Jeff Baker happy for opportunity with Chicago Cubs

Joey Gathright lasted a little more than a month in a Cubs uniform before being traded to Baltimore for Ryan Freel , who lasted all of two months before being designated for assignment Thursday.

[jimhickman]

Dude better be happy. It's an honor to play for the Cubbies. Best franchise in Baseball!!!

[Adolfo Popovich]

Welcome to the Cubs.

PLEASE HIT.

[cgrants]

Everyone:

Baker is a serious upgrade over Fontenot. I'm a native Chicagoan but live in Denver so know the Rockies lineup and Baker's game. Last summer he was actually slotted to eventually take over for Helton at 1B, as he has very good power. The Rockies infield got very crowded because of young talent, and even Garrett Atkins can't get on the field. Baker should be the everyday starting 2B. He hits for average and power and will do so in Wrigley. Give Fontenot some bench time, as I'm tired of all the whiffs on the breaking balls down in the dirt. Baker can hit the cover off the ball if he's healthy. This is an excellent trade for the Cubs. I hope they don't platoon him but let him earn the everyday starting spot at 2B.

[Southwest]

Hendry has gone battey. This guy has nothing to show for.

[Bob Smith]

Great...another unproven, average utility man, with less than two years' experience in the Big Leagues...28 years old and...uh...guys? Do you understand the subtleties of chemistry? Do you understand anything about loyalty? What message does this send to Jake Fox, and Micah Hoffpauir, and the other guys who slogged their way through the farm system to get to the Show? Hendry is freaking clueless. Every time you pick some castaway up and put him on the roster, some kid who worked his butt off to get to the team (and plays better than the new import), is sent down to the minors. Absolutely freaking unbelievable. You want a guy with pop to back up Aramis Ramirez? How about Jake Fox, Jim? Trying to plug holes in your roster with unproven outsiders makes as much sense as trying to convince your minor league hopefuls that they have a chance to stick with the Big Club someday - when you keep importing marginally talented losers who take their roster spots. All Hendry had to do was keep DeRosa, keep Wood, keep doing what he was doing - don't get me started on Wood, that was the most asinine move I've ever seen. Hendry basically said, "Aw, too bad, I know you busted your butt for the Cubs, Kerry...I know you bleed Cub Blue...I know the fans love you...I know you love the fans...I know you are a class act...I know you actually refused to hit the free agent market a few years back when you could have, just to stay with the team and take a cut in pay...I know you endured countless injuries and battled your way back and became a darned good closer...I know Kerry, I know...have a nice day." And don't get me started on Alfonso Soriano. I almost choked when the Cubs picked him up for 100 gazillion dollars. I'll bet Soriano's agent laughed his head off. The only thing funnier is the way Soriano plays...read the comment Hendry made above about getting some "pop" with the acquisition of Jeff Baker...yeah baby, get another guy who hits an occasional home run, can't hit .260, and has no outwardly visible talent...arrrrghhh...I have to quit now and post this before I really lose it.

The Cardinals are going to win the division.

I am Bob Smith.

And I have spoken.

[mark]

so where does that leave FOX?

[Tony T Bone]

Bob Smith wrote:

Great...another unproven, average utility man, with less than two years' experience in the Big Leagues...28 years old and...uh...guys? Do you understand the subtleties of chemistry? Do you understand anything about loyalty? What message does this send to Jake Fox, and Micah Hoffpauir, and the other guys who slogged their way through the farm system to get to the Show? Hendry is freaking clueless. Every time you pick some castaway up and put him on the roster, some kid who worked his butt off to get to the team (and plays better than the new import), is sent down to the minors. Absolutely freaking unbelievable. You want a guy with pop to back up Aramis Ramirez? How about Jake Fox, Jim? Trying to plug holes in your roster with unproven outsiders makes as much sense as trying to convince your minor league hopefuls that they have a chance to stick with the Big Club someday - when you keep importing marginally talented losers who take their roster spots. All Hendry had to do was keep DeRosa, keep Wood, keep doing what he was doing - don't get me started on Wood, that was the most asinine move I've ever seen. Hendry basically said, "Aw, too bad, I know you busted your butt for the Cubs, Kerry...I know you bleed Cub Blue...I know the fans love you...I know you love the fans...I know you are a class act...I know you actually refused to hit the free agent market a few years back when you could have, just to stay with the team and take a cut in pay...I know you endured countless injuries and battled your way back and became a darned good closer...I know Kerry, I know...have a nice day." And don't get me started on Alfonso Soriano. I almost choked when the Cubs picked him up for 100 gazillion dollars. I'll bet Soriano's agent laughed his head off. The only thing funnier is the way Soriano plays...read the comment Hendry made above about getting some "pop" with the acquisition of Jeff Baker...yeah baby, get another guy who hits an occasional home run, can't hit .260, and has no outwardly visible talent...arrrrghhh...I have to quit now and post this before I really lose it.
The Cardinals are going to win the division.
I am Bob Smith.
And I have spoken.

