Blueheart05

1. Kerry Wood 2. Andre Dawson 3. Greg Maddux 4. Ryne Sandberg 5. Sammy Sosa

I'm very optimistic about this team. Beginning in May, this team will have a chance to throw dominant pitching at the NL: Zambrano Prior Wood Miller If the starters can't go beyond 6 innings, the 7th- 9th innings could be very secure. I think they will get on base more often than last year and wont be so reliant on the homerun.

We'll see soon enough because it looks like he's made the team. You never really know about Minor League players. On the other hand, he is only 24 so he could develop into a productive everyday player. From what I've read, the Mets were very high on him before he was injured. Rather than wait on his development, they purchased a new outfield. The possibility still exists that Pie may find himself in a similar position. If Pierre is extended, and Jones plays the way he says he can, Pie's ML debut may be pushed back a few years..

It was reported that Pierre's agent has decided to wait before considering an extension because "the market for leadoff men has changed." It went from approximately 8M to 13M per year. Even though, Pie is expected to replace Pierre I don't think he's disciplined enough to bat at the top of the order. At this point, Pagan's role is as backup unless Pie regresses in his development or the Cubs coax Pierre into an extension before the end of the year.

Well, maybe not instead of but it's an option. More than likely, there will be room for Koronka along with Wuertz in the 'pen. I don't see Novoa making the squad; they will probably send him to AAA to build up his arm. Zambrano Maddux Williams Rusch Marshall Dempster Ohman Howry Eyre Williamson Wuertz Ryu/Hill/Guzman Some of the roles may be a little different, but that's 14 guys that should be in front of Koronka, not even including Novoa. Of course, the "having a 12 man staff is excessive and ultimately hurtful, especially if we go to a 4 man rotation early on" stuff is implied. I think Koronka has moved ahead of Ryu on the Cubs reliever possibilities list because he hasn't given up a run. Plus, Ryu's already been optioned while John-John Koronka remains with the team. Guzman has also been sent down but he, Hill, and Williams (per Bruce Miles) may be in the running for the 5th spot depending on performance in the coming days.

coughcough2005bravescoughcough With the exception of the early round playoff exit, I'll take it. :D

Were you listening to Zademan on The Score tonight? He asked a very similar question... I don't want Bonds on this team. Period. Good pitching is what will get these guys over the hump. Bonds' bat doesn't guarantee success. Also, if he admitted to doing steroids his presence would be more of a distraction than ever.

Well, maybe not instead of but it's an option. More than likely, there will be room for Koronka along with Wuertz in the 'pen. I don't see Novoa making the squad; they will probably send him to AAA to build up his arm.

The link is on the same page. When the game is archived MLB changes the symbol next to the radio call letters from'L' to 'A' Archive

Barry Rozner is also saying Marshall can/should get the 4th spot.

Furcal wasn't going to help the rotation (and he was their primary FA target). I think it's about time the team use it's own capable farmhands. Passing on Furcal meant we needed our leadoff hitter (in the organization's eyes). We dealt Nolasco (a solid pitching prospect) for Pierre. Mitre and Pinto weren't anything great. I'm a fan of throwing talent into the ML mix and seeing if they can hack it. Put Hill, Marshall, Ryu, Guzman and Nolasco into the mix for and you'll come out with at least one player contributing every 5 days. Let's be realistic. Some days they're going to dominate and other days they're going to get lit up. That's the nature of rookie SPs, but we need those cheap options, especially with Zambrano being the only SP we can count on (Maddux is gone next season). Hendry said he wanted both Furcal and Pierre all along (he said that early on in the process). It was never one or the other. Remember, he wanted them to bat 1 and 2. Thus, he planned all along to give up prospects for Pierre...I'm also not saying that I expect the rookies to be dominant but they have ability and there's no reason not to utilize them until the veterans are available. Hendry is on crack. I win. :lol: But seriously, I think that statement was just thrown out there in case Hendry didn't get his main man, Furcal. A provable opinion? No, but it's mine. :D Really? I thought he was being honest about wanting the first two guys to be speedy. I also think that the Cubs inability to sign Furcal, coupled with Walker's speed deficiencies (and defensive issues), made Hairston the next best option (in Hendry's mind) for the second slot. Lugo at 2B was preferred to Hairston but when that seemed too costly they decided to make it a "competition" at second. In either case, I'm glad the Cubs are willing to take some risks with younger players and willing to play the hot hand so to speak... It would be real easy to break camp with Williams as 4 but giving Marshall a chance is being progressive IMO.

Furcal wasn't going to help the rotation (and he was their primary FA target). I think it's about time the team use it's own capable farmhands. Passing on Furcal meant we needed our leadoff hitter (in the organization's eyes). We dealt Nolasco (a solid pitching prospect) for Pierre. Mitre and Pinto weren't anything great. I'm a fan of throwing talent into the ML mix and seeing if they can hack it. Put Hill, Marshall, Ryu, Guzman and Nolasco into the mix for and you'll come out with at least one player contributing every 5 days. Let's be realistic. Some days they're going to dominate and other days they're going to get lit up. That's the nature of rookie SPs, but we need those cheap options, especially with Zambrano being the only SP we can count on (Maddux is gone next season). Hendry said he wanted both Furcal and Pierre all along (he said that early on in the process). It was never one or the other. Remember, he wanted them to bat 1 and 2. Thus, he planned all along to give up prospects for Pierre...I'm also not saying that I expect the rookies to be dominant but they have ability and there's no reason not to utilize them until the veterans are available. I tink next season is a big reason why the Cubs are planning to take risks with these young pitchers. Maddux and possibly Wood (with his mutal option) will be gone. The days of relying on Wood and Prior are coming to a close, it's time to see what other options are available.

Furcal wasn't going to help the rotation (and he was their primary FA target). I think it's about time the team use it's own capable farmhands.

Wuertz looked good today. There is really no need for 3 lefties in the BP. In my opinion, Koronka should not win a spot over Weurtz or Ohman. Koronka definitely wouldn't win a spot over Ohman but, if the Cubs are worried about Wuertz (or if he doesn't pitch well in the remaining games), I wouldn't be surprised to see Koronka get a chance. I wouldn't have said that a day ago but the latest pitching developments have me thinking that the Cubs are willing to be very unconventional (by their standards at least). Plus,Dusty says, in the Trib article I quoted earlier, that he wouldn't mind going with three LHP in the bullpen.

I wonder where Koronka (and Aardsma) fits into the reliever mix? Dusty has been praising him a lot lately. Aardsma was sent down, as well. They don't have a need for another lefty and it sounds like they'll be going a different direction for the long reliever spot. This quote from the Tribune gave me reason to pause about Koronka's chances to make the team: This little quote from Bruce Mile's column also caught my eye:

I wonder where Koronka (and Aardsma) fits into the reliever mix? Dusty has been praising him a lot lately. Aardsma was sent to Iowa: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060328&content_id=1365476&vkey=pr_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc Thanks, it missed that info. So, which Minor League pitchers remain?

I wonder where Koronka (and Aardsma) fits into the reliever mix? Dusty has been praising him a lot lately.

They are seriously considering Marshall for the fourth spot.

Link So Guzman/Hill gets the #5 spot (most likely Hill b/c of the injury issue)? Yes, at this point, that's how I see it shaping up.

If Marshall gets the 4th spot, Jerome will be the long reliever. Link

This is interesting news but it sounds more like Hendry has made up his mind about Marshall going north (per his XM interview). However, it also sounds like Jerome thinks he still has a chance to win the fourth spot.

LOL, that's perfect!

Out of players? Sounds like an excuse to me. He could have gone another inning or two. He didn't use all of his pitchers, and they have the DH, so they aren't burning bench players when they change pitchers. BOOOOOO!!!! HISSSSSS!!! I was thinking the same thing but they said he didn't bring all of his pithers.

Maddux has impressed me this offseason. Hopefully, it translates into a good first month for he and the team.

The game is going to end. Guillen is out of players. So unsatisfying...