Hollandsworth Reclaims Job
Is Jason Dubois the next Glenallen Hill? Corner outfielder with a destructively powerful stroke, but a player who doesn't draw enough walks to make up for an average batting average and who is a below average defensive player that, combined, leaves him with some decent playing time, but not a full-time all-season-long starting job. So far, Dubois seems to fit the bill.
And it's opened up the possibility of Todd Hollandsworth reclaiming his job, a job he lost after a horrendous early May that led to a .111/.179/.139 line in 36 at-bats for the month. Hollandsworth got the start in left on June 1 against the Dodgers and went 2-3 with a walk, a stolen base, and an RBI. He's hit well ever since. Hollandsworth has now started the last three games and gone 7-12 with 3 doubles and his second homer of the year. His June numbers stand at .462/.483/.692.
Hollandsworth has Tommy Marker at The View from the Bleachers writing poetry about him.
Dubois does one thing really well -- hit for power. But he's gone 48 at-bats since hitting a homer. The two walks he drew June 4 against the Padres were a nice sign of the return of the decent patience he showed in the minors (1 walk every 10.7 plate appearances for Iowa last year). Dubois will have to do more of that to demonstrate value when he isn't hitting the ball out of the park. For now, though, with Hollandsworth making like last year (.318/.392/.547 in 130 at-bats until his leg injury), Dubois is likely to see more time on the bench against righthanded pitching.
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K Out
I wonder if Dubois is so worried about striking out that he's swinging a little less "freer". Unfortunately he's still striking out. I've heard that he takes extra BP whenever he gets the chance, but I just don't know what it will take for him to get over the hump.
The Cubs do not have much home-grown talent out in the field besides their starting pitchers (Corey and ?). I don't know how they compare to other teams, but they need to commit on developing their talent in the minor leagues, and show that commitment by playing them. Maybe it's a matter of time and with enough plate appearances Dubois will figure out major league pitching. It seems like he's close.
The way Dusty is talking up Hollandsworth, as well as his lack of patience for rookies, will spell some long stretches on the bench for Dubois.
Dubois
I think Dubois/Hill a genius comparison. The question is, are the Cubs the kind of team to see the value in that kind of player? There's a lot to be said for having a .260/.310/.490 player around, even if he isn't the everyday starter, but is a team that values having both Jose Macias and Enrique Wilson over, say, Ben Grieve capable of seeing that?
Even if Dubois doesn't improve a lick on this season, and stays on the bench, he'll be the best hitter off the bench the Cubs have had since, well, Glenallen Hill. But it's the kind of profile that will just as likely earn a player a one-way ticket to Japan as a spot on the 25-man from this team.
A data point on this issue:
A data point on this issue: Roosevelt Brown.
Brown
Yes, that was an intentional illusion; he's precisely who I had in mind. Also Tuffy Rhodes.
Julio Zuleta, too? Scott McC
Julio Zuleta, too? Scott McClain in 2004?
Zuleta
I was wondering about Zuleta. I remember him heading off to the Red Sox organization after he left the Cubs, but I lost track of him after that. I thought I vaguely remembered him heading to Japan but couldn't say for sure.
McClain, I'll confess, was never really on my radar screen. Good call.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe that Dubois has had 2 straight weeks of starting at LF. You need a player to have at least that much playing time to make a decent evaluation of his talent. The Cubs are already making a similar mistake by sending Koronka down too soon. On the other hand, if he's had that kind of consecutive playing experience, then Dubois should be sent back down to Iowa and Dave Kelton brought up in his place.
As for the idea of getting Gary Sheffield, the Cubs should do so only as a last resort.
Koronka
I'm fine with sending Koronka back down, as he's never even been that impressive in the minors. There's really nothing about him that suggests he's suited for anything other than the "emergency starter" role, and now that they don't need a fifth starter for a while, he's fulfilled his role.
That said, it's hard to understand bringing up Hill to pitch out of the bullpen. Nothing like spending key development time pitching long relief once every two weeks, I guess.
RE: Koronka
Yes, there's nothing in Koronka's minor league performance that warrants giving him a lot of chances at the big league level.