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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]
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He's been good, but I'm not convinced it will last.
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the thing that jumped out at me is that derosa has really been average for the cardinals. a lot of hang wringing for a guy batting .244 and has been stuck on 8 home runs for some time now.
Wang.
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<!--quoteo(post=62284:date=Sep 9 2009, 10:38 AM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ Sep 9 2009, 10:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->the thing that jumped out at me is that derosa has really been average for the cardinals. a lot of hang wringing for a guy batting .244 and has been stuck on 8 home runs for some time now.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
During the hand wringing, he was hitting a home run almost once every three games for them. He has fallen off a cliff, though. And Fontenot still blows.
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I'm not even sad about DeRosa anymore, and believe me I don't want to rehash that discussion again. It's just the "idea" that a DeRosa type guy is necessary for this team the way it was constructed that I was pointing out, and that Lou (and I'm assuming Hendry as well) is finally realizing this.
And yes, Fontenot is an abomination.
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Baker = Fontenot 2.0?
If Angelo had picked McClellin, I would have been expecting to hear by training camp that kid has stage 4 cancer, is actually 5'2" 142 lbs, is a chick who played in a 7 - 0 defensive scheme who only rotated in on downs which were 3 and 34 yds + so is not expecting to play a down in the NFL until the sex change is complete and she puts on another 100 lbs. + but this is Emery's first pick so he'll get a pass with a bit of questioning. - 1060Ivy
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<!--quoteo(post=62297:date=Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM:name=bz)-->QUOTE (bz @ Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Baker = Fontenot 2.0?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's a strong possibility.
And his misshapen head still haunts me.
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<!--quoteo(post=62280:date=Sep 9 2009, 10:26 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 9 2009, 10:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->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.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh the irony.
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<!--quoteo(post=62302:date=Sep 9 2009, 10:23 AM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Sep 9 2009, 10:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62280:date=Sep 9 2009, 10:26 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 9 2009, 10:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->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.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh the irony.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
yes
I like you guys a lot.
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<!--quoteo(post=62298:date=Sep 9 2009, 12:12 PM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Sep 9 2009, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62297:date=Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Baker = Fontenot 2.0?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's a strong possibility.
And his misshapen head still haunts me.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This really concerns me. I'm afraid we are going to fall into the exact same trap next season. Jim's going to stand pat and think we have a decent 2B in Baker, but Baker will return to his old mediocre self and we'll blow at 2b again next year. Baker is useful as a non starter IMO. But if this team is going to improve it will be with a new SS to replace Theriot and shifting him to 2B.
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<!--quoteo(post=62517:date=Sep 10 2009, 11:22 AM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Sep 10 2009, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62298:date=Sep 9 2009, 12:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 9 2009, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62297:date=Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Baker = Fontenot 2.0?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's a strong possibility.
And his misshapen head still haunts me.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This really concerns me. I'm afraid we are going to fall into the exact same trap next season. Jim's going to stand pat and think we have a decent 2B in Baker, but Baker will return to his old mediocre self and we'll blow at 2b again next year. Baker is useful as a non starter IMO. But if this team is going to improve it will be with a new SS to replace Theriot and shifting him to 2B.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hopefully Jim will be sent packing after this season.
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<!--quoteo(post=62520:date=Sep 10 2009, 12:28 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 10 2009, 12:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62517:date=Sep 10 2009, 11:22 AM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Sep 10 2009, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62298:date=Sep 9 2009, 12:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 9 2009, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62297:date=Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Baker = Fontenot 2.0?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's a strong possibility.
And his misshapen head still haunts me.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This really concerns me. I'm afraid we are going to fall into the exact same trap next season. Jim's going to stand pat and think we have a decent 2B in Baker, but Baker will return to his old mediocre self and we'll blow at 2b again next year. Baker is useful as a non starter IMO. But if this team is going to improve it will be with a new SS to replace Theriot and shifting him to 2B.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hopefully Jim will be sent packing after this season.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I hope you're right, but I'd bet against it at this point.
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<!--quoteo(post=62554:date=Sep 10 2009, 02:44 PM:name=Coldneck)-->QUOTE (Coldneck @ Sep 10 2009, 02:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62520:date=Sep 10 2009, 12:28 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Sep 10 2009, 12:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62517:date=Sep 10 2009, 11:22 AM:name=Coldneck)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coldneck @ Sep 10 2009, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62298:date=Sep 9 2009, 12:12 PM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Sep 9 2009, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=62297:date=Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM:name=bz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bz @ Sep 9 2009, 11:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Baker = Fontenot 2.0?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's a strong possibility.
And his misshapen head still haunts me.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This really concerns me. I'm afraid we are going to fall into the exact same trap next season. Jim's going to stand pat and think we have a decent 2B in Baker, but Baker will return to his old mediocre self and we'll blow at 2b again next year. Baker is useful as a non starter IMO. But if this team is going to improve it will be with a new SS to replace Theriot and shifting him to 2B.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Hopefully Jim will be sent packing after this season.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I hope you're right, but I'd bet against it at this point.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
so would i. i believe the rebuilding starts in '11.
Wang.
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I kinda hope we do retain Baker next season, as a utility man. Then we can sign Murton for 2nd base.
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