According to reports during Monday night's game, Aramis Ramirez could begin a rehab assignment as soon as Thursday. Ramirez is with the team in Pittsburgh and will continue to take batting practice throughout the series. If all goes as planned, Ramirez will go to one of the Cubs' minor league teams on Thursday while his teammates return to Chicago for a big four-game series against the Brewers.
According to WGN Radio, the Cubs would like to get Aramis Ramirez around 20 at bats down in the minors before possibly activating him just before the All-Star break. Lou Piniella mentioned Aramis Ramirez would need at least four to five games.
While nothing is set in stone, the news out of Pittsburgh seems to be positive and points to a possible return of Aramis Ramirez maybe in time for the Cardinals series that begins on July 10.
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To everyone that says Aramis will not be a savior for this team, ponder this:
If Aramis only hits .260 with 2/3 of his usual power, he still is the best hitter par Derrek Lee on this team.
The standards have dropped considerably. Anything Aramis gives this team is more than they have received in his absence.
Matt Haggard, your the smartest poster on this site (as well as you Neil). Whatever Aram gives us will help, and everybody has to realize that He'll take pressure that Soriano has on him. As well as give Bradley more protection.
Maybe ARAM will have less power, but might hit for a better average. If that so happens would you move Aram to the 3 hole, Dlee to the cleanup spot, and either bradley/soto/or (fuku?). Milton looked good in the 6th spot, so that could conspire.
Oh, and for the issue of soriano. You cant trade him, release him/ send him done, or move him out of the leadoff spot. You only leadoff once a game, Dlee batted 2 times to start an inning, should we move him?
Paul, most people agree that a good lead-off guy can set the tone for the rest of the game. I think someone who can look at 7 or 8 pitches to start the game, and a stealing threat who could distract the pitcher, would be most beneficial to the rest of the team. But the point most people miss is that the lead-off man has the chance for the most ABs during a game. So to me, the highest OBP guy would be the best fit there. Someone that can get on ahead of the RBI guys, not the team leader in strikeouts with an OBP under .300
So if ARAM comes back and hits .260, he will "save" us ? LOL. Wow.
And you wanna improve soriano's numbers ? I have the simple solution. Put him on the DL until his knee is healed. I just don't understand why the cubs keep throwing him out there when he is clearly less than 100%.
He's hitting .230 and letting balls drop in LF every game. People keep saying that eventually he'll start hitting. Really ? Why ? The season is half over. He is not 100% and his numbers show that. If they don't let him heal, why is everyone so certain he will end up hitting .280 or .290 ? and don't tell me he will b/c that's his career average. That doesn't matter in this case - He's hurt. Sit his hiney down !!
And oh by the way, we have some real nice alternatives to play out there in place of him (Fox, Hoffy, Reed -when he comes back)).
Makes no sense.
When ARamis returns:
Theriot SS
Fukudome CF
Lee 1B
Fox/Hoffpauir RF
Ramirez 3B
Soriano LF
Soto C
Fontenot 2B
Pitcher
You know...here's what I'd like to see when ARAM gets back:
Freddy Sanchez-2B
Sam Fuld-CF
Fox/Hoffpauir-RF
ARAM-3B
Lee-1B
Soriano-LF
Theriot-SS
Soto-C
Bench: Hill, Bradley, Scales, Johnson, Fukudome *if we can find a taker for Fukudome or Bradley, then we do it.
I'd trade Fontenot, and about 2 other prospects for Sanchez. He's got good range at 2B, and if you listened to Len and Bob last night, you'd see the value in 2 lead-off types at the top of your lineup. I think Sanchez and Fuld would be great there. If we could also add Teahen to be the super-sub, then we have no need for Scales. It just makes so much sense right now to go out and get Sanchez. We can't keep waiting, as Hendry is, hoping we'll go on a hot streak...it just isn't going to happen.
As the Marlins proved in 2003, having Pierre and Castillo at the top, wreaked havoc on other teams, as they had the speed element that other teams couldn't handle. If Pierre got a single, he usually was sitting on second base before Castillo's AB was over, and at the very least, they'd play a little small ball, and move Pierre over to third, or Castillo would dump a ball into the OF, and Pierre would score...I mean, you could almost count on it that whenever one of them got on, you were in serious trouble.
As Brenly pointed out, Fuld has a short, compact swing that you'd like for a lead-off hitter, and was spraying line drives all over the field in batting practice. I think if he can prove he can lead-off, we'll probably go the route of finding a taker for Bradley or Fukudome, and possibly even Johnson (his grit and defense is great, but he has major holes in his swing, and lacks the speed for a lead-off type).
