The Battle for the Final Bench Spot(s)

[Wrigley Rat]

Rivas update: The Pirates made no move to bring back reserve infielder Luis Rivas as a free agent after he hit .218 with three home runs and 20 RBIs in 79 games last season.

 

Rivas wound up signing a minor-league contract with the Chicago Cubs, who were no doubt impressed he inexplicably hit two home runs in the same game against them last May 25 at PNC Park. Now, Rivas stands a decent chance of being the Cubs’ second utility infielder behind the loser of the competition for the starting second base job, Mike Fontenot or Aaron Miles.

 

Rivas, normally a middle infielder, impressed Cubs manager Lou Piniella with his defense at third base in their exhibition opener and could beat out Micah Hoffpauir, a power-hitting first baseman/outfielder, for a bench job because of his versatility.

 

“I’ll just come here and play my best baseball,” Rivas told the Chicago Tribune. “Whether it’s third base or shortstop or wherever, I’m going to work hard to do whatever they want.”

http://www.tribune-democrat.com/sports/local_story_060001945.html

 

I think we can all find quotes about Luis Rivas, Micah Hoffpauir, Corey Koskie, Bobby Scales, Andres Blanco, Nate Spears, So Taguchi, Jake Fox, etc. making the team as the last bench guy. It will probably come down to a player being released right before the season starts and the Cubs signing him, but maybe in the meantime we can keep track of the competition here.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

If Koskie is over his health issues and can hit like he did before leaving the game, I think Koskie would be most valuable as the last spot.

 

I'd like to see Gathright left off and the bench be composed of Johnson, Hoffpauir, Koskie, Miles, and Bako.

[Post Count Padder]

If Koskie is over his health issues and can hit like he did before leaving the game, I think Koskie would be most valuable as the last spot.

 

I'd like to see Gathright left off and the bench be composed of Johnson, Hoffpauir, Koskie, Miles, and Bako.

That would probably be the best-case scenario.

[NCCubFan]

I moved this to Cubs Discussions; it seems to me like it belongs here rather than Transactions.

[Wrigley Rat]

I moved this to Cubs Discussions; it seems to me like it belongs here rather than Transactions.

That works - thanks!

[catrat85]

rhis may seem like a dumb question but i dont care. but what happpins to the guys that dont make the starting roster that signed minor league deals. do they get designated for assignment or sent to triple a. or the option?

[Little Slide Rooter]

rhis may seem like a dumb question but i dont care. but what happpins to the guys that dont make the starting roster that signed minor league deals. do they get designated for assignment or sent to triple a. or the option?

 

The minor leaguers are sent back to the minors. I the case of established major leaguers who are given these types of deals, in most cases, there is a clause in their contract that if they dont make the roster by a certain date they can opt out of the deal.

[Cynosure]

If Hoff doesn't get a bench spot I am going to be incredibly pissed.

[NCCubFan]

rhis may seem like a dumb question but i dont care. but what happpins to the guys that dont make the starting roster that signed minor league deals. do they get designated for assignment or sent to triple a. or the option?

 

The minor leaguers are sent back to the minors. I the case of established major leaguers who are given these types of deals, in most cases, there is a clause in their contract that if they dont make the roster by a certain date they can opt out of the deal.

That's why the Cubs lost Hideo Nomo just before he became a productive major leaguer again. He was pitching at Iowa and had a clause in his minor league contract that he had to be called up or released by a certain date. When that day came the Cubs didn't think he was quite ready for the majors yet, so they asked him to stay at Iowa just a little longer. He refused, so the Cubs released him. On the flip side is Rod Beck, who realized himself that he wasn't ready by the agreed-on date, so he agreed to remain at Iowa (that was when he was living in a camper outside the stadium).

[chuckywang]

rhis may seem like a dumb question but i dont care. but what happpins to the guys that dont make the starting roster that signed minor league deals. do they get designated for assignment or sent to triple a. or the option?

 

The minor leaguers are sent back to the minors. I the case of established major leaguers who are given these types of deals, in most cases, there is a clause in their contract that if they dont make the roster by a certain date they can opt out of the deal.

That's why the Cubs lost Hideo Nomo just before he became a productive major leaguer again. He was pitching at Iowa and had a clause in his minor league contract that he had to be called up or released by a certain date. When that day came the Cubs didn't think he was quite ready for the majors yet, so they asked him to stay at Iowa just a little longer. He refused, so the Cubs released him. On the flip side is Rod Beck, who realized himself that he wasn't ready by the agreed-on date, so he agreed to remain at Iowa (that was when he was living in a camper outside the stadium).

 

Could he not afford rent in Iowa?

