Z to the pen

[Wheelimus]

Bob may not want to risk his midseason tryout as Lou's replacement by saying anything biting.

[NYCubsFan38]

I absolutely hated this move last night when I first heard what happened. As the night went on and into today I've been thinking about it and maybe it isn't too bad. As long as it's a short term fix and maybe more people in the bullpen can step up I think it will help early on. The starters have pitched very very good to start the year, while the bullpen has completely wet the bed. If Ted comes back and pitches somewhat well, while using Carlos as a piggyback type and also giving him some set-up spots, I think it might work. Use Sean in the 7th, Z in the 8th and Marmol in the 9th and maybe we won't have the collapses we've had these first 2 weeks. The biggest drawback now is the 2 Carlos' control at the backend of the bullpen can open another issue. That said, I'd rather see this happen than watch Grabow load the bases or Shark come in a close game. So for now I'm ok with it as long as he's back in the rotation when the rest of the people in the bullpen step up or we aquire someone else.

[Jon]

One day organizations will start to realize that they'd be much better off it all personnel decisions were made in the front office and only left coaches in the dugout. Not giving more responsibilities to someone in the dugout to keep them busy just leaves them to constantly change things to stave off the boredom. It's just like letting fans make the decisions.

 

But instead we still get old men wandering out to the mound in tight baseball pants.

[Sammy Sofa]

One day organizations will start to realize that they'd be much better off it all personnel decisions were made in the front office and only left coaches in the dugout. Not giving more responsibilities to someone in the dugout to keep them busy just leaves them to constantly change things to stave off the boredom. It's just like letting fans make the decisions.

 

But instead we still get old men wandering out to the mound in tight baseball pants.

 

Yeah, I generally agree with this. Why the final call as to who to put in and when to pull a guy and so on is up to the manager and not the pitching coach is beyond me.

[treebird]

how long can zambrano pitch in the bullpen before he'd have to go down to the minor leagues to stretch back out before returning to the rotation? or will we just tell him to deal with the fact that he's completely changed his workload?

[Exile on Waveland]

What, is he a ninny? He should just tough it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/this is sarcasm, just in case it's not clear.

[Sammy Sofa]

One of things that frustrating me the most about this are hearing people on the radio talking about this move like it's the smart thing to do or that Zambrano effectively "deserves" it because he hasn't been the "20 game-winning true ace" that everyone wanted him to be. Yes, it would be one thing if he hadn't been that guy and ended up being someone struggling to stay in a starting rotation, but he's clearly well beyond that latter scenario. Just because he's not Halladay doesn't mean you give up on him. It's stupid.

[treebird]

from btf:

 

Once upon a diamond dreary,

Theriot slapping, weak and weary,

While Soriano shied away from many an ivy-covered wall,

Piniella nodded, nearly napping, for it was the Cubs turn batting,

Or perhaps I should say hacking, hacking at pitches on the floor.

"Carlos should relieve" he muttered, "surely that will help us score!

Pitch the eighth, and nothing more."

Quoth Jim Hendry, "What is WAR?"

[Banedon]

from btf:

 

Once upon a diamond dreary,

Theriot slapping, weak and weary,

While Soriano shied away from many an ivy-covered wall,

Piniella nodded, nearly napping, for it was the Cubs turn batting,

Or perhaps I should say hacking, hacking at pitches on the floor.

"Carlos should relieve" he muttered, "surely that will help us score!

Pitch the eighth, and nothing more."

Quoth Jim Hendry, "What is WAR?"

 

Ha...fantastic.

[rocket]

from btf:

 

Once upon a diamond dreary,

Theriot slapping, weak and weary,

While Soriano shied away from many an ivy-covered wall,

Piniella nodded, nearly napping, for it was the Cubs turn batting,

Or perhaps I should say hacking, hacking at pitches on the floor.

"Carlos should relieve" he muttered, "surely that will help us score!

Pitch the eighth, and nothing more."

Quoth Jim Hendry, "What is WAR?"

 

that is amazing.

[Keener98]

Ok let me say this, I don't agree with this move at all, and my opinion of Lou/Hendry is pretty well known around here. However, after thinking about this, let me ask you guys a question. Almost all of us have been against the idea of bringing Cashner up to the majors and put into the bullpen, but we all expected that very move to be made. However the Cubs did something really out of the ordinary for them, and they didnt panic by bringing up a top prospect, they panicked by moving the ace of the rotation to the bullpen.

