Numbers Breakdown: Henry Blanco VS Paul Bako

Yes, the Cubs say they want to get a guy who can hit left handed as the back up catcher. But how important is that? I'm sure they can still have 2-3 left handed bats off the bench even if they kept Blanco. Bruce Levine reported yesterday that if the Cubs sign Paul Bako it will be for the same amount or more than what Blanco signed for with the Padres (750,000). Let's compare the 2:

Clubhouse/personality/fan favorite/mentor
Blanco is a great guy in the clubhouse, he did a great job as the mentor for Soto in 2008, the fans love him, and he has a great personality. Nothing against Bako, but he isn't as great of a guy to have around as Henry.
Point Blanco.

Batting Average in 2008:
Blanco: .292
Bako: .217
point Blanco

BA for career:
Blanco: .292
Bako: .231
point Blanco

SLG % for 2008:
Blanco: .392
Bako: .328
point Blanco

SLG % for career:
Blanco: .364
Bako: .317
point Blanco

OBP for 2008:
Blanco: .325
Bako: .299
point Blanco

OBP for career:
Blanco: .289
Bako: .305
point Bako

Fielding % 2008:
Blanco: .992
Bako: .993
point Bako

Fielding % career:
Blanco: .993
Bako: .990
point Blanco

runners CS/ SB for 2008
Blanco: 10 CS, 12 SB
Bako: 22 CS, 55 SB
point Blanco (close)

Past Balls per 9 innings 2008:
Blanco: .1048
Bako: .1051
Point Blanco

The Cubs want a left handed hitter so we'll give Bako +1.
Final score: Blanco- 9, Bako- 3
I think you get my point.

Please comment with your thoughts!
Next weekend I'll compare Felix Pie and Joey Gathright.

Cubs Closer Job: Gregg VS Marmol, Harden out of WBC, Blanco signs with Padres, and Wood thanks Cubs fans

Cubs.com reports that Kevin Gregg and Carlos Marmol will compete for the closers job this Spring. Here's quotes from Lou Piniella, Larry Rothschild, Marmol, Gregg, and Ryan Dempster:



Lou:

• "Let them compete."


• "I feel comfortable with Marmol, there's no question. But we traded for the other young man, and he was a closer over there with success. Give him a chance too."

Larry:

• "That's really for Lou to decide."
• "I think Carlos has proved what kind of job he can do in that role. I'd really be surprised if there is anybody who can do it better. We're confident in what he can do"
• "I think he (Marmol) got a little fatigued at one point and started overthrowing and got into some bad habits."
• "For about better than a year, he pitcher better than anybody could pitch. There was a bump in the road, and he recovered nicely from it. I don't think any of that is unexpected for a young kid."

Demspster said "Nobody can hit him, he's one of those guys who has a chance to do anything he wants because he has a pretty special arm with electric stuff."

Marmol said, "We'll see what happens."

Kevin Gregg quotes:

• "I'm going in competing."
• "I know what I'm capable of; I know what I've done the last couple of years."
• "I know how to get outs in the 9th innings."
• "I've kind of covered every role that there possibly can be- minimal starts- but in the bullpen I've covered every role out there."
• "I'm definitely more comfortable closing the 9th with the game on the line. Hopefully that's where it takes me."
• "Every game situation is different."
• "I'm pretty mellow and never had a big spike in adrenaline."
• "Going to Florida was kind of a culture shock for me."
• "It'll be nice to go back to 40,000 fans, and fans who are intense about the game and expect to win."
• "The one thing is we all have one thing in common, we all play baseball."
• "We all have one goal in common, and that's getting to the World Series and winning. It makes it pretty easy because you have something in common right away, even though you don't know the guy, you have something in common and that makes the connection a little easier."
• "It takes some time to feel things out. The great thing about the Cubs is the chemistry and atmosphere there is tremendous. that always makes it easy when you know there are good things going on, good people, good ideas. I'm excited to be around it and excited to be a part of it."

We got a few Cubs Notes:

• Rich Harden will not pitch for Canada in the World Baseball Classic because of his "on and off" right shoulder. Harden is disappointed but his number 1 priority is the Chicago Cubs.
• The CCO brought to my attention that Kerry Wood thanked the Cubs fans in the Chicago papers last weekend. He said; "It has been an honor to have been a Chicago Cub for the last 13 years and to have played in the greatest ballpark, Wrigley Field. My deepest thanks go to my teammates and the Cubs organization for taking a chance on a kid from Texas and welcoming me into the Cubs family. Thank you Cubs fans, the greatest fans in all of baseball, for believing in me and supporting me over the years. I will always be proud to have been a Chicago Cub. Although I'm a member of a new 'Tribe', I will forever be a Chicagoan."
• Henry Blanco has signed a one year deal with the San Diego Padres worth $750,000. In my opinion, the Cubs should have resigned Henry. Rumors say that Paul Bako could sign with the Cubs for $500,000. I would much rather have Henry for only $250,000 more. Blanco was always one of my favorite non-superstars (along with Reed Johnson and Mike Fontenot). I bet the Hank White fan club is disappointed. I'd love to see Blanco come back to the Cubs as a coach down the road.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted.

Cubs Rumors

• The Cubs could be interested in adding Aaron Heilman to their bullpen. The Mariners are looking for middle infield help and Ronny Cedeno could be traded in a deal for Heilman according to Bruce Levine.
• Levine also reported during Talking Baseball today that the Cubs could pursue Randy Wolf.
• The San Diego Union Tribune says that if Jake Peavy is traded he could skip the World Baseball Classic so he could train with his new club.
• The Cubs are hoping to get 25 starts from Rich Harden in 2009.
• Bruce said that Sean Marshall will be used as a "Super 6 Starter".
• Milton Bradley is not worried about receiving taunts from the Wrigley crowd like Jacque Jones and LaTroy Hawkins got.
• The Cubs may sign Henry Blanco to be the backup catcher once the ownership situation is resolved. The Cubs have talked about Henry been a coach in the organization once he retires.
• Barry Rozner of the Daily Herald believes that Tom Rickets might increase the Cubs budget, which would allow Jim Hendry to acquire Peavy if he becomes the owner.

That's it for now, but I'll keep you posted.