# Send prospects and Aaron Heilman to Cleveland for Mark DeRosa. I know I'm going to start a firestorm here because of the long discussions we've already had about DeRosa. Look -- I'm NOT being sentimental here. DeRosa, who homered again last night and whose 44 RBI are already half of his career high set last year (and are also 17 more than any Cub has), would be a useful replacement for Aramis Ramirez until he returns, could sub in at several other positions, and if A-Ram isn't 100% on his comeback, could also play 3B for extended periods the rest of the year. Sending Heilman to Cleveland would give the Tribe a major league pitcher -- and perhaps give Heilman the starting rotation slot he's been coveting -- and mitigate some of DeRosa's contract. Also, this gets the two additional pitchers the Cubs don't really need (13? Waaaaaay too many, Lou!) off the roster.
If you haven't figured it out by now (I really don't know how you haven't) this is all in satire. All of it. 100%. Mark DeRosa isn't the heart and soul of anything. Mark DeRosa isn't the reason the Cubs are failing. Mark DeRosa HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ANYTHING. T
Would the Cubs be any different if they kept Mark DeRosa and put him at 3rd while Mike Fontenot played second eliminating the need for Aaron "what the fuck am I still doing on this team" Miles? At this point, probably. But going into 2009 WHAT WAS THE NEED?
Here is Mark DeRosa's current contract:
Mark DeRosa inf
3 years/$13M (2007-09)
* 3 years/$13M (2007-09)
o signed by Cubs as a free agent 11/06
o 07:$2.75M, 08:$4.75M, 09:$5.5M
o $50,000 assignment bonus with each trade
o award bonuses: $50,000 for Silver Slugger, $75,000 each for Gold Glove or All Star selection, $0.15M for LCS MVP, $0.2M for MVP, $0.25M for WS MVP
o acquired by Cleveland in trade from Chicago Cubs 12/31/08
What I'm doing with this is very simple. In Richard Lewis' Moneyball he discussed how Billy Beane and Paul DePodesta embraced the loss of Giambi, Damon and Saenz. Creating the aggregate. The Cubs lost Mark DeRosa's versatility in the field (his ability to play pretty much every OF position and 3B), Ronny Cedeno and Jim Edmonds, and replaced it with the aggregate of Milton Bradley, Aaron Miles and Joey Gathright (Now Ryan Freel). Ignoring for a moment the absurdity of even HAVING TO replace DeRosa, Daryle Ward and Jim Edmonds we'll delve into the aforementioned idea.
Mark DeRosa
.285/.376/.481 .857 OPS
Jim Edmonds
.256/.369/.568 .937 OPS
Ronny Cedeno
.269/.328/.352 .680 OPS
Aggregate:
.270/.358/.467 .825 OPS
Was then replaced with.
Milton Bradley
.321/.436/.536
Aaron Miles
.317/.355/.398
Joey Gathright
.254/.311/.272
Aggregate:
.297/.396/.402 .798 OPS
What's interesting is the use of career years and other ephemeral issues which render this entire model useless. But as long as we're following the same irrationality that has predicated this onslaught of DeRosa love.
Going forward, it occurs to me that it's a very interesting fact that so many acknowledge the slump the Cubs are in but perpetuate the idea that the Chicago Cubs need Mark DeRosa. As this is being written the Chicago Cubs are 2.5 games out of first place (Close to three games out thanks to the ineptitude of one Cleveland teams bullpen) playing .500 ball.
Oncemore I'm sure the utilization of DeRosa over the incompetent Aaron Miles would be more refreshing than slapping Bob Brenly, but it isn't necessary. Even looking at the most rudimentary line stats it's abundantly clear but to drive the point home I'd like to look at a few more advanced statistics as well.
In 272 Plate Appearances:
Mark "DemiGod" DeRosa
.313 BABiP
.350 wOBA
1.34 WPA
In 164 Plate Appearances:
Milton Bradley
.252 BABiP
.322 wOBA
.008 WPA
It would appear as though the Demi-Lord DeRosa is more valuable, in just over 200 Plate Appearances. 200 PA's and a slumping offense. Stay tuned as we delve deeper into the completely unhinged need for Mark DeRosa.
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