Yesterday the Cubs claimed Adrian Cardenas off of waivers and to make room for him on the 40-man roster they designated Blake DeWitt for assignment. The Cubs signed DeWitt a couple weeks ago to $1.1 million. The Cubs will owe DeWitt $183,333. He wasn't going to provide much or any value to the Cubs this year or next so there was little reason to retain him. While Cardenas may not be much of an improvement, it's actually more fun talking about what he once was rather than what he is now.
Cardenas was the 37th player taken in the 2006 Draft. The Phillies used their supplemental first round pick to grab the talented player from Monsignor Edward Pace HS (FL). His teammate Chris Marrero was also taken in the 1st round (15th overall). Those were the only two chosen from that high school and both were 1st round selections. Neither has reached the potential they once had.
He started off just fine. He had a wRC+ of 146 in 177 PA after being drafted. He followed that up with a wRC+ of 109 as a 19 year old in A ball. At the age of 20 (2008) he had a 140 wRC+ in nearly 300 PA and was then traded to the A's. The rest of the season it was below 100, but he followed it up at 21 in AA with with a wRC+ of 127. He struggled (80 wRC+) in AAA that season, but was only 21. Back at AA in 2010 he hit as well as he had the year before in AA, but was even worse in AAA that year. Although his 2011 batting line of .314/.374/.418 looks good, it's a .356 wOBA. The league average was .356.
Prior to 2008 he was the 76th ranked prospect and moved up to 74th the following year. He hasn't been seen on the list since.
At the time of the draft, Baseball America had this scouting report for Cardenas:
No player in Florida took a bigger leap forward this spring than Cardenas, a hard-nosed throwback player with good makeup and feel for the game. He's savvy and bright, and he even plays the piano. He made the most of hitting in front of Chris Marrero in his high school lineup by putting together one of the most impressive high school seasons in South Florida in years. He hit safely in 29 of his first 37 at-bats with eight home runs, broke a Dade County record for home runs and was batting .630-17-56. Cardenas has good strength and a short, compact lefthanded swing. He allows balls to get deep in the hitting zone before driving them to all fields. He should hit 10-15 home runs annually in the big leagues with a .275-.295 average. He won't make it there as a shortstop, however, which hinders his value. He's a fringe-average runner, and his lower half has some stiffness. Most scouts believe he profiles at second base fine, though others insist he'll wind up in left field. His hands are average, as is his arm at second base.
After his strong rookie league performance he was ranked 3rd in the Phillies organization and Baseball America wrote this:
Strengths: Cardenas has good strength and a short, compact swing from the left side. He has a knack for squaring up balls, making consistent hard contact and driving the ball to all fields. He profiles to hit 15-20 homers annually in the majors. He's presently a solid-average defender at shortstop, though most scouts believe he'll have to change positions down the road. His intellect is on par with his athleticism, as he graduated in the top 10 percent in his class.
Weaknesses: The Phillies recognize that Cardenas best fits at second base, where he played exclusively during instructional league. He lacks first-step quickness and the range to play short, and his speed and arm strength are fringy.
He was ranked 2nd the following year:
The Future: Cardenas will move to high Class A Clearwater for 2008, but his bat could push him to Double-A by midseason. He has middle-of-the-order potential, though the Phillies already are set at second base with Chase Utley.
After his poor performance following the trade he dropped to 5th, but that was in another organization. He dropped out of the top 10 the following year.
CAIRO projects a .284 wOBA for Cardenas. We could bump that up now that he's moved to the inferior league. Oliver projects a .310 wOBA. CAIRO projected DeWitt to have a .323 wOBA while Oliver projected .303. The Cubs probably got a bit worse in terms of projections, but they added a player with multiple options and 6 years of club control. Several of those would be at league minimum. They got rid of a player who would probably have made about $3 million over the next couple seasons. They added someone who does still have some potential to be a decent big leaguer.
Comments
Why the fuck can’t I respond to a Fagetbook comment thread with a link to a picture from a different fagetbook comment thread? Fucking amateur.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
This is Facebook support, right?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
So he just started playing poorly with no injuries or anything? Hopefully JedTheo can fix him.
WaLiQuote Reply
MB, I have a cool story for you bro.
