No More DeRo
by Telling it how it is on Jan 4, 2009 4:45 PM EST
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PrintLet’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?
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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.
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.
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
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
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?
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.
Milton will kill the ball. He did in Oakland. But Wrigley isn’t the hitter’s park everyone says it is.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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).
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.
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
Not that we’re complaining.
"...leading the league in most offensive categories. Including nose hairs."
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
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
indeed
Anti-Ben Fran before it was cool.
by Gradyforpresident on Jan 7, 2009 10:36 AM EST up reply actions
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.
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
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