No More DeRo

by Telling it how it is on Jan 4, 2009 4:45 PM EST Comment 49 comments

Let’s just point out first and foremost I am a lifelong Cubs fan…so I have had plenty of disappointment, but I do think this takes the cake. I keep looking back trying to understand this move, and still am not able to find any logical reason.

If I was to say a team was going to trade one of their top players, one might think he must be getting old, hmmm…34…not exactly old. Well then, he must not be a good teammate…actually he is possibly one of the best team players on the team, always one to speak well of the organization and teammates. Okay, then one might think his numbers must be falling or slowly going down. Hmmm…he lead the team with over 100 runs, ranked not lower than 4th on the team in any offensive categories, and has improved his offensive numbers each the past three seasons. So one then might think, “well those things are all great but he must be a poor fielder.” Hmmm…he played five different positions for the team, playing any and all positions asked, keeping a lifetime .976 fielding percentage. I am sure, at this point, one might be as confused as I am.

Mr. DeRosa, I have no idea why you are now in the American league; I hope it was by choice. Maybe you wanted to follow Kerry Wood; maybe you just like Cleveland, because there is no other reason why the Cubs would have given you away…and given is the correct word. Three minor league pitchers? Come on! I just hoping they are not clearing up cap room to sign an overpaid, single position, poor teammate kind of guy. I mean, they do want to win a championship in the next 100 years sometime, and I think everyone knows that versatility and team-oriented players do help to attain that; so I am just blown away. Can someone tell me why I no longer get to see Mark DeRosa in Cubbie blue where he belongs?

0 recs | Comment 49 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Why?

They are clearing up cap room to sign an overpaid, single position, poor teammate kind of guy. His name is Milton Bradley, and will he look good in right field on a windy day.

by odradek on Jan 4, 2009 4:57 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I wouldn’t rip on Milton. I doubt he’ll be that expensive and he can flat rake. If he avoids injuries, I think it’s a decent signing.

by afh4 on Jan 4, 2009 6:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I like MB a lot, but what is Hendry thinking signing him to play one of the toughest right fields in the NL? He played only 20 games in the OF in 2008. And, unfortunately, he rarely avoids injuries. He’s played 100 games or more only three times in his career.

by odradek on Jan 4, 2009 7:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I have to agree. Bradley is a terrible idea for any NL team.

by Jay on Jan 5, 2009 3:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I have to admit I was assuming Milton would play DH. In the NL.

Yeah, I think the NL is stupid.

by afh4 on Jan 5, 2009 10:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Flat Rake..

The only thing he might Rake is the cash. He wants 3 years for 30 to 40 million.He had some great offensive numbers this last year.Got to see a ton of pitches thanks to Josh Hamilton.Also got enough rest sitting on the bench hitting as a DH only playing 20 games in the outfield,making 3 errors in those games.Just dont see him as a good fit in Chicago.

Telling it how it is

by Telling it how it is on Jan 5, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by supermarioelia on Jan 5, 2009 6:17 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Bradley batted behind Hamilton in almost every single game, so how does this affect his ability to see a ton of pitches? Is it because they had to throw him strikes because Kinsler, Young, and Hamilton were on base so much? If so, how do you explain Milton drawing so many walks?

by ClarkM on Jan 6, 2009 12:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I get that he probably can’t play the OF and stay healthy but I don’t think there’s any reason to think he won’t hit. He’s always hit the crap out of the ball when he’s healthy in hitter’s parks, which Wrigley is.

by afh4 on Jan 6, 2009 1:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Milton will kill the ball. He did in Oakland. But Wrigley isn’t the hitter’s park everyone says it is.

by odradek on Jan 6, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You don’t get park factors like that by accident. It’s certainly not an extreme hitter’s park but it’s also not LA.

by afh4 on Jan 6, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think Wrigley is really suspect to weather. Wind blowing in or out. With wind in it’s an extreme pitcher’s park. When it blows out you have the 23-22 games everyone associates with.Wrigley

Based on Baseball Reference’s park factors, Dodger Stadium is a hitter’s park these days.

by odradek on Jan 6, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

look good chasing after balls he is not able to catch thats about it.

Telling it how it is

by Telling it how it is on Jan 5, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Guarantee he will look awesome when the Indians go to Wrigley in 2009. Prepare for a three-game onslaught. Check out his numbers versus Cleveland in 2008.

by odradek on Jan 5, 2009 9:16 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, Telling it how it is, I’m sure Bleed Cubbie Blue has gone over this deal from the Cubs’ point of view with a fine-toothed comb. From what I can tell, they dealt him to clear up payroll for other additions. That the Cubs were the team dumping salary, and the Indians adding it, is quite an unusual happening, so perhaps you’re a bit disorientated. A couple of deep breaths, listening to your favorite Easy Listening artist, and cup of hot chocolate should help calm you down.

by Ryan on Jan 4, 2009 8:42 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wait, is this how we were supposed to act when we traded Casey?

by supermarioelia on Jan 4, 2009 9:38 PM EST reply actions 5 recs

Do the Cleveland.com people run a site for Chicago? Chicago.com doesn’t appear to be similar.

