Sorting out the roster come Thursday/Friday

[Derwood]

With Reed Johnson coming back Thursday and Zambrano Friday, what are the logical moves? I would assume Patterson and Marshall are back to Iowa at that point. Then what happens when Soriano comes back? Murton down?

[jersey cubs fan]

It has been said that Marshall will at least stay up and go to the bullpen.

 

I would assume Ascanio and Patterson/Murton go down.

[Hall7810]

I don't think Marshall is headed to Iowa.

 

From Cubs.com:

 

SAN FRANCISCO -- Because he pitched well against the White Sox last weekend and St. Louis has a lineup that struggles against left-handers, Sean Marshall will get another crack at the starting rotation this weekend when the Cubs play the Cardinals.

Before Tuesday's game against the Giants, Cubs manager Lou Piniella announced Marshall would start in St. Louis either Saturday or Sunday, instead of pitching from the bullpen as the skipper originally said on Monday afternoon.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

When Johnson comes back, it'll be Murton or Patterson. My guess is Murton, since Johnson makes Murton more redundant, and Patterson was called up in front of him. EPatt's LF snafus may change that though.

 

When Z comes back, it gets trickier. They were talking on the radio Sunday about how either Marshall or Gallagher could keep the 5th rotation spot when Z returns, and the other may be headed to the bullpen. Marshall went on to have a pretty solid start, and Gallagher pitches again on Thursday. With Lou's comments on Gallagher, and the odds of him pitching well in AT&T against the Giants offense, I'm guessing he stays in the rotation. Then the question becomes, do you send down Marshall, Ascanio, or Cotts. There's good reasons to choose all 3 of them, so I have no idea which one it'd be. If Marshall keeps the rotation gig, then the choice becomes Gallagher v. Ascanio, and I'd think Ascanio goes to Iowa in that case.

[Derwood]

a nice little trade to clear out Murton, Cedeno, Marshall or whoever would make these decisions easier

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Marshall is getting one more start vs the Cardinals. My guess is they'll send Ascanio back down when Zambrano is activated while they decide how they will sort out the rotation.

 

I'm thinking either Patterson or Murton will go down when Reed is activated.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Marshall is getting one more start vs the Cardinals. My guess is they'll send Ascanio back down when Zambrano is activated while they decide how they will sort out the rotation.

 

I'm thinking either Patterson or Murton will go down when Reed is activated.

 

Its got to be Patterson going down. The only thing he has on Murton is speed. Murton has a beter bat, and while he may not be the best fielder in the world, hes not a complete incompetant like the alternative. Or else they couls get rid of both and bring up Hoff. Or keep both and waive Cedeno.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Marshall is getting one more start vs the Cardinals. My guess is they'll send Ascanio back down when Zambrano is activated while they decide how they will sort out the rotation.

 

I'm thinking either Patterson or Murton will go down when Reed is activated.

 

Its got to be Patterson going down. The only thing he has on Murton is speed. Murton has a beter bat, and while he may not be the best fielder in the world, hes not a complete incompetant like the alternative. Or else they couls get rid of both and bring up Hoff. Or keep both and waive Cedeno.

 

You may be right that they'll choose Murton over Patterson, but they could see it that a RH bat is coming back, so a RH bat is going down.

 

As far as Cedeno and Hoffpauir. Cedeno stays until there is someone else who can back-up SS. Since neither Hoffpauir, Murton, or Patterson can do that, Cedeno stays. His spot is safe unless we trade for a bench SS at the deadline.

 

Hoffpauir is out because the Cubs aren't enamored with his defense and we already have one slow defensively challenged lefthanded hitter on the roster.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Marshall is getting one more start vs the Cardinals. My guess is they'll send Ascanio back down when Zambrano is activated while they decide how they will sort out the rotation.

 

I'm thinking either Patterson or Murton will go down when Reed is activated.

 

Its got to be Patterson going down. The only thing he has on Murton is speed. Murton has a beter bat, and while he may not be the best fielder in the world, hes not a complete incompetant like the alternative. Or else they couls get rid of both and bring up Hoff. Or keep both and waive Cedeno.

 

You may be right that they'll choose Murton over Patterson, but they could see it that a RH bat is coming back, so a RH bat is going down.

