A battle-hardened veteran's Renaissance

So it's been a few weeks (again) since I wrote on this blog, and I promise to try to write more often, because I have plenty to say about the Chicago Cubs!  But enough of the excuse making, let's get to business.

 Continuing the Around the Horn way of hitting all the spots on the field, we continue with a foe-turned-ally, CF Jim Edmonds.

It would be easy for me to sit here and say that I saw this coming, that Edmonds' meteoric rise to the top of all Cubs fans' hearts was foretold ages ago in May.  And it would be a lie, because no one, save for one GM Jim Hendry, thought Jim Edmonds had anything left in the tank.  Hendry continues to dazzle us, downright spoil us with the finds this season.

Edmonds began the season with the San Diego Padres, after the St. Louis Cardinals unceremoniously shipped him off after he played countless years for them, even winning a World Series with them.  The Padres showed little patience with Edmonds, who was hampered by left foot problems early in the year.  It looked as if Edmonds' career was going to come to an abrupt, graceless end.  And then, Jim Hendry happened.

What's that?  A first place team in need of a left-handed bat, a power bat, a presence in Center field, and defense being an added bonus?  Some protection down in the line-up for 1B Derrek Lee and 3B Aramis Ramirez, you ask?  Well, in the "Gospel of Baseball According to James Hendry", ASK AND YE SHALL RECEIVE!

For those who claimed Edmonds was too old to play a competent Center Field, the Gold Glove-winning defensive stalwart has shown that he can still go get 'em.  For those who felt Hendry would be taking playing time away from the younger players like OF Reed Johnson and CF Felix Pie, Edmonds has shown that he deserves to be in the starting line-up, and Pie's demotion back to AAA (again) has allowed Reed Johnson to slip into the all-purpose outfielder and solidified an already-strong outfield with LF Alfonso Soriano and RF Kosuke Fukudome.  To those who wanted to shy away from Edmonds due to injury worries lingering from earlier in the year, Manager Lou Piniella was cautious and used Edmonds sparingly after he joined the team, giving him the chance to get acclimated with the team, the stadium dimensions, and the atmosphere of Wrigley Field.  Yes, Jim Edmonds did have to sit out a few days in May and June because of the sore left foot, but he is 38, and he's now in mid-season form, with fresher legs and will be ready for October because of the time off earlier  For those who thought Edmonds' good hitting days were far behind him... the results speak for themselves.  While Edmonds did begin the season hitting below the Mendoza line, he has come back in a big way, hitting over .240 on the season now, 15 homers with the Cubs, and continuing to hit in key spots.  Does anyone remember the Grand Slam vs. Milwaukee one short week and a half ago?  And finally, to those who think that the Cubs didn't need to spend the money, ANY money on Jim Edmonds.... well, we didn't.  At least, by Major League Standards, the Cubs got a 5-finger discount.  Jim Edmonds' contract stipulates he is due $8 million this year, with the majority of it being paid by the St. Louis Cardinals.  They dealt him to the Padres, who will eat up another chunk of his salary.  After being released by the Padres, the Cubs were able to add Jim Edmonds to the roster for the low, low LOW price of the MLB-minimum $450,000.  The Cardinals and Padres will pay the rest of Edmonds' salary this year; thanks for the free impact player!

Jim Edmonds is a testament to what a true Major Leaguer is: quiet, lets his game speak for him, and never quits, even when everyone else has counted him out.  All he needed was one person to believe that he could contribute to a club, and Jim Hendry recognized that and brought him onboard.  Now, he is the starting CF for the best team in the National League and second-best record in the Major Leagues.  At 38 years young, he is playing with the heart, fire, and skill of a 24 year old.

 Thank you Jimmy!  While I cringed every time I saw you step up to the plate in Cardinal red or make another over-the-shoulder, highlight-reel catch in the outfield, I have never felt happier to see you play in the Friendly Confines.

 On deck: IF/OF Mark DeRosa; In the hole: C Geovany Soto