Cedeno earns roster spot

by andysilv on Mar 22, 2007 1:03 PM CDT

Didn't think he was doing that well, but:

"MESA, Ariz. -- Ronny Cedeno struggled last year after being handed the starting shortstop job in the off-season and was considered a long shot to make the team when camp opened in mid-February.

But after working with former shortstop Alan Trammell, Cedeno's fielding has improved this spring and he's considered a cinch to make the final roster next week."

Full article:
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/cs-070321cubsbits,1,2840188.story?coll= cs-cubs-headlines

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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Good

Since the alt. was a guy named Perez.

How does this affect the OF?? Can Pagan and/or Coats still make it?

Think they need one or the other for late "D'' esp. when Floyd starts...

by writerinwrigley on Mar 22, 2007 1:54 PM CDT reply actions

Terrible

Pull the plug on Cedeno.

Of course im a CUBS FAN What other Chicago baseball team is there?

by Galvan316 on Mar 22, 2007 2:06 PM CDT reply actions

Cedeno

Not a big fan of the guy but did anybody else see that play he made yesterday? That was pretty awesome.

by DTJchris on Mar 22, 2007 2:12 PM CDT reply actions

I still think Cedeno has a chance to develop into

a decent player. His defense at SS has the potential to be well above average, and that alone makes him worth holding onto. If he can get that bat going even a little bit, he'd be at least as good as Izturis (at a fraction of the cost). I know not everyone likes PECOTA, but here's the projections for the two of them:

AVG/OBP/SLG EqA
Cedeno 270/307/400 .237
Izturis 277/329/357 .234

So, Izturis offers more OBP while Cedeno offers more SLG, and the overall result (EqA) is that Cedeno projects to be slightly better offensively than Izturis. Furthermore, PECOTA sees Cedeno with a little bit of room to grow offensively (topping out at a .248 EqA in 2009), while Izturis basically is what he is.
Personally, I don't really like either player all that much as a starter, but it would be pointless to cut Cedeno at this point, especially when the guy starting ahead of him at SS isn't all that good anyway. You could do worse than Ronny Cedeno as your second backup infielder, and he still has a chance to develop into a decent (not great) starting SS.

by mportsch on Mar 22, 2007 2:35 PM CDT reply actions

Auditioning Cedeno here?

Are we auditioning Ronny for as a potential trading chip? More value if he makes the bigs as opposed to going back down? Who knows. At least he is not starting now. How old is he anyways?

D-LEE!

by airweino on Mar 22, 2007 3:55 PM CDT reply actions

I hope

we are auditioning him for ther market.

He is a certified rally killer.

"I lof to hit de home ron."

by Tekboy on Mar 22, 2007 8:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Again...

... I don't see how this article makes it a done deal. Cedeno seemed an afterthought until now. Maybe this was floating a trial balloon through Paul Sullivan.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 22, 2007 5:23 PM CDT reply actions

Al,

Do you really believe they would waste their time "floating a trial baloon" on Cedeno?

"I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this." Sue369

by timeforachange on Mar 22, 2007 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions

I dunno.

But he wasn't even on the radar screen for a roster spot until Sullivan's article. That makes no sense.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 23, 2007 12:34 AM CDT up reply actions

It's been mentioned before...

...that Tomas Perez and him were in competition for the second backup infielder spot. I guess Theriot is considered to be an IF/OF backup, and DeRosa is flexible.

by cwyers on Mar 23, 2007 10:29 AM CDT up reply actions

Where is there room for this guy?

He's fodder for a trade. There's no use for him.

by Smooth Jazz Man San Diego on Mar 22, 2007 10:41 PM CDT reply actions

Theriot

could move right in at short of something happens to Izturis. I agree that there's no room for Cedeno.

by rynofan23 on Mar 23, 2007 12:48 AM CDT reply actions

The role of the 25th guy

The role of the last man on the bench is NOT to be a prospect. He's just a guy who can play SS in an emergency so they can use Theriot as a pinch hitter without worrying about who the emergency fielder would be. And he'll pinch-run a few times for Cliff Floyd.

Heck, Lou played an entire season with Rule 5-er Luis Ugueto on his bench:

Appeared in 62 games
Had 23 AB
Had the same number of TB, K, and SB (8 each)
Played in the field (mostly SS/2B) in 20 games for only 65.3 innings

Cedeno will play more than Ugueto because of the differences between leagues caused by the DH. But I'm figuring 100 AB at most, and more than a few times where he comes in at 2B and DeRosa shifts to 3B for defensive purposes in the 9th.

by Invalid User on Mar 23, 2007 9:06 AM CDT reply actions

That's a very different story because...

... it's an AL team, where you don't have to have a 12-man pitching staff due to not having to PH for pitchers. Plus, Ugueto was, as you state, a Rule 5 guy. Cedeno isn't -- he has options.

It's a waste of a roster spot to put a guy like that on the bench, particularly since it severely limits your outfield backup slots.

The only way I see Cedeno on the roster is if they decide to go with 11 pitchers.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 23, 2007 9:29 AM CDT up reply actions

I think the the flexibility

that DeRosa and Theriot give Piniella in terms of being able to play the OF is why he wants another infielder. It seems to me that the choice comes down to Coats or Cedeno. If they think that Cedeno will give them better defense in the infield, then he would make the most sense.

Also, if Coats is looked at as more of a prospect, they would probably want him getting everyday ab's in Iowa, rather than ~150 in Chicago. I'm not convinced that it's the best way to go, but it makes some sense.

by davidalanu on Mar 23, 2007 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions

Coats...

... projects more as a bench player than Cedeno does. I just don't think Ronny is suited to a bench role. I'd rather have HIM playing every day at Iowa, getting AB's, than sitting on the bench for the Cubs playing twice a week, at most.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Mar 23, 2007 10:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed

I think Cedeno's growth was stunted last year. Sure, he struggled, but he is young, and he does have some assets. Better than average speed, the ability to make the highlight play. But, he would then turn around and make the pull-the-hair-out-or-your-head play. He started last year at SS last year, then got bumped to 2nd. That didn't help him, and I am a full believer in the Dusty didn't help the kids philosphy. Murton seems to be mentally tougher, Cedeno seems like a guy that needs more guidance. And I didn't see anyone helping him to gain patience and discipline at the plate. Let him play everyday at Iowa. Coats can bring a bunch of versatility to the big league team. There would be more at-bats and more in the field opportunities for Coats.

by Nibbles on Mar 23, 2007 11:58 AM CDT reply actions