Try to shorten this next time Mr. Baseball.I am sure Jim Hendry looks over his shoulder every day and seeing you on his azzzz wants to hang it up.Kerry looks REAL good for a team that wants to really overpay for a worn out wanna be.Mark De Rosa is a sure first ballot hall of famer.Go smoke some Soto weed and when the high wears off submit some more fun for the readers of this site.I am the T Bone and I have spoken.(This cruddy Cubs Team will still win this sorry division).I have spoken again.

[Mcarl]

Bob Smith = Clownpuncher

[Albert Pujols]

I really do not care, if the Cubs are first or worst. I just like to take showers with them.

[robert]

Bob Smith I agree with you. When you look at a player dont just look at the numbers. Look at the intangibles they bring to the table. Kerry was a leader. Who stood up after the 03 loss to the marlins and said it was my fault I choked. Who broke Sammy Sosas Boombox to smithereens. The Derosa trade and the wood loss took away 2 clubhouse leaders (which this team has none of) Buy the way what did we get for a pitcher who has 10 wins who has never missed the playoffs...Milton Bradley that signing looks good doesnt it.

[Sorry ano]

Slugs, slugs, and more slugs.

[ERNIE TAYLOR]

hendry did it again / BAKER is a .130 hitter he couldnt even play for the rockies/

[John Anthony]

J. Baker .130

[John Anthony]

cgrants wrote:

Everyone:
Baker is a serious upgrade over Fontenot. I'm a native Chicagoan but live in Denver so know the Rockies lineup and Baker's game. Last summer he was actually slotted to eventually take over for Helton at 1B, as he has very good power. The Rockies infield got very crowded because of young talent, and even Garrett Atkins can't get on the field. Baker should be the everyday starting 2B. He hits for average and power and will do so in Wrigley. Give Fontenot some bench time, as I'm tired of all the whiffs on the breaking balls down in the dirt. Baker can hit the cover off the ball if he's healthy. This is an excellent trade for the Cubs. I hope they don't platoon him but let him earn the everyday starting spot at 2B.

Baker is hitting a scorching .130 this year. And it's obvious the Rockies decided to get rid of their worst bench player. Only Cubs fans can get excited about a guy who is struggling. Baker isn't the answer. Aramis isn't the answer. Bradley hasn't been the answer. Harden hasn't been the answer. Big Z? Marmol? Need I go on? 1908...

[Rod from Tennessee]

Is Hendry retarded, or just unlucky, or a baseball idiot, or what? This has to be the most ridiculous set of moves that any GM has ever made in the history of sports.

Hey Jim, wasn't the idea of your dumping probably your best all around player from the 08 season, to get more left handed? So you trade Mark DeRosa because he was a RH infielder, and now you trade for this guy because you say you're in need of a RH infielder.

Nothing against Jeff Baker, but Hendry can you please, please resign? To have this kind of ignorance running your favorite baseball team is very disheartening. It barely took 3 months before your total ignorance came full circle. I almost can't believe this. Can anyone really be this stupid? I guess the answer to this is yes, as Hendry has proven that a person can truly be paid in the millions of dollars to be this bizarre. Unbelievable !!!!!!!!!!

[The Realist]

$415,000...3 1/2 years are the key numbers in this trade.

[GAC]

robert wrote:

Bob Smith I agree with you. When you look at a player dont just look at the numbers. Look at the intangibles they bring to the table. Kerry was a leader. Who stood up after the 03 loss to the marlins and said it was my fault I choked. Who broke Sammy Sosas Boombox to smithereens. The Derosa trade and the wood loss took away 2 clubhouse leaders (which this team has none of)

Great leaders, indeed.

They lead the Indians to the bottom of the AL Central, behind the pathetic AA Kansas City Royals.

[Cubs Fan]

"...but general manager Jim Hendry said he wanted a right-handed infielder with a little more power..."

Hmm, doesn't Mark DeRosa fit this description? Funny that they moved DeRosa because they wanted a left-handed bat and now they're looking for right-handed hitting.