Roster cuts coming?

[ltb]

That also guarantees Marshall a spot in my opinion.

 

Right - didn't Dusty say that he might be 4th in the rotation?

[abuck1220]

i don't see how marshall deserves that spot over hill, but i'd rather have him than kirk reuter or something.

[Illini Iceman]

Down to 29 now after Restovich was sent to minor league camp.

 

so unless a trade happens, it looks like Theriot will be on the Opening Day roster.

A temporary one until April 15th, though.

 

He may get longer than that. If they have Williams in long relief they could use him as the 5th starter once one is needed and then a roster move would not be necessary until Wood is activated off the DL.

[jjgman21]

Down to 28, Rich Hill sent down.

 

it's not making sense. Miller isn't one of the 28 since he is not even on the 40 man. I think the article cited above is wrong and we are now down to 27. that is what is listed on cubs.com.

 

if so, it all comes down to two spots for Theriot, Pagan, Novoa, Marshall, and Koronka.

 

I don't see Novoa making it since he won't have enough innings. and I think Pagan makes it because of his spring (rational basis for the decision or not), plus Theriot is pretty redundant with 4 middle infielders already. if they do send down Theriot and go with 12 pitchers, I get this strange feeling one will end up being Koronka, which will :x everyone, but I wouldn't mind trading an extra year of control over Marshall for a couple of games in April.

[Brian]

I think it's 28 because Miller hasn't been DL'd, or sent to a minor league camp so he's still technically on the team, but yes it's essentially 2 guys need to be sent down.

 

if so, it all comes down to two spots for Theriot, Pagan, Novoa, Marshall, and Koronka.

 

I think Novoa goes down simply because he doesn't have the arm strenght right now.

 

I'm guessing that they are waiting to see how williams does if he struggles, then Marshall will start and Williams to the pen. If not Marshall will go down and be looked at as a 5th starter candidate when needed.

[CubsWin]

I think it's 28 because Miller hasn't been DL'd, or sent to a minor league camp so he's still technically on the team, but yes it's essentially 2 guys need to be sent down.

 

if so, it all comes down to two spots for Theriot, Pagan, Novoa, Marshall, and Koronka.

 

I think Novoa goes down simply because he doesn't have the arm strenght right now.

 

I'm guessing that they are waiting to see how williams does if he struggles, then Marshall will start and Williams to the pen. If not Marshall will go down and be looked at as a 5th starter candidate when needed.

That's exactly how I see it, too, Brian. The start tomorrow will say a lot about how Williams is throwing at the moment. The Cubs are pretty confident that Marshall is throwing pretty well, so if Williams is shaky tomorrow, then Marshall will start the season as the 4th starter and Williams will be the long man out of the pen. If Williams gets an opportunity to work in that role and does well, then he will likely return to the rotation when a 5th starter is needed on April 15th leaving Hill and Guzman in AAA regardless of how they are doing.

 

I love this situation. As someone said earlier, the PCL is primarily a hitter's league, so if a pitcher is putting up good numbers, it is moderately impressive, at the least, its a good sign. So having Guzman and Hill toiling in Iowa will give the Cubs a good idea what kind of depth they have. So if Marshall or Williams is struggling and Guz and Hill are doing well, no worries. We got a guy who can come up and has a decent shot of pitching well.

 

But what really gets me excited is that we haven't even mentioned the names Mark Prior, Kerry Wood or Wade Miller yet. 8)

[CubsWin]

i don't see how marshall deserves that spot over hill, but i'd rather have him than kirk reuter or something.

I think Cubs management would answer that by saying the Marshall's control was much more consistent than Hill's and that was the determining factor.

[CubsWin]

if so, it all comes down to two spots for Theriot, Pagan, Novoa, Marshall, and Koronka.

 

I don't see Novoa making it since he won't have enough innings. and I think Pagan makes it because of his spring (rational basis for the decision or not), plus Theriot is pretty redundant with 4 middle infielders already. if they do send down Theriot and go with 12 pitchers, I get this strange feeling one will end up being Koronka, which will :x everyone, but I wouldn't mind trading an extra year of control over Marshall for a couple of games in April.

It's been reported a couple of times now that the Cubs expect to take 11 pitchers north due to the lack of needing a 5th starter until tax day, so I doubt they will be taking 12.

 

Theriot might not be as redundant as it seems. Of the four middle infielders you mentioned, none of them can play 3B as well as Theriot can. His defense at third is likely better than Mabry's as well. He may have supplanted John as the first choice to back-up third. Mabry's primary roll would be as a left-handed pinch-hitter and back-up OFer with Walker likely being the first choice to back up Lee at 1B given the depth at 2B currently on the roster.

 

Williamson returned from a back strain to pitch a 1/3 of inning the other day. It is still uncertain how healthy, but for the moment, lets assume he is ready. Wuertz made some mechanical changes and performed well getting the save the other day with a perfect 9th, so he is likely back in the the bullpen picture. With the consensus being that Novoa will likely not be ready to break with the big club, that leaves Koronka very much in the mix.

 

I think it comes down to Williams's performance tomorrow. If he pitches well enough to convince the Cubs brass to leave him in the rotation as the 4th starter, then Marshall will likely start the season in AA and Koronka will be the 3rd lefty in the pen.

 

I know Koronka's numbers from last season weren't all that impressive, but that was as a starter. Wuertz's numbers weren't all that great until he was moved to the pen. He gained some zip on his fastball and with his already harsh slider, he became an effective reliever in a very short time. The Cubs sent Koronka to the Arizona Fall League last season as a reliever and he dominated. In 10 appearances (all relief), he pitched 13 innings, faced 50 batters, allowed 8 hits, no runs, striking out 11 and walking 5. Batters hit .178 against him. He finished 7 games and earned 3 saves with none blown obviously. He has looked pretty good so far this spring (3.75 ERA). He may be this year's Wuertz.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Here's Bruce Miles' take on who will head north.