I’m just curious because this sounds like the prototypical “we never should have let Omar go” rant.

by KevinV on Jan 4, 2009 10:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I had the same irrational reaction when we traded Coco Crisp .. but I got over it, and in retrospect, it made perfect sense (even though it didn’t work out like Shap intended).

by Toxicadam on Jan 5, 2009 12:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think Jeff Stevens will have nearly the career of the Shopvac.

Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.

by westbrook on Jan 5, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

34 is pretty old, even in if he’s 34 years “young”. If DeRosa likes playing in Chicago that much he can resign after the offseason.

Personally, if I were in DeRosa’s position and I was “really cared” about the Cubs, I’d hope they traded me for some decent prospects too.

by world dictator on Jan 5, 2009 1:03 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, 34 is definitely in the “better to trade him a year too early” range.

by Jay on Jan 5, 2009 3:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not that we’re complaining.

"...leading the league in most offensive categories. Including nose hairs."

by sarcasmdave on Jan 5, 2009 4:52 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think it was a good move, but the Indians do assume some risk of a Robbie Alomar-style, age-34 drop-off-a-cliff.

by Jay on Jan 5, 2009 1:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You rarely see a player start an upwards trend at 31. I’m sure we’ll be witness to some regression if that helps.

I mean, they do want to win a championship in the next 100 years sometime, and I think everyone knows that versatility and team-oriented players do help to attain that

.321/.436/.563 batting lines also help. Just lock the press box.

“DeRo” (and please, let’s not carry on this nickname LGTers) is as far as I can tell only a positive at 3B.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 5, 2009 8:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

agreed on that nick, nick

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Jan 5, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Besides, he already has a unique nickname.

by Ryan on Jan 5, 2009 11:40 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Pulse? I’ll try it on for a while. Sounds a little ESPNews to me.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 5, 2009 7:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe he got it after having surgery to correct an irregular heartbeat. At least that’s what wikipedia says.

by Ryan on Jan 5, 2009 7:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Check out that other thread … I’m going with The Reflex, which is a great name for a 3B.

by Jay on Jan 5, 2009 10:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He’s been DeRo since at least his Braves days. If you change now, will anyone know whom you are talking about? Will he even know who he is?

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Jan 5, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That’s all and good, but I can’t call anybody anything other than their given name until they score several runs and show some glove in an Indians uniform.

by PatBordersHelmet on Jan 5, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough…

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Jan 5, 2009 7:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t really care if Paul Byrd knows why we call him the Cobra.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 5, 2009 7:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m still not sure I even know

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Jan 6, 2009 10:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stomp stomp Hiss.

It relates to the snow-out.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 6, 2009 2:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, I vaguely remember all that and I know I’ve read it over and had it explained to me multiple times. I dunno why but I keep drawing a blank on it.

STOMP is even cloudier.

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Jan 6, 2009 5:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Okay.

After the Snow Game, Jeff (who we all normally really like) wrote this recap at LL. The highlight:

Some people will argue that the Indians were adjusting to the snowfall just fine, and that therefore the Mariners don’t have a leg to stand on, but then, so what? For one thing, Cleveland’s used to cold weather, and for another, the Mariners had never practiced in snow before because baseball isn’t supposed to be played in it. If I’m running in a track meet against five other guys, and we all suddenly get bit by cobras, and everyone falls down and starts convulsing and I slowly manage to crawl my way to the finish line first, that doesn’t make me the best runner – it makes me a guy who was best able to withstand being bit by a cobra.

And take it from there.

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 6, 2009 5:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Put this somewhere forever.

by NickFantana on Jan 6, 2009 6:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

how about here?

by Brick. on Jan 6, 2009 6:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That seems to make sense.

by NickFantana on Jan 7, 2009 12:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aha, there it is. Excellent.

Burn on, big river, burn on...

by Turkmenbashi on Jan 6, 2009 6:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

2007 Nostalgia?

Still too soon, man .. too soon.

by Toxicadam on Jan 7, 2009 4:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

indeed

Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.

by Gradyforpresident on Jan 7, 2009 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

mark de rosa = pink mark

by Jay on Jan 5, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

by Brick. on Jan 5, 2009 3:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Steel Nick

by nickjs21 on Jan 6, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

i think we should give cubs fans some closure by having DeRosa sing “take me out to the ballgame” at wrigley when the indians visit this summer.

by Brick. on Jan 5, 2009 10:58 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’ve already told my brother-in-law, who is an enormous (and, right now, disconsolate) Cubs fan and whose two favorite players were Wood and DeRosa, that the Tribe jerseys for the two former Cubs that I’ve ordered will be going to Chicago with me for that series this summer.

That way, he doesn’t have to worry about what he’ll wear to the games…I’m giving them to him.

by The DiaTriber on Jan 5, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs