Spring Training - Final Week 3/21 - 3/29

[ctcf]

Well folks, the end of Spring Training 2011 is finally rolling around. Time to wrap things up and figure out the starting rotation.

 

Fittingly enough, Cashner will start the week off going up against the Angels today.

[Cubswin11]

Game is on MLBN at 3pm cst. FYI. As long as Cashner doesn't implode today I think he will get the 5th starter spot. He basically has to give the Cubs a reason why not to make him the 5th starter and not a reason to make him the 5th starter.

[tfarks]

Okay last week. Get Hill off the team and let Cashner win his rotation spot. And keep everyone healthy.

[BeerHere]

I wouldn't be surprised if Silva came up with a phantom knee injury or something before the start of the season. I doubt anyone will trade for him and I can't see the Cubs eating the $8M.

[ctcf]

Okay last week. Get Hill off the team and let Cashner win his rotation spot. And keep everyone healthy.

 

I dunno. I've got to say the posters here, notably davell, have made some pretty compelling arguments for keeping Castillo in AAA. That said, I would probably take Bob's kid over Koyie at this point.

[ctcf]

I wouldn't be surprised if Silva came up with a phantom knee injury or something before the start of the season. I doubt anyone will trade for him and I can't see the Cubs eating the $8M.

 

Thankfully however, Silva has volunteered to eat that $8m for them.

[tfarks]

I shall never be compelled to have Hill on the team.

And yes I agree with Castillo in AAA. That's why we have Max Ramirez to backup.

[Sammy Sofa]

If by, let's say, the middle of May Quade shows that he's not going to be sorta platooning Soto with Hill like Lou did, did can we stop all of the histrionics and hyperbole over the [expletive] backup catcher?

[tfarks]

I must have missed the histrionics. Take out bad player put in somewhat better one = win. I just don't want to see another 200+ at bats of Hill and if that option is eliminated from the start I'll feel better.

 

Of course it is far more important that Cashner makes the starting rotation, which has gone swimmingly so far.

[otis89]

If by, let's say, the middle of May Quade shows that he's not going to be sorta platooning Soto with Hill like Lou did, did can we stop all of the histrionics and hyperbole over the [expletive] backup catcher?

 

Some people have been overreacting, but given the choice between Hill and Max Ramirez for backup catcher, it's blatantly obvious who the better choice is.

[XZero771679666304]

If by, let's say, the middle of May Quade shows that he's not going to be sorta platooning Soto with Hill like Lou did, did can we stop all of the histrionics and hyperbole over the [expletive] backup catcher?

 

Some people have been overreacting, but given the choice between Hill and Max Ramirez for backup catcher, it's blatantly obvious who the better choice is.

 

Yeah. And if Hill only starts 20-25 games, it's no biggie. Castillo is better off starting in Iowa than riding the pine. But it's a leap of faith to think they'd call up Castillo to start if Soto gets hurt.

[ctcf]

If by, let's say, the middle of May Quade shows that he's not going to be sorta platooning Soto with Hill like Lou did, did can we stop all of the histrionics and hyperbole over the [expletive] backup catcher?

 

Some people have been overreacting, but given the choice between Hill and Max Ramirez for backup catcher, it's blatantly obvious who the better choice is.

 

Yeah. And if Hill only starts 20-25 games, it's no biggie. Castillo is better off starting in Iowa than riding the pine. But it's a leap of faith to think they'd call up Castillo to start if Soto gets hurt.

 

In my eyes, if you are choosing to start the inferior player, it's a biggie even if it's only 20-25 games.

[Sammy Sofa]

If by, let's say, the middle of May Quade shows that he's not going to be sorta platooning Soto with Hill like Lou did, did can we stop all of the histrionics and hyperbole over the [expletive] backup catcher?

 

Some people have been overreacting, but given the choice between Hill and Max Ramirez for backup catcher, it's blatantly obvious who the better choice is.

 

It's still not that big a deal. Again, backup catcher...they're going to be varying degrees of garbage offensively most of the time, and Ramirez would almost certainly be the same if he got significant playing time. If we're talking about backup catchers actually being used as backup catchers typically are then it's largely a moot point. Ramirez might be "blatantly better" than Hill (and that's by no means a sure thing), but only in the context of talking about the backup catcher.

 

They key here isn't who the backup catcher is. The key is whether or not Quade plays Soto as much as he should and needs to. If he doesn't and the backup catcher is getting 40+ starts then the Cubs have much, much bigger problems than whether or not it's Ramirez or Hill. If Soto goes down for a significant period of time it needs to be Castillo being called up to get the bulk of the starts, not Hill OR Ramirez. If we're just talking the context of a backup catcher getting 20-30 starts then ultimately it's really not going to make much of difference if it's Hill or Ramirez.