I hope Fuld proves his worth tonight, and I hope they bat him lead-off, or at least second
Aaron...great idea if we can do it.
Months ago if you recall...I thought 2nd
base should be addressed....and was one of the areas we could address without
no trade/high dollar impact.
As a baseball purist...I don't like this team...and how it is composed...and really havn't since Soriano joined us...From day one...I hated seeing a free swinger in the lead off spot.
Bobby Dernier recently commented onh
Scotty Pods...and I was reminded of the
"Daily Double"...(Dernier/Sandberg).
It is so important to have that pressure
on the opposing defense from the getgo.
Championships are built with strength up the middle.
I would like to see us solidify center
field...it's getting to be like 3rd base
used to be before Aram.
Theriot is adequate...not great at ss.
Sanchez would be fantastic at second...but do you think the Pirates would let him go?
I disagree with you on Hill and Blanco.
Hill works well with the pitchers...knows them well and has a decent arm...unless you get a blockbuster
deal at catcher...it's not worth the turmoil to the pitching staff.
Defense is underrated...double plays can save the likes of Gregg and Heilman...and keep the amount of runs needed for a win down.
It goes without saying...Soriano/Fukodome/Bradley...if we can find takers...do it...Fukodome should be the easiest to move...He still has value.
Both Soriano and Bradley have to do something positive before another team might take a gander at them...even then,
we'll have to include salary relief and package with other players/prospects to make it more palatable to the team we are trading with.
Fontenot/Miles have little value at this
point....But we know all this.
Basically...yes to Sanchez/ Leave Hill and Blanco alone...if we get Sanchez..it
makes Blanco irrelevant or a backup....or
more probably...a Pirate.
Aaron don't like the lineup but love your idea for Sanchez. He is 2 years removed from a batting title and would be a perfect fit in the leadoff spot for the cubs.
Sanchez
Theriot
Lee
Aram
Fox/ Hoffpauer
Soriano
Soto
Fukudome
JimC....Nice lineup...but do you really think Lou will sit Bradley and drop Soriano in the order? ...That;s 28 mil of head cases you're toying with.
If you sit or DL Bradley...(which I would
like), you'll likely lose any production from him for the rest of his contract.
Dropping Soriano down has made sense from the get go...to everyone else but
Sori...given that managing is also dealing with "heads"...
I would approach both with a "little talk".
To Soriano...for whatever reason...your knee etc...it hasn't worked...I want you to sit for several days to get right...
If Aram is ok...then you will platoon with Fox...on a regular basis until you hit a hot streak...and we'll go from there.
To Bradley,
Nice job getting an RBI yesterday...you have all the talent in the world...but it hasn't been happening...so we're
going to ease the pressure off you for a while...we're going to platoon you with Hoffpauir...we'll play you one out of 3 at Wrigley and reverse it on the road
(less pressure from fans).
We'll try this for a while...and if your
RISP average goes up...so will your playing time....In the meantime, relax
and keep positive...we need your bat
to grow to your Texas best.
SuzyS:
No, I do not think Lou will bench Bradley. At the very least, he should be dropped way down in the lineup. The guy is just plain horrible.
I am not in love with Sam Fuld like some others are. He probably will start off hot and everyone will get goofy and compare him to the next Fred Lynn then reality will set in and he will be a .250 hitter. I swear, Fuld had a great catch 2 years ago and a lot people want a statue of him. He wasn't even as good as Felix Pie.
The only true hitter that I see so far is Jake Fox. The ball jumps off his bat.
I'm sure his average will tail off down the road but they guy has done well so far.
Although we need ARAM badly...the main thing here is that he not reinjure himself...and not overdo it.
Unfortunately, the way the Cubs have played...it would be normal...to to press
and overdo.
I put no expectations on ARAM...or at this point...the team just now...only hope for the best.
I am sure about the rest of you, but this kind of frightens me. I think we are pushing him off the DL out of necessity, and I have a sickening feeling he will be back for a week and then go right back on the DL. I'm ALL about getting ARAM back as soon as possible, but I would rather see him be out a while longer and then come back. The last thing we need is to be without him again, possibly for the rest of the season.
It was an excellent win last night in a close game, where most of us on here were nervous about Marmol and Gregg.....I don't think this makes me feel any less nervous, but it helps a little in the short-term. I still think we need Guzman back ASAP, but won't get him until after Milwaukee comes in....quick question....when he comes back, who do you send out? Right now, we have: Patton, Marshall, Ascanio, Hart, Heilman, Marmol, Gregg...if it were me, I'd find a taker for Heilman, and be done with it. Hart gets into trouble, but doesn't get hit hard the way Heilman does. Also, I can't handle the whole Patton thing. Either pitch him twice a week, or get rid of him, because it's killing the rest of our pen.
