Cubs Sign Chad Tracy To Minor-League Deal
by Al Yellon on Jan 27, 2010 11:15 AM CST
in Chicago Cubs News
Email
PrintIt's official now. From the release:
The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with infielder Chad Tracy on a minor league contract. The deal includes an invite to major league spring training. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.This is a good signing with no risk. If Tracy is healthy, he'll have a real shot at making the team as an OF/1B/3B backup. If not, the Cubs can just release him. Since he (apparently) had no other major league offers, maybe he'd accept a Triple-A assignment if he didn't make the club, and would be the first injury callup.
Also from a press release this morning:
The Chicago Cubs and left-handed pitcher Sean Marshall have agreed to terms on a 2010 contract, thus avoiding salary arbitration. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
That leaves Ryan Theriot and Carlos Marmol still unsigned.
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Couldn't hurt
Might just help.
And good for singing Marshall, too. Get ‘er done, Jim, with Theriot and Marmol (I’m sure he will).
by Not Bruce Froemming on Jan 27, 2010 11:17 AM CST reply actions
like this
signing, Chad could be a very nice addition if he is healthy. He will be a very sound backup to several positions where we obviously have had injury concerns in the past.
You will never move forward by looking back....
by By Santo's Grace on Jan 27, 2010 11:26 AM CST up reply actions
It was a critical pickup IMHO
At this point, you have to assume that Aramis is going to miss at least a month during the year. Having a backup around with some moderate power is a logical way to address that issue. Chad should fill that bill if he is recovered and was probably the best left on the scrap heap. Throwing Fontenot out at 3B 3-5 games a week really did not work last year and it appeared to me that the position shift was affecting his batting performance. Not having to do something like that in 2010 can only make the Cubs stronger. I would have preferred Garrett Atkins, but Baltimore decided to promise him a starting job.
fontenot sucked before aramis got hurt
by jesus christos on Jan 27, 2010 4:33 PM CST up reply actions
Keepin' it real.
I like that.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Jan 27, 2010 4:36 PM CST up reply actions
Trying to find an official link for Marshall
Do you know of one other than MLBTR?
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Jan 27, 2010 11:27 AM CST up reply actions
I got a press release.
Is that enough for you?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Idk how official that is
Skipped over that part, so excited about Chad Tracy
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Jan 27, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
An official press release from the team isn't official?
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Sarcasm
We need a sarcasm font Al
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Jan 27, 2010 12:56 PM CST up reply actions
Will do in the future
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
I use Italics also
Bold looks like you are being condescending or shouting.
by Rhymenoceros on Jan 28, 2010 11:35 AM CST up reply actions
There is one
"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse
Sun-Times Twitter
reporting that Marshall ended up with $950k. If so, that seems pretty reasonable. Hope Marmol and Theriot can come to an agreement with the club without having to go to arb hearings. I’d suspect Theriot would be most likely one to go and if that ends up being the case, he’s not going to make himself any new friends around here.
"That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until you get that final out." –Lou Piniella
by cubbiebluekdawg on Jan 27, 2010 11:24 AM CST reply actions
Jim Hendry prides himself on never going to a hearing.
I’m sure they’ll settle.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Agreed
1993 was the last time the Cubs went to arb IIRC
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Jan 27, 2010 11:28 AM CST up reply actions
Doug Melvin in Milwaukee
has an arbitration record similar to Hendry’s. Never has had a hearing in his Brewers tenure.
by Not Bruce Froemming on Jan 27, 2010 11:29 AM CST up reply actions
Oh I know
I’m just saying out of Marmol and Theriot being left, I think Theriot will be the more stubborn of the two but I’m sure Hendry will work out something before it gets as far as an arb hearing.
"That's the beauty of baseball. You never know what's going to happen until you get that final out." –Lou Piniella
by cubbiebluekdawg on Jan 27, 2010 11:32 AM CST up reply actions
Funny that
He’ll overpay in years and cash for guys like Bradley, Soriano, and Byrd but he gets cheap with guys who/will actually contribute like Marmol and Theriot. I know it’s a business, but c’mon already.
by TheGrinch13 on Jan 27, 2010 12:31 PM CST up reply actions
How so?
