Opening Day 25 Man Roster

[apete6]

What is everyone's opinion?

 

Here is my feeling on what Hendry/Lou will do as of today (1/6):

 

OF (5): Soriano, Johnson, Fukudome, Bradley, Gathright

IF (6): Ramirez, Theriot, Fontenot, Miles, Lee, Cedeno

C: (2) Soto, Bako (allegedly close to signing)

 

P (12): Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden, Marshall, Gregg, Marmol, Vizcaino, Cotts, Gaudin, Guzman, Wuertz

 

Either traded for minor leaguers or released: Pie, Rich Hill

Starting season in AAA: Samardzija (starting there), Ascanio, Hart, Koyie Hill, Hoffpauir

 

Obviously, it would be great if we could somehow get something of value for Pie and Rich Hill, but all signs point to that not happening. Could you imagine the player we could have gotten 2 years ago for a package of Pie, Hill, and Cedeno? Now its possible that none of them are on the team and we get nothing for them (if we sign Aurilia to take Cedeno's spot).

 

The signing of Gathright just continues to amaze me with its stupidity. Pie is just as good, if not better in the field, has more power, and can probably hit for the same average/OBP. Gathright may be a bit faster and is definitely more seasoned when it comes to stealing bases.

 

Lou could use Samardzija out of the pen, but my feeling is that they would like him to start eventually, so they will let him start in AAA. If he does well starting, he could come up and take Marshall's spot in the rotation and move Marshall back to the pen (or to take over for Harden when he eventually gets injured).

 

Ideally, we trade Pie to Baltimore for Olsen and then package Olsen and anything else we need to not on the major league club for Peavy, but that doesn't seem to be in the works.

 

Anyone else's thoughts?

[SouthSideRyan]

I think that's worse than a Dusty bench.

[jersey cubs fan]

Anyone else's thoughts?

 

My thought is I hope something is done to fix up the final spots and trades are made so former assets don't just disappear for nothing.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If it were up to me:

 

1. 1B-Lee

2. 2B-Fontenot

3. SS-Theriot

4. 3B-Ramirez

5. LF-Soriano

6. CF-Fukudome

7. RF-Bradley

8. C-Soto

9. Bench-Bako

10. Bench-Cedeno

11. Bench-Miles

12. bench-Johnson

13. Bench-Gathright

14. Bench-Hoffpauir

15. SP-Zambrano

16. SP-Harden

17. SP-Lilly

18. SP-Dempster

19. SP-Marshall

20. BP-Marmol

21. BP-Gregg

22. BP-Gaudin

23. BP-Beimal

24/25 BP 2 of-Vizcaino/Guzman/Wuertz

 

 

-Sign Joe Beimal, give Mrashall the 5th rotation spot

-Keep Samardjia if Iowa as a starter as Harden insurance.

If Hoffpauir does anything close to what he did last spring, theres no reason for him not to land that 25th spot, especially since we wont have any power on the bench otherwise.

Id prefer Pie over Gathright, but its not at all realistic to assume he'll be on the team

 

However, the more likelly scenerio is that We aquire a starter as a FA, or some kind of trade involving Pie. Marshall gets a BP spot, and 1 of Vizcaino/Guzman/Wuertz get the last spot, unless Lou opts for an extra pitcher and Hoff gets the shaft again, leaving 0 power on the bench.

[apete6]

If it were up to me:

 

-Sign Joe Beimal, give Mrashall the 5th rotation spot

-Keep Samardjia if Iowa as a starter as Harden insurance.

If Hoffpauir does anything close to what he did last spring, theres no reason for him not to land that 25th spot, especially since we wont have any power on the bench otherwise.

Id prefer Pie over Gathright, but its not at all realistic to assume he'll be on the team

 

However, the more likelly scenerio is that We aquire a starter as a FA, or some kind of trade involving Pie. Marshall gets a BP spot, and 1 of Vizcaino/Guzman/Wuertz get the last spot, unless Lou opts for an extra pitcher and Hoff gets the shaft again, leaving 0 power on the bench.

 

I would love Beimel as well and I agree with Samardzija and Hoffpauir. Unfortunately, I think Uncle Lou always wants 12 pitchers and the Hoff is going to get the shaft.

