Little Slide Rooter

it's not based on just 2009 Still, how the hell do the Brewers have us beat? They didnt even decide they wanted to win until like 2006.

The problem with that is that most players arent too keen on being DLd with an "injury" if they dont have an actual injury. Of course with Goozes history, he may end up with an actual injury.

How the hell do the Brewers have us beat? They lost their 2 top pitchers, and their big off season aquisition was the remains of Trevor Hoffman.

Rays optioned David Price today.

http://www.gossipsauce.com/files/gs_bull_durham_081006_m.jpg

Mark Loretta is also an option. With the numbers crunch in the bullpen, maybe Gaudin can be used to acquire one of the better options listed above. Keppinger is the only oen of these guys who doesnt make me throw up in my mouth just a bit when I think of them in a Cubs uniform, and I dont see any reason for the Reds, like you said, a division rival to send him to us so we can bench him.

I think the bottom line is that good middle relievers are just hard to come by for the simple fact that if one truely impresses, they quickly become a set up man or a closer. These career middle releivers, such as Vizcaino and Gaudin are are rarely going to dazzle anyone, so you just have to go for the guy most likely to get the ball from the starter to the set up man with minimal damage. With guys like Vizcaino and Gaudin, you pretty much know what to expect, so why not give the younger guy a chance, and see what he can be? If they stink up the place, then you can go out and get another Vizcaino or Gaudin type for a dime a dozen.

If Gaudin were to be moved, it would be more to open up a roster spot and hopefully dump some salary. I wouldnt expect much in return at all. Probably wont happen though. Afterall, every team needs a mop up man.

Jake Peavy, seeing as the constant bickering got yet another Peavy thread locked, may it be reborn here.

The problem with that bench is that it's basically a bench of That has two players, one right-handed the other left handed that are identical in Fox and Hoffpauir. Both can be put in the of, but bad defensively there. Fox might give you an option at third, and as much as I hate to quote Dusty, his "the ball will find you" quote probably would apply here. Fox might make the plays there, but it's likely he'd give up just as many as he could bring in. The only middle infielder in that group is Miles, and trusting him to back up short is risky at best. Johnson becomes the only bench outfielder with any defensive prowess at all. Let's look at it this way...if Aramis needs a day off, I don't think the Cubs would be comfortable with Fox starting at third. Miles would be there which means there would be no middle infielder on the bench those days. I can't see a team carrying two players that profile like Hoffpauir and Fox do. To sum it up, a basic bench should have a righty oufielder, a lefty outfielder, a corner infielder, a middle infielder, and a back up catcher. RH Outfielder-Reed Johnson Catcher-Bako/Hill Middle infield-Miles 1B-Hoff This leaves one more outfield position. That likely goes to gathright, as he is lefty, can play a semi competant oufield, as far as I know anyway, and he beings some great speed to the bench. The thing about spring training is that there are very few jobs up for grabs, especially with a team liek the Cubs. Maybe a bullpen spot or 2, and maybe 1 bench spot. When you pick up a free agent, usually, the assumtion is that that guy will be on the opening day rotster, unless they have an awful spring training. This leaves a bunch of other guys like Hoff, Fox, and Snyder playing their hearts out for that 1 remaining spot, and the others will go back to Iowa until someone goes down with injury. We are giong to keep 12 pitchers to break camp? I would think with a bullpen of Gregg, Marmol, Heilman, Samardizja, Cotts, (not sure who 6th would be) would be flexible enough to allow us to keep 6 bench players instead of 5. True as that may be, Lou has already said he wants to start off with 12 pitchers, with the starting 5, plus a pen of presumably Marmol, Heilman, Gregg, Cotts, and 3 of Gaudin/Guzman/Patton/Vizcaino, with Shark starting in Iowa.