 

As far as Cedeno and Hoffpauir. Cedeno stays until there is someone else who can back-up SS. Since neither Hoffpauir, Murton, or Patterson can do that, Cedeno stays. His spot is safe unless we trade for a bench SS at the deadline.

 

Hoffpauir is out because the Cubs aren't enamored with his defense and we already have one slow defensively challenged lefthanded hitter on the roster.

 

I wouldnt mind Cedeno so much if he were simple a defensive replacement and a bat at the end of the bench. Hes probably not much worse than others of that kind. I just cant take him in the starting lineup anymore. Has Gerald Perry just completely given up on trying with him?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Im just going to go ahead and put this out there. I know its another lefty, and I know he just came back from injury, but is there any chance theyd consider bringing Pie back, but only as long as Soriano stays out? He brings better defense than the alternatives, and cant be that much wose of a hitter.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Marshall is getting one more start vs the Cardinals. My guess is they'll send Ascanio back down when Zambrano is activated while they decide how they will sort out the rotation.

 

I'm thinking either Patterson or Murton will go down when Reed is activated.

 

Its got to be Patterson going down. The only thing he has on Murton is speed. Murton has a beter bat, and while he may not be the best fielder in the world, hes not a complete incompetant like the alternative. Or else they couls get rid of both and bring up Hoff. Or keep both and waive Cedeno.

 

You may be right that they'll choose Murton over Patterson, but they could see it that a RH bat is coming back, so a RH bat is going down.

 

As far as Cedeno and Hoffpauir. Cedeno stays until there is someone else who can back-up SS. Since neither Hoffpauir, Murton, or Patterson can do that, Cedeno stays. His spot is safe unless we trade for a bench SS at the deadline.

 

Hoffpauir is out because the Cubs aren't enamored with his defense and we already have one slow defensively challenged lefthanded hitter on the roster.

 

I wouldnt mind Cedeno so much if he were simple a defensive replacement and a bat at the end of the bench. Hes probably not much worse than others of that kind. I just cant take him in the starting lineup anymore. Has Gerald Perry just completely given up on trying with him?

 

Cedeno is going to have to start some. Theriot can't start every day. We saw how badly he wore down last year. And there's no one else on the team that Lou feels comfortable playing at SS.

[Derwood]

Im just going to go ahead and put this out there. I know its another lefty, and I know he just came back from injury, but is there any chance theyd consider bringing Pie back, but only as long as Soriano stays out? He brings better defense than the alternatives, and cant be that much wose of a hitter.

 

there is a 0% chance of Pie being the one

[CubColtPacer]

Im just going to go ahead and put this out there. I know its another lefty, and I know he just came back from injury, but is there any chance theyd consider bringing Pie back, but only as long as Soriano stays out? He brings better defense than the alternatives, and cant be that much wose of a hitter.

 

The problem becomes then that when a left-hander starts, you have Ward, Fontenot, Pie, Edmonds, and Blanco on the bench. None of those 4 left-handers are even close to respectable against left-handers, so if you need a pinch-hitter you don't really have any options (especially early in the ballgame, when you don't want risk using Blanco).

[Ding Dong Johnson]

my guess is Murton and Cotts go down, Marshall heads to the bullpen after his start this weekend, Patterson will go back when Soriano comes back

[Schwarber Fan]

my guess is Murton and Cotts go down, Marshall heads to the bullpen after his start this weekend, Patterson will go back when Soriano comes back

 

Cotts had pitched pretty well plus we need a lefty with Eyre DL'ed. I bet Ascanio goes down.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Yeah, it sounds like Ascanio to Iowa when Z comes up, then Marshall(with a small chance of it being Gallagher) going to the pen after the weekend.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

crap, forgot Eyre was DLd and Ascanio was up

[davearm2]

STL's rotation is all RHP, so Reed Johnson likely isn't starting in the series.

 

So maybe the Cubs wait to activate Johnson until after Marshall's start, on the theory that after that start they'll be in a better position to decide the odd man out of the rotation. That in turn influences which BP arm goes back to Iowa.

 

So:

Friday: activate Zambrano; Murton or Patterson to Iowa.

after Marshall starts Sat or Sun: activate Johnson; Cotts or Ascanio (or maybe even Gallagher) to Iowa (Cotts if Marshall to BP, RHP if Marshall sticks in rotation).

[Little Slide Rooter]

STL's rotation is all RHP, so Reed Johnson likely isn't starting in the series.

