Final Roster Decision Day
by Al Yellon on Apr 5, 2009 9:53 AM CDT
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PrintThe deadline for submitting final Opening Day rosters for the 30 major league teams is 2 pm CDT.
The Cubs have final decisions to be made among four pitchers -- Jeff Samardzija, Chad Gaudin, Angel Guzman and David Patton. Patton must be waived or returned to the Rockies if he's not kept on the 25-man roster. Two of these pitchers will be on that 25-man roster and two will be elsewhere tomorrow.
Use this post today for roster discussion and posting whatever the final decision is.
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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any predictions on who stays/goes?
"I've actually never had a drink before, tonight I might try it out. We'll see."
—Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, on turning 21
Well,
Guzman and Patton on the roster, Samardzija to AAA, and Gaudin to the DL — if I had to guess.
by Damen Jackson on Apr 5, 2009 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions
Yes perhaps another dumpster
could attack Chaudin. That would simplify things.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 5, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions
Shark has to go down
He is the only one with options. It buys the Cubs time to figure out what to do with OTHER two remaining pitchers.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
that would leave three
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
Sorry I meant two for 3 spots
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 5, 2009 10:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Ah, that would explain why I couldnt find this info anywhere
Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.
It would be awful if Patton doesn't make this team
I don’t like giving jobs based on salary especially when on guy is so much better than the other. Patton is a better pitcher right now than Gaudin.
www.talkingchicagobaseball.blogspot.com
Spring Stats
The thing that worries me about Patton is trying to project what he will do come the regular season, and the same goes for Angel Guzman.
It isn’t that hard to imagine Patton really struggling come the regular season with inconsistent work and the added pressure. If he makes the roster at the expense of Gaudin you are really taking a big risk.
I am certainly not saying I would let him go and would be opposed to dumping Gaudin, but, it is a very tough decision.
Eamus Ursuli!
Yeah if Gaudin showed even some ability to get guys out
I think I would lean towards him, but he has been awful.
www.talkingchicagobaseball.blogspot.com
I agree
No doubt that Patton has been probably the 3rd best spring BP arm behind Gregg and Heilemann.
The one thing that gives me confidence if they cut either Gaudin or Vizcaino loose is having Shark at AAA as an insurance policy.
Eamus Ursuli!
Keep Gaudin and Guzman
David Patton belongs in Double A ball. The Cubs are chasing the playoffs and have NO BUSINESS allocating a roster spot to a project. Especially given the dubious state of our middle relief to begin with. Swing a deal with Colorado. Either that or simply return him.
Jeff Spellcheck needs to go down to Triple A and work on his pitching repetoire. Take the ball every 5th day, get innings under his belt and be in a position to potentially help the Cubs out later on in the season. Either that or be solidly poised to win a roster spot on the Cubs in 2010.
Chad Gaudin is struggling mightily, but he does have a proven track record in the bigs and a rubber arm. Let him work through his dilemmas and he should be fine.
Angel Guzman is insanely overhyped. But keep him and see what transpires. If he stinks or breaks down (which I think will invariably happen), then waive him and try our hand with Mitch Atkins or Craig Stevens.
C'mon man....
It’s Samardzija. He’s been in the organization for years now. It’s probably time to start figuring out the name.
That goes for Jeff Stevens too.
Who the hell is overhyping Guzman? He’s fighting for the last roster spot on the club, and that’s only because he’s out of options. Just because people don’t want to see him outright released doesn’t mean he’s being hyped.
And you’re not a project when you outperform your peers, and even if he was, so what? Tell me who isn’t carrying a project on their staff.
We wouldn’t be having this conversation if more seasoned veterans were pitching like they had a clue this spring, and since they’re not, what would you like Lou to do? However you look at it, all these guys sans Gaudin are “projects”. That’s life in the back of the bullpen.
But if it makes you feel better, we could always bring back Chad Fox….
by Damen Jackson on Apr 5, 2009 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions
this is awesome.
It’s like bizarro world.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 6, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions
If I were a betting man............
I’d say Gaudin and Patton stay.
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
I'm a believer in short-term effectiveness for relievers
at least at the back end of the bullpen. I’d use Patton now because he’s effective now. Vizcaino isn’t. Shark goes down to AAA and Gaudin gets another couple weeks to turn it around.
Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"
tim to throw in a few burritos
when they’re ready, the moves should be done
Prediction to keep or get rid of?
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Apr 5, 2009 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Twittermeyer:
Gaudin released, Shark to AAA, Patton and Guzman in the pen.
Ron Santo should sing TMOTTBG everyday. Period.
Wow, they couldn't find a taker for Gaudin?
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Apr 5, 2009 2:13 PM CDT up reply actions
That did surprise me.
