According to a report on XM Radio, the Cubs have placed Alfonso Soriano on the 15-day DL and have recalled Eric Patterson from Triple-A Iowa. The Chicago Tribune speculated that Mark DeRosa will receive more playing time in left field while Mike Fontenot will replace DeRosa at 2nd base.
Updated - 4:07pm C.T. - It is Official.... Alfonso Soriano was placed on the 15-day DL on Wednesday with a right calf strain according to a report on Cubs.com and Eric Patterson was recalled.
Eric Patterson is in Chicago and will be in uniform and available for Wednesday night's game against the Reds.
Will update if more information becomes available….
I just dont understand why not recall Matt Murton. Hes hitting .295 in Iowa. Patterson is hitting .222.
Granted Patterson provides speed and defense. But I think a Theriot/Murton top of the order, or even a Kosuke/Murton top aint bad.
Matt Murton is a singles machine. Why not have Murt lead off and have Kosuke and Lee behind him?
Thoughts?
Patterson is not known for his defense. In fact that is his biggest weakness if I am not mistaken.
But I totally agree Murton should be playing left field everyday until Hip-Hop comes back from the DL.
By defense I mean in how much space he could cover in the OF.
But even so, thats more of a point for our side, no?
Hip-Hop? Thats great Jim, Coke went up my nose, haha.
Apparently Hendry forgot he's got a starting left fielder in Iowa and would rather call up a prospect that has yet to get his bat going this season. I suspect Hendry sees this as an opportunity to make the lineup more balanced by adding the left handed Fontenot at 2B. While I can understand the desire to have balance in the line-up, how about looking at a guy's ability to hit lefties and righties, regardless of which side of the batter's box he stands in, and put the best player on the field.
To add to the hype?
This way, both Patterson's will face each other on opposing teams for the rest of this series. It may sell a few more tickets and get them into the history books.
You are all getting worked up over nothing. DeRosa is moving to left until Soriano gets back. Which means we are short another person who can play infield. Patterson is a second baseman and will be filling in at second when fontenot isn't playing. We weren't looking for a replacement, we were looking for a quick left-handed bat off the bench. And until Murton can produce some more power, he will always be a decent 4th outfielder. Sort of like a So Taguchi kinda player. It kills me to say it, cause I like Murton, but everyone around the league views him the same way. But he does have "promise". But he hasn't shown that he can be a run producer.
Murton does not have a single extra base hit in triple A this year. Not good for a corner outfielder who plays mediocre defense and mediocre speed.
I think he deserves a shot, but those stats are not helping his cause.
I'd like to See Fukodome get a shot at leadoff while Soriano is on the DL. If Fotenot gets hot, stick him in the two hole. Or I like DeRosa, a good contact and situational hitter in the two hole.
Youre okay with Dero in left everyday?
First off I like Murton and I was surprised that he wasn't called up but at the end of the day he's not a starting outfielder. So really it's who you like better between him and Fontenot and I agree with giving Mike a chance to hit and provide a left-handed spark. Patterson hasn't proven himself yet, but he does add enormous versatility to Lou's bench which he likes.
Regardless what you think of the move to bring Patterson up, it looks like he has worked his way out of Lou's doghouse.