 

So maybe the Cubs wait to activate Johnson until after Marshall's start, on the theory that after that start they'll be in a better position to decide the odd man out of the rotation. That in turn influences which BP arm goes back to Iowa.

 

So:

Friday: activate Zambrano; Murton or Patterson to Iowa.

after Marshall starts Sat or Sun: activate Johnson; Cotts or Ascanio (or maybe even Gallagher) to Iowa (Cotts if Marshall to BP, RHP if Marshall sticks in rotation).

 

That is a good point. While we are all excited to get JOhnson back, if for nothing else for the sake of restoring some normalcy to the lineup, theres really no point bringing back a guy who cant hit righties to save his life vs. a team with 2 lefties on theentire staff, one whose mediocre at best(Villone) and one who we probably wont see anyway(Mulder). They may as well just give Marshall 1 more start, and maybe he'll catch some eyes from the scouts.

[apete6]

Would they think about sending Marshall back to Iowa to keep him stretched out? I would think that any team acquiring him would like him to be a starter and starting at Iowa would probably let them scout him better/more often.

 

Also, when Eyre comes back, then you have to pick between Marshall and Cotts to be the other lefty, and I would rather see Cotts in there as a LOOGY or middle relief guy than wasting Marshall on 1 or 2 batters or in a blowout like they did earlier in the year.

 

Finally, if someone in the rotation gets hurt and Marshall isn't stretched out to be a starter, who would you bring up? Hart, maybe, but the thought of him going through a MLB order more than once at this point would likely make Marquis look like Don Drysdale.

[Old Style]

my guess is Murton and Cotts go down, Marshall heads to the bullpen after his start this weekend, Patterson will go back when Soriano comes back

 

Cotts had pitched pretty well plus we need a lefty with Eyre DL'ed. I bet Ascanio goes down.

Marshall throws lefty. :idea:

[Little Slide Rooter]

The best way to go from an offensive standpoint is to platoon Ward and Johnson if LF until Soriano comes back.

[circlecitycub]

STL's rotation is all RHP, so Reed Johnson likely isn't starting in the series.

 

So maybe the Cubs wait to activate Johnson until after Marshall's start, on the theory that after that start they'll be in a better position to decide the odd man out of the rotation. That in turn influences which BP arm goes back to Iowa.

 

So:

Friday: activate Zambrano; Murton or Patterson to Iowa.

after Marshall starts Sat or Sun: activate Johnson; Cotts or Ascanio (or maybe even Gallagher) to Iowa (Cotts if Marshall to BP, RHP if Marshall sticks in rotation).

 

I thought after 15 days a player either had to go on rehab assignment or be back with the big club. Otherwise transferred to the 60 day.

 

Would they send Reed to Iowa for the weekend? Would he accept that?

[NCCubFan]

I thought after 15 days a player either had to go on rehab assignment or be back with the big club. Otherwise transferred to the 60 day.

Not true at all. 15 days is the MINIMUM a player can spend on the DL, not the maximum. There's no limit. Players are frequently placed on the 15-day even when they're out for the year. They're usually not transferred to the 60-day until they need to open up a spot on the 40-man roster.

[CubColtPacer]

STL's rotation is all RHP, so Reed Johnson likely isn't starting in the series.

 

So maybe the Cubs wait to activate Johnson until after Marshall's start, on the theory that after that start they'll be in a better position to decide the odd man out of the rotation. That in turn influences which BP arm goes back to Iowa.

 

So:

Friday: activate Zambrano; Murton or Patterson to Iowa.

after Marshall starts Sat or Sun: activate Johnson; Cotts or Ascanio (or maybe even Gallagher) to Iowa (Cotts if Marshall to BP, RHP if Marshall sticks in rotation).

 

I thought after 15 days a player either had to go on rehab assignment or be back with the big club. Otherwise transferred to the 60 day.

 

Would they send Reed to Iowa for the weekend? Would he accept that?

 

You can leave a player on the 15 day DL as long as you want. For example, Chad Fox is still on the 15 day DL from his injury quite a while ago.

 

In this case though, it won't matter. The Cubs aren't going to ask Reed to stay on the DL any longer. He already has been forced to be on the DL 6-7 days longer than the injury actually needed, and they'll activate him as soon as he's eligible.