Really? Jim Edmonds is about to sign with the Chicago Cubs? Doesn't that city hate the man? Didn't their ace pitcher throw at the man? Hasn't Jim Edmonds been a rival St. Louis Cardinal for years?
I would understand this decision if Jim Edmonds could still produce, but he hasn't in a years, and has hit a whopping .178 so far this season. Though center field is the one position that the Chicago Cubs could use improvement, their current options of Reed Johnson and Felix Pie are actually better than Jim Edmonds would be.
The Cubs offense is in good shape. The offense has plenty of pop in it. They have led the major leagues in runs and OBP for the better part of this season.
Derrek Lee's wrist is fully healed and he is playing like the MVP caliber player he was before the injury. Rookies Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto are playing great and have really helped the offense. You know what you get out of sluggers Soriano and Ramirez. Ryan Theriot is considered the weak link of the offense, and he's hitting .330 so far this year.
So here's my question: Why not let the kid play? Why not give Felix Pie a fair shot at the center field job?
His defense is great, he brings youth and speed to the team, and is another left-handed bat who can provide sneaky power.
With all of the names I just mentioned that are already in the Cubs offense, there shouldn't be a problem with letting a kid play who plays great defense and brings occasional offense. In fact, I would think that particular situation would be beneficial for a young guy with less pressure.
But, like always, Cubs management is abusing a chance with a young player. I still think it's ridiculous that Rich Hill is in the minors, but that's another story.
I would be shocked if Jim Edmonds was not in every Cub fans top five most hated players list of all time, or at least of recent years.
I know baseball is about winning and it shouldn't matter who your current players used to play for, but in this case, it is different. Most Cubs fans didn't like Moises Alou before he came to the Cubs, but then the Cubs embraced him—mainly because he was still good.
Jim Edmonds, is not.
Is it possible to boo a new player on your team in his first at bat? We will probably find out Thursday afternoon at Wrigley.
I would not be surprised if Mr. Edmonds gets a rude welcome by the fans who still hate him. This signing makes no sense, and believe it or not, I hope Edmonds goes 0-35 and gets released quickly.
We'll see what happens.
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4 months ago
Tyler, who cares that he used to be a Cardinal? Ron Santo played his last two years with the White Sox, should we hate him? Edmonds also used to be an Angel, a Padre...so what? If he can help, what better way to rub it into the Cardinals? I don't know if he has anything left, but it doesn't cost anything to check it out except a pro-rated share of the minimum. No players. And Pie needs to go down to the minors. He can't hit. Until he learns the strike zone, he won't be able to help the Cubs. So he has speed, you can't steal first base, And his outfield play is good, not great. I saw him let guys like Theroit take balls that he should have taken charge of as the captain of the outfield. He isn't ready.
from 4 months ago
I completely agree with you Bob... Santo only played one year with the White Sox though, and he has said it was the worst year of his life.
4 months ago
I care that he used to be a Cardinal, and so do most Cub fans. He was a Cardinal for a looong 8 years, and he will always be hated by Cub fans. This was a terrible move by Hendry. Reed and Felix have both been playing better than Edmonds, and they are both younger and faster center fielders. I'd rather have Barry Bonds playing center. Seeing Edmonds in a Cub uniform will be both disturbing and sickening for me. I just hope that the first time a ball is hit to him, he drifts back towards the track and takes an unnecessary dive headfirst into the ivy. Guyliner!
4 months ago
I don't think Cubs fans will boo Edmonds. Remember, he was brought in to help this team win now. We didn't trade a fan favorite player to get him or give up our entire farm system for him. All were doing is paying him the league minimum. He hasn't been accused of steroids, like Bonds, so to say you'd rather have Bonds here is a little strange. Pie has done nothing, other than be a highly touted prospect, to merit a starting spot during this critical season.
Trust me, I loved watching Edmonds strike out as much as you guys when he was a Cardinal. But hes one of us now, regardless of what happened previously. His goal is the same as the rest of the Cubs players' goal: Win a World Series for Chicago!
4 months ago
I think the Cubs brass is just trying out an experiment common to this time of the season- go out and get someone at the tail of end of their career and see if they can fill in until our prospect is ready.
Edmonds will be given his chance to convince Chicago that he has something left in the tank although all stats would indicate otherwise. If Edmonds is through, expect a new experiment or Pie's return.
Bob's observations about Pie are dead on in my opinion. As a CF, he does need to take charge out there. He also does need to make the most of his at-bats; if not, he can be a costly rally killer. His speed makes him a very good outfielder; but as it was written, Pie cannot steal first base any more than Andruw Jones can.
My hope is that Pie will take his minor league assignment seriously and not lament what he should have done at the show. If he hones everything he needs to, he will be back at Wrigley by playoff time.
4 months ago
If nothing - if nothing at all, because the Cubs are playing well we can keep Pie in the lineup. I'm sorry, but I refuse to accept Jim Edmonds. This isn't 5 years ago when he could contribute. He is not the Jim Edmonds of old.
I don't need to be convinced that Edmonds has something left in the tank. I need to be convinced that given ample playing time Pie is a major league baseball player or a quadruple A all-star.
This is one thing that both Cub and Cardinal fans can agree on. Cardinal fans don't want to see him in a Cubs uniform, and Cub fans REALLY don't want to see Edmonds in a Cubs uniform.
Say somehow the Cubs acquired Albert Pujols. Cub fans would absolutely support him in the Cub uniform. It would take awhile to get used to the idea, but Cub fans would immediately understand the kind of impact Pujols could bring to a team.
Let's be clear here. Jim Edmonds is no Pujols. Jim Edmonds is not going to give the Cubs that one thing that has kept them from a championship.
If I had a Cubs flag it would be flying at half mast.
4 months ago
As I expected, Edmonds continues to suck... and I kind of hope he keeps it up and we release him quickly. I kind of cringe when I even see him in our uniform.
from 4 months ago
Did he suck yesterday when he hit a homer and double and made a ncie catch? I just don't understand all this hating just because a guy used to play for the Cardinals. Did you hate Sosa because he came from the Sox? I mean, when he was doing well, before everybody started hating him? Get over it already. he's a Cub now so how can you hate a Cub?
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