Dusty Basically just said Pagan is on the team.

[JGalt73]

PECOTA weighs in on the debate with the following predictions:

 

Pagan .257/.316/.386 with +defense

 

Restovich .241/.308/.417 with +/-defense

 

Neither is predicted to be much of an offensive player.

[SouthSideRyan]

This bench is going to combine for about 3 HRs all year.

[cubscott34]

Well, this qoute from the Sun-Times tells me that the Cubs may be leaning towards a 12 man staff again once they need a 5th starter. :evil:

 

If Grissom doesn't make the Cubs, Theriot probably has the best chance to be selected as the so-called 25th man. He's scrappy, a good pinch runner and someone with minor-league options who could be sent down to Class AAA Iowa when the Cubs need to recall the undetermined No. 5 starter for a game April 15 against Pittsburgh.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

PECOTA weighs in on the debate with the following predictions:

 

Pagan .257/.316/.386 with +defense

 

Restovich .241/.308/.417 with +/-defense

 

Neither is predicted to be much of an offensive player.

 

I'll take Pagan b/c of his speed and defense, considering that they're both not offensive threats. Mabry already gives us power off the bench. Pagan can play all 3 OF positions fairly well. Restovich is pretty much a butcher from what I've seen.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

This bench is going to combine for about 3 HRs all year.

 

Mabry will hit way more than twice that by himself.

[goonys evil twin]

Well, this qoute from the Sun-Times tells me that the Cubs may be leaning towards a 12 man staff again once they need a 5th starter. :evil:

 

If Grissom doesn't make the Cubs, Theriot probably has the best chance to be selected as the so-called 25th man. He's scrappy, a good pinch runner and someone with minor-league options who could be sent down to Class AAA Iowa when the Cubs need to recall the undetermined No. 5 starter for a game April 15 against Pittsburgh.

 

I think the quote is just referring to the benefit of him having options, and not necessarily weighing in on the 12 man staff. But with the Cubs history of wasting space with a man in the bullpen who can sit for 2 weeks at a time, that's not a bad assumption to make.

[YearofDaCubs]

I think one big reason Pagan can make the team is because of his speed.

[srbin84]

This bench is going to combine for about 3 HRs all year.

 

Mabry will hit way more than twice that by himself.

 

How many homers do you think he is gonna get? 10, 15?

[srbin84]

I think one big reason Pagan can make the team is because of his speed.

 

Another is that with Hairston starting at second, we dont have anyone who can play outfield on the bench.

[YearofDaCubs]

I think one big reason Pagan can make the team is because of his speed.

 

Another is that with Hairston starting at second, we dont have anyone who can play outfield on the bench.

Grissom dude! :wink:

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

This bench is going to combine for about 3 HRs all year.

 

Mabry will hit way more than twice that by himself.

 

How many homers do you think he is gonna get? 10, 15?

 

Last season he hit 8 in 246 AB. The year before he hit 13 in 240 AB.

 

Take his left handed bat in Wrigley and I don't see how he doesn't put up 6+ HR this season.

 

Our bench not having a combined 3 HR all year...

 

INCONCEIVABLE!

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

I think one big reason Pagan can make the team is because of his speed.

 

Another is that with Hairston starting at second, we dont have anyone who can play outfield on the bench.

Grissom dude! :wink:

 

Grissom really doesn't play OF. He kind of misreads the ball off the bad, tries to make up for it with non-existent speed, and then lets the ball go over his head for a triple instead of a routine out.

[moorecg]

One other reason to think that Pagan might be the guy to get the spot is that he's 2 years younger than Restovich so still has potential to just be coming into himself, and also, Cubs.com has Pagan on the 40 man roster where Restovich isn't.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

In fairness to Pagan, he looked to be improving pretty steadily until his first full season in AAA. It could have been a fluke. I don't know. We might have to trust the scouts on this one.

