June 28, 2009
Jim Hendry trading Mark DeRosa has to go down as the worst trade away in post Lou Brock Cub history. It certainly is the most unpopular. Cubs were ranked first in the league last year against RH pitchers and yet we “needed more left handed bats”. Aaron Miles who can’t field and can’t run and hasn’t hit? Milton Bradley who hasn’t made it past GO? Fontenot who is not an every day player?
And who could have been playing 3rd while Ramirez is out? The first guy to play 3rd who actually looks like Ronnie out there. And he could have played left for defense, right as a starter and second as needed. What type of GM gives up a guy who can play all 9 positions for a lefthanded bat? A guy who brought great energy to the clubhouse, who always talked to the media, who was bar none the fan favorite, and above all, who understood what it means to be a Cubbie and tried to honor it every day?
It was wrong in every way possible and now the Cardinals have him. There goes any hope for our season to turn around. I’m happy for him. He gets to come back to Wrigley so fans can show him how much he’s missed. Problem being Kerry Wood is left behind – another person who understood what it means to be a Cub and someone who was actively involved in charity work.
How much charity work does Soriano do? His acquisition by far is the worst thing Hendry has ever done and there’s no getting rid of him. Compare his stats with DeRosa’s and it’s not even close.
Last year, DeRosa generated 20% of the Cubs runs while playing anywhere he was needed – sometimes two different positions in one game (once 3) and batting wherever Lou put him. Never complaining. And no matter how he was hitting, his defense was always solid. Albert Pujols generated only 10 more runs than DeRosa and if you even out their plate appearances – they’re equal.
How could Hendry justify trading someone who generated as many runs as Pujols? Somebody who could play a lot more than 1st base and is a lot faster on the basepaths.
He actually made our team worse with the changes he made and the proof is in the box score.
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