[twothousandfive]

Isn't Gathright's role to be defensive replacement for Soriano, as well as to platoon with Hoffpauir whenever Soriano and/or Bradley get hurt? If it was just as injury protection, he could stay in AAA. But in a one run game, if Soriano isn't coming up soon, I don't want him in the field. I gotta' figure, by now, Piniella doesn't either.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Gathright and Hoffpauir are both left handed.

 

And Soriano is fine defensively.

[biittner77]

Gathright and Hoffpauir are both left handed.

 

And Soriano is fine defensively.

 

The issue is more so to save his legs and avoid injury than his being a Dunn-like liability out there. Does fine= not horrible?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Gathright and Hoffpauir are both left handed.

 

And Soriano is fine defensively.

 

The issue is more so to save his legs and avoid injury than his being a Dunn-like liability out there. Does fine= not horrible?

 

For an inning at a time? And significantly hurting the offense if he his spot comes up again?

 

Numerically, Soriano is an above average defender, and the best outfield arm in the game.

[TruffleShuffle]

if the cubs need a defensive replacement it's for fukudome in center, not soriano in left.

[VicCub]

Hoff must make the team. We need some power off the bench.

[Cubswin11]

if the cubs need a defensive replacement it's for fukudome in center, not soriano in left.

Yeah the most likely defensive replacement for us this year will be in late innings when we have a lead Gathright will go play CF and Kosuke will get bumped to RF and Bradley will go to the bench.

[Guest]

I don't know about the final bench spot but it sure looks like Bako is a lock for backup catcher.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't know about the final bench spot but it sure looks like Bako is a lock for backup catcher.

 

Why would you say that? Hill started with most of the other starters on Wednesday night. Randy Bush seemed to give them an equal chance in his interview on Thursday.

 

I would assume they would be leaning towards Bako but I haven't seen anything from the club about that yet. But I personally haven't seen all the news that has come through either so it's quite possible I missed something.

[TruffleShuffle]

I don't know about the final bench spot but it sure looks like Bako is a lock for backup catcher.

 

Why would you say that? Hill started with most of the other starters on Wednesday night. Randy Bush seemed to give them an equal chance in his interview on Thursday.

 

I would assume they would be leaning towards Bako but I haven't seen anything from the club about that yet.

 

this is a battle that i'm totally interested about.

[Guest]

I don't know about the final bench spot but it sure looks like Bako is a lock for backup catcher.

 

Why would you say that? Hill started with most of the other starters on Wednesday night. Randy Bush seemed to give them an equal chance in his interview on Thursday.

 

I would assume they would be leaning towards Bako but I haven't seen anything from the club about that yet. But I personally haven't seen all the news that has come through either so it's quite possible I missed something.

Hill. Can't. Hit.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't know about the final bench spot but it sure looks like Bako is a lock for backup catcher.

 

Why would you say that? Hill started with most of the other starters on Wednesday night. Randy Bush seemed to give them an equal chance in his interview on Thursday.

 

I would assume they would be leaning towards Bako but I haven't seen anything from the club about that yet. But I personally haven't seen all the news that has come through either so it's quite possible I missed something.

Hill. Can't. Hit.

 

No, he can't. But then again, neither can Bako. Hill's outhitting him so far. It will be interesting to see if that continues throughout the spring as they get more at-bats.

[biittner77]

I don't know about the final bench spot but it sure looks like Bako is a lock for backup catcher.

 

Why would you say that? Hill started with most of the other starters on Wednesday night. Randy Bush seemed to give them an equal chance in his interview on Thursday.

 

I would assume they would be leaning towards Bako but I haven't seen anything from the club about that yet.

 

this is a battle that i'm totally interested about.

 

Who's hotter: Rosanne or Rosie O'Donnel?

[JeffH]

I don't know about the final bench spot but it sure looks like Bako is a lock for backup catcher.

 

Why would you say that? Hill started with most of the other starters on Wednesday night. Randy Bush seemed to give them an equal chance in his interview on Thursday.

 

I would assume they would be leaning towards Bako but I haven't seen anything from the club about that yet.

 

this is a battle that i'm totally interested about.

 

Who's hotter: Rosanne or Rosie O'Donnel?

 

Roseanne. It's not even close.

[RedFlash]

I don't know about the final bench spot but it sure looks like Bako is a lock for backup catcher.

 

Why would you say that? Hill started with most of the other starters on Wednesday night. Randy Bush seemed to give them an equal chance in his interview on Thursday.

 

I would assume they would be leaning towards Bako but I haven't seen anything from the club about that yet.

 

this is a battle that i'm totally interested about.

 

Who's hotter: Rosanne or Rosie O'Donnel?

 

Can I gouged my eyes out before I make that decision?