The Ides of April

I'll just say it:

If Soriano is going to the DL...

Barry Lamar Bonds
Sammy Peralta Sosa

Discuss

Discuss

Nope.

Pretty sure we caught "gastrocnemius" in Vegas last year... little penicillin clears that right up.

Bonds-no
Sammy-no

April 2005-Nomar goes down
April 2006-Dlee goes down
April 2007- Prior is shut down

Any idea how long it will be before the results of the MRI are known?

Pinella is already saying Soriano could be "out a while"

Good thing we kept Murton.

Maybe it's just me, but it always seems like this type of injury could only happen to the Cubs. Could another option for Lou be to play Pie in CF and move Reed over to LF?

RE: Discuss

I'd rather have Murton than either one of the them. I'm actually kind of happy for the big friendly red-head. Go get em Orange Guy.

Wait someone wants to play Felix "Oh shit its another curve" Pie AND put Reed Johnson in LF? Wow just wow.

top IOwa Cubs hitters right now...

Bobby Scales: 304/360/652
Murton 294/442/294
Andre Torres 292/393/542
Jake Fox 261/261/565
...
...
...
Epat 222/282/444

Based on Lou's comments at the end of ST, I think it's quite obvious Murton gets called up to replace Sori.

Ohh and Rich Hill's next start will not be pushed back now. Which means Hill's starts wont be skipped if he was the #5 guy.

See, nothing more than Lou doing his version of motivation.

if it is not matt
murton now it will
never be matt murton

"Wait someone wants to play Felix "Oh shit its another curve" Pie AND put Reed Johnson in LF? Wow just wow."

I wasn't suggesting that should be what the club should do here, but was it a viable option. And what if the club had succeeded in finding Murton a new home before the end of ST? You don't think they had considered what their options would be in that case if Soriano had gone down with another injury?

"Soriano's contract is already an albatross"

Climb back off the ledge Doug.

I wonder if the Cub's could make an offer good enough to net David DeJesus from KC.

Pie, Murt, and Hart for DD? Fuck yea, I'd do it.

"we've got ourselves Sammy Sosa circa 2004-05, without the bad attitude but with an untradeable contract."

The biggest Myth Cubs fans readily believe. Based on nothing more than Sosa is an Ass-Hole because he couldnt keep hitting 60 HR's a year.

Sosa is just as nice and fun loving as Soriano. Soriano will likely end up with the label of a "bad apple" by time he leaves Chicago as well.

2002, 2003 people were calling Sosa a bum because he hit a shitty 49 and 40 HR's. I never saw a player take so much crap from a fan base for doing nothing more than being human.

Ohh but it was because he sucked with RISP those years. Yeah i guess a 1.000 OPS sucks.

DeJesus is Murton with a slightly better glove, less power, and way more injuries. How exactly is he worth Murton/Pie/Hart?

I didn't realize that a player who has hit .297 in a full season and has a career average of .295 with good OBP and acceptable slugging qualified as a AAAA player. Just because he's not a big-name star doesn't make him worthless. Isn't a AAAA player a guy who performs well-to-great in AAA but stinks it up in the majors? Like Jason DuBois.

Assuming Murton gets the call (regardless of current numbers in AAA, he's the best overall option), how does this change the Cubs top of the order? Theriot to the leadoff spot? Does Fukudome make a move to the #2 spot?

What if the Cubs call up Patterson in search of a lefty-hitting leadoff option? I'm not saying he's ready to produce at the major league level, but if you're looking for prototypical leadoff guys, E-Patt is probably at the top of the list.

"Based on nothing more than Sosa is an Ass-Hole because he couldnt keep hitting 60 HR's a year."

No, based on said asshole acting like the prima donna he is and blasting his farkin' boom box 24/7, despite repeated requests from teammates to take it outside. Then said asshole bails on the team at the end of the season, sulking and whining all the way out of the ballpark. Ernie Banks or Andre Dawson, he ain't.

Anyone remember the details of when Glenallen Hill stepped out of the box, wasn't granted time by the ump, then stepped in as the pitch was on the way and got a hit?

Details, as in who they were playing, whether the hit was a single or a double, etc. Thanks.

The GREAT BOOM BOX SCANDAL!!!! OMG!!!

Thats all you got? No pushing old ladies down? No not hustling on the field?

During that great 2004 meltdown everyone on that club was acting like a self-important jerk than worrying about winning games, except one person....Sammy Sosa. He went out played hard everyday and kept his mouth shut. People forget that. Who was the bad apple again?

Sure as HELL wasn't Sammy Sosa, but he was the one who took all the blame. I have always believed he walked out at the end of that season because he was sick of how that team acted (and how it played down the stretch). Sosa NEVER EVER took his personal baggage onto the field and let it get to him unlike the scrubs of the 2004 team.

Sosa went out every day and gave it 100%....not many on the 2004 team can say they did that. Not many during his entire time with the team can say that. I will take a whole team of Sosa's who play their ass off everyday.

