According to a report from the Chicago Tribune, the Cubs "may look at signing veteran infielder Mike Lamb to a minor league deal." The Cubs have looked all spring for a proven backup for Aramis Ramirez. The report indicated Lamb would be used as security in case of an Aramis Ramirez injury.
The Brewers just released Lamb in favor of former Cub, Casey McGehee.
Mike Lamb hit .289 with a .366 OBP in 124 games for Houston in 124 games with 14 doubles and 11 home runs. Lamb struggled in Minnesota last year (.233/.276/.322 with 12 doubles and 1 home run in 81 games) before finishing the year with the Brewers.
Mike Lamb's Page on Yahoo Sports
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Dear Jim Hendry, yuck. Um, we don't need no Lamb thank you.
April Fools! Right, Neil? You are kidding?
Bruce Miles mentioned as well...I don't think so.
If Aramis went down for any extended period id personally want vitters to be the guy to step in not Lamb. I never like it when I see the words Insurance or just in case. I mean i think vitters is all the insurance we need. Now Im all for vitters bein in the minors that way he gets his at bats. I dont mind bringin someone in to give aramis a day off here and there. But in no way should anyone but vitters take the 3B job if Aram were to be out any extended period of time.
And some folk think I ride JHendry too much! lol
Just think Jim Edmonds...
Mike Lamb already has his 2009 deal. The Twins are paying $2.6 mil of his $3 mil 2009 contract. The team he might sign with pays only the major league minimum of $400,000. He is 34 and probably is a decent insurance policy for a team needing a competent corner infielder who hits lefty.
The big question is, Would he play in the minors? I suppose part of that answer is--maybe for a likely post season team. I would much rather have Baker on the 25 man roster than Lamb in the minors.
It probably reflects the high 2009 expectations that JH might consider a couple of $400 K stock pile players as just in case veteran replacements. Vitters is not the answer because he has yet to play at Hi A and needs to gain some experience and confidence at a couple more levels in the minors.
I think it makes sense to sign Lamb, provided he is OK with staying in the minors for now and serving as injury insurance.
I wouldn't be in favor of booting someone from the active roster in favor of Lamb, because that would probably be Hoffpauir at this point.
I would be all for this going down if we could get him to play for the league minimum or something close to it and also if he would agree to play down in the minors. It would be more of an insurance policy than anything so it's a low risk signing if it does go down. I agree with Ausin, it's something of what Edmonds was last year but with even less risk than that.
Ok so he goes to the minors incase Aram gets hurt. We already have back up in the minors for that. And if its not Vitters then it should be Bobby Scales. If Lamb is brought over it should be just to give aramis days off from time to time and to pitch hit. But whos roster spot does he get. IMO Gaithright, we have the CF platoon already and Micah plays OF too. Yeah we lose our speed. But thats all he provides.
He's not Jim Edmonds. He lacks Edmonds power, speed, and ability to hit for average. Here's his 2008 stats:
247 ab, 1 hr, 32 rbi, .233 ba, .276 OBP, and .320 slugging. OUCH.
He was better than that playing parttime in 2007 in Houston: 311 ab, 40 rbi, 11 hr, .289 ba and .475 slugging.
He's strictly a lefthanded platoon player at age 33.
I forgot to mention: he's never tagged more than 14 hrs (2004); he is averaging less than 300 ABs per year since 2000.
Okay, he's a body at 3rd; but Fontenot is better.
Let's not shoot Vitters confidence by bringing him up too soon a la Gary Scott.
Bruce Miles seems to have insider talk about Lamb:
"I'm told it's a possibility for a Triple-A deal, but not immediately. He might be out there for a few days."
http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/1731#comment-5622
and...
ripsnorter,
Agreed. Lamb is no way close to Jimmy Edmonds.
Lamb was good on an offense-driven Texas team, but not great.
The Twins under Gardenhire was very patient with him, let him take his pace.
It didn't work:
.233/.276/.322 in 261 plate appearances; They moved him to the Minors (DFA) around August.
September: He still got a 2009 on his contract, but the Twins agreed with him that (since he's bad enough) he needs to go.
The Brewers signed him then, and then re-signed him for a low.
Now the Crew let him go, in place of, guess whom, Casey McGehee, a former Cubbie who got problem with plate discipline.
Two clubs, renowned of their player evaluation, tried Lamb, but asked him to leave. Doesn't that ring a bell?