Say Yes to Edmonds
I admit I have developed a respectful disdain for Jim Edmonds over the years. He was everything the Cubs always needed but never had - a left-handed, power hitting centerfielder who catches everything in the outfield, and, oh by the way, hits for average too. Over the years, while we’ve been subjected to the likes of Brant Brown, Jacque Jones and Angel Pagan, Edmonds was consistently producing .300 hitting, 30 home runs, and 100 RBI seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. And playing in two World Series.
So when I heard the Cubs were interested in signing Edmonds, I knew what was coming. My inner Cub predictably reared its ugly head and uttered the following words-
“Not Edmonds. This guy killed us for years. He’s not a Cub. We shouldn’t sign him.”
But over the past few seasons, I have learned to suppress this instinctive response. The desire to win supersedes this childish, whimsical allegiance. It’s sort of like when I saw a box of Ding-Dongs at the bagel shop the other day. The instant gratification is not worth the long term suffering.
Harnessing my counterintuitive powers has become one of the true joys of adulthood.
So what if Edmonds reminds me of what the Cubs have lacked over the years? He can help us win now. This is what matters. Another left-handed hitter in the lineup gives manager Lou Pinella much more flexibility. He can play center against righties. Who would you rather have facing Roy Oswalt or Ben Sheets? A guy who has been in the division for almost a decade, or Felix Pie? If Joe Girardi was managing this team and development of players was the priority, Pie would have time to work out his hitting problems. But not now. Not as long as we have Pinella. Not as long as we have Lee, Ramirez, Fukudome and Soriano (speaking of Soriano, the guy can play a bit, can’t he?)
No one would argue Edmonds is not the player he was as recent as 4 years ago, when he hit 42 homers. The discussion of his moody clubhouse manner is valid. But Steve Traschel he is not. Traschel’s negative personality did little damage to Cub team chemistry last year, mainly because veterans like Derrick Lee minimized the impact. Edmonds can be surly to just about anyone he comes in contact with, but as long as this team continues to win, it won’t matter. The Cubs are signing him to catch and hit, not raise money for stadium improvements.
Maybe another trip to the minors will bring Felix Pie one step closer to becoming the all-around centerfielder we all want him to be. Maybe he will channel the patience of a certain Japanese teammate and learn to take a pitch. Sure, and Roger Clemens is a family guy who won all those games in his 40’s by spiking his Gatorade with Red Bull.
But this isn’t about Pie. This isn’t about what may happen in 2010. The future is now. So if this is true, and Edmonds becomes a Cub, I will embrace it.
I mean, he has to be better than Corey Patterson, right?
Tags: Chicago Cubs, Felix Pie, Jim Edmonds, St. Louis Cardinals
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“He can play center against righties.”
755 OPS last year against RHP. What a stud. Of course, Pie could NEVER put up a 755 OPS if they left him the hell alone. I hear Pie (unlike some people) still has range in CF.
“Who would you rather have facing Roy Oswalt or Ben Sheets?”
Oswalt: .229/.278/.375, 19 Ks in 52 PA
Sheets: .204/.271/.426, 18 Ks in 60 PA
This isn’t about 2002. It’s about 2008. Edmonds can’t hit anymore, and not every prospect is Corey Patterson.
Comment by Ron on May 14, 2008
You make good points, hard to argue with hards stats. There are aspects to Edmonds signing that are less tangible, mainly desire- to win, to restore his career, to prove to St. Louis and San Diego they were dumb to let him go. Jim Hendry’s comments state they are banking heavily on this. And while he may not have stellar numbers against Oswalt and Sheets, I’d still rather have him facing those guys than Pie.
Comment by Jon Kerr on May 16, 2008