Mike is right in that there was always a faction of fans that hated Sosa pre-boombox, pre-2004 meltown, pre-cork, etc.

I never understood it then, and I don't now.

"Sosa went out every day and gave it 100%....not many on the 2004 team can say they did that..."

And I for one would like to add that Sammy Sosa is a great American, having stormed the beaches at Normandy and helping his fellow comrades - in - arms at great peril to his boom - box.

"I have always believed he walked out at the end of that season because he was sick of how that team acted..."

Right - as usual, none of it was Sammy's fault. Not one iota, not his problem, it was everyone else, just doin' his job, always a team player, the rest of the team was dogging it all the time.

Your Sosa Man - Love is duly noted.

So let me get this straight Vorare....Sosa's downfall was getting old? Wow, you just proved my entire point about Sammy Sosa and why people like you hated him.

If he wasnt a 60 HR machine, he was washed up.

And there was no lineup controversy. You the fans and Dusty started that crap. Sosa had a .933 OPS hitting in his normal spot at #3 in the lineup. .275 BA, .365 OBP. Sosa said he would like to remain in the spot he has batted virtually his entire career.

When he was moved out of that spot he had a .773 OPS in the #4 and a .824 OPS in the #5.

Like i said most of the Sosa hatred is based in myth, lies and bullshit.

Sorry to derail this lovely Sosa conversation, but I caught a little nugget from the Herald regarding lineup construction this morning.

If Pie does start hitting, Piniella said he'd like to move Pie up to second from eighth in the order and move shortstop Ryan Theriot down to eighth.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=173590&src=15...

A great idea IF Felix wants to hit. Also, if a frog had wings, it wouldn't have to bump its ass on the ground all the time.

...and why people like you hated him.

Nice strawman. Want to point to where I said I hated him? I wasn't sorry to see him go, but that isn't the same thing as hatred.

That said, I think you're very much looking at his tenure here through rose-colored glasses. There were contract issues, there were rumblings of trade demands, there were issues with his teammates. There was cheating. There was the "gladiator" BS in the face of his plummeting abilities. He left here on a bad note, and a lot of that was his own doing.

Soriano hurt.
Murton gets some time in left.
Ward will play some, too.

Sosa was selfish.
Corked his bat. Juiced his body?
Wished he'd gone sooner.

If called up where should Murton hit?

Still hatin on Sosa because he grew old. Would you like to keep provin my point vorare? Because your doing an excellent job.

We get it Sosa sucks because he couldnt keep hitting 50-60 HR's. I guess doing it for 5 years straight (and then finishing up with 2 40+ HR seasons) wasnt enough.

Also people forget, and this goes the for lots of players in baseball. Sosa was paid for those fantastic seasons in his new contract. Because he was essentially underpaid. He wasn't being paid that large sum of money for the future.

I liked Sosa because he played hard, had a hall of fame worthy career, and never went out of his way to lose games to settle personal scores. If the biggest complaint is a bunch of self important pricks who couldnt carry a team if their life depended on it didnt like his radio, then who really cares.

Maybe if someone actually stepped up and carried some of the offensive load instead of worrying what song Sosa was playing they would have won more games.

epat to be called up if sorry goes on dl, according to wscr

Wow-

Epatt over Murton?

Don't know about that

Fbomb
Murton
dlee
aram
Dero
Soto
Pie
Theriot

If I had a vote.

Could mean DeRosa to LF and Epat to 2nd (and leadoff).

Paul Sullivan is also reporting that it's more likely to be Patterson than Murton.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/spor...

The Score may have gotten the E-Pat rumor from this Rotoworld write-up:

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/playerpages/playe...

Rotoworld got their information from this Tribune article:

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/spor...

After quickly scanning through the Sullivan article, I don't see anything concrete concerning E-Pat. Appears to be pure speculation at this point concerning an "infield prospect" after this statement concerning Murton:

It appears that the obvious choice to replace Soriano -- Matt Murton -- isn't the one on Jim Hendry's radar.

If Soriano is a few weeks, I think it makes sense to bring up EPat & Murton (send Fontenot down--or out...I'm not impressed) and platoon the pair. EPat can do the flip/flops at 2B that arise with late inning pitcher changes, as well.

I'm guessing if EPat does come up, he's going to be in LF, not 2B....because if I recall correctly he's a butcher in the infield.

If you're gonna haiku Soriano/Murton, make it a proper one that mentions the seasons..

'Tis Spring, watch him hop!
The blue-legged left fielder
Makes room for Orange.

Ok...so his OPS sucks. He has has 203 AB's so far.
Please, I'm looking at you Wes, and I can't believe I am, we all know for a hitter in baseball, rhythm and timing, as well as self confidence are crucial to success. Pie has some playing time, several stretches last season of consistent playing time. This is true. He was then demoted, yanked in and out of the line-up, he had basically half a month of play in April, and the month of June, and that's about it. This season, he went 3 for 11, had a couple of hitless games, and now he's in and out of the lineup like a yo-yo.
Sitting against some lefties? Sure...but geez...by "getting a few hundred at-bat's," maybe that'd be playing consistently, not sporadically.

