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 I'm probably the biggest Felix Pie supporter out there but when I read this morning that he might be heading back to Iowa.....I thought it was a good idea.
I like what Pie brings to the table with his speed and defense but he's just not ready to hit in the major leagues. While he's dominated in the minor leagues, he just hasn't been able to translate that into success in the majors and there is one main reason why.....he has no idea about the strike zone. None. Whatsoever.
I've been playing MLB '08: The Show fairly often at my house since most of my other stuff is packed up for the move and in the career mode you have to meet certain standards before you are able to move up to the next level. I have no problem meeting the batting average, RBI's and OB % standards but when it comes to taking a walk...I'm clueless when it comes to the strike zone. Just like Pie.
What the Cubs need to do right now is to send him down to Iowa and tell him that if he doesn't have 40 walks by the MLB All-Star Break then he's not coming up and will be put on the trading block. Iowa has about 64 games during that timespan, if he's sent down this weekend, and that really wouldn't be a tough task for someone who wants to move up in the organization. I don't care about how many homers he hits, how many highlight reel catches he makes or how many wins Iowa has with him in the lineup. If he doesn't have 40 walks in 64 games then he doesn't get called up again. Learning plate discipline isn't something that's impossible as Ronny Cedeno has shown us this season so I don't think it's too much to ask.
The best case scenario is that Pie goes down, gets the 40 walks and gets called up to the Cubs after the break. He then becomes the Jacque Jones-type player that they had last season that solidifies the lineup and gives them defense in center field. Worst case scenario is that Pie goes to Iowa, continues to do what he's doing now and then is part of the trade for Brian Roberts later on this season. If Pie wants to be a Cubs player he's going to have to earn it and he's going to have to do it soon before he's traded.
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2008 Cubs Preview
Looks like Marshall got shipped down in favor of Scott Eyre (spell check). I hope Pie sticks around, but if his trade value will go up by getting better numbers in the minors then send him down I guess?