Milwaukee enjoying Casey McGehee’s play, to the Cubs dismay

Article analyzing the production of Brewers’ 3B Casey McGehee, as compared to Cubs’ 3B Aramis Ramirez, since the Cubs chose to waive McGehee after the 2008 season.

about 2 years ago joeandjust 67 comments 0 recs |

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I guess if your point is simply to compare,

it’s food for thought.

If it’s to hang Hendry or the Cubs staff for letting one get away, try again. Sometimes you get someone who surprises everybody. That’s what McGehee has done so far in MKE.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2010 4:52 PM CDT reply actions

Well ...

considering the roster spot that could have been McGehee’s was given to Aaron Miles, it sure looks like Hendry flubbed this one, NBF. I’ll agree that no one could have expected McGehee to do what he has done, though.

by elgato on May 23, 2010 5:33 PM CDT up reply actions

The thing is, EG,

if nobody expected McGehee to do what he’s done, then no, Hendry didn’t flub it.

Miles did hit, what, .300-something the previous season with the Cards? My complaint about him was, IIRC, the length of the deal, not the deal itself.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2010 5:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Clearly, Milwaukee saw something worthy of giving him that chance on the roster

I’ll agree with you that it was an incredible longshot, but you can’t simply say “nobody saw it” if he did get that chance.

by madcow256 on May 23, 2010 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions

IIRC, Milwaukee was a bit desperate

at that position, no?

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2010 10:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Kinda like us after Aramis got hurt?

by madcow256 on May 23, 2010 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions

No

they have too many 3rd baseman.

by ol Pete on May 24, 2010 1:03 PM CDT up reply actions

And there's nothing

“clearly” about it.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2010 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions

He made their roster and was given the chance to start

How could it be any clearer?

by madcow256 on May 23, 2010 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions

He got his third start

on May 19.

McGehee didn’t start until Bill Hall went down the toilet.

by Josh Timmers on May 24, 2010 7:48 PM CDT up reply actions

And when Rickie Weeks got hurt, McGehee moved to 2B and did a credible job.

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

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2010 8:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Sure

My only point is that no one on the Brewers saw the type of hitter McGehee became. He only got a chance to play because Bill Hall stunk.

I wrote this in the MLW when someone asked me—I think the Brewers just got lucky. I’m sure they liked him, but as a AAA third baseman and possible emergency utility infielder.

by Josh Timmers on May 25, 2010 12:08 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm actually kind of sick

of the hitting coach talking about his swing et cetera. I’d say they might have been surprised at how things turned out, but I don’t think he was slotted for AAA.

by ol Pete on May 25, 2010 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Meh

He didn’t perform in 2008 when the Cubs had him playing. NOBODY would have ever guessed Ramirez would have this sort of production.

And if Cubs did has McGeehee on the team last year, he wouldn’t have even been called up. You know why? Jake Fox would have had his spot.

If any team is shooting themselves in the foot lets look at Mariners. Silva is 6-0 and Bradley is a horrible person.

by ak123 on May 23, 2010 5:52 PM CDT reply actions

Right, and...

… McGehee would have been far, far more valuable to the 2009 Cubs than Jake Fox was.

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

by Al Yellon on May 23, 2010 6:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Yup I agree

And unfortunately we would have never known it. In fact, had he stayed on Cubs roster he’d probably still be in AAA.

by ak123 on May 23, 2010 7:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually, probably not.

He’d have had a real shot at making the 2009 opening day roster, as he did for the Brewers, and when Ramirez went down he’d have been in the major leagues playing third base.

Sigh.

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

by Al Yellon on May 23, 2010 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know

I have a gut feeling Lou would have been stubborn over his call-up. Just my personal guess…we’ll never know.

by ak123 on May 23, 2010 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry Al

But you are wrong.

He might have gotten a cup of coffee when Ramirez went down, but he was never versatile enough for the Cubs. They thought highly of him, especially the coaching staff, but not enough to put a slow-footed, right-handed, third baseman only on the Opening Day roster.

by Damen Jackson on May 23, 2010 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions

i tend to agree with you here

he was as versatile as Hoff so to speak

Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Player Formerly Known as Castro Blocker Fan Club
Bleed Castro Blue

by Cubbie-Tim on May 23, 2010 9:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Except for that he's apparently pretty good.

by madcow256 on May 23, 2010 10:00 PM CDT up reply actions

The Brewers saw it.

