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mrschroeder08 partyvancaptain pee_callus25 Tags 2010 Preview 5 Million Dollar Black Hole AAAA Aaron Heilman Aaron Miles Alfonso Soriano Andres Blanco Angel Guzman Aramis Ramirez Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves B.J. Ryan Baltimore Orioles Bob Brenly Bobby Scales Bonehead Booing Boston Red Sox Brett Jackson Bullpen Canadian Concoction Captain Kneejerk Cardinals Carlos Marmol Carlos Silva Carlos Zambrano Chad Fox Chad Tracy Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Cold War Colorado Rockies Contracts Cubs-Cardinals Rivalry Cubs sale Cubs Curtis Granderson Daniel Herrera David Patton Derrek Lee Designated Hitter Detroit Tigers Disabled list Dominance ERA+ ERROR Esmailin Caridad ESPN Sucks Eternal frustration Eternal Optimism Farewell Farney Florida Marlins Free Agency Future Gatorade Geovanny Soto Geovany Soto Gerald Perry Grades Houston Astros I-Cubs Injuries Jake Fox Jason Marquis Jason Waddell Jeff Gray Jeff Samardzija Jim Hendry Jim Wolf Joey Gathright John Grabow Jose Ascanio Kansas City Royals Kerry Wood Kevin Gregg Kevin Hart Kevin Millar Koyie Hill LaTroy Hawkins Legendary Lineup Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Lou Piniella Luis Vizcaino Man Crush Mark DeRosa Marlon Byrd Micah Hoffpauir Middle Infield Midwestern Bias Milton Bradley Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins Minor Leagues MLB 2K9 Neal Cotts New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics October Offseason Opening Day OPS+ Payroll Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Playoffs Randy Wells Rant Rich Harden Ryan Dempster Ryan Freel Ryan Theriot Sam Fuld Sam Zell Sammy Sosa San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Sandy Alderson Sean Marshall Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Steroids Strikeouts Suckiness Tampa Bay Rays TBS Texas Rangers Tom Gorzelanny Tom Ricketts Toronto Blue Jays Trade Tribune Company Tyler Colvin Von Joshua Waivers Walks Washington Nationals WTF Xavier Nady RSS Feed The title of the post seems to reflect the sentiment of many Cubs fans after today's trade with the Oakland athletics. All I can do is shake my head, because this trade is not nearly as bad as some people are making it out to be. Obviously getting rid of most of that Aaron Miles contract (even though it is only $1.7 million being saved ultimately) is a positive, but people seem to think trading Jake Fox is the second coming of Brock for Broglio. Let me put it simply: Jake Fox had a bit of value, but nearly as much as many Cubs fans think. He is a 27-year-old right-handed hitter with no defensive position. He can hit a fastball a mile and a half, but he is also pretty ineffective against anything else. After peaking in July, pitchers started to figure out Mr. Fox, and by September, he OPSed a measily .543. Am I saying he won't be a decent player for Oakland? No, but he wasn't going to lead the Cubs to the promised land, nor was he going to be the centerpiece in a trade for Roy Halladay or Curtis Granderson. On the plus side, the Cubs rid themselves of a very unnecessary piece in Aaron Miles, saving a bit of money, and got three prospects in the deal. Neither of those prospects will set the world on fire. Jeff Gray, a 28-year-old pitcher, will probably spend some time in the bullpen in 2010, and eat some innings. He had a decent year in Oakland's bullpen, and it can never hurt to have the extra arm. Matt Spencer, 23, showed some pop between A and AA last year, and could be a left-handed Jake Fox in a year or two, so fret not Fox fans. Finally Ronny Moria is the obligatory low-level project pitcher that the Cubs will try to turn into something. The Cubs have had a decent history with pitching prospects, so it could happen. Overall, not a blockbuster trade that will bring the organization to the next level, but it is also by no means a bad trade. Jake Fox was vastly overrated by Cubs fans, and I say that fully admitting he can be a productive player. Ultimately it opens up some bench spots. My scorecard now has the Cubs bench as Hill, Hoffpauir, Blanco and possibly Fuld. I do expect a trade or signing to fill another spot or two, and just pray Jim Hendry doesn't overpay for those players, like he did with Aaron Miles. Finally, and I have to admit I find this amusing, but I have never seen a GM totally undo an offseason's worth of work the very next year like Jim Hendry is doing now. Think about it: the big acquisitions after 2008: Kevin Gregg, Aaron Heilman, Aaron Miles, Luis Vizcaino and Milton Bradley. Not but one year later: Gregg is a free agent, Heilman is in Arizona, Miles is in Oakland, Vizcaino was gone before May and Bradley is being shopped like Hendry's first-born is at stake. In other words, the Cubs are now spending an offseason primarily undoing the last offseason. The winter meetings are coming up, so I expect a resolution on this Bradley situation soon, for better or for worse. Posted in: Aaron Miles, Jake Fox, Farewell The Chicago Tribune is reporting that Jeff Samardzija is about to be called up after 3 appearances in Iowa. The man who is on the way out? None other than Luis Vizcaino. Turns out those Scott Eyre comparisons were pretty accurate. But to be honest I'm not a big fan of this move. Here is why: Luis Vizcaino, while he wasn't put in too many games, really did nothing wrong. As I noted earlier, he was the only member of the Cubs bullpen not to give up walks. Most of his work was done in low-stress, blow out situations, but I think he did well enough to at least warrant a look in some important situations. Y'know instead of another Neal Cotts or Aaron Heilman walk or another Kevin Gregg home run given up. If you weren't going to use him in a meaningful sitation, why bring him back from Arizona? And if Lou gets so angry with his bullpen for walking people, why do you rid yourself of a guy who wasn't throwing them? The last thing is, Samardzija is obviously going to the bullpen. But I thought we were grooming him to be a starter? That was a very quick project. I don't know what changed between now and then, but I guess he isn't being groomed to be a starter anymore. I'm not a Vizcaino fan. I'm not even sure he should have made it on this squad. I am just wondering why he was brought up, only to be taken out this early in the year. Especially when he didn't underperform (and a majority of the bullpen already has). Ah, well, I give it two weeks before I'm eating these words. Posted in: Luis Vizcaino, Jeff Samardzija, Farewell | ||