[Sammy Sofa]

If by, let's say, the middle of May Quade shows that he's not going to be sorta platooning Soto with Hill like Lou did, did can we stop all of the histrionics and hyperbole over the [expletive] backup catcher?

 

Some people have been overreacting, but given the choice between Hill and Max Ramirez for backup catcher, it's blatantly obvious who the better choice is.

 

Yeah. And if Hill only starts 20-25 games, it's no biggie. Castillo is better off starting in Iowa than riding the pine. But it's a leap of faith to think they'd call up Castillo to start if Soto gets hurt.

 

In my eyes, if you are choosing to start the inferior player, it's a biggie even if it's only 20-25 games.

 

They're both likely inferior players. Backup catcher is a position where you can afford to go with the veteran that the pitchers like because it's going to be a [expletive] player. People are dramatically inflating the position because of their hatred of Hill because of his misuse by Piniella. If Quade doesn't make the same mistakes it's really not that huge a deal if it's Hill over Ramirez.

[PrimeTime]

I would like every game of the upcoming season to start like it has with Fukudome and Castro

[Sammy Sofa]

If by, let's say, the middle of May Quade shows that he's not going to be sorta platooning Soto with Hill like Lou did, did can we stop all of the histrionics and hyperbole over the [expletive] backup catcher?

 

Some people have been overreacting, but given the choice between Hill and Max Ramirez for backup catcher, it's blatantly obvious who the better choice is.

 

Yeah. And if Hill only starts 20-25 games, it's no biggie. Castillo is better off starting in Iowa than riding the pine. But it's a leap of faith to think they'd call up Castillo to start if Soto gets hurt.

 

And it's a leap of faith to think that Ramirez starting in place of an injured Soto would be that much better than Hill (and no, I'm not advocating Hill starting regularly for an injured Soto).

[Sammy Sofa]

I must have missed the histrionics. Take out bad player put in somewhat better one = win.

 

Might want to re-check that math.

 

And the histrionics is the never ending bitching over the idea of Hill being the backup catcher.

 

Hill actually being a backup catcher = really not that unusual.

 

Hill effectively platooning for Soto or becoming the regular starter if Soto goes down = no good.

 

That said, how many teams have a backup catcher where if the latter scenarios (and I'm talking unnecessary platoons, obviously) occur it wouldn't be a crappy, crappy situation?

Edited March 21, 2011 by Sammy Sofa

[Keener98]

Oh look, Castro with another hit

[PrimeTime]

Pena just murdered that ball..

[Keener98]

Holy [expletive] Carlos Pena. Wow he crushed that

[ctcf]

Pena with HR #3 and now batting .300

[tfarks]

I must have missed the histrionics. Take out bad player put in somewhat better one = win.

 

Might want to re-check that math.

 

No, I got it. Sure you can ramble on about the importance of backup catcher, like none us already knew it. Fact is Ramirez is already better in the time he has played (.340+ OBP) compared to Hill's .200 something. Win. It doesn't matter if its not a guarantee, its the move that should be made. You can keep marginalizing it, it's just the backup catcher spot, sure. But its also the position where backups are used the most, and history suggests the Cubs backup catcher will get a significant amount of at bats, due to days off and injury. If Castillo comes up for the injuries I'm fine with that too. The less Hill the better, no matter how much Old Gummy rationalizes it.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Oh look, Castro with another hit

I'm still not buying it.

[XZero771679666304]

If by, let's say, the middle of May Quade shows that he's not going to be sorta platooning Soto with Hill like Lou did, did can we stop all of the histrionics and hyperbole over the [expletive] backup catcher?

 

Some people have been overreacting, but given the choice between Hill and Max Ramirez for backup catcher, it's blatantly obvious who the better choice is.

 

Yeah. And if Hill only starts 20-25 games, it's no biggie. Castillo is better off starting in Iowa than riding the pine. But it's a leap of faith to think they'd call up Castillo to start if Soto gets hurt.

 

And it's a leap of faith to think that Ramirez starting in place of an injured Soto would be that much better than Hill (and no, I'm not advocating Hill starting regularly for an injured Soto).

 

50 catchers had 150 or more PAs last season. In terms of OPS, Hill was #47. He's not just bad, he's abysmal. It's not a leap to think Ramirez would be better.

Edited March 21, 2011 by XZero77

[XZero771679666304]

Good start for Cashner.