According to the Cubs.com transactions wire, the Cubs outrighted Bobby Scales to Triple-A Iowa on Friday ... with the move the Cubs' 40-man roster was reduced to 38 players.
Scales made his big league debut in 2009 and played in 51 games.
Bobby Scales was one of the few feel good stories of last season for the Chicago Cubs. Scales hit .242/.312/.411/.723 in 124 at bats with eight doubles, two triples and three home runs. Scales was the Cubs' best pinch hitter in 2009. In 15 games (14 at bats), Scales was 7-for-14 with two doubles, a triple, two home runs and a walk (.500/.533/1.214/1.748).
Scales played four different position for Lou Piniella (11 games at second, eight games at third, 17 games in left and four in right).
Scales should receive a non-roster invitation to Spring Training (which would be his third in a row with the Chicago Cubs) if he re-signs this winter with the Cubs.
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Good. Now stay there...
I really am disgusted with the Bobby Scales story. A damned minor league vet took up about 25 damn starts that a rookie could have taken to be analyzed for 2010 but Lou threw this clown out there.
Don't toss me his pinch hit stats as pinch hitting is all luck. I point to you exhibits A)John Mabry and B)Daryl Ward.
Good riddance, and I just hope to remember Bobby Scales the same as I do Jeremy Burnitz and Juan Pierre -- blurs from forgettable seasons.
I'm moody today.
Matty:
Come on now. The tide is ranked #2 and Ricketts is on his way.
Man, you are moody. Scales is an excellent character young man, who at least gave 100% in every opportunity provided to him.
Don't blame him for the roster spot he took, or starts he got. You can thank the Hendry/Pinella braintrust for that.
Count me in the "can't be mad at Scales" camp. He got the call and, rather than half-ass it like everyone else on the team seemed to, he gave it his all every AB and performed exceptionally in the field. Heck, if there's a reason he fell off, it's because he was out-of-position most of the time and sat down whenever he started to get hot.
I'm not really sure how anyone can be upset with Scales. It's not his fault that Hendry sucks, and can't ever seem to pull the right strings with regard to free agency. I mean, Hendry literally batted .000 with his offseason moves. Not a single one of them worked out for us.
As for Scales, you gotta love a story of perseverance like that, and the dude was a solid bench-type guy. Problem is, Piniella thrust him into a starter's role when he should've been using Hoffpauir or Colvin, or Fox at the end of the season, especially when he was placing him in LF late in the season.
I wish him the best, and hope that if we can get rid of Miles, that we might have a spot for him on the team next season, especially if we can get rid of Fontenot too.
I am hopeful that a new regime will rectify the awful decision-making of the current Cubs braintrust.
Scales did everything he was supposed to...and then some ...for a career minor leaguer. A tip of the cap to him...I wish him well.
Aaron...with everyone focused on Bradley...Miles is an afterthought...but he was just useless last season....He's a mini-Soriano...and it's hard to see him righting the ship with his 2.7 million salary.
It really was a GROAN of a season.
Soriano coming to bat...GROAN
Bradley coming to bat...GROAN
Miles coming to bat...I GROANED and couldn't watch.
Fontenot...just a tad better...Soto
etc.
Actually...it's hard to believe we finished over .500.
I'm looking forward to the Ricketts Regime.
Every time I come on here...I'm looking for JimK...
Jim...whereever you are...get better soon...I hope.
Ya'll are right. It is a bit much.
I don't have this thing against Scales. I too liked the story. I just disliked what he embodies, the really bad decisions that Lou and Jimmy made down the stretch.
That being said, no good can come out of him being on this team next year.
And Jim TP, just barely no. 2. Phew. =)
What's wrong with Scales? He beats Miles every single time! Sure, L-O-U started him ahead of Fox and Hoffpauir, but that isn't Scales' fault. He's what he is: a backup player with a great attitude and a give it all you got mentality. So what's wrong with that? You must be too used to Sorry-oh-no's "I don't care what happens, I'm getting paid" performances.