Category: Outfield

Eric Patterson May Be Done as a Left Fielder

June 27, 2008 by cubsnet

Bad outfield defense can kill a team, giving up more extra-base hits and allowing teams to take extra bases. Today's starting outfield of Eric Patterson, Jim Edmonds, and Daryle Ward made me wince when I saw the lineup. It was like the days of Glenallen Hill, Sammy Sosa, and Henry Rodriguez, only without the offensive ability.

Patterson had not played a game in leftfield in the minors this year, but has played left in 11 games now for the big league club. Today may have been his last for awhile. "We'll put somebody else out here in left field. … We'll make some changes, and go from there," said Lou Piniella after the game. Patterson misplayed a base hit for a two-base error today and has misplayed some fly balls in previous games. Additionally, the White Sox clearly had it in their game plan to send runners when the ball was in Patterson's hand, as anyone and everyone was taking extra bases against him today.

Other options while Alfonso Soriano and Reed Johnson remain on the disabled list: Matt Murton, Mark DeRosa, Ryan Theriot (with Ronny Cedeno playing shortstop), recalling Micah Hoffpauir. Return soon, Mr. Soriano.

Fukudome a Cub for Four Years

December 11, 2007 by cubsnet

Seeking the most expensive corner outfield combination in MLB history, a side benefit of adding a left-handed hitter who can sell ballcaps and jerseys in Japan, the Cubs appear to have succeeded. The Cubs will announce tomorrow that they have signed 30-year-old Kosuke Fukudome to a four-year contract, a number of media outlets are reporting.

Salary figures have not been released. Carrie Muskat says $48M. Paul Sullivan says $50-56M. ESPN says $48-56M. So it appears that Fukudome will make as much as or more than Derrek Lee ($13M per), despite coming off an elbow injury that required surgery and limited him to half a season last year. Combine that with Alfonso Soriano's $13M in 2008 (escalating to $18M per by 2010) and you have a very expensive outfield even if the third outfielder -- Felix Pie? Matt Murton? -- makes minimum wage.

Given the alternatives for starting outfielders, Fukudome appears to have been the best option available. For the second year in a row, Jim Hendry outbids everyone for that best option.

Chasing Fukudome

November 8, 2007 by Squib Hits

The Sun-Times' Chris De Luca continues today the series of recent reports that the Cubs have substantial interest in Japanese 30-year-old outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. A Hundred Next Years has a correspondent in Japan who is not all that high on Fukudome.

Pie Up; Pagan to DL

August 8, 2007 by cubsnet

Angel Pagan has colitis and is heading to the disabled list. Taking his spot is Felix Pie, up with the big league club for the third time this season, reports MLB.com. The Cubs now have four lefthanded hitting outfielders -- Pie, Jacque Jones, Cliff Floyd, and Eric Patterson. Expect to see Mark DeRosa in the outfield a lot more. The Cubs ought to insert Matt Murton as the everyday left fielder. Pie could be the everyday center fielder, too, with Jones and Floyd battling for playing time in right.

As bad as Jones has been this year, he's been a better hitter than Floyd since the beginning of July (770 OPS v. 690 OPS). Floyd, two years removed from a 34-homer season, has seen much of his power disappear. Jones also plays much better defense.

Pagan's illness is bad news for the reason that either Pie or Jones will now be starting in center field against lefthanded pitchers.

Piniella Not Happy With the Roster?

May 31, 2007 by cubsnet

The Daily Herald's Bruce Miles writes in today's paper that "there have been rumblings that Piniella is growing impatient with the roster given to him by Hendry." I'd be curious to know what Piniella wants.

The Cubs are currently 6th in the National League in runs scored, but there are certainly problems on offense. Three of the top four outfielders have slugging percentages below .400. Jacque Jones, Matt Murton, and Cliff Floyd have just four home runs between them. None of them have ever had slugging percentages that low over a full season, excepting Floyd's rookie year as a 21-year-old in 1994. Jones is hitting .245/.302/.335 as the starting centerfielder. Much more of that and the Cubs will be compelled to replace him with Felix Pie for good. The trouble is that Jones is signed through next season, and for $6.3M.