This Makes No Sense

So all signs are indicating that the Cubs are about to sign Jim Edmonds, and for the most part, it's not a very popular move amongst Cubs fans. Which is entirely understandable, as Edmonds is a former Cardinal and has been a Cub-killer in his career.

I think the move is idiotic as well, but not for any reason having to do with the Cardinals. No, I'm more opposed to it because Edmonds sucks.

He used to be pretty good, but those days seem to have passed him by.

He seems to spend a lot of his time on the disabled list the last few years, his once golden glove is looking a bit more rusty these days, and he can't really hit anymore either. I mean, there's a reason the Padres released him earlier this season. If Edmonds wasn't good enough for a team that's currently 15-25, how exactly is he supposed to help the Cubs?

I know that Lou Piniella wants another left-handed bat in the lineup, but I don't think Edmonds should be that bat. The biggest reason for this is that it's going to send Felix Pie down to Iowa again so he can get some at bats, and hopefully reach that potential the Cubs have told us about for so long.

But when you think about it, how exactly are Felix Pie and Jim Edmonds any different from each other right now? Let's compare their numbers.

In 90 at bats this season, Edmonds is hitting .178/.265/.233, with one homer and 7 RBI while striking out once every 3.75 at bats.

In 63 at bats this season, Pie is hitting .222/.286/.286, with one homer and 6 RBI while striking out once every 2.73 at bats.

So Pie is hitting for higher numbers across the board, and has the same power production in 30 less at bats, but does strike out a little more. Though, both Edmonds and Pie strike out at alarming enough rates that it doesn't make much of a difference.

On defense, Pie is far superior to Edmonds at this point.

So if the Cubs want Felix Pie to get some at bats, why can't they just give them to him in the Majors? They have a strong enough offense that they can sacrifice one spot in the lineup for defense. At least Felix has the potential to become something.

Edmonds on the other hand will give you nothing more than Pie can, except the Cubs will be placing him in the middle of the order, and he's not as strong defensively. It just makes no sense.

Do the Cubs Hate Felix Pie?

Is it just me or has there been a rumor that the Cubs are after every single centerfielder in all of baseball? Coco Crisp, Ryan Freel, Marlon Byrd, Reggie Willits....if you're a 4th outfielder on your team's roster, and you can play centerfield, odds are the Cubs want you.

But why?

Does the team dislike Felix Pie that much? For years we've all been told about what a phenom Pie was, and how great he'd become once he reached the Majors.

Yet at the same time, it seems that the team takes every chance they get to delay his arrival.

Last year they signed Alfonso Soriano with the original intent of having him play in center, but that experiment obviously didn't work. Now this season they're trying to add anybody to the roster to take time away from him.

As Paul Sullivan writes in the Tribune today, Pie has been playing well this spring and is the front runner for the starting job right now. So why won't they let him have it? Can't they afford to?

The Cubs lineup is strong enough right now to deal with any growing pains Pie may experience this season. Soriano, Fukudome, D-Lee, and Aramis will provide plenty of pop, so the team can sacrifice some offense if it has to for Pie's defense.

I mean, when you think about it, what the hell is the difference between Pie and Coco Crisp? Both are better defensive players than offensive, and Pie has more room to grow, so you'd think that logically he's the better choice.

So why are the Cubs doing everything in their power to take Felix's job away? It's pretty simple, really. For months now there's been talk that the Cubs and Orioles are working on a deal for Brian Roberts, but for some reason, they just can't get it done.

Anybody want to bet that it's because the Orioles want Pie in return and that the Cubs just aren't ready to part with him until they find a replacement first? If the Cubs do land Crisp, Freel, Byrd, or Willits, you can expect to hear an announcement about their new second baseman and lead-off hitter as well.

Felix Pie Is In A Bind

When I woke up on Sunday morning, I did the same thing I always do when I wake up: I scratched myself and got up to use the washroom. I was barefoot, and as I got to the washroom door I stubbed my left pinkie toe on the door frame.

It hurt like fucking hell.

