NCCubFan

That's my recollection as well. At first I wasn't sure whether it was your best start or your last start that got dropped if you went over, but it isn't always clear-cut what the last start is (your 7th and 8th starts could both be games starting Sunday at 1:00, for example), so I think it is the best start. That also serves as an incentive to avoid going over.

I completely forgot about Vizcaino being part of the equation. :oops:

The deadline for the final roster cutdown is 3:00 P.M. Eastern time this afternoon. I think optioning Samardzija is a slam dunk (I think he should be at Iowa stretched out as a starter anyway without even considering his poor spring). So to me it's Guzman, Gaudin, and Patton for two spots. Guzman is #1 in the pecking order IMO (even though his overall spring numbers are poor he's been good lately). Before his TJS he showed that he can pitch well at the major league level when healthy, and at least for now he seems healthy. I doubt he'll ever reach the potential he showed his first few years in the system, but I think he can still be a solid reliever. So that would make it Gaudin vs. Patton for one spot. Maybe they can trade Gaudin and keep Patton. If not, I'd like to see what Patton can do at the major league level during the regular season before making a final decision. At the same time, I'm not sure I want to completely write Gaudin off because of his earlier major league success. So my preference would be to see if Gaudin is willing to say he's "injured" and place him on the DL to start the season (maybe he can put things together in extended Spring Training and a rehab stint in the minors). If he won't go along with that and the Cubs have to choose between the two I'd have to go with past major league success over not having pitched above class A but having a good spring. I'm not sure the Cubs will, though. Given that Gaudin is already in Lou's doghouse, if he won't go along with a plan to make the roster decision easier he may be the odd man out.

http://www.myembarq.com/news/read.php?id=16883973&ps=972&cat=&cps=0&lang=en

Second place-not too bad. I noticed the final standings are completely set in stone regardless of who wins Monday.

Rhee still isn't on my team. Can he be added soon, before we forget about it? I think Ping mentioned drafting at least one player not in the database too.

Coredro got torched last night (3 earned runs in 1 inning against the Reds' minor leaguers). Doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in him (not like he ever really inspires confidence anyway). Fortunately I can keep him on my reserve list, at least for the 2 days or so before Percival's inevitable injury and trip to the DL.

To paraphrase Hank Williams, Jr.: Are you ready for some BASEBALL?

I went ahead and locked the entries thread since the deadline has passed.

I'm one of the optimists. I have them overperforming by 3.7 wins.

The trade was actually reported a few days ago. I believe he was traded for the ever-popular PTBNL or cash.

worse Simply unreal. Fell behind a lot of hitters, toped out in the upper 80s and had Fukudome in CF. Not like Lily was a prize yesterday either. Neither was Lilly. :D

My schedule looks right.

Same night as the NCAA basketball championship. The Cubs' game starts about two hours earlier, so I'll record the basketball game until the Cubs' game is over, then catch up with the basketball game by fast-forwarding through the commercials.

I'm tied for the best record in the league! :D

that's because dusty baker isn't managing their AA affiliate. Good point.

Maybe this isn't quite as embarrasing as the Pirates' prospects losing to a community college team, but the Reds lost tonight to their AA team.

the contract is just the standard for picking up someone who was cut I think, right? Or does that not apply since he wasn't claimed off waivers? It wouldn't apply if he WAS claimed off waivers. Then the team claiming him would have been responsible for the entire contract and the Tigers would have been off the hook.

No it isn't. That's Monday's regular season opener that is listed on cubs.com.

Yeah, it's the Cubs' fault. Jones was so depressed after being traded by the Cubs that he completely lost his concentration.

Me too. I care about them winning 11 games after Oct. 4.

Final score of an April Fool's Day matchup (the score was not a joke): Eastern Kentucky 49, Kentucky State 1. The game, scheduled for 7 innings as the first game of a doubleheader, was stopped after 5 innings and the second game was cancelled.

Gaudin reminds me somewhat of Jerome Williams in that they both had some success at the major league level before being traded to the Cubs, then fell apart afterwards. Maybe the Cubs can place him on the DL to start the year and see if he can work things out in extended Spring Training. If he cooperates and says he's "injured" that would avoid the need to expose him to waivers and send him down.

Yeah, Hinske. They also got Miguel Cairo back from the As as part of that trade.

Yea, I meant months not weeks Ah, so you used to work for the Cubs' training staff. Saying Prior would be out two weeks when you meant two months. :D