Pagan Returns and Womand is DFA
Tony Womack's strange tenure with the Cubs has come to an end. The Cubs have activated Angel Pagan from the 60-day DL for today's game and have designated Womack for assignment. Michael Barrett also returns today from his 10-game suspension, which means Geovany Soto was sent back to Iowa without having played a game in his brief call-up.
Pagan was 5-for-19 with a double and no walks in the early part of the season when he tore a tendon in his left hamstring. In his rehab assignment with Iowa, he went 4-for-15 with a double and a walk. With Pagan's return and Dusty Baker's resolve to consistently start Phil Nevin in leftfield, Matt Murton's everyday opportunity appears to be gone, at least until the Cubs realize they have no shot at the playoffs and re-insert him in left. I don't expect that to happen until September, by which time Murton will not have enough time to impress the Cubs enough to prevent Jim Hendry from signing a leftfielder in the offseason.
For a team that emphasized getting better on defense in the offseason, it's ironic that the current starting leftfielder is a guy who last regularly played leftfield nine years ago instead of a guy who has been ten fielding runs above average in just 68 games this year. I like Phil Nevin as a righthanded stick off of the bench, but Nevin is not the future. Murton might be. Let's find out.
Regarding Womack, does anyone know why he was signed in the first place? He ended up hitting .280/.333/.360 in 19 games for the Cubs. Did the Cubs expect anything different?
- cubsnet's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Nevin and Murton
I actually don't mind riding Nevin while he's hot - he's provided just about the only power the Cubs have had lately. But it's gotta stop as soon as Nevin goes back to not hitting.
It's probably already started - Nevin only has one extra base hit (a homer) in his last nine games. But I actually have a reasonable expectation that he won't be in there everyday for very long, because his skill set (low average, some power, bad defense, no speed) is one that Hendry has been very impatient with over the years.
Nevin and Pagan
have a reasonable expectation that he won't be in there everyday for very long
At which time Pagan will take over.
situational hitters
Evidently the Cubs did not watch the Twins - good examples of shortening the swing and hitting to the opposite field. Given the many runners left on base, the Cubs could stand to learn situational hitting, but either they don't want to or they have no coaches that can instruct.
Situational Power
Some situational power would certainly be helpful. Of the Cubs 16 hits over the past two games, they've had two doubles and one triple, and no home runs. Jon Garland entered yesterday's game having allowed 19 home runs on the year already, but the Cubs couldn't manage one.
Murton and Nevin
I think this is the first decent move Dusty has made. I have not been impressed by Murton all year. I think as long as Nevin hits we can live with his defense. This is a position that will have to be addressed in the off season.