Why the Jim Edmonds Signing DOES Make Sense

I have to disagree with those that say that the Jim Edmonds signing doesnt make sense and those that would really get down on it now with his 2-15 start.   There are numerous reasons why this DOES make sense for the Chicago Cubs

1) Experience-  it appears that you do not lose a lot defensively as evidenced by that incredible catch in Houston that saved 2 runs and the ballgame.  Pie is the better defender and has more speed on the basepaths for the Cubs to exploit there, however at the plate, Pie is lost.  He strikes out far too frequently and by doing that he limits how Piniella can use him.  He cant reliably be a hitter for the hit and run if he fails to make contact - he leaves the runner hung out to dry.  Edmonds on the other hand can give you the fly ball if you need it for a sacrifice fly or to move a runner from 2nd to 3rd. He can also hit the ball to the right side to move that runner along to 3rd.  This is assuming the worst case scenario, that he doesnt begin to hit for a reasonably high average.  Should he begin to hit, the Cubs have a nice set of people that could play center-  Edmonds, Johnson and Fukudome. If he doesnt hit, then he didnt cost them much. 

2) Mentoring   -  he can teach the younger outfielders how to play the position - even Pie who would most certainly be a September call-up.  Having him on your roster when it expands to 40 certainly offers Lou even more flexibility.  He could tutor Hoffpauir for one on outfield play at the corners.  Edmonds like him or not was one of the best center fielders in the last 20 years.  The 8 time Gold glover is no slouch.  

3) Scouting -   Information, Information, Information.    Edmonds was not happy with the way the hated St Louis Cardinals treated him and I am certain that his brain can be picked for nuggets of information on Pujols et al.  He knows what pitches they like.  Also he would be a valuable source of information to the Cubs as to what he knows about other hitters and pitchers in the league.  He can share where he plays the hitters defensively and also what the pitchers like to throw him in certain situations. 

4) Winning -  to a ball club that does not have the greatest record in big games in its history, he offers someone who was an integral part of winning a World Series in 2006 and playing in one in 2004.  Just like in hockey where young teams like to have someone on the roster that has been in the trenches of the long Stanley Cup run, Edmonds offers this knowledge to the Cubs.

5) Opportunity.   He affords Felix Pie the opportunity to go to Iowa and try and figure out why he strikes out so much at the major league level and work on that by playing every day.   He even could take advantage of trying to learn how to hit left handed pitching from two of his Iowa Cubs team members, Rich Hill and Sean Marshall, legitimate major league left handed starters.  He is very young and very fast, he needs to hit like Lou Brock did for the Cardinals, he has some pop in his bat but his swing has too many holes in it and especially with two strikes, he lacks the discipline to be selective.  He bunts well but he doesnt use it as a weapon like Rod Carew did or Willie Tavares does now.  He should try and bunt at least one time every game just to plant the seed in the corner infielders mind that he can and will do it. 

6) Cheap insurance -   Edmonds will cost the Cubs around 289,000 prorated.  If he does start to pan out this is a cheap find.  Reed Johnson who is the right handed hitting part of the center field platoon was also a cheap pickup and has turned out to be one of the major pleasant surprises.  Given Soriano's lame legs and the nagging nature of his situation, having Edmonds around allows Lou to put Reed Johnson at any of the corner spots as a defensive replacement to say Micah Hoffpaiur or even Darryl Ward when he returns.  Edmonds is not a significant downgrade to Pie defensively. 

7) Lastly - motivation  -  he wants to succeed and to show the Cardinals that he has something left in the tank and I feel that he will heat up.  He did not get a chance in San Diego to recover from the injury at a minor league rehab or anything like that.  He hasnt had a chance with the Cubs to get extended time - the Cubs have had two 3 game stretches against the Pirates where he sat for 4 of those 6 games and Johnson will and should start the next 2 of this series.  What we need to see is a situation where they face right handers and he doesnt have to sit for 3 games, where lefties are sprinkled in and Lou can get favorable matchups for both he and Reed Johnson.  Pittsburgh has to be the worst team for Edmonds to be playing against as they send a ton of lefties to the mound as starters and also out of the pen with Marte, and Grabow.  

Good luck Jimmy!    And yes I do detest the Cardinals despite the fact that one of my top 3 friends is a Cardinals fan.