Goodbye, Corey

The Internet is abuzz with repotrs that Corey Patterson will be traded before the end of the day. Initial reports were that he is going to Baltimore in exchange for a minor league pitching prospect. Then the talk changed to Patterson being part of a package going to Baltimore that would bring Miguel Tejada and Eric Bedard to the Cubs. Now comes word attributed to KIRO radio in Seattle that Patterson will be going to the Mariners in exchange for pitcher Gil Meche.

Wherever Corey goes, I'm sad to see him go. Not because I think he's such a great player, but because in Corey, I see yet another promising prospect screwed up and then thrown away by the Cubs.

In Corey's case, I don't know who is to blame. I think Corey has to accept some of the blame himself. He was either unwilling or unable to change his poor batting habits. But I think the Cubs, particularly Dusty Baker, have to take some of the blame for misusing him. Corey was never cut out to be a lead-off hitter, but the Cubs relentlessly pushed him in that direction.

Corey needs to go elsewhere, there's no doubt about that. It's just a shame that he was never able to reach his full potential with the Cubs.