The Cubs had several options throughout the course of last year to find the real value in their club, and in this fan’s perspective they failed miserably. One of these players was a bottom feeder with salary and in the offseason it is this fan’s hope that they get this player in regularly and see the high ceiling this role player could have done a lot last year to bolster a very mediocre squad at best. Hopefully better things will come with the renewed perception of having the smartest guys in baseball pulling the strings.
This guy must hit with some power then huh? No he may be the weakest hitter in all of MLB. He must have a huge on base percentage then like the guys in Moneyball like right (“…why do we like him, he gets on base…”). Not so much, very average OBP% in the start of his career. He must have some serious leadership qualities, really vocal in the clubhouse a born leader then right? Not at all. He leads by example and basically seems to keep his mouth fairly shut. Then this guy might start to cause problems if he’s not playing every day then if he’s so valuable then, huh? No. He is literally in every sense of the expression “Just happy to be here and helping the club.” Then he must have some serious size and looks like an underwear model with all kinds of tools in the near future. No, this guy probably was likely asked for identification on some occasions just to get to the clubhouse.
Cubs fans that followed the team fairly closely probably know who I am talking about but I will go on with the drama for the average fan reading the article. Follow me here, this gets a little complicated, but the numbers are very simple,
Thanks to our management last year the sample size is very small (I mean that literally as well) and what many of the baseball geniuses would consider invalid in making a real educated baseball decision but here it goes anyway. While this player was either in the lineup long enough to have 3 plate appearances, and/or in every game this player stole a base the Cubs record in those games was 19-19. In games this player did not play at all the club went a dismal 5-22. Cubs fans by now should know exactly who I am talking about by now.
Tony Campana brought a level of speed and effectiveness in base stealing that has not been seen in the organization in a long time, I mean generational periods of time. His ability to throw off the battery when he is on base is humorous and caused several fortunate events to magically unfold as a result. His value on base is an extreme premium than the average Major Leaguer because of this. Even with a slightly higher than .300 OBP% there was a much higher value in his ability to score runs. His ability to play defense in the outfield was a huge asset last year as well. Who on the club covered more ground effectively, on one of the worst, if not the worst defensive squads in baseball last year? Yeah, hard to come up with isn’t it.
In dealing Soriano for very little in return and eating the lion’s share of the contract may be very unsatisfying for the Wrigley faithful, but getting this guy in the lineup every day would be the absolute 180 degree contrast of what the Cubs fans have become almost belligerent about Soriano. Low contract, low risk, young, plus defense, durability, early in his career with something to prove, and an immediate fan favorite. This guy is the Vince Papale type player the fans can rally around and he could provide a great spark to the offense moving forward that looks more like the opening day roster for the Cleveland Indians in the movie “Major League” than the Yankees. A wise man once said “We can’t think like the Yankees, if we do we are already beat.” Thinking like the Yankees the last five years is why the club has the management and are in the position they are in right now. Hopefully they will pick up on “little things” like this that can create a winner for a club that is DUE.