The Cubs announced yesterday that they’ll be signing starting pitcher Scott Feldman to a one-year contract. Feldman was 6-11 with a 5.09 ERA and 1.38 WHIP last season in 29 games (21 starts). When looking at Feldman, the Cubs aren’t looking at those ERA stats, they’re looking at more peripherals, which Jed Hoyer seemed to like.
“I think part of why he agreed to a one-year deal is that he has a lot of confidence in himself and felt like, ‘Hey, I know I can pitch better than I did last year and I can potentially use that as a spring-board,’” Hoyer said. “He showed a lot of confidence in wanting a one-year deal.
“I think last year, if you look inside his numbers, the numbers were not what he probably hoped but they were pretty misleading. If you look at his ratios and different underlying numbers, he’s one of the most unlucky pitchers in the game last year. While it wasn’t his best year, it certainly wasn’t nearly as bad as the ERA on the page says it was.”
With the 40-man roster already full, the Cubs will have to adjust one spot before the Feldman signing is official.
One of those who might not be remaining on the 40-man roster is Ian Stewart, as Friday is the deadline for teams to offer their players arbitration.
“We’re still talking to Ian,” Hoyer said. “We got a report today on his wrist and how he’s doing. He’s taking light batting practice, hitting balls off a tee and it seems like the wrist is progressing nicely. We’ll continue those conversations throughout the week. There’s a decision to be made at the end of the week. We’ve had a good dialogue with Ian and Larry Reynolds, his agent, and we’ll continue to do that for the next three or four days.”
Finally, Hoyer was asked about Rob Deer being hired as the new hitting coach.
“On that note, I think mentioning a coach’s stats as a player is one of the least useful things you can imagine,” Hoyer said. “No one ever mentions Jim Leyland’s numbers or Tony La Russa’s numbers. I think coaching and playing are two very separate things. Just because a guy happened to strike out a lot or didn’t have a high batting average doesn’t affect how well he teaches at all. I also would note [Deer] was a guy who did get on base and had a lot of power. I don’t think a coach’s playing background says how he coaches and how he teaches.”
You go, Jed.
We’re never going to hear the end to this Hoosier crap.
NUMBER ONE WITH A BULLET, BABY!!!
(these are all to be read in Dick Vitale’s voice, by the way)
Indiana should have been playing Duke last night.
Scott Feldman said something this morning like “I have to get in the batting cage, get to know the hitters a little bit.”
No, you need to get in the batter’s cage because we actually expect our pitchers to hit, Dumbass.
Besides…our hitters can’t hit so we need someone to score some runs.
I think it would be safer if he stood outside the batter’s cage as he got to know the hitters better.
The Reds sign Broxton for 3 years.
That makes me wonder if they will attempt yet again to make Aroldis Chapman a starter.
I read a month ago that was the plan.
Yeah…I just didn’t think they were that stupid to follow through on it. I guess I was wrong.
Dusty is going to destroy that guy.
Of course he will…He’s Dusty Baker and that is what he does!!
Josh Vitters was kicked off of his winter league team. Reason unknown.
Speculation is that a trade is in the works…
I doubt it. He hasn’t played a game for his WL team in over a week. I think he’s either injured or just didn’t want to play down there.
It’s also possible that the Cubs are about to release the kid.
Where did you see this?
Carrie Muscat (and Phil Rogers I think) reported this on Twitter.
Thanks!
Sammy Sosa, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens are on the HOF ballot this year.
Who goes in?
The LA Times for once had a real article on HOF. Some of the writers interviewed are looking at the players stats prior to accusations of PED use.I think it was Ken Rosenthal who said he was not willing to throw out an entire generation of players, when some of the players who were admiited earlier had similar problems. In that case, Bonds and maybe Clemens will get some votes. I actually think Mike Piazza has a better chance;he has good stats,confessed to use of something before it was banned, would make both Dodgers and Mets fans happy, and he has a book coming out next year…
I’ve felt for a long time that both Bonds and Clemens deserve to go in because they had Hall of Fame careers before they supposedly started juicing.
With that thought, I actually do think they will both go into the Hall…but probably not this year.
I believe Sammy Sosa’s fate will be the same as Mark McGwire’s.
There is the argument that if the drugs are held against those players, mebbe beer and whiskey should have been held against Ruth and Mantle?
It’s pretty well known that Hank Aaron did amphetamines…should he be taken out of the hall?
I have always argued that point. Did the olders players cheat the fans by their bad habits, and some of them literally ruined their health and length of career by endulging to HUGE excess.
Some good players would drink all night and not even go to bed and play the next day. It certainly didn’t enhance their performance but I can’t believe it didn’t inhibit it either.
Some of the players lives with alcoholism(and I’m a fine one to talk,uh huh) after their playing days were downright sad.
Um…where the hell is everyone?
Casey Coleman has been DFAd.
Isn’t this like the 12th time they’ve DFAd him?
Can’t wait for his mother to come on this site and start complaining.
Maybe Coleman can’t take a hint?
“one of the most ‘unluckiest’ pitchers in the game…”
Now on the ‘Cubs’.
Ouch.
his bad luck continues.
Filling Volstad’s slot.
The Cubs could still re-sign Volstad. He’s a free agent.
No…the unlucky slot has now been filled.
So the Cubs are becoming “The Island of Misfit Players”?
And I think that is certainly a valid statement by Hoyer regarding a player’s playing history vs his ability to coach.
I remember an old commercial with Tommy Lasorda and a loud voice is reciting to Tommy his playing stats and ends with “…How did you make it to the Hall of Fame?!”
And Tommy with a smirk says “I managed”.
That’s true…it’s just that for like 15 years, not many people have thought too highly of Rob Deer’s ability to coach either.
In the end, it doesn’t make much of any difference. An assistant hitting coach is basically gong to do nothing more than to assemble video tape and throw batting practice.