Wasn't A-Rod 19?

A-Rod also hit 36 HR, drove in 123 runs, hit. 358, slugged .631 and had a .414 OBP in his first full season.

Are you suggesting Pie could even approach that?

I think we all see your point, but I don't think it was the best example you could've used.

I agree that Pie should be given a little more time, but keep in mind that A-Rod had 645 minor league at bats. Pie has had 2,190.

Of course you think it was a good example, it was your example.

A-Rod was also more of a sure thing as a prospect, so naturally they were going to be patient with him.

And by the way, I would be fine with just sticking Pie in CF and letting him succeed/fail (as painful as it is to watch him hit right now), so I don't disagree with your premise. I just think any comparison using A-Rod isn't that great, given the situation and the talent involved.

BTW, fella's, the wind is INSANE in the Chicago area today, way stronger than yesterday. And it's blowing out again.

It's fine for Pie to "get off to a slow start", but what he's going through right now isn't "getting off to a slow start". There's a very specific reason why he's struggling: His absurd swing. All he has to do is shorten up with a more compact swing, sure he'll sacrifice some power, but that's why God made him fast. It will give him more time to pick up the pitch before he commits to it.

I think Pie is doomed. Lou, contrary to you know who, will play anyone that produces. Unless Pie starts producing and real quickly, he will not be given a chance much longer. I don't think Lou is capable of slowly bringing a rookie along until he starts producing. I could be wrong, there could be some examples in the past of him being patient with a rookie, but this is what I believe is Lou's method. I don't mind it so much, because the same applies to veterns, if they don't produce, they don't play. Simple as that.

Fox Sports says Sori has been placed on the DL and Eric Patterson has been recalled...

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/8041784/Soriano...

Chicago Tribune confirms it and adds this...

"The team recalled infielder Eric Patterson from Class AAA Iowa to take Soriano's spot on the roster. Patterson, who is batting .222 in 11 games with Iowa this season, will be in the opposite dugout tonight as his brother, former Cubs and current Reds outfielder Corey Patterson."

So Murton is hitting .300 or so, plays the position Soriano does, but we call up another 2b? WTF?

I guess that means Fontenot at 2B and DeRosa in LF, with E-Pat taking Fontenot's place on the bench. Pretty weird move to me.

What an awful decision.

A LF gets hurt. The Cubs happen to have a very good hitting LF in AAA who happens to have red hair.

So lets call up another 2b! And oh yea, a 2b who is currently hitting .222 in AAA.

Fucking ridiculous. I'm not one of those that thinks Murton is amazingly good or anything, but he'll be better than Eric Patterson in a backup role. It's pretty clear that this team is way down on Murton for some reason, despite their comments to the contrary, and will trade him for a bag of balls at this point. But, in typical Hendry style, how can any team be expected to make an offer for him if he doesn't even warrant a call up when the MLB player that plays his very position gets injured? Expect him to be dumped for a PTBNL within the month.

Wow from Lou, to Hendry....what a fucking stupid idea to go with Eric Patterson.

It's LF Murton's natural position and they recall Patterson. Does Murton not have any options left or what? That is the only reason i can think of for not bringing him up.

From rotoworld as they scratch their collective heads...

Cubs recalled outfielder Eric Patterson from Triple-A Iowa.

They might as well just give Matt Murton away then. They've been holding out for a good offer, but why would anyone make one if the Cubs think so little of him that they won't even recall him when their left fielder goes down? Patterson will serve as a backup at second base and in center field for the next couple of weeks. He shouldn't have any fantasy value.

Yay, more AB's for Reed, Pie and Fontenot....i can feel "the suck" coming on.

I'm hoping it means that Soriano's injury isn't very serious and they expect him back full time as soon as he's eligible. If that's the case, it's somewhat understandable that you wouldn't want to bring Murton up (and burn one of his options) knowing that you'll have no choice -- no matter how well he performs -- but to send him back down in 15 days.

The cynic in me thinks that Lou really just dislikes Murton.

i'd much rather have soriano than anyone in the cubs system even if they area a qualified MLB replacement player...

still...this is a weird one.

reminds me when pitching was going down a couple years ago and hendry/whoever kept bringing up theriot insted of another pitcher...until the last couple months of the season where theriot got established and threw every guy with a pulse to the bigs to pitch. cubs 2006 pitching for cy young!

I added the DL/EPat update to the original post. Hope EPat isn't late to the ballpark tonight. [Ahem] That is unless Murton set Eric's watch back an hour or so.

AZ Phil has been a strong proponent of E-Pat's offensive potential for quite some time -- maybe he (E-Pat, not AZ Phil) can be this year's Fontenot (hit .400 for a few weeks before reality sets in).

Az Phil is a strong proponent of any Cubs rookie. I still remember him saying how Murton was going to hit .320 or something, have 30 HR's and drive in 100 RBI his first year.

Ask Az Phil about it along with any long time member of the board. He had an outrageous prediction for him.