Lou on Gallagher and others

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

(Carrie Muskat) "What's tough is that youngsters such as Sean Gallagher may be out of luck in making the big league club. There are a lot of veterans ahead of him".

 

(Sweet Lou) "We'll pitch them here in Spring Training, but this is not a year for that," Piniella said. "I hate to say that, but we have veteran pitchers here to consider and they'll get every chance, first and foremost. We like Gallagher. I like [Jeff] Samardzija. But truthfully, I'd be lying if I said something like that could happen [that they'd make the big league team]. We have seven veteran starters. They're all healthy, they're all going to compete. Unless we have a streak of bad luck and we have some injuries, this is not the spring for them."

 

--It sounds like Piniella is not even willing to give them a chance to make the club.

[brinoch]

Not happy.

 

I now want to lock Jon Leiber in a room with a fork, Jason Marquis and a bottle of ketchup.

[imb]

im reasonably sure that gallagher would be terrible this year, but because of john lieber

 

john lieber

[seanimal]

http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/exploding-head.gif

[VanceJergins]

dumb

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And to think Gallagher will be sent to AAA so that Dempster and Marquis can hold down spots in the rotation... :(

[Sweet Swinging Billy]

(Carrie Muskat) "What's tough is that youngsters such as Sean Gallagher may be out of luck in making the big league club. There are a lot of veterans ahead of him".

 

(Sweet Lou) "We'll pitch them here in Spring Training, but this is not a year for that," Piniella said. "I hate to say that, but we have veteran pitchers here to consider and they'll get every chance, first and foremost. We like Gallagher. I like [Jeff] Samardzija. But truthfully, I'd be lying if I said something like that could happen [that they'd make the big league team]. We have seven veteran starters. They're all healthy, they're all going to compete. Unless we have a streak of bad luck and we have some injuries, this is not the spring for them."

 

--It sounds like Piniella is not even willing to give them a chance to make the club.

 

Sorry guys that I forgot the link...but Lou did say that Cotts has been throwing the ball good and we know he's been impressed with Ceda. But like y'all his commments about Sean G. really bum me out.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080225&content_id=2389002&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[Bote McBoteface]

(Carrie Muskat) "What's tough is that youngsters such as Sean Gallagher may be out of luck in making the big league club. There are a lot of veterans ahead of him".

 

(Sweet Lou) "We'll pitch them here in Spring Training, but this is not a year for that," Piniella said. "I hate to say that, but we have veteran pitchers here to consider and they'll get every chance, first and foremost. We like Gallagher. I like [Jeff] Samardzija. But truthfully, I'd be lying if I said something like that could happen [that they'd make the big league team]. We have seven veteran starters. They're all healthy, they're all going to compete. Unless we have a streak of bad luck and we have some injuries, this is not the spring for them."

 

--It sounds like Piniella is not even willing to give them a chance to make the club.

 

http://fantasy411.mlblogs.com/photos/uncategorized/dusty.jpg

[CubColtPacer]

It seems like Lou considers Marshall a veteran starter at this point though.

[anabiono]

i understand the frustration...but i don't really see why this is that surprising to you guys...

 

for marquis and leiber to not start it is going to take an injury or horrible performance

 

it is pretty brass tacks

[Abe Frohman]

What's the big deal? So Piniella motivated the youngsters to prove him wrong - and if they don't want to do that they should want to ram it down his throat. Kudos for us having a guy managing the Cubs who knows how to play the mental games.

[Bote McBoteface]

What's the big deal? So Piniella motivated the youngsters to prove him wrong - and if they don't want to do that they should want to ram it down his throat. Kudos for us having a guy managing the Cubs who knows how to play the mental games.

 

Oh, I was just kidding about the Dusty pic. I figured I'd do it before somebody else did.

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm sure if Lieber and/or Marquis are getting lit up in the first quarter the Cubs will make a change, especially regarding Lieber.

[Tyrant]

What's the big problem? While I wish Lou wouldn't so quite so decisive so soon, I don't see any harm. Gallagher didn't look at all ready last year in the bigs, and he's only 22. There will be plenty of time for him to pitch for the Cubs. I don't like Marquis, but I think Sean would even struggle to put up the 101 ERA+ that Marquis did.