 

Barring a late deal or a waiver claim, the position-player component of the roster is set, with rookies Angel Pagan and Ryan Theriot on the team.

 

If rookie left-hander Sean Marshall makes the club as the fourth starter, the final two bullpen spots look like they belong to Jerome Williams and Michael Wuertz. Williams likely will be the long reliever until the Cubs need a fifth starter on April 15.

 

Wuertz, who led the team in appearances last year, earned a save Tuesday with a 1-2-3 inning, and the Cubs look like they’ll give him the benefit of the doubt after an overall poor spring.

 

Right-handed reliever Roberto Novoa has been ill most of March with valley fever. Lefty John Koronka has pitched well in relief, a new role for him. Both are longshots to make the team at this point.

 

[EightyTwo]

Novoa has been sent to Iowa.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/transactions

[Mark Priors Calves]

Novoa has been sent to Iowa.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/transactions

 

Not a bigger shocker with how much spring training he missed. While he's far from a great reliever, its nice to have another option for the bullpen in Iowa with the likely injury/ineffectiveness of the Cubs' pen.

[CubDad4Ever]

Ive watched Marshall , twice this spring. His command is better at this juncture than Hills , that is why along with 3 pitchs and solid stuff, he has jumped ahead of Guzman and Hill. Things change, im happy the cubs have this kind of depth , without even mentioning Prior, Wood and Miller. Coach L

[Fro]

It'll be very interesting seeing Baker manage this team, for sure.

 

Very glad some people seem to have stepped up big in Spring Training, because we needed it.

[Wheelimus]

It'll be crazy if (and that's a huge if) Wood, Prior, and Miller all come back early in the year healthy. If Marshall continues to impress and Guzman is breathing down all of their necks, that's going to make for some crazy depth. We should be able to deal a little of that to patch up whatever comes to be our weaknesses.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

It'll be crazy if (and that's a huge if) Wood, Prior, and Miller all come back early in the year healthy. If Marshall continues to impress and Guzman is breathing down all of their necks, that's going to make for some crazy depth. We should be able to deal a little of that to patch up whatever comes to be our weaknesses.

Pitching depth is always a good problem to have.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

with the likely injury/ineffectiveness of the Cubs' pen.

 

Wlliamson,Eyre & Howry will change that TY. The BP will be the teams strength this year.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

It would be nice to be able to have a healthy Wood, Prior, and Miller along with Zambrano and Maddux and good performances by Marshall.

 

I know that's a lot to ask for, but I can hope.

[Mark Priors Calves]

with the likely injury/ineffectiveness of the Cubs' pen.

 

Wlliamson,Eyre & Howry will change that TY. The BP will be the teams strength this year.

Hopefully, the bullpen is a strength but if even one guy struggles then Novoa will be there to replace him.

[B]

with the likely injury/ineffectiveness of the Cubs' pen.

 

Wlliamson,Eyre & Howry will change that TY. The BP will be the teams strength this year.

Hopefully, the bullpen is a strength but if even one guy struggles then Novoa will be there to replace him.

 

Novoa sucks.

[Blueheart05]

Novoa has been optioned to AAA. The roster is now at 27.

 

Cubs.com

 

The break down:

 

13 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders. Of those 27, one is a non-roster invitee.

 

Miller is the NRI

[Bull]

Novoa has been optioned to AAA. The roster is now at 27.

 

Cubs.com

 

The break down:

 

13 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders. Of those 27, one is a non-roster invitee.

 

Miller is the NRI

 

So when Koronka gets send down, the roster will be set, right?

[Blueheart05]

Novoa has been optioned to AAA. The roster is now at 27.

 

Cubs.com

 

The break down:

 

13 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders. Of those 27, one is a non-roster invitee.

 

Miller is the NRI

 

So when Koronka gets send down, the roster will be set, right?

 

Yes. Unless something else, unforseen, happens.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Novoa has been optioned to AAA. The roster is now at 27.

 

Cubs.com

 

The break down:

 

13 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders. Of those 27, one is a non-roster invitee.

 

Miller is the NRI

 

So when Koronka gets send down, the roster will be set, right?

 

And Koronka had better get sent down.

[Mark Priors Calves]

with the likely injury/ineffectiveness of the Cubs' pen.

 

Wlliamson,Eyre & Howry will change that TY. The BP will be the teams strength this year.

Hopefully, the bullpen is a strength but if even one guy struggles then Novoa will be there to replace him.

 

Novoa sucks.

 

I wouldn't go that far. But if the Cubs were actually contemplating using Koronoka out of the bullpen when they break camp, Novoa definitely has a role in the organization.

[RyCubsFan]

Novoa has been optioned to AAA. The roster is now at 27.

 

Cubs.com

 

The break down:

 

13 pitchers, two catchers, seven infielders and five outfielders. Of those 27, one is a non-roster invitee.

 

Miller is the NRI

 

So when Koronka gets send down, the roster will be set, right?

 

And Koronka had better get sent down.

 

I don't think Koronka is nearly as bad as you think he is. Since he's moved to the bullpen, he's picked up a few ticks on his fastball. He was lights out in the Arizona Fall League (allowed no runs) and he's pitched well this Spring.

 

The final spot must be between Wuertz and Koronka. I'd still like to see Wuertz get the nod, as he had such a good year last year. The spot is his to lose.