If he was really playing hardball with the preFA guys he would take them to arb.
If he just gave in to the asking price of the players that would have a potentially huge ripple effect in baseball with more significance that the elevation contracts from the Soriano signing.
Eamus Ursuli!
Just like overpaying for guys like Bradley and Byrd
makes all of the other free agents cost even more.
by TheGrinch13 on Jan 27, 2010 12:39 PM CST up reply actions
It also has something to do with loyalty to players who try hard every day and who love being Cubs.
The Cubs don’t know anything about that, however (i.e. Grace, Wood, DeRosa, Reed Johnson, etc.)
by TheGrinch13 on Jan 27, 2010 12:42 PM CST up reply actions
Loyalty is great.
But it doesn’t necessarily win championships.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
are you about to suggest
that we should have kept Woody or Reed Johnson?
Cause, well, no.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 1:01 PM CST up reply actions
You're completely correct!!!!
This must be why Jim Hendry is widely reknowned as being absolutely terrible to his players, he doesn’t respect them or ever give them anything above and beyond what most GMs would! /sarcasm.
This comment is just full of fail.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Jan 27, 2010 2:14 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
No kidding -
It totally failed to throw in the gratuitous all-you-can-eat buffet line joke.
"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
Wow. Just wow. So many people to thank
First off, god
Second, Al, for supporting me in the Chad Tracy Fan Club
Third, myself for saying for so long they should go after him
Just a great day. Wonderful :)
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
You act as if this guy is worth 7 WAR.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 27, 2010 11:48 AM CST up reply actions
No but I've been advocating for him for a while
Glad to see him in blue. He’s a good addition
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
by Musicdude10 on Jan 27, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
A thousand times yes.
Or just release him.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
by Bill Potter on Jan 27, 2010 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
Micah's ZIPS
look really good for the 2010 season… 277/330/490 in 298 ABS for an OPS+ of 108. Just saying…
by sheamcmurray on Jan 27, 2010 12:13 PM CST up reply actions
Japan for Hoffpauir.
He’ll be the second coming of Scott McClain.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
A very underrated movie...
Staring Dennis Haysbert (sp?) as a baseball player not named Pedro Cerrano.
I think I speak for everyone here when I say, "Wait, what the hell are you talking about?"
I agree, that movie, for a baseball movie was very good
plus the chick he ends up with. Very fine!
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Jan 27, 2010 2:59 PM CST up reply actions
Hoffpower as Trade bait?
I’m sure we could get a bucket of balls and a couple of fungo bats for him from someone…
- Over? Did you say "over"? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Hell no!
- Germans?
- Forget it, he's rolling.
Oh, boy
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 Jan 28, 2010 10:35 AM CST up reply actions
No
It’ll be Hoffpauir to someplace else (in a trade where we get nothing in return, like most of our trades), where he’ll hit 20 HR and hit about .270 if he’s given a real chance. Oh, and he’ll make next to nothing at the same time. Then we’ll hear the same old line from Hendry that says, “Hey, we gave him a chance to play everyday someplace else, and it helps the other team”. How about helping our team?
Funny how we dump players like this so that we can get aging veterans who won’t contribute worth a lick (Neifi Perez, Ryan Freel, etc). We’ll need Hoffpauir at first base for when Derrek Lee jumps off this sinking ship next offseason.
by TheGrinch13 on Jan 27, 2010 12:34 PM CST up reply actions
One more thing
I don’t want to hear about the rough season he had last year. As I have proven before in previous posts, guys like Hoffpauir (among others who should have been playing over underachieving, overpaid veterans) rotted on the bench, with days in between pinch hit at bats, while guys like Bobby Scales played every day. C’mon, wouldn’t you have rather seen what Hoffpauir could have done in LF instead of Scales every day? Actually, Jake Fox should have been there, but he was busy sitting in Lou’s doghouse for trying too hard.
by TheGrinch13 on Jan 27, 2010 12:37 PM CST up reply actions
C’mon, wouldn’t you have rather seen what Hoffpauir could have done in LF instead of Scales every day?
