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

[BigbadB]

I was always under the impression that Jones wanted to be traded, not that the Cubs wanted to trade him.

 

Soriano plays nearly every game. Jones has played 159 games in CF at the major league level, with 5 errors and 11 assists. He makes for an adequate back up if Soriano needs to be rested for one reason or another. If they need something more than a temporary fill in, they can call up Pie.

 

I did list Theriot 4th on the depth chart at 3b. If Hill made the team, Theriot would be 5th on the depth chart. If for some reason they had to go that deep at 3b, they could call up one of Moore, McGehee or Craig.

 

Basically, I think with the guys that are currently locked into positions, they have 1 opening for the last bench spot, and I don't think it really matters all that much who it is. It could be a utility infielder like Hill or McGehee, or it could be Pagan. As long as it isn't Tomas Perez, I won't care all that much who gets the last spot from the group of Moore, McGehee, Hill or Pagan.

[BigbadB]

McGehee is also not on the 40 man roster

 

Hmm. I thought he was. Maybe some spots will open up this spring with a trade of a bullpen arm that will give Hill or McGehee a chance to win a job.

[Amazing_Grace]

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.

 

I hope that the Cubs don't keep Pagan on the roster just to have a backup CF. Whether they use Theriot or Jones as the backup it's better for the team to carry one more IF. Unless you count Daryle Ward as an IF, which I don't because he can only really play 1B, there will be 6 outfielders and only 5 infielders on the team next year with Pagan as the 25th man.

[BigbadB]

there will be 6 outfielders and only 5 infielders on the team next year with Pagan as the 25th man.

 

Floyd, Murton, Jones, Soriano, Ward, DeRosa, Theriot, Pagan

 

Pagan is not needed.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If Soriano plays CF, I don't see the need to carry a player simply to be the back-up CF. Soriano is going to play everyday. He'll likely take fewer than 6-7 games off during the entire season. So, I think Jones or Theriot would be adequate there for those few games.

[Amazing_Grace]

there will be 6 outfielders and only 5 infielders on the team next year with Pagan as the 25th man.

 

Floyd, Murton, Jones, Soriano, Ward, DeRosa, Theriot, Pagan

 

Pagan is not needed.

 

I agree. I'd rather see Moore, McGehee, B. Hill, or even Fontenot make the team before Pagan.

[craig]

If Soriano plays CF, I don't see the need to carry a player simply to be the back-up CF. Soriano is going to play everyday. He'll likely take fewer than 6-7 games off during the entire season. So, I think Jones or Theriot would be adequate there for those few games.

 

Well said, Vance. Soriano isn't going to get rested much, and whatever defensive problems he might have, you don't bench your $136-guy for defensive purposes. If Theriot can play even a passable CF, yo don't have to have Pagan on the roster. If Soriano gets hurt on Monday, Theriot can fill in for a few innings and you can have Pie or Pagan called up by Tuesday.

 

I still think that Pagan is the best bet to make the team. But I'd see the options being Pagan, Cedeno, Perez, and perhaps Kinkade, if in fact the latter is viewed as being capable of playing major-league 3B. (I assume not).

[radarluv1]

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

 

iirc they've both played ss a few times as pros, but maybe as late-game subs for all we know. i just want some evidence that they're adequate defensively. lining up the bench is much easier if they can, and theriot learns CF. then we can have less cedeno and pagan on the bench and more guys with pop.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

DeRosa came up with the Braves as a shortstop. In 2001 at AAA he started logging significant time as a 3b. He then tried to take over at third for Chipper, when Jones had been moved to the OF. So until he arrived in Atlanta and was surpassed by Furcal, DeRosa was viewed as a SS. At that point, he made the team as a bench player and learned to play all over the diamond. In Texas, they used him in the OF to get his bat in the line-up when he was blocked by Young and Kinsler. Whether or not he still has SS range, as a minor leaguer that was his position.

 

Theriot has logged significant minor league innings at SS as well, though he seems to have spent more or as much time at 2b.

 

Both were listed as SS in the minors. Are they superior defensive SS? I don't think so, but I think both are capable of handling the position.

[CuseCubFan69]

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.

 

I called it wonderful. So what's the theme this year? In Louey we pooey?

[radarluv1]

DeRosa came up with the Braves as a shortstop. In 2001 at AAA he started logging significant time as a 3b. He then tried to take over at third for Chipper, when Jones had been moved to the OF. So until he arrived in Atlanta and was surpassed by Furcal, DeRosa was viewed as a SS. At that point, he made the team as a bench player and learned to play all over the diamond. In Texas, they used him in the OF to get his bat in the line-up when he was blocked by Young and Kinsler. Whether or not he still has SS range, as a minor leaguer that was his position.

 

Theriot has logged significant minor league innings at SS as well, though he seems to have spent more or as much time at 2b.

 

Both were listed as SS in the minors. Are they superior defensive SS? I don't think so, but I think both are capable of handling the position.

 

well, thats good news. keep itzy on the bench until tejada gets here!

[cheapseats]

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.

 

I'm with you.

 

In fact, I think it's a pretty bad idea not to skip the 5th starter when the schedule allows.

 

Oh well.

[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.

 

I'm with you.

 

In fact, I think it's a pretty bad idea not to skip the 5th starter when the schedule allows.

 

Oh well.

I don't think you should have set rules that you live by when making those calls, I think you should look at the whole situation. If your number 5 guy is throwing well, and you've got someone like Glendon Rusch on the mound throwing against you, I save my ace for the next game. If there's little chance you can win the game with your #5, and there was a day off since your ace's last time so he can throw on schedule, then you should always try to win that game.

[nilodnayr]

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.

 

I'm with you.

 

In fact, I think it's a pretty bad idea not to skip the 5th starter when the schedule allows.

 

Oh well.

 

I think it really depends on the difference between your 5th starter and the rest of your rotation. For us we have Z and then its really a toss up for who will be best of the 4 (well really 5) behind him. I am fine with going with a 5 man rotation at the beginning of the season with the rotation we have this year.