The Cubs appear finally made their move to acquire a starting pitcher, agreeing in principle with Jason Hammel on Friday. Hammel pitched for the Orioles in 2012 and 2013 after spending three years in Colorado. Jeff Passan has the details.
Sources: Jason Hammel's deal with the Cubs is for one year. Should fall somewhere in the $6M range. Really nice sign. Could be Feldman 2.0.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 31, 2014
The deal isn't very expensive, as the Cubs appear to have bought into the evidence that free agent prices tend to go down near the end of the offseason. While he isn't a great pitcher, at least we don't have to worry about Ubaldo Jimenez imploding early-on in a long-term deal or watch 30 starts from Chris Rusin. And, as SVB points out, he can't possibly be any worse than Scott Baker was last year. At the same time, I'm not sure I prefer Hammel to someone like Chris Capuano, whose asking price appears to be almost identical to Hammel's.
Performance and Pitch Repertoire
Hammel has had a pretty bland career. In 2009 and 2010, he was a reliable option for the Rockies, posting average-ish strikeouts and excellent walk rates. In 2011, for whatever reason, his peripherals dropped off the map. In 2012, he bounced back in a big way, posting a 3.43 ERA for the O's. He appears to have adopted a sinker that season which generated a ton of groundballs (53% vs. 45% career). He also started mixing his pitches more, the slider in particular, and his K-rate was also a career high. Unfortunately, he had right knee problems, and only made 20 starts. In 2013, his velocity was down from 2012 levels, he stopped missing bats, and he used his sinker progressively less over the course of the season, possibly because it was hurting his elbow. He missed a few starts, but an MRI showed only inflammation. The Cubs have to be hoping that the elbow is OK, and that he can get back to what made him successful in 2012.
Comments
At this point, why not sign Capuano as well. It’s not like the Cubs need to hold a spot for Arreita, and I’d rather have either Arreita or Capuano as the “6th” starter than that guy with the mustache.
EdwinQuote Reply
Was thinking they should have gone after Arroyo for durability, but this seems to work.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
isn’t arroyo asking for a 4-year deal or somesuch?
GWQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
agreed
GWQuote Reply
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
Currently, yes, but I think he could’ve been had for two-to-three years if they’d just waited a bit. I get that he’s old but he seems to be an iron man when it comes to eating innings and that could help out a bunch once they trade F7.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
No one had Hammel in the free agent predictions.
GWQuote Reply
yay! I love flippable assets!
WaLiQuote Reply
Further evidence that I have no concept of time – I thought Hammel was pitching for the Rays as recently as 2-3 years ago
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
James McDonald ———-> Cubs
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
E I E I O
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Even the quality of free agents the cubs are getting is getting worse. Somehow.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
And on that farm he shot some guys
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
This is kind of funny because he has poor control/command.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Rice Cube:
6.1BB/9? At that rate, I doubt he is even AA depth.
BVS, not sure if coming or goingQuote Reply
@ GW:
2nd
BVS, not sure if coming or goingQuote Reply
Brett’s got a good recap of the radio debate between the Cubs and rooftops on 670 this morning
http://www.bleachernation.com/2014/02/01/obsessive-wrigley-renovation-watch-cubs-and-rooftops-speak-today-on-the-radio/
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
The rooftops’ messaging has moved from ‘we have a contract’ to simply ‘fuck you, pay me’
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
GWQuote Reply
@ GW:
The cubs hear elbow injury and they just get excited!
AndrewQuote Reply
[img]http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/mp/PMW9sEIP10Gl.jpg[/img]
http://www.zimbio.com/quiz/i8qcCDQwe_2/Bang+Theory+Character
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ GW:
It helps that those other teams have something to risk.
I’m starting to think the Cubs are tanking just to put the screws on the rooftops.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Phillip Seymour Hoffman died yesterday… apparent OD.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Not sure if related, but appears there is bad smack going around causings deaths all over the east coast…
http://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/1wtnrc/philip_seymour_hoffman_dead_actor_dies_at_46_in/
WaLiQuote Reply
Alvin Yellon wrote:
Ugh. I was intrigued to see Al’s headline about a new documentary about Wrigley Field, only to see it’s all about him.
