Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Crisp, Capuano, Lohse

I like Crisp as a bench player for the Cubs, but I wouldn't give Howry for him in a one for one, let alone include Donaldson.

They should just hold on to Marquis until they can trade him at the deadline. Lieber can step in for his spot and teams will always be looking for pitching. I think trading Howry would be a mistake, especially since they could get a type A free agent (maybe?) for him if they let him go after this year. Besides, that whole pitching depth thing.

Crisp sounds like a good backup, but isn't that why Boston is shipping him out? I like the depth/insurance he brings, but not at that cost. It seems like Hendry is just trying to make deals to make deals at this point. Hold out for a front-line starter to replace Marquis.

The Padres are fairly deep in catching, which seems to make for a logical fit with Boston. Send them Hundley or Morton and a relief pitcher (which SD seems to have little trouble finding) and they have a fit.

Edmonds said he'd be willing to play a corner spot when he was with the Cardinals, and he'd likely be healthier there, perhaps as a platoon fit with Hairston.

Putting Hairston in CF is just a plain bad idea. If he was able to play good defense to this point, he'd already have a job, and the Padres wouldn't be on record as saying they are looking for a corner outfielder.

Does this person who writes this Red Sox blog know anything about baseball? Why should this person be given any credibility at all? The kicker is Howry or Pignatello! As if one or the other will do. One is a top set up man in the game, the other struggled for years to get a spot on the Cubs 40 man roster. What a joke. Donaldson’s not going to be traded. He’s just some guy this blogger picked off Keith Law’s top 100 list and figures it fills a need for the Red Sox. You can find people who post on this site who are capable of taking a better educated guess. And why should a guy who hits .250 with little power and average base stealing ability have such high value anyway? I can tell you in Chicago we’re less than tepid about a deal for Crisp – even if we only send over a box of baseballs. He’s overrated and he’s not a difference maker. No thanks, we’ll keep “Howry and Donaldson” and you keep your spare part.

The Cubs will have plenty of time to trade for a decent pitcher when the trade deadline comes and teams realize they are out of it. I doubt they will be far out of first, if they aren't in first themselves.

That also assumes somebody like Gallagher doesn't step up and make a Prior-like contribution.

joelcards, the object is to win the WS. Some of us have believed since last years playoff that in order for the Cubs to go deeper in the playoffs, they need another top of the rotation pitcher.

I agree JoelCards, Crisp to the Padres sounds like a good idea to me. The Edmonds acquisition looks like a mistake. He can play everday in SD and patrol CF in that spacious park. He has more value on that team than the Cubs. And they may be willing to give up more since they don't have another option. I know I've been bashing Crisp -- but that has more to do with wanting the Cubs to go with Pie. If we had nobody but Jacque Jones or Sam Fuld or Angel Pagan out there, I'd probably feel a little differently.

But if you want to see Lohse perform some magic, watch him pitch against the Cubs.

sweetswing i think u just want to disagree with me. i like the idea of the cubs getting a centerfilder at the trading deadline. see if pie can cut it, makes sense. and also about lohse pitching against the cubs, does he have a good track record against them? that would help but i still dont like him much. in my opinion if either is cheap they should jump on them. heck we could use lohse and weaver if the price was right.

Adun, I almost hope the Cubs get Payton if he's included in a potential Roberts deal. There's no way they're going to want him to play him a lot and Pie will get his chance. I can't see him hurting the Cubs unless he completely flops. That CF defense is going to save our pitchers throughout the season.
But I like Theriot. I know the stat guys loathe him, but I think if he hits .280 with a .350 OBP (about what he was doing until September) he helps the team. He's a smart player who doesn't make the mistakes that get you beat, he's already a leader out there too. And his teams just seem to win. As you probably already know, I'm not a stat guy. I think some players are not as valuable as their stats would indicate (like A-Rod or our own Jacque Jones two years ago) and some are far more valuable than their stat line...like Theriot...or Eckstein on that WS Cardinal team. I remember Damian Miller's impact on our young staff in '03...and he was practically an automatic out. But I don't think the Cubs do as well as they did if they would have had Barrett that year. It's only my opinion, of course, but I think Theriot helps the team in ways that aren't easily measured. And as for any stat guys out there, keep your calculators in your pockets...it's not going to change my mind! :)

Studio, what's your opinion on who the Cubs should get to back up Pie? And another question...am I the only one that's nervous about Piniella not naming Pie the opening day starter? It's obvious he's better than Fuld...and Lou keeps trying to play down Fuld's bad spring. Is there something going on that we should know about? Studio, Adun...please tell me I'm worrying over nothing!

Agreed. There's some guys who's teams do well no matter where they play. Theriot has won at every level since high school. Pie has been in the playoffs every year but once as a professional. Eckstein played an important role on that Cards team despite the off year statistically. Maybe it's coincidence but I'd like to think a lot of good teams have these high energy, intangible type guys that seem to find their way to the post season year after year.

Lou has said (which I'm sure you heard the same thing during the game over the weekend) that Pie has 'distanced himself' for the CF job. He's in the lead, but has not said he is the starter. Fuld is hitting (before today) .143 but with an OBP of .450 so far. I think Fuld goes down to the minors for more work. Pie had a touchy minor surgery Mon. and is out for 5 days (4 now) they say. He'll win the job. I think Lou is being Lou toward the rookie. Although, Lou also said he was not happy with Pie hitting 2 early ST HRs. That Pie was trying to pull everything the next few games. He and coaches sat him down and told him a few HRs will come, but he has to hit the ball on the ground and do whatever he can to get on base to help the team. Since then, he has been better.

