Ben Sheets Could Be The New Rich Harden

You know your team needs help in the starting rotation when it expects a pitcher making $11.5 million to be an adequate long reliever.

Enter Ben Sheets, who has not thrown a meaningful pitch since Sept. 27, 2008, in which he allowed four runs (three earned) and went 2.1 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs.

Two years later, the Cubs find themselves pursuing Sheets to become Jim Hendry's latest reclamation project.  Many frown upon Chicago's attempt to lure sheets, who previously was employed a few miles north on I-94, because of his injury-plagued past.  The Cubs already had one of those guys in Rich Harden, but he has since signed a deal with the Texas Rangers.

If the Cubs are able to add sheets with an incentive laden contract, as suggested by Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, it would be as if Harden never left.  Except there would be one less Canadian on the roster.

Statistically speaking, Harden owns the edge in strikeouts-per-nine innings, wins, winning percentage, hits per nine innings, home runs per nine innings and earned run average.  Sheets owns the edge in ratios such as strikeouts-to-walk, walks allowed per nine innings and WHIP. 

If you consider that Sheets walks nearly two batters less than harden does per nine innings, then you might as well call it a wash between the two guys, other than the K/9 ratio.

But there are two major differences between the former Cubs right-hander and the free agent righty who the Cubs seem to be hot after.

Major difference No. 1 between Harden and Sheets is that Harden threw 141 innings in 2009.  Sheets threw up a goose egg in '09.  Major difference No. 2 is that Sheets will be a full four years older than Harden.

Yet, Sheets has accomplished a feat Harden has yet to reach in his seven year career.

Sheets has reached the 200 innings pitched plateau three times in his career, and came close to reaching it for a fourth time in 2008 as he throw 198.1 innings.  Harden has cracked the 150 IP mark once in his career, and that was in his first full season with Oakland, where he threw 189.2 innings in the only year he has made at least 30 starts.

The former Brewer has made at least 30 starts four times in his career, and looked quite durable during a stretch from 2002 to 2004 where he made 102 starts, averaged 225 innings pitched posted a 3.74 earned run average,  struck out 591 batters, posted a 1.209 WHIP and a 4.01-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Sheets' record over the time span was 34-43.  But take into consideration he did all that and under Ned Yost, who earned a master's degree from the Dusty Baker school of ruining talented young arms.  I'm still shocked that Yoavani Gallardo never filed for an order of protection when Yost was still in Milwaukee. 

I'm sure C.C. Sabathia would have had he not thought his left arm would have fallen of whenever he picked up the pen.

I digress.

In our Building A Champion series, I suggested the Cubs offer sheets a one-year deal worth $6.5 with certain incentives.  According to Carrie Muskat's Twitter, Sheets comes with a hefty asking price and the team is (still) looking for some right-handed help out of the pen.

For a team with a $140 million payroll, don't you think it is a little ridiculous to have holes at second base, in the starting rotation and at the back-end of the bullpen?


I'll stand by my statement yesterday, noting that adding Greg Maddux might be the highlight of the Cubs' offseason.

The Prodigal Son Returns (Take 2): Cubs Hire Greg Maddux

The Chicago Cubs are bringing back Greg Maddux.

Again.

According to a report from ESPNChicago.com, Maddux has been hired as a special assistant to Cubs GM Jim Hendry.  The report states that Maddux his duties include scouting and "help with instruction for major-leaguers and minor-leaguers during spring training."

Maddux will also "be at Hendry's disposal to evaluate minor-league affiliates and to provide input on trades or potential free-agent signings."

There is not a doubt in my mind that this is a great hire.  In fact, I'm a bit surprised the Atlanta Braves didn't beat the Cubs to the punch in regard to bringing Maddux on board.

While he was not blessed with Kerry Wood's arm, Mark Prior's physique or Roger Clemens' steroid shipment, Maddux was blessed with the mind of a genius.  He studied the game like no other pitcher of this, or possibly any other generation.  Late in his career, he transformed into a junk ball thrower and was still successful.

He taught Scott Eyre how to throw a cut fastball in 2004, fueling the flames of Cubs fans who wanted to see Maddux replace Larry Rothschild as soon as his playing days were over.

Whatever Maddux does, it will be good for an organization.  Here's hoping it's more scouting, analyzing and working with some younger players and less running to get Hendry's morning coffee and donuts.

Here's a brief list of things I hope Maddux accomplishes in the near future:

1. Stops Jim Hendry from giving out multi-year deals for outfielders coming off career years in Texas.
2. Teaches Carlos Marmol how to attack the strike zone.
3. Informs Carlos Zambrano that you don't have to be crazy to be effective.
4. Runs a mini-camp teaching pitchers how to successfully lay down a sacrifice bunt.

Time and again, I have referred to Maddux as the Cubs' one that got away.  But then they got him back, only for the Cubs to realize they were too stupid to have someone like Maddux around in the first place.

