3/10ST Cubs (Lilly) @ Royals (De La Rosa) 2:05CT CSN Chicago

[C.C.]

DeRosa has given up on Prior

 

Talking up Angel...

 

Please elaborate.

 

Why the guy would say anything that would even insinuate something like this is about a teammate is beyond me.

All he said is that Guzman may end up being the 5th starter with the way he's pitching

 

I don't think it was a dig on Prior, but lets face the facts...

[craig]

The problem, for the Cubs, with Prior starting at Iowa is how do you reintroduce him into the rotation if his replacement is pitching lights out? .... This is why, I think, the Cubs prefer Mark to step up and earn the last spot. It's far less messy...

 

I agree with this. Prior is a name guy with a history and a non-trivial contract. Keeping his at Iowa for four months is not quite like keeping Mateo at Iowa for the summer. There are pressures and expectations to have him up.

 

Certainly the Cubs would prefer that Prior would elevate his game to Guzman's level by spring, or be no a trajectory to be serious. As you say, a lot easier to keep Guzman on reserve at Iowa, on the grounds that he's young, he's unproven, and he's waiting for an opportunity. Than to keep Prior down there, as if he's just an AAAA guy waiting for a break.

 

But, I also think that there's a time to try to win. Obviously all ties go to Prior. But, that Prior will be even close to equal with Guzman by April 1 seems improbable to me. At some point, his name and status and contract has to lose out to performance.

 

It will be interesting to see how things develop, and how those factors balance.

[cubweiser03]

I know i came to the thread late but it was great hearing the guys say that Lous said The Riot is on the roster.

 

Also if Buck Coats could play SS this board would be going out of its mind. It would be Romper Room. He's a hitter and coming into his own.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Colvin inside outside outs the first pitch his sees on a liner to LF.

 

1 out.

[Sammy Sofa]

OK, I'm sick of all these almost home runs.

[RichHillIsABeast]

venable vs hoffPOWER

 

doubles off the CF wall

[98navigator]

DeRosa has given up on Prior

 

Talking up Angel...

 

Please elaborate.

 

Why the guy would say anything that would even insinuate something like this is about a teammate is beyond me.

 

He didn't insinuate that Prior was done. Pleasac asked him a question about expectations and prefaced it by saying "If you can get the pitching shored up, the offense looks like one of the best in the league." In the midst of his answer, DeRosa said, "With the way Guzman is throwing the ball, he might be our fifth starter."

 

There was no dig at Prior whatsoever.

 

I didn't mean to say it was a dig but it definitely didn't show any confidence in Prior's ability to rebound...

[RichHillIsABeast]

what an awesome baseball name. hoffPOWER!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Haufpauir almost had a homer there...

 

I wonder if his missus is watching today?

[Balsa]

I know i came to the thread late but it was great hearing the guys say that Lous said The Riot is on the roster.

 

Also if Buck Coats could play SS this board would be going out of its mind. It would be Romper Room. He's a hitter and coming into his own.

He can. He's played there quite a few times in his minor league career.

[Sammy Sofa]

Ward is having an oooooooooooooooooooogly spring.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Duckworth (still pitching) vs Ward

 

looking 0-1

check swing foul 0-2

ball 1-2

low and inside 2-2

fouled into the plate 2-2

offspeed low and in

 

K for Ward.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I know i came to the thread late but it was great hearing the guys say that Lous said The Riot is on the roster.

 

Also if Buck Coats could play SS this board would be going out of its mind. It would be Romper Room. He's a hitter and coming into his own.

 

Buck Coats can play SS. Not well. But he has had quite a few games there in the minors.

Edited March 10, 2007 by CaliforniaRaisin

[XZero771679666304]

DeRosa has given up on Prior

 

Talking up Angel...

 

Please elaborate.

 

Why the guy would say anything that would even insinuate something like this is about a teammate is beyond me.

 

He didn't insinuate that Prior was done. Pleasac asked him a question about expectations and prefaced it by saying "If you can get the pitching shored up, the offense looks like one of the best in the league." In the midst of his answer, DeRosa said, "With the way Guzman is throwing the ball, he might be our fifth starter."

 

There was no dig at Prior whatsoever.

 

I didn't mean to say it was a dig but it definitely didn't show any confidence in Prior's ability to rebound...