[CuseCubFan69]

What's the big problem? While I wish Lou wouldn't so quite so decisive so soon, I don't see any harm. Gallagher didn't look at all ready last year in the bigs, and he's only 22. There will be plenty of time for him to pitch for the Cubs. I don't like Marquis, but I think Sean would even struggle to put up the 101 ERA+ that Marquis did.

 

I agree and when things unfold I have confidence that Lou will make the move that is going to be best for the team.

[TruffleShuffle]

What's the big problem? While I wish Lou wouldn't so quite so decisive so soon, I don't see any harm. Gallagher didn't look at all ready last year in the bigs, and he's only 22. There will be plenty of time for him to pitch for the Cubs. I don't like Marquis, but I think Sean would even struggle to put up the 101 ERA+ that Marquis did.

 

unfortunately, marquis will struggle to put up the 101 era+ that marquis did.

[Banedon]

What's the big deal? So Piniella motivated the youngsters to prove him wrong - and if they don't want to do that they should want to ram it down his throat. Kudos for us having a guy managing the Cubs who knows how to play the mental games.

 

Sorry, there's no motivation in telling someone that they have no shot. Tell them it's a long shot...fine...but telling them they have no chance is more likely to just depress them, or make them feel resigned to the minors.

[CuseCubFan69]

What's the big deal? So Piniella motivated the youngsters to prove him wrong - and if they don't want to do that they should want to ram it down his throat. Kudos for us having a guy managing the Cubs who knows how to play the mental games.

 

Sorry, there's no motivation in telling someone that they have no shot. Tell them it's a long shot...fine...but telling them they have no chance is more likely to just depress them, or make them feel resigned to the minors.

 

You have to mentally tough as a pitcher and maybe this is one of Lou's ways of testing Sean. If he shrivels away than maybe it's better to know now and personally I'd like to see Sean step up and take this challenge.

[Backtobanks]

Another great PR move. Now Gallagher has lower trade value along with Murton (5th OF) and Cedeno (backup to Theriot).

[CuseCubFan69]

Another great PR move. Now Gallagher has lower trade value along with Murton (5th OF) and Cedeno (backup to Theriot).

 

So you're saying to trade those 3 guys for a slightly better than average 2nd baseman? :grin:

[wekse]

And to think Gallagher will be sent to AAA so that Dempster and Marquis can hold down spots in the rotation... :(

 

I can't wait to see Gallagher here in Nashville April 11-14!

[Derwood]

i'm racking my brain to come up with his "seven" veteran starters.

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Hill

Marquis

Lieber

Dempster

Wood? Marshall?

[jersey cubs fan]

I guess I don't have a problem with the idea that these guys won't make the roster out of spring if everybody is healthy. I do have a problem that veterans are handed jobs simply because they are veterans, and that baseball people still feel veterans deserve hand-outs. Seniority is a horrible way to make a decision about anything.

 

But as long as these guys remain candidates to take over jobs once the bums bomb, I'll be fine. I don't like Lieber, Marquis or Dempster in the rotation, but I'm not exactly dying to see Gallagher start 32 games this year either.

[Backtobanks]

Another great PR move. Now Gallagher has lower trade value along with Murton (5th OF) and Cedeno (backup to Theriot).

 

So you're saying to trade those 3 guys for a slightly better than average 2nd baseman? :grin:

 

With the way they are being treated and "showcased" to the rest of baseball, we might be lucky to get Macias. All Lou had to say was Gallagher has a shot at the 5th starter slot, Cedeno will be battling in the spring to beat out our starter at SS, and Murton is a great option to sub in LF and RF and to provide some punch off the bench. Instead we get Gallagher has no shot to start, Theriot is the starter and there's no competition at SS, and Murton is behind Fuld (and DeRosa if the O's trade happens) in the OF. It would be great to buy a used car from Lou, he would tell you everything that's wrong with it and lower the price significantly.

[Tyrant]

It would be great to buy a used car from Lou, he would tell you everything that's wrong with it and lower the price significantly.

 

I think opposing teams do more research than that when evaluating players. I don't think their opinion of Matt Murton is going to drastically change because Lou said some nice things about him.

 

Do you really think Angelos would come running into MacPhail's office and say, "Andy! I read in the Tribune that Lou said Murton is a great option to sub and has some pop off the bench! Let's pull the trigger on the Roberts trade!"