I still think Blanco, Miles, Freel, and even Fontenot need to be off the roster right now. You simply cannot have guys hitting around .220 this late in the season in your everyday lineup, or even on your bench (unless they're a back-up catcher)...that's the damn truth. I've never been a fan of the "defensive-minded" player in the NL. It makes sense in the AL with the DH, but when you have the pitcher batting in the NL, you simply CANNOT give away at-bats, and that's what we're doing when Blanco is in the lineup (though he came through yesterday...don't think it'll happen again).
I hope Soriano gets a rest tonight with Hoffpauir in there as well.
Patton hasn't made sense all season...but obviously...they either like him or have a plan for him.
JH usually takes the path of least resistance...that means Hart will go down when Guzman comes up...barring
a trade.
Good to see the site pleasantries this morning.
We can hope that Aram gets us to the division championship, but Pujols probably couldn't do that--given where we are. It's hard to see us getting to 90 wins, because the winning percentage required is now 61%--and only the Dodgers and Red Sox are above or close to 60%.
Re. pen moves when Guzman comes back: I'd say that Hart or Ascaino are most likely to go down. (They have options and they benefit from regular turns.)That may be short lived if we begin to make trades. JH will try to trade Heilman because he likely won't be resigned.
My guess is that Patton stays unless he is included in a trade to a team that plans to keep him on the 25 man roster. The guy seems to have "keeper" stamped on his forehead--even though that appears to mean next year. I see a few prep-for-next-year strategies about. That's probably why Marmol (with star potential) is allowed to pitch through his ineffectiveness.
With everyone here wanting another reason to praise the genius of JH, I have found yet another one. It came from doing some research on how ineffective Gregg is relative to his peers. In a NL, sample of closers, six or seven guys blew Gregg away and four or so did not.
Then I did the Gregg--Woody comparison. Wood is 9 for 13 in save opportunities with a 5.47 ERA. He has 16 W and 30 SO while allowing 25 H in 26 IP.
Gregg is 13 for 16 in save opportunities with a 3.93 ERA. He has 16 W and 35 SO while allowing 29 H in 34 IP. Gregg make $4 mil + for 1 year and Woody gets $10 mil this year and next.
Even had there been a home-team discount for Woody, JH is one smart dude. He saved us $16 mil--even though neither Gregg nor Wood filled our need for a top closer.
My sense going into spring training was that Marmol would close. When Gregg gave up nothing in spring training, he got the closer job. The Cubs' braintrust (oxymoron?) thought that would take some pressure off the still young Marmol. My further sense is that Gregg $4 mil + will be gone next year. His tradeability is questionable. The only contender hurting in the pen is the Phils with Lidge's 14 saves in 20 opportunities and 7.47 ERA.
JimK:
Hendry, one smart dude? Are you kidding?
He overpaid on Bradley, He overpaid Jason Marquis, He overpaid Fukudome.
You get the point.
He gives out no trade clauses like they are candy. He spends money like he is drunk at the mall with his parent's credit card. You have a buisness accumen. Would you hire Jim Hendry?
agreed....the Braves won't even hand out no-trades, and yet they still get the deals done. One reason for that is they simply do not want to be held hostage like we are with Soriano, Lee (would've been traded in the offseason), Fukudome, Zambrano, Dempster, etc. In fact, no-trades in general are very rare, but as Jim (TP) pointed out, Hendry gives them out like candy.
I think, perhaps, him losing out on Furcal, the free agent he most aggressively pursued in 2006 really negatively affected his decision-making ability thereafter. Once Lee was injured by none other than Furcal that year, and Furcal went on to do amazing things that year, Hendry probably felt that he had to go above and beyond anyone else to make a splash on the free agent market (which is simply not the case....as we've heard with Carlos Lee, Adam Dunn, Ibanez, Peavy, etc. all wanting to play on the North Side...it kind of sells itself). So, in that respect, I kind of feel for the guy, because I totally think the Furcal thing messed with his head. I mean, Furcal, literally was on his way to becoming a Cub, then at the last minute, detoured for a small difference of money to the Dodgers.
I think the Furcal move DEFINITELY moved Hendry to overpay for Soriano by FAR, and Marquis, and Bradley, and pretty much every decision thereafter. His knee jerk reaction has been to overpay (not only in free agency) not just with money, but also no-trade clauses, but also in trades, thinking he has to give up far more than any other team just to land a player. In a sense, other GM's can totally abuse him by hanging other so-called offers over his head, saying he's got to do better. And now, he really has no clue what to do.
