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In need of left-handed hitting in their lineup, the Cubs signed Jim Edmonds on Wednesday after the 38-year old outfielder cleared waivers. Edmonds had been released by the San Diego Padres last week after getting off to a slow start this season, in part due to a calf injury from spring training.
The Cubs are hoping that the former All-Star can contribute by sharing duties in center field and providing his lefty bat a couple times a week. And with San Diego picking up the bulk of his salary, the Cubs only needed to spend the prorated amount of the league minimum salary to add him to their roster.
And what do Cubs fans think of the move? Edmonds was among the most reviled opponents for the fans at Wrigley during his time with the Cardinals. Can they overcome those feelings? Or will the fans reflexively boo when they hear his name on the PA system? If comments on the Cubs' message board are any indication, they haven't yet warmed up to the idea of Edmonds in pinstripes. If he produces, they may forgive and forget. If he doesn't, Edmonds may be in for a long summer in center field.
AP File Photo/Morry Gash
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I hope he does well and is a meaningful addition. And I think it's a smart move for the Cubs: Nothing to really lose on it. Pie gets some ABs while working on the tweaks he's done to his swing, and if Edmonds really is washed-up, they part with him having only spent a couple hundred grand.
My only problem is that I fecking hate that guy.
I just don't think it's a good move. Poor Pie. Dude's psyche is fragile enough as a young player. He'll never get to find his rhythm or work his way out of a slump if Lou keeps playing this cocktease game with him. I mean, I get the "signing an available vet" thing, but Pie is young and all this fucking around with Edmonds and Johnson just fucks with his mind even more.
Two words: Dennis Rodman. I know Rodman still had a little more left in the tank when he came here, but the hatred was the same, if not more. The only thing I worry about with the Edmonds experiment is whether it will mess up team chemistry. I know Z has an issue with him but that was in 2004 so it could have passed. And with so much turnover in baseball, how many guys on the Cubs right now where here in 2004? Z, Woody, Lee, Ramirez...am I missing anyone? Low risk, high reward. I feel bad about Pie though. He has been hitting better lately, better than Johnson actually, who has started to slide a little. The thing with Pie is that I'm sicking of hearing "Send him down to the minors so he can play everyday and get regular ABs" every time he gets sent down to the minors. He comes back up, he gets platooned with whoever else can play center and he never gets regular ABs. I know you never want an automatic out in your line-up and I know Pie is struggling but the Cubs have a pretty potent offense. Pie isn't being asked to carry this team so why can't he play everyday?