He played SECOND base for them part of last year.

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

by Al Yellon on May 23, 2010 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I've no idea

what this has to do with the price of eggs.

It’s no surprise that a non-contending team chose to try and get a potent bat in their lineup any way that they could. I assure you that the Brewers don’t regard Casey as versatile, and while the Cubs coaches liked him, there has always been a “Yeah, but…” attached to his skills. The notion that he would have cracked the Opening Day roster for the Cubs is just nonsense.

by Damen Jackson on May 23, 2010 10:47 PM CDT up reply actions

"Non-contending team"?

The Brewers were coming off a playoff appearance in 2008 and expected to contend for such again in 2009. Not sure where you got “non-contending team” off of that.

And Casey McGehee would, of course, have been a far better choice for the 2009 Cubs Opening Day roster than, say, Aaron Miles.

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

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2010 6:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Yes, Al.

Non-contending. You’re talking about a post CC team in 2009, that was budget constrained to boot.

Would have, could have, should have. Let me be candid, the Cubs were not high on McGehee, and that wasn’t going to change. They liked him a great deal, but he was blocked, and not athletic enough to be moved elsewhere. Period. Believe me, you couldn’t be more incorrect about the likelihood of the Casey sticking with the big club, especially on the Opening Day roster. You can argue the “should have” all you like.

by Damen Jackson on May 24, 2010 7:43 AM CDT up reply actions

Let me be candid, the Cubs were not high on McGehee, and that wasn’t going to change. They liked him a great deal, but he was blocked, and not athletic enough to be moved elsewhere.

I agree with everything about “not athletic enough to be moved elsewhere”. They didn’t even try. That was a mistake.

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

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2010 8:08 AM CDT up reply actions

So, Al

what then makes you believe that he would have not only found his way onto the roster, but cracked the Opening Day roster, to boot? Don’t worry, it’s a rhetorical question.

The scouting report on Casey is actually pretty clear. Can’t run, so-so defender, hits the cover off the ball. It’s a shame the Cubs couldn’t find a place for him, but most of the time getting to the majors is as much about finding a good situation as it is about talent.

by Damen Jackson on May 24, 2010 8:14 AM CDT up reply actions

It’s a shame the Cubs couldn’t find a place for him, but most of the time getting to the majors is as much about finding a good situation as it is about talent.

On this, we completely agree.

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

by Al Yellon on May 24, 2010 8:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Only problem was, last season was a good situation in that we could have used a 2B who could also back up 3B

Instead we signed Aaron Miles, and brought up Jake Fox, and traded for Jeff Baker, and brought up Bobby Scales, and signed Ryan Freel, and brought up Andres Blanco, and even used Soriano (1.2 innings at 2B, .1 inning at 3B) and Koyie Hill (1 inning at 3B).

We don’t need to rehash the whole story of how the Cubs weren’t prepared at 2B/3B last year, but to say that McGehee was totally blocked is actually revisionist history. The only thing blocking him was our talent evaluators (who decided Aaron Miles for $5m was better than McGehee at league minimum).

by madcow256 on May 24, 2010 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

What is the basis of your assurance?

Playing 3rd and 2nd and able to fill in at first and more importantly being able to fill the emergency catcher role seems pretty versatile. He also gives good at bats when he has pinch hit. Is that not versatile?

by ol Pete on May 24, 2010 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions

No, that's not versatile..

It’s like sticking Travis Hafner in left a few times a year, and calling him an outfielder.

And let’s just say that my sources on this topic are extremely reliable, and leave it at that.

by Damen Jackson on May 24, 2010 6:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I guess you can say words mean what you want

They televise baseball games and the value of an emergency catcher isn’t based on performance, its existence.

by ol Pete on May 25, 2010 8:31 AM CDT up reply actions

I <3 FOX

Watch out Jaws, here comes the UH-60s.
Self-Proclaimed President of the Castro Boobird Face Kicking Club

by jesus christos on May 23, 2010 7:52 PM CDT up reply actions

aren't the Brewers in free fall?

I mean, seriously?

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on May 23, 2010 5:58 PM CDT reply actions

Right now, pretty much

Their pitching staff is a mess, aside from Gallardo.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2010 6:39 PM CDT up reply actions

i guess all i have to say

is at least this one wasnt about Josh Hamilton being the one who got away. Casey was not going to be able to play much with the Cubs, so let it go.