The poor little guy was red and swollen all day, it was still sore up until a few minutes ago. Then Silvio called me to tell me there was a story on the Cubs official site I had to read. The emphasis is mine.

The Cubs have had a variety of injuries this spring. So far, infielder Mark DeRosa was hospitalized with an irregular heartbeat, pitcher Jose Ascanio had a bruised face after getting punched in a robbery attempt, and outfielder Felix Pie missed a couple of days early because of a twisted testicle. Third baseman Aramis Ramirez remains sidelined with a sore right shoulder.

All of a sudden, my toe doesn't hurt anymore. My balls do, but the toe is fine.

Cactus Chronicles

The Cactus Chronicles will be a daily feature at Foul Balls from now until Opening Day 2008.

White Sox 12 Rockies 3

The Sox actually started their schedule on Wednesday, but I didn't get the idea to do this until Thursday night, so, oh well. Anyway, the Sox snapped an 11-game spring losing streak to the defending NL champion Rockies on Thursday afternoon. The Sox offense exploded for 12 runs, 7 of which came with two outs, and 18 hits to get their first win of the spring.

The Good

There was a lot to be happy about in this game. Jose Contreras pitched three innings, allowed only one hit, no runs, and zero walks. On offense, the star of the day was Cuban import Alexei Ramirez. Ramirez went 4-for-5 with two doubles, three runs, and an RBI. Nick Swisher also had 2 RBI's and went 1-for 3 with a walk.

The Bad

Scott Linebrink sure didn't look like he's worth $4 million this season, allowing three hits in his one inning, though he did only give up one run.

The Random

Jerry Owens' groin is much better, and he should be ready to play tomorrow. His reward? Brandon Webb.

Position Battles

Alexei Ramirez is easily out front in the competition for second base right now. Even before his excellent performance on Thursday, Ozzie has been talking about him all spring, gushing how he plays defense so effortlessly and how Ramirez just seems to be exactly the type of player he loves. Meanwhile Danny Richar missed the first six days of camp thanks to visa problems, so he's already behind, and the team is still trying to trade Juan Uribe.

In left field, Brian Anderson had a good day, going 2-for-5 with 2RBI. Still, he's got a deep hole to dig himself out of with Ozzie, and one good day won't do it.






Cubs 12 Giants 6

The Cubs had their spring opener on Thursday and, much like the Sox, they had a rather easy time of it. Ryan Theriot singled and scored in the first three innings, and Mike Fontenot added a three-run homer to go with Felix Pie's solo shot as the Cubs offense had little trouble with Giants pitching. Ryan Dempster pitched well, save for a solo home run off Randy Winn's bat.

The Good

Felix Pie didn't just homer but also hit a double and walked to finish 2-for-2 with 3 runs scored. Derrek Lee had only one at bat, but he made it count with a 2-run single.

The Bad

If Jose Ceda or Esmailin Caridad want to even dream of making the team, they'll have to do better than they did yesterday. Both youngsters allowed 2 runs in only .2 innings of work. Alex Cintron went 0-for-3 and left 7 men on base.

The Random

Kosuke Fukudome's first taste of Major League baseball was getting drilled in the right arm on the first pitch he ever saw. "I couldn't get out of the way," Fukudome said through interpreter Ryuji Araki. "If that's the way it goes, that's the way it goes." Fukudome would walk in his second at bat, and drive in a run with a single in the third.

Position Battles

Sean Gallagher is in the running for a spot in the rotation, and he threw 2 innings and allowed a run on two hits and a walk.

Alex Cintron is getting a chance thanks to Mark DeRosa's funky ticker, and he didn't take advantage of it with his performance. Fontenot made a case though with his pinch-hit homer.

The Day The Cubs Stood Still

Now that the non-waiver trade deadline has come and gone, it's time to figure out what it all means for our Chicago teams.

As far as the White Sox are concerned, the trades mean nothing. The Sox have been out of the race for months now, and will be out of the race for the next few months.

See, I know that's the kind of hard-hitting analysis you turn to me for.

