Felix Pie was called up to the Chicago Cubs for the third time this season after the Cubs placed outfielder Angel Pagan on the disable list. I have to wonder if this is just a move to get Pie on the roster to spark up some excitment. Is Pagan really hurt? Either way Pie is better then Pagan.
Look for Pie to get most of the starts in centerfield, Matt Murton and Eric Patterson playing left field, and Jacque Jones / Cliff Floyd in right field until Alfonso Soriano comes back.
The Chicago Cubs made some roster moves today as Alfonso Soriano was sent to the 15 day disabled list because of the right quad injury he sustained in last nights game as he was running towards third base. Soriano will likely be gone longer then 15 days based on his injury, only time will tell however.
Eric Patterson will be taking Soriano’s spot on the roster right now. Patterson is the younger brother of Corey Patterson who also played for the Cubs. Patterson was batting .299 at Triple-A Iowa with 14 homers, 23 doubles, 62 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. He has primarily hit leadoff all season, batting .300 in the No. 1 spot in the order with a .365 on-base percentage. He mostly plays second base, but has been played in the outfield the last 10 games in the minor leagues.
I don’t know why this move was made rather then calling up Felix Pie. Pie has some more experience in the big leagues then Patterson. I would rather have Pie on the roster down the playoff hunt then I would Patterson just because Patterson isn’t a true OF, and hasn’t played one game in the big leagues yet. The only thing I can’t think of why they made this move is because they feel Patterson is more of a lead off hitter then Pie.
The Cubs also put Wade Miller on waivers today and DFA’d Brian Dopirak.
Cubs shortstop Ronny Cedeno has been re-called from Triple A Iowa and will be in uniform for tonights game in St. Louis. Cedeno, who hit .097 in 14 games after starting the season with the Cubs, was leading the Pacific Coast League with a .360 average and has 10 home runs with 32 RBIs in 65 games at Iowa.
I would expect to see Ryan Theriot play most of the time, but Cedeno can play as his backup or even move Theriot to 2nd base and play Cedeno at short to get another right handed bat in the lineup when needed.
Hopefully Cedeno’s time at Triple A and getting his swing back will help him out in the Big Leagues. If he doesn’t hit, you can’t put him in there when you have Theriot and Mike Fontentot who have been pretty good.
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Another minor leaguer brought up today as Scott Moore was recalled from Triple A Iowa to fill in for Daryle Ward who has been placed on the disabled list because of his calf injury he sustained yesterday. Sounds like Moore is going to be starting first base today for the team as they open a series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lets hope for error free ball from Moore, and possibly a few hits!
Ryan Dempster is also back with the team after throwing in a couple of minor league games for the Iowa Cubs. Sean Gallagher was sent back to Triple A where he will once again be in their rotation of starting pitchers. So do you throw Dempster right back in there in the closers role? I don’t until Bob Howry blows one to be honest. What do you think? Dempster or Howry for closer?
