Week of 3/14 to 3/20 ST Thread

[sweetpeteman]

Pretty meh game to go to. Only two players starting for the Cubs were even guaranteed to be on the 25 man roster. Garza was still wild, and didn't get much help from his defense. Barney was slow on two plays, one a double play, the second ended up a hit for Figgins after he was indecisive on whether to go to 2nd for Ichiro or just to first.

 

Bibens-Dirkx had a piss-poor game, and seemed to try to get fancy and ended up walking two players he was 0-2 on.

 

 

At least I got to see Szczur get an AB.

[ctcf]

In other news, Koyie Hill is still likely to retain his job.

[sweetpeteman]

In other news, Koyie Hill is still likely to retain his job.

 

 

I forgot: Castillo threw out Figgins from his knees on the strike-him-out/throw-him-out DP.

[Keener98]

In other news, Koyie Hill is still likely to retain his job.

 

 

I forgot: Castillo threw out Figgins from his knees on the strike-him-out/throw-him-out DP.

 

And also had 2 more hits. Hes now hitting over 600 for the spring while Koyie Hill is 1 for the spring....

[ctcf]

Really not digging Andy's K/BB ratio. :(

[davell]

Cashner's line today: 3.1 IP 2H 1R 1ER 3BB 2K and a HBP. Not sure of pitch count for him. Unsure of his pitch count. He's going to have to have better control if he's going to make it as a starter obviously. But while I really, really want him to win this job, I hate to say it...... But if he heads back to the pen or preferrably to AAA to continue starting, I'd be OK with it.

[CUBZ99]

Cashner's line today: 3.1 IP 2H 1R 1ER 3BB 2K and a HBP. Not sure of pitch count for him. Unsure of his pitch count. He's going to have to have better control if he's going to make it as a starter obviously. But while I really, really want him to win this job, I hate to say it...... But if he heads back to the pen or preferrably to AAA to continue starting, I'd be OK with it.

 

His ground ball splits were very good again. 6 GB - 1FB.

 

I think that with the state of the team, he hasn't done anything that should take him out of the #5 starter's spot. I would be sick if the Cubs decided to give the spot to Silva, or another pitcher like Looper or Wellemeyer that has no future with the team. This is the perfect year to put Cashner at the back of the rotation and let him figure things out.

[pitchcs]

Just don't put him back in the bullpen, it's strong enough already. If he must go to AAA for a while, so be it.

[XZero771679666304]

In other news, Koyie Hill is still likely to retain his job.

 

 

I forgot: Castillo threw out Figgins from his knees on the strike-him-out/throw-him-out DP.

 

And also had 2 more hits. Hes now hitting over 600 for the spring while Koyie Hill is 1 for the spring....

 

And a homer today for Beef Wellington, average up to .667.

[NCCubFan]

And a homer today for Beef Wellington, average up to .667.

And he'll probably still be sent back down so Koyie Hill can stay on the team. :-x

[XZero771679666304]

And a homer today for Beef Wellington, average up to .667.

And he'll probably still be sent back down so Koyie Hill can stay on the team. :-x

 

As Castillo hits a 2-run double, raising his average to .692.

 

And Hill strikes out to go 0-2, dropping his average to .043.

[mookie]

damn, Koyie Hill is a turd. Maybe after Z plunks Theriot with a ball he can follow that up with a "wild pitch" into the dugout and straight at Hill's forehead.

[Illini Iceman]

And a homer today for Beef Wellington, average up to .667.

And he'll probably still be sent back down so Koyie Hill can stay on the team. :-x

 

After how much Hendry talked up Hill this offseason about all his mysterious intangible contributions there is no way he lets him go. The massive amount of Quade butt kissing Hill did probably won't hurt his chances either.

[ctcf]

I would LOVE to hear the reasoning for Hill earning a spot over Castillo.

[ctcf]

Also I'm rather intrigued by how Vitters has carried himself so far this Spring. Also, Stevens is quietly having a very solid showing.

[MWV]

http://img824.imageshack.us/img824/4679/62332838.gif

[davell]

I see no reason whatsoever as to why Koyie Hill is probably going to wind up as our backup catcher. He's probably the employee that kisses up so much, it's worn everyone down and they're going to feel bad if they do something mean to him, like cut him. That's all I can come up with.

 

That said, I'm going to pick my own battles here and just be extremely happy that it looks like they're giving Cashner every chance in the world to make it as a starter, which is far more important longterm than who our backup catcher is in a year where it's not all that likely we're truly going to compete for a world championship anyway. I'm just going to look at it like this: 150ish innings from Cashner this year would be far more valuable to this team in the long run than 150 at bats from Castillo. I know this isn't the best possible way to look at it, but it's what I'm going to go with anyway......Possibly getting a "win" in the Cashner deal is much more important to me than whether or not Castillo or Ramirez winds up getting a start a week or so. Let Hill have his last year of OPSing his weight and give Castillo the gig next year.

[CUBZ99]

I see no reason whatsoever as to why Koyie Hill is probably going to wind up as our backup catcher. He's probably the employee that kisses up so much, it's worn everyone down and they're going to feel bad if they do something mean to him, like cut him. That's all I can come up with.

