What Has Been Accomplished

by vin23 on Aug 18, 2011 9:06 AM CDT

On August 2nd, I posted that it was important for the Cubs not to just "play out the string". It is important to aggressively assess talent (or lack of) within the organization. 16 days later that has not happened. Colvin has not played everday. Carpenter is in the minors, while we watch Ramon Ortiz. Brett Jackson is tearing up AAA since a bumpy start. Carlos $10 Million Pena is still starting everyday. Get LaHair up here and let him play, and waiver trade Pena. Maybe LaHair is a career minor leaguer, but maybe he can platoon lefty/righty with Baker (and save $9+Million). First basement are easy to find.

Where are the AAA (Clavenger/Castillo) catchers while we continue to see Koyie Hill get 2 starts a week. Maybe Soto can be offseason trade bait? Why isn't LaMahieu up here to see if he should be on the roster in 2012? I'm sure there are more.

Yes, these things are "maybes", but the whole point is, let's be productive. Unfortunately, this Quade/Hendry regime clearly think being 15 under .500, versus 20 under .500 is a huge deal.

I'll pose this question: Wouldn't it be more fun to watch and see if some younger guys can produce for next year, instead of watching those who HAVEN''T produced this year?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Oh, lord.

Not the LaHair argument again.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 18, 2011 9:12 AM CDT reply actions

Al- I don't get your protest.

What would it hurt? Cubs obviously have a budget. Use the $9+ Million for a starter and SEE if he can possible platoon with Baker. Obviously, not best case scenario, but the Cubs can’t have a rotation that is in the bottom of the NL and expect to compete.
My point is……………why just “play out the string”.

"I feel great, I just wish my team played better"

by vin23 on Aug 18, 2011 9:25 AM CDT up reply actions

Bryan LaHair is Micah Hoffpauir.

We’ve been there, done that. He’s not a major league player. He is almost 29 years old. Yes, I know there have been “late bloomers”. I don’t think he’s one of them.

You’ll see Clevenger or Castillo in September, which is two weeks away.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 18, 2011 9:53 AM CDT up reply actions

Why wait?

Personally, I dislike the this guy is that guy comparison without him being in the majors. Maybe he tweaked a swing, put on muscle, learned to hit a curve….could be anything. No reason not to find out.
I know we will see guys in September, but the cubs have an opportunity to get extra work in for these young guys, while it still matters for more teams.
You say " I don’t think he’s one of them", well, my point is, let’s find out!

"I feel great, I just wish my team played better"

by vin23 on Aug 18, 2011 10:27 AM CDT up reply actions

This has been addressed in nearly every thread for the last 3 weeks.

Because the Cubs still need to sell tickets, and LaHair is not going to do that. He is not very impressive offensively (if you’ve seen him, his stats make him look much better than he is), he’s downright bad defensively, and a platoon of him and Baker at 1st is asking for the Astros to pass us up.

Colvin has played in all but a couple of games – you really can’t complain about the amount of time he is getting.

Finally, with guys like LaMehieu, Jackson, Clevenger, Castilo, etc… I’d rather have them getting at bats every single day in AAA rather than start 1-3 days a week on the big league club and burning service time.

by bdlugz on Aug 18, 2011 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions

If LeHair hits

.247/.303/.420, what does that prove? In case you’re curious, those are DLee’s 2011 numbers.

Keep him? Ship him to Japan? He could play decent offensively at 1B versus righties, until the pitchers figure him out. And probably poorly against lefties.

Maybe they do. Maybe they don’t.

I’d rather have a potentially solid 1B in 2012. Am I enamored with C Pena? No. He is what he is. I’d prefer someone better. season ticket holders wouldn’t want something worse.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 18, 2011 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions

That line looks about what we should expect from LaHair even.

Which is something I do not want at 1B, even for league minimum as half of a platoon.

by bdlugz on Aug 18, 2011 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Quote it at will

if/when LeHair gets horked up again.

btw, I was going with DLee’s line regardless what it was.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 18, 2011 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions

25 pts better

well, he’d be hitting 25 pts better than our $10 Million overrated first basemen. Everyone loves Pena cause he reads books and talks to the pitching staff? We are an odd cub fan base.

"I feel great, I just wish my team played better"

by vin23 on Aug 18, 2011 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions

No, we like Pena more because we know that judging someone on BA is pointless.

by bdlugz on Aug 18, 2011 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions

No, I only like him because he reads books.

by alkappy on Aug 24, 2011 7:38 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm with you Al...

LaHair has been in the minor leagues with Seattle and Chicago for a combined 8 years. He got a short look with Seattle in 2008. If he was legit, at some point, he would have been called up and allowed to play.

by BigCubbie on Aug 18, 2011 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Right.

And in any case, it wouldn’t save any money, as the OP suggested. Pena gets paid regardless.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 18, 2011 1:57 PM CDT up reply actions

So you believe the whole "no Jackson" thing?

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 18, 2011 2:39 PM CDT up reply actions

The what, now?

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by Al Yellon on Aug 18, 2011 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Waiver Deal Him

I’m sure you could waiver deal Pena. It would save next year to know if someone could replace him and divert 9+Million to pitching. Otherwise, I know Hendry will give him like 2 for 20 mil, which would be so dumb.

"I feel great, I just wish my team played better"

by vin23 on Aug 18, 2011 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions

You're making a lot of assumptions.

Many of which are false.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 18, 2011 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions

That Jackson will not be called up in September?

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Aug 18, 2011 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions

I'd understand your beef with lahair if this is the start of the season

but what could it hurt to give the guy 3-4 starts a week in September?

by Notsnud on Aug 18, 2011 3:46 PM CDT up reply actions

It wouldn't hurt

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry
"Cubs win....what a lucky break!!" ---Harry

by Hammer on Aug 18, 2011 3:53 PM CDT up reply actions

LaHair is not a prospect.

He’s almost 29. He’s Hoffpauir again. Been there, done that. Not interested in doing that again.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 18, 2011 4:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Did he beat up your brother

you seem to have it out for the guy. I don’t think he is a prospect either, but give him a couple at bats for crying out loud!

by Notsnud on Aug 18, 2011 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Nope, He's Micah Hoffpauir...give him a couple of ab's and give it a rest.

Guys, hitting is not about muscle. It's simple physics. Calculate the velocity, v, in relation to the trajectory, t, in which g, gravity, of course remains a constant.... It's not complicated. - George Costanza

by troutfishin on Aug 19, 2011 12:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Oh yes and you know this with such certainty, it's so wonderful to be...

…communicating with Carnac.

by troutfishin on Aug 19, 2011 12:26 AM CDT up reply actions

How many times...

have you seen LaHair play first hand?

by kanderber on Aug 19, 2011 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions

Several, actually.

In spring training, both in 2010 and 2011.

He’s poor defensively. Even Hoffpauir was a decent 1B. LaHair is markedly worse.

And he’s not that great a hitter.

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by Al Yellon on Aug 19, 2011 6:57 PM CDT up reply actions

But we're not mathematically eliminated yet!

Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team

by carmen_fanzone on Aug 18, 2011 9:48 AM CDT reply actions

A resounding "Yes" to the question you posed

At this point, I don’t care where the team finishes. They really need to give the usual suspects most of September off and give their top prospects a chance to show what they can do, especially since they’ll be playing a lot of teams that are out of contention for a playoff spot.

Yeah, I know there should be an apostrophe in "Vails," but punctuation wasn't an option when I signed up.

by Mike Vails Evil Twin on Aug 18, 2011 11:35 AM CDT reply actions