This girl from my class who was a tomboy at age 6 but somewhat hot at age 17 was asked to come backstage at a Dead show (at age 17, not 6). She was a big fan, but was disappointed by the experience. Several of the band and crew were leches, and Jerry Garcia was a big fat slob who had crumbs in his beard from his ham sandwich. I’m reminded of that cool story whenever I see Jerry’s beard, so it’s your fault.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Hearing rumors of Josh Vitters ——-> Red Sox as Theo compensation. I want this to happen simply because I called it back when the Theo talks first began.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Suburban kid wrote:
They were milk? Or the second definition:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/leche
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I don’t understand anything you just said. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Suburban kid wrote:
It all would have made a lot more sense to her if she was 6.
mb21Quote Reply
@ AndCounting:
I keep hoping it’s Soriano. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
Is the plural of lech not leches? Is lech not a word?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Seems like they’re big on potential and fixer-uppers with these signings and trades. That’s fine with me. Most likely nothing will pan out, but there could be a pleasant surprise buried in there.
joshQuote Reply
Suburban kid wrote:
You have it right, assuming you mean he was acting in a lecherous way.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
“lech” is a word, derived from “lecherous.” And “leches” is the acceptable pluralization.
joshQuote Reply
josh wrote:
The difference with this office is that they probably won’t fall in love with the few that do work out well. Hendry liked his lightning in a bottle, but then forgot that’s all it was and ended up counting on those guys because now they were fan favorites. I was so proud when he traded DeRosa at the height of his value and wished it had worked out better since everyone was so pissed about it.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
In retrospect, that was a savvy move. I remember being one of the angry, but I can see your point now. Who’d they get for him? A couple of pitchers, right? On the other hand, DeRo’s career has been one big wrist injury since then, so just not having him on the team is probably a win.
In that way, it worked out, for the Cubs.
joshQuote Reply
Trading DeRosa at that point was my favorite transaction that Hendry ever made. I think he made a lot of good ones and a lot of bad ones. Theo, if he’s around long enough, will also make a lot of good ones and a lot of bad ones (see Red Sox, Boston). I think the difference between these two is about what 424 said. Theo is probably more likely to move on than hendry was. The Cubs picked up Neifi and he was surprisingly good. Then they re-signed him. I’d like to think that won’t happen anymore.
mb21Quote Reply
basically the book as i see on Cardenas is he is terrible at defense, hits for average and can take a walk but has no power. Checking out his fangraphs page his offensive value is less than replacement in years where his BA is low.
Still like the move though because I dont have to see DeWitt out there anymore
dylanjQuote Reply
Well ain’t this fancy.
GBTSQuote Reply
AndCounting wrote:
I’d be okay with this, although I’d keep wondering what might have been.
MB, I was just trying to see if merely pasting a link from Youtube would embed it, and it did. However, when you’re in the edit mode, it temporarily shows it as not embedded until you refresh the page. Minor quirk, nothing to freak out about.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
WHY IS THIS MAN NOT IN JAIL???? http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/07/10342814-sandusky-prosecutors-cite-neighbors-in-seeking-tougher-bail
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I don’t know. I couldn’t believe he was let out in the first place.
mb21Quote Reply
@ AndCounting:
Where’d you hear this BTW?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
FYI, I’ve tried two different browsers on my Android and I can’t see the comments in this thread on the mobile site (apparently just this one though).
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
The comments are hidden by default. There should be something below the post to click to view the comments. Are you seeing the comment form?
mb21Quote Reply
I couldn’t see comments either using mobile version with my iPhone.
I clicked the box with the arrow and nothing happened. I switched off mobile and it works fine.
Rodrigo RamirezQuote Reply
Switched over to the desktop version. When I clicked the arrow to unhide the comments, the arrow turned but no comments displayed.
GBTSQuote Reply
The desktop version looks really nice on a smartphone as well.
GBTSQuote Reply
Weird. It works on my iphone. You guys have shitty phones. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
@ AndCounting:
It sounds like it’s pretty much the Cubs Den guy who has this rumor https://twitter.com/#!/TomLoxas/status/166987892537823233
BerseliusQuote Reply
Try it now. I set it to show the comments.
mb21Quote Reply
On the iphone if you bookmark the site it’s available as a standalone app so you can view it without using Safari.