LOL! No.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 12:42 PM CST up reply actions
Apparently, neither do you.
Hoffpauir was a bad outfielder. And I’m being nice. And he stopped hitting after midseason.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
All I gotta say is this
if our best option to replace Derrek Lee is Micah Hoffpauir then the Cubs will be in serious trouble.
Agreed.
However, it looks like Xavier Nady will be a possible backup 1B (he’s played there before) along with Chad Tracy. I assume you’d agree those are reasonable options.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
as far
as backing up this year yeah. I was referring to his comment about how we would need Hoffpauir to be a starter after Lee left. Which would be awful.
sadly according to UZR Hoff was better than Fox in the OF
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
Scary
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
That sample size isn't big enough to really draw a conclusion from.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
I watch
or listen to probably 145 games a year.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 1:02 PM CST up reply actions
See, this is why we need the sarcasm font!
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Jan 27, 2010 2:14 PM CST up reply actions
lol...
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 2:28 PM CST up reply actions
He has 25,000 comments in 2009,
And you fell for that?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 27, 2010 11:23 PM CST up reply actions
I humble abase myself.
or not. :P
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 6:51 PM CST up reply actions
you forgot to say
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
Fox is a worse OF than Hoff
try researching before posting such laughable things. Fox is not a missed item of the team, and Hoff wont be missed either. Hendry has built a decent bench it looks like, which has parts that are better than Fox and Hoff.
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
hitting
.270 with 20 HR’s sucks for 1B production. Plus he has never proven he can hit .270 with 20 HR’s. Also, this is crazy
Bears repeating
Also, this is crazy
"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
Oh, I completely agree.
Micah Hoffpauir will hit 20 HR and about .270…in Japan. Our loss is the Ham Fighters gain.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
It's not the Ham Fighters...
It’s the Fighters. Nippon Ham is the company that sponsors the team, Fighters is the nickname.
by Jay Johnstone on Jan 27, 2010 3:42 PM CST up reply actions
Fun ruiner.
My life was better for a second when i believed there was a baseball team in japan named the Ham Fighters.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Jan 27, 2010 3:54 PM CST up reply actions
As a jew....
I would fully support that team
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
hey I'm the one who bought your Temporary Insanity book....hahahahah :D
baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it
by cooliogirl47 on Jan 27, 2010 8:28 PM CST up reply actions
Good signing
We can never have too many irons in the fire at Iowa. Hopefully he (like Derrek Lee) can return to his 2005 form and provide some pop off the bench.
I agree
with Al. Low risk with good potential upside.
by cubfaninplattsburgh on Jan 27, 2010 11:53 AM CST reply actions
I have to take off my Hoff blinders
and say that in looking up Tracy’s splits—his .297 v rhp and .216 v lhp looks a whole bunch better than Micah’s. He’s also a .333 lifetime hitter vs the Cubs (only .244 at Wrigley). Micah’s #‘s don’t stack up and he can’t play 3rd…my guess is he’ll still get a more than fair chance to go north this spring.
"Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like to him."
Solomon
Potential Iowa infield of....
1b Hoffpauir
2b Barney
ss Castro
3b Tracy
ut Marquez Smith
Certainly could be worse for emergency options.
I'm pretty sure that Hoffpauir is out of options
by TheGrinch13 on Jan 27, 2010 12:40 PM CST up reply actions
Incorrect.
Hoffpauir has one option year left.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Well, that's good.
Maybe he won’t be traded for nothing then.
by TheGrinch13 on Jan 27, 2010 12:43 PM CST up reply actions
He has almost zero trade value.
