Milton Bradley will be back in the Cubs' lineup as the team's DH against the Indians Wednesday in Goodyear according to a report on Cubs.com. With a split squad game on Thursday in Las Vegas against the White Sox, Bradley will get the day off and is expected to play right field against the Dodgers at HoHoKam on Friday.
Here are a few updates including Lou Piniella on Jake Peavy, Jim Hendry on Curt Shilling and a guess on which players could be on the Cubs' Opening Day roster from the Tribune....
News and Notes
- Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, Koyie Hill, Aramis Ramirez, Reed Johnson and Alfonso Soriano are among the players expected to make the trip to Las Vegas to play the White Sox on Wednesday and Thursday.
- Lou Piniella has not named a starter for Opening Day but is said to be leaning toward Carlos Zambrano or Ryan Dempster.
- Zambrano said Ryan Dempster should get the nod because of the season he put together a year ago.
- Big Z said he lost 10-15 pounds this off-season.
Bruce Levine Podcasts
Click here for the latest from Bruce Levine:
- Lou Piniella on Jake Peavy
- Carlos Zambrano following his first start of the spring
Lou Piniella gave two different responses when he was recently asked about Jake Peavy. Piniella first said there was nothing to report. Then added, "Anything is possible, but I don't talk about it." Piniella said the Cubs are preparing their staff right now and if something happens down the line fine...
Jim Hendry on Sports Central
The Cubs GM joined Dave Kaplan on Monday night and discussed a variety of topics from Curt Schilling to Jake Peavy to Ted Lilly in the WBC to Corey Koskie to Carlos Zambrano's first start of the spring.
Hendry said he has not talked to Curt Schilling or his agents about pitching for the Cubs. He added it was nice that a guy like that "if he does play would like to play for us."
Kaplan asked about Jake Peavy. Hendry responded with he cannot talk about Peavy because he is another team's property but he appreciates the comments he made about the Cubs' front office.
Aramis Ramirez is in the best reporting shape of his career according to Hendry.
Carlos Zambrano's start on Monday against the Diamondbacks was discussed and Hendry admitted he did not know what to expect from Zambrano. Hendry called his first two innings of the spring an "exceptional outing". He pointed out Zambrano had good pop on his fastball with very good command.
Link to Podcast of Jim Hendry on Sports Central
Phil Rogers' Guess at the Cubs Opening Day Roster
Rotation
- Carlos Zambrano
- Ryan Dempster
- Ted Lilly
- Rich Harden
- Sean Marshall
Bullpen
- Carlos Marmol
- Kevin Gregg
- Aaron Heilman
- Neal Cotts
- Chad Gaudin
- Kevin Hart
- Mike Stanton
Catchers
- Geovany Soto
- Paul Bako
Infielders
- Derrek Lee
- Mike Fontenot
- Ryan Theriot
- Aramis Ramirez
- Aaron Miles
- Luis Rivas
Outfielders
- Alfonso Soriano
- Milton Bradley
- Reed Johnson
- Kosuke Fukudome
- Micah Hoffpauir
What happened to Joey Gathright?
Well...that's the latest and I'm sticking to it!
I am already sick of this Bradley injury news. It reminds me of the Prior watch.
That bullpen looks horrible. I know they want Samardj as a starter - but I think he could help us a lot more in the pen. Also, lets hope Guzman puts it together this spring.
I'm with you. Samardzija would benefit so much more from facing MLB hitters coming out of the pen then facing AAA hitters a as a starter.
Yes what about Gathright? Get rid of Kevin Hart and Cotts put in Samardjia. Go with 11 pitchers AND DUMP BAKO WHAT A MISTAKE IN SIGNING HIM CAUSE HE IS A LEFTY HE SUCKS.
I don't think we need Luis Rivas and Mike Stanton. This way we can get rid of more garbage players and bring in some talent. We could then bring The Shark up in the pen and Gathright makes the team.
We also forget they signed Koskie. Where and how does he fit in? We need 12 pitchers and the only fat I see that they can cut from the posititon players is Rivas. Any ideas how Lou and JH will make a solid decision on the 25 man roster?
i think thats a real solid late inning with Heilman, Gregg, Marmol. I expect Heilman to bounce back to one of the premiere setup men that he was for about 4 years before last year. Also Gregg is a stud and take away one month of last season (where he was pitching hurt) and his numbers rival Woodys easily. I am not a fan of Kevin Hart and would like to see vizcaino or a guy named JOE BEIMEL get signed.
I also like Gathright as a late inning defensive option and pinch runner but we are so deep and someone has to go, maybe send Stanton down, I also like Rivas, i dunno
Luis Rivas and Mike Stanton ???? and no Gaithright ? Please....
I swear that Sullivan and Rogers always come up with the strangest predictions or ideas....not sure if its intentional to just stir up controversy....or are they are really that dumb....??
Can't remember which one (Rogers or Sullivan) but one of them had their mock opening day lineups about 3 weeks ago and they had Gathright batting 2nd .....I guess it was probably Sullivan. Where do they come up with this stuff ?
They are both terrible.
dont forget about Rogers' brilliant plus/minus system for ranking offseason moves. You know the one where the DeRosa trade was +2 for us since we gave up one player and got three back.
Jay...how can any of us ever forget the Phil Rogers 101 Math Class?
I thought they were looking to use Harden as 5th starter this year so that he could stay rested and healthier?
I'd rather have 24+ starts from the Harden we saw in June rather than the 30+ starts from Harden we saw at the tail end of last season.
My 25 to start the season...
Rotation:
Z
Dempster
Lilly
Harden
Marshall
Bullpen:
Marmol
Gregg
Heilman
Cotts
Vizcaino
Guzman
Gaudin
Starters:
Soto
Lee
Fontenot
Theriot
Ramirez
Soriano
Fukudome
Bradley
Bench:
Koyie Hill
Miles
Johnson
Hoffpauir
Corey Koskie