4 Roster spots left................

[cuubs4life]

ok so here is who has made it for sure.......

 

 

 

 

48 Neal Cotts

46 Ryan Dempster

47 Scott Eyre

 

53 Rich Hill

62 Bob Howry

30 Ted Lilly

 

21 Jason Marquis

 

 

13 Will Ohman

 

 

 

34 Kerry Wood

 

38 Carlos Zambrano

 

8 Michael Barrett

24 Henry Blanco

 

 

7 Mark DeRosa

 

3 Cesar Izturis

25 Derrek Lee

 

16 Aramis Ramirez

2 Ryan Theriot

 

15 Cliff Floyd

11 Jacque Jones

19 Matt Murton

 

12 Alfonso Soriano

32 Daryle Ward

 

who makes is in? I am guessing 2 pitchers and 2 hitters. I think Guzman will make the team. After him there are a lot of spots to still be won. what do you all think?

[98navigator]

If things stay the way they are now, and the Cubs take 12 pitchers, I think Rocky Cherry makes the bullpen. Pagan or Buck Coats for the outfield. If Lou wants to squeeze in another INF utility guy, I can see Tomas Perez making the team over Cedeno. Edited March 11, 2007 by 98navigator

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I really hope Cotts isn't a lock. And I hope even more that Cherry doesn't make the team.

[CubColtPacer]

I really hope Cotts isn't a lock. And I hope even more that Cherry doesn't make the team.

 

which means-if the Cubs go with 12 pitchers, who exactly do you hope for (besides Wuertz of course-I know that you'd give one of the spots to him).

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If things stay the way they are now, and the Cubs take 12 pitchers, I think Rocky Cherry makes the bullpen. Pagan or Buck Coats for the outfield. If Lou wants to squeeze in another INF utility guy, I can see Tomas Perez making the team over Cedeno.

 

The Cubs would have to add Perez to the 40-man and someone would have to be dropped (obviously Coats and Dopirak are the leading candidates).

[98navigator]

If things stay the way they are now, and the Cubs take 12 pitchers, I think Rocky Cherry makes the bullpen. Pagan or Buck Coats for the outfield. If Lou wants to squeeze in another INF utility guy, I can see Tomas Perez making the team over Cedeno.

 

The Cubs would have to add Perez to the 40-man and someone would have to be dropped (obviously Coats and Dopirak are the leading candidates).

 

True. I don't want Perez but I could see it happening.

[texascub]

If it were up to me I think this is the way I'd make the roster:

 

C: Barrett

1B: Lee

2B: DeRosa

SS: Izturis

3B: Ramirez

LF: Murton

CF: Soriano

RF: Jones

 

Bench: Floyd, Theriot, Blanco, Coats, Pagan/Ward (Ward offers decent power off the bench but his performance thus far has been atrocious)

 

SPs:

Zambrano

Lilly

Marquis

Hill

Prior/Guzman (loser lands up on DL (Prior) or AAA (Guzman)

 

Bullpen:

Dempster

Howry

Wood

Eyre

Ohman

Cotts

Weurtz

 

When everything settles, I believe that Miller will be traded since there probably won't be room in the rotation for him and he already stated that he won't pitch out of the bullpen. Prior's name probably wins out for the 5th spot even though Lou has been impressed by Guzman.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Gooz Gooz Gooz Gooz!!

[Soriano12]

I'll be very angry if The Riot doesn't make the team. Very Angry.

[98navigator]

Ryan is already guaranteed a spot!

 

Link

 

"It's the first time for me," Theriot said Saturday about making the team. "For me, I was always fighting to make the team. Last year, in the Minors, was the first year I knew I'd be a starter.

 

"It does make you feel good," he said. "You get that sense that, hey, they're counting on me to help. I don't have to go out there and scrap and fight to make the team, which was always the case."

[Soriano12]

Ryan is already guaranteed a spot!

 

Link

 

"It's the first time for me," Theriot said Saturday about making the team. "For me, I was always fighting to make the team. Last year, in the Minors, was the first year I knew I'd be a starter.

