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There was one big surprise from Fitch Park on Day Three of Camp Lou. According to multiple reports, Piniella stated Rich Hill is currently slotted as the 4th starter in his rotation, not the third as has been assumed all winter. Piniella is undecided on which pitcher will occupy the 3rd and 5th spots in the Cubs starting rotation. Jason Marquis, Ryan Dempster and Jon Lieber are the leading candidates for the last two spots according to a report in the Tribune. Piniella added he is "not looking at Lieber as a potential long man in the pen." So if Lieber remains healthy, that leaves only one spot up for grabs?
Kosuke Fukudome's second day as a Cub was apparently a good one according to a report on Cubs.com. Fukudome made Gerald Perry smile after his second day in the cage and Mike Quade liked his footwork in the outfield....not a bad couple of days.
Here is the rest from Mesa, including Jim Hendry on Talkin' Baseball, a few rumors and a projection for the National League Central....
Jim Hendry on Talkin' Baseball
The Cubs GM joined Bruce Levine and Jonathan Hood on Saturday morning from Mesa. Jim Hendry talked about Kosuke Fukudome's first day in camp and said it was a good day despite the bad weather. Fukudome reporting to camp 3 to 4 days early was good for the team. Hendry's goal when they began to pursue Fukudome was to add good players that fit a specific need, just not to add players to add players.
Hendry spoke about Fukudome's versatility, the fact he hits lefties well and will provide good defense in right field. Hendry reiterated Kosuke was the Cubs number one target and the fact they did not have to trade any players for him made Fukudome a more attractive addition.
Bruce Levine asked Hendry about the pitching staff, specifically the amount of arms in camp. Hendry believes the Cubs have positive excess and a lot of good young arms in the system. Hendry really likes all of the young relievers and mentioned Ed Campusano and Jose Ceda by name....Hendry added Ceda has already excited Lou Piniella.
The excess of pitching will allow the Cubs to make a deal, if there is one to be made; Hendry feels there is a lot of "inventory" in the organization.
The discussion then turned to Ryan Dempster and his possible move to the rotation. Hendry indicated Dempster probably started preparing for the move a week or so after last season ended. Hendry added that Dempster is prepared, is a tremendous team guy and if he cannot crack the rotation he can always go back to the bullpen.
Hendry indicated he has been trying like "heck" for a couple of months to make the right additions to the roster. Hendry said he passed on a couple of guys because they would not fit the type of team the Cubs are attempting to build. Hendry added he is not going to make a deal just to make a deal and in turn add a player that might not fit....on a side note that was very refreshing to hear. Hendry mentioned he is confident he will make a deal either before the Spring Training schedule starts or at some point during camp.
Ronny Cedeno will be looked at during camp to see if he can add the right-handed bat the Cubs feel they need in the outfield. Hendry said Cedeno will get a chance to play all three outfield spots. Hendry did add they would like to have someone with a little more punch in that role.
Hendry finished the discussion on the roster by saying, "The higher profile trades may have to wait."
The Cubs are very focused with starting the season off strong and emphasizing they cannot start the same way they did a year ago. He feels the team will be better defensively and have a lot more speed, which will help during April and May. The Cubs play 33 of their 81 home games during the first two months of the season. Hendry said they have to figure out a way to turn the lopsided schedule into an advantage and must find ways to win games early in the year.
The topic of Felix Pie and Sam Fuld became front and center at this point. Hendry said Pie has a higher ceiling but that Fuld is a grinder and compared him to Johnny Cangelosi. Pie has a chance to be one of the better centerfielders defensively in the league but he must improve offensively. An outfield of Alfonso Soriano, Felix Pie and Kosuke Fukudome should be solid defensively and one of the most athletic Cub outfields in years.
The interview switched back to pitching and specifically Jason Marquis. Hendry said Marquis' future in the rotation depends on what happens in the next 7 weeks. (Note, by no means did Hendry indicate there was anything wrong with Marquis, the mood of the conversation was very positive) Hendry mentioned things always happen in Spring Training and the fact there are 8 guys competing for 5 spots is a good thing. Hendry later added Sean Marshall has gained 15-20 pounds and looks stronger and more durable than a year ago. Hendry said to give out roles right now would be very foolish.