Then I scanned the end of the post and saw this:
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
Didn’t someone here once post a gif of that?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I believe they have.
Crazy about Hoffman. Drugs are a hell of a thing.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I don’t remember it. I’d love to see it though.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
I love how every media outlet made sure to mention front and center that he was found with a needle in his arm.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
Gotta shame the addict. Don’t you know, all non-addicts are perfect people? They’re all so beautiful, full of joy, honest to the bone people.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
Some of us get away from the shame and meaninglessness of life by getting high on drugs. Some of us get away from the shame and meaninglessness of life by getting high on criticizing others. Same sickness, different symptoms.
NateQuote Reply
dmick89, Sweatpants Guru wrote:
This reminds me, who’s the guy who said there is no such thing as an addict? I feel like there was a pundit you were pissed at a few months ago who said that there is no such thing as addiction.
MylesQuote Reply
Maybe Mish will start posting again, now that he’s on land.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/03/world/asia/marshall-islands-castaway/index.html?hpt=hp_t2
BVS, not sure if coming or goingQuote Reply
@ Nate:
Criticism doesn’t much bother me. If someone criticized me for using drugs, I think that’s OK. It’s a criticism I made of myself many, many times and a valid one. It’s the people that think they’re better than an addict. Those are the ones that get on my nerves. Those are the same people who actually believe they are perfect or that their problems are lesser than others.
It’s not just addiction either. I’m also an epileptic though medicine has thankfully controlled my seizures for a long time. It’s similar with that, too, and a lot of other things. If I don’t like someone I can just tell them I’m an epileptic drug addict and they’ll scream and run away. Problem solved.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Apparently epileptic is no longer the politically correct term, but I’ve had a seizure disorder since I was 12 years old and find nothing wrong with it. In fact, I think it describes the condition quite well and find “seizure disorder” to be more offensive. I think all seizures are a disorder of some kind. It’s redundantly redundant to refer to it seizures as a disorder. It’s like saying someone has a disorderly disorder.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ Myles:
That sounds familiar, but I can’t recall who it was.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
All you got to do is shame the addict, or punish them, and then they’ll just make the rational decision and choose not to be an addict anymore.
EdwinQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
This is really going to bug me. I can remember it, but don’t remember who it was.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/oct/21/peter-hitchens-addiction-drugs-war
The Hitchenses, a family of IRL trolls in every direction
fang2415Quote Reply
@ fang2415:
I think it was actually this story in particular, which references the book discussed above
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/dec/17/matthew-perry-peter-hitchens-newsnight
fang2415Quote Reply
So I read (learned?) from the comments in the Reddit threads that WaLi posted that the effect of shooting herion is so fast that folks frequently pass out with the needle in their arm. Having no experience in this area, I assumed that it took at least a few minutes to ramp up. The “needle in the arm” sentence in the news reports generated that discussion, so it might have served a broader purpose than pure sensationalism, assuming what was said was true.
I didn’t find the news reports I read on CNN to be particularly sensationalist in terms of details, including the needle in the arm. They could report that PSH died of a herion overdose and left it at that, I suppose. But I think the media have some responsibility to report details that educate and provide context. It’s a fine line. It will certainly be crossed by Nancy Grace or someone, but so far I think the major outlets have been OK. (I do not think it was necessary to know that Whitney Houston was naked, for example.)
I’m not trying to pick a fight here, nor do I wish to disparage anyone’s personal experiences with addiction. The few recovering addicts I know, and comments here, have all stated that addiction is a hard, hard thing. Frankly, I don’t know where the line is in reporting this responsibly so as to provide detail and context vs shame.
BVS, not sure if coming or goingQuote Reply
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/03/richard-sherman-peyton-is-the-classiest-player-ive-ever-met/
This made me laugh:
I don’t think an emotional rant after winning the NFC qualifies as “rock bottom.”
