Why the 2010 Milwaukee Brewers Will Suck
Editor’s Note: Yes, it’s that time of year again - the time for us to settle back into our protective bubble where the Chicago Cubs are destined for greatness, and every other team in the National League Central is bound for spectacular failure. If you’d care to check out last year’s fare:St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros. Already featured for 2010: Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros.
The 2010 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and that means two things: (1) we’re all so deprived of real baseball action that we’re willing to treat meaningless Spring Training games like they’re the playoffs, and (2) the prognosticators are out in full force. Yes, every sports publication in the world puts out a season preview. Some are interesting, some aren’t. For the most part, folks just don’t have the time necessary to do the kind of in-depth preview that is going to be of any use to a reader that actually follows the team being previewed.
So most previews end up being pretty surface level, and boring. Well, we’re not going to do that here at Bleacher Nation. It’s much more interesting (notice how I subtly pat myself on the back?) to simply examine why the team currently sucks and is going to suck in 2010.
So enjoy - we’ll be previewing the suckiness (suckosity?) of the other teams in the National League Central over the next five weeks. Up next, Bud Selig’s favorite beer-swillers, the Milwaukee Brewers. Read the full preview on why the 2010 Milwaukee Brewers will suck, after the jump.
ShareWhy the 2010 Houston Astros Will Suck
Editor’s Note: Yes, it’s that time of year again - the time for us to settle back into our protective bubble where the Chicago Cubs are destined for greatness, and every other team in the National League Central is bound for spectacular failure. If you’d care to check out last year’s fare:St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros. Already featured for 2010: Cincinnati Reds.
The 2010 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and that means two things: (1) we’re all so deprived of real baseball action that we’re willing to treat meaningless Spring Training games like they’re the playoffs, and (2) the prognosticators are out in full force. Yes, every sports publication in the world puts out a season preview. Some are interesting, some aren’t. For the most part, folks just don’t have the time necessary to do the kind of in-depth preview that is going to be of any use to a reader that actually follows the team being previewed.
So most previews end up being pretty surface level, and boring. Well, we’re not going to do that here at Bleacher Nation. It’s much more interesting (notice how I subtly pat myself on the back?) to simply examine why the team currently sucks and is going to suck in 2010.
So enjoy - we’ll be previewing the suckiness (suckosity?) of the other teams in the National League Central over the next five weeks. Up first, the home of Fat Elvis: the Houston Astros. Read the full preview on why the 2010 Houston Astros will suck, after the jump.
ShareNew Centerfield Names Emerging: Damon, Ellsbury, Perez
The Chicago Cubs continue to search for a new center fielder following the unceremonious dumping of Milton Bradley a few weeks ago. The most likely candidates come from the ugly free agent market, and include Marlon Byrd, Rick Ankiel and Scott Podsednik.
Thankfully, the Cubs recognize how unattractive those options are, and they’ve begun exploring alternatives - one if by free agency and two if by trade.
Probably the most intriguing new option, ESPN has suggested that if the Boston Red Sox re-sign Jason Bay or alternatively sign Matt Holiday, they may make Jacoby Ellsbury available. If that happens, the Cubs are expected to make a strong push for the young center fielder. Ellsbury is, of course, wildly overrated because he plays in Boston and because he had a tremendous 30-game stretch in his first big league taste at the end of 2007. In his two full ML seasons, he’s actually not hit particularly well. Last year would be fine as far as the Cubs are concerned, though - as he hit .301, had a .355 OBP, and stole 70 bases.
Perhaps even better, Ellsbury is considered one of the best defensive center fielders in the game, having been named the defensive player of the year by MLB.com this year. NESN has an interesting article about Ellsbury’s defense - specifically, criticizing defensive metrics as inadequately evaluating his true ability.
Ellsbury is under control for four more years - he’s not eligible for arbitration the first time until after 2010. Thus, he’s cheap, making him all the more valuable. The real question, then, is what would the price be? The short answer is high. Likely not as high as what the Tigers were seeking for Curtis Granderson, but some of the top names in the Cubs’ system will have to be considered. The other two new options, after the jump.
ShareChicago Cubs Looking at Kelvim Escobar
When it comes to pitchers, Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry has shown a penchant for loving two things: middle relievers and reclamation projects.
So when an opportunity to combine his two passions came along, he simply couldn’t pass it up.
The Cubs sent a scout to watch Kelvim Escobar throw in Venezuela. The right-hander had surgery in 2008 to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. He won 18 games in 2007 but has been limited to one game over the last two in the big leagues because of shoulder problems. Other teams watching Escobar throw included the Rays, Brewers, Giants, Pirates, Tigers, Mariners and A’s. Muskat Ramblings.
