Piniella Says Roster Will Have 12 Pitchers and No 4-man

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

According to Piniella, the Cubs will open the season with 12 pitchers and a full five man rotation.

 

Link.

 

Piniella said he expects to break camp with 12 pitchers.

 

"We're playing a lot of games early in the year, we go to the [West] Coast where you're not going to get rained out," Piniella said of the Cubs' April schedule. "Also, I don't like the idea of whoever our fifth starter is to pitch all spring and then sit. We'll stay in rotation as much as possible when the season starts so everybody gets their innings in.

[Amazing_Grace]

According to Piniella, the Cubs will open the season with 12 pitchers and a full five man rotation.

 

Link.

 

Piniella said he expects to break camp with 12 pitchers.

 

"We're playing a lot of games early in the year, we go to the [West] Coast where you're not going to get rained out," Piniella said of the Cubs' April schedule. "Also, I don't like the idea of whoever our fifth starter is to pitch all spring and then sit. We'll stay in rotation as much as possible when the season starts so everybody gets their innings in.

 

So this means just 5 bench players. I guess Theriot, Floyd, Ward, Blanco for sure and one more. Probably a 2nd infielder. Cedeno or Hill? This almost certainly will put Pagan off the ML roster barring injury.

 

I actually like his fifth starter logic. It doesn't make any sense to have a fifth starter if you're not going to use him. It also saves pitches for the top four pitchers. I always hated when Dusty would skip the fifth guy because it was just racking up that many more pitches on the already overworked Wood, Prior, Z, etc. for a better chance to win one game.

[hawkeyecub]

I'm glad Lou isn't falling into that trap of skipping the 5th man. It's rarely ever a good idea for the long-term and makes no sense with this team.

 

I hope we don't stick with 12 pitchers all year though.

[JC]

While I don't openly advocate using twelve pitchers, it can't be as bad when you don't have Jose Macias, Neifi Perez, Enrique Wilson, Rey Ordonez, Jerry Hairston, Darrin Lewis and Tom Goodwin on the bench.

[Bull]

While I don't openly advocate using twelve pitchers, it can't be as bad when you don't have Jose Macias, Neifi Perez, Enrique Wilson, Rey Ordonez, Jerry Hairston, Darrin Lewis and Tom Goodwin on the bench.

 

I just threw up a little

[Guest]

While I don't openly advocate using twelve pitchers, it can't be as bad when you don't have Jose Macias, Neifi Perez, Enrique Wilson, Rey Ordonez, Jerry Hairston, Darrin Lewis and Tom Goodwin on the bench.

Welcome back, JC.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

At least the 5th starter's spot doesn't get skipped a bunch in April so that Z's arm can get more taxed.

[BigbadB]

I'm guessing Pagan still makes the team. Hill will probably get cut. There are already too many options at 2b and 3b in AAA with Patterson, Fontenot, McGehee, Moore and Craig. I suppose Hill could replace Fontenot as the utility back up at Iowa, but not sure how that will sit with him.

 

I'd like the 25th spot for McGehee, but it's probably not very likely.

[BigbadB]

At least the 5th starter's spot doesn't get skipped a bunch in April so that Z's arm can get more taxed.

 

Lou is starting off way better than Dusty already.

[JC]

While I don't openly advocate using twelve pitchers, it can't be as bad when you don't have Jose Macias, Neifi Perez, Enrique Wilson, Rey Ordonez, Jerry Hairston, Darrin Lewis and Tom Goodwin on the bench.

Welcome back, JC.

 

Whether it was a hiatus or sabbatical, I'm done with it. Its good to be home. Too bad, suckers.

[BigbadB]

While I don't openly advocate using twelve pitchers, it can't be as bad when you don't have Jose Macias, Neifi Perez, Enrique Wilson, Rey Ordonez, Jerry Hairston, Darrin Lewis and Tom Goodwin on the bench.

Welcome back, JC.

 

Whether it was a hiatus or sabbatical, I'm done with it. Its good to be home. Too bad, suckers.

 

:roll:

 

Haven't had to break out that emoticon out since the last time your graced us with your presence. :D Welcome back!

[JC]

While I don't openly advocate using twelve pitchers, it can't be as bad when you don't have Jose Macias, Neifi Perez, Enrique Wilson, Rey Ordonez, Jerry Hairston, Darrin Lewis and Tom Goodwin on the bench.

Welcome back, JC.

 

Whether it was a hiatus or sabbatical, I'm done with it. Its good to be home. Too bad, suckers.