Jim K,
Don't you realize that Jim Hendry has done nothing right in his life? I think I read somewhere that he was delivered from the womb feet first. He couldn't even get that right.
JimK...can you trade Patton? I thought you HAD to keep a rule 5 guy on YOUR 25
man roster or offer him back...(in this case Colorado). I was unaware you could do anything else.
Suzy...Patton can be traded but he must remain on that team's roster. Same rules apply, just transferred.
Hey Neil....I was with Suzy...I thought that the Patton has to stay on with the Cubs or the Cubs have to offer him back to the Rocks before any minor league demotion..a trade included as well....is that not accurate?
Hope all is well....
Joe...good to hear from you.
You are right, the Cubs cannot send Patton to the minors without putting him on waivers. At this point there is no way he would clear waivers and the Cubs have a chance to offer him back to the Rockies.
The Cubs can trade Patton, but all of the 'rules' of the Rule 5 Draft go with him to his new team ... that is my understanding.
Ken Rosenthal has a few words about the Cubs in an article today telling the team to quit whining and just win....
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9748082/Forget-trades,-Cubs-have-enough-to-win-right-now
Just curious do any of you know where he is going to rehab?
Hopefull in AA with Sandberg
one idea thrown about on the blogging nation recently (compliments of mlbtraderumors)....mind you, this is completely speculative, and unfounded right now, but here was the suggestion from a Mets blog:
trade Luis Castillo straight up for Milton Bradley. It'd solve our 2B issue, still give us the switch hitter we'd lose with Bradley, and allow both Jake Fox and Hoffpauir to get regular playing time. Castillo is signed for the same length of time, and he's also been far more consistent with both games played, average, and OBP than Bradley ever has been...granted, he is 2 years older than Bradley, which, for a middle infielder, is quite scary...but it's still worth a shot, isn't it...especially if we can't get a Teahen or Sanchez, right?
by the way...forgot my proposed trade for Sanchez:
Mike Fontenot, Jeff Stevens, and Casey Coleman for Sanchez
for Teahen, do the same proposal, but maybe switch out Mitch Atkins for Coleman (as it'd likely take that to get it done)
As for Fukudome, trade him to the White Sox straight up for Brian Anderson...even Dewayne Wise...I could care less. Hell, Chris Getz seems like a gamer, as does Jayson Nix. The White Sox were known to have strong interest. If we absorb half his salary, they'd probably do it, as they're unhappy with their CF situation.
Aaron:
Hmmm. I forgot about Castillo and his bad contract. I was thinking about Garry Matthews Jr, Zito. As for Fukudome, I'd do that trade as well. I have seen enough of him to know that this guy goes into his funks way to much. A solid guy with the glove, good baserunner and probaly an alright clubhouse guy (Nobody probably would understand him anyway).
But, he is not worth 12mm per year. Maybe the Giants would take him?
Aaron, the idea of JH dealing with Kenny Williams curdles my blood.
To "TAKE" Fuko off our hands...he'd probably not only ask for half salary...
but Ascanio and Wells as well...and knowing Hendry,,,he might do it.
Great takes today Suzy! As far as including Ascanio I would be OK with that, I really think Wells has gained more value and would not be included as a throw in on a salary dump deal. BUT, if the Cubs could get a haul of AAA prospects, or a package of Getz/Pods, do it!
And any deal that could possibly include Milton would be a taker, even though I doubt it is going to happen, and along with some others feel that he can still put up a good year as he transitions to life on the north side. I also feel that if, and sometimes it feels like a big if, The Cubs are in the postseason, MB will be a valuable bat to have.
Cloycub13, thanks for the complement...we all have our days.
There's so many directions this team could go in.
With a new owner on the horizon...carrying a heavy debt load...I see a salary dump coming...one way or the other.
Soriano/Fukodome/Bradley are all difficult trades and or salary reductions
...although those are the ones we'd all like to see moved.
"Z" and Lilly have large salaries also
but given their okay...would bring great returns without picking up salary.
So then it comes down to talent assessment for the rotation of the future.
Current rotation and comment:
"Z" Our best entertainer...but maybe
trade bait
Lilly...our best performer...last game notwithstanding and also trade bait.
Dempster...OK ,,,immovable contract...due to size.
Wells...what a find...can he keep it up.
Harden...going, going and gone after this season.
So I want to be very careful of how we handle young pitchers like Ascanio/Wells
Shark...in terms of trades...because they could possibly represent salary relief without dropoff of pitching performance.
