Proper Utilization of Resources

We’re going to have injuries to our rotation, no doubt. Maybe two guys at the same time. Shark could come up and start for one injury, but we really do need a guy like Gaudin in case we have two injured starting pitchers at the same time. Yes, Heilman is a fine starter, but I think we’ll need him in the bullpen.

Shark to AAA, that’s a no-brainer. The three remaining have no Cub options, so we choose the best two and loose the other. No team will trade for someone who we will be forced to waive in a couple of days. My vote is we keep Patton based on merit in ST, and then between Guzman/Gaudin its a toss up.

Send Samardzija to Triple-A.

Put Gaudin on the DL (simple explanation to Chad: would you rather hit the open market after posting a 10+ ERA this spring, or stay in extended spring training and continue to work things out?)

Keep Guzman and Patton on the Major League roster. If they falter, relievers will be readily available, either from Iowa (Samardzija) or on the market.

he has been the next coming for how many years? and if you want to say “he was injured…blah blah” that is one more reason to move him, he has had how many injuries?

thanks for your time Angel, best wishes

Then we could send him to Baltimore for absolutely nothing, and then trade that pile of nothing, along with a few other young players, for another right-handed middle reliever.

I’d still rather gamble on Guzman’s considerable upside than Gaudin’s well-established inconsistency – no matter how flexible Chad and his wonderous goatee might be. But whatever. Gooz might be more tradeable. In either case, I’d still love to see Patton make the team. To paraphrase a great 80s movie, sometimes you just gotta say what the frak.

pitcher, I would say go with him, but as yet I haven’t seen it. I keep hearing about how good he was in Oakland and how he can spot start, but if Harden or Z went down, would you put him in the rotation? It’s amazing how some people are willing to throw DLee under the bus after last year, but are willing to hang onto Gaudin after his performance with the Cubs so far. The mind boggles.

I really enjoyed this one, it was well-written, an interesting subject, and isn’t a hot-button issue that’s going to generate an angry or excessively long thread. Good for serious discussion. Nicely done.

I have to agree with your take on Patton. If there’s one thing I trust in Lou Piniella, it’s his talent evaluation instincts. He makes his mind up pretty quickly when he sees something he likes, and I think it was clear from comments he’s made that he really wants to give this kid a shot.

 I think it’s the perfect storm for Patton. The Cubs bullpen is kind of a question mark and an opportunity right now. Guys’ roles are still being defined, and this kid should get a chance to prove something IMO. If he doesn’t look good, I imagine Lou will yank the leash. But he doesn’t look like a worse option than Guzman, at least to me.

Think about the spot we’re discussing for Gaudin/Guzman here. This role will never have a big impact on a game. This player will pitch in blowouts, whether a big Cubs win or loss.

That’s why I like Gaudin. He could give us 2-3 innings in that mop up role. Guzman? I’m afraid his arm would fall off. Plus, Gaudin has started in the past (Guzman, too—but in the minors and between injuries…not the same thing). Guzman could develop into a starter, he’s 26.

Who has the potential to be the best one batter pitcher? Guzman, no question. When healthy, Guzman is filthy. Who would I bank on to be the best overall pitcher (including health)? Gaudin, no question.

and oddly enough if we don’t keep Patton, he goes back to Colorado. So trade Gaudin to Colorado for Patton. We’d have to pay Gaudin’s salary but we’d have to do that if we released him. This way we can send Patton to Iowa or Tennessee, and keep Guzzy and Shark. I, for one, think Guzzy is worth keeping. Let’s not forget the Cubs have a long history of giving up on young pitching way too early (Joe Niekro, Donnie Moore, Burt Hooton, Jim Colborn, Bill Stoneman, Bill Caudill, Jamie Moyer, Juan Cruz, Todd Wellemeyer, etc.)