[SouthSideRyan]

Sending Hoff to AAA would be so awful.

[Backtobanks]

Unfortunately, Hoff doesn't have a spot on this team. Pie (and Hill?) to the O's for Olsen. I think the Peavy deal will happen with Olsen, Stevens, Hart, and Vitters going to the Padres. Maybe we can get another mid-level pitching prospect for Viscaino and make the Peavy deal without including Vitters. Atkins, Castillo, Olsen, Stevens, Hart, and a mid-level prospect?

[cubsfan26]

1B-Derrek Lee

2b-Mike Fontenot

SS-Ryan Theriot

3b- Aramis Ramirez

C- Geovany Soto

LF-Alfonso Soriano

Cf- Kosuke Fukudome

RF- Milton Bradley

*Line-up could go many different ways

 

 

Of-Reed Johnson

If-Aaron Miles

C- Paul Bako???

If/Of- Micah Hoffpauir

Of-Joey Gathright

 

 

1. Carlos Zambrano

2. Rich Harden

3. Ryan Dempster

4. Ted Lilly

5. ??? trade or F/A

 

 

1. Sean Marshall(he or Gaudin will start if we don't add a pitcher)

2. Neal Cotts

3. Mike Wuertz or Luis Vizcaino(one guy gets traded)

4. Angel Guzman or Jeff Samardzija(one will be starting in minors)

5. Chad Gaudin

6. Kevin Gregg or Carlos Marmol

1. Carlos Marmol or Kevin Gregg

 

 

Knowing Hendry I still say we add a SP, and will either trade Pie, Cedeno, and a reliever(Wuertz, Hart or Vizcaino) with other prospects to get that pitcher. Or trade those guys for prospects and try to restock the farm for potential midseason moves. I dunno about you guys, but on paper this team looks pretty damn good.

[cubsfan26]

Sending Hoff to AAA would be so awful.

 

 

Lou is gonna want a guy off the bench who could hit the ball out of the park. If Hoffpauir isn't on the team, they will bring some veteran hitter with power to take his spot. I think Hoffpauir will be kept on the team though, just as long as he doesn't stink this spring.

[Chuck_Cubs1]

I want to a good offer for sweet Sammy to be our big bat off the bench, and play some outfild. Sir Sidney Ponson could be the final piece to the puzzle in pitching. This guy was LIGHTS-OUT last year for Rangers.

[CubmanPi]

I want to a good offer for sweet Sammy to be our big bat off the bench, and play some outfild. Sir Sidney Ponson could be the final piece to the puzzle in pitching. This guy was LIGHTS-OUT last year for Rangers.

=D>

[wvcbxl]

... Angel Guzman or Jeff Samardzija(one will be starting in minors)

 

I doubt the Cubs will let Guzman start anywhere in 2009, not even in the minors

[wastra]

Our bullpen could be anywhere from solid to attrocious.

 

Changes:

Closer:

Marmol < Wood

 

Setup:

Vizcaino = Howry

Gregg < Marmol

 

and if Marshall is in the rotation, we have only Neil Cotts from the left side. Good lord we need Gaudin to be healthy and effective. Hendry has taken a HUGE risk with the way the pen is shaping up.

[Schwarber Fan]

Our bullpen could be anywhere from solid to attrocious.

 

Changes:

Closer:

Marmol < Wood

 

Setup:

Vizcaino = Howry

Gregg < Marmol

 

and if Marshall is in the rotation, we have only Neil Cotts from the left side. Good lord we need Gaudin to be healthy and effective. Hendry has taken a HUGE risk with the way the pen is shaping up.

 

How is Marmol a downgrade to Wood as closer?

[wastra]

I'm not saying he IS worse, I'm saying there's a legit chance he won't be as good as kerry was last year.

 

Marmol was really not godo with RISP last year, which is a situation clsoers find themselves in pretty often (wood didn't exactly shine in that situation either). He wasn't particularly great in the "late innings of close games" stat from MLB.com if you buy intot hat (not sure I do).

 

 

The main point is that the pressure on a setup guy is far different from the pressure of closing. Some guys have no issue with it, some guys crack under the pressure. A young pitcher in his first season as the full-time closer- it's not unreasonable to expect some dropoff from his previous season's metrics.