Jim Hendry was extremely positive throughout the interview. He sounded very content with his roster and at the same time indicated he is not done making changes.
The Rumor Mill
Bruce Levine said during his Saturday morning show on ESPN 1000 that Marlon Byrd is still on the Cubs radar. The Rangers have expressed interest in Matt Murton and there could still be a deal on the horizon. Levine also indicated the Red Sox have expressed interest in Jason Marquis. The Cubs and Sox could make a deal for Marquis that included Coco Crisp. The Red Sox like the fact Marquis annually starts the season strong with Curt Schilling expected to be out until the All-Star break. According to Levine the Sox do not want to push either Jon Lester or Clay Buchholtz.
According to a report in the Baltimore Sun, "the trade talks between the Orioles and Chicago Cubs involving All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts have not progressed." According to the report, Roberts will likely report to Orioles camp next week. Andy MacPhail told the Sun:
"I don't see [a trade] as likely before the reporting date. Anything can happen....but I just don't see it."
The Dallas Morning News reported the Rangers are not going to trade Marlon Byrd to the Cubs unless the package includes a pitching prospect. Byrd told the Dallas Morning News he feels like he is in limbo. The report indicated the Cubs interest in Byrd would be if the Cubs include Felix Pie in a deal for Brian Roberts. The Rangers are overvaluing Marlon Byrd.
Matt Murton, Sean Gallagher and Mark DeRosa paid attention all winter to the trade rumors surrounding Brian Roberts....they were obviously not alone.
PECOTA Predictions
Baseball Prospectus released their projected standings for 2008. In the American League, the Yankees will take the East, the Indians in the Central and the Angels in the West with the Red Sox the Wild Card winner. In the National League, the Mets in the East, the Diamondbacks in the West and the Cubs in the Central with a record of 89-73 with the Dodgers winning the Wild Card.
The NL Central Projected Standings for 2008:
- Chicago Cubs - 89-73
- Milwaukee Brewers - 87-75
- Cincinnati Reds - 79-83
- Houston Astros - 74-88
- St. Louis Cardinals - 72-90
- Pittsburgh Pirates - 71-91
Bill Simmons on the Red Sox and Cubs
An old article from the Sports Guy himself might serve as good advice for the Faithful. Simmons talked about the Red Sox winning the World Series in 2004 and the parallels that existed between the Cubs and Sox. Simmons is dead on with his advice and even refers to the Cubs fans as 'the Wrigley Faithful'.
"Now I understand what happened: after 86 agonizing years, we ran out of bad luck. I know that someday that has to happen for Chicago, too. My best advice to Cubs fans? Start thinking of yourselves differently. Stay away from the negative TV shows and apocalyptic newspaper columns. You can follow the team just fine without being infected by that stuff."
Finally....Ryan O'Malley recently signed with the Schaumburg Flyers of the Northern League, a 6-team Independent Professional Baseball League established in 1993.
Trips to the Northside
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A few thoughts.....
* A friend of mind was at practice yesterday and said that Carlos Zambrano looks like he lost 20-25 lbs.
* I would do a Crisp for Marquis deal. Lets face it,
Lieber is going to be in the rotation along with Z, Lilly and Hill. That means only 1 spot is available between Dempster, Marshall, Gallagher, and Marquis.
Unless someone gets hurt, I do not see Dempster and Marquis on the team in April.
Jim
I couldn't agree more with a Marquis for Crisp trade. Schilling makes this a "can do" aqusition. Crisp would fit in nicely off the bench. Wow, when I look at this team I am starting to think we may be major players. Lord knows we have the pitching depth.
This could be a very interesting year CUBS Fans!!!
Whoever made this schedule should be shot! 34 home games in April and May. Ok, so small ball will be the rule. Of the 23 away games, all but 3 are in cold weather cities, Pitt-Phil-Col-Wash, etc, that's brutal! Nonetheless, if the Cubs can win most of their home series and go .500 on the road, then 33-24 looks pretty good.
