They cannot be confused as the Cubs' Three Wise Men. But if there is a crystal ball for the end of the bad season showcase of talent, three Cubs with high expectations and a potential future seem to be fading away faster than a chunk of space debris falling through the ozone layer.
All Star Bryan LaHair has fallen off Planet Cub. Ever since Rizzo was called up to be the Epstein-Hoyer cornerstone franchise pick at first base, LaHair has been riding the bench like a splinter. Since August 1st, he has only had 50 AB, 12 H, .240 BA, 1 HR and 4 RBI. It is clear that management has put LaHair out to pasture.
But just as bothersome is the two AAA rookies with high expectations for fans. They had been told for years that these two guys had major league talent, and that they would be pieces of the turnaround puzzle. But these are not Epstein-Hoyer guys. And their showcases after their early call-ups have fallen flat.
With no third baseman on the roster, one would think Josh Vitters would get an extended look in the field and at the plate. But no. Since September 1st, he has only 25 AB, 4 H,.160 BA, 1 HR and 1 RBI. There is even some talk that the Cubs should tender injured failure Ian Stewart a 2013 contract. Really? Or maybe the Cubs should just give Luis Valbuena third for 2013 until the rebuilding demolition work is complete. Those rumors clearly mean that Vitters has not won any backers in the front office.
And even more surprising is five tool outfielder Brett Jackson. He did not have the "savior" label attached to his call-up, but he was supposed to anchor the outfield for the next five years. He has some speed, and can make some difficult catches in the outfield. But his arm is less than touted. But his batting and strike out ratio is what people grimace about since his call-up. Since September 1st, Jackson has 26 AB, 2 H, .076 BA 0 HR 0 RBI. September is showcase month for rookies. This has turned into an opening night theater flop.
The writing was on the wall that LaHair would not be a starter in 2013. The question was whether he had enough to power his way to a bench position. But apparently not. The Cubs may try to deal him to Japan this off-season. Japan, home of the AAAA ball player.
Vitters is still too young to export to Japan. But he may have lost his one opportunity to make a case for a real competition this spring for the opening day third base position. His main minor league rival, Christian Villanueva, BA #100 prospect, is hitting .250 with 4 HR and 9 RBI in high A Daytona as a Cub (and for 2012 total since the Rangers trade: .279 BA, 14 AB, 68 RBI, .353 OBP). Villanueva is years away from a major league chance so Vitters has to beat out the likes of a Joe Mather, Jose Cardenas or another journeyman free agent like Stewart. Third base will not be kind to the Cubs in 2013.
Jackson may not be long in the majors, either. The Cubs brought in their two top picks, Almora and Soler, to take some batting practice at Wrigley during the last home stand. It is now believed that Almora is management's pick to be the centerfielder of the future, not Jackson. And the team may fast track Soler to the majors to play right field (which would move DeJesus to CF). And that would displace Jackson to trying to capture a 5th outfielder bench role with a Tony Campana or Dave Sappelt.
LaHair, Vitters and B Jackson are all in the same boat with the Cubs, a very small life boat for their careers.
Showing posts with label BLaHair. Show all posts
Showing posts with label BLaHair. Show all posts
September 19, 2012
August 23, 2012
LAHAIR TODAY GONE TOMORROW
We probably have unwittingly witnessed history this season: an All-Star to a nobody in less than one month.
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).
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).
December 26, 2011
FIRST BASE BLOCK
A sly general manager in a position of need should look to other clubs to find a player to help improve his own roster. A good way to find a major league ready prospect to see who is being blocked from being promoted from AAA. A highly paid free agent signee or an All-Star at the current major league roster spot will block a AAA player at the same position from being promoted.
The Cubs have a void to fill at first base. Derek Lee held down that spot for years (effectively blocking the promotion of Cub prospects) and Carlos Pena held the position last season. But Pena is a free agent looking for a three year deal the Cubs cannot pay, so the team needs to fill that important spot in the order.
Early in the post season, the discussion of Theo Epstein's compensation with Boston (and the possibility of a trade to make amends) led us to find that the Red Sox have a AAA first base prospect who had fallen out of favor: Lars Anderson.