 

:roll:

 

Haven't had to break out that emoticon out since the last time your graced us with your presence. :D Welcome back!

 

Despite my infrequent posting over the past few months, I still dominate you by way of number of posts.

 

That is still the way you determine status around here, correct? Or, is it the amount of times you force people to eat crow? :wink:

[Laura]

While I don't openly advocate using twelve pitchers, it can't be as bad when you don't have Jose Macias, Neifi Perez, Enrique Wilson, Rey Ordonez, Jerry Hairston, Darrin Lewis and Tom Goodwin on the bench.

Welcome back, JC.

 

Whether it was a hiatus or sabbatical, I'm done with it. Its good to be home. Too bad, suckers.

 

:roll:

 

Haven't had to break out that emoticon out since the last time your graced us with your presence. :D Welcome back!

 

Despite my infrequent posting over the past few months, I still dominate you by way of number of posts.

 

That is still the way you determine status around here, correct? Or, is it the amount of times you force people to eat crow? :wink:

 

There's also the occasional vote to determine whether or not you're a true Cubs fan.

[Andy]

While I don't openly advocate using twelve pitchers, it can't be as bad when you don't have Jose Macias, Neifi Perez, Enrique Wilson, Rey Ordonez, Jerry Hairston, Darrin Lewis and Tom Goodwin on the bench.

Welcome back, JC.

 

Whether it was a hiatus or sabbatical, I'm done with it. Its good to be home. Too bad, suckers.

 

:roll:

 

Haven't had to break out that emoticon out since the last time your graced us with your presence. :D Welcome back!

 

Despite my infrequent posting over the past few months, I still dominate you by way of number of posts.

 

That is still the way you determine status around here, correct? Or, is it the amount of times you force people to eat crow? :wink:

 

There's also the occasional vote to determine whether or not you're a true Cubs fan.

What was the saying? "Not a real Cubs fan, just here for the chicken wings"?

[BigbadB]

Despite my infrequent posting over the past few months, I still dominate you by way of number of posts.

 

Posts with actual substance:

 

BigbadB: 11437

JC: 3

 

 

I'm a little bit ahead of you there. :D

[A New Era]

I'm a bigger cubs fan than all of you, so you've got to multiply my post count by, around 5. So I've got most of you beat.

[Amazing_Grace]

I'm guessing Pagan still makes the team. Hill will probably get cut. There are already too many options at 2b and 3b in AAA with Patterson, Fontenot, McGehee, Moore and Craig. I suppose Hill could replace Fontenot as the utility back up at Iowa, but not sure how that will sit with him.

 

I'd like the 25th spot for McGehee, but it's probably not very likely.

 

I agree either B. Hill either makes the MLB team or gets cut. I think if he does make the team it's going to be because somebody *cough*Prior*cough*Miller*cough is getting put on the DL and we have a 40 man roster spot freed up.

 

I can't see the Cubs going with just a single backup IF. I know Ward can play a little 1B but nobody can really play 3rd. Haven't they made comments about Theriot being able to play CF? If he can, then it really makes Pagan completely unnecessary. Pagan only looked decent last year because we got to compare him to the likes of Neifi Perez and Freddy Bynum. He's not really worth keeping from a prospect standpoint. If Hill doesn't make the team, I'd prefer the Cubs go with one of their own farmhands for the other backup IF role.

[Jehrico]

I didn't really fault Dusty for skipping the 5th starter when he did. When your 5th starter is someone like Estes, it's good to skip him. Hopefully this year, we won't have a black hole for the 5th guy, so there's not need to skip him.

[Jehrico]

Despite my infrequent posting over the past few months, I still dominate you by way of number of posts.

 

Posts with actual substance:

 

BigbadB: 11437

JC: 3

 

 

I'm a little bit ahead of you there. :D

Let's not exaggerate. You know he's got at least twice as many posts with substance as that! :o

[BigbadB]

I agree either B. Hill either makes the MLB team or gets cut. I think if he does make the team it's going to be because somebody *cough*Prior*cough*Miller*cough is getting put on the DL and we have a 40 man roster spot freed up.

 

I can't see the Cubs going with just a single backup IF. I know Ward can play a little 1B but nobody can really play 3rd. Haven't they made comments about Theriot being able to play CF? If he can, then it really makes Pagan completely unnecessary. Pagan only looked decent last year because we got to compare him to the likes of Neifi Perez and Freddy Bynum. He's not really worth keeping from a prospect standpoint. If Hill doesn't make the team, I'd prefer the Cubs go with one of their own farmhands for the other backup IF role.

