My prediction on Felix Pie....

[CubColtPacer]

Has Soriano even had an error in CF this spring? He looks pretty solid out there, and he'll get better the longer he plays out there.

 

He's had 3 official errors so far this spring, and has had several misplays besides that. I do think he will get better as the season goes along though.

 

Obviously, Soriano won't be a Gold Glove CF, but misplays in the Arizona sun are pretty common for the best OFs. I would think the Cubs would try Pie in RF so Soriano doesn't have to learn a new position.

 

The Arizona sky is quite famous for making baseballs "disappear" in the air. I'm cutting him a lot of slack for learning another new position this Spring.

 

I actually am too-Soriano has done nothing in ST to convince me that he can play CF, but because of Arizona conditions he hasn't done anything to convince me he can't either-this will just have to be a situation that we'll have to continue to monitor.

[seanimal]

Anyone thinking that it's a strong possibility that if Soriano doesn't have CF figured out that Lou may move Jones over to the spot full-time? Everyone seems pretty confident that Jones is going to be traded, but I don't necessarily think that it's set in stone, especially if he is swinging the bat really well and Pie isn't tearing the cover off of the ball in AAA. I suppose only time will tell.

[CubColtPacer]

Anyone thinking that it's a strong possibility that if Soriano doesn't have CF figured out that Lou may move Jones over to the spot full-time? Everyone seems pretty confident that Jones is going to be traded, but I don't necessarily think that it's set in stone, especially if he is swinging the bat really well and Pie isn't tearing the cover off of the ball in AAA. I suppose only time will tell.

 

I don't for this key reason. During the off-season, the organization had to trade Jones and find a new CF until Soriano agreed to play CF, and then the lineup was set.

 

What would be the ideal lineup? One with Jones in CF and Soriano in RF-so that when Jones is finally traded, Soriano doesn't have to learn a new position again. However, that was never seriously considered by the organization. Why? It says that the organization has absolutely no faith in Jones to play CF everyday, and they are willing to risk Soriano playing there over Jones. So no, I don't see any way that Jones plays any more in CF than occasional duty there.

[seanimal]

I don't for this key reason. During the off-season, the organization had to trade Jones and find a new CF until Soriano agreed to play CF, and then the lineup was set.

 

What would be the ideal lineup? One with Jones in CF and Soriano in RF-so that when Jones is finally traded, Soriano doesn't have to learn a new position again. However, that was never seriously considered by the organization. Why? It says that the organization has absolutely no faith in Jones to play CF everyday, and they are willing to risk Soriano playing there over Jones. So no, I don't see any way that Jones plays any more in CF than occasional duty there.

 

I agree about the first part, however, my line of thinking is that Hendry, from this point on, really has no control over who plays where on the 25-man roster, that is up to Lou. So if Sori is struggling a couple months into the season and there is no obvious reprieve from the situation, he may stick Jones in the spot full time as a stopgap until/if Jones is traded.

[Fro]

There's no reason to trade Jones until after interleague play ends. Having a big bat like Floyd on the bench to DH neutralizes any advantage AL teams have over us.

[Ivy Walls]

...he will be up with the team before the All Star break. For good.

 

The Cubs are really going to need him defensively in CF. I don't think that Soriano in CF is going to be as effective as having him in RF, and Pie in CF. Jones is going to have to be moved.

 

So where will Jones go? That's a good question.

 

First Jones will be gone, look for the first injury of the year in a contending team in the OF or DH. Baltimore is the first already with Payton. I think the Cubs will not wait for July, let alone June, I think 6 weeks at the most. Of course some of this depends on Pie continuing in his plate discipline and showing results.

 

Also don't expect the Cubs to put Soriano in RF either, he is destined for LF. My best guess is that the Cubs will be looking to trade for Suzuki as he is not going to sign with the inept Seattle franchise and they will want to shed payroll. Murton, (hopefully) Prior who also will be recalled by early May (providing he too is performing) and allowing Miller to be moved to the bullpen along with someone like E-Patterson and Marmol or Marshall for Ichiro. Murton will be temporarily moved to RF before this.

 

When Prior is traded it will be about the time that either Guzman ascends to the rotation or if he has already Marquis is returned to the rotation.

[davearm]

...he will be up with the team before the All Star break. For good.

 

The Cubs are really going to need him defensively in CF. I don't think that Soriano in CF is going to be as effective as having him in RF, and Pie in CF. Jones is going to have to be moved.

 

So where will Jones go? That's a good question.

 

First Jones will be gone, look for the first injury of the year in a contending team in the OF or DH. Baltimore is the first already with Payton. I think the Cubs will not wait for July, let alone June, I think 6 weeks at the most. Of course some of this depends on Pie continuing in his plate discipline and showing results.

 

Also don't expect the Cubs to put Soriano in RF either, he is destined for LF. My best guess is that the Cubs will be looking to trade for Suzuki as he is not going to sign with the inept Seattle franchise and they will want to shed payroll. Murton, (hopefully) Prior who also will be recalled by early May (providing he too is performing) and allowing Miller to be moved to the bullpen along with someone like E-Patterson and Marmol or Marshall for Ichiro. Murton will be temporarily moved to RF before this.

 

When Prior is traded it will be about the time that either Guzman ascends to the rotation or if he has already Marquis is returned to the rotation.

My gawd.

 

And to think how people howled about the Cubs giving up what they did to get Pierre.

[Abe Frohman]

 

And to think how people howled about the Cubs giving up what they did to get Pierre.

 

I agree. That would be WAY too much to give up for Ichiro, who would be a Free Agent after the season. Would not be surprised if the Cubs gave up Murton for him, though. Still, that would be too much unless they could get him for 3-4 years.

[sunbiz1]

Bingo !!...Pie has to sit for 30 days(in Iowa) to avoid a year of arbitration...just in case. We should see him here by June at the latest.

 

 

...he will be up with the team before the All Star break. For good.

 

The Cubs are really going to need him defensively in CF. I don't think that Soriano in CF is going to be as effective as having him in RF, and Pie in CF. Jones is going to have to be moved.

 

So where will Jones go? That's a good question.