The Cubs Byran LaHair may be in the AAAA Hall of Fame for busting out a first half of the season with power and average to be awarded an All-Star selection, and then to obscurity when the Cubs called up prospects Anthony Rizzo and Brett Jackson.
LaHair joins a line of Cubs AAA players that toiled in the minors most of their careers, putting up huge offensive numbers, making a debut splash then burn out quickly like a July 4th firework.The league's pitchers caught up to his power zones; and there was not place to play regularly in the field.
In 9 minor league seasons, LaHair hit 159 HRs, drove in 651 RBI with a .295 career average. But neither his old club, the Mariners, or the Cubs had room for him on their major league roster. So at age 29, LaHair got his first chance for a full major league season. Which was cut short less than halfway through.
When he hit his 15th home run yesterday in Milwaukee, it was his first shot since July 4th. He got in the lineup for a resting Soriano in left field. He returns to bench for the next series. He knows his role and accepts it. He told ESPNChicago "It's definitely tough. It's not something that I'm used to and it's definitely not something I like. I have a role now and I'm just trying to the best job I can possibly do and learn that role."
He has only started five times since August 4th, and pulled in one game for a pinch hitter. The Cubs tried to trade him before the deadline, but no other team seemed interested in him (including a package deal with Dempster to the Dodgers).
So LaHair sits on the bench with 15 HR, 34 RBI, .254 BA, .338 OBP waiting for limited playing time.
It is clear that LaHair is not in the Cubs rebuilding plans. Rizzo is the long term solution at first base. The Cubs are trying out Jackson for the rest of this year, and have many more outfielders moving up the system for next season. But for a front office that says it is keen on the idea of "assets" being moved to acquire more assets, the LaHair situation basically destroys any value he has to the Cubs, as a player or as a bargaining chip. Baseball can be a cruel business. Opportunities usually only knock once (especially when a promoted player is older).
