Some Questions About the 25-man Roster

by neonverse1 on Feb 12, 2007 7:27 PM CST

Some folks here at BCB have discussed at length possible starting lineups and the bullpen/closer situations; however, we have yet to speculate on the potential 25-man roster with which the Cubs will break camp in 2007.

The following are a few questions about the roster:

Should the Cubs start the year with a 4-man rotation and, if so, then which "fifth starter" goes to the bullpen?
Should the Cubs go with 14 position players and 11 pitchers or 13 and 12? (This is related to the above question, of course).
How many of the "young pitchers" from last year have a shot at making the final cuts?
Why have the Cubs not designated Roberto Novoa for assignment yet?
What happens to Michael Wuertz, because right now, I see him as the 13th pitcher when a maxium of 12 should be allowed, as shown here:

Zambrano, Lilly, Prior, Hill, Marquis, Miller, Cotts, Dempster, Eyre, Howry, Ohman, Wood

This is enough, at least for now. Please let me know what you think. Anyone have any answers here or other questions?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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My take

They should and will use a 5 man rotation, even if they skip the #5 the first time around.
14 position players and 11 pitchers. Having a 12 man pitching staff is gratuitous.
Maybe Marshall. But I wouldn't bet on it. I'd have to guess they'll make up the AAA rotation. That's keeping in mind that Hill is a lock for the rotation.
Maybe he still has an option left. If not, maybe it's because they think they can trade him during ST.
Maybe one of the lefty relievers will be traded during ST, which would free up room for Wuertz.

ROTHSCHILD!

by Perkins on Feb 12, 2007 7:39 PM CST reply actions

Novoa still has options

It would be foolish to DFA him when we have pitchers both near and over 30 on the triple A roster: They should be the first out the door.

Novoa should be sent down to see if pitchers born without a neck can still be productive in the MLB.

Baby, you got a stew goin'

by Thelonious on Feb 12, 2007 8:30 PM CST reply actions

My answers

5 man rotation. Prior to the DL so Miller is #5.
Hopefully they'll go 14 and 11. To me that's the sensible thing unless rainouts cause a bunch of DH's. 7 guys in the pen is overkill.
Barring Wood, Miller or someone else to the DL, I'd say it's a pretty low chance. If it's Miller or a starter, maybe Marshall or Mateo makes it. If it's Wood, I'd take Marmol for the pen. Marshall has the problem of 2 lefties in the rotation and 3 already in the pen. I can't see him in the pen at all.
As someone said, why the rush? Maybe someone might give the Cubs a C prospect for him. That's better than nothing.
If they will only keep 11 pitchers, I really doubt they will have 3 lefties in the pen this year. Pencil Wuertz in and Ohman out.

by rlpete on Feb 12, 2007 9:08 PM CST reply actions

I'm pretty sure...

... 11 pitchers is going to be the staff. 12 pitchers was a Baker thing, and he didn't know how to use them, anyway.

It's very possible Ohman might be traded before the season starts.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 12, 2007 10:04 PM CST reply actions

Seriously, though...

doesn't EVERYONE always need a left-handed power bat (Jones) and a left-handed reliever (Ohman)? And we have both? Surely this can be worked into something better than either individually.

If the Cubs thought they needed something and they saw someone else with it, they'd be trading 3 pitching prospects to get him. Where's Jim Hendry when you really need him?

worthless...

by tyger1147 on Feb 12, 2007 10:08 PM CST up reply actions

If Jones is dealt...

...there are no left handed hitters left, right?

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 10:10 PM CST up reply actions

Cliff Floyd

n/t.

RAMIREZ!! PRIOR!!

by PriorandAramisfan23 on Feb 12, 2007 10:10 PM CST up reply actions

Ugh

PTBNL!

by gravedigger on Feb 12, 2007 10:15 PM CST up reply actions

I remember someone...

brought up the idea that 12 pitchers was common last year, and that most teams carried 12. Maybe I'm wrong and/or that person's wrong. I have not checked any rosters, so I really have no idea. I just saw that a long time ago and found it interesting.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 12, 2007 10:11 PM CST up reply actions

Not really...

I took a look last year on two different occasions (mid-June and the end of July) and found that 19 and 20 teams, respectively, had 12 pitchers on their staff. 2 teams had 13 (Atlanta and Texas i believe), and only 8 had 11.

12 pitchers is not a Baker thing. It's an MLB thing for reasons I just don't know. It used to be 10 and then it moved to 11 and now it's moved up to 12.

In response to the topics of this thread, Wuertz will be on the roster. He was arguably the best reliever we had last season and there's no way he's not on the roster. If you're going with a 5-man rotation all season (I have no idea why they do this either), then you should go with a 5-man rotation to start the season. Leaving one guy out for a couple weeks isn't going to help him or the team.

by Maddog on Feb 13, 2007 10:59 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks..

... for checking out the 12-man staff thing. Personally, I think it's idiotic. What winds up happening is that someone goes ten days without pitching, and then gets lit up in a critical situation because he's rusty.

Or like last year, when Angel Guzman sat in the bullpen for two weeks, never getting in a game, during Michael Barrett's suspension, leaving the bench TWO players short.

An 11-man staff should be sufficient if your starters can go deep enough. Especially in April, with all the off days, there is no reason to have more than 11.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 13, 2007 3:06 PM CST up reply actions

I think the biggest reasons...

are that closers, typically the best reliever on the team, are reserved for only one inning. if they were allowed to come in consistently in the 7th or 8th in critical situations and finish the game, you wouldn't need the 12th pitcher at all.

worthless...

by tyger1147 on Feb 13, 2007 3:28 PM CST up reply actions

wait, hold up a second

even if your list of the 12 pitchers is accurate as to how the cubs may rate their current roster, how does Wuertz get so little respect. Is it just me or did he lead the team in era last year, and strike out over a batter per inning? Obviously you keep Howry and Eyre, and I guess Cotts because you just traded for the guy but I dont see how the Cubs could POSSIBLY justify keeping three lefty relievers with Ohman in there and leaving Wuertz off the major league roster. I definitely think we will make a trade and Ohman will be gone. If not Ohman than a bigger trade and Eyre will be gone. There is no way if this team has half a brain the size of its left nut sack that they would leave Wuertz off the 25-man and instead hold three lefty relievers.

DON'T TRADE PIE!

by kylejo on Feb 12, 2007 11:21 PM CST reply actions

Jettison

Dempster and consider Wuertz for the closer. I like Wuertz, I like his make up and stuff.

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make"

by wild bill on Feb 13, 2007 8:37 AM CST up reply actions

Sweeeeeeeeet diggity...

My Michael Wuertz train is picking up steam!!!

worthless...

by tyger1147 on Feb 13, 2007 9:01 AM CST up reply actions

all for it

but if thats to happen Dempster would have to prove his worth for the first couple months of the season, so what would you do with Wuertz in the meantime? I am very interested to see what Hendrys final tweakings are before the season starts.

DON'T TRADE PIE!

by kylejo on Feb 13, 2007 10:28 AM CST up reply actions