Cubs set to acquire Tracy
I like this move, he is a solid backup and is another good backup...thoughts?
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I like this move, too.
In fact, I advocated it on this very site two months ago.
If Tracy makes the team, say bye-bye to Micah Hoffpauir.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Konichiwa Micah?
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
i TS GETTI N DONE!!!!1!!
Some men learn through what they read. Some men learn through what they're told. Some men have to piss on the railroad tracks. And some men keep on pissin'.
I wonder how he could make the team ...
barring an injury out of ST.
Does Hoff have options?
I can’t think of who else they might have at 1B at AAA….unless they move Blake Lali up.
by Ghost of Fred Merkle on Jan 26, 2010 7:49 PM CST reply actions
Hoff has one option year left
And they recently signed Scott McClain for Iowa. He can play 1B. Also, if LaHair doesn’t make the team, he can play 1B as well.
by Mulhollandmania on Jan 26, 2010 8:17 PM CST up reply actions
Oh yeah...
I already forgot about LaHair…
by Ghost of Fred Merkle on Jan 26, 2010 8:21 PM CST up reply actions
This is extremely promising!!
Two intelligent moves by Hendry in one day!!
Great signing
Very GOOD move by Hendry .. Tracy can hit when healthy .. 05,06 and part of 07 before Tracy got hurt .. IF he is healthy this will be a great signing . Tracy can play 1st base , 3rd base , and both corner outfield positions .. IF HEALTHY Tracy will be better than Mark DeRosa .. Hits for power and average .. The Cubs bench is looking very promising
Didn't realize Tracy could play so many position
He’s played 1B, 3B, and 51 games in LF and RF in 2005. Don’t know how well he plays all those positions or if he is just terrible in the OF and why he hasn’t played there since 2005, but its good to have a player who may be able to play at so many positions.
Basically, I guess, does anyone know anything about his fielding skills at these positions?
"It's been my policy to view the Internet not as an 'information highway,' but as an electronic asylum filled with babbling loonies." - Mike Royko
He is, indeed, terrible in the outfield
But that’s just my recollection of descriptions from when he played out there. He’s played 52 games in the outfield in his career, all but one of those in 2005. According to fangraphs, his fielding at 3B and 1B seem to be about league average. Year-to-year variance probably reflects his health and the small sample size at either position. Career .840 OPS against righties, ineffective against lefties. If he gets more than 100 ABs, we’re probably in trouble, but if Lou picks his spots to put Tracy in against certain righties, he could have good rate stats.
Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"
I believe Tracy had knee problems
so his days in the OF may be done.
"What a lot of people don’t see is the tremendous amount of progress that has been made in the organization over the last few years. We have a lot of very talented guys coming up through the system. Jim has built an incredible scouting organization." - Tom Ricketts
Nady and Tracy
Good power coming off the bench .
I'll say this much.
Neither Nady or Tracy will make the Cubs favorites to win the NL pennant. However, I feel a hell of a lot better about this offseason at the end of day today than I did when I was making my coffee this morning. I have to give Big Jim credit. A very good day at the office, Mr. Hendry!
"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004
I am curious what Rudy can do with Tracy
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
Solid move
I think it helps correct one of last year’s biggest roster failings, a guy that can realistically back up at 3b. He won’t be a liability in the field, and he can hit some. Plus, he is a guy that will come onto the team knowing he’s a back-up, and won’t chafe at his roll.
Tracy's got a lot of potential.
If he’s healthy, he’ll be very helpful.
"What a lot of people don’t see is the tremendous amount of progress that has been made in the organization over the last few years. We have a lot of very talented guys coming up through the system. Jim has built an incredible scouting organization." - Tom Ricketts
I'm not opposed to the move...
but what is the corresponding roster change?
Assuming we’re sticking with a five man bench…
C Hill
OF Nady
IF Blanco (I have him as “set” as the only back-up who can play SS)
That leaves two spots… which were presumed to be Fuld and Fontenot. So if Tracy is healthy, what changes? Is Fontenot dealt? Is Fuld sent back to AAA (Fukudome becomes the backup CF) to wait for an injury?
Thoughts?
Fuld
more than likely makes the team unless they add someone else. They need a guy to backup in CF, unless they want to go with a short bench (and thus, make Fukudome the backup CF).
If the Cubs are wise, we'll go with 14 players...