 

That said, I'm going to pick my own battles here and just be extremely happy that it looks like they're giving Cashner every chance in the world to make it as a starter, which is far more important longterm than who our backup catcher is in a year where it's not all that likely we're truly going to compete for a world championship anyway. I'm just going to look at it like this: 150ish innings from Cashner this year would be far more valuable to this team in the long run than 150 at bats from Castillo. I know this isn't the best possible way to look at it, but it's what I'm going to go with anyway......Possibly getting a "win" in the Cashner deal is much more important to me than whether or not Castillo or Ramirez winds up getting a start a week or so. Let Hill have his last year of OPSing his weight and give Castillo the gig next year.

 

You are far more optimistic than I am. I expect Looper or Silva to be named 5th starter. I hope you are right about Cashner though.

[davell]

http://www.csnchicago.com/03/15/11/Michael-Young-is-not-the-answer-for-Cubs/spring_training_news_cubs.html?blockID=441510&feedID=661

 

It's Quade's comments in this article that make me think Cashner is going to get a real chance. Plus, the rumors about teams scouting Silva and even a couple of people thinking Silva could get released, makes me think Cashner is still in line for the 5th spot.

[MWV]

That sounds very encouraging with respect to Cashner. It looks like the organization is intent upon him starting. Personally, I don't really mind if he continues to stretch out at AAA, as long as he's not rotting in the 'pen.

Regarding Koyie vs. Castillo, its very annoying that Hill will probably get the job, but its hardly a catastrophe.

[ctcf]

The cuts for 3/15, per Rotoworld:

 

 

Cubs reassigned OFs Brett Jackson, Jim Adduci, Lou Montanez and Brad Snyder, RHPs Chris Carpenter, Jay Jackson and Trey McNutt, LHP Scott Rice, C's Steve Clevenger and Chris Robinson, INFs Bryan LaHair, Marquez Smith and Josh Vitters to minor league camp.

Jackson gave the Cubs a bit of a scare over the weekend by injuring his shoulder making a diving catch, but he homered as the designated hitter in a win over the Athletics on Tuesday. The 22-year-old outfielder batted 297/.395/.493 with 12 homers, 66 RBI and 23 steals in 491 at-bats between High-A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee last season. He's expected to open the 2011 season with Triple-A Iowa and could make his major league debut at some point later in the summer. In addition to the names mentioned above, pitchers Thomas Diamond and Robert Coello were optioned to Triple-A Iowa and pitchers Alberto Cabrera, Rafael Dolis and Kyle Smit were optioned to Double-A Tennessee.

[XZero771679666304]

That sounds very encouraging with respect to Cashner. It looks like the organization is intent upon him starting. Personally, I don't really mind if he continues to stretch out at AAA, as long as he's not rotting in the 'pen.

Regarding Koyie vs. Castillo, its very annoying that Hill will probably get the job, but its hardly a catastrophe.

 

If Soto doesn't start at least 120 games, it'll be pretty bad. Hill is a black hole, and having him get 250 PA again would be a bad thing for the offense. And it's not annoying Hill will win the job, it's ridiculous.

[pitchcs]

That sounds very encouraging with respect to Cashner. It looks like the organization is intent upon him starting. Personally, I don't really mind if he continues to stretch out at AAA, as long as he's not rotting in the 'pen.

Regarding Koyie vs. Castillo, its very annoying that Hill will probably get the job, but its hardly a catastrophe.

 

If Soto doesn't start at least 120 games, it'll be pretty bad. Hill is a black hole, and having him get 250 PA again would be a bad thing for the offense. And it's not annoying Hill will win the job, it's ridiculous.

 

 

I heard yesterday that the Cubs are hoping for 140 from Geo.

[davell]

That sounds very encouraging with respect to Cashner. It looks like the organization is intent upon him starting. Personally, I don't really mind if he continues to stretch out at AAA, as long as he's not rotting in the 'pen.

Regarding Koyie vs. Castillo, its very annoying that Hill will probably get the job, but its hardly a catastrophe.

 

If Soto doesn't start at least 120 games, it'll be pretty bad. Hill is a black hole, and having him get 250 PA again would be a bad thing for the offense. And it's not annoying Hill will win the job, it's ridiculous.

 

 

I heard yesterday that the Cubs are hoping for 140 from Geo.

 

 

If that's the case, then I hate to say it, but I hope Koyie Hill DOES win the job. Castillo would be better served in AAA actually playing. The issue would be if Soto had to miss some time though: Does Castillo come up and get the bulk of PT then? If so, I'm kind of for this whole idea actually.

[Illini Iceman]

I would LOVE to hear the reasoning for Hill earning a spot over Castillo.

 

Just let Carrie clear it all up for you:

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110316&content_id=16977420&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc#

 

Why don't the Cubs let Welington Castillo back up Geovany Soto? All I ever see Castillo do is hit. I can't stand to watch another .203 year from Koyie Hill. Yes, Hill handles the staff well. But he simply cannot hit. And defensively, if we can handle 20-plus errors out of Starlin Castro, Castillo will not lose us any games. What's the deal?

-- Andrew E., Chicago

 

A catcher's first priority is to handle the pitchers, which is what makes Hill so valuable. He's had a major impact on the young pitchers, such as Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner.

 

Clear enough for you? Wells and Cashner would probably be flipping burgers if not for the "major impact" Hill has had on them.