Did it bother anyone else...

[moorecg]

That before yesterday's televised game Bob and Len said "Dusty's got the starting OF here to work together and the Starting Infield in the other split squad game...even during Split Squad games he likes to keep those Units together so they can continue to work on timing.

 

Ok..that statement, by itself is fine, and make sense...what bothers me was that Ronny was playing SS in the game that had the "starting outfield"

 

I know Bruce has told us many times, not to worry, Ronny's starting at SS but as a Cubs fan I'm inherently skeptical...did anyone else pick up on this yesterday?

[stitchface]

if it makes you feel any better, they interviewed Dusty during the game and he said that Ronny was not competing for a starting spot and that he hadn't been competing for a spot all spring. Ronny will be starting at SS. Dusty said it yesterday quite definitively.

[nick23]

I did hear him say that. I don't think Brenly really knows what he's talking about half the time. When they interviewed Baker during the game he mentioned that Cedeno had the job. Hopefully he was talking about the SS job and not just a job on the roster.

[moorecg]

Well...that does make me feel better...I missed the interview with Dusty...that may have been during my little "nap" from the 3rd till the 7th... :D

 

Anyway. thanks,

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

From the wording Dusty used, it's sounds like the job is Cedeno's for quite some time, even if he struggles. He's already made it and doesn't have to worry about keeping the job, just play baseball according to Dusty.

[rawaction]

Hairston also started with the starting IF. I think that was more a hint of who will be the opening day 2B. Of course, Lee didn't play either game. :shock:

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Hairston also started with the starting IF. I think that was more a hint of who will be the opening day 2B. Of course, Lee didn't play either game. :shock:

 

Ride the pine, big guy. We don't need that 1000 OPS on our team.

 

EDIT: I'm joking, of course.

[moorecg]

Hairston also started with the starting IF. I think that was more a hint of who will be the opening day 2B. Of course, Lee didn't play either game. :shock:

 

Yeah...I'm beginning to think hte 2nd base job is Hairson's to lose. And honestly, if he can put up a solid OBP and play good defense, I've got no problem with it...as long as Nefi is nothing more than a backup on this team I'm a happy camper, and if he's not starting, Walker is a little Left Handed pop off the bench, which is nice.

 

Also, I just noticed that both A-ram and Murton are in the TOP FOUR of all of baseball in batting average this spring...that's a great sign.

[NCCubFan]

Bruce to the rescue. In today's column he states that it is a given that Cedeno will open the season as starting shortstop.

[louisvillecub]

Thank God Neifi is backing up...

[otis89]

Thank God Neifi is backing up...

 

Agreed. That's all Neifi should ever do. However, if we're playing against a pitcher that Neifi has completely dominated in his career, I have no problem with him starting and giving Cedeno a rest.

[Jehrico]

Thank God Neifi is backing up...

 

Agreed. That's all Neifi should ever do. However, if we're playing against a pitcher that Neifi has completely dominated in his career, I have no problem with him starting and giving Cedeno a rest.

 

Agreed. Let's highlight Neifi against only pitchers he has historically killed, so we can raise is trade value :lol:

[MembersOnlyJacket]

Bruce to the rescue. In today's column he states that it is a given that Cedeno will open the season as starting shortstop.

 

The Cubs won't open with 12 pitchers ? This is the first year I can recall them going with 11 pitchers and 14 position players.

[NCCubFan]

Bruce to the rescue. In today's column he states that it is a given that Cedeno will open the season as starting shortstop.

 

The Cubs won't open with 12 pitchers ? This is the first year I can recall them going with 11 pitchers and 14 position players.

Maybe with the stronger bullpen (Williamson, Howry, and Eyre) they don't see the need for an extra arm. I've always thought they should go with 11 pitchers and 14 position players. It's possible they'll start off that way, then add an extra bullpen arm when the injured starters come back because of concerns over how deep they'll be ready to go.

[Jehrico]

Bruce to the rescue. In today's column he states that it is a given that Cedeno will open the season as starting shortstop.

 

The Cubs won't open with 12 pitchers ? This is the first year I can recall them going with 11 pitchers and 14 position players.

Maybe with the stronger bullpen (Williamson, Howry, and Eyre) they don't see the need for an extra arm. I've always thought they should go with 11 pitchers and 14 position players. It's possible they'll start off that way, then add an extra bullpen arm when the injured starters come back because of concerns over how deep they'll be ready to go.

 

If they won't use the 5th starter for a couple of weeks, then the 5th starter can double as a 7th BP arm until we go to the normal 5 man rotation. Breaking with 12 pitchers would essentially be 8 bullpen arms the first two weeks.

[WrigleyField 22]

So its shaping up to be:

SP

Zambrano

Maddux

Rusch

Williams

RP

Dempster

Howry

Eyre

Williamson

Wuertz

Ohman

Wellymeyer

(Maybe Ryu instead of Ohman?)

C-Barrett

C-Blanco

1B-Lee

2B-Walker

2B-Hairston

3B-Ramirez

SS-Cedeno

LF-Murton

CF-Pierre

RF-Jones

Mabry OF/1B/3B

Perez SS/2B

Pagan

 

Which leaves one spot for a position player. Grissom could be that guy, but we'd need to clear a spot on the 40 man for him, and apparently we already need to clearf one for Miller. Wellymeyer could get trader or just taken off and claimed on waivers, but at 40 men we would still need to clear another spot if we wanted Grissom AND Miller.

 

They may be able to take Koronka off the 40 man and not lose him. The same could go with Aardsma. Otherwise it looks like Theriot could break camp with the big league team.

 

Looking ahead to April 15, when we need a 5th starter, they could use Ryu if he is already with the team and no movement needed. At that time they could send back down Theriot for Marshall/Guzman/Hill and go with 12 pitchers. If Wellymeyer is on the team, I would thin he could be traded to clear a spot an still go with 11 pitchers. My guess would be Theriot goes down and we see the 12 man staff.

[Blueheart05]

So its shaping up to be:

SP

Zambrano

Maddux

Rusch

Williams

RP

Dempster

Howry

Eyre

Williamson

Wuertz

Ohman

Wellymeyer

(Maybe Ryu instead of Ohman?)

C-Barrett

C-Blanco

1B-Lee

2B-Walker

2B-Hairston

3B-Ramirez

SS-Cedeno

LF-Murton

CF-Pierre

RF-Jones

Mabry OF/1B/3B

Perez SS/2B

Pagan

 

Which leaves one spot for a position player. Grissom could be that guy, but we'd need to clear a spot on the 40 man for him, and apparently we already need to clearf one for Miller. Wellymeyer could get trader or just taken off and claimed on waivers, but at 40 men we would still need to clear another spot if we wanted Grissom AND Miller.

 

They may be able to take Koronka off the 40 man and not lose him. The same could go with Aardsma. Otherwise it looks like Theriot could break camp with the big league team.

 

Looking ahead to April 15, when we need a 5th starter, they could use Ryu if he is already with the team and no movement needed. At that time they could send back down Theriot for Marshall/Guzman/Hill and go with 12 pitchers. If Wellymeyer is on the team, I would thin he could be traded to clear a spot an still go with 11 pitchers. My guess would be Theriot goes down and we see the 12 man staff.

 

I don't think Ohman's spot is in question. My guess is, if Ryu makes the team it's at the expense of Welleymeyer or Wuertz. Unfortunately,Williamson just left the game with what looks to be an injury so, there maybe an opening.

[mhuber92211]

BTW, Lee's absence was becasue he is back in California handling a family emergency with his grandfather.