Pie or Fuld - not both...

[Wrigley Rat]

Not sure where to put this...

 

According to Carrie Muskat:

"The Cubs are not expected to carry both Felix Pie and Sam Fuld on the big league roster, and the team is still looking for a right-handed bat to help in center field."

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080305&content_id=2407035&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Just surprised me a bit since I've been assuming they both make the roster unless we get a right-handed center fielder. Sounds like Fuld will be sent down no matter what.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think I've heard all along they wouldn't keep both of them on the roster.

[cbbryan]

Pie!

 

They're talking up Fuld in order to trade him.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

no surprise there at all

[Post Count Padder]

I'm not really surprised by that. Wasn't that the case all along?

[Backtobanks]

no surprise there at all

 

Yeah, I don't know why anyone would be surprised by this. Why do you think there's been all this speculation about Payton, Crisp, Figgins, Cody Ross, etc. Do you think it might have something to do with the fact that Fuld isn't a serious major league prospect?

[Abe Frohman]

Does anyone feel that Fuld is actually ready for MLB? Take a look at his MiL history and it's easy to see that he needs more time on the farm.

[Backtobanks]

Does anyone feel that Fuld is actually ready for MLB? Take a look at his MiL history and it's easy to see that he needs more time on the farm.

 

I really don't think more time on the farm is going to help. Fuld is the classic gritty overachiever. He is someone that can come up and show some flash (catch in the OF, steal some bases, keep a rally going with a 1B or BB, etc.) for a week or two and the fans love him, but there's no real hope of him becoming a major league starter (i.e. Augie Ojeda).

[biittner77]

Jim Hendry wrote:

If only Fuld were right handed

[Wrigley Rat]

I guess the reason for my surprise was that the Cubs said he was someone that they didn't want to trade (which of course could just be talk).

 

I don't really understand why we would send him to AAA with the team as it is today (with trades I could see it) - I'd rather see them trade him as an extra piece than see him rot in AAA - he's already 26.

 

If we trade Patterson, then I could see a need for a CF at Iowa since Colvin probably isn't ready yet for Iowa. Kroeger and Fox should start at the corners, and Torres and Fuld would split CF.

[98navigator]

I guess the reason for my surprise was that the Cubs said he was someone that they didn't want to trade (which of course could just be talk).

 

I don't really understand why we would send him to AAA with the team as it is today (with trades I could see it) - I'd rather see them trade him as an extra piece than see him rot in AAA - he's already 26.

 

If we trade Patterson, then I could see a need for a CF at Iowa since Colvin probably isn't ready yet for Iowa. Kroeger and Fox should start at the corners, and Torres and Fuld would split CF.

Hendry said, about 3-4 weeks ago in a radio interview, that only one of them would make the team. Fuld doesn't really have a lot of value. I believe the Cubs have used him to try to light a fire under Pie. I fully expect Fuld to start the season at AAA. Sending Pie down at this point makes no sense.

[Wrigley Rat]

I guess the reason for my surprise was that the Cubs said he was someone that they didn't want to trade (which of course could just be talk).

 

I don't really understand why we would send him to AAA with the team as it is today (with trades I could see it) - I'd rather see them trade him as an extra piece than see him rot in AAA - he's already 26.

 

If we trade Patterson, then I could see a need for a CF at Iowa since Colvin probably isn't ready yet for Iowa. Kroeger and Fox should start at the corners, and Torres and Fuld would split CF.

Hendry said, about 3-4 weeks ago in a radio interview, that only one of them would make the team. Fuld doesn't really have a lot of value. I believe the Cubs have used him to try to light a fire under Pie. I fully expect Fuld to start the season at AAA. Sending Pie down at this point makes no sense.

Thanks, I hadn't heard about that interview - the competition part makes sense. I also know that Piniella said that Pie was "ahead of" Fuld at this point in spring training, mainly based on major league experience.