On the other side of town, Jim Hendry and the Cubs remained quiet. For whatever reason, be it the Trib not wanting to take on new money, or Hendry being afraid to part with young talent, the Cubs appear to think that they can contend for a World Series with what they have now.

I, on the other hand, do not. Can the Cubs win the NL Central with their current roster? Yes, but is that all we're really gunning for here? The White Sox may suck right now, but they did just win a World Series two seasons ago, and the Cubs have to answer. Also, just because things are going well right now, doesn't mean that there aren't problems to fix.

I know there wasn't exactly a surplus of starting pitching available this season, but I wish the Cubs had added somebody, if for nothing more than insurance. I'm just not quite convinced that Rich Hill, Sean Marshall, Jason Marquis, and Ted Lilly can help bring the Cubs a World Series. Lilly was looking great before he lost his control on Monday night, but the other three pitchers in the rotation have been maddeningly inconsistent. Couldn't the Cubs have used Felix Pie to try and lure a starter from some team out of the race? The Athletics were close to dealing Joe Blanton to the Yankees, I see no reason they wouldn't have listened to the Cubs offer.

Speaking of Pie, I really think Hendry should have moved him. The simple fact is, Pie is not ready for the major leagues right now, and we don't know that he ever will be. The Cubs, meanwhile, have to think about right now, not next year. When you have a chance to strike and take home a World Series, your first one in 100 years mind you, you have to make a move. You can't just think about the future because nothing is guaranteed.

Just ask the last two World Series champions.

You have to wonder about how good Pie can really be when you see what Lou Piniella has done this season. If Lou has shown us anything it's that he's not afraid to use young players and play the hot hand. So when Piniella calls Pie up to the big club twice, and sends him back to the minors both times, that tells me Lou isn't exactly sure Pie is as "can't miss" as Jim Hendry seems to think.

Of course, I know there wasn't much pitching available, but damn if I don't think Eric Gagne would have looked good in a Cubs uniform.

The Cubs wouldn't make such a move, of course, because they're certain that Kerry Wood is going to come back from the dead throwing 105MPH fastballs, and 95MPH curves that break 30 feet. He will, too. For like eight pitches before his arm falls off or one of the seagulls around Wrigley pecks out his eyes. Both are probabilities given Kerry's history.

I also heard a rumor floating around town yesterday that the Cubs were thinking of sending Felix Pie to the White Sox for Jermaine Dye. I would have jumped at this deal if I were either team. The Sox would be getting a highly touted prospect and young outfielder with speed they desperately need, and the Cubs would have gotten a very large bat to stick in the middle of their lineup. If you're a pitcher do you want to go through Alfonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Jermaine Dye? An already potent offense would get that much scarier, and provide a little relief for the pitching staff.

So no, if I'm a Cubs fan I'm not pleased with the events that did not transpire on Tuesday afternoon. I would be unhappy Jim Hendry decided not to be aggressive and go after a player that could help bring a World Series title to the North Side.

Instead, he's chosen to focus on a future that was old 100 years ago.

I am a White Sox fan, though, so what do I know? With that in mind I decided to do a highly scientific study of a couple Cubs fans to get their thoughts. So I texted a couple of friends. Here's what they had to say.

PostmanE of We Are The Postmen and FanHouse,

"No reason to worry! No one else in the division made a move to improve, and the Cubs made it clear who the team to fear is. I feel good."

E is a rapper now as well. Silvio had this to say,

"There is still time. Someone could go through waivers. Umm, and yeah, they are hoping Wood comes back to help the bullpen. Wonder if they think Mark Prior might be able to throw too..."

And finally, Billy Boy.

"I think they should have at least gone after a defensive corner outfielder to shore up that, at best, porous defense."

I can smell the fear.

And Then The Wave Hits You

You are all well aware of the fact that sometimes, there are moments in sports that are so amazing, I have to bust out my digital camera and record it off of my television.

During last night's Cubs game, Felix Pie stole second base in the first inning, but he had to pay the price.

Good Lord, did he pay a price.

Seriously though, kudos to Bob Brenly and Len Kasper for doing an outstanding job breaking the play down for us. Those 15 replays were crucial.