A 30-year-old DH/1B who didn’t hit much of last year? Who’d want him?
Japan is a likely destination.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Japan?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 1:02 PM CST up reply actions
oh, burn.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 2:29 PM CST up reply actions
Its
not out of the realm of possibility, the Sox once upon a time picked up a similar player of ours… Ross Gload.
St. Louis?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 27, 2010 11:24 PM CST up reply actions
are you Clutche by chance?
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
he'll give you the shirt
of your back…
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 5:18 PM CST up reply actions
Depends.
When was Clutche banned?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 27, 2010 11:24 PM CST up reply actions
He logged in last week
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 Jan 28, 2010 10:39 AM CST up reply actions
i thought Al banned him
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
http://www.sbnation.com/users/Clutche
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 Jan 28, 2010 1:12 PM CST up reply actions
He may be able to log in
but just not post on here.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
I suppose that's possible
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 Jan 28, 2010 3:16 PM CST up reply actions
that would make sense
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
what do you get banned for....
and what happens????
baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it
by cooliogirl47 on Jan 28, 2010 9:10 PM CST up reply actions
being rude, harassing others, basically being wrong on many levels
you can no longer post in the blog that you are banned from
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
forever?
baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it
by cooliogirl47 on Jan 28, 2010 10:15 PM CST up reply actions
Until Al lets them back in.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
i guess
I dont know if Al can or has lifted a ban.
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
He has with BLou before.
OK I don't know shit about basketball.
by SoulEater7 on Nov. 5, 2009 9:51 PM CST
Oh...got it, thanks you two...
the greening of that thread was hard work-but fun too—-good night, catch ya later
baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it
by cooliogirl47 on Jan 28, 2010 10:55 PM CST up reply actions
not sure he lifted a ban
since BLou made new id’s
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
and what is the flagged for
I know its somewhere in my rule book but I dont feel like looking it up
baseball.........is Kool Aid the remedy, or the cause of my desire for it
by cooliogirl47 on Jan 28, 2010 10:37 PM CST up reply actions
use it for offensive messages
and it is usually best to email Al the flagged post
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
I like
And I like it more if we only go with 11 pitchers on the 25 man roster. Sadly, Sylva will take a spot from one of the youngsters, but that can’t be helped. We should have a really nice bench with good LH/RH balance. Here’s hoping Tracy makes the team and can contribute!
Once again, I’ll give Hendry credit for this offseason. He was patient and didn’t overspend, made the right choice between Dye, Nady, and Gomes, and has mostly fixed the problems he created last year.
One issue will be overall roster health, but at least we should quality players on the bench, so hopefully everyone can get plenty of days off and stay fresh and healthy.
But which hat
Is he going to wear in Spring Training? Is he going to have to wear a Diamondbacks hat?
If he does, then he was clearly deceived by the Baseball Writers Association of America
and Darth Vader
I guess I'm just a worrier, that's why my friends call me whiskers
by Nunyabidness on Jan 27, 2010 3:01 PM CST up reply actions
I know the left/right lineup balance was overblown last offseason
But this also gives us the ability to put 4 quality lefties in lineup if we choose, 5 if you include Blanco: Tracy in left, Fuld in center, Fukudome in right, Fontentot at second (Blanco at shortstop).
We could put this lineup out there against a tough right hander:
1. Fukudome (L)
2. Fuld (L)
3. Lee®
4. Ramirez®
5. Tracy (L)
6. Soto®
7. Fontenot (L)
8. Blanco (L)
Good to see Lee, Rami and Geo
finally manned up and registered their names… it’s a good move from a marketing standpoint. ;-)
Wonder if Len and Bob have to pay to use their names
Otherwise you might get into some of those nicknames Hawk uses for the sox
big fella to the plate…dadgum it
Hawk….what just happened? Thank god you’re on tv, otherwise we wouldn’t know whats going on in the game
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
I think
4 quality lefties is stretching a tad.
