CubHawk1237
Well-Known Member
What a horrible move. And on top of that, word is Jeff Baker is starting in RF tonight. Have Lou and Jim Hendry lost their frickin' mind?
Cubs sign Bob Howry
- Thread starter CubHawk1237
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busabus114
Well-Known Member
I honestly think its time to put sweet Lou in a nursing home
Is Sandberg ready?
Is Sandberg ready?
ShadasRevenge
Well-Known Member
hawkeyehat
Well-Known Member
Maybe Baker has good career numbers versus Moyer. It could just be a matchup choice.
busabus114
Well-Known Member
hamiltoncounty
Well-Known Member
6 HRs in 14 innings? 
I didnt even know the Diamondbacks cut him, I guess I can see why. This guy was brutal his last season with Cubs, Ill take him if we can cut big Z and Grabow
I didnt even know the Diamondbacks cut him, I guess I can see why. This guy was brutal his last season with Cubs, Ill take him if we can cut big Z
and Grabow
DuffMan
Well-Known Member
If they sign him it will be to a low dollar minor league deal. He'll report to AAA Iowa and they will see if he can get anyone out there. If he does then he'll likely get a call up. It's a low risk, low dollar move that makes sense given his previous relationship with Rothchild.
Jeff Baker wen't 1 for 3 and drove in an insurance run in the 7th last night.
In retrospect do you want any of this back?
hawkfarmer
Well-Known Member
The cubs do need some help in the bullpen, but I don't think Howry is the answer. All the young guys have looked pretty good recently and the biggest hole has been the experienced left hander Grabow. I think the movement of Big Z to the rotation will put Gorzellany (depending on injury) in to the pen, and hopefully a trade of Grabow would be possible. Lots of teams looking for a lefty reliever. I think this would be a good move.
Russel, Stevens, Caridad (when healthy) and Berg have shown to be solid in the pen. Marshall and Marmol can be down right nasty.
I don't see Howry solving any problems, but sign him to a minor leauge deal and go from there. Can't do worse than Grabow has been doing. Quit walking people.
Russel, Stevens, Caridad (when healthy) and Berg have shown to be solid in the pen. Marshall and Marmol can be down right nasty.
I don't see Howry solving any problems, but sign him to a minor leauge deal and go from there. Can't do worse than Grabow has been doing. Quit walking people.
CubHawk1237
Well-Known Member
I don't take any of it back. Starting Jeff Baker in an already crowded outfield make zero sense, especially against as good of a hitting team that Philly is. Luckily all his plays were routine, but I still scratch my head at this move by Lou. And for the record, I like Lou.
Howry was bad for the Cubs, and now he's even worse. We should call up a youngster like Jay Jackson and see what he's got.
hawkfarmer
Well-Known Member
Agreed, would love to see Jackson. And now there is talk of nady as DH and getting Baker into right even more. Where does this leave Colvin. The kid is good, and when he plays a few games in a row he gets in a rhythm. He's got solid numbers for limited at bats and plays better defense than Sori and Baker. Plus he's a lefty, which has been such a big deal.
The reason I believe Baker is getting some PT is to try to bring up his value for trades. The cubs know they have 3 second baseman and they need to get rid of 1. Baker is the choice, but got to get him some at bats so that he has some value to somebody.
CubHawk1237
Well-Known Member
The simple fact is the Cubs win when Colvin is in the lineup. Again, I like Lou, but he does some strange things. He won't start Colvin against a lefty (even soft tossing Moyer), but he'll bring him in to pinch hit against a hard throwing, 3/4 arm slot lefty late in a ballgame. It doesn't make any sense to me. Playing Baker in order to increase his trade value would make sense as to why he's getting starts in RF, but it hurts our teams chances of winning. We could take these gambles if we were 10 games above .500, but we're 4 games under and need to put our best talent on the field each and every day. Even if Baker heats up and draws interest from other teams, we'll still only get a low level prospect in return for him.
We need to win this Texas series. I'm hoping Ron Washington gets hopped up on cocaine and forgets to put Hamilton, Young, and Vlad in the lineup this weekend.
DYK88
Well-Known Member
No way they call up Jackson to be in the bullpen...the guy is a big-time starting pitcher prospect. No sense screwing with him like they did with Jeff S. The 'pen has actually been MUCH better lately, minus Grabow and his 9.00+ era. Would love to see them win 2 of 3 against the Rangers!
hawkfarmer
Well-Known Member
Definately not saying it is smart, or that I like it, but I think this is the reasoning behind it. The Colvin thing I just can't understand. He'll play 4 games in a row and bat like .350 during that time then will sit for 2 weeks. It's ridiculous. Now with the DH he doesn't even get a mention. Just Baker and Nady. Why? And no I don't think Baker is worth the trade, but he's not the worst option we have for RF, oh wait yes he is. I say put him in triple A and bring up another pitcher. Fontenot can play 3 or 2 if needed, and Theriot can play the middles, and Nady can handle 1b if we need to give the regulars sometime. it just makes sense. I'm ready to see Jackson or Cashner.
hawkfarmer
Well-Known Member
The big question is where is he going to start?
Big Z, Dempster, and Wells have contracts left
Silva could be gone, and he could go in there.
Lilly, may or may not get resigned, my guess is he gets resigned.
Gorzellany, I see moving to the pen.
Maybe it wouldn't screw him up. I agree that he's going to be a starter for the Cubs within the next 2 seasons. I would prefer to see Cashner, but somebody needs to do something for Grabow, cause as we have both stated in this thread, the pen has looked good with the exception of Grabow (king of the walk).
CubHawk1237
Well-Known Member
I think we're on the same page. When you have a young talent like Colvin, you need to play him. This should take priority over giving Nady starts to keep him happy, and trying to increasing trade value for Jeff Baker. Why risk stunting the development of the organization's top young outfielder just to keep a couple below average veterans happy? Makes no sense to me, but I'm not an MLB manager with a World Series ring and 1800 wins under my belt either.
CubHawk1237
Well-Known Member
Jackson was moved to the bullpen at AAA already. May 6th was the last time he started a game.
Jeff Samardzija wasn't ruined because of being moved from starter to bullpen to starter to bullpen. He sucks because he hasn't developed a second pitch, and a 92 mph fastball that he has no control over isn't going to cut it in the big leagues.
DYK88
Well-Known Member
Gotcha, I must have confused him with Cashner...isn't he still starting in the minors?
Not sure on Jeff S, I'm just not sure if he will ever be a quality pitcher in the bigs. Time will tell I guess.
CubHawk1237
Well-Known Member
Jackson was always a starter up until a couple weeks ago. I haven't heard what the reasoning was behind that move. Cashner was a closer at TCU, and the Cubs have converted him to a starter. He's definitely our top pitching prospect. In other minor league news, Josh Vitters is hitting real well since being promoted to AA.
