How will the bullpen look come opening day?

[cuubs4life]

okay the way I see it there are 5 locks: marmol, wood, howry, eyre, wuertz. I would like to see another lefty in there, but that seems rare with the way cotts has looked thus far. My question is do you think lou will want 6 or 7 in the pen? whoever does not get the 5th starter job could be the "long man"... probably not marques after his comments yesterday. so maybe marshall? And do guys like mateo, acensio (how ever you spell it) and possibly the guy who we traded for in the rule 5 draft (sorry I am horrible with names) figure to be in the plans this year?

[mdwilla]

Piggy,Lahay, Ascanio, Ceda, Fox,Hart,Marshall, all are going be fighting for that last one or two spots.

[TruffleShuffle]

i think hart should make it. he showed enough last year to at least merit a spot as a long man if he pitches adequately in spring training.

 

i'm gonna guess that the 25 man roster is:

 

1. zambrano

2. lilly

3. hill

4. dempster

5. lieber

6. wood

7. howry

8. marmol

9. eyre ](*,)

10. wuertz

11. hart

12. lahey

13. soto

14. blanco

15. lee

16. derosa

17. theriot

18. ramirez

19. fontenot

20. soriano

21. pie

22. fukudome

23. murton

24. fuld

25. ward

 

 

cedeno is in the minors or traded, marquis is dumped on some unsuspecting team, ceda heads to tennessee, piggy, marshall, ascanio and fox head back to iowa.

[CubColtPacer]

i think hart should make it. he showed enough last year to at least merit a spot as a long man if he pitches adequately in spring training.

 

i'm gonna guess that the 25 man roster is:

 

1. zambrano

2. lilly

3. hill

4. dempster

5. lieber

6. wood

7. howry

8. marmol

9. eyre ](*,)

10. wuertz

11. hart

12. lahey

13. soto

14. blanco

15. lee

16. derosa

17. theriot

18. ramirez

19. fontenot

20. soriano

21. pie

22. fukudome

23. murton

24. fuld

25. ward

 

 

cedeno is in the minors or traded, marquis is dumped on some unsuspecting team, ceda heads to tennessee, piggy, marshall, ascanio and fox head back to iowa.

 

I would agree with you with one exception. There's no way the Cubs break camp with exactly 1 SS on the roster. 1 of Cedeno or Cintron will make the team (likely Cedeno unless he's traded).

[nilodnayr]

i think hart should make it. he showed enough last year to at least merit a spot as a long man if he pitches adequately in spring training.

 

i'm gonna guess that the 25 man roster is:

 

1. zambrano

2. lilly

3. hill

4. dempster

5. lieber

6. wood

7. howry

8. marmol

9. eyre ](*,)

10. wuertz

11. hart

12. lahey

13. soto

14. blanco

15. lee

16. derosa

17. theriot

18. ramirez

19. fontenot

20. soriano

21. pie

22. fukudome

23. murton

24. fuld

25. ward

 

 

cedeno is in the minors or traded, marquis is dumped on some unsuspecting team, ceda heads to tennessee, piggy, marshall, ascanio and fox head back to iowa.

 

That leaves us with 0 back up shortstops. Lou didn't exactly like the Fontenot experiment.

 

Assuming no trades, I'll drop Hart and replace with Marquis and drop Fontenot and replace with Cedeno. I think Marquis might get traded in the first month of the season as opposed to in ST as any team that would want Marquis can just sign Lohse.

[Illini Iceman]

i think hart should make it. he showed enough last year to at least merit a spot as a long man if he pitches adequately in spring training.

 

i'm gonna guess that the 25 man roster is:

 

1. zambrano

2. lilly

3. hill

4. dempster

5. lieber

6. wood

7. howry

8. marmol

9. eyre ](*,)

10. wuertz

11. hart

12. lahey

13. soto

14. blanco

15. lee

16. derosa

17. theriot

18. ramirez

19. fontenot

20. soriano

21. pie

22. fukudome

23. murton

24. fuld

25. ward

 

 

cedeno is in the minors or traded, marquis is dumped on some unsuspecting team, ceda heads to tennessee, piggy, marshall, ascanio and fox head back to iowa.

