Tyler Colvin heading to Iowa soon.....

[bleacherbum54]

Tyler Colvin Headed To Iowa Soon

Most of the position players on the Cubs roster have enjoyed some form of success on offense this season. While the Cubs may not be scoring runs, they are among the league leaders when it comes to team batting average. However, one player that has yet to find any form of success on offense is Tyler Colvin.

I already noted a couple weeks back that Colvin was trying to make the most of his opportunities in his rare at bats this season. In this case, it has hurt his production. Colvin has been pressing a bit on offense by trying to do too much in an effort to get more playing time. However those efforts have resulted in .113/.191/.258 line for Colvin in 62 at bats this season.

The scuffling start by Colvin has left the Cubs at a crossroads when it comes to the 25 year old outfielder. In many ways this season was supposed to be Colvin’s coming out party as an everyday player for the Cubs, but so far, it has seemed like his going away party. It does not help Colvin’s situation that Alfonso Soriano with 11 home runs and Kosuke Fukudome with a .344/.454/.389 line have gotten off to hot starts this season. As that has made Colvin a permanent fixture on the bench.

The bottomline is that Colvin needs at bats so that the Cubs can determine just what type of player he actually is. As the question is still unanswered on whether or not Colvin is an everyday player. From the sounds of it, Colvin is going to get his desired at bats. The only problem for Colvin is that it probably will not be with the Chicago Cubs. Without directly saying so, manager Mike Quade alluded to the idea today that Colvin will likely be sent to Triple A-Iowa so that he can see some playing time on a daily basis.

That obviously is the right choice for both the Cubs and for Tyler Colvin. Colvin does not really fit into the role the Cubs have him in. That role being a reserved outfielder who sees most of his playing time as a defensive replacement or as a pinch hitter. Colvin is at his best when he is a platoon outfielder, where he is in the starting lineup on a consistent basis. That was the original plan for Colvin, but was scratched after Fukudome’s impressive start. At least now, Colvin will soon be given a chance to play everyday, albeit, in the minor leagues.

As for who the Cubs would call up to replace Colvin, the likely option is Lou Montanez. Montanez is off to a really impressive start with the Iowa Cubs as he is hitting .360/.417/.600 with 5 home runs and 33 RBI’s through 125 at bats. Montanez spent most of his time in Baltimore as a reserved outfielder and would likely fit the role better than Colvin. Again that does not mean Montanez is better player than Colvin, it simply means that Colvin is a player that needs at bats on a regular basis. Montanez, on the other hand, is a player that is suited for being a reserve outfielder coming off the bench.

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

Yeah, as much as it's going to suck seeing him go, he needs to get the at bats more than anything else right now to get him out of this slump. Having him rot on the end of the bench isn't going to get his confidence up, get him any at bats, or any playing time at all.

 

[bobferg]

smartest thing they have done all year. Get him at bats now and try to trade that bum Soriano at the deadline.

 

[Captain Obvious]

smartest thing they have done all year. Get him at bats now and try to trade that bum Soriano at the deadline.

Who exactly would take Soriano?

 

[bobferg]

Who exactly would take Soriano?

IF he keeps hitting bombs I am sure a few teams would take him. There wouldn't be much in return though, but freeing up a spot in the crowded outfield is a big enough win in my eyes.

 

[bleacherbum54]

IF he keeps hitting bombs I am sure a few teams would take him. There wouldn't be much in return though, but freeing up a spot in the crowded outfield is a big enough win in my eyes.

there is 0.009% chance that anyone takes Sori off our hands unless we paided a huge chunk of his contract or it would have already been done.

 

[Captain Obvious]

IF he keeps hitting bombs I am sure a few teams would take him. There wouldn't be much in return though, but freeing up a spot in the crowded outfield is a big enough win in my eyes.

That's just it, there wouldn't be anything in return. We'd have to pay him to play elsewhere. I'm not too big of a fan of paying players to get nothing in return. Not exactly a smart business move.

 

[bobferg]

That's just it, there wouldn't be anything in return. We'd have to pay him to play elsewhere. I'm not too big of a fan of paying players to get nothing in return. Not exactly a smart business move.

Playing a guy who never has been able to hit with runners on base (better at the leadoff spot for a reason) is also not a good business move.

 

[daddies3angels]

i think it would be good idea to put Colvin to AAA. Still only 25 and could become nice player if he learns plate coverage. As for Soriano NO TEAM is going to take him. Cubs are stuck with him until contract over

 

[USCChiFan]

Better for him to get ABs in the minors and work on his swing than rot on the bench in a crowded OF

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

i think it would be good idea to put Colvin to AAA. Still only 25 and could become nice player if he learns plate coverage. As for Soriano NO TEAM is going to take him. Cubs are stuck with him until contract over

We might be able to get rid of him next year... and then cover 20 million of the 36 million or so he's still owed. But realistically, he's not going anywhere until at least 2013.

Hendry should be fired solely based upon this contract alone. Moron.

 

[waldo7239117]

CO...we all wonder who would take Soriano. But we all thought that about Rios, Wells, etc. So, anything can happen. Will it happen? I say NO.

 

[waldo7239117]

Tony Campana could be option if Colvin is set down, per ESPNChicago.

But I would rather call up Perez for speed reason and he can be 5th OF then. He won't get any playing time really unless he pinch runs. To steal games, etc.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Playing a guy who never has been able to hit with runners on base (better at the leadoff spot for a reason) is also not a good business move.

Yeah a career 831 OPS with men on base is terrible

Way to talk out of your butthole.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Smartest move for right now.

 

[Jntg4]

Yeah a career 831 OPS with men on base is terrible

Way to talk out of your butthole.

He used to be a great player, things have changed. Give us the numbers for 2009-now.

 

[Captain Obvious]

He used to be a great player, things have changed. Give us the numbers for 2009-now.

.819 with men on base, .752 without. So yeah, things have changed. I'm pretty sure that since you are posting, you have the internet. Therefore, you should have no problem looking up these numbers. So next time before you facepalm out of your butthole, go ahead and use the internet. It's your friend.

 

[Jntg4]

.819 with men on base, .752 without. So yeah, things have changed. I'm pretty sure that since you are posting, you have the internet. Therefore, you should have no problem looking up these numbers. So next time before you facepalm out of your butthole, go ahead and use the internet. It's your friend.

I did. I Googled "Soriano OPS w/RISP" and got nothing... just some stuff from 2006.

 

[Captain Obvious]

I did. I Googled "Soriano OPS w/RISP" and got nothing... just some stuff from 2006.

You don't know how to read a stat line on fangraphs, B-R, mlb.com? That's unfortunate.

 

[daddies3angels]

How come every thread becomes about Soriano? Castro for Braun thread into Soriano DEF and now this thread becoming Soriano RISP thread. LMAO