Didn't the Cubs learn from Derrek Lee and ARam?

by ScottT on Apr 15, 2011 8:54 AM CDT

With the news that Pena is being hampered by ongoing thumb soreness, wouldn't you think that someone in the Cubs organization would bring up the fact that Lee and ARam tried to "nurse" injuries last season with less than optimal results?

If Pena can't hit, then put him on the DL, let him get right and then bring him back when he's healed. There's very little to be gained by benching him, etc, as it effectively limits the players available for the games. Just seems like someone with the Cubs would realize that after all the struggles with injuries last year.

Really, he's slugging at a .222 clip right now and the Cubs have him wearing a thumb guard. Get him right!

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Agree completely!!!!

Show some backbone Quade and Hendry!!!!

by TJ11 on Apr 15, 2011 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

I love cutting and pasting - much easier than typing

I think comparing this situation to Ramirez and Lee is a poor analogy – Lou seemed unaware they were hurt at first, hoping they could break their slumps on their own, unwilling to take the potential of those bats out of the lineup. And when it became painfully apparent, even to Lou, that they needed time off, they got it. Peña has divulged his injury and judging from Wednesday’s action, they seem to have found a workaround that keeps an effective element of his game (glove) around while limiting the part that his injury is affecting most.

Also: My thinking here is that we’ve got a player with a ding that needs rest. Quade has gotten him that rest by starting Colvin and Baker for him, and is treating a jammed thumb as day-to-day. Check out his swing in BP, and if nothing improves over the next week, DL him and get someone up who can actually play more than an inning at a time. That’s a very different approach than writing his name into the same spot in the lineup with indelible ink and hoping that divine intervention will magically make him able to make contact again.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 15, 2011 9:15 AM CDT reply actions 2 recs

⬆This⬆

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by Al Yellon on Apr 15, 2011 9:24 AM CDT up reply actions

With all respect

The manager isn’t the only organizational person who should be looking out for the health and wellbeing of the ballplayers on the club. So, I feel as though I have to dismiss your argument about Lou being unaware. That’s why the club has trainers and medical staff.

So the argument becomes, DL someone who is saying he’s hurting and having some difficulty swinging and for sure lose that person for 15 days OR do what the Cubs are doing and hope for the best and then DL him if it isn’t working, effectively wasting another week and limiting the personnel available to the club.

by ScottT on Apr 15, 2011 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions

More copying and pasting - this is fun!

Who do you bring up to sit on the bench? One of the kids who should be playing every day to keep developing their skills, or a journeyman like Scales who is used to the Iowa Shuttle? Or do you limit Peña’s PT to being a defensive replacement and limit the damage he can do to the team at the plate while his thumb is on the mend?

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 15, 2011 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions

And just to be clear

I’m copying and pasting my own remarks from the thread started here:
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/4/14/2110616/cubs-offense-explodes-zambrano-comes-close-in-cubs-6-5-win-over-astros#64181341

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 15, 2011 9:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I personally would call up

either Max Ramirez or Scott Moore.

by ScottT on Apr 15, 2011 9:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Moore would be quite useful...

… as he can play 2B and 3B as well as 1B. That would be my first choice if Pena has to be DL’d.

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by Al Yellon on Apr 15, 2011 9:40 AM CDT up reply actions

You bring up Max Ramirez

And you pretty much have to put Hill on waivers. What’s the point of having two backup catchers on your bench? Do you really think Hendry will make that decision?

See Al’s comment on Moore – probably not the worst decision, assuming of course that everyone looking at Peña’s thumb doesn’t think he can play before 4/28.

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 15, 2011 9:44 AM CDT up reply actions

Ramirez has experience at 1B

and is currently playing there in AAA. I think that’s why he proposed bringing him up.

by madcow256 on Apr 15, 2011 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions

How much has he played 1B at Iowa?

I am seeing a lot of Moore and LaHair over there.

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by D98 on Apr 15, 2011 2:06 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

And you pretty much have to put Hill on waivers.

Do you think he wouldn’t clear them? :D

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Apr 15, 2011 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Somebody out there needs a backup C

Twins just put Mauer on the DL…

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 15, 2011 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions

So a team like the Twins might be interested in Koyie Hill as a backup

since they just put Joe Mauer on the DL. I’m not really offering an opinion here, I just wanted to take the opportunity since this may be the only time “Koyie Hill” and “Joe Mauer” belong in the same sentence.

"Enough foreplay- let's get crackin'"- Fred Garvin

by davidalanu on Apr 17, 2011 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions

Very enterprising

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance
"If [Ruth] had [called his shot], I would have knocked him down with the next pitch." -Charlie Root

by Clutch16 on Apr 17, 2011 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions

About to post this

Scott Moore and Bryan Lahair are both raking in Iowa, so there is no reason that either one of them shouldnt be called up if Pena is really hurting

by cubsrul101 on Apr 15, 2011 10:12 AM CDT up reply actions

LaHair can play only 1B.

Moore can play multiple positions. Therefore, he’d be more useful on the bench.

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by Al Yellon on Apr 15, 2011 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

He was used at all 4 corners last year in Iowa

Any reason they wouldnt insert him at some or all of his previous positions?

by cubsrul101 on Apr 15, 2011 12:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Here's hoping to that

I am a bit skeptical, but willing to give them the benefit of the doubt for the next week or so.

by jerry morales rules on Apr 15, 2011 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Most of this makes sense, but roster construction makes it a challenge.

I don’t mind “letting it play out” with one injured player, but with Dome “day-to-day” and a 12 man pitching staff, the Cubs have been rather short-handed offensively.

Now, the correct solution might be (have been?) to just put Dome on the DL and bring up and extra bat. That way, Q would have more offensive options while seeing how Pena progresses.

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Apr 15, 2011 10:33 AM CDT up reply actions

Actually it never became apparent to Lou or Hendry that

Ramirez , Lee and please do not forget Soriano were injured or at least enough to remove them until in the case of Ramirez & Soriano were on the DL. All three were allowed to play for months while being physically injured and not admitting it and playing like crap. I agree that this is not the situation with Pena but lets not rewrite history on that as Hendry tried to do at the convention.

"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either

by Doggie Stalker on Apr 15, 2011 12:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Gotta let those vets decide when to bench themselves in a contract or option year...

We can be sure that Dome and Pena will follow the example set last year by Lee and Ramirez, and act only in the best interests of the Cubs and their fans.

"Elder White! Look at the talent on those Cubs!" Harry Caray, KMOX Radio, 4/22/62

"And you have to wonder – What's the matter with Broglio?" Harry, KMOX, 5/24/64

by ernaga on Apr 15, 2011 10:51 AM CDT reply actions

BOBBY SCALES CAN PLAY 1B!!!

Individual Stats (Batting) (click column headers to sort)
Player POS G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG OPS E
Bobby Scales 3B 7 29 8 12 9 1 0 8 23 1 10 0 1 .469 .793 .414 1.262 1

Yes'm

by OrangeGore on Apr 15, 2011 6:32 PM CDT reply actions