 

I would agree with you with one exception. There's no way the Cubs break camp with exactly 1 SS on the roster. 1 of Cedeno or Cintron will make the team (likely Cedeno unless he's traded).

 

 

I don't think they keep Fuld and Pie. Whoever does not win the starting job goes back to AAA.

Edited March 3, 2008 by Illini Iceman

[TruffleShuffle]

i would really prefer that fontenot make it over cedeno. fontenot i think could be a pretty solid hitter, not great, but not terrible either. i am convinced that cedeno will be a neifi-esque offensive player.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

i would really prefer that fontenot make it over cedeno. fontenot i think could be a pretty solid hitter, not great, but not terrible either. i am convinced that cedeno will be a neifi-esque offensive player.

 

I'm with you, except with the roles reversed.

 

I'd like to see Ascanio put together a good spring and get the last bullpen slot.

[TruffleShuffle]

i would really prefer that fontenot make it over cedeno. fontenot i think could be a pretty solid hitter, not great, but not terrible either. i am convinced that cedeno will be a neifi-esque offensive player.

 

I'm with you, except with the roles reversed.

 

I'd like to see Ascanio put together a good spring and get the last bullpen slot.

 

you really think fontenot will be a neifi-esque hitter? he's shown too much patience to be that bad. his minor league obp is .366 and his minor league ops is 100 points higher than neifi.

 

i can see thinking that cedeno will be a decent big leaguer, but given his piss-poor discipline in the big leagues, i'm betting against him.

[Roast]

Truffle, why so down on Eyre?

 

He pitched incredible the 2nd half last year.

[TruffleShuffle]

Truffle, why so down on Eyre?

 

He pitched incredible the 2nd half last year.

 

31 baserunners in 22.1 innings does not qualify as "incredible." the only thing incredible about his second half was his good fortune.

 

his whip in a cub uniform is over 1.6. not so great.

[seanimal]

without eyre, our cache of fat, white pitchers will be catastrophically low

[BCVM22]

Naw, Lieber alone would fill the quota and then some.

[17 Seconds]

i think hart should make it. he showed enough last year to at least merit a spot as a long man if he pitches adequately in spring training.

 

i'm gonna guess that the 25 man roster is:

 

1. zambrano

2. lilly

3. hill

4. dempster

5. lieber

6. wood

7. howry

8. marmol

9. eyre ](*,)

10. wuertz

11. hart

12. lahey

13. soto

14. blanco

15. lee

16. derosa

17. theriot

18. ramirez

19. fontenot

20. soriano

21. pie

22. fukudome

23. murton

24. fuld

25. ward

 

 

cedeno is in the minors or traded, marquis is dumped on some unsuspecting team, ceda heads to tennessee, piggy, marshall, ascanio and fox head back to iowa.

 

They're already said that likely only one of Pie/Fuld will make the team. Also, I don't think Fontenot serves any purpose on this team. He's not a good defender, he can't play multiple positions, he doesn't steal bases, and isn't great with the bat.

[mdwilla]

TruffleShuffle wrote:

i think hart should make it. he showed enough last year to at least merit a spot as a long man if he pitches adequately in spring training.

 

i'm gonna guess that the 25 man roster is:

 

1. zambrano

2. lilly

3. hill

4. dempster

5. lieber

6. wood

7. howry

8. marmol

9. eyre

10. wuertz

11. hart

12. lahey

13. soto

14. blanco

15. lee

16. derosa

17. theriot

18. ramirez

19. fontenot

20. soriano

21. pie

22. fukudome

23. murton

24. fuld

25. ward

 

 

cedeno is in the minors or traded, marquis is dumped on some unsuspecting team, ceda heads to tennessee, piggy, marshall, ascanio and fox head back to iowa.

 

 

They're already said that likely only one of Pie/Fuld will make the team. Also, I don't think Fontenot serves any purpose on this team. He's not a good defender, he can't play multiple positions, he doesn't steal bases, and isn't great with the bat.

i think hart should make it. he showed enough last year to at least merit a spot as a long man if he pitches adequately in spring training.