While having Brian Roberts would have been nice, I'm very happy that Hendry did not allow the organization to be fleeced by McFailure and Angelos. The same goes for the Rangers and Marlon Byrd. Hoepfully DeRosa can make everyone in the organization forget about Roberts. Sometimes the best trades are the ones that are never made.
I agree Jeff SCREW Roberts and Byrd It would've been a joke to give up the players rumored in those possible trades.
Here's an idea why not just let Pie play center and be done with it? Defensively he's already a superstar so if he starts out struggling at the plate at least he'll be saving us runs.
Take Boston last year if Francona had listened to the fans and media he would've benched Pedroia but he stuck with him and he won rookie of the year and was the spark plug to their championship.
Besides name me one National League team that has a solid 8 hitter...heck there are few that have a decent 7!
Soriano lf
Theriot ss
Lee 1b
Aram 3b
Soto c
Fukudome rf
DeRosa 2b
Pie cf
PLAY BALL!!
Another thing the Cubs are winning more than 89 games this year!
Neil - great coverage of the day's events. I agree on Byrd - I've been blogging about his stellar mediocrity. He is a good fit for the Cubs, but the Rangers are nuts to ask what they are.
I've been running the ZiPS projections thru Diamond Mind. Cubs win 100 games occasionally. They haven't lost the division but one time out of about 10 runs. I'll crank-up an automated run later, once I've got the roster kinks ironed out, and see what happens with a larger sample.
WE NEED ROBERTS TO COMPETE WITH THE NEW YORK METS "THE TEAM TO BEAT" IN THE NL AND THEN MOVE DEROSA TO SECOND IF A-ROD CAN MOVE FOR JETER DEROSA CAN MOVE FOR ROBERTS HOW ABOUT THIS LINE UP
ROBERTS
SORIANO
LEE
RAMIREZ
FUKUDOME
DEROSA
SOTO
PIE
PITCHING
ZAMBRANO
LILLY
LIEBER
HILL
#5 ?
WITH THAT LINE UP WILL BE RIGHT THERE WITH THE METS IF NOT ON TOP. PITCHING WISE WERE GOOD AND WE STILL MIGHT BE ABLE TO ADD ANOTHER ARM WITH ALL IN INVENTORY IN THE FARM IF NO ONE ELSE STEPS UP IN SPRING TRAINING
GO CUBBIES
http://www.minorleagueball.com/
John Sickels has an interesting read on Felix Pie today. God I hope he is our starting CF and is given 500 plus at bats this year.
Enjoy.
Great column, Neil...Dozens of tasty Cubs' morsels, and we all get the sense our team is coming together. Paraphrasing J. Cash, "I hear the Cubs acoming; They're coming round the bend; We haven't seen the sunshine; Since ...
An early Crisp advocate, I think we don't get him unless Pie is traded or Pie falters badly in AZ. Crisp is still a starter. I would do a Marquis + deal with Boston for my man Lars Anderson (20) (D. Lee's eventual replacement)and M. Bowden, rhp, or Oscar Tejada (19)--the second coming of Sean Dunston.
I'm guessing MacPhail blinks, and we get Roberts--but like everyone else who is worn out with the process for Roberts and/or Byrd, we do have alternatives I can live with. There's likely still a deal possible with Cleveland that sends Murton and an Ascaino or Petrick and gets us versatile outfielder Michaels and a young lefty pitcher like Lofgren or Laffey.
I really don't see a Brian Roberts trade happening... Here's a player with a no-trade clause who has been quoted saying he would wave it to come to the Cubs.
Why doesn't Roberts pull a Johan and say: "You've got til the end of the week."?
If it was going to happen it would have gone down a long time ago.
Lew,
The reason BR has not demanded anything is the same reason we want him as badly as we do. He is a consumate team player with loyalty to the organization aaaaaaaaand he is an extremely gifted, All Star 2D baseman with 50 steals and an impressive OBP.