 

"It does make you feel good," he said. "You get that sense that, hey, they're counting on me to help. I don't have to go out there and scrap and fight to make the team, which was always the case."

 

woot! :!:

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I really hope Cotts isn't a lock. And I hope even more that Cherry doesn't make the team.

 

which means-if the Cubs go with 12 pitchers, who exactly do you hope for (besides Wuertz of course-I know that you'd give one of the spots to him).

 

With 12 pitchers

 

Zambrano

Hill

Lilly

Prior/Guzman

Marquis

 

Dempster

Howry

Wood

Wuertz

Ohman

Eyre

Cotts/Guzman/Miller

[Omar]

I honestly don't see Prior not making the team. If he's healthy, there's no reason he shouldn't.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not sure Cotts is locked up at all. In fact, I have these 21 players guaranteed spots:

 

Barrett, Blanco, Lee, Ward, DeRosa, Theriot, Izturis, Ramirez, Murton, Floyd, Soriano, Jones, Zambrano, Lilly, Hill, Marquis, Dempster, Wood, Eyre, Ohman, and Howry.

 

Depending on how many pitchers the Cubs take, I see the following players jockeying for the final four spots: Coats, Cedeno, Pagan, Perez, Wuertz, Novoa, Cotts, Prior, Miller, and Guzman.

 

One of those will be the fifth starter. And one of those will be in the pen. If the Cubs go with 12 pitchers, a third pitcher will make it leaving one bench spot for Coats, Cedeno, Pagan, and Perez. My guess is Pagan is almost assured a spot due to his ability to play CF and all other OF spots as well.

 

If we take two position players, I'd take Coats.

 

If it were my choice, Guzman would be guaranteed either a bullpen spot or the fifth starter, but I'm not expecting that at all.

 

A trade could open up some spots as well.

[Omar]

Did I miss a memo or something? Why are we all of a sudden giving up on Prior?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Did I miss a memo or something? Why are we all of a sudden giving up on Prior?

 

Two statistically bad outings, dropped velocity from his hey day, bad command and a spotty curve.

 

But he improved from his previous outing today - definitely showing a reason to be hopeful.

[Butterscup1679666578]

I haven't read other people's guarantees, but my friend and I talked about this earlier, and these are who I think the guarantees are:

 

Starters:

Zambrano

Lilly

Marquis

Hill

 

Bullpen:

Dempster

Eyre

Howry

Wood

 

Starters:

Barrett, Lee, DeRosa, Izturis, Ramirez, Murton, Soriano, Jones

 

Bench:

Blanco, Theriot, Ward, Floyd

 

That's 20 who are probably on the team now.

 

The other starter spot will be either Prior, Guzman, or Miller. There's 21.

 

There is absolutely no reason Wuertz should not be on the roster to start the year if he's healthy. There's 22.

 

Depending on how many Lou wants to take in the bullpen, 1 or 2 of Cotts, Ohman, and Cherry will make the team, bringing the total to 23 or 24.

 

For the bench, again depending on the bullpen, 1 or 2 of Cedeno, Coats, and Pagan should make the team.

 

Personally, I'd like to ship off either Eyre or Cotts and go with a 6 man bullpen with Dempster, Wood, Howry, Eyre/Cotts, Wuertz, and Ohman/Cherry, with a bench of Blanco, Floyd, Theriot, Ward, Pagan, and Coats.

[Danny82]

nfm

[Jehrico]

Did I miss a memo or something? Why are we all of a sudden giving up on Prior?

 

I'm not giving up on him, but I don't want him taking up a spot in the rotation if he can't consistantly hit 90 by the time ST is over. Put him on the DL so he can get more work in at Iowa until he gets back up to that.

[CubFanPhilly]

Did I miss a memo or something? Why are we all of a sudden giving up on Prior?

 

I'm not giving up on him, but I don't want him taking up a spot in the rotation if he can't consistantly hit 90 by the time ST is over. Put him on the DL so he can get more work in at Iowa until he gets back up to that.

 

Agreed. No one should be giving up on Prior. It's still early.