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ BVS, not sure if coming or going:
Media should include details that are news-worthy and relevant to the story. Saying he was found with a syringe in his arm is superfluous if you have a police representative saying he died as a result of a heroin overdose.
If the police representative said he died from something else but you have a source saying he was found with a syringe in his arm, then the detail should be included.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ fang2415:
That’s it. Thanks.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
BVS, not sure if coming or going wrote:
“died with a needle in his arm” sounds much dirtier than “died of OD.” There has been some forward progress in this country in understanding addiction and overdose. However, needle usage is not in that group. More people are sympathetic to addicts than ever before, but I doubt any more people are sympathetic to those who use needles than before.
The reason a person says “died with a needle in his arm” is due to ignorance IMO. It’s common. Alcoholism is treated almost like a rite of passage in some groups. Tobacco addiction is treated like it’s the plague. Alcoholism is something that can be laughed at. Crack addiction is some serious fucking shit. Alcoholism is acceptable (it can happen to the best of ’em). Heroin addicts are scumbags and always have been. And hey, this heroin addict even died with a fucking needle in his arm. He did it to himself. Now let’s go have a drink and play drunkest drives.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Here are some reactions from the general public to various statements.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman dies at 46
Holy Shit. That sucks. I really liked that guy in that one movie I can’t think of. I was even in the same city as him one time. Wow.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman dies of overdose at 46
Holy shit. Too bad he got mixed up in that stuff, but I really liked that one movie. I even wish he was in more movies. Could have been a good actor.
Phillip Seymour Hoffman dies with needle in his arm
Fuck him. Sucked at acting anyway.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
dmick89, Sweatpants Guru wrote:
I think this is just journalists sticking to verified facts. That he had a needle in his arm was officially confirmed by investigators. That he died of an OD is not (yet) confirmed by an autopsy.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Any breaking news today?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
They probably signed someone named John Smith. Seems on par with the rest of the offseason.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
I think we should start discussing general news events of the day then. Already covered the celebrity death. Any mass shootings or government shutdowns?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
There was a killer who broke out of prison in Michigan. According to the news report “he could be heading anywhere” so lock your doors.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ WaLi:
Maybe I should just pull a gun on anyone who walks past my house, just in case.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect wrote:
Don’t be ridiculous, it’s a he. Just pull your gun out at men.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
That’s sexist.
WaLiQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Stocks fell over 300 points.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
[img]http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2696871/yellon-umbrella.gif[/img]
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
(dying laughing) the worst thing about that gif is that I now have to get a new hat. It looks like Alvin has the same exact kind of Cubs hat I’ve been wearing for several years. Fuck. I love that hat. I’m not sure I’ve ever liked a hat as much as that one. There was this Hawkeyes hat I wore for a long time way back when, but I like this hat.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
Alvin owns every hat, so you’ve already lost.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
what’s your record in that hat?
GWQuote Reply
dmick89, Sweatpants Guru wrote:
Actually, they got outbid for him. But they did come in 2nd.
EdwinQuote Reply
Anyone else catch that quick pat on the head from Alvin’s lady friend to the dude in front of them? (dying laughing)
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
I got a new hat for Christmas that’s simply a generic gray Wrigley Field hat. I was kind of nonplussed at first, especially because I usually hate non-fitted caps, but oddly enough it’s quickly become my favorite. Go figure.
/cool story bro
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
Surely not helped by Trainspotting
And from the film’s wikipedia page:
I guess that sums up a lot of addictions.
Umbrella-spotting, on the other hand….
BVS, not sure if coming or goingQuote Reply
I like my Corey Patterson era Lansing Lugnutz hat. But the base is white, so I have to be careful where I wear it.
BVS, not sure if coming or goingQuote Reply
Brayan Villarreal was outrighted by the Red Sox today. That makes him an FA, right? Seems like a good gamble, at 26 years old and 10+K/9, even if walks are high.
BVS, not sure if coming or goingQuote Reply
@ GW:
18,375 – 10,449 at Wrigley since 2010.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
That kerrysotherwife that used to post in BCB was awesome.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Julie has a source suggesting the Cubs are pursuing Arroyo or at least kicking the tires.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect wrote:
While that guy was loose it became perfectly legal to murder any passerby in Florida.