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Treehorn-lebowski-doodle-full-650×346.jpg[/img]
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Berselius wrote:
Brett at BN says he has two sources saying Vitters is being considered, though one could be the Cubs Den guy. Junior Lake is also in the mix.
BerseliusQuote Reply
mb21 wrote:
GBTSQuote Reply
I don’t know why some images aren’t posting.
[img]http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Treehorn-lebowski-doodle-full-650×346.jpg[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/525×330/502133.jpg[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
Huh, Aisley had problems earlier and I thought that it was due to a % character in the link. No dice for this one.
BerseliusQuote Reply
mb21 wrote:
Uggggghhhhh but then I have to clear my caaaaaaaache…….
GBTSQuote Reply
[img]http://s3-ak.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/terminal05/2012/2/7/14/enhanced-buzz-12199-1328642366-45.jpg[/img]
BerseliusQuote Reply
The image code isn’t linking to them directly. If you right click on the text of the image fails above you get an address like
http://img3.obstructedview.net/http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/525%C3%97330/502133.jpg&t=0b2bb832b6fe1235daa015576f3661f1
BerseliusQuote Reply
You know, when I posted that one before, I manually typed in the [ img ] tags.
joshQuote Reply
Basically it’s adding the http://img3.obstructedview.net/ to the front and some garbage to the back &t=0b2bb832b6fe1235daa015576f3661f1
BerseliusQuote Reply
TLR has had it with your newfangled image-posting. Nothing but woodcuts and scrimshaw for Ol’ Tone.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Getting this new site to run smoothly is apparently going to take as long as Soriano’s contract (dying laughing)
jtsunamiQuote Reply
[img]http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltftzxmXwk1qb72l4o1_500.jpg[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Treehorn-lebowski-doodle-full-650×346.jpg[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
(dying laughing)
fang2415Quote Reply
[img]http://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1sPd3bksnbM/TaiUB-oiqKI/AAAAAAAABL0/64oql7jwY_g/w500-h407-k/palmeiro.jpg[/img]
Aisle424Quote Reply
I don’t understand why some will load right and some won’t.
Aisle424Quote Reply
dmick89Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I don’t either, but you can now use html to insert an image. http://www.htmlcodetutorial.com/images/_IMG_SRC.html
dmick89Quote Reply
Just blow up the whole fuckin site already
Suburban kidQuote Reply
MO, what do you think of the Bears getting Bates as QB coach?
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Mucker:
It’s the first thing they’ve done for Cutler since they got him, so I think while it’s not a huge move, it’s a smart move. It’s also a mark of how fucking stupid that team is that we’re lauding them for hiring the right QB coach.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Awesome. We can give our own comments points.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
http://www.mess.be/inickgenwuname.php
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I’ve done about all I can with trying to figure out the image issue. If someone else wants to look into go for it. I believe you can use html now. At least it worked for my other account anyway.
mb21Quote Reply
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I’m now X-cessive Criminal
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ mb21:
When I right click on the photos that don’t work and put them in the browser then the link itself doesn’t work, so I don’t think it is an issue on your end.
WaLiQuote Reply
Also I can’t edit my posts. Its a good thing what I right is purfect the furst time everytyme
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I was able to edit my posts when I used the other account. What browser are you using? Do you have javascript enabled? OS?
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://images.pictureshunt.com/pics/c/chicago_cubs_logo-9313.jpg[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://logoinspirations.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/Chicago-Cubs-ALT2.jpg[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/54/54/full/7253.gif[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://carlos-zambrano.com/Images/no1.gif[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://sportsmaven.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/carlos-zambrano-pitches-no-hitter-9-14-08.jpg[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/alternatethumbnails/storygallery/2008-09/42371092-27094241.jpg[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/525×330/502133.jpg[/img]
test
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
IE… sorry (dying laughing). I think java is enabled. Reply and quote works. OS is windows 7 here and windows xp at work.
It worked originally but with the recent changes I haven’t been able to edit. I don’t care but there may be others. If someone else complains then maybe take a look at it (dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
[img]http://www.miniih.com/miniiblog/lov3izo/files/250×250.gif[/img]
mb21Quote Reply
(dying laughing), DJ and Ryno, this Aldon Smith DUI mugshot is for you.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I missed much of the convo today, what’s up with pictures?