 

i'm gonna guess that the 25 man roster is:

 

1. zambrano

2. lilly

3. hill

4. dempster

5. lieber

6. wood

7. howry

8. marmol

9. eyre ](*,)

10. wuertz

11. hart

12. lahey

13. soto

14. blanco

15. lee

16. derosa

17. theriot

18. ramirez

19. fontenot

20. soriano

21. pie

22. fukudome

23. murton

24. fuld

25. ward

 

 

cedeno is in the minors or traded, marquis is dumped on some unsuspecting team, ceda heads to tennessee, piggy, marshall, ascanio and fox head back to iowa.

 

They're already said that likely only one of Pie/Fuld will make the team. Also, I don't think Fontenot serves any purpose on this team. He's not a good defender, he can't play multiple positions, he doesn't steal bases, and isn't great with the bat.

 

 

todays paper has Fontenot playing short,second, third this spring. He gets on base. Pretty solid hitter through the minors and showed a flash last year that he can hit up here. He's also a pretty solid baserunner with good speed just not much sucess with stealing bases. Fontenot should make a pretty solid 25th man.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Fontenot:

 

 Split         G   GS  PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF ROE GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  BAbip sOPS+ tOPS+ Split
+-+------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------------+
  May            2   0   2   2   1   1  1  0  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  0  .500  .500 1.000 1.500  .500   291   298 May          
  June          20  19  83  78  16  31  7  3  3  15   4   0  10   0   0   1   0   3   2  1  .397  .422  .679 1.101  .424   186   194 June         
  July          23  17  79  71   7  15  0  0  0   6   6   0  16   0   1   1   0   0   3  1  .211  .269  .211  .480  .268    30    32 July         
  August        23  12  62  53   4  11  3  1  0   7   9   0  12   0   0   0   0   2   0  2  .208  .323  .302  .624  .268    65    71 August       
  Sept./Oct.    18   5  34  30   4   7  1  0  0   1   3   0   5   0   0   1   0   0   0  0  .233  .294  .267  .561  .269    47    54 Sept./Oct.

[Vanilla Ice]

I'd be surprised if Lahey doesn't make the team on Opening Day, so they don't have to give him up right off the bat. IMO all he has to do is not completely stink in spring training. I think the other spot goes to a lefty or a long man. I'd think Marshall gets it if he misses the rotation since he fits both those bills. The other options I see are Hart or Piggy.

[Guest]

Can never have too many arms...

 

Righties

 

1. Dempster (?)
   
2. Wood
   
3. Marmol
   
4. Howry
   
5. Wuertz
   
6. Lahey
   
7. Petrick
   
8. Hart
   
9. Ascanio
   
10. Mateo

 

Lefties:

 

1. Eyre
   
2. Cotts
   
3. Pignaiello
   
4. Campusano
   
5. Marshall (?)

 

Here's the list of arms I put out there earlier (with Campusano added). The names in bold are locks. Beyond that...I think it really depends on who wins the starter battle.

 

Personally, the one I'd really like to see step up and grab the spot would be Petrick. I think he's got more upside than anyone else on the list.

[TruffleShuffle]

Fontenot:

 

 Split         G   GS  PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF ROE GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  BAbip sOPS+ tOPS+ Split
+-+------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------------+
  May            2   0   2   2   1   1  1  0  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  0  .500  .500 1.000 1.500  .500   291   298 May          
  June          20  19  83  78  16  31  7  3  3  15   4   0  10   0   0   1   0   3   2  1  .397  .422  .679 1.101  .424   186   194 June         
  July          23  17  79  71   7  15  0  0  0   6   6   0  16   0   1   1   0   0   3  1  .211  .269  .211  .480  .268    30    32 July         
  August        23  12  62  53   4  11  3  1  0   7   9   0  12   0   0   0   0   2   0  2  .208  .323  .302  .624  .268    65    71 August       
  Sept./Oct.    18   5  34  30   4   7  1  0  0   1   3   0   5   0   0   1   0   0   0  0  .233  .294  .267  .561  .269    47    54 Sept./Oct.

 

okay, so his really bad months were basically marginally better than an average month for ronny cedeno in 2006.