 

So let me ask you this, which would you rather have, Z out of the rotation and in the pen, or Cashner called up and put in the pen? Obviously neither is the ideal situation, but honestly, if they didnt move Z, Id say Cashner coming up was the next domino to fall. I really don't know at this point which I'd rather have. Cashner's future looks very bright right now, and we have seen the best days of Z already. So which is it?

[Sammy Sofa]

Easily Cashner in the bullpen. Without a second thought. It's not like calling up a position prospect and then having them sit on the bench. It's much easier to get a guy in the bullpen plenty of work.

[Keener98]

Easily Cashner in the bullpen. Without a second thought. It's not like calling up a position prospect and then having them sit on the bench. It's much easier to get a guy in the bullpen plenty of work.

 

While it is easier to get the bullpen guy work, we are talking bout Lou here who the 1st time Cash walked someone, would sit for a week.

 

Also whos future do you hold in higher regard for the Cubs right now? Cashner or Z?

[Sammy Sofa]

I'd say both since the oldest guy between the two is only 28.

 

I mean, it's insane that we're even having to bring up that hypothetical. It shouldn't be choice between Cashner and Zambrano ever over anything.

[Keener98]

I'd say both since the oldest guy between the two is only 28.

 

I mean, it's insane that we're even having to bring up that hypothetical. It shouldn't be choice between Cashner and Zambrano ever over anything.

 

Lol I know its ridiculously insane. I don't want to sound like I'm behind this move at all, but Im trying to find some kind of light lol.

[treebird]

okay guys let's think well at least the cubs didn't shoot zambrano with a gun in the face in the middle of the game

 

im not saying i like this move i'm just saying it could be worse

[mcgoobs]

Supposedly what makes this a temporary situation is Hendry needing a bit of time to find an effective 8th inning reliever in the market (which given his history, we will certainly overpay for, but I digress). I know Braden Looper's name has been thrown around but his most recent history is as a mediocre starter, with three years since he's been an effective reliever. Are there other names that are available?

[Sammy Sofa]

There's really nobody out there who is going to be anything resembling a sure thing in the 8th inning that won't require the Cubs to vastly overpay in a trade. The reality is that an 8th inning guy is going to almost certainly have to come from inside the organization.

[J.R.]

I hate that this is happening yet I stand alone in my belief that Soriano could still play 2B.

[Sammy Sofa]

I hate that this is happening yet I stand alone in my belief that Soriano could still play 2B.

 

I counter by asking whether or not he could truly play 2B in the first place.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: no.

[J.R.]

#2 disagrees with you.

 

"He's done an outstanding job," said Jeter, Soriano's double play partner. "You always use offensive numbers to judge players, but the way he's improved defensively over the last year is pretty remarkable."

 

It was only a year ago, in spring training 2001, that skipper Joe Torre penciled in Soriano as the Yankees' starting left fielder. When second baseman Chuck Knoblauch's throwing problems persisted, a move had to be made and Soriano was the logical choice to replace Knoblauch.

 

"People point to his offensive numbers and say look how far he's come. I think he's come further defensively," Jeter declared. "He's basically learned how to play second base at the major league level."

 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_10_61/ai_90831537/

[inari]

#2 disagrees with you.

 

"He's done an outstanding job," said Jeter, Soriano's double play partner. "You always use offensive numbers to judge players, but the way he's improved defensively over the last year is pretty remarkable."

 

It was only a year ago, in spring training 2001, that skipper Joe Torre penciled in Soriano as the Yankees' starting left fielder. When second baseman Chuck Knoblauch's throwing problems persisted, a move had to be made and Soriano was the logical choice to replace Knoblauch.

 

"People point to his offensive numbers and say look how far he's come. I think he's come further defensively," Jeter declared. "He's basically learned how to play second base at the major league level."

 

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCI/is_10_61/ai_90831537/

 

The fact that Derek Jeter said that weighs on me far less than the fact that Soriano was frigging terrible every year he played second base.

[J.R.]

It's not like we have Rey Sanchez out there right now.

[Guest]

Fontenot/Baker is much better than Colvin/Nady, and the defense is better at both positions(well, definitely 2B at least) this way too.

[Andy]

The defensive downgrade from Font/Baker to Soriano is not worth the offensive upgrade from Font/Baker to Nady/Colvin.