98navigator

A faculty forum for CMSU.edu was hacked too...

Chris, you've been hacked too!

Why would I? Why would you? Did you put a penny in there? Uh oh, looks like Sweetpeteman's ID was hacked

That music they have looping is very annoying. It reminds me of the kind of music that would be playing in a Slavic dictatorship... some government mind numbing trance

yeah, I agree.

It doesn't make sense to me. Seems like they would want to hack a government site or some non sports media oriented site.

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Has the site been hacked or is there a joke I'm not in on? index.php

There is no reason to keep Cotts in the bullpen; the Cubs do not need three LHP. They have already admitted that he isn't what they hoped he would be, in the short term, by acknowledging that he isn't able to start and that Guzman would make a better long reliever. Cotts has more MiL options than anyone else who is, seemingly, locked into a spot in the bullpen. There should be no hesitation in sending him down. If the goal is to take the best team north, Cotts doesn't fit in the equation. I agree that the Cubs shouldn't be looking to save face but that doesn't mean that they won't.

I doubt that has anything to do with it. It could have been a deal with the Mariners and he'd still be in the picture. These aren't 12 year olds. They have actual rationalizations for the decisions they make. They might not be right, but they aren't based on petty nonsense like that. This comes straight from Paul Sullivan the Cubs beat writer. I also heard Joe Cowley, Sox beat writer, say the exact same thing about Aardsma (both were on the radio, one after the other, speaking to Laurence Holmes as he was in for vacationing Mike Murphy).

I agree but this is a unique situation--with an intracity trade--demoting him prior to the start of the season would be to admit that the Sox got the better end of the trade. This same issue is happening with the Sox because Aardsma has pitched poorly as well.

FYI, I only posted part of the text

No surprise there. There's two weeks left, he should still be in the mix, but I can almost guarantee that if he continues to struggle he's not going to make this club. I'm not so sure. I think Cotts will start the season in the bullpen regardless of his ST results. However, the Cubs may make a move in-season if warranted.

Bruce Miles writes that a trade of Jones "isn't out of the realm of possibility," according to Cubs sources, but it makes no sense. Daily Herald

Don't count on Neal Cotts being demoted. Bruce Miles reports that Cotts is still in the bullpen equation.

I agree, it's not like he's a .220 hitter with no power. Unless you get an offer that will definitely help the team, keep him and spot start Derosa in RF. Floyd is a total butcher in RF especially with bad legs. Use Floyd as a spot starter in LF and backup for Lee. Theriot should play 2B if Derosa is in RF. I would think that if Pie is ready at midseason, there will be a better market for Jones, especially in a package if other players (Miller, Marshall, Cedeno, Dempster) become expendable. Not sure if I missed something but I think Ward is the likely primary backup at first.Otherwise, I agree with everything you said. Today's Tribune lists the likely bullpen candidates and then goes through the bench. I wonder if it was an omission that they didn't include Ward's name. Also, in the Cub's notes section, they talked about Ward really struggling and if he doesn't get it together he could be replaced by Coats (who also wasn't mentioned as being on the bench). They did include Cedeno as a sub. http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070318cubsa,1,515226.story?coll=chi-sportstop-hed I think this was what the poster was referring to: It was added to the Trib's website last night but technically it's for today's paper... I think van Dyck is reaching a bit; Daryle Ward is going to be on this roster. Link

Howry was one of the best guys in the bullpen last year while Cotts is coming off a horrible season. It's no wonder Howry gets the benefit of the doubt; he has nothing to prove in ST and I'm sure he'll be fine when the season begins. Cotts has given up a run in EVERY appearance this Spring. If you read his quotes in the paper/online he too isn't pleased.

Lou's full quote about Guzman in the bullpen. Suntimes

Barrett's complete answer to that question led me to believe he was talking more about weight room activities and less about anything specific to pitching.

Dave van Dyck's new Tribune article has additional information about what Lou might be thinking of doing with Angel Guzman: van Dyck thinks: There are two open spots in the bullpen without Cotts in the picture. If Woody starts the season on the DL, Cherry or Wuertz will get a spot. Additionally, Lou is realizing that there won't be room for Pagan (with 12 pitchers and 2 utility infielders). He says that Theriot or DeRosa can play RF when Jacque is not starting (that must be reserved for LHP).

Here's one. It's not very good quality but you'll get the idea.

Ultimately, you want to start the year with the best possible team. If Lou doesn't deem Guzman rotation worthy, he certainly has been the 6th best pitcher--able to pitch multiple innings. Right now he's the perfect fit for the long reliever role. Considering Neal Cotts is the alternative, Guzman is a no brainer. IMO, both Guzman and the team are better served by him pitching to ML hitters. If Marquis or Miller "falters" Guzman will have plenty of opportunities to pitch. So is it about fielding the best team possible, or preparing Guzman? How often is he going to get work in if he's the longman? Once a week, once every two weeks? Thanks for pointing out my misspelling of falter. The goal is to do both but the team's needs always outweigh the need of an individual player; His job is to be an ingredient in the Cubs winning recipe. Even if Guzman gets limited innings, he will be served in the long run by gaining the confidence that he can retire ML hitters. That was missing for much of his 2006 season. Hopefully, the tweaking of his mound stance pays immediate dividends. BTW, I wasn't pointing out your spelling mistake. I was just quoting you... When I read your message, I didn't notice that you'd included a "u" in falters :)

This worries me! I feel like Hendry will overrule some of the roster decisons (read Cotts). I don't read it quite as that-it is more that Lou is saying that if they make the squad, that won't worry him-but there simply might not be enough room, especially for both of them at the same time. Yes, but when you think about it, one of the reasons why there won't be room is because it appears as if Cotts has a spot. Also, it sounds like Lou is concerned that Kerry won't be ready (if he doesn't get more innings). The Cubs may be forced to put him on the DL, to start the season, and add someone else to the 'pen.

Ultimately, you want to start the year with the best possible team. If Lou doesn't deem Guzman rotation worthy, he certainly has been the 6th best pitcher--able to pitch multiple innings. Right now he's the perfect fit for the long reliever role. Considering Neal Cotts is the alternative, Guzman is a no brainer. IMO, both Guzman and the team are better served by him pitching to ML hitters. If Marquis or Miller "falters" Guzman will have plenty of opportunities to pitch.

The Cubs should be grooming Guzman on the ML level; he will be out of options next year. If there is no room in the rotation, having him pitch in the bullpen is the next best thing. Guzman's stuff is good enough to get out ML hitters and allowing him to work fewer innings may benefit him in the long run (considering he has been limited by injuries).