Wrigley Rat

Already discussed - see below: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=52756

Matt Matulia will become a player/coach according to something I read a couple weeks ago. I don't think he will be active once the season starts. I wonder where Justin Sellers, Robert Hernandez, Marco Carrillo and Luis Bautista are? EST I suppose. I like all four enough to hope that they weren't released! (I know Hernandez wouldn't have been released.) I personally don't like most of the accelerated moves the Cubs have made. I don't see why they couldn't have started at the appropriate level and been promoted soon after demonstrating success.

Thanks Craig - whether his comments are too positive or not, it's nice to hear some actual scouting reports on our players. One can't get by in life strictly on statistics and Arizona Phil alone!

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-04-cubs-bits-chicago-apr04,0,962627.story

Agree completely - well said. Good point about the lefty/righty thing - the Cubs really seem to want that left-handed backup catcher since they dumped Blanco and really pushed for Hill or Bako. I would hope they wouldn't start Castillo's option clock running just to fill in for an injury, but who knows! If they think he's close enough, they probably would do just that. I think the better option for the #3 catcher would be a Mark Johnson or Chris Robinson type who we could lose at the end of the year when he is de-rostered since his 40-man spot would be needed (see Casey McGehee!).

I think that is the only real reason Castillo is in AAA. I had him tentatively pegged to go to AA again, but Clevenger deserves a bunch of AB's at catcher. Since the talent at AA and AAA is nearly the same, I guess it's not that big of a deal. It may also make Castillo more attractive to team's wanting to trade for him if he is successful in Iowa. The best he can be for the Cubs is a cheap backup.

Thanks! Interesting to hear Marwin Gonzalez' name mixed in with Lake, Castro, and Flaherty. I know Gonzalez had a nice winter, but didn't know if that was real or a fluke.

Anything else of interest from that article? I haven't subscribed to that one, but respect Steve Holley's notes.

Arizona Phil weighs in: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2009/04/01/i-cubs-get-thumped-river-cats#comment-129098

http://www.thecubreporter.com/2009/04/01/i-cubs-get-thumped-river-cats#comment-129098

Interesting notes from www.thecubreporter.com - if you don't already read it regularly, start today! There is a lot of other good information in this article's comments as well: http://www.thecubreporter.com/2009/04/01/i-cubs-get-thumped-river-cats#comment-129098

Colorado Rockies have signed: OF Ryan Harvey. That was quick & pretty smart too - doesn't their AAA team play in Colorado Springs? He should hit 40 HR's and still manage to bat .198.

I heard he was having a rough spring - I wondered if he would start the season on the DL or if they would release him. Good to hear we got a player or some cash for him.

=D>

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/03/cubs-down-to-last-two-bullpen-spots.html I wonder if that could mean the Cubs could go with a 13-man pitching staff for a while until a trade can be worked out. Could that mean Fukudome being sent to AAA to get his at bats in for a couple weeks? That would be what I would do rather than lose one of those pitchers for nothing. It also sends a message to Kosuke that if you don't come to camp ready to produce, we'll use those options to send you to the minors. He still makes his millions, but has to ride the bus and sleep in crummy hotels! :)

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/03/cubs-down-to-last-two-bullpen-spots.html

Thanks Craig - Archer in the rotation would definitely make some sense with how high the Cubs are on him - not sure why I've had him earmarked for the pen so solidly. I wasn't aware of Bristow's injury, so that does change things quite a bit. I knew Muldowney would be out for awhile, but didn't know it would probably be the whole season. Good info everyone!

