Little Slide Rooter

Should've said hits them well not better. he hits them noticeably worse. so there is a built-in advantage to bringing in marshall. on top of the fact that demp was probably gassed. it's just an awful non-move. there's no justification for it other than typical "gut feeling" garbage. And Lous complete lack of trust in the bullpen even with the guys who have been good. It dosnt matter if it was Dempster or Marshall. With 1st and 3rd and 2 out, there was no reason to pitch to one of the biggest Cub killers in the game. I know Rolens a decent hitter, but when it comes down to it, you walk Votto and take your chances with him.

The guy does nothing right. Once in a while, he'll catch a bone, but it seems everytime theres a close game, Lou blows it. There was no point to pitching to Votto at that time no matter who was on the mound. The guy screws with the lineup to no end, but refuses to acknowledge the fact that the problem is the 3 and 5 hitters, and those are the 2 guys he refuses to do anything about aside from the 1 game where he moves Ramirez down. If this team wants a snowballs chance in hell, Lou must go. now. I know Ricketts is more a business guy than a baseball guy, but he must see that this guy no longer has what it takes to manage in the bigs.

Demposter has nobody to blame but himself this time. Well, LOu too. There was no reason to pitch to Votto there. None at all.

Could have been a good game to give Fontanot a start at 3rd, but whatever. I guess it makes more sense to keep Soriano out of the lineup for no good reason.

I know Marshall should be the set up guy, you know Marshall should be the set up guy, most people know Marshall should be the set up guy, unfortunately, theres a senile old coot who makes the decisions, and for some reason, he decided long, long ago that hes not a big fan or Marshall, and he dosnt seem to be changing his mind any time soon, thus our ace to the bullpen. As for Gorzo, if it came down to it, Id prefer Gorzolanny stay in the rotation and try Silva in the pen.

Maybe selling high on Gorz wouldnt be the worst idea at this point. Granted, were not going to fool anyone into thinking hes an ace, or even a 2-3 starter, but hes probably as good as a lot of 4 starters and most 5 starters in the league. Hell, Id take him over 4/5 of the Brewers rotation any day. with a rotation of Z, Demp, Lilly, Wells, and Silva, with Diamond and Jackson both possibly ready to step in if Silva continues to falter, a set up man may be more valuable than Gorz at this time. Maybe wed have to throw in a mid level prospect of some sort.

I remember this kid very well. Loaded the bases with 0 out in the 1st, and he was let off the hook, and that was the story of the game. Now that out offense is playing slightly more compeantly, maybe we can get a few runs off him. My ideal lineup of the day that will never happen: Theriot Castro Byrd Soto Fukudome Soriano Lee Ramirez Demp

We plucked him out of an indepentant league in the middle of last year. He did pretty decent in Daytona last year goind 7-2 with a 2.04 ERA. However, as a 25 year old in AA, with Cashner, Jackson, Diamond, and Coleman ahead of him, I dont know what kind of future he has.

Its feast of famine with these guys, and sadly, they went home hungry tonight. I wonder what 5.00s ERA pitcher we'll either make look like a world beater or score 10 runs off of tommorow. As for the bullpen, I would not be remotely surprised if Blake Parker makes his way through the revolving door as soon as the end of the weekend.

I agree with you there, not because of Lees slow start this year, but because like you said, its the best move. Id really like to think that the Cubs will be players for Fielder and Gonzalez when they reach FA in 2011, and hopefully we can sign some kind of Russell Branyan type as a 1 year stop gap for next year. If Lee were willing to sign a 1 year deal even at 10 mil, Id be all for it, but he'll be 35 by the end of the season, and he probably has 1 more 2-3 year contract left in him, assuming he puts up decent numbers this year, and Id prefer let someone else sign him to it.

Really I think the thing to do is try Silva at set up. He usually does pretty good the first few innings before he gets shaky, as oposed to Z who has more a history of starting off shaky and then getting stronger thorughout the game. If Silva doesnt work out, then maybe start shopping. As for Lilly, the only way hes traded is if were out of contention at the deadline. I really dont see him resigned, and while I like him a lot, I really dont see a need for him in 2011. Z, Demp, Wells, Gorzo, and Silva will all be under team control. I know we cant fully rely on Silva or Gorzo, although Gorz is really looking like the real deal, at least as far as back of the rotation starters go(I probably just jinxed him big time for tonight to those who believe in that type of thing). As far as back up plans, once Lou is gone Sean Marshall may have a shot at a rotation spot, and J Jax and Cashner may very well be major league ready, and with Thomas Diamond in the mix as well, theres really no need to re up Lilly for another 2-3 years, at around 8-10 mil/year which is probably the type of contract he'll end up with.