Its funny, you spend most of your life gripping a baseball. And in the end, its almost always the other way around.
Yeah, I'm not sure if I'd call Fuld a "quality lefty"
Fukudome and a healthy Tracy certainly would qualify (against RHP only, of course), and I might even give you Fontenot against RHP. But including Fuld as a quality lefty is a stretch.
Fuld, Koyie, and Tracy should probably not be starting against every lefty
I could see one or two of them if you need to rest Soriano, Soto, or Byrd, but all 3 would be stretching it.
Quality doesn't mean star
I’m not suggesting these guys start every time a right-hander goes, just that we have some lineup flexibility to play with and it doesn’t have to be righty after righty in the lineup every game. As for Fuld, I think he can be a useful top of the order bat with that OBP as long as he isn’t overexposed.
Great signing
I am excited over the Cubs bench now . Between Nady and Tracy , the Cubs have some decent pop off the bench . I am trying to be optomistic and hopefully Tracy can regain his 2005 , 2006 form .. 27 homeruns isn’t too shabby .
I'll drink that koolaid
Yum
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
Happy?
I don’t know this word
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
Nice work!
I’ve always liked Nady and was hoping Hendry could have gotten him a couple of years ago in one of his trademark lopsided deals with the Pirates. I’m not that familiar with Tracy, but he looks like a decent hitter when he’s healthy.
Now, if someone could only convince Lou to add one more bat to the rostor and carry only twelve pitchers. It makes no sense to carry an extra reliever who’s just going to rot in the bullpen for two weeks between appearances.
by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Jan 27, 2010 2:36 PM CST reply actions
Ooops!
I meant eleven pitchers—math is not my strong point.
by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Jan 27, 2010 2:39 PM CST reply actions
Math is hard...
… especially with Silva in the mix. Who knows how he will work out.
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Jan 27, 2010 3:56 PM CST up reply actions
Another good low risk signing by Jimbo...
Having Nady and Tracy as options off the bench will really help the team.
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
Some good high reward, low risk signing by Jim of late
if we get Calero on a one year deal this would be nice end to the offseason
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."
Agreed DC...
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Jan 27, 2010 3:15 PM CST up reply actions
Koskie
I just hope he isn’t another Cory Koskie……
"It's a funny old world. Man's lucky if he gets out of it alive." W.C. Fields
Koskie would have been fine, if it weren't for the final concussion...
He did the right thing by retiring. On the bright side, no concussion issues with Nady or Tracy.
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Jan 27, 2010 3:30 PM CST up reply actions
sorry, if this has been covered ...
Where does Tracy fit in on the bench. Even if Micah is in AAA, there are only five bench spots available (assuming the Cubs go with 12 pitchers). Here are the locks, at this point …
Hill, Blanco, Baker/Fontenot, Nady, Fuld
Barring another move, who does Tracy replace? Can’t be Hill, Blanco or Nady. Is Tracy, essentially competing for an opening day spot with Fuld and Baker/Fontenot? I know Tracy COULD start the season in AAA. But couldn’t he have found a team where he would have had a better chance to make the roster?
Thoughts? Do the Cubs make a trade before the season starts, or do they just open up a mini competition between Tracy, Fuld, Baker and Fontenot?
Oh, and I like yesterday's moves
I’m just trying to figure out how the pieces fit.
It would seem that one of Tracy or Fuld would have to be riding the shuttle between Iowa and Chicago
depending on injuries. I can’t figure out any other way this works.
It will be Fuld
But IMO I don’t think this happens. I think both will be on the team
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
so who gets dropped then?
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 28, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
Why does someone have to be dropped?
Soriano/Byrd/Fuk
Ram/Theriot/Baker/Lee
Soto
Fontenot
Nady
Hill
Blanco
Tracy
Fuld
13 position players, 12 pitchers (ytbd)
"If I were playing third base and my mother were rounding third with the run that was going to beat us, I'd trip her. Oh, I'd pick her up and brush her off and say, 'Sorry, Mom,' but nobody beats me." ~ Leo Durocher
I don't think Baker
will be competing for anything; I think he’s the starting 2B.
