The Orioles are looking for other options to replace Felix Pie in leftfield. Pie posted decent career numbers in the minor leagues. They just haven’t translated to the majors. With just 311 at bats over three seasons, one could argue that he just hasn’t had a good chance to show what he can do.
In the last decade, the Cubs produced both Corey Patterson and Felix Pie, players with good minor league numbers who never measured up in the big leagues. Both their career were extended by moves to Baltimore, which showed less patience. There’s something former Cubs management likes about these players, as Hendry took Pie and Dusty Baker likes Patterson. Are the Cubs minor league parks havens for hitters, inflating their minor league stats?
Posted by David Pinto at 10:09 am | Players | Permalink | 3 Comments
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May 3rd, 2009 @ 11:24 am
If the Cubs minor league parks are hitters havens… then maybe they could trade some top AAA hitting prospects for more genuine talents. Sort of trick other teams into taking players who might not turn into major league regulars.
May 3rd, 2009 @ 11:49 am
I disagree with the less patience comment. Patterson was the every day center fielder for two years (1001 PA). The problem is Pie is blocking another prospect right now.
May 3rd, 2009 @ 2:05 pm
Pie’s AAA numbers really aren’t all that good. He had one great half-season at Iowa, in 2007. But in 2006 and 2008, he hit something like .280/340/460. Translated to the majors, that’s not far off what he actually produced for the Cubs. He should have hit with a bit more power, but the BA and OBP are very close.
Now, his Baltimore performance has been off-the-charts dismal, but I suspect that’s a combination of (a) switching to the tougher league, (b) learning a new defensive position, and (c) the pressure of knowing this is your last shot at a full-time big-league job.