Yes, let it soak in: The Cubs signed Jim Edmonds. By signing Jim Edmonds the Cubs have sent down Felix Pie to open a roster spot. I just don't understand.
Jim Hendry's rationale does make since. In a nutshell, the Cubs pick up a left handed bat that has always hit well in Wrigley for under league minimum.
The thing that I don't understand is why Hendry has not given Pie a chance this year to adjust to major league pitching. Pie has only started in four consecutive games. It is difficult to get an idea on how someone will adjust by not giving them the time to.
Remember the days when defense outweighed batting statistics? One name comes to mind, Ozzie Smith.
Also, when I hear about the Cubs sending a potential star center fielder back down to Iowa I can't help but think about the Ernie Broglio deal. Now I know it is a jump to assume Pie is anywhere the player that Lou Brock became and the Cubs still have Pie in the system, but I just don't like this team management standpoint.
Here are Pie's numbers so far this season:
Year Team Age G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO DP AVG OBP SLG
2008 Chi Cubs 23 30 63 4 14 1 0 1 7 2 4 23 0 .222 .286 .286
Here are Edmonds' numbers so far this season
Year Team Age G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO DP AVG OBP SLG
2008 San Diego 38 26 90 6 16 2 0 1 6 2 10 24 0 .178 .265 .233
Is it me or do the numbers for signing Edmonds just don't add up?
I have also read that this deal may allow Lou to move Fukudome to the two hole and put Edmonds in the five spot. Why couldn't this have happened with Pie? Is Edmonds that much of a threat anymore for Ramirez to benefit?
I guess only time will tell. If you would have asked me if Dempster would have a dominant start or that Reed Johnson would have provided such excellent play, I would have said no way in hell.
This is why I love the game of baseball.
PS Marty Brennaman, everyone still hates Cubs fans.
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5 months ago
I think it will be a good move to have Edmonds. He's cheap because the Padres are picking up his salary. I think Pie could use some more seasoning for the time being, and he wasn't getting much playing time in the Big Leagues so this will get him some work. I think it will be beneficial in the long run and if Edmonds doesn't work out we didn't waste a lot of money. Nice article though.
5 months ago
Pie simply can't hit. No Edmonds won't be a marked improvement over Pie right now, but allowing Pie to start everyday in Daytona will help him improve more than being a defensive substitution in the 9th every day. Having Edmonds allows Pie to go down, and bumps Johnson to being a back-up in good pinch-hitter off the bench. This move makes the Cubs better next season, but maybe not this one.
5 months ago
Thank you guys for saying the same thing I've been saying about Edmonds: His signing is no risk, medium reward. Others have bashed him non-stop before he even put a jersey on. Great comments and great articles submitted by both of you!
5 months ago
It isn't that I am worried about Edmonds not producing, it is the fact that he is Jim Edmonds. I am from Kentucky, and when Univ. of Louisville hired Rick Pitino after his flop with the Celtics, it made me sick... this gives me the same feeling. Hopefully he will be in Chicago shorter than Nomar.
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