[Shawon12]

Pagan making it over Grissom is fine by me. But pretending Pagan's spring is in anyway indicative of what he's capable of in the regular season is just plain unrealistic. Spring training results, especially ones that are out of line with career numbers, are meaningless.

 

Assuming Hairston is the starter and 2nd and Walker is still around, I'd like to see the bench like this:

 

Blanco

Neifi

Walker

Mabry

Pagan

Restovich

 

The IF is covered, the OF is covered. Walker is a good LH bat. Mabry might be a decent LH bat. Restovich is your only RH threat.

 

With 4 starters the first couple weeks, there is no need to even consider using 12 pitchers. Once the 5th starter gets his first action mid-month, you should be fine with 6 relievers. Any time you need an extra arm you call somebody up from AAA and send down whichever kid gets the nod. If Ryu is the long man out of the pen to start the season, he can go to AAA if/when Marshall or Guzman gets called up for 5th starter duty.

 

Pagan's minor league number's are not that bad. He is only 24. I think the Mets gave up on him to soon.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Pagan = Goodwin

[LoneStarCubFan]

Pagan = Goodwin

 

Pagan >>>>>>> Macias

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Pagan = Goodwin

 

Pagan >>>>>>> Macias

 

No question.

 

I miss the little Germlin. :evil:

[moorecg]

A similar guy that I think the Cubs gave up on a little too soon...especially considering some of the guys on our bench over the last 5 years.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=4080

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Pagan = Goodwin

 

Goodwin had a couple of decent seasons. In 1998 for Texas, Goodwin posted a 290/378/338 line while showing off decent speed on the bases but not knowing when to run. I think Pagan already has better instincts in that department.

 

If Pagan can give somewhat similar production from the bench, he could be useful. Pierre is going to play everyday, so I don't see Pagan getting more that 20 starts all year. He'll get some pinch hitting opportunities and be used as a late inning pinch runner and defensive replacement.

 

If that's how he's used, he's not a bad option.

 

I'd prefer to have some right-handed power on the bench, though. Restovich would supply that.

[Derwood]

I'm glad Grissom wasted spring at-bats if he doesn't think he can do it this year.

[Andy]

Pagan = Goodwin

Pagan is a better hitter than Goodwin, but probably not as SB-efficient. I'd be surprised and pleased if Pagan could steal bases as well as Goodwin did in 2003.

[CubinNY]

Pagan = Goodwin

 

Although he appears to have a tad bit more power, I basically agree.

 

I'd much rather have Restovich or Sing on the bench, at least they have a chance to go yard.

 

To me Pagen is another "toolsy" guy who has impressed b/c we haven't seen him play much and don't know much about him. If he were a Cub prospect I think many of us would think differently.

 

His career line in the minors looks like this:

 

.278 .334 .373 and a whopping 15 HRs in five seasons.

 

Not much to get excited about, IMO.

Edited March 28, 2006 by CubinNY

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Pagan = Goodwin

Pagan is a better hitter than Goodwin, but probably not as SB-efficient. I'd be surprised and pleased if Pagan could steal bases as well as Goodwin did in 2003.

 

I'm not sure Goodwin was that more efficient. He was 75.8% on his career which is a little better than Pagan's minor league numbers. Goodwin gained some effieciency later in his career when he ran less but picked his spots better.

[Jehrico]

Pagan making it over Grissom is fine by me. But pretending Pagan's spring is in anyway indicative of what he's capable of in the regular season is just plain unrealistic. Spring training results, especially ones that are out of line with career numbers, are meaningless.

 

I haven't seen anything from anyone that suggests there are expectations for him to hit like he has in ST. However, his ST numbers should be useful to compare him against the guys he's competing with for a roster spot (Grissom, Restovich, Theriot, etc...). In that respect, he's got the best numbers, and should be ahead of those guys on the list. His numbers obviously shouldn't be used to compare him against guys who have done well in the majors recently who have enough of a track record to reasonably predict how they'll do this year, like Walker or Hairston.