors and AAA. I can’t think of any that are paid $5m.

by madcow256 on Jun 5, 2009 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i'm agreeing with BLou too much lately....

McLouth, Aaron Miles, Wilson Betemit….

apocalypse?

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 5, 2009 7:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Didnt they take on Matt Morris'd bloated contract?

….clearly there is precendent in that organization for doing really dumb things

by JB 23 on Jun 5, 2009 9:18 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

different group

running the front office

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 5, 2009 10:45 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

in fact

the guy running the front office then is now in….

the Cubs organization

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 5, 2009 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Meh.

His career UZR numbers at third base are awful, and his bat appears to be a question mark at best. I don’t see how he’s any better than Mike Fontenot – and I still think LBR’s bat has more upside than we’ve seen thus far in the season.

If Hendry wants to run Betemit up the flagpole, sure, whatever. But Wilson doesn’t excite me in any regard. I’m still kinda into the idea of seeing whether Hendry could get Kouzmanoff from the Pads as a 3B backup.

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 Jun 5, 2009 4:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

he's better than Bobby Scales

the move would shift Fontenot back to 2B and allow Blanco to be the “glove” off the bench

everyone seems to be comparing Betemit to the wrong players in terms of whose time he’d take….

by DartmouthCubsFan on Jun 6, 2009 8:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hm, yeah, I guess if the object is...

…to get Fontenot back to playing full-time second base, Betemit would fit the bill – theoretically, at least. But I think that’s what Hendry had in mind when he traded for Ryan Freel. So he’d have to basically release Freel and sign Betemit?

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 Jun 6, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs