Keedy is more gap power. Think Grace I guess, or Lyle Overbay. Does he have the raw strength? Perhaps, but his power is more gap right now, partly due to style and swing, and you typically want power at first.

Vitters bat has been fine. His glove has also improved. They’ll move him up as soon as they feel comfortable with it. There’s an outside, outside chance that he jumps to Daytona straight in 2009. Considering his age, I imagine he’ll start 2009 in Peoria with a shot at Daytona early though.

Carpenter has 2 plus pitches by most accounts. If he was moved as a pen arm, he might move fast, but more than likely, he’ll be developed as a starter.

Cashner’s been fine. Both pitchers have to adjust some, Cashner with his control. The question on Cashner now is whether or not they will push the starting thing. I’d lean no, as he is Ceda-lite basically (most reports suggest Ceda with better stuff, and Cashner has the control concerns of Ceda last year (ceda still has concerns but he has improved)). That said, it’s not uncommon in the lower levels to extend arms for multiple innings at the lower levels, so I imagine that they’ll extend Cashner 2-3 innings consistently and see how the stuff plays out.

• Personally, and I’m in the minority on this, I’m in the camp that would love to see Marmol tried as a starter again. He was rushed up from AA, but he had been doing well as a starter in AA that year. Yes, Oneri Fleita, by most accounts, envisioned Marmol in the pen, but people forget, besides the fast/slide, he had a usable change/curve. He has enough of a starter’s arsenal. Why not try it? I’d take a starter over a pen arm anyday, and as such, I’d rather see if a guy can start because they can always move to the pen (it’s easier than the reverse). Do I expect it? No. But I would ponder it this offseason as the 5th starter if they resign Wood (if Kerry moves on then Carlos will close). But if Wood is resigned, I would have Shark start the year as the setup guy. Why? Look at the number of innings he’s tossed each year. If you start him as a starter at the beginning of the year, you are gambling on overworking him, and I think many Cubs fans would rather play it a bit safer considering recent history. If at midseason, there’s a need (say Marmol struggles as a starteR), you could always move Shark in, a la the Joba move. We have enough guys to fill 7th inning roles if Ceda isn’t ready. Ideally, Ceda would be in that 7th inning mix at the start of the year. Eventually, Shark will move to the rotation (still some folks that prefer him as a pen arm, but considering the circumstances – how he was signed – he will get a chance to start barring a surprise), at which point Ceda and perhaps Cashner would become the tagteam, with one of them groomed as the closer of the future (to bring things full circle). Keep in mind that there’s a bevy of middle relief pen arms in the system that could fill other roles, from Alessandro Maestri/Dumas Garcia, to perhaps Rocky Roquet, and then guys like Jeremy Papelbon and Casey Lambert, and more.

Again, don’t expect any of this to happen, though. I expect Marmol in the pen as I don’t think Lou will make that move.

Tennessee is certainly a possibility. That said, he’s at Boise right now. Will they skip Peoria and jump him to Daytona? It’s not impossible, but my gut feeling is that, due to his age, he’ll start 2009 in Peoria (Low A). Only time will tell.

My own guess is that they want him to be ready in 2011, with Lee’s contract done and Aramis’ in his last year (although there is a 2012 club option on Aramis).

They never planned on bringing him over this year. I think he’s in our Far East facility, which I think is actually in Australia. Last I heard, it was still up in the air on instructs, but he would definitely come over next year, likely XST/AZL.

with his physical ability, and with his “loose” arm, he’s done real well. I think he’s more of a mid-rotation guy if he makes it up, as he doesn’t have top level stuff, but he’s “deceptive” with average stuff, which is a better combination than people think. I could see him as a late inning setup type arm as well.

is that the reviews out of XST were quite good on Mark. He supposedly had his act together, Riggins let him go back to his old delivery, and he supposedly had regained his velocity. I certainly didn’t have any expectations, but I was mildly curious if things would come to fruition … and they clearly haven’t. I think it’s time to cut the cord with him. He’ll get another shot – there’s still some intrigue with that arm and he’s still young. But sometimes, you gotta move on.