 

I disagree about a back up 3b. Here's what I have for depth based on Pagan, Ward, Floyd, Theriot and Blanco:

 

1b: Lee, Ward, Floyd

2b: DeRosa, Theriot, Izturis

SS: Izturis, DeRosa, Theriot

3b: Aramis, DeRosa, Barrett, Theriot

LF: All outfielders

CF: Soriano, Jones, Pagan, Theriot?

RF: All outfielders

C: Barrett, Blanco

 

The 25th guy can be anyone since DeRosa can play 3b and Jones can play CF. It probably comes down to Hill, Cedeno, Pagan, Moore or McGehee. Hill is on the outside since he's not on the 40 man roster. Someone on the 40 man that goes on the 60 day DL opens up a spot for Hill.

[radarluv1]

are we ready for derosa to play 20 games or so at ss?

[BigbadB]

I'd love to see DeRosa at SS and Theriot at 2b more than just 20 games.

[soapy]

I'd love to see DeRosa at SS and Theriot at 2b more than just 20 games.

Or the other way around. Theriot can play SS. I guess it just depends on where each is best defensively.

[CubColtPacer]

I agree either B. Hill either makes the MLB team or gets cut. I think if he does make the team it's going to be because somebody *cough*Prior*cough*Miller*cough is getting put on the DL and we have a 40 man roster spot freed up.

 

I can't see the Cubs going with just a single backup IF. I know Ward can play a little 1B but nobody can really play 3rd. Haven't they made comments about Theriot being able to play CF? If he can, then it really makes Pagan completely unnecessary. Pagan only looked decent last year because we got to compare him to the likes of Neifi Perez and Freddy Bynum. He's not really worth keeping from a prospect standpoint. If Hill doesn't make the team, I'd prefer the Cubs go with one of their own farmhands for the other backup IF role.

 

I disagree about a back up 3b. Here's what I have for depth based on Pagan, Ward, Floyd, Theriot and Blanco:

 

1b: Lee, Ward, Floyd

2b: DeRosa, Theriot, Izturis

SS: Izturis, DeRosa, Theriot

3b: Aramis, DeRosa, Barrett, Theriot

LF: All outfielders

CF: Soriano, Jones, Pagan, Theriot?

RF: All outfielders

C: Barrett, Blanco

 

The 25th guy can be anyone since DeRosa can play 3b and Jones can play CF. It probably comes down to Hill, Cedeno, Pagan, Moore or McGehee. Hill is on the outside since he's not on the 40 man roster. Someone on the 40 man that goes on the 60 day DL opens up a spot for Hill.

 

I don't believe the coaching staff believes the bolded point. They desperately try to trade Jones and look for any center fielder, and they only stop when Soriano agrees to play center so Jones can play right. It seems pretty likely that they don't believe that Jones can handle the position.

 

BTW-Ryan Theriot has played 3rd 1 inning in his entire professional career, so unless they work on him with that like they are planning to do with center and he is as promising, I can't see him as a backup option at 3B yet.

[Illini Iceman]

I agree either B. Hill either makes the MLB team or gets cut. I think if he does make the team it's going to be because somebody *cough*Prior*cough*Miller*cough is getting put on the DL and we have a 40 man roster spot freed up.

 

I can't see the Cubs going with just a single backup IF. I know Ward can play a little 1B but nobody can really play 3rd. Haven't they made comments about Theriot being able to play CF? If he can, then it really makes Pagan completely unnecessary. Pagan only looked decent last year because we got to compare him to the likes of Neifi Perez and Freddy Bynum. He's not really worth keeping from a prospect standpoint. If Hill doesn't make the team, I'd prefer the Cubs go with one of their own farmhands for the other backup IF role.

 

I disagree about a back up 3b. Here's what I have for depth based on Pagan, Ward, Floyd, Theriot and Blanco:

 

1b: Lee, Ward, Floyd

2b: DeRosa, Theriot, Izturis

SS: Izturis, DeRosa, Theriot

3b: Aramis, DeRosa, Barrett, Theriot

LF: All outfielders

CF: Soriano, Jones, Pagan, Theriot?

RF: All outfielders

C: Barrett, Blanco

 

The 25th guy can be anyone since DeRosa can play 3b and Jones can play CF. It probably comes down to Hill, Cedeno, Pagan, Moore or McGehee. Hill is on the outside since he's not on the 40 man roster. Someone on the 40 man that goes on the 60 day DL opens up a spot for Hill.

 

McGehee is also not on the 40 man roster