We have to keep in mind 1)Arizona is not the best breaking ball place to pitch. 2) Pitchers up to this point in ST really do not throw a bunch of their better breaking pitches in general. The second half of ST (which we are now into) we will see pitchers throw their breaking stuff a bit more. Guys like Pie and Fonteno are good fast ball hitters. Let's see if they adjust as ST goes forward. I hope so.

I knew someone whould question my post of a back up CF option when I discounted Crisp, Payton and Byrd. That is putting a lot of eggs in Pie's basket. Cedeno will...maybe...be gone to Baltimore by the end of next week, if you believe the report. So that internal RH CF b-up option will be more than likely be gone, too. I'm not really sure which direction I want to see the Cubs go there. I almost would rather them stay in house. How many games will they need a RH option for Pie. I guess 10-12 games? The lesser lefties I say let Pie take the ABs. Ok, reality...the only way I like the Cubs taking Payton is if they take Marquis. I really don't think Crisp is a fit. Byrd is too pricey. A bad scenerio would have the rookies, Pie and Soto, slump all year. Then if you get a bad year from say Theriot or someone. That's two to three guys weak in a line up.

I don't think Theriot will fade quite as bad in the second half like last year. Lou is making a point to keep Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, Theriot and everyone rested more this year. Pie and Soto will struggle at times and they will succeed at times. All in all, thier D is going to be huge. Worse case, I'll take .250-.260 from Pie. I am not too worried. I think Lou is riding Pie.

joelcards, I don't want to disagree with YOU. I would disagree with anyone who says the Cubs have enough quality starting pitching to win a WS.

Studio, I have to agree about Crisp and Byrd. The only thing attractive about Payton is that he won't play much...but we'll have somebody there when we need to give Pie a day off, especially against tough lefties. Hopefully this will all shake out soon. I like JR's idea of Johnson if he can play a good CF. Someone mentioned Randy Winn...not a bad choice either. I just wouldn't want these guys playing full time.
I was worried that a possible deal for Crisp is the reason Piniella is holding back on naming a starter...or worse, Pie is in the Roberts trade and Lou is preparing us for a platoon of Fuld and Payton. But I hope you're right. Maybe Lou is trying not to crush Fuld's confidence by calling a TKO in the second round. I'll feel better when (if) the Roberts deal gets done and the opening day lineup still has Pie in CF.
As for Theriot, that's the way I played when I was playing ball (HS years) - except I walked a lot more...so there's probably a soft spot in me for him and players like him. I'm not sure I'm being 100% objective;) But I like The Riot, I hope he proves all the stat heads wrong.

Fuld is another scrappy little guy that in time is a guy you like to have on a team. He can play all OF positions. Ofcourse, you can't have too many scrappy little guys. You need some bigger better players. Thanks for getting me worried. Now I'm wondering what Lou is thinking. With Lou, he pretty much tells you what player he likes by the tone in his voice. :)

Sweet, if you remember, Lou did not name Theriot a starter in spring training last year. He said early last spring Theriot made the club. Actually, Cesar Izturis was the starter at that pint and Theriot took over the first half of the season. I bring that up not to correct you, but to point out the difference. A rookie (Theriot) last year making the club early and being told that is different than a rookie (Pie) this year being told he is the starter. They are different people. Theriot had to claw his way onto the Cubs, who many did not envision him to make. He was beating himself up last year and Lou likes him and wanted to calm him down to assure Ryan he made the team and just play ball. Felix came up a top prospect and looks like he wants to learn. But he has not had to struggle like Theriot has had to to make the club. He knows he will get a shot at some point. Lou is treating him like he has to earn it and CF is not a given for him. Though we all know it is really.

'Does anybody else think that Brian Roberts' agent fuels 90% of these rumors just so his client's name is kept in the news?'

Does anybody else think that Dierkes has a Cubs bias?

Thanks sweetswing...though I wouldn't want to trade Pie under any circumstances, Crisp would seem a reasonable replacement if a trade of Pie (heaven forbid!) did happen. Roberts would ease some of that pain. But Crisp alone? I don't even want to think about it.

Studio, you're absolutely right on the scrappy guy thing. You need a couple...but any more than that and you're in for a long year. What do you think of Piniella naming Theriot the leadoff guy? He did hit .300 in that spot last year, maybe it'll work...

I like the idea of moving Soriano down the lineup...but I'm not sure about Lee batting 2nd. He'd lose some RBI opportunities and I think, with more than a year removed from the wrist injury, his power will come back. I don't think I'd want to take the bat out of his hand to let the leadoff guy steal. I like the lineups but I'd switch Fukudome and Lee in the second one. Fukudome takes a ton of pitches and being lefty, he'll obstruct the catcher's clear throwing path to 2nd on a steal.

Well you have to have Blanco in there...

but

I just want to say Amen to most of that. I think you and I see things alike.

While I agree for the most part on theriot, he doesn't take pitches. I think he took less than any other major league starting SS...so I don't know about that two hole with him. DeRosa actually seems to me like he would fit it perfectly when playing...but maybe thats just me.

Anyway, I like what you had to say. I do think Soto will have a near ROY campaign as well...if not win it. I really like this kid, I think he is a top 5 NL catcher immediately. Fantasy he him as the #7 catcher in the bigs, and that doesn't count defense, which he is a plus behind the plate with a plus arm. Not pudge, but good.

Adun, Theriot does have to start taking more pitches to be at the top of the lineup. I would think that was stressed to him in ST like it was with Pie. Now I haven't seen Theriot this spring, I wonder if he's showing the same type of improvement as Pie in that area. Now Theriot did walk about 50 times last year so he probably doesn't have as far to go as Pie did. If Theriot can improve to the point of batting 2nd that would make 3-6 in the lineup among the best in baseball.