GBTSQuote Reply
GBTS wrote:
So that’s why the cop didn’t ask any questions about the dead guy in the trunk. I thought that was odd.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
The quadruple-murderer who escaped from jail has been caught. The caption on the ABC News video said it was a after a “wild manhunt”. More like a mild manhunt, if you listen to the report. The hostage’s 911 call was so laid back it must have been fake, or a re-creation.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[img]http://i.imgur.com/EkptRHX.gif[/img]
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
The L’s… they are OL
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Someone post that on BCB and make OV relevant again.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
PECOTA has a WARP projection of 0.1 for Shark.
Hooray
MylesQuote Reply
Suburban kid wrote:
We were relevant once?
MylesQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
Yeah, back when we needed a blog lawyer to defend ourselves. OK, maybe it was ACB (which was the Cheers to OV’s Frasier). That was awesome. Now that we have a lawyer, we don’t need one.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
It doesn’t get much more relevant than being a discredited fringe Cubs blog or even a A Thoughtless and Vile Corner of Cubdom. We need to get that back.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
(dying laughing) Is Alvin mouthing the words “It’s the wind”? Yeah, no fucking shit Al.
MuckerQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I think OV is a much better blog and I blame a number of things for the relative inactivity here over the last 12-18 months. I used to write 3-4 articles per day and hang around the comments a lot more, but I’ve felt like complete shit over the last year, year and a half. The Cubs are more boring than ever. It’s even difficult to make fun of them at this point. They’re doing absolutely nothing. There are probably minor league teams who have been more proactive in improving than the Cubs have been.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
dmick89, Sweatpants Guru wrote:
Looks like SOMEONE missed the Chris Coghlan pickup.
MylesQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
I didn’t mean to discredit OV. I enjoyed Frasier quite a bit. A little less edge, a little more refinement. Perhaps not as original as Cheers, but still high quality.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I didn’t think you were. There were good reasons to enjoy ACB more and good ones to enjoy this one more. I enjoy having more authors taking part and having a smaller part to do with it.
Since I started this bloggy thingy, I can think of 3 times that stand out as more fun than others. The first was when I first started getting into it. Ryno and I (along with this guy Rusty) had a shitload of fun. I learned a hell of a lot about the game of baseball. The next was 2007-2008. ACB was its best then. We were getting 500 comments per day or more from a lot of people and the Cubs were super fun from the end of June 2007 through the end of 2008. Good times. Then there’s the first year this place was here. The Cubs sucked, but it was something new and we were building a new blog. This place was awfully busy (more than ACB of course) and it was just nice taking a step back.
The last year and a half has been the worst. I’ve either been in constant pain or been lucky enough to get some mild relief for a month or so before it comes back full strength. The Cubs have been less interesting than ever.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/cfb/29600/Lande-HOU-leaning-towards-Bortles-or-Manziel
Well that would shake things up. STL’s pick would be even more valuable with Bridgewater AND Clowney available.
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ Myles:
They’ve been way down on him for awhile. They keep giving him a lot of innings as a reliever. I think when they publish the Depth Charts you’ll see a more realistic projection for him.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ Like You Care:
(dying laughing)
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
I like Javier Baez’s PECOTA. .243/.280/.476
I’m thinking that would be difficult. Wouldn’t the OBP have to be higher if you end up hitting for that much power? I think that’s the hope.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
dmick89, Sweatpants Guru wrote:
Thought so too, but they predict 195 IP for him.
MylesQuote Reply
Pretty good shopping list here: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/46173/325/nfl-draft-norris-top-50?pg=1
Like You CareQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
I’ve been more swamped with work lately, but despite having more time to write shit while at home I’ve just had nothing to write about, save the occasional get off my lawn post about guys like Sosa or Marvin Miller
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
Giordano’s ———–> Wrigley Field.