 

But you can't pencil him into the lineup when he's unable to get his curve anywhere near the strike zone and his velocity is off 4-5 MPH (and he's not spotting it well). I believe he'll get there, but perhaps not by the time they break camp.

 

My guess is that the pecking order is:

 

1. Prior (but only if he shows a lot of improvement)

2. Miller (he needs to show a little more velocity and better command)

3. Guzman (the choice if the cuts were made today)

4. Cotts (emergency "Plan C' - he's been the long man from day one, capable of starting if none of the others showed they were ready)

 

 

CFP

[98navigator]

 

My guess is that the pecking order is:

 

1. Prior (but only if he shows a lot of improvement)

2. Miller (he needs to show a little more velocity and better command)

3. Guzman (the choice if the cuts were made today)

4. Cotts (emergency "Plan C' - he's been the long man from day one, capable of starting if none of the others showed they were ready)

 

 

CFP

 

I would put Guzman in the second position in the pecking order, followed by Miller. Guzman is the best candidate right now but Prior will be extended every opportunity, during Spring Training, to earn the job. The Cubs took a chance on Wade Miller because they were hoping he would regain his velcocity and general ability to overpower hitters. In his current state, he won't miss too many bats which makes him the most expendable of this bunch. Cotts will make the team as the long man.

[NCCubFan]

But you can't pencil him into the lineup when he's unable to get his curve anywhere near the strike zone and his velocity is off 4-5 MPH (and he's not spotting it well).

Actually, I think you can pencil him in. After all, pencil can be erased. Writing him in ink, however, that's another story. :D

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Well, it appears according to Bruce (Link), Coats isn't really an option because as a lefthander, there is no need for him.

 

Bucking the trend: Young outfielder Buck Coats continues to hit the ball. He had an RBI double in Saturday’s 6-5 loss to the Royals. He’s 11-for-24 (.458) this spring.

 

Coats also threw out a runner at third base, giving him 2 assists. His throw home Wednesday against Oakland ended the game and preserved a 9-8 Cubs win.

 

Unfortunately for the left-handed hitting Coats, there isn’t a spot for him because of the presence of veterans Cliff Floyd and Daryle Ward.

 

“I like Coats, I really do,” said Lou Piniella.

 

Coats, 24, was 3-for-18 in 18 games for the Cubs last year after batting .282 at Class AAA Iowa.

 

“I just look at is as every opportunity he (Piniella) gives me, go out there and do the best I can,” he said. “I don’t look at it anything different chances-wise. Just go out there and play like I know how to play.”

[BigbadB]

I see no reason to exclude Coats as an option for the last roster spot simply because he hits lefty. What percentage of relievers are RH? Most. What percentage of lefty relievers are good? Not that many. Granted, with the Cubs dominant right hand hitting attack, the LOOGY will likely be used against a Lefty PH or Jones, but once that team uses their LOOGY, having a fallback option from the left side would be good, IMO.

 

Assuming Floyd is healthy and playing decent, he'll probably start 60+ games, which then gives the Cubs more of a righty presence off the bench with Murton, Theriot and Blanco or Barrett. That would only leave Coats and Ward as the lefty bats. Take Coats out of the picture, and it's probably Tomas Perez, who can't hit from either side of the plate.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I see no reason to exclude Coats as an option for the last roster spot simply because he hits lefty. What percentage of relievers are RH? Most. What percentage of lefty relievers are good? Not that many. Granted, with the Cubs dominant right hand hitting attack, the LOOGY will likely be used against a Lefty PH or Jones, but once that team uses their LOOGY, having a fallback option from the left side would be good, IMO.

 

Assuming Floyd is healthy and playing decent, he'll probably start 60+ games, which then gives the Cubs more of a righty presence off the bench with Murton, Theriot and Blanco or Barrett. That would only leave Coats and Ward as the lefty bats. Take Coats out of the picture, and it's probably Tomas Perez, who can't hit from either side of the plate.

 

Between Floyd, Ward, and Pagan, Coats would be the 4th best LH pinch hitting option. Our RH pinch hitting options are Theriot, Blanco, and Pagan, in that order. Someone who can hit LHP off the bench with some pop is definitely what would be desired out of that last bench spot.