I’m a bit too hard on Hendry in this instance. Escobar is not expected to get a Major League deal, and so if he wants to join the Cubs on a minor league deal with a Spring Training invite, so be it. Just don’t expect much: Escobar, for all intents and purposes, has not pitched in over two years. A torn labrum is a notoriously difficult injury for a pitcher to overcome.
But he is still just 33, and when he was able to pitch, he was always very good.
ShareCubs Sign Undrafted Free Agent Derek Helenihi
Filed under: Chicago Cubs Transactions, Cubs Minor Leagues and Prospects
The Cubs made a move! Details? Bah. Don’t worry about that.
Ok, if you must: the Chicago Cubs have signed former LSU third baseman Derek Helenihi to a minor league deal, and invited him to Spring Training. Helenihi, 22, was a stud defensively at third base for the National Champion Tigers, and has very good speed, but was never much of a hitter.
Helenihi, a native of Livermore, Calif., played in 45 games (27 starts) last season, batting .255 (27-for-106) with two doubles, one triple, four homers, 23 RBI and 20 runs. He started at third base in all six of LSU’s College World Series game, making several outstanding defensive plays while posting a 1.000 fielding percentage in 17 chances. The Louisiana Advocate.
Helenihi played quite a bit more as a junior than as a senior - and he played quite a bit better, too. He’s actually been more of a utility type than a true third baseman. In his time at LSU, he played all over the outfield, and second base, in addition to his time at third. It’s probable that the Cubs will consider and then subsequently groom him as a utility player, where he would have the most value (unless his bat suddenly explodes).
You may recall, the Cubs’ second pick in this year’s draft was Helenihi’s teammate, D.J. LeMahieu, who is now considered a top ten prospect in the Cubs’ system. The Cubs, it seems, love finding infield teammates from LSU - Ryan Theriot and Mike Fontenot were a middle infield tandem at LSU.
ShareOMGranderson Watch: Time of Death, 2:30pm EST
Various reports indicate that the mega-blockbuster (but hoping it
wouldn’t happen) three-way trade between the New York Yankees, Arizona
Diamondbacks, and Detroit Tigers, which will see the Yankees wind up
with Granderson and the D-backs land Jackson, is about to go down.
If it is any consolation (it’s not), the Cubs may now pursue a trade
with the Yankees for Melky Cabrera.
OMGranderson: Cubs Out of It for Curtis Granderson?
File this one under please-be-untrue:
Today’s reports indicate that the Detroit Tigers have demanded that
they receive a studly, ready-to-go center field prospect in any deal
they would make for Curtis Granderson. If that is true, and the Tigers
hold firm to that demand, you can probably count the Chicago Cubs out.
The closest thing the Cubs have to a top of the line center field
prospect is Brett Jackson, the team’s first round pick from this year.
But as he hasn’t yet played above A-ball, and isn’t likely to sniff
the majors until 2011 at the earliest - oh, and the Cubs absoluely
love the kid - he isn’t likely to be involved in any trade for
Granderson.
The Cubs have some other young outfielders who are closer to the bigs
and could handle center field - Tyler Colvin, the team’s 2006 first
round pick, James Adducci, and even Sam Fuld, come to mind - but none
of them even approach the kind of prospect the Tigers are said to be
looking for.
Bummer.
ShareOMGranderson: Cubs Still Pursuing Granderson, but Tigers’ Demands are Crazy High
The good news is that, despite the Chicago Cubs’ hot pursuit of Mike Cameron/Marlon Byrd/Rick Ankiel, the team is still looking at Curtis Granderson if the Tigers are willing to move him.
Apparently, they are, but as with pitcher Edwin Jackson, the Tigers are asking for a ton.
According to a report from Peter Gammons, the Tigers asked the Cubs for Starlin Castro plus two prospects for Granderson. Buster Olney pointed out the Tigers are asking for “the moon” in return for Granderson right now.
According to Gammons, Castro plus two prospects is too high for Granderson. CCO.
Presumably, the “two prospects” are not of the throw-in variety. The Cubs have suggested as recently as a week ago that Castro alone is a price too steep for the Cubs. One has to wonder, if the Milton Bradley saga drags on, and the free agent center field options get gobbled up, would the Cubs change their stance on Castro?
Keep in mind, Granderson makes just $5.5 million this year, so he’s eminently addable even if the Cubs go out and sign a Mike Cameron type. In fact, here’s hoping they do: Granderson would be best platooned, and Cameron could be the other half of that platoon. And Cameron then also serves as the primary outfield backup. Done and done. Make it happen.
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