Unofficial Self Appointed President of the Player Formerly Known as Castro Blocker Fan Club
Bleed Castro Blue

by Cubbie-Tim on May 23, 2010 6:51 PM CDT reply actions

So what? This isn't a big deal.

In his time with the Cubs, McGehee gave no indications he was going to develop into anything. He finally got it together for somebody who was willing to give him playing time.
Good for him.

This is certainly nothing new and does not reflect on the Cubs. Where was he supposed to play?

by San Diego Smooth Jazz Man on May 23, 2010 7:06 PM CDT reply actions

I believe the article is making an argument that he could be playing 3B for us right now

and that we’d be better for it. Whether or not our management would have allowed it to happen, it’s hard argue that we wouldn’t be in a better position with him on our roster than Jake Fox and/or Jeff Baker.

by madcow256 on May 23, 2010 10:02 PM CDT up reply actions

So you're implying

Cubs management should be drawn and quartered because Casey McGehee is hitting better than Aramis Ramirez right now?

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2010 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Whoa

Let’s not put words my mouth here. I never said anyone should be punished. But to simply say that there was no way Casey could have been helping the Cubs is to gloss over the situation. We traded for a guy last year so we’d have a 2nd/3rd basemen. We had a number of guys brought up or in to fill those two spots, especially in Aramis’ stead while he was injured.

by madcow256 on May 23, 2010 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Never said that

The implication here was that the Cubs let some diamond in the rough go by getting rid of McGehee. That is revisionist history of the highest sort.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 23, 2010 11:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Cubs still had options on McGehee in 2009

meaning even if he didnt make the team out of spring training, they could have optioned him to Iowa. They waived him to clear space on the 40 man roster. maybe it was his 40 man spot that went to David Patton…

by holy mackeral on May 24, 2010 12:04 PM CDT up reply actions

you're confusing implication with inference

and you of all people shouldn’t criticize for revisionist history.

by ol Pete on May 24, 2010 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Ha!

Thanks for making me laugh today, I needed that.

by Not Bruce Froemming on May 24, 2010 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions

I wish I could be more help

by ol Pete on May 24, 2010 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

You can't win all of them

Is McGehee a guy to add to the miss pile? Yes, and he’s got plenty of company there. But there’s also a pretty decent hit pile, with Silva being the current king of that hill.

Both Baker and Tracy (when he comes back up) are guys that fill our need of “backup 3b” and I’m perfectly happy with them (when they’re actually at 3rd instead of Fontenot).

by Castro Por Presidente on May 24, 2010 12:30 AM CDT reply actions

Way To Overreact

Let’s not turn Casey into Mike Schmidt after a hot month and a half. If you look deeper into his stats you’ll see that he has a putrid LD rate which coupled with his high BABIP means he’s due for a severe fall sooner than later. He also has a flukishly high HR to FB ratio as well. You look up replacement player in the dictionary and you’ll find his picture there. No big loss whatsoever.

I reject your reality and substitute my own.

by WayneCampbell08 on May 24, 2010 1:11 AM CDT reply actions

Well, so a replacement player....

is going to put up a .300 avg, 25 HR, and 104 RBI over his 1st 2 seasons being a regular? I’m sorry, but the longer this guy continues to hit for a good avg with power, the more I have to believe it will continue…..Maybe his current career avg of .300 is too high, but I’d be surprised if it dips below .280…..with that said, I’m not incredibly angry with Hendry for letting him go….Really has surprised everyone.

by bigkrezca32 on May 24, 2010 2:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Way to overreact or perhaps confabulate

LD rates are notoriously crude and the collection of those numbers is pretty much a joke and his doesn’t seem unusual regardless. He also doesn’t have a high babip. He doesn’t have a big swing and his HRs haven’t been wall scrapers. I think the “deep look into stats” is just fishing for a rationalization for a preconceived idea.

by ol Pete on May 24, 2010 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I like to hear from Josh on McGehee.

He had pretty good stats in the minors, but not those that would lead you to expect what he has done so far. Also, though, good enough to maybe no just let go? He is 27 and had 4 years at AA/AAA. He averaged in the .270s or better, never more than 12 hrs, was a decent rbi producer, and OPS’ed in the mid to high .700s for the most part.