I’m guessing the sticking point was making deep dish bison sausage pizzas.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
There’s nothing to write about.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
It’s been harder than usual to get me excited about this season. We really have nothing at the major-league level. I’ll probably watch five times more milb.tv this season than Cubs games. In fact, I guarantee it.
MylesQuote Reply
I’m hoping to find out today whether I’m going to be watching a lot of Smokies games in the near future.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect wrote:
Good luck. I’m angling to make a trip down to Gatlinburg this summer, and hope to catch a game or two while there.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
If you hit town and your throat is dry, let’s have ourselves a brew
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Myles:
If you come in mid-july, that is
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
@ Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect:
I’m also working hard on moving back to WNC, which would allow me to see lots of Smokies action. They’ll be better than the Cubs this year. I hope to see lots of their games.
NateQuote Reply
OV meetup in Kodak, TN!!
NateQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
I dunno, man. In the universe of coke-addled actors I gotta say Stacy Keach >>> Kelsey Grammer. Mike Hammer FTW.
uncle daveQuote Reply
uncle dave wrote:
(Or, more accurately, in the universe of actors who worked in the 80s.)
uncle daveQuote Reply
Top TAv improvers, BP:
1. Starlin Castro, .264 from .230
3. Darwin Barney, .235 from .204
6. Anthony Rizzo, .288 from .267
Top ERA improvers, BP:
6. Edwin Jackson, 4.15 from 4.98
MylesQuote Reply
I still really enjoy this blog, even though the Cubs are about as exciting as a beer league softball team these days.
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin wrote:
At least the beer would be worth talking about.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
The Cubs would finish in 2nd place in the beer league softball.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
They’d also have the worst amenities.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
dmick89, Sweatpants Guru wrote:
They would have one of those all dirt softball fields, except it would be mostly gravel.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
They probably wouldn’t even have beer due to some stupid contract they signed with Aquafina years ago.
EdwinQuote Reply
Edwin wrote:
How the FUCK did Crane Kenney negotiate a 20-year contract with Hamm’s
MylesQuote Reply
I was about to post a tweet by College Football 24/7, but then I saw this;
The second part is right, but DT is absolutely wrong. I don’t think there’s a position SF needs LESS than DT. MAYBE RB. Awful…
Like You CareQuote Reply
Edwin wrote:
man, you must have played for some really boring beer league softball teams.
EnricoPallazzoQuote Reply
Company trying to get me to move to Minneapolis for a job. From one shitty baseball team to the next. At least MN has food trucks.
akabariQuote Reply
Don’t diss Hamm’s, bro.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
When I was a kid, this ran every Saturday right before the sports report on the 6:00 Channel 3 News:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JP8JgQxXO8U
Every Saturday.
uncle daveQuote Reply
The A’s just signed Sam Fuld. Apparently, scrappy white guys are the new market inefficiency, or something. Also, he’s somehow 32.
uncle daveQuote Reply
@ uncle dave:
Channel 3? No Channel 3 in Chicago. You must not have been a Cubs fan yet. The “superstation” was still a few years away, wasn’t it?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Myles:
That .235 would be a large improvement for Barney is just sad.
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
Nate wrote:
I’m down for an OV meetup in CHI or SF in last week of feb.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ akabari:
If you thought winter sucked in Pittsburgh…….
BVS, not sure if coming or goingQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Down in Urbana. We didn’t get cable until 1984 (specifically, my dad wanted to watch the Cubs pennant race and gave in) but we did get some games on one of the local TV stations on weekends. Still remember the end credits, they played “Hey Hey! Holy Mackerel!” and I thought it was a pretty swingin’ tune back then. Mostly, I was a rare C-U Cubs fan because my folks grew up near the Quad Cities (i.e. above the Mason-Dixon, as far as the Cubs-Cards thing goes).
Fucking hell of a family legacy, really.
uncle daveQuote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/projections/2014-cubs-pecota-pitchers.html
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Except Akabari, looks like the moves are gravitating toward TN. Is that the center of the Cubs Universe? (YES, this year). Only 7 hours to the beach.
In two years, everyone will have to move back toward Chicago.
BVS, my dad drank HammsQuote Reply