RyCubsFan

He's struck out NINE!!!!!!! It's not about the strikeout. He's pitched poorly overall. I don't buy that this was a "quality start." He made some poor decisions on the mound and allowed himself to be beaten by their few good hitters (namely Cabrera). Like Meat&Potatoes with Ronnie, I call out your anti-Z bias! It's a quality start. 6 innings, 3 earned runs. I'll take it everytime.

He's struck out NINE!!!!!!! And isn't 6 innings, 3 ER considered a "quality start?" Or is it 7 innings?

100 lines on the blackboard for Jim Hendry: MUST NOT RESIGN JUAN PIERRE MUST NOT RESIGN JUAN PIERRE MUST NOT RESIGN JUAN PIERRE MUST NOT RESIGN JUAN PIERRE MUST NOT RESIGN JUAN PIERRE

wth Meat&Potatoes. Why do you insist on criticizing him? If there was anyone to criticize on that play, it was Perez! He double clutched (what you get mad at Ronny for), and through a horrible toss to Cedeno. Cedeno made a good play just to catch the ball and prevent it from going to the outfield. You seem to want Cedeno to fail and it's tiresome. Why didn't you call out Neifi for that play? his throw was horrible. don't even throw in that situation. he's lucky walker saved him by coming off the bag. neifi didn't handle the ball cleanly. big deal. that happens like once every century. cedeno routinely makes crappy throws to 1b. i'll call it like i see it. feel free to not like my opinion, but it's my opinion. Fair enough. But I think you should check your self for a bias against Ronnie. If Cedeno had held onto the ball, you would have likely posted a criticism of him for doing so. He can't do anything good in your eyes and you're very quick to criticize him...more so than any other ballplayer.

wth Meat&Potatoes. Why do you insist on criticizing him? If there was anyone to criticize on that play, it was Perez! He double clutched (what you get mad at Ronny for), and through a horrible toss to Cedeno. Cedeno made a good play just to catch the ball and prevent it from going to the outfield. You seem to want Cedeno to fail and it's tiresome. Why didn't you call out Neifi for that play?

haha, thanks! Tell Micah to keep hitting and we'll keep making noise. Several reporters follow this board. If Micah stays hot, it will be only a matter of time before someone in the press suggests it as well. Question for you: Any favorite cubs minor league players (BESIDES Micah of course)? Anyone particually nice?

He's a strong defender, he's hot with the bat, and it would be a nice paycheck for Micah for a few months. Why not bring him up? After all, he'd be a better defensive firstbaseman than anyone currently on the roster (though Todd's looking good there). He could at least be a late inning replacement. Ride the hot bat of Micah!

Go Gallagher! I love Sean days! Shaver looking to rebound. Brownlie's first start....right? He's looking to turn it around.

I've heard nothing but good things about EPatt. At this point I'm almost as excited to see him on the big club as I am about Pie. I'm very excited about EPatt too. I think we're gonna really like him in Chi town. Did you know he already has 10 stolen bases in Double A this year! (Oh yeah, he skipped high A to get to double A.) It's excited that the Cubs could have 4 of 8 homegrown position players in the line up for some time: Cedeno and Patterson the middle infield, and Murton* and Pie in the outfield. Add Prior, Zambrano, Wood (if he comes back healthy), Guzman, and Marshall in the rotation, and that's a lot of production from the farm. Jake Fox is turning heads now too, giving hope that he could take over from Barrett in a few years. *I'm including Murton because, although he came over from the Red Sox, he really made his leap forward in the minors as a Cub. It was great scouting by the Cubs to include him in the Nomar deal.

Ryan rocks! A great pickup by Hendry.

Why is everybody saying Wood/Prior? Don't count on them plain and simple. Let Wood go. Bye bye woody!! And count Prior as a bonus BACKUP 5th starter. . Zambrano solid #2 FA Maddux Marshall/Miller/Guzman Marshall/Miller/Guzman/Ryu/Rusch/Williams/Prior/FA#5. I want a pitching staff that all start the season strong and ready to pitch. And pitch all year. No more freakin depending on Wood and Prior. . Because we have a different opinion... We all heard you the first time... Ok just wanted to post it where it wasn't so cluttered in the mass reply thread. Explain to me why you (if you) would want to rely on Wood and Prior again. And why you think they will finally start pitching full years out of spring training? To say oh well we have different opinions is the easy way out, but explain why, after all the heartache. You'd want to go into 2007 with them near the top of your line-up. BTW I actually changed it a bit. So I didn't post the exact same thing twice. I went from getting a #3 starter to a #2. Because we need to GET solid top of the order guys instead of relying on Prior or Wood to be there. What BlueHeart said! yeah! I believe that Wood and Prior will both be back before June is up...pitching...and pitching well. I have no reason to believe otherwise. If they are healthy the rest of the year, I think we'll able to count on them in 07. That's just my opinion. Of course, I'd make sure I have a 6th starter just in case. Isn't that what Rusch is for? Marmol, Ryu, and Hill could be in the mix as well should either of them go down. Heck, Gallagher probably won't be far off either at the rate he's going. I still like: Z, Prior, Wood, Guz, and Marshall It's all home grown. They're all talented. They can all throw the ball hard.

