Cubs Sign Matt Tolbert

by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2012 7:43 AM CST

The reason I'm not putting this minor league signing on the front page is that so far, it's only been mentioned in this tweet from Danny Valencia of the Twins:

Best of luck to my boy Matt Tolbert with the Chicago cubs

Tolbert will be 30 in May; he's spent parts of each of the last four seasons with the Twins as a backup middle infielder. Good defensively, he's not much of a hitter: .230/.288/.319 in 680 major league plate appearances.

Looks like the Cubs got their replacement for Jeff Bianchi.

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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Here' hoping he is not treated as another Neifi Perez

and starts 100 games for the Cubs.

We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 is going into the Hall of Fame!!

by mrcubsfan on Jan 21, 2012 8:39 AM CST via mobile reply actions

I can't imagine that.

The Cubs have better players already at all the positions he plays.

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by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2012 8:52 AM CST up reply actions

Of course, that was true of Neifi at the time

even if some of those players were in the minors.

by cubzfan on Jan 21, 2012 9:30 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Exactly.

We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 is going into the Hall of Fame!!

by mrcubsfan on Jan 21, 2012 11:03 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

And that was a completely different regime.

In Theo and Jed I Trust

by KJ24 on Jan 21, 2012 12:17 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

EXCITING!

by alkappy on Jan 21, 2012 8:40 AM CST reply actions

I don't mind this.

I’m not over-the-moon thrilled, I just don’t mind it.

Tolbert’s adequate defensively, even though he can’t hit very well. And there always seems to be a need for someone who can play OK defensively if a regular gets hurt.

by MN exile on Jan 21, 2012 9:44 AM CST reply actions

insurance,

S.O.P. for solid front offices

A friend once told me: "I don't buy the idea that a team learns anything from a loss, the only thing they learn is how to lose games."---Knight

by Ivy Walls on Jan 21, 2012 9:46 AM CST reply actions

more (I think he replaces DeWitt and can play SS in a pinch)

switch hitter, 2008 with 123 PA in 41 games his wOBA was .322 and WAR 0.4 though fielding was -1.4. 2009 231 PA and 71 G his wOBA .278, WAR 0.0 with fielding still -1.2. Moving on into 2010; in 100 PA in 48 games his wOBA was .290, WAR was 0.5 as his fielding suddenly improved to 3.5.

Last year 226 PA in 87 games, his wOBA was .234, WAR being -0.5 and his fielding fell back again to -0.3.

Last year he was just bad at the plate below the Mendoza line. Filling in on the diamond 103 G at 2B, 64 G at 3B, 51 G at SS, 5 G at 1B and 1 G at RF. Last year he had 6 errors at 2B, SS, (3 each) and 3B. 454 IP at 2B/SS with 144 assists, 102 put outs.

He is by all accounts a tweener or AAAA+ who goes from AAA to the majors where 2009-2011 he has played in 111 G in AAA and 206 at the MLB level or the 25-26 man on the roster.

A friend once told me: "I don't buy the idea that a team learns anything from a loss, the only thing they learn is how to lose games."---Knight

by Ivy Walls on Jan 21, 2012 10:09 AM CST up reply actions

plus unlike Bianchi he does not occupy a spot on the 40 man roster for now

A friend once told me: "I don't buy the idea that a team learns anything from a loss, the only thing they learn is how to lose games."---Knight

by Ivy Walls on Jan 21, 2012 10:11 AM CST up reply actions

Why?

I know people here despise DeWitt but he slugged over .400 last season. DeWitt is fine as a bench player not batting middle of the order. Hopefully Tolbert starts in AAA and never sees Wrigley Field as a player.

John Grabow - Who will pay you $4.8 million in 2012?

by rlpete on Jan 21, 2012 10:18 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

The Franchise WILL lead us to the promised land!

I don’t know that it is hate, but we do like to have fun at his expense.

by jpeters407 on Jan 21, 2012 11:09 AM CST up reply actions

I cant stand DeWitt.

But this guy sucks way worse.

by Dcr18 on Jan 21, 2012 12:00 PM CST up reply actions

Better defensive player

by Mulhollandmania on Jan 21, 2012 1:45 PM CST up reply actions

but can he play LF?

Just wee-un.

by jesus christos on Jan 21, 2012 1:55 PM CST up reply actions

$10 says he's better in LF than DeWitt

by Mulhollandmania on Jan 22, 2012 12:20 AM CST up reply actions

Sure.

But he can’t hit a lick, and it’s not like he’s gonna be brought in as a late inning defensive replacement for Barney, Stew, or Castro. I can’t stand DeWitt, but Tolbert isn’t an upgrade.

by Dcr18 on Jan 21, 2012 9:19 PM CST up reply actions

I think we don't see Tolbert in Chicago

unless Darwin or Starlin get injured.

by Mulhollandmania on Jan 22, 2012 12:20 AM CST up reply actions

Most likely.

He’s fine as an insurance guy at AAA, just like Jaramillo and Rolo.

by Dcr18 on Jan 22, 2012 10:38 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed 100%

by Mulhollandmania on Jan 22, 2012 5:39 PM CST up reply actions

But in this era of short benches

you can’t keep someone who can’t hit. Is Tolbert going to be the defensive replacement for Castro? I’ll stick with DeWitt over Tolbert.

John Grabow - Who will pay you $4.8 million in 2012?

by rlpete on Jan 22, 2012 9:03 AM CST up reply actions

I think we don't see Tolbert in Chicago

unless Darwin or Starlin get injured.

by Mulhollandmania on Jan 22, 2012 5:39 PM CST up reply actions

cue the complaints about posting something from a tweet

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by DartmouthCubsFan on Jan 21, 2012 12:51 PM CST reply actions

Here's the thing.

I specifically said the only “report” of this was from Danny Valencia’s tweet. No corroboration. It could be wrong. That’s the reason I didn’t post this on the front page.

But I did want to post a link to the tweet. Nothing more, nothing less.

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by Al Yellon on Jan 21, 2012 1:23 PM CST up reply actions

isnt he running for

President of the United States of South Carolina?

Q: Why did Theo Epstein cross the road?
A: To Dump Garza

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 21, 2012 12:58 PM CST reply actions

That's Steve Corbert.

by ubercubsfan on Jan 21, 2012 10:18 PM CST up reply actions

i know

i was not being serious

Q: Why did Theo Epstein cross the road?
A: To Dump Garza

by Cubbie-Tim on Jan 21, 2012 11:22 PM CST up reply actions

I-Cub season ticket holders are stoked.

DUMP GARZA. CORRECT THE COSMIC WRONG.

by shoemile on Jan 21, 2012 1:29 PM CST reply actions

Makes me not want to drive to Des Moines this year

They are really stashing some trash at AAA. At least there’s a good chance I’ll see Jackson and Rizzo a few times.
I’ll be interested to see when the rosters are finalized if any decent pitchers land in AAA. I’m two hours from Des Moines, and 30 minutes from Cedar Rapids, so I have plans already to go see Peoria play there.

by Nibbles on Jan 21, 2012 3:29 PM CST reply actions