Anderson, 24, AAA stats: 14 HR, 78 RBI, 5 SB .265 BA .791 OPS .992 Fielding %
He fits the Epstein criteria of being a young player. Anderson will be blocked at first base and DH spot in Boston in 2012.
The next name were heard of was Kendry Morales. After the Angels signed Albert Pujols, the Angels have a surplus of first basemen. However, Morales has been injured for the past two years and would be a risky investment.
Recently, the Padres made a big trade of their Number One starter to the Reds for prospects, including a first baseman. This led to the speculation that the Padres AAA first baseman, Antony Rizzo, was going to be blocked from a promotion in 2012.
Rizzo, 22, AAA stats: 26 HR 101 RBI 7 SB .331 BA 1.056 OPS .985 Fielding %
Again, Rizzo fits the Epstein model of being a young talent with upside potential.
But to pry an Anderson or Rizzo from their current teams would take a major deal. Such a deal would involve Matt Garza. Besides the Padres or Red Sox, the Yankees are also in the market for starters. The Yanks have Texiera at first for the long term, so their AAA first baseman is Jorge Vazquez.
Vazquez, 29 AAA stats: 32 HR, 93 RBI, 0 SB, .262 BA, .830 OPS , .992 Fielding %
Vazquez has the power numbers to be a first baseman, but the negative is that he is 29 years old. After a certain point, players that have not been promoted by this age get labeled "AAAA players."
However, when you look at these three blocked prospects, the Cubs have their own home solution who had better stats than any of them: Bryan LaHair.
LaHair, 29, AAA stats: 38 HR 109 RBI, 2 SB, .331 BA OPS 1.070, .992 Fielding %
Considering that the Cubs have no power hitting back up first baseman on the roster, any of these prospects could be viable alternatives or bench players in 2012.
The Cubs have a void to fill at first base. Derek Lee held down that spot for years (effectively blocking the promotion of Cub prospects) and Carlos Pena held the position last season. But Pena is a free agent looking for a three year deal the Cubs cannot pay, so the team needs to fill that important spot in the order.
Early in the post season, the discussion of Theo Epstein's compensation with Boston (and the possibility of a trade to make amends) led us to find that the Red Sox have a AAA first base prospect who had fallen out of favor: Lars Anderson.
Anderson, 24, AAA stats: 14 HR, 78 RBI, 5 SB .265 BA .791 OPS .992 Fielding %
He fits the Epstein criteria of being a young player. Anderson will be blocked at first base and DH spot in Boston in 2012.
The next name were heard of was Kendry Morales. After the Angels signed Albert Pujols, the Angels have a surplus of first basemen. However, Morales has been injured for the past two years and would be a risky investment.
Recently, the Padres made a big trade of their Number One starter to the Reds for prospects, including a first baseman. This led to the speculation that the Padres AAA first baseman, Antony Rizzo, was going to be blocked from a promotion in 2012.
Rizzo, 22, AAA stats: 26 HR 101 RBI 7 SB .331 BA 1.056 OPS .985 Fielding %
Again, Rizzo fits the Epstein model of being a young talent with upside potential.
But to pry an Anderson or Rizzo from their current teams would take a major deal. Such a deal would involve Matt Garza. Besides the Padres or Red Sox, the Yankees are also in the market for starters. The Yanks have Texiera at first for the long term, so their AAA first baseman is Jorge Vazquez.
Vazquez, 29 AAA stats: 32 HR, 93 RBI, 0 SB, .262 BA, .830 OPS , .992 Fielding %
Vazquez has the power numbers to be a first baseman, but the negative is that he is 29 years old. After a certain point, players that have not been promoted by this age get labeled "AAAA players."
However, when you look at these three blocked prospects, the Cubs have their own home solution who had better stats than any of them: Bryan LaHair.
LaHair, 29, AAA stats: 38 HR 109 RBI, 2 SB, .331 BA OPS 1.070, .992 Fielding %
Considering that the Cubs have no power hitting back up first baseman on the roster, any of these prospects could be viable alternatives or bench players in 2012.
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