Now, Maddux is back again.  Hopefully, this ends with a ring.

Preferably, a World Series ring.

Stat Boy: Screw It, Let's Sign Matt Holliday

The Chicago Cubs need Matt Holliday.

With a lead like that, I could go many places with this article.  I could write about how the new ownership needs to make a splash, one considerably more intriguing than re-signing John Grabow.  Or I could pen a piece detailing how taking signing a good player away from the division rival St. Louis Cardinals would make Cubs fans forget about that whole Aaron Miles experience.

Instead, the Cubs need Holliday's numbers.  That's right, Stats Boy presents the case for the Cubs to break whatever is left in the bank to bring in the slugging outfielder.

Holliday hit 24 home runs and drove in 104 RBIs in 670 plate appearances in 2009, single-handedly out-performing Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukudome, who combined to hit 23 homers and drive in 94 ribbies.  For what it's worth, Bradley and Fukudome combined to make $16.5 million to post a .258/.376/.409/.785 slash line in 2009.

Tell me again how Jim Hendry still finds himself employed by the Cubs?

I'm sure an outfield that goes Soriano-Fukudome-Holliday would make me watch the Cubs a half-inning at a time (especially when Carlos Silva is pitching) but it would be much better than a Soriano-Byrd-Fukudome, Soriano-Podsednik-Fukudome or Soriano-Ankiel-Fukudome outfield trio.

Throughout his career, Holliday has proven to be a quality hitter during day games, posting a .316/.390/.520/.910 slash line in 1,087 plate appearances in games played in the sunshine.  If there is one statistic future Cubs general managers should look at, it is how a player hits during day games.  I cannot stress that enough for a team that plays a bulk of its home games at 1:20 p.m.

And just to show you I'm not bluffing, check out the slash lines of the other three "candidates" during day games.

• Ankiel: .250/.311/.451/.763 (81 games started, 118 games total)
  
• Byrd: .255/.311/.403/.714 (188 games started, 223 games total)
  
• Podsednik: .285/.350/.396/.747 (266 games started, 309 games total)
  

Only Podsednik's numbers are respectable of the guys Hendry will surely overpay for this offseason.  Then again, when a player who has played center field in only 80 games over the past three seasons is your best option, consider yourself screwed.

Then again, when you have a $140 million payroll and have holes at second base, center field, at the back of the bullpen and in the starting rotation...

Seriously, what the hell are you thinking Jim Hendry?  M.C. Hammer could be more responsible with $140 million, and he'd probably have much better taste in Cardinals cast-offs than you.  Why can't you throw together another back-loaded five-year deal and make this team better.

I digress.

It's not like the Cubs are going to sell out 81 games, make millions off television advertising, merchandising and concessions, and have $25 million potentially coming off the books at the end of the season when Derrek Lee and Ted Lilly hit free agency.

Oh wait, you're telling me all of the above will happen?  Well, then that changes everything doesn't it?

While the idea of playing Holliday in right field for 150 games in 2010 scares me as much as seeing Kevin Gregg or LaTroy Hawkins come into the ninth inning with a one-run lead, I would be able to find solace when Holliday steps to the plate.

I can't say the same for Ankiel, Byrd or Podsednik.

A Reminder: Kevin Gregg Sucks

You know what's sexy?  Megan Fox bent over a motorcycle.  You know what's not sexy?  Kevin Gregg.

Zach Links of mlbtraderumors.com (a must-read for baseball addicts) says in a recent blog post Gregg, "is admittedly not one of the sexier names on the free agent market" but "should garner a fair amount of attention this offseason."

The blog post is titled "Discussion: Kevin Gregg."

Kevin Gregg sucks.  Discussion over.

Talk about wasting 140 words, a blog post and precious internet space on a guy who blew harder than a hurricane last season.  I mean, we're talking about a guy who turned what could have been five Cubs wins into losses because of his appearance.  He had a career-worst 4.72 earned run average and his WHIP was at its highest since becoming a full-time closer.  (I use the term "closer" in the loosest terms possible.)

Jim Hendry already traded a young, talented arm for Gregg's services last year.  Then inked him to a deal worth $4.2 million to avoid arbitration.  Nothing says "baseball savvy" like trading a hard-throwing right-hander under team control for one year of a shitty middle-reliever posing as a closer.

I know the Cubs hate going to arbitration and haven't done so in more than a decade, but you have to think an arbitrator would look at Gregg's numbers, notice how bad the numbers are and rule that Gregg owes the team money for false advertisement of a product.

Hendry is the only GM in baseball that would go out of his way to re-up with Gregg and offer him a multi-year, multi-million dollar deal.  And since he's already fallen for that trick once, he wouldn't fall for it again, would he?

OK, he probably would.

I guess I'll start pre-writing a post about why Hendry should be fired after signing Gregg to a four-year deal worth $44 million.