I think Tracy competes with Fuld and Fontenot.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 4:06 PM CST up reply actions
Fuld will not be on the 25 man on opening day.
Sammy is the odd man out.
I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...
by Jimmyeatworld on Jan 27, 2010 5:41 PM CST up reply actions
Could be.
If the Cubs are comfortable playing Fukudome in CF from time to time, Fuld could be disposable.
"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
Possible.
But I still think Fuld will stick because of his defense and speed.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
Over in the Depth thread
we’ve considered the possibility that the roster is:
C Soto – Hill
1B Lee – Tracy
2B Theriot – Baker
SS Castro – Theriot
3B Ramirez – Baker
LF Soriano – Nady
CF Byrd – Fuld
RF Fukudome – Nady
That effectively dumps Blanco and Fontenot.
"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 doubt castro will be on the opening day roster
by jesus christos on Jan 27, 2010 7:54 PM CST up reply actions
I hope he won't be.
I’ve got some misgivings that it will go another way.
"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
Yeah, except that....
Terms of the deal WERE, IN FACT, DISCLOSED!
Something you, AL, would have known had you read my FanPost instead of deleting it!
If Tracy makes the Cubs’ big-league roster, he would earn $900,000, plus up to an additional $525,000 if he gets 450 plate appearances, a source familiar with the contract told ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark. The deal also contains award incentives, including a $100,000 comeback-player-of-the-year bonus.
The Chicago Cubs have agreed to terms with infielder Chad Tracy on a minor league contract. The deal includes an invite to major league spring training. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
by Hurricane.Ditka on Jan 27, 2010 4:08 PM CST reply actions
Thanks for posting this.
At the time I posted it, it had not been disclosed. No need for the snark.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Does this change the pre ST mood to ... optimism?
I liked the mood at the convention, which was more realism, as in “I think we’ll have a nice little team” or words of underwhelming confidence to that effect.
One of Lee Elia's 15%
not optimism
it’s still a severely flawed team… but momentum for sure. Two very good moves in two days. Cubs still “need” another starter and some bullpen depth. Tracy and Xavier Nady aren’t sure things… but if you have enough of these pieces, you could probably cobble together a lineup most days. It does make me wonder whether the Cubs could have got a more complimentary piece than Nady, if they were just able to pick up Tracy for nothing. But both are undervalued assets, if they even come close to performing, so I’m not concerned as much about that.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field
by jameslcrockett on Jan 27, 2010 6:30 PM CST up reply actions
A low risk move
I like it. Looks like it will come down to Chad Tracy vs. Andres Blanco for a roster spot.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
agreed
it’s between Tracy and Fuld.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 7:05 PM CST up reply actions
Or between Tracy and the last pitcher in the bullpen
Who is worth more – the LH hitting utility guy or the 12th pitcher on the staff?
i am liking the new BLou
group hug
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
Ummmm....
Dum spiro spero... | Follow me on twitter or else: @andrewjstone.
by AndrewJStone on Jan 27, 2010 8:42 PM CST up reply actions
Say it with me...."Pitching is KING in baseball"
The rotation right now? The bullpen right now? It is hard to get realistically excited in 2010. Xavier Nady and Chad Tracy are good additions if healthy. But they dont’ materially alter the equation.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
why not try them as pitchers?
/sarcasm
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
What were his numbers in AZ?
And if it’s between Tracy and Fuld, who’s gonna be the fifth outfielder than?
by braziliancubsfan on Jan 27, 2010 7:58 PM CST reply actions
Tracy or Fuld.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 8:24 PM CST up reply actions
Tracy will battle Blanco for a spot, not Fuld
Fuld is going to make this club as 5th outfielder and late inning defensive replacement to go along with his scrappy left-handed hitting ways.l
Andres Blanco is fundamentally unable to hit. But that said the Cubs may keep him for his glove, especially given the defensive limitations of Theriot, Fontenot and Baker.