Tracy: LH power bat, corner IF
Nady: RH power bat, corner OF
Fuld: defensive OF sub, spot CFstarter
Fontenot: platoon 2B
Blanco: backup SS/2B
Hill: backup C
We rarely if ever used all 12 men anyway in the bullpen.
However, if we do see Tracy make the team and Piniella asks to carry 12 pitchers, then I’d have to guess Fontenot’s spot is the debatable one.
Agreed.
I never saw the need for the 12th pitcher. Patton was buried last year and so was virtually everyone else who had that slot. Having those six as bench players would give a very versatile bench.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Yeah, it would be nice...
Imagine having two power bats off the bench (one from each side of the plate), two middle-IF subs, a pinch-runner and defensive sub for the OF, and a backup C. It would just make too much sense. Especially given Piniella’s affinity for banishing at least one of the bullpen guys (if not more) to blowout duty only.
Lou likes the pitching
Lou has usually run with 13 players and 12 pitchers. He also started off (in 2007 as Cubs manager) with DeRosa providing the 2-for-1 versatility. Dusty on the the other hand usually had the more traditional 14 players/11 pitchers.
You can’t blame Lou for Patton. He gets stuck with the tag-along little brother and has to keep him on the roster. This year’s Patton is Mike Parisi. He needs to be effective (or returned) to allow the Cubs to carry only 11 pitchers.
by RiskyBusiness on Jan 27, 2010 9:16 AM CST up reply actions
Disagree re: Patton.
Patton wouldn’t have been kept if Lou didn’t want him. I agree re: Parisi. There really is no need for a 12-man staff, particularly in April when you have lots of off-days.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
I don't disagree with any of this.
And I am a believer in the 11 man staff… with a few times during the season bringing up a 12th guy when usage warrants such.
But……. Lou is still the manager. And we carried 12 pitchers for most of 08 (if memory serves) in the pre-Patton year. Then when Patton went on the DL, we still had 12 pitchers.
Since Lou can’t effectively manage a bullpen (needless switches and COUNTLESS warm-ups), he seems to believe he NEEDS 7 bullpen arms. Now maybe we will go the 11 man route for the first 3-ish weeks of April when no 5th starter is needed. But……. what are your thoughts on how the bench would be configured IF/assuming there will only be 5 guys on that bench?
With 5 bench players?
Nady, Hill, Blanco, Fuld, Fontenot. (Fukudome is on the bench when Nady starts.)
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
So you think
even if healthy, Tracy stays stashed in AAA waiting for the first “corner” injury?
Not agreeing or disagreeing since I don’t know enough about Tracy… I’m just curious what you and others think.
That depends on how he does in spring training, I'd guess.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
You can't say Patton was buried and that Lou wanted him
Lou has been stuck with guys he didn’t want before – see “Stevie Iyre”.
by RiskyBusiness on Jan 27, 2010 11:41 AM CST up reply actions
Plus,
with all the days off early in the season the Cubs will only be carrying 4 starters. I’d expect them to start with 11 pitchers.
Think they kept Patton all year because of rule 5?
If so—can he now go to AAA w/o losing him?
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like to him."
Solomon
I believe I read in an earlier post
that yes, the Cubs can now send Patton off to AAA and maintain his rights.
Of course they did
I think they tried him out, saw that he needed more work, kept him as long as they could, and then found an injury to stash him on the DL when Lou said he needed the spot.. After that first year, the Cubs can put him down on the farm.
by RiskyBusiness on Jan 27, 2010 11:38 AM CST up reply actions
Wow, that looks good to me.
I wish Lou would consider it.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
We've got plenty of RH relievers...
Why not go with a six man bench, 11 pitchers and have a shuttle between Iowa and here rotating guys like Caridad,Berg,Gray,Stevens,Patton,Parker,Parisi & Stevens ? Most of those guys seem pretty interchangeable. I’d be much more comfortable with a six man bench
by Southside Steve on Jan 26, 2010 10:28 PM CST reply actions
Sadly you may be right
about the 13 man staff. That would leave us effectively with a three man bench since Hill would rarely be used off the bench
by Southside Steve on Jan 26, 2010 10:35 PM CST reply actions
Weird
I clicked reply both times and it shows up as a new comment
by Southside Steve on Jan 26, 2010 10:36 PM CST up reply actions
It's a good gamble
Once upon a time, I had semi-high expectations for Chad Tracy. That said, he hasn’t reached that, partly due to injuries. I don’t really have high expectations for him now. There’s a reason he’s been on the market so long, and there’s a reason he signed for a minor league deal. While Tracy was versatile, he’s probably more a backup 1st/bat off the bench option at this stage of his career and an emergency option at other spots. Furthermore, it’s not as if he is a big bat off the bench type. I’m not so sure that he’s significantly better than Micah or Bryan, but since the money is so little, all he has to do is be better.
