The Cubs Can Help The Pirates Make History Today: Cubs vs. Pirates Preview, Monday 9/7, 11:35 CT
by Al Yellon on Sep 7, 2009 10:00 AM CDT
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PrintPITTSBURGH -- The Pirates have lost 81 games. With their next defeat, they will be assured of a losing season... for the 17th consecutive year. That will set a major league record; the current record, that the Pirates share, was set by the Phillies from 1933-48. Not only is it a record in baseball, but it will be a record for any of the four major North American professional sports.
Just a reminder that things could always be worse. The Pirates' last winning season was their last playoff season, in 1992. Since then a steady stream of good players have either left via free agency or been traded away, including, of course, the Cubs' Aramis Ramirez. Then, just as the acquired players get to be pretty good, they're traded away (Jason Bay, for example). It's a vicious cycle that probably is doomed to be repeated for years to come. It must be really tough to be a Pirates fan; they've got one of the best of the new ballparks, but no good players inhabiting it.
The Cubs have helped out greatly in making the Pirates a losing team; since 2003 the Cubs are 68-40 (.630) against them, 20-6 in the last two years, and have won 11 of the last 13 meetings between the two clubs. They're also 9-3 at PNC Park since the beginning of the 2008 season; if there's going to be any place where a miracle comeback for this year's Cubs might occur, it may as well start here in Pittsburgh, where it is raining this morning. It's supposed to clear out by game time, though, with rain being more scattered this afternoon.
If you are one of those looking forward to 2010, one of the free agents on the Cubs' radar is Chone Figgins of the Angels. Obviously, no one in Cubs management is going to say anything about him now due to the tampering rules. Figgins is a decent player, but the problem I have in signing him is this: he will be 32 in January. His main asset is his speed -- that's usually the first thing to decline. He does draw a lot of walks and has a career OBA of .362 -- but only a 98 OPS+. He can play multiple positions but has primarily played 3B for the Angels the last three years. To me, this is yet another Lou "we don't have enough of such and such" idea that hasn't been fully thought out, sort of like the "we're not lefthanded enough" brainstorm from last fall. How's that working out, Lou? I wouldn't do it.
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Along with fellow Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen came to Pittsburgh in the Xavier Nady deal a year ago. The Pirates are, apparently, trying to corner the market on players named "McCutchen". Daniel is not related to Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen, though. Daniel made his major league debut on August 31 vs. the Reds, pitched well enough (six innings, three earned runs), but the Pirates lost.
Ted Lilly is 3-1, 3.99 in eight career starts vs. Pittsburgh. He will try to improve his 2009 road record; he's been mediocre this year (4.75 ERA) on the road, dominant at home. With all the changes in the Pirates roster, Ted hasn't faced many of them; Brandon Moss has hit him well (4-for-6, a HR).
Today's game is on WGN. Strangely, on a holiday, there is no Pirates TV -- so this game is NOT available on Extra Innings. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.
Once again, the overflow comment threads weren't too busy yesterday -- I assume because of the holiday weekend -- so I'm only going to post two of them today, at 12:45 pm and 2 pm CDT. If things get too busy, please post a FanShot overflow.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Comments
I hear Gathright might be available this offseason
I think maybe his speed would work out great. Think we could sign him? :P
The sun will shine in '69
The Pirates
have been an exercise in futility since 1992; however, they do have World Series championships in 1960, 1971 and 1979. That would be nice.
I wonder...
…how much of the Pirates’ era of futility is the fault of their management, and how much is the fault of MLB in general. The division breakdowns and the unbalanced schedule could be a real factor in why the Pirates haven’t been able to even tread water. In a different era, the misfortune of being in a tough division could be mitigated by a balanced schedule. In this era, the Tampa Bays, the Baltimore,s the Torontos, and the Pittsburghs of the world become the whipping boys for the powerhouse franchises in their division.
And yet, Tampa Bay won the pennant last year and is still a contender.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
That was my initial reaction, as well
but after looking into this, i’m all for it. Figgins would be a great leadoff hitter for this team.
by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Sep 7, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions
They'd likely have to overpay for him...
Pass.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
I'm not sure of the answer for this.
Statistically? Sure, he’d make a good leadoff man. But I’ll bet he’d drive us nuts if/when his speed started to go, and as noted above, Hendry would no doubt overpay. Pass.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Plus where will he play?
For those slotting him at SS, look at his experience. Second base, maybe but that is an unknown too.
Great, we’ll sign him for 3 years, overpay him and not be sure where he can play. No thanks.
If you don't know the answer to that question,
you don’t know if Hendry will overpay.
This is all supposition on your part. By the way, PECOTA, which is the projection system that uses things like a player’s speed to compare him to past players, thinks Figgins will hold onto his value for a couple years.
