Sammy Sofa

AAAAAAAH-HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAH!!! Soraino throws out Sweeney trying for a triple. Nice tag by Perez!

Very good. Lot of control. No walks, only 3 bloop singles into RF. Not many deep or full counts at all.

Made it to 3rd. Hit & run?

Good stuff. Hendry is talking about him right now and how the Cubs want him to be healthy for the long haul.

Towering sac fly for DLee! The tandem of Lee and Theriot has REALLY looked awesome this spring. I'm gonna be very happy if we're always seeing Murton, Theriot or DeRosa in that #2 spot.

The Riot with a standing triple!

Man, if we have actual starting options by April, I don't know what I'll do with myself.

Gotta tip your cap to Wade. That man wants to start.

BEAUTIFUL 1-6-3 DP, right back to Miller!

All three hits have been little bloops into RF.

Damn, those are some pretty strikeouts.

I think there are just incentives.

That Zambrano clip is never going to not be awesome and hilarious.

Miller REALLY wants that job. Now he's showing up the one thing Marquis does well as a pitcher! GO WADE!

Is it raining there?

Heh...I'll happily take a "Sgt. Pepper's vs. Pet Sounds"-type battle between them. We all win!

Guzman and Miller have been about the same. All things being equal, I'd prefer the pitcher with the greater upside. Upside is great, actual performance is better. Guzman has been hurt just as much, if not more than Miller. Miller has done well enough to earn a spot. He's been healthy and made every start so far, that is a good sign. People forget how good of a pitcher he used to be. He'll most likely never see that type of success again, but he can still be usefull. Miller has missed more time than Kerry Wood. Unlike Guzman, Miller isn't likely to get better. There's no way of knowing if Miller will be healthy enough to withstand pitching an entire season; both he and Guzman appear healthy right now and that's all you can say... I've watched/listened to all of his starts this year and this is clearly his best. It's about time! This isn't the Miller of the early 2000's I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. If Guzman pitches well out of the pen he will get his chance, I'm not worried about that. I would worry about him starting the season in the rotation. Guzman has had hot springs before. In his 10 starts last year he put up the following numbers: 10 GS 56 IP 68 H 46 ER 7.39 ERA Let him adjust to ML level in the pen. I also don't think Prior should be handed a spot just because his name is Mark Prior. He has not earned it, Miller has been better. Take those numbers with a grain of salt. You can make a similar argument against Rich Hill... The way things currently stand, I don't think there will be room for Guzman (unless Wood is DL'd). Are you opposed to the idea of giving Miller starts if he looks good enough to hopefully draw more interest when the Cubs trade him? Guzman isn't going anywhere, but Miller can net more if he goes out there and wins games.

Miller is looking like he REALLY wants that starting slot.

Gun is likely fast, though Len says they just "tweeked" it and it's hopefully more on the mark.

It's one inning. He has yet to have a really good outing. RAMMY! Agreed, but I think given that he hasn't been horrible plus his games at the end of this last year he'd be a better option over Marquis, especially with how cheap he is.

ARAMIS!!!

I wish we could magically get rid of Marquis if both Prior and Miller keep getting better.

NICE! Got Bonds looking with a strikeout.

Nice strikeout for out #2.

If Prior has another start like he had last time or better, I think he'll snag the #5 spot.