[SouthSideCubsFan83]

I'd rather have Pignatiello than watch Cotts serve up gopher balls all season....I don't understand how you are a shut-down setup man one year then another look like he couldn't even make ISU's team again if he tried out!?!?!?

[Guest]

Personally, the one I'd really like to see step up and grab the spot would be Petrick. I think he's got more upside than anyone else on the list.

 

More upside than Ascanio? I hope Ascanio or Petrick can grab that spot and not look back the rest of the season.

 

I think Campusano will fade due to his control not returning yet after TJS (and Cotts will suck) and if the Cubs go with a second lefty, I'd like to see Piggy get the nod.

[Outshined_One]

The Cubs definitely need a second left-hander out of the pen. Considering the Cubs have a tendency to use Eyre as more of a jack of all trades reliever than a specialist, I'm guessing Pignatiello will become the resident loogy, barring a trade.

[Guest]

Fontenot:

 

 Split         G   GS  PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF ROE GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  BAbip sOPS+ tOPS+ Split
+-+------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------------+
  May            2   0   2   2   1   1  1  0  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  0  .500  .500 1.000 1.500  .500   291   298 May          
  June          20  19  83  78  16  31  7  3  3  15   4   0  10   0   0   1   0   3   2  1  .397  .422  .679 1.101  .424   186   194 June         
  July          23  17  79  71   7  15  0  0  0   6   6   0  16   0   1   1   0   0   3  1  .211  .269  .211  .480  .268    30    32 July         
  August        23  12  62  53   4  11  3  1  0   7   9   0  12   0   0   0   0   2   0  2  .208  .323  .302  .624  .268    65    71 August       
  Sept./Oct.    18   5  34  30   4   7  1  0  0   1   3   0   5   0   0   1   0   0   0  0  .233  .294  .267  .561  .269    47    54 Sept./Oct.

 

okay, so his really bad months were basically marginally better than an average month for ronny cedeno in 2006.

 

Come on Truffle, you're better than that. Cedeno was 23 during his 2006 season while Fontenot was 27 last year.

[TruffleShuffle]

Fontenot:

 

 Split         G   GS  PA  AB  R   H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB IBB  SO HBP  SH  SF ROE GDP  SB CS   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  BAbip sOPS+ tOPS+ Split
+-+------------+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+--+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+------------+
  May            2   0   2   2   1   1  1  0  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0  0  .500  .500 1.000 1.500  .500   291   298 May          
  June          20  19  83  78  16  31  7  3  3  15   4   0  10   0   0   1   0   3   2  1  .397  .422  .679 1.101  .424   186   194 June         
  July          23  17  79  71   7  15  0  0  0   6   6   0  16   0   1   1   0   0   3  1  .211  .269  .211  .480  .268    30    32 July         
  August        23  12  62  53   4  11  3  1  0   7   9   0  12   0   0   0   0   2   0  2  .208  .323  .302  .624  .268    65    71 August       
  Sept./Oct.    18   5  34  30   4   7  1  0  0   1   3   0   5   0   0   1   0   0   0  0  .233  .294  .267  .561  .269    47    54 Sept./Oct.

 

okay, so his really bad months were basically marginally better than an average month for ronny cedeno in 2006.

 

Come on Truffle, you're better than that. Cedeno was 23 during his 2006 season while Fontenot was 27 last year.

 

i stand by my opinion that cedeno will be continue to be terrible in the big leagues.

[b_wiggy_66]

i think hart should make it. he showed enough last year to at least merit a spot as a long man if he pitches adequately in spring training.

 

i'm gonna guess that the 25 man roster is:

 

1. zambrano

2. lilly

3. hill

4. dempster

5. lieber

6. wood

7. howry

8. marmol

9. eyre ](*,)

10. wuertz

11. hart

12. lahey

13. soto

14. blanco

15. lee

16. derosa

17. theriot

18. ramirez

19. fontenot

20. soriano

21. pie

22. fukudome

23. murton

24. fuld

25. ward

 

 

cedeno is in the minors or traded, marquis is dumped on some unsuspecting team, ceda heads to tennessee, piggy, marshall, ascanio and fox head back to iowa.

 

You forgot Roberts ;)