He played mostly 3b, but did some catching and first base work. It seems a little quick to have let him go, but the numbers are very steady, his production with Mil is in no way predicted. Interestingly, last year in limited time, and this so far his WAR is below 2 for Mil.

Formerly known as BleedsbluinMi.
"You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright. And that's alright with me" - The Boss

by Dmc202 on May 24, 2010 8:12 AM CDT reply actions

Meant to add:

He was really another Fox/Hoff situation. Good bat, hard to find a position. He was the least successful hitter of the three in the minors as well.

Formerly known as BleedsbluinMi.
"You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright. And that's alright with me" - The Boss

by Dmc202 on May 24, 2010 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Career Minor League OPS compared

Fox – .885
Hoffpauir – .820
McGehee – .741

Based on these numbers, who could have guessed that McGehee would be the best major league hitter of the 3?

I feel like I say this every time McGehee’s name comes up on this site, but here it goes again: Hendry’s made a lot of mistakes the last couple of years, but letting McGehee go isn’t one of them.

by Jody Jody Davis on May 24, 2010 1:00 PM CDT up reply actions

It was dumb to let him walk and the front office should be held accountable for that.

Even if the reason for it was that “he was blocked” by aging veterans already making boatloads of cash in return for their declining skills, that should hardly give Hendry a pass.

by Jerry Mumphrey on May 24, 2010 8:39 AM CDT reply actions

This season, Ramirez is batting .166, with four homeruns and 20 RBI. The Cubs’ frustration is compounded by Ramirez’s $16,750 million salary in 2010.

Wow. I think that would be $16.75 Billion. Good gig.

Ya gotta love a team with a shortstop named TheRiot ...

by StampMe on May 24, 2010 8:40 AM CDT reply actions

Wonder if he'll opt out after this year at that price??

17 billion doesnt buy what it used to…

by bdlugz on May 24, 2010 9:26 AM CDT up reply actions

Ramirez won't opt out of his contract. He will stay another 2 years

and he will say it is because he loves the organization and the fans. The truth is that he will stay because his value is way down, and he wont get a comparable offer elsewhere.

by holy mackeral on May 24, 2010 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Actually it is only one more year

For 2011 he gets 14.6 million. 2012 is a club option with a 2 million buyout.

However, the 2012 option automatically vests at $16 million if he is traded which is why he won’t be traded.

by rlpete on May 24, 2010 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions

BUT WHAT ABOUT JOSH HAMILTON?!?!?!?!!?

by Orval Overall on May 24, 2010 9:59 AM CDT reply actions

Gaddamit!

You beat me to the snarky comment!

by jerry morales rules on May 24, 2010 11:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Front office took a gamble that he would clear waivers

another front office took a chance and gave him a shot. Every team has these. It just worked out in an unfortunate fashion for the Cubs because Aram hurt his shoulder and is in a strange slump this year.

by ol Pete on May 24, 2010 1:22 PM CDT reply actions

Second guessing is easy.

How many of us even took notice when McGehee was waived, and how many thought he would ever amount to anything?

by Clark Addison on May 24, 2010 4:58 PM CDT reply actions

the answer

looks like a donut
mmm…

Watch out Jaws, here comes the UH-60s.
Self-Proclaimed President of the Castro Boobird Face Kicking Club

by jesus christos on May 24, 2010 7:10 PM CDT up reply actions

I do remember this post, which was the first I had heard of Casey, before last season started

http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/2/18/763385/casey-mcgehee-immortalized

Seems like we all made the mistake (unfortunate decision, or whatever you want to call it) of writing him off into obscurity.

by madcow256 on May 25, 2010 8:10 AM CDT up reply actions

There were a few and I've been wrong plenty but...

Another team fooled by a great spring.
He’ll be in Triple-A by June.
by Al Yellon on Mar 31, 2009

YES YES YES!
Where’s Colin, so we can celebrate together?!
by dtpollitt on Oct 29, 2008

took the day off to celebrate.
Smoking Cuban cigars and quaffing cute little mixed drinks with umbrellas in them. I could nearly cry in joy.
by cwyers on Oct 29, 2008

will we actually be lucky enough
for him to be a starter for the Suds?
that would be GREAT.
by drewishdrewid on Oct 29, 2008

by ol Pete on May 25, 2010 8:51 AM CDT up reply actions