I’m not so sure that Mike Fontenot doesn’t beat him out for a spot.
Cubs set to acquire Tracy? Does Tess Trueheart know about this?
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
Aren't ya gonna frisk me?
I don’t see a real difference offensively between Hoffpauir and Tracy, but the ability to play 3B must be the difference maker for Hendry—who does in fact know more than I do.
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like to him."
Solomon
Madonna
was NOT Tess Trueheart. :P
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 12:10 PM CST up reply actions
You are correct. She wasn't. But this was the best photo I could find on short notice...
Now only 12,859 on the "Cubs Season Tickets Waiting List"...
Wow!
This offseason really is shaping up to look very successful. You have to applaud what Hendry has done. He got rid of the big problem, and filled holes with buy-low, upside guys. Tracy hasn’t lit up the world recently, but he’s had success in the past. Now we have capable backups at first, third, and the corner outfield spots and a couple of nice bats off the bench. You gotta give it to Hendry for bringing some depth to the lineup (assuming Tracy makes the team).
by Bradsbeard on Jan 27, 2010 9:55 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
One side issue to both Tracy and Nady...
…that was brought up on Bruce Miles’ blog: Perhaps the Cubs are looking at one or both as an option at first base when DLee’s contract is up.
In any case, I’d reiterate the positive things others have said here. I like this signing and really appreciate Hendry’s efforts to bolster the depth of this 2010 team.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
I do feel better about the bench now. There seems to be some pop from both sides of the plate.
Nice job JH on this.
Well, the question now...
…is whether and how the Cubs will fit both Nady and Tracy (who’s not on the 40-man roster) on the bench. But we still have a ways to go ’til Opening Day.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
I wonder who will pay the price....
Soto, Hill
Lee, Baker, Theriot, Aram
Byrd, Soriano, Dome
plus 12 pitchers,
Leaves four spots…….Nady, Tracy, and ???
Take your pick…..Fuld, Blanco, Frontinot, Hoff. Two will not be with us if Tracy makes it.
Which 2? I always liked Fronty and Hoff but the other 2 play MUCH better defense.
I see it falling as
13 position players
C – Soto/Hill
Starting IF – Lee/Baker/Theriot/Ramirez
Starting OF – Fukudome/Byrd/Soriano
Bench: Nady (backup corner OF and 1st), Fuld (backup CF/pinch runner), Blanco (backup shortstop), and Fontenot
That’s my guess, that Mike Fontenot beats out Tracy. Once upon a time, I was really intrigued with Tracy. That said, is his bat definitely better than Fontenot’s? Also, despite his past versatility, I’m under the impression that he’s limited to first barring an extreme situation.
May simply come down to this – who hits the best in spring gets the job.
Yeah, this is how I see it right now, too.
Tracy is essentially a wild card at the moment.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
I 'm hoping
Tracy regains old form . Tracy is only 29 years old . If he can just overcome his injury . Reading today in local paper that this is the best he felt in years and ready to play baseball .. All I can say this is his last dance in the BIGS .. Tracy has to be serious come Springtraining .. I am hoping for Tracy to make the roster and have Baker the starting 2nd baseman .. IMO ..
Well, Nady just passed his physical so he's all but assured a spot.
Unless Fontenot is dealt or agrees to go to the minors, I’m not seeing room for Tracy at the moment. We’ll see what happens, though.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
Unless the Cubs carry 11 pitchers.
Which I would be in favor of.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
many here would agree
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
I am hoping
Tracy makes the team . Hopefully Lou carries 11 pitchers until later in the season ..
I asked Bruce Miles on his blog...
…whether that was a possibility and he said it’s highly doubtful.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
I like this move as well as the Nady one.
Not a great week for the Hoff…..
I still would like to see another arm in the pen or a possible starter. I know we have kids who can pitch, I just don’t trust them all yet.
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