Wow, I didnt realise that Heyward was ligting it up like that. I guess its because he plays in Atlanta. Hell, there are still people who dont know who the hell Chipper Jones is. Same goes for Minnesota. Everyone knows Mauer by now, but they have a lot of other guys who are not well known due to the small market. Justin Morneau, for instance is fairly well known, but put him on the Cubs, Yankees, Mets etc and hed be a household name. I guess we should just be glad Heyward isnt a Cardinal.

Id be all for that. Tennesse shouldnt be in the too distant future for him. Again, my preference has been to send guys like Spencer, Guyer, and Campana to Iowa and clean house of some of the AAAA guys who are nothing more than spare parts in case of injury. I mean they'll be 25 when next season starts, and thats already on the old side for a rookie. Im not saying these guys will be stars, or even end up playing in the bigs at any point, but at some point you need to let go of some of the older guys and give them a chance at the next level. Most AAA teams have a few AAAAers, but it seems that aside from the pitching, and maybe Castillo and Barney, who project as backups at their respective postions at best, Iowa is pretty much full of them. Hoffpauir, Fuld, Scales, Dubois, LaHair, and Snyder are all at or near 30, and to a baseball prospect, thats about the same as pushing 60 for most careers. You're operating on the assumption that all guys in the system are there to make it to the big leagues. That's not the case at all and those guys at AAA still hold value. They are there in case Aramis goes down so we don't have to either trade for a 3B or rush up Josh Vitters. They are also there to help mentor any of the real prospects we do send to Iowa. There is no reason to start getting rid of all of them. But how many of these guys do we need? Fuld is good to have as a backup CF if needed, and Hoffpauir has had some major league success and can play both 1B or RF if the need ever arrises. Brad Snyder is a nice slugger, who Ive heard can play a respectable outfield, and I guess if Nady gets hurt, or they decide that Colvin would be better of playing every day in Iowa than riding the big league bench, hed be a good guy to call on. Scales, from what Ive heard of him seems the be the type of guy who can move on to coaching. I know LaHair was a near top prospect at one point, but that was many moon ago, and DuBois keeps popping up every year probably just as a favor to him. Wouldnt it be better to give some of the younger guys a chance before they fall into the AAAA catagory? Im not saying get rid of them all, but at least stop signing these guys in the off season when we have our own guys who could be given the promotion instead. Well I am of the belief that there isn't a whole lot of difference between AAA and AA, so I don't see the harm in having a AAA team that is older. Especially since we have had a competitive big league team the past few years, as such we probably want and older AAA team in case someone gets hurt so we can plug in a guy who has played some in the big leagues. Its good to have some, especially those who have come up through your system, but theres not much point going out of the way to sign some of these guys instead of bringing up your own guy. I agree that when 1 time top prospects like Snyder or Diamond are let go by their teams, its always good to pick them up and see what they can do, but some of these other guys, I dont get. Dubois and LeHair, for instance seem to serve the same purpose as Hoffpauir and Snyder.

Id be all for that. Tennesse shouldnt be in the too distant future for him. Again, my preference has been to send guys like Spencer, Guyer, and Campana to Iowa and clean house of some of the AAAA guys who are nothing more than spare parts in case of injury. I mean they'll be 25 when next season starts, and thats already on the old side for a rookie. Im not saying these guys will be stars, or even end up playing in the bigs at any point, but at some point you need to let go of some of the older guys and give them a chance at the next level. Most AAA teams have a few AAAAers, but it seems that aside from the pitching, and maybe Castillo and Barney, who project as backups at their respective postions at best, Iowa is pretty much full of them. Hoffpauir, Fuld, Scales, Dubois, LaHair, and Snyder are all at or near 30, and to a baseball prospect, thats about the same as pushing 60 for most careers. You're operating on the assumption that all guys in the system are there to make it to the big leagues. That's not the case at all and those guys at AAA still hold value. They are there in case Aramis goes down so we don't have to either trade for a 3B or rush up Josh Vitters. They are also there to help mentor any of the real prospects we do send to Iowa. There is no reason to start getting rid of all of them. But how many of these guys do we need? Fuld is good to have as a backup CF if needed, and Hoffpauir has had some major league success and can play both 1B or RF if the need ever arrises. Brad Snyder is a nice slugger, who Ive heard can play a respectable outfield, and I guess if Nady gets hurt, or they decide that Colvin would be better of playing every day in Iowa than riding the big league bench, hed be a good guy to call on. Scales, from what Ive heard of him seems the be the type of guy who can move on to coaching. I know LaHair was a near top prospect at one point, but that was many moon ago, and DuBois keeps popping up every year probably just as a favor to him. Wouldnt it be better to give some of the younger guys a chance before they fall into the AAAA catagory? Im not saying get rid of them all, but at least stop signing these guys in the off season when we have our own guys who could be given the promotion instead.