Me too!

Z will get his fair share of wins. I'm not worried about him "getting his first." Another reason to start Guzman on Monday is to prevent back to back starts by two rookies. I'd rather break up Marshall and Guzman/Hill in the rotation. This way if they have to come out early, the bullpen should be able to rest the following day when Maddux or Zambrano goes. So you have: Maddux Guzman Zambrano Marshall (Rusch) ...rather than Marshall and Guzman pitching in succession.

Carlos Vasquez appears to be throwing the ball well again, having come back from injury. If I'm not mistaken, he was added to the 40 man at one point due to his promising sinker. I wonder if later this summer he'll be moved to a starter again... Jake Fox is on fire. He should move up the prospect rankings.

After Wood and Prior come back healthy this year....my 07: Prior Zambrano Wood Guzman Marshall If Guz or Marshall don't appear able to cut it, then Maddux could be resigned.

Pie is a much better defender than Pierre. He would be a much better center fielder. Hairston/Walker/stopgap should be able to lead off next year until EPatt is ready to step in....even Cedeno... After all, they all seem to get on base more than Pierre.

I don't hate Pierre. He seems like a great guy. However, He has no power. He has no arm in the outfield. Pie will be a much better player....next year.

I wouldn't resign Pierre. I like the guy, but I don't think he'll be worth the money that he'll demand. He wants "lead off" money. I would also trade Jones in the offseason. Outfield in 07: LF Murton CF Pie RF ?? For RF, I'd try to trade for the one of Arizona's young outfielders. They have a surplus. Maybe offer Marmol and Hill...

I'm not thrilled with the pitching matchups against the Marlins. As it stands: Game 1 - Zambrano vs. Vargas (Big advantage Cubs) Game 2 - Marshall vs. Willis (Big advantage Marlins) Game 3 - Guzman vs. Olsen (Toss up) This would made game 3 the rubber matchup. However, I think we should be able to sweep the Marlins. I'd like to see Guzman start tomorrow against Vargas (the worst of Florida's rotation), pushing back Zambrano to face Willis and subsequently Marshall to face Olsen. I think that would give us a better shot to win all 3 games. Thus, it would be: Game 1 - Guzman vs. Vargas Game 2 - Zambrano vs. Willis Game 3 - Marshall vs. Olsen Thoughts?

Good for Koronka. I wish him well.

I like how Cedeno hits to all fields

He looks good there. It should be no problem for him to scoop out throws from the dirt...after all, he's a second baseman.

It's pretty hard for Pierre to nab a bag when Dusty has Cedeno bunting almost every AB. true dat. it just reminds me of neifi batting in the 2 hole, fouling off pitch after pitch with pierre green lighted, looking to nab a bag. not cool. Who cares if Pierre can steal or not if the batter in the two hole is hitting .370? There is no comparison b/n Cedeno and Neifi. One is hitting .370, the other .208. If Cedeno keeps hitting doubles and triples, I could care less if he does it on the first pitch! I like Ronny in the 2 hole. Both spoil a ton of pitches early in the count. Watch how Walker hits in the 2 hole and how Cedeno hits. Huge difference in approach. Who cares if Pierre can steal or not if the batter in the two hole is hitting .370?

I was wondering the same thing.

It's pretty hard for Pierre to nab a bag when Dusty has Cedeno bunting almost every AB. true dat. it just reminds me of neifi batting in the 2 hole, fouling off pitch after pitch with pierre green lighted, looking to nab a bag. not cool. There is no comparison b/n Cedeno and Neifi. One is hitting .370, the other .208. If Cedeno keeps hitting doubles and triples, I could care less if he does it on the first pitch! I like Ronny in the 2 hole.