The problem with that bench is that it's basically a bench of That has two players, one right-handed the other left handed that are identical in Fox and Hoffpauir. Both can be put in the of, but bad defensively there. Fox might give you an option at third, and as much as I hate to quote Dusty, his "the ball will find you" quote probably would apply here. Fox might make the plays there, but it's likely he'd give up just as many as he could bring in. The only middle infielder in that group is Miles, and trusting him to back up short is risky at best. Johnson becomes the only bench outfielder with any defensive prowess at all. Let's look at it this way...if Aramis needs a day off, I don't think the Cubs would be comfortable with Fox starting at third. Miles would be there which means there would be no middle infielder on the bench those days. I can't see a team carrying two players that profile like Hoffpauir and Fox do. To sum it up, a basic bench should have a righty oufielder, a lefty outfielder, a corner infielder, a middle infielder, and a back up catcher. RH Outfielder-Reed Johnson Catcher-Bako/Hill Middle infield-Miles 1B-Hoff This leaves one more outfield position. That likely goes to gathright, as he is lefty, can play a semi competant oufield, as far as I know anyway, and he beings some great speed to the bench. The thing about spring training is that there are very few jobs up for grabs, especially with a team liek the Cubs. Maybe a bullpen spot or 2, and maybe 1 bench spot. When you pick up a free agent, usually, the assumtion is that that guy will be on the opening day rotster, unless they have an awful spring training. This leaves a bunch of other guys like Hoff, Fox, and Snyder playing their hearts out for that 1 remaining spot, and the others will go back to Iowa until someone goes down with injury.

I think another reason that a lot of these guys struggle when they come to the majors in their limited sample suize is that when you take a guy whose played his entire career as an everyday starter, and then put him on the bench as a pinch hitter, they feel rusty and have trouble adjusting. I know that they sometimes go to the clubhouse to do some woking out, but its not nearly the same as in game action.

So Jeremy Papelbon opens another season in AA, meanwhile, Ed Campusano, who clearly has no future with this organization is in Iowa.

On a side note, any one have any idea how much veteran AAA players make? Is it any better than your average 9-5? I bet Raisin knows that answer to that.

I am not trying to make a case for him to start, Im just saying his bat should belong in the Majors. Maybe he sucks like everyone says he does. As I said earlier, its not that he sucks, its about the organization. Career minor league power hitters are a dime a dozen. For some guys, like Jack Cust, and hopefully Micah Hoffpauir it can translate into a shot at the big show. For some guys, it just wont. Look at Scott McClain. The guys pusing 40, and has been putting up nice AAA numbers for years, with a career .271/.357/.484. When he gets the the majors, it doesnt translate, as shown by his MLB .192/.284/.295 line in 78 career at bats. With some of these guys, its just a catch 22. While if the were given enough of a chance to produce, maybe they would, but if they dont produce quickly enough after getting the majors, they will never get the opportunity to prove themselves long term.

the daryle ward that the cubs let go? jake fox could be fine as a journeyman bench player like ward. he just doesn't fit into this current team plus ward is still probably more competent defensively than fox Hes really not much different than D. Ward. or Josh Kroeger. or Micah Hoffpauir. or Jack Cust. or Randall Simon. Its just that some of these guys are lucky enough to get the opportunity and some arent. It all depends on the organization.

Im pretty sure if we check the AAA rosters around the league, wed find a lot of power hitters in their late 20's who will probably never be full time major leaguers, many because of their defense, some because they havnt tranlated their success in their chances in the majors, or they simply havnt been given enough of a chance in the majors to prove themselves. Fox falls in all 3 catagories.

Everyone talks about Hoffs defensive ineptitude, which may be true regarding the ouitfield, but wasnt he voted the top defensive 1B in the PCL last year?

which is why Gaudin should be the odd man out. The guy still has some trade value, and hopefullly some team could pick up part of the tab on him. Patton has earned his spot, and Guzman has shown some flashes of brilliance.

Doesnt Gaudin still have an option?

Shark got knocked around a bit too. Looks like Iowa or bust for him. Ive been more than happy with the offense lately though. These guys are built to win.

The fact that Gaudin is still gettig starts at this late point in ST makes me wonder if they are trying to make him look enticing to other teams looking for a last minute starter or a swingman. That way, we keep Patton and Guzman, and not have to take a bath on Luis Vizcaino. Sure, Id rather have Gaudin that Vizcaino, as hes younger with more upside, but I dont see too many teams being interested in Vizcaino. I do, however, predict that Vizcaino ends up taking Howrys spot in the s word filter before too long. Now that is one heaping bowl of Vizcaino. Even if Harden starts the season on the DL, Heilman would be the next in line to take his spot, not Gaudin, so why are they still starting the guy instead of giving Heilman the nod, or at least Samardzjia or Atkins if they want Heilman to keep getting relief reps.

2-0 Cubs. Lee and Ramirez w/ the RBI and Theriot with a 2B.

I didnt realize how nice of a spring Murton was having. .350/.409/.550/.959 with 2 HR but only 4RBI in 40AB.

Interesting how they keep giving Gaudin starts despite the fact that theres no chance of him being in the rotation, even as a number 6 starter. Could it be that they're tryign to make him look attractive to other teams?