[img]http://www.talknerdytomelover.com/storage/fuck-you-i-am-cat.jpg[/img]
MishQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
By recent do you mean since last night?
mb21Quote Reply
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I think Mish is going to need a moment alone:
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
From what I can tell, the image thing works OK except for images that include something like this: 350×250(dot)jpg
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
This is actually a spoiler for those of us waiting for season 4 to come out on Netflix.
joshQuote Reply
[img]http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8981/picture11j.png[/img]
GBTSQuote Reply
mb21 wrote:
Speaking of Z, it seems earlier that they gave his number to Jason Jaramillo.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ josh:
Sorry. Didn’t even think about that.
mb21Quote Reply
@ josh:
He was okay.
GBTSQuote Reply
http://www.rlyw.net/index.php/RLYW/comments/cairo_2012_v0.5_and_more_somewhat_useless_projected_standings
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
Thanks, bro. You can be my wingman anytime.
@ GBTS:
So they improved a game since last time! Moving up the ladder.
joshQuote Reply
mb21 wrote:
71 wins? That’s more optimistic than my prediction of 70. (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/20589/nl-central-showdown-position-rankings
NL Central ratings, position-by-position.
Surprising: The Brewers still look pretty good.
Less surprising: Cubs are still one of the worst teams in a weak division.
ACTQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I’m still stumped by Oliver’s 84 win projection.
mb21Quote Reply
@ mb21:
Yeah, but that was before they got rid of DeWitt, right?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ mb21:
They have a gullible guy that works in their office who they’re trying to win some money off of.
joshQuote Reply
@ mb21:
Obviously, the Cubs are better than you think. I mean, what’s the point of having a projection system if it doesn’t yield surprising insights every now and then?
ACTQuote Reply
[img]http://www.lamebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/bang.jpg[/img]
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ ACT:
Good point.
mb21Quote Reply
On Soto’s good years, he’s been really good. Casto could improve more than expected. There are some glimmers of hope.
joshQuote Reply
[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fXAAhJQDT3w/TzHPole1FfI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/kBhMQONOnE0/s400/Smarge+shirt.jpg[/img]
(dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://i.imgur.com/0x4ZD.gif[/img]
Rice CubeQuote Reply
PECOTA is here
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15992
MishQuote Reply
Mobile site looks great. Only issue is that the names are so good they got cut short, especially when the is a +1. Not a big deal for short banners
WaLiQuote Reply
Mobile site looks great. Only issue is that the names are so good they got cut short, especially when the is a +1. Not a big deal for short names
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I noticed that yesterday too.
mb21Quote Reply
At some point I’ll look into.
mb21Quote Reply
(dying laughing) @ this: the names are so good they got cut short
mb21Quote Reply
Mish wrote:
Hayden Simpson’s projected ERA is 7.58 with the Cubs.
mb21Quote Reply
mb21 wrote:
.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ mb21:
Considering that he was getting clobbered by teenagers in Rookie ball last year, that sounds very optimistic.
ACTQuote Reply
@ ACT:
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing.
mb21Quote Reply
Mish wrote:
[img]http://iradeutchman.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/dsc00504.jpg[/img]
GBTSQuote Reply
there’s a new voting thing. It may turn colors at a certain point.
mb21Quote Reply
It will turn after 4, 8 and 12.
mb21Quote Reply
Neat. I got the first green comment, and I only voted for myself once!
ACTQuote Reply
You’re doing this in the default WordPress style sheet right? It’s really bloody annoying because not everything is documented well, so I just kept changing stuff until it looked semi-presentable.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I also see that we can no longer vote for ourselves. Cracking down on voter fraud!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[img]http://nbchardballtalk.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/reuters-a-j-burnett.jpeg?w=320[/img]
Inverted W alert.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I only did it that one time to test the new color system.
ACTQuote Reply
I’ve set it to ignore +/- so whether it’s +4 or -4 it’s highlighted the same.
mb21Quote Reply
[img]http://media.zenfs.com/en/blogs/sptusmlbexperts/quiz27.jpg[/img]
There’s so much torque on that arm I’m surprised it never broke off. Rest in peace, Quiz.
Similarly, I recall that a left-handed pitcher (can’t remember exactly who) broke his arm mid-delivery due to the excessive torque being placed on his arm. He released the pitch and fell to the ground clutching the arm. I guess that’s what happens when you make such an unnatural motion with your arm.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Bryan LaHair’s projected FRAA at 1B is -11. And that’s not even for a full season (350 PA).
