09-09-2009, 11:26 AM
I've been very pleased with this guy, but I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow to these comments by Lou. Took him long enough to get a clue.
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Cubs' fabulous Baker boy: DeRosa II?
September 9, 2009
BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com
PITTSBURGH -- Not many of the Cubs' moves went right this year, but infielder Jeff Baker joins pitcher John Grabow atop the list of the few that have.
Acquired from the Colorado Rockies on July 2 in a trade that barely registered on the radar, Baker is among the top four traded hitters in baseball in producing for his new team.
What should be even more attractive to Cubs fans is that Baker, 28, is considered a younger version of Mark DeRosa, with the ability to handle second base, third, first, occasionally the corner outfield spots and -- in an extreme pinch -- shortstop.
That could make him an important part of whatever the Cubs decide to do with the roster going into the winter.
''[DeRosa's] good company to be in, that's for sure,'' Baker said. ''That guy's meant a lot. He's carved out a nice role in the big leagues, and he's a heck of a player.
''I've got a ways to go before I can be even considered as good of a player as he is.''
Baker is off to a good start since joining the Cubs, playing three infield positions already and hitting .341 in 47 games since joining the Cubs. Entering Tuesday, he ranked fourth in production for the new team among all players traded this season -- and he's hitting .555 (10-for-18) the first five games of this two-city road trip.
St. Louis Cardinals acquisition Matt Holliday, Baker's teammate in Colorado until this season, led all traded players with a .378 average through the weekend.
<b>''It's worked out well. [Baker's] done a nice job here,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''He gives us a lot of versatility. You need that type of player in the National League and especially here with our situation in Chicago [with so many day games and the need to rest regulars].''</b>
Baker, who's eligible for first-time arbitration after this season, said he was excited to get traded to a contender and likes the idea of sticking around as much as the Cubs seem to want him to.
''Chicago's a great place to play,'' he said. ''Obviously, getting some more wins would be nice, but I've enjoyed playing here and was fortunate to get traded over here.''<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img]
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Cubs' fabulous Baker boy: DeRosa II?
September 9, 2009
BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com
PITTSBURGH -- Not many of the Cubs' moves went right this year, but infielder Jeff Baker joins pitcher John Grabow atop the list of the few that have.
Acquired from the Colorado Rockies on July 2 in a trade that barely registered on the radar, Baker is among the top four traded hitters in baseball in producing for his new team.
What should be even more attractive to Cubs fans is that Baker, 28, is considered a younger version of Mark DeRosa, with the ability to handle second base, third, first, occasionally the corner outfield spots and -- in an extreme pinch -- shortstop.
That could make him an important part of whatever the Cubs decide to do with the roster going into the winter.
''[DeRosa's] good company to be in, that's for sure,'' Baker said. ''That guy's meant a lot. He's carved out a nice role in the big leagues, and he's a heck of a player.
''I've got a ways to go before I can be even considered as good of a player as he is.''
Baker is off to a good start since joining the Cubs, playing three infield positions already and hitting .341 in 47 games since joining the Cubs. Entering Tuesday, he ranked fourth in production for the new team among all players traded this season -- and he's hitting .555 (10-for-18) the first five games of this two-city road trip.
St. Louis Cardinals acquisition Matt Holliday, Baker's teammate in Colorado until this season, led all traded players with a .378 average through the weekend.
<b>''It's worked out well. [Baker's] done a nice job here,'' manager Lou Piniella said. ''He gives us a lot of versatility. You need that type of player in the National League and especially here with our situation in Chicago [with so many day games and the need to rest regulars].''</b>
Baker, who's eligible for first-time arbitration after this season, said he was excited to get traded to a contender and likes the idea of sticking around as much as the Cubs seem to want him to.
''Chicago's a great place to play,'' he said. ''Obviously, getting some more wins would be nice, but I've enjoyed playing here and was fortunate to get traded over here.''<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/mad.gif[/img]