Late Innings

So… three and out. The Cubs are done, and the Dodgers are moving on. Again to beat the deadest of horses, I called the Dodgers the 2008 World Series champions back in March. I sounded insane back then, but in all fairness they’re currently the scariest team in the postseason. Any ways since my team was eliminated back in September, the shift of the content here has shifted towards hot stove talk. And there was some news last week about Daniel Cabrera (most of it good), and I wanted to delve further into this.

I mentioned Reed Johnson for this reason. Back in December, the Blue Jays tendered him a contract for 3.2MM. After they realized they had a surplus of outfielders (e.g. Shannon Stewart, Adam Lind, Travis Snider), they released him last Spring. The Cubs picked him up on a 1.3MM deal. His numbers: .303, 6, 50. He formed a very solid platoon with Jim Edmonds, who managed to hit 20 homers this year as part of the Cubs’ “two-headed monster.” Personally I’m a fan of Johnson. His 2006 numbers were outstanding, and I think the Jays gave up on him prematurely after an injury-riddled 2007 campaign.

Johnson should be a star in 2009, especially if Edmonds retires as many are suggesting. As I’ve been saying all along, he’s worthy of a full-time position and is capable of posting .315, 15, 75 numbers. The Cubs jumped on Johnson in a hurry and they were rewarded. So going back to the original question, who will be this 2009’s Reed Johnson?

The Cubs should be giving Johnson an increased role for 2009. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

My vote is going towards Cabrera for this reason. Cabrera earned 2.9MM in 2008, while posting a 8-9, 5.25 record in 180 innings. He was solid in the first half, especially in April (4.14 ERA) and May (3.14 ERA.) He fell apart after that, but the potential is clearly here. His control fell apart however, and his strikeouts were way down; he averaged one strikeout per walk. Granted his work-load was heavy in 2007, and that might have contributed to this season, however many feel that Cabrera is best fit to be a middle-reliever.

My prediction: the O’s tender him a contract and then settle on a 3.5MM deal, avoiding arbitration. They could possibly release him in Spring Training, especially if the other starters that have look capable. Cabrera gives the Orioles much-needed innings out of the rotation, but the front office could supplement those innings by a well-placed free agency signing (like Braden Looper.)

I know I hyped Cabrera earlier this year as well. He’s a very talented pitcher, and is under team control until the end of the 2010 season. However until Cabrera can figure out how to improve his control, he won’t ever be the dominant starter that many people in Baltimore are hoping.