Final Predictions: Catchers, Infielders, Outfielders, Starting Pitchers, Relief Pitchers Chicago: Geovany Soto Koyie Hill Derrek Lee Mike Fontenot Ryan Theriot Aramis Ramirez Aaron Miles Micah Hoffpauir Alfonso Soriano Kosuke Fukudome Milton Bradley Reed Johnson Joey Gathright Carlos Zambrano Ryan Dempster Ted Lilly Rich Harden Sean Marshall Kevin Gregg Carlos Marmol Aaron Heilman Neal Cotts David Patton Luis Vizcaino Angel Guzman/Chad Fox (if Guzman can't be traded) DL - Chad Gaudin (or traded/released) Iowa: Welington Castillo Chris Robinson Jake Fox Nate Spears Andres Blanco Bobby Scales Esteban German Kyle Reynolds Brad Snyder Sam Fuld Doug Deeds Jason Dubois Jeff Samardzija Mitch Atkins Esmailin Caridad Randy Wells J.R. Mathes Kevin Hart Jeff Stevens Jason Waddell Jose Ascanio Justin Berg Ed Campusano Chad Fox (if he doesn't make Chicago)/Rocky Roquet (DL or released - has had a bad spring) Tennessee: Steve Clevenger Luis Bautista (would be skipping a level, but seems to be a better fit than Mark Reed) (can also play 1B) Blake Lalli (can be a backup catcher) Tony Thomas Darwin Barney Marquez Smith Justin Sellers Matt Camp (backup CF too) Russell Canzler James Aducci Ty Wright Richie Robnett Jeremy Papelbon James Russell Hung-Wen Chen Marco Carrillo Jesse Estrada (could be released when Muldowney returns) DL - Bill Muldowney Marcos Mateo Brian Schlitter Casey Lambert Alex Maestri Jayson Ruhlman Greg Reinhard Todd Blackford Daytona: Mark Reed Shawn McGill Luis Flores Ryan Keedy Nathan Samson Ryan Flaherty Jovan Rosa Jake Opitz Sean Hoorelbeke Brandon Guyer Tony Campana Dylan Johnston Tyler Colvin Aaron Shafer Jay Jackson Robert Hernandez Casey Coleman Al Albuquerque DL - Andrew Cashner Hank Williamson John Gaub Blake Parker Steven Vento Jordan Latham Jake Muyco Craig Muschko Peoria: Carlos Perez Michael Brenly John Contreras (backup 1B) Rebel Ridling Josh Harrison Starlin Castro Josh Vitters Marwin Gonzalez Jonathan Mota Drew Rundle Nelson Perez Kyler Burke Jericho Jones Rafael Dolis Justin Bristow Chris Carpenter Jose Pina Josh Whitlock DL - Dae-Eun Rhee Dan McDaniel Andres Quezada Chris Archer David Cales Luke Sommer Ryan Buchter Jeff Beliveau (could be anyone in this last spot!)

Mark Pawelek http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2009/03/cubs_pawelek.php http://muskat.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/03/329_quick_hits.html

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/yb/128178696 Purely conjecture, but some other opinions as to who will start the year with Tennessee.

Whoops - good catch - someone would need to take his place at Peoria.

After reading Arizona Phil's report this evening about Iowa's game and other sources, I have made some changes to my predicted pitching staffs. I do this mostly for myself - others can feel free to ignore my predictions! :) Tennessee: Jeremy Papelbon James Russell Hung-Wen Chen Marco Carrillo Jesse Estrada Marcos Mateo Brian Schlitter Casey Lambert Alex Maestri Jayson Ruhlman Greg Reinhard Todd Blackford Daytona: Aaron Shafer Jay Jackson Robert Hernandez Casey Coleman Al Albuquerque (Will likely be released when Andrew Cashner leaves EST) Hank Williamson John Gaub Blake Parker Steve Vento Jordan Latham Jake Muyco Craig Muschko Peoria: Rafael Dolis Justin Bristow Andrew Cashner Chris Carpenter Jose Pina Dan McDaniel Chris Archer James Leverton David Cales Josh Whitlock Luke Sommer Ryan Buchter

Let's trade for Zito and his $95 million contract. He'd make a good LOOGY. Fontenot has struck out three times against him today as the lone lefty in the lineup. :-))

http://chicagocubsonline.com/archives/2009/03/cubsnews032609.php#more Just in case anyone thought he might be a RP at Iowa.

Since it is the end of spring training and teams need to fill holes around each league, I thought I would throw out a name that the Cubs should find some interest in: Wilson Betemit - White Sox (1B/3B and can play the middle infield as well) He is a switch hitter who hits RHP's better than LHP's. Would be insurance for Aramis and could spell him against right handed pitchers throughout the year while Hoffpauir alternates to give DLee time off. The White Sox need a center fielder, maybe some bullpen arms, I would think a backup catcher, and someone to replace Betemit. I offer any combination of: Gathright, Fuld (Fukudome would be great, but won't happen), Bako, Koyie Hill, Mark Johnson (former Sox), Angel Guzman, Luis Vizcaino (former Sox), Chad Gaudin, Luis Rivas, Esteban German, Bobby Scales. Who knows, maybe they bite? Who's next with their dumb trade idea?