Id be all for that. Tennesse shouldnt be in the too distant future for him. Again, my preference has been to send guys like Spencer, Guyer, and Campana to Iowa and clean house of some of the AAAA guys who are nothing more than spare parts in case of injury. I mean they'll be 25 when next season starts, and thats already on the old side for a rookie. Im not saying these guys will be stars, or even end up playing in the bigs at any point, but at some point you need to let go of some of the older guys and give them a chance at the next level. Most AAA teams have a few AAAAers, but it seems that aside from the pitching, and maybe Castillo and Barney, who project as backups at their respective postions at best, Iowa is pretty much full of them. Hoffpauir, Fuld, Scales, Dubois, LaHair, and Snyder are all at or near 30, and to a baseball prospect, thats about the same as pushing 60 for most careers.

Nah. He's a rookie, he'll go through some rookie struggles. Once he gets more at-bats, opposing pitchers/coaches/scouts will have more film and scouting reports to get a full evaluation on him, and make the necessary adjustments against him. What I DO hope for is when that DOES happen against Castro, that Castro is capable of making adjustments AFTER the pitchers made adjustments against him. Crap, we better sell high while we can. Do the Jays still want to move Downs or Frasor? In all seriousness, Id expect similar numbers to what Gordon Beckham put up for the Sox last year, around 270's-280's,/mid .300s/mid .400s, as long as Lou sticks with him and dosnt knee jerk him to Iowa after his first 0-8. As long as next yeat he doesnt do anything close to what Beckhams doing so far this year.

My desired lineup Starlin Castro 2B Starlin Castro RF Starlin Castro 1B Starlin Castro CF Starlin Castro LF Geovany Soto C Starlin Castro SS Starlin Castro 3B Tom Gorze.....wait, has Castro ever pitched? P

I think the best we could ever hope for for Grabow is 1 mil and a freed up roster spot.

I'd guess he's next in line to see a promotion, probably beginning of June if he keeps his average and OBP up. Doubtful. The Castro call up was doable because he had an everyday spot to play. Jackson would be a 5th or 6th outfielder, and the last thing you want is a top prospect riding the bench. Besides, we'll need to at least see what he can do in AA at some point before even thinking big leagues.

Seriously though, Aramis can not remain at the heart of the lineup the way hes playing. He had 2BB and a blloer, which I guess is a start, but we need more from the 5 spot. Our lineup is good contact hitter good hitter/OBP guy hitter who seems to be heating up good hitter black hole streaky hitter good hitter/OBP guy rookie phenom pitcher Tomorrow, Id like to see Theriot Fuku Lee Byrd Soto Soriano Castro Aramis P Wont happen though

very much so.

Miles, and it's not even close. Agreed. Aaron Miles' OPS last year: .466. Joe Mauer's OBP last year: .444. In fairness Miles had a much higher Crap Factor last year fixed.

On a side note, are we the only team in majpr league baseball history whose best hitters bat 6-8?

Miles, and it's not even close. Miles was at least coming off a career season, and at least at a 1 year/1 mil deal he would have made sense at the time. Grabow was basically your run of the mill middle releiver, and for some reason, Lou and Jim decided he was a top of the line set up man despite the fact that hed never done anything in his career to lead them to believe so. Grabows job could have been filled just as adaquately by John Gaub and 100X better by Sean Marshall. Doesn't matter. A reliever is much easier to bury and keep from doing too much damaging than a guy who was going to significant playing time even if had just been platooning 2nd with Fontenot. I mean, his career year was pretty underwhelming, and he's horrible against lefties so even relegated to a platoon he would have been terrible. Problem is, he wa signed to be a set up man, in a role where he could have done a lot more damage than a 25th man, as MIles wound upo being. Ive blocked it all out, but I know Grabow lost us a few leads and put a few close games out of reach. The worst Miles could really do was kill a rally. Cant we just agree that they were equally bad sigings and there was no excuse for either?

Decent but not spectacular night on day 1 of the post Starlin Castro era of the farm system Iowa Thomas Diamond 5IP 4 H 2R 1 ER 5BB 5K Jeff Samardzjia 2IP 0ER 1BB 3K Tenn HW Chen 5.2 IP 4R 3ER 4BB 2K Vitters 1-2 Campana 3-4 Spencer 1-3 HR, BB Daytona B Jax 3-4