CubsWin

This is very debatable. No, it's fact. If you can make the major leagues and be league average or better, that's being successful at the major league level. And to fulfill that statement, he'd only have to have done it once. He's certainly done that.

I know. You're right. What was I thinking? He was the worst pitcher in baseball the last season he was healthy. Even when he's been not horrendous, he relies heavily on his defense because he can't strike anybody out. He brings nothing to the table. There's optimism and there's realism. This guy stinks. So you're saying there's no chance for him to ever be serviceable pitcher in the major leagues ever again. Got it. Duly noted. I think realism states that when he pitched terribly, he stunk. But realism also states that pitcher's performances vary.

True, but it was a vast improvement over his first start, and it was preceded by this adjustment that got him excited to pitch again. Look, I'm not thinking he has a chance to be the something great. I don't even know if he has a chance to return to what he did in Minnesota yet. But we had all written him off, and rightly so based on his performance in Seattle, from being able to contribute at all. What I'm asking is is it possible that he could actually contribute something this year and is the story of his pitching session and his subsequent improvement evidence of such a possibility or not. The obvious answer is it's too soon to tell. But it's fun to hear people's opinions on the subject and thank you for your's.

I know. You're right. What was I thinking?

Which is why I'm asking the question and not jumping to the conclusion. Patton's a terrible example because he had never pitched successfully above A ball. Silva's been successful at the major league level. But it's not just Patton, of course. Lots of pitchers do this. Clearly, spring training performances are to be taken with a salt lick. But when combined with the anecdotal evidence, it does make one wonder...

He's just pitched 4 scoreless allowing 2 hits, striking out 3 and walking none against the Rangers today. That's seven consecutive innings pitched without allowing a run. Normally I would chalk that up to spring training weirdness, but it was preceded by a work session with Larry Rothschild in which Silva adjusted his stride toward the plate and something clicked which got Silva's sinker sinking again. Consequently, Silva was excited about going out on the mound two starts ago, excited for the first time in a long time he said. And he hasn't allowed a run since. What are the chances this keeps up into the season and he's actually useful in some way? And what are the chances this is just spring training being spring training? Your thoughts...

Best day of the spring. Winter, technically. :P I'm gonna be there Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of next week. Anybody else? I got extras. One right behind home plate like 2nd or 3rd row, and another first row right behind the Cubs dugout...

The good news is that Ricketts wants to put more of an emphasis on it going forward.

incredibly lucky? the majority of people who drive drunk don't kill anyone. and he crashed into a porch at 3 in the morning; unless there are normally multiple people hanging out on a porch at 3 a.m. then i would say it's extremely unlikely that he would kill someone. that being said, drunk driving is bad. You're walking a fine line there, Truffle. But I suspect you already know that. It's not so much that it's unusual for people to be on their front porch at 3 in the morning. It's that Latham made the decision to get behind the wheel of a fast moving, very heavy machine while impaired enough to crash into something, anything. I've been really drunk and was still able to remember not to drive. I've also lived in Boise, Idaho for a time. They have cabs.

It kinda is. It was never intended to be earthshattering. I just found it funny that the guy many of us are hoping to be the next star SS for the Cubs is already amongst the current, heavily paid stars in some way. It's just for fun, dex.

I like this one but they are all minorities as well. In this country, yes. But in their home countries, only Derrek is.

Ah, you are correct, sir. Not about them knowing how. About that I have no idea. But one thing is clear. I don't.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Somebody's already pi**ing with the big boys. What do Alphonso Soriano, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Starlin Castro all have in common? (Besides all being in the Cubs organization and invited to spring training, of course...)

Here's some juicy Hendry quotes from the Cubs.com article on the arby decision which are sure to draw some responses... That's got to be one of the understatements of the still young century right there. And I didn't know fairness had levels. What exactly is the highest level of fairness?

Reminiscent of Tom Seaver. Remember his stride? His right knee was practically scraping against the ground with every pitch. Let's hope this guy's as good...

Reminiscent of Tom Seaver. Remember his stride? His right knee was practically scraping against the ground with every pitch. Let's hope this guy's as good...

Great Johnson? Seriously? Why not just name him Big Member?

Castro stays a hot topic in the BA all day prospect chat...

More on Castro from BA.

Those are nice reads. Especially glowing on Castro, yeesh. Thanks, jersey.

Okay, if we split the differences in the above offers, (Theriot gets 3 mill, Marmol gets 2.125 mill and Marshall gets a mill), with those 8 players added in, it looks like this (with some questions remaining about exactly what Samardzjia and Silva are making in 2010): Alfonso Soriano - $19,000,000 Carlos Zambrano - $18,875,000 Aramis Ramirez - $16,750,000 Kosuke Fukudome - $14,000,000 Ryan Demptster - $13,500,000 Derrek Lee - $13,000,000 Ted Lilly - $13,000,000 Carlos Silva - $11,500,000 (according to SeattleTimes.com) John Grabow - $3,750,000 Xavier Nady - $3,300,000 (with incentives on games played up to $2 million) Marlon Byrd - $3,000,000 Ryan Theriot - $3,000,000 (estimated) Carlos Marmol - $2,125,000 (estimated) Sean Marshall - $1,000,000 (estimated) Jeff Samardzija - $1,000,000 (according to Cot's) Mike Fontenot - $1,000,000 Jeff Baker - $975,000 Angel Guzman - $825,000 Tom Gorzelanny - $800,000 Koyie Hill - $700,000 Geovany Soto - $600,000 (estimated) Randy Wells - $450,000 (estimated) Total - $142,150,000 Plus Luis Vizcaino's $500,000 buyout for 2010 (according to Cot's) and $1,000,000 for Aaron Miles but minus the 5.5 million from the Mariners in the Bradley trade (with 3.5 still to be applied in 2011). Total - $138,150,000 This leaves three roster spots open, four when you include Lilly's while he's on the DL. Those spots are likely to be filled by two pitchers and two bench players. What mix of relievers, starters, infielders or outfielders is yet to be determined.

You're welcome, LCCF. I was aware of the discrepancies you listed, I just don't know who to believe since one site says one thing and some other site says something else. If you can help clear that up for me, that would be much appreciated. I tend to trust Cot's, but do you have reason to think that Roto is more accurate? I went with the Seattle Times report on Silva just because it was written by what seemed to be a Mariners beat writer and I figured he ought to know. I certainly don't profess to know anything. Just trying to keep track of the numbers as best I can. I already added Soto and Wells in a previous post, but I wouldn't call Fuld a lock just yet. Regardless, for payroll purposes, whoever is filling that last bench spot is likely to be making close to what Fuld is, so six of one, half dozen of the other.

There's nothing in that article that says the Cubs want Marshall in the rotation. It says Marshall likes starting better- which we already knew. Marshall also says he likes relieving which says that he thinks he'll end up working out of the pen. The rotation probably comes down to Gorzelany 4 and Smardz 5 unless he's really terrible in ST or Silva is shockingly good- by which by mean not horrible. True, but that's not what I was claiming. Someone made an argument that the Cubs options for 5th starter were between Silva, Gorz and the Shark and listed their not so good stats as starters to make their point. Of course, he left out the strongest option for 5th starter, Marshall. He then claimed, as you just did, that he thinks Marshall will be in the pen, without making an argument as to why. This article says that the Cubs consider him one of 4 candidates to make the rotation. So, going off of the evidence, he shouldn't be counted out just yet.

To those who don't think Marshall will be in the competition to make the rotation out of Spring Training... ChicagoSports.com