Remember What I Wrote About Mike Cameron? Scratch That.

For those of you whose memories flee like a talented Cuban pitcher, here's a reminder.

1. Mike Cameron, CF.  There was once a time where Cameron was among the best center fielders in baseball.  The three-time Gold Glove winner was always spectacular in the field, making routine plays and making difficult plays look routine.  At the plate, he was serviceable at best, but was usually a threat on the base paths. Cameron has three 30-steal seasons and five more years of at least 22 swipes under his belt.


Unfortunately, at age 36, those days are behind Cameron.  Yes, he still has some pop in his bat (24 home runs, .795 OPS) but I'm not quite sure that He's hit at least 20 HRs in each of the last four seasons.

Yeah.  Um, can we pretend that never happened?  Good.  Now that we've gotten that out of the way, I'll use this as a place where I will vehemently argue against bringing on Marlon Byrd.

Marlon Byrd should not be patrolling center field at Wrigley Field unless he is on an opposing team.  In 2003, Byrd finished fourth in the NL Rookie of the Year voting as he posted a .303/.366/.418/.784 line.  He would then procede to fall off the face of the earth from 2004-2007 where his slash stats got ugly.  We're talking a three year average of .225/.309/.349/.658.  Then he went to Texas and got hot (no homo) posting a .295/.352/.468/.820 line in his three years with the Rangers.

And after previous attempts to acquire Byrd in the past have failed, it looks like GM Jim Hendry is lookingo to make Byrd his new Bradley.

And everyone knows Hendry always gets his man.  It makes me wish CC Sabathia was his man last year, or that Carlos Beltran was his man a few winters ago.

With that said, Mike Cameron needs to be Jim Hendry's "man" to a certain extent this offseason.  It's not because of the .795 OPS he posted last year or the 70 home runs he has hit over the last three years.

It's because of his defense, stupid.

Remember when the Cubs couldn't compete on the road against the Rockies, Padres and Diamondbacks?  Manager Lou Piniella said it was because the Cubs didn't have the speedy outfielders that could go get balls hit in the gaps.  Kosuke Fukudome could not get those balls.  Neither could Crazy Uncle Milton.  I don't expect the rotund Byrd to be able to get them either.

Two of the Cubs' biggest problems in 2009 were the lack of team speed and the lack of team defense.  With Alfonso Soriano in left field and Fukudome in right, there's a gaping hole in center.  A hole big enough to drive a mack truck through.

If the Cubs are not going to get better on the offensive side of the equation, they need to do whatever they can on the defensive end.

That means saying no to Byrd, while biting the bullet for Cameron.

Roy Halladay Ain't Comin, But The Cubs Could Fleece The Pirates Yet Again

Upon hearing trade rumors, Ryan Doumit is begging Zach Duke to take him with if he gets traded to Chicago.

Roy Halladay has been ticketed to go anywhere and everywhere that isn't the North Side of Chicago. It's almost sad, too, seeing that each of the Chicago Cubs' top four starters has spent time on the disabled list.

But off in the distance, help might be on its way. And if the Washington Nationals are baseball's starter girlfriend, that means the Pittsburgh Pirates are baseball's neighborhood pusher. Because whenever you need it the Pirates got it and are willing to give it to you.

Not long ago, the Cubs turned Bobby Hill, Matt Brokeback Bruback and Jose Hernandez into Aramis Ramirez and Kenny Lofton. Lofton turned into the lead-off man the Cubs still haven't had since 2003 and Ramirez has become a franchise cornerstone.

And no one has ever heard from those "prospects" ever again.

Fast forward to 2009 and the Cubs have their eyes on another coup of the Pirates' ship.

With Ted Lilly hitting the DL, there is an apparent interest in lefty starters Zach Duke and Tom Gorzelanny. Duke has come across some rough times since going 8-2 with a 1.81 earned run average as a rookie, but that's to be expected from a franchise that hasn't won anything since Roberto Clemente roamed right field.

After going 18-37 after his freshman campaign, Duke has posted a 9-9 record, 3.42 ERA and 1.227 WHIP for the bottom-feeding Bucco's. As for Gorzelanny, the Evergreen Park, Ill., is wasting away in the minors somewhere -- like most Pirates prized prospects.

The Cubs also might have an interest in Freddy Sanchez, as the team is in search of offensive production out of the second base slot. Same can be said about lefty specialist John Grabow and probably closer Matt Capps.

The purging of the Pirates is already underway (as Phil Rogers points out) as Pittsburgh has already traded Nate McLouth and Adam LaRoche for a 1970s Pinto and a steaming pile of garbage to be named later.

So, here I am, wondering whether or not Jim Hendry can take Neal Huntington to the woodshed for one more Pirate heist.

My prediction: Duke, Grabow, Capps and Sanchez for Aaron Miles and David Patton.

Let's get it done, Jimbo!