All of you here at CCOL, keep the faith..... BR makes us the NL favorite. Everybody wants to slobber about Johan but he will only pitch every five days and at times four days. BR will play everyday and will be the direct cause for 3-5 games period.
As far as Johan, guess what, we have the BIG Z!! Look, although I will completely understand all of you telling me I am off my rocker I will argue that Zambrano has as much a chance to earn the NL CY as JS does. His "stuff" is at times "unhittable." How many games can we attribute a lack of run support to his record? Look, he is another year older, another year wiser and most importantly no extension to work out. He will dominate!!
Lilly was great, Hill will hopefully match his rookie campaign, and let me tell you this; Lieber will get a minimum of 10 wins. The rest of our PEN is SICK with talent.
With BR leading off, Soriano two and LEE in the hole, we will cause chaos for any pitcher right from the jump.
Ramirez, FUKs and DeRo at 4,5,6.... and what if? What if Pie breaks out! My God the possibilities. The Runs scored....
Lastly I want Marmol closing our games. He was the most consistent and he WANTS it!! I love Woody as a set up man for one more year and then next year, IF he shows he's back and most importantly, stays healthy, we trade Marmol and others for C.C. Sabathia at the All Star break.
I am completely sober and feel strongly that I am not dreaming here. WE LOOK THAT GOOD!!!
GO CUBBIES!!
Barry, Would you mind blowing into this device? Just kidding; excellent post. We likely don't have the bucks for Sabathia, but you are right that we will need a short series stopper to go with Z. Soriano, as a free swinger looking to do his thing with the fewer distractions the better is not a two hitter wondering if Roberts (or someone else) is going to steal. So leave S as the leadoff guy and Roberts or someone else the two hitter. If S strikes out, Roberts can still single or walk and steal second--and D. Lee/Rameriz get their RBI chance.
I now have a man-crush on Barry - well said LOL
One thing that was said at the convention was Z saying he didn't mind not pitching opening day... but I also agree with Lou to an extent that Z has earned the opening day nod. He's our ace.
The only reason I bring it up was Lou saying he was slotting Hill fourth in the rotation - which makes sense. Split up the lefties. No problem with that. That's just sound managing.
If Lilly opened though, that would allow Z on day two and Hill on day three against the Brew Crew to open the season. Since they figure to be our biggest competition in the division, I'd love to see our three best arms against them in the opening series.
Then again Hill in the four spot also breaks up the Leiber and whoever combo of our 4-5 which would figure to be a good thing as well.
Lou's already got his mind made up obviously, so it's a moot point... I just would have liked to see Hill in that opening series against our biggest competition this year.
Cory, I agree.
By the way, Gallardo is out 4 weeks with knee surgery...
The Gallardo injury is a great example of great expectations placed on hold. The youngster was really solid last year, but this will certainly set him (and the club) back. Now the Brewers have Suppan and Capuano behind a fragile Sheets. Doesn't sound too intimidating to me.
That's why injuries (as well as career years) play such a big part in sport.
Very nice, detailed summary on the interview. I heard the whole thing as well. You pretty much included everything - I was checking for facts ;-)
Re - Nekliw - Crane Kenney stated on air that the Cubs formally complained to MLB for this horseshit schedule. Indeed - 40% of their home games are played in April (March!) and May.
Again - what I keep thinking, is that if the "weaker" starters can get six innings with keeping the team "in the game", it will be up to our bullpen more times than not. Many NL contenders have the same situation.
Gary J,
The Brewers murdered left-handed pitching last year. I think it's probably a good idea that we only throw one lefty at them in the series. Despite the fact that Hill is a better pitcher than whoever our #3 will be.
It also makes sense to split up the lefties in the rotation.
Good Lord Eddie get over your Roberts man-crush dude. Your probably the guy that thought the Pierre for Mitre, Pinto, and Ricky Nolasco was a GREAT deal! Wake up brother! We don't need to give away the farm for a steroid using 2nd baseman. Embrace DeRosa toolbox he's a good player.
p.s. mix in a few lower case letters....it's like you were yelling at everyone.