Ben Grieve

[fugazi]

5 hits in 14 ABs, plus 5 walks.

While this is little to tell from, should he be playing more often for the Cubs?

They finally pulled Patterson, and Hairston has provided a better top of the order presence...

Who should play LF? Patterson, Grieve, Murton, Hollandsworth?

I think Patterson should play almost everyday, just in the 6-7 hole. If not him, I would like to see Grieve play, at least on platoon. He could be a nice trade commodity, if nothing else, should he play well enough. He11, If he does play well enough, he could turn Patterson into a tradable commodity.

[skitch]

Re: Ben Grieve

In the past, Grieve has been anything but a consistant performer. He's had plenty of chances (A's, Devil Rays, etc.) to play everyday, and he just hasn't come through like everybody expected.

I say give Grieve his chances (pinch-hitting, maybe even platooning with somebody in the outfield).. but don't turn over the full-time duties to such an unproven player.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Ben Grieve

Grieve is a former rookie of the year so it's not like he hasn't done well before.

[remix]

Re: Ben Grieve

He has been absolutely nothing since leaving the A's after 2000. He wasn't tearing up AAA with his .250 avg either. He has a bit of a pop, but they are better off w/ Hollandsworth/Patterson and the upcoming prospect Pie. In my eyes, Patterson is already on the market, even if the cubs won't admit it.

[Blzer]

Re: Ben Grieve

If this puts anything into better perspective, many teams would rather have Rick Ankiel before Ben Grieve as their third OF.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Ben Grieve

And your source for that is? There's a reason Grieve is in the majors and Ankiel is in the minors. Rick may never even make the pros so to say he is more wanted than Grieve is not really a true statement, it's just an opinion.

[Blzer]

Re: Ben Grieve

And your source for that is? There's a reason Grieve is in the majors and Ankiel is in the minors. Rick may never even make the pros so to say he is more wanted than Grieve is not really a true statement, it's just an opinion.

Haha I'm kidding. I was just exaggeratingly agreeing with what remix had to say. There was no real seriousness involved in my post.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Ben Grieve

ok just making sure, not that Ankiel doesn't have some talent, it's just that I would never call him a better OF than Ben Grieve.

[rsox]

Re: Ben Grieve

Ben Grieve is a good 4th Outfielder and i'm not sure there are too many teams that would give him the chance to be anything more than that.

I don't think the Cubs are ready to give up on Patterson yet, but if a team called with a decent offer i would not be surprised if they traded him.

[fugazi]

Re: Ben Grieve

I agree that making him an every-day guy would be risky, but this guy DESERVES to get more plate appearances.
IMO, he should be their #1 pinch-hittter, at least....As long as his OBP hovers around .500, he should get to start a time or two.

I would not expect monster numbers from him, whoever thinks that I might is silly...those number should come from Lee, Ramirez. Grieve, however, would be nice in the lineup...at least someone might see more than 4 pitches in an at-bat. I watched ARAM strikeout against Wells (PIT) yesterday on about 5 pitches, the last of which almost hit his nipple and he swung anyway.
Dusty has made a ton of bad managing moves, but not insisting on better plate discipline is the worst of them. They have to be more patient and get to teams bullpens, especially with the starters in their division. StLouis, Houston, and even Milwaukee have some good starters, but the Cubs conceivably might not force one to throw 100 pitches until the 7-8th inning.