Cubs Acquire Harben; Waive Williams; Don't Call Up Pie

September 5, 2006 by cubsnet

The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Adam Harben from the Minnesota Twins to complete the Phil Nevin trade. The Cub Reporter has more.

The Cubs also waived Jerome Williams, who was then claimed by the Oakland A's, and called up pitcher Jae-kuk Ryu and catcher Jose Reyes following the close of Iowa's season.

Felix Pie was not called up. Pie is not happy about that, reports the Chicago Tribune, though his unhappiness does not appear to be a prima donna unhappiness. According to Oneiri Fleita, the Cubs' director of player development, Pie called Fleita and asked him what he needed to do to get better.

Fleita's response, frankly, shocked me: "Fleita said Pie needs to work on his baserunning, bunting and his overaggressiveness at the plate. 'Sometimes he swings early in the count, like he knows we don't like to see,' Fleita said. 'But a lot of that is [lack of] experience.'"

Are the Cubs now placing a greater emphasis on strike zone control in their minor league system, the fruits of which we just have not seen yet? I suppose we have seen Matt Murton (though he was more a product of the Red Sox' system). And Adam Greenberg (albeit very briefly). And now Ryan Theriot. Someone needs to investigate this.

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