ACTQuote Reply
And somehow Starlin’s projected FRAA is 6.
ACTQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
Dave Drevecky?
mb21Quote Reply
Names look good now
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
I didn’t realize Chad Fox was a lefty.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ mb21:
I’m not sure. It was sometime between 1995 and 2005 if that helps (dying laughing)
The imagery is a lot more vivid than the names or the time/date.
I read the Wiki on Dravecky and it wasn’t him…sounds like his arm troubles were because of a tumor. This guy I’m thinking of, you could actually hear the field mike record the “pop” when his arm snapped. It wasn’t at a horrible angle or anything, but you could tell he was in pain.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
mb21 wrote:
It was Dravecky, and his bones were also more brittle due to the cancer.
Aisle424Quote Reply
WaLi wrote:
[img]http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll3rstqWSJ1qde8aao1_400.gif[/img]
NamesQuote Reply
He had been diagnosed, gone through treatment and was making a comeback and his arm snapped on a pitch that was audible. Players on the field said they had trouble not throwing up when they realized what had happened.
Aisle424Quote Reply
I think you are thinking about Dravecky. That’s the only one I ever remember in which you could hear it pop. I seem to remember Dravecky saying it was like a shotgun had gone off next to his ear. Or maybe it was a teammate or coach. It was loud.
mb21Quote Reply
The snap was audible, not the pitch.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Yeah, it was from the cancer, but it broke in half. MLB probably doesn’t even allow that to be on youtube.
mb21Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
Ooooh, that sucks. Maybe I’m remembering a replay a decade later of that incident, but I could swear it was a different lefty pitcher. Wiki says his entire arm was amputated. Cancer sucks.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
I think his arm broke a second time when he celebrating or something.
mb21Quote Reply
Tony Saunders!
Samsonite! I was way off.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/905469-30-of-the-worst-injuries-in-mlb-history/page/4
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
The funny thing was that I knew his first name started with a T and last name with an S, but it wasn’t Tanyon Sturtze (dying laughing)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4ev-BtPMM8
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Suburban kid wrote:
Rice Cube wrote:
IIRC people said they could hear it when Chad Fox’s elbow exploded a few years ago too, though obviously not as horrible as Dravecky’s injury. His elbow was held together by half a dozen pins and duct tape at that point, it was amazing that he could even get the ball to the plate.
BerseliusQuote Reply
I want to keep Vitters for one more year…
Also Keith laws rankings for organizations are out. We are #20
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
Klaw has his farm system rankings up (insider required). Wonder where the Cubs grade out with him (I’m guessing in the low 20s).
http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove11/story?id=7547640
BerseliusQuote Reply
They say sidearming is actually easier on your arm than overhand.
joshQuote Reply
bubblesdachimp wrote:
Nevermind (dying laughing). I was pretty close.
BerseliusQuote Reply
josh wrote:
It could be worse on your elbow, but it’s definitely better on your shoulder.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
The way that Quiz’s arm looks from that camera angle is really awkward. I think the same was true for other sidearmers like Chad Bradford. From the CF camera it looks fine, but looking from the side, it looks really stressful on that elbow joint.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
That’s a horrifying video there. I recommend watching this one instead:
http://multimedia.foxsports.com/m/video/22430796/johnson-smashes-bird.htm
joshQuote Reply
@ josh:
Haha…I think Jeff Kent picked the bird up from the on-deck circle and offered it to RJ but he wasn’t amused.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Berselius:
That’s probably where I’d put them, but I don’t know nearly as much about the minor leagues as I did a few years ago.
mb21Quote Reply
Arguing that drafting college players > high school players in order to snag eliteness:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/high-school-draftees-and-elite-seasons/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
mb21 wrote:
I still know next to nothing about the minor leagues outside the Cubs system beyond the fact that there are nothing but tumbleweeds in the White Sox, Astros, and Brewers farm systems.
BerseliusQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
New stuff:
http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/daily-facepalm-2-8-2012-numerology.html
AndCountingQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
College players fail less often, but high school players tend to have higher potential. At least that’s what I remember from the research I’ve read.
mb21Quote Reply
testing twitter connect out
Obstructed ViewQuote Reply