The Blackhawks and the Stanley Cup in 2010.
Soriano
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
that would be fantastic!
Why obsess over getting another infielder….heck, why not have soriano as that backup middle infielder and look for outfielders!
see, the plan is all coming together
I think Soriano should be out back up SS, 2B, 3B, 1B, CF, RF, C and our emergency closer
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
excellent plan....
could he throw from home to the mound though?
Even if he did,
He likely could still throw father and with more authority than Aaron Miles.
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 27, 2010 11:29 PM CST up reply actions
Likely could still throw farther*
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 27, 2010 11:29 PM CST up reply actions
this is not correct. Blanco is the only backup SS. He will make the team. Meanwhile, with Soriano, Byrd, Fukudome and Nady the 1-4 outfielders, Fuld and Tracy will fight it out for the fifth outfield spot.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 27, 2010 11:08 PM CST up reply actions
Who would you prefer to have?
Who cares if he's a Cubs fan? This is a football forum! He is a PACKER fan as well. So, from now until March, I’m sure he’ll dedicate a lot of his time here. In late March, then we can be enemies during the baseball season. Besides, the Cubs have perhaps the most loyal baseball fanbase in the country. You have to respect that.
Go Pack!
by Jabooty on Jan 25, 2010 2:58 PM EST
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jan 27, 2010 11:28 PM CST up reply actions
keep fuld, tracy in AAA
tracy = first callup if lee/rami are hurt or if an extra outfielder is needed or if fontenot continues to suck….blanco would be the 2B backup of baker than
this, I think
unless Tracy completely tears it up in spring training.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 28, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
Yeah, this makes sense to me.
Fuld has an option left, so he could be stashed in Iowa. I’d just be a little concerned about the lack of a defensive replacement in the outfield.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
Blanco is fundamentally unable to hit?
What makes you so sure that Fuld can hit? Frankly, his best quality is an ability to draw walks, but Fuld really can’t hit either. Plus Fukudome can backup in CF. Blanco’s glove is more valuable to this team than anything Fuld brings to the table.
I'm not sure it's fair to say Fuld can't hit.
He put up a .367 wOBA in 115 PAs last season. And I presume you’re not implying there’s something wrong with drawing walks – especially for a guy with Fuld’s speed.
Catch my act on Twitter as @dat_cubfan_dave.
Exactly my point
115 PA’s is not enough sample to size to say that he can hit, his minor league numbers were never very good. And there is nothing wrong with being able to draw a walk, I’m saying that its his best skill offensively. But, as a fifth outfielder, how much playing time would he actually get? Look at Gathright from last season, he hardly played while with the Cubs, and his skill-set is quite similar to Fuld’s. Therefore, it would make more sense to keep a guy like Tracy (assuming he’s healthy and can still play) who can play the corner infield spots and possibly in the OF (but as a last resort). Tracy can also give the Cubs a little pop off the bench, something Fuld can NOT do.
Andres Blanco is not a good major league hitter, but his glove is exceptional, and for that alone he should be kept on this roster (assuming Castro doesn’t set the world on fire in ST). Plus the fact that we need to have someone besides Theriot on the team who can play SS.
Plus the fact that we need to have someonebesides Therioton the team who can play SS.
Fixed it for ya. :P
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 28, 2010 3:16 PM CST up reply actions
Who?
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 Jan 28, 2010 3:58 PM CST up reply actions
It seems like a Hobbit reference
though I could be wrong.
"Only a mediocre person is always at his best." ~W. Somerset Maugham
I will take
the ring to Mordor the bus from Iowa!
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
by drewishdrewid on Jan 28, 2010 8:03 PM CST up reply actions
i bet he went to
Perdue Perdon’t for college
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
not that was talent :=)
Wait for it....POUND SAND Without me this board is Al Yellon talking to himself.....................by BLou
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