To me, the big question isn’t how much he will cost but how long you’ll have to sign him for. I’d be all for a short, high $/year deal.
by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Sep 7, 2009 10:52 PM CDT up reply actions
I'm not so sure.
The walks he draws and his speed don’t seem to make up for the lack of power.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Andres Blanco
has there been a lot of discussion about that play he made yesterday? It was amazing—probably will be a Top 5 Web Gem at the year-end.
I can’t recall a better play by a Cubs player over my years watching Cubs baseball (38 years now).
Reed Johnson catch.......better.
I would like to see Blanco at short and Theriot at second the rest of the year. And Figgins won’t be worth what he will cost. Yankees and White Sox just two of the many teams interested.
The one he made
in Milwaukee in April, I’m guessing?
by Not Bruce Froemming on Sep 7, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions
that's what I was thinking
but that was not an incredible play. He got back to the wall because of the height of Fielder’s flyball and jumped up and snagged it. It was a very good play and saved a Grand Slam, but it was not all that athletic, acrobatic, or other wordly like Blanco’s play yesterday.
Are we going to get this game in?
Looks like some iffy weather.
Just say no to players named Aaron on the Cubs.
About Figgins
One of the commenters on my blog has been pushing for the idea that the Angels should re-sign Figgins. Like you, Al, I was skeptical of the idea… but then
1) He’s been generally healthy
2) He plays an excellent defensive third base (not a factor for the Cubs, but given Aramis Ramirez’ health problems this year, maybe not)
3) Unlike most Angels hitters, he’s become friends with Mr. Ball Four.
I’m not horribly averse to the idea of a re-signing; his skill set is sufficiently broadened from the earlier slash-and-dash speed burner he was prior to 2007 that it might be worthwhile signing him to a 2-year deal. But I wouldn’t go beyond that; speed is a huge part of his game.
Witty .sig goes here.
ever since abreu signed with the angels theyve been a very patient team
kind of like fukudome with the cubs last year
people who swing at the first pitch should get punched in the face
by jesus christos on Sep 7, 2009 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions
I can't believe you don't want Figgins...
he’s basically Mark DeRosa, only better. And he has more than just one tool. He hits lots of line drives and his BB% has steadily increased throughout his career, as has his bunting ability. All those things bode well for his ability to get on base as his speed declines. He can play 2B, 3B, and all 3 OF positions. Plus, he’s a switch hitter. The fan’s scouting report also gives him top marks as a defender.
There’s not much about this NOT to like. Basically, DeRosa is a worse version of Chone Figgins.
by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Sep 7, 2009 11:02 AM CDT reply actions
More on Figgins...
he has a projected wOBA of .349, which matches that of Dustin Perdroia and Brandon Phillips. Not too shabby.
by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Sep 7, 2009 11:12 AM CDT reply actions
He's going to be 32 and this team isn't getting any younger...
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
On the other hand...
It would be nice to have a full time excellent defender at second if he’d be willing to play there. He could also spell Aramis from time to time. Maybe he’s worth a look.
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Excellent defender?
How do you know? He will be 32 and hasn’t played there since 2006. He’s played a total of 113 games at 2B.
I agree that this team needs to get younger...
but Figgins appears to be the perfect fit. Ideally, you go after a guy that’s 25 or so. But there’s not many of those floating around and available.
by Shawn Domagal-Goldman on Sep 7, 2009 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd like the Cubs to take the long term approach...
…And focus on what the Mariners and Rangers have done this season, which is to say, focus on improving defense up the middle and in the OF. I read somewhere that the Rangers have improved their ERA a full run over last season, which is due in large part to guys like Elvis Andrus at short. The Mariners also went out and found underappreciated guys like Russell Branyan and Endy Chavez on the cheap. Some of Hendry’s best moves this season and last have been cheap options like Baker and Reed Johnson. I’m just rambling now, but you get the idea…
Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.
Russell Branyan is a guy
who is a a career journeyman who is having a good year. The Mariners got lucky. You can’t look for guys like that, it just happens. It’s one of baseball’s unexpected surprises. Sometimes, in a team’s effort to find a cheap part, the player exceeds any expectations. I wouldn’t expect Branyan to repeat this performance next year.
by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on Sep 7, 2009 12:04 PM CDT reply actions
No, no, no on Figgins
It is such a stupid idea. If the Cubs sign him it is another sign they still don’t get it.
For all you in favor, where is he going to play? He is a 3rd baseman now. Don’t say SS, he is 32 and hasn’t played there since 2006. He has a grand total of 27 games there. 2B? a grand total of 113. He’s only played 2 games in the OF in the past year. He hasn’t played CF since 2006.
Sounds like a player the Cubs should sign for several years? An idiotic idea.
LETS SIGN HIM TOO A $100 MILL/8YEAR DEAL
people who swing at the first pitch should get punched in the face
by jesus christos on Sep 7, 2009 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions
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