 

You hear statements like that all the time in ST. It meant less than nothing, IMO.

[abuck1220]

I know i came to the thread late but it was great hearing the guys say that Lous said The Riot is on the roster.

 

Also if Buck Coats could play SS this board would be going out of its mind. It would be Romper Room. He's a hitter and coming into his own.

He can. He's played there quite a few times in his minor league career.

 

not very well, however.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

DeRosa has given up on Prior

 

Talking up Angel...

 

Please elaborate.

 

Why the guy would say anything that would even insinuate something like this is about a teammate is beyond me.

 

He didn't insinuate that Prior was done. Pleasac asked him a question about expectations and prefaced it by saying "If you can get the pitching shored up, the offense looks like one of the best in the league." In the midst of his answer, DeRosa said, "With the way Guzman is throwing the ball, he might be our fifth starter."

 

There was no dig at Prior whatsoever.

 

I didn't mean to say it was a dig but it definitely didn't show any confidence in Prior's ability to rebound...

 

You hear statements like that all the time in ST. It meant less than nothing, IMO.

 

I agree. Considering how well Guzman had just thrown the ball, I see it as a statement of props to Guzman and not a dig at Prior at all. It was a throw-away comment for all intents and purposes.

[cubweiser03]

I know i came to the thread late but it was great hearing the guys say that Lous said The Riot is on the roster.

 

Also if Buck Coats could play SS this board would be going out of its mind. It would be Romper Room. He's a hitter and coming into his own.

 

Buck Coats can play SS. Not well. But he has had quite a few games there in the minors.

 

Right. Thats what i was trying to say :lol:

[RichHillIsABeast]

duckworth vs coats

 

check swing low and in 0-1

 

update on kinkade: off to have x-rays in mesa. (right on bone, solid sound )

 

fastball inside 1-1

slider low 2-1

fastball away 3-1

fouled away LF 3-2

groundout to 1B

 

6-3 Royals after 7 and 1/2.

Edited March 10, 2007 by RichHillIsABeast

[RichHillIsABeast]

OK, I'm sick of all these almost home runs.

 

where's hgh when you need it?

[CubColtPacer]

I know i came to the thread late but it was great hearing the guys say that Lous said The Riot is on the roster.

 

Also if Buck Coats could play SS this board would be going out of its mind. It would be Romper Room. He's a hitter and coming into his own.

 

Buck Coats can play SS. Not well. But he has had quite a few games there in the minors.

 

Right. Thats what i was trying to say :lol:

 

Coats tore the ball up in ST last year as well-over a 1.100 OPS-that didn't help him much during the season.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Gooz

 

first pitch comebacker

 

1 out. 6-3 royals.

[cubweiser03]

Haha Richard Lewis. Member when this dude was ripping up AA when he was traded. He was OOC

[Balsa]

I love hearing Ron try to talk when he's eating. :lol:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Guzman looks very good today. He definitely should be the leader for the fifth starter. It's going to be interesting to read Lou's comments after today.

[98navigator]

DeRosa has given up on Prior

 

Talking up Angel...

 

Please elaborate.

 

Why the guy would say anything that would even insinuate something like this is about a teammate is beyond me.

 

He didn't insinuate that Prior was done. Pleasac asked him a question about expectations and prefaced it by saying "If you can get the pitching shored up, the offense looks like one of the best in the league." In the midst of his answer, DeRosa said, "With the way Guzman is throwing the ball, he might be our fifth starter."

 

There was no dig at Prior whatsoever.

 

I didn't mean to say it was a dig but it definitely didn't show any confidence in Prior's ability to rebound...

 

You hear statements like that all the time in ST. It meant less than nothing, IMO.

 

If both pitchers were no-names I'd agree but when you have someone with the pedigree of Mark Prior, it's hard to agree. Perhaps if DeRosa had a chance to think about his answer it would have been more diplomatic but I think his thoughts about Angel are telling. It's still relatively early in ST yet DeRosa doesn't feel that Prior will rebound. He was being honest about his feelings for Guzman...

 

The guys on the team just want to win. A new guy like DeRosa has no allegiance to Mark Prior. As such, he's giving his gut feelings.

Edited March 10, 2007 by 98navigator