Infielder or Outfielder - What's the Roster Move?

[PackLandVA]

I don't know if this was discussed anywhere. I didn't really see it on the board. Delete/lock this thread if it's discussed elsewhere.

 

 

 

Last night during the game, Len stated Angel Guzman would be up for a spot in the rotation when the Cubs hit Pittsburgh. He said the Cubs were going to stick with 12 pitchers, meaning a position player would be moved. Len when on to say that he believed it would be an outfielder because of the logjam with regard to playing time. He said they could move an outfielder because guys like Theriot, DeRosa and even Cedeno could play in the OF if necessary.

 

If Len's thoughts are true, who goes. I don't see them sending down Pie because he's actually been playing pretty well. He's coming around at the plate and his D is solid.

 

So that leaves Ward (1B backup), Floyd (not going anywhere), Jones and Murton. Is there a taker for JJ? Can they trade their only everyday lefthanded hitting starter with any power?

 

If Floyd is able to play 1B, it seems like Ward would be the odd man out. Personally, I think I'd drop Ronny to the minors so he can get more ABs. I'm not thrilled with Izturis, but he does bat from both sides of the plate (not that it's better to suck at the plate from both sides rather than just one) and is a pretty good defender. And I'd keep Theriot as the starter at SS.

 

So who's it gonna be?

[Cubfanintheknow]

Ronny Cedeno. He can basically play the two middle infield positions. Cedeno in the outfield? Just can't see it.

 

Send him down and call him back up when Izturis is DFA'ed in a few weeks. (A guy can dream, can't he?)

[Vinestal]

Sending Cedeno down seems like a no-brainer to me. The guy hardly ever plays as it is anyway and when he does he's not very productive.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

With Theriot now seeing time at SS, Cedeno can be sent down.

[jersey cubs fan]

It's got to be Murton. They're killing him right now, as he's pretty much just wasting away doing nothing.

[PackLandVA]

I agree with Cedeno. But like I said, Len Kasper basically stated he thought it would be an OF.

 

I'd give serious consideration to Daryl Ward. Can he be sent down or would they have to release him?

[sporrer17]

It's got to be Murton. They're killing him right now, as he's pretty much just wasting away doing nothing.

 

He had a big double in last nights game, and Len mentioned something about Murt having problems with his back before last nights game. If that's the case, maybe he'll get more starts in RF (we wont see Floyd there much, if at all).

[NCCubFan]

Hopefully Jones will be traded. If not, sending Cedeno down is the only move that makes sense to me.

[NewUserName]

DFA Ward

[Omar]

Cedeno. Send him down and demand him to improve his plate discipline.

[rawaction]

If you send Cedeno down, there is just 1 person on the bench capable of playing the 3 IF positions (1B doesn't count as anyone could play that). ARam and Derosa have missed time this year already. One injury away from having Michael Barrett at SS. It has to be Murton or Pie.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If you send Cedeno down, there is just 1 person on the bench capable of playing the 3 IF positions (1B doesn't count as anyone could play that). ARam and Derosa have missed time this year already. One injury away from having Michael Barrett at SS. It has to be Murton or Pie.

 

Or Jones traded, but I don't see it happening this early in the season.

[A New Era]

It should be Daryl Ward, Ronny Cedeno, or Cliff Floyd. I'm not saying who it will be, but those would be the best options. Jones and Murton sharing time in RF is a very good thing. Which means one of Floyd or Ward is expandable. But Ward can still be ok if you need to give Lee 5-10 days off for the total of the season. He makes a good "power" backup for Lee.

 

I just don't know. But it better not be Murton. That's all I'm sayin. .

[Drew Doughty]

it won't be murton.

 

i'm guessing they DFA Ward since he's utterly useless on this team. If you want to give Lee time off, put Floyd, Murton, or Jones there. Hell, put Blanco there if you absolutely have to rest Lee.