Re Bradley's bat in playoffs...RIGHT NOW...it's hard to imagine...it's possible...but more probable is he hits the DL when he's needed the most.
Either way...Up or down...it's going to be an interesting season with the sale finally happening and a new direction unfolding.
Jim C....Re. "one smart dude", I guess I'm going to have to be a little more direct with my humor. But, as even our most scathing comrades have attested, JH has had several successes.
Yes, the Bradley signing hasn't worked, and the necessay payroll cuts and talent reductions in some areas (Miles and Gregg, e.g.) so we could keep Demp and cover the built-in increases ($18 mil) have not worked either. Too many other performances fell off (so far) this year--which makes the Bradley and Gregg results even more painful. AND MANAGEMENT GETS THE BLAME FOR THAT! So JH and (to a lesser extent, Lou) get the brickbats tossed at them. Last year, they were getting praise.
I'm hoping that JH and Lou are devising winning strategies now for the rest of the season and next year. That would be mainly, answering the question: What do we do now (or very soon) to optimize our organizational situation going ahead?
IS ARAMIS GOING TO PEORIA? I cannot find any info yet as to where he is rehabbing?
The Pirates are obviously willing to deal!! Let's get those Sanchez talks started already!
Pirates, Nats Agree To Multi-Player Trade
By Ben Nicholson-Smith [June 30, 2009 at 1:40pm CST]
1:40pm: Kovacevic says the teams have agreed in principle to exchange Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan for Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett.
I'm going to the Cougars game on Friday. They play the Peroia Chiefs. I hope he gets sent to Peoria
I'm just saying, but does anyone realize that at this point in 2007, the Cubs were 39-40 and 7.5 games back....
I had similar comments yesterday:
At the All-Star Break in 2003, the Cubs were 47-47 and 3.5 games out...
At the All-Star Break in 2007, the Cubs were 44-43 and 4.5 games out...
for those that think I'm the lone wolf in how I think with regard to Lee, Soriano, etc. and pretty much every 33+ year old hitter, you HAVE to read this article. They do far more research than I even have, but confirm my theory nevertheless:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/joe_posnanski/06/29/james.33/index.html?eref=si_mlb
I am also doing a write-up in the community blog regarding this, so please check it out, and let me know your thoughts
From ESPNChicago:
Cubs to call up SamardzijaComment Email Print Share By Bruce Levine
ESPNChicago.com
Archive
The Chicago Cubs will announce that right-handed pitcher Jeff Samardzija has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa and will go into the bullpen, replacing right-handed pitcher Jose Ascanio, according to a league source.
Samardzija has been starting at Iowa, and he's done well, adding a more effective slider to his repertoire of a fastball and a split-finger pitch.
The move will be announced before tonight's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ascanio will be optioned back to Iowa.
Bruce Levine is a baseball reporter for ESPNChicago.com.
It would be possible for him to go to the Chiefs while they play in Kane County. I know the Chiefs are in Peoria this july 4th weekend. I was just wondering if anybody here heard anything about where he's going to do rehab.
The Castillo($6 mil) deal for Bradley($10 mil) probably doesn't work for the Mets. Castillo now seems to a .260 guy with no pop and, at age 33, he doesn't fit a re-build or re-load situation for us. The Mets are somewhat like us. They have had some performance drop-offs, have lost Beltran and Reyes to injury, and have fallen to or below .500.
Sanchez (Pirates) would be a plus--but what would it take to get him? He gets $6 mil this year and his $8 mil option for 2010 vests if he has 600 AB's and makes the All Star team. As an aside, the Pirates Ian Snell (RHP 27). He sent himself to Indy to get straightened out and to get away from the boos. He is 2-8 and 5.36 ERA this year. In his first outing this week, he gave up 2 H and no R in 7 IP. He struck out 17 batters, including an amazing 13 in a row. He makes $4 mil in '10 and $7 mil in '11. He looks a lot like Azcaino in all regards--and he's always pitched well when I've watched him here. With our young pitchers in waiting, I'm not sure how he fits.
If the Royals have any appeal to a Japanese player, maybe there could be a be a comparable salary deal of Dome for Gil Mesch (RSP-29). The Royals do need outfielders. Teahen (27) is a solid player who is arbitration elgible and is making 3.9 mil.
In the end (of course) I think my proposals to trade Z and Sorianno (if possible) would help us be competitive the most. They were covered in the 6/27 Talking Cubs Live post.
where will aramis ramirez be playing? peoria?
peoria it is.
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/06/ramirezs-rehab-stint-with-classa-peoria-begins-friday-in-kane-county.html