My patience is running out, and there seems to be more excuses than Hawks have taken penalties. Make a play. Score a goal. Win a game.about 20 hours agofrom Twitter for Android
It'd be nice if the Hawks could generate the scoring chances Detroit does on their penalty kill, you know, while on the PP and all.about 20 hours agofrom Twitter for Android
Adrian Cardenas reminds me of Mike Fontenot. Utility infielder, left-handed bat and a nice complementary piece on the 25-man roster.
Even his minor league numbers mirror Fontenot’s, who made his Chicago debut in 2005 before rejoining the club for the 2007 division title run.
And so it appears Cardenas, a first-round pick of the Phillies in 2006, will play a similar role with the Cubs this season, especially with his defensive versatility at multiple infield positions and the corner outfield spots, if necessary.
Although the move lacks excitement, that doesn’t mean it’s without significance. The Cubs are in sore need of added depth, especially up the middle on defense.
Think of Cardenas as a security blanket for Dale Sveum. He’ll give the skipper flexibility with the lineup, relief for Darwin Barney and Starlin Castro, and a valuable left-handed bat as a pinch-hitter.
Cardenas, 24, is two years younger than Blake DeWitt who was DFA to clear a roster spot. DeWitt’s $1.1M contract can be moved if the Cubs are able to trade him within the next four days.
Otherwise, DeWitt will be released having played 174 games for Chicago over 1.5 seasons batting .258 with 9 HR and 48 RBI.
I didn’t expect Dusty Baker’s Reds to knock off the Phillies in the NLDS. But I was hopeful Baker’s bunch would at least have a good showing. That, of course, didn’t happen with Philly making a clean 3-0 sweep.
Although the Reds managed more errors (7) than runs (4), there’s no shame losing a short series against the likes of Halladay, Oswalt & Hamels.
Cincinnati, however, was primed for a Game 2 victory before costly fielding mistakes allowed a four-run lead to evaporate. Sorry Baker-haters, but you can’t blame Dusty for losing the ball in the lights!
In 16 games, eight starts, Fontenot has gone 12-for-40 (.300) with one double and three RBI. He’s batting .370 with RISP, .286 vs. right-handers and .300 vs. southpaws. Overall this season he’s batting .287 with 1 HR and 23 RBI.
In 40 games with the Dodgers, Theriot is batting .253.
He’s scored 18 runs, hit five doubles, a home run and driven in eight RBI.
His 18 runs scored in August led the club.
Theriot also has 43 multi-hit games, the most on the Dodgers, and tied for 15th in the National League. In addition, he’s swiped 20 bags in 29 attempts while committing just 10 errors in 136 games between shortstop (29) and second base (105).
Since joining the Giants via trade on August 11, Mike Fontenot is 6-for-21 at the plate (.285) with three runs scored and zero RBI. He’s played seven games, starting five–3 at second base and 2 at shortstop.
All totaled between Chicago and San Francisco, Fontenot has played 82 games making 45 starts–32 at second base, 9 at shortstop and 4 at third base–batting .284 with 1 home run and 20 RBI.
In exchange for Fontenot the Cubs received speedy Single-A center fielder Evan Crawford, who’s currently projected as a back-up major league outfielder in the coming years.
Fontenot, the 19th overall pick in the 2001 draft, spent six seasons with the Cubs after joining the club as part of the Sammy Sosa deal with Baltimore in 2005.
The Cubs are looking to deal, and Fontenot’s 1-yr, $1M contract should be easy to move.
Fontenot is a poor man’s Utley: left-handed bat, plays second base.
But the real bonus is Fontenot’s ability to play third base, where the Phillies also need help given Placido Polanco’s sore left elbow.
If Jim Hendry moves quickly, it’s possible he’ll get a decent return on Fontenot, which is better than anything the little guy’s contributing off the Cubs’ bench.
The Phils need a smart, short-term fix…the Cubs need to start reloading its roster. Sayonara, Mike Fontenot!
Lou’s tagged Mike Fontenot as his starting 2B, which comes as no surprise.
But where do the Cubs turn if Fontenot craps the bed again?
Most likely Jeff Baker who’s defense is on par with Fontenot’s, but he’s far less the hitter.
I wouldn’t mind, however, seeing Andres Blanco get a shot. Everyone knows the guy doesn’t hit, but he’s a Gold Glove fielder.
Given the Cubs’ bullpen situation, preventing a run may be more important than driving one in, and Blanco does that better than Fontenot and Baker combined.
On February 2, 2005 the Cubs made a trade with Baltimore for Mike Fontenot and the pride of Naperville, Illinois, Jerry Hairston.
Fontenot was the Orioles first round draft pick in 2001 (19th overall) and Hairston a super utility player during his first seven seasons in Baltimore.
But does anyone remember who Chicago sent packing in return?