[CubColtPacer]

DFA Ward

 

I'm not sure you would want to do that. He was an amazing hitter off the bench last year, and it's obvious other teams fear him, considering that he's received 4 intentional walks to go with his 2 other walks.

 

The 4 hitters who Ward was intentionally walked to get to-Soriano, Theriot (2 times), Barrett (Ward was pinch-hitting for Blanco, and so everyone knew that Barrett would pinch-hit for Izturis the next hitter, so I'm marking it as that). If teams are afraid to pitch to Ward, that can only help the Cubs.

[Drew Doughty]

DFA Ward

 

I'm not sure you would want to do that. He was an amazing hitter off the bench last year, and it's obvious other teams fear him, considering that he's received 4 intentional walks to go with his 2 other walks.

 

The 4 hitters who Ward was intentionally walked to get to-Soriano, Theriot (2 times), Barrett (Ward was pinch-hitting for Blanco, and so everyone knew that Barrett would pinch-hit for Izturis the next hitter, so I'm marking it as that). If teams are afraid to pitch to Ward, that can only help the Cubs.

 

He's a decent bench option, but with how we utilize him he doesn't have a lot of value to the team.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Maybe it's about time for Floyd's first injury of the year.

[NCCubFan]

Maybe it's about time for Floyd's first injury of the year.

I hear he's feeling the same mysterious back ailment that Miller has. :D

[soccer10k]

Get rid of Cedeno.

[FergieJ31]

Get rid of Cedeno.

 

Agree 100%. Cubs don't need two all-glove(*) no-bat SS's on the roster.

 

 

(*) Just please, no more 3 error games, Izzy.

[TruffleShuffle]

DFA Ward

 

I'm not sure you would want to do that. He was an amazing hitter off the bench last year, and it's obvious other teams fear him, considering that he's received 4 intentional walks to go with his 2 other walks.

 

The 4 hitters who Ward was intentionally walked to get to-Soriano, Theriot (2 times), Barrett (Ward was pinch-hitting for Blanco, and so everyone knew that Barrett would pinch-hit for Izturis the next hitter, so I'm marking it as that). If teams are afraid to pitch to Ward, that can only help the Cubs.

 

He's a decent bench option, but with how we utilize him he doesn't have a lot of value to the team.

 

Just because he doesn't play a lot doesn't mean he's without value. He's a good pinch hitter and has good pop against RHP. I thought the Floyd signing was somewhat duplicative, but in close games it's nice to have two good bats off the bench with power potential against RHP.

 

No, the real worthless player here is Cedeno. He is utterly worthless as a pinch hitter, and isn't even a particularly fast runner. If Izturis is available on the bench as a defensive sub in the middle infield, then there's zero reason to have Cedeno on this team.

[TruffleShuffle]

I guess if it has to be an outfielder, I say send down Murton or if it's really a back injury, put him on the DL. Floyd and Ward have some value and can't be sent down without possibly being lost.

 

BTW, if this were my club, I'd send Pie back down and go with Soriano/Jones/Murton&Floyd.

[NewUserName]

The problem with sending Murton down is that either Jones or Floyd or both would have to start against a LH pitcher. As been noted on another thread the Cubs should be seeing quite a few LHers this month.

 

Cedeno and Izturis are compatable as is Floyd and Ward. A player from this group probably needs to be removed from team.

[Backtobanks]

After hearing Kaspar & Brenley talk about the situation, it's starting to sound like Pie may go down. Piniella talked about "too many OFs" and "you gotta play the veterans because they have the track record or else you start to have clubhouse problems". Unless a deal can be made soon involving Jones, it sounds like Pie is the one to go down.

[CubColtPacer]

It probably has to be Pie right now. If they feel that they can stick with 1 reserve IF, then it will be Cedeno, but Piniella was very, very nervous about the prospect of only having 1 during ST. So my guess is that they send Pie down, and they start working on trading Jones so they can get Pie back up as soon as possible.