Since he was released, the Cubs have to pay the entire contract. Someone’s going to pick him up and pay the minimum salary, so the Cubs are only on the hook for $1.6 million.
Why they couldn’t have gotten even a low-level prospect in return for paying the $1.6 million is surprising.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Surprising...
But I like it.
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Apr 5, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions
makes sense though costly
Steal a little and they throw you in jail, Steal a lot and they make you king -- Bob Dylan
No takers for Gaudin?
I figured somebody would offer something… If he clears waivers maybe cubs can put him in AAA to work on his stuff.
"Winning is the greatest marketing idea of all time." --Cubs President John McDonough
too spenive?
get set to hear people sing chad’s praises when the pen gets beaten
Hendy was on with Len & Bob yesterday
and remarked how many teams could not take on even a million dollars in additional salary.
Hey, it's a new century!
by cowsarecool220 on Apr 5, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions
The thing about Gaudin is that
while he had pitched well in the past, he hasn’t pitched well since donning a Cubs’ uni. Pitchers can just stop being effective all of a sudden. There’s a reason Oakland gave him up. There’s a reason the Cubs couldn’t find a taker.
Happy Opening Day!
by DGU on Apr 5, 2009 2:25 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Everyone figured
the Cubs were going to release him anyway so they could get him without giving up a player.
So Patton and Guman stick
Not much of a risk on Patton, if he fails Cubs can put him on waivers and who will take him? Samardz goes to get a little better with is repertoire and Guzman becomes the 6th man in the pen.
Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."
no $, no $, no $
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
yeah, but....
i was answering the question, who would take him.
at this point, he may be ‘for some teams, in this economy’ a great keep. inexpensive with a plus curve ball.
as to whether we are good enough to afford the luxury will be determined, starting tomorrow.
If the Cubs don't keep Patton on the 25 man roster he will be returned
to his “home team” which I think was the Rockies so long as they return the fee which is either $25,000 or $50,000.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 5, 2009 3:43 PM CDT up reply actions
First he has to clear waivers
in reverse order of record. First NL teams Nats to Cubs then AL teams. If anyone claims him, he would move to that team’s 25 man roster immediately and the rule 5 restrictions would apply to him for the year there.
If the rule 5 pick clears waivers, he is offered back to his original franchise at half of the rule 5 fee or $25,000. The Rockies could pass on this although they won’t.
"Manny Trillo is coming in to pinch run. You know, for a lot of teams, you would pinch run for Manny Trillo." - Harry Caray
If Patton is let go...
… the Padres will claim him if the Nats don’t.
"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx
Jeff S.
Jeff S. I think goes to Iowa to be the first starter called up in case of injury.
Guiding Light 1937-2009. 60 years were great. Last 12 even the actors didn't watch it. And my friend is doing well.
I have a bad feeling Patton is...
…the 2009 version of Carmen Pignatiello. I hope I’m wrong though.
"Pounding sand since 1982...."
I sort of agree.
Patton has good stuff, but that only matters if hitters go after it; his control is pretty bad, and a lot of guys are gonna get on base against him just by leaving the bat on their shoulders. Oh, and did I mention that he’s never pitched above single-A?
I really want to see him succeed, but the odds are against it. Still, I’d rather gamble on Patton than on Gaudin, given how each performed this spring.
On a side note, the Yankees have designated Dan Giese for assignment – he’d make a good, inexpensive replacement for Gaudin as a long reliever/spot starter, IMHO.
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
he does remind me a little bit of....
Les Lancaster.
Greg Maddux could put a baseball through a Life Saver if you asked him. ~ Joe Morgan
by Sioux City Cubs Fan on Apr 5, 2009 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions
if you are talking about the 1989 Les Lancaster...
than good :)
I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com
by digitalbenjamin on Apr 5, 2009 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions
if gaudin ends up being a lockdown setup guy somewhere else
it was still a good move.
lou couldn’t trust him.
my only presumption is that we weren’t offered anything of value for guzman
good with it, even if it backfires
Lou plays the hot hand at the time............
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
People keep repeating this
but that does not make it true.
Happy Opening Day!
by DGU on Apr 5, 2009 3:04 PM CDT up reply actions
So it is final...
the Shark back to AAA (good move) and Gaudin was sent walking. Seems like we couldn’t even get a cheese sandwich for him.
So it seems like Patton and Guzman get the first chance to man the doors to Lou’s dog house. I hope Patton can come through—it would be a nice story. I also think the Shark will return by June and be a much better pitcher.
Onward.
"If it's obvious, it's obviously wrong." - a well known stock market guru
I hope you
are right about Shark. I’m hoping we can get to DM to see him pitch before he returns to Chicago.
Hendry eats even more salary in Gaudin
Lovely stuff. I give David Patton 2 weeks before the Cubs are on the phone with Colorado either to swing a deal or return him outright. There is no way Patton is ready to get major league hitters out. He is in way over his head and should be pitching in high A or double A ball in 2009.
The Cubs have the luxury of developing talent at the Major League level
Given the perceived quality of the NL Central, the Cubs can afford to use 1-2 spots to see if their minor leaguers can hack it at the Major League level. It’s worked for Boston over the last 5 years with players like Javier Lopez and Manny Delcarmen.
I think Lou Piniella is smart enough not to be putting Patton into high leverage situations unless he fells Patton is ready for it.
I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg
by Bill Potter on Apr 5, 2009 3:29 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
Didn't you think the Harden trade including Gaudin
was the greatest thing since sliced bread ? Isn’t your hero Lou P the guy who wants to keep Patton ? Seems more than a bit hypocritical
to attack Hendry and Patton but it is not like you ever let consistency get in the way of your views.
I personally don’t have a strong opinion on these roster moves other than thinking Gaudin was a marked man when he fell into the dumpster but if the Cubs see that much potential in Patton giving up Gaudin is not much a price to pay.
"I daydream just like everybody else, I just do it with my body facing the field, so everybody thinks I'm paying attention."- Greg Maddux
by Doggie Stalker on Apr 5, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
So true
"That's what you live for. You live for the opportunity and when that day comes, you better be ready," Soto said. "I tried to make sure that whenever they gave me a chance, I was ready and I knew I had to take advantage of the opportunity."
by Madison Cub Fan on Apr 6, 2009 12:16 AM CDT up reply actions
+1 rec'd
Friendship is like peeing on yourself: everyone can see it, but only you get the warm feeling that it brings.
So, here's what the opening day roster now looks like...
STARTING ROTATION
1 – Zambrano
2 – Dempster
3 – Lilly
4 – Harden
5 – Marshall (will be used in long relief to start season)
BULLPEN
Closer – Gregg
Setup – Marmol, Cotts, Heilman
Middle/Long – Patton, Guzman
Pitcher of Last Resort – Vizcaino
LINEUP
C – Soto
1B – Lee
2B – Fontenot
SS – Theriot
3B – Ramirez
LF – Soriano
CF – Fukudome
RF – Bradley
BENCH
C – Hill
1B – Hoffpauir
2B/SS/3B – Miles
OF – Johnson, Gathright
"I see great things in baseball. It's our game - the American game." - Walt Whitman
Hoff 1B/OF
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
1B/(OF only if we are up 10 runs and defense doesn't matter at that point)
Someday we'll go all the way...
by CubsBullsBears on Apr 5, 2009 3:34 PM CDT up reply actions
You will see him in RF so.............
hold your breathe
If you had to choose just one characteristic that would get you through life, choose a sense of humor.
I'd prefer
to close my eyes. Heaven help us if he’s in RF in a clutch situation. Or, for that matter, at the plate. Or on the field anywhere that isn’t Iowa.
"That’s the great thing about baseball, you never know what’s going to happen till you get the final out." — Lou Piniella
by drewishdrewid on Apr 6, 2009 10:26 AM CDT up reply actions
Bruce Miles said
on Monsters In the Morning today that he sees Hoff being used very sparingly in the OF because he’s not very good in the OF. If he sees this Lou does too.
Let's hope so.
Again, this team already has FIVE outfielders. There’s no need for Hoff to be out there unless it’s an emergency.
"Let it begin! Let it begin!" ~ Rhino
I am still afraid of our infield depth
Hoff plays one position. What we need is a real backup infielder. I don’t think Miles could play 3b for a week if Ramirez mildly tweeks a muscle or ankle, and you don’t make a DL move. Since Hoff can’t play OF, and I am dubious of Miles backing up there… Well, I am a Cubs fan, I am filled with worries. Still, barring two major injuries I think the Cubs win the Central again, but, can we win just one stinking playoff game with this roster?
I've had similar concerns,
although I think there will be a lot of 3B options available by trade if we can add salary. As for SS, would Lou give up on Theriot even if he played poorly?
Happy Opening Day!
by DGU on Apr 5, 2009 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Anyone worried about the # of dropped balls and generally weak
defense by Fukudome that he displayed in his short time with the Cubs this spring? Or do we think it is just him “adjusting”?
I was really surprised at how inconsistent his defense has looked so far this year (granted small sample size). We really need a better year out of this guy in 2009.
"If it's obvious, it's obviously wrong." - a well known stock market guru
I've said it before....
…the few games he played in CF last year, he had trouble with angles of the position, letting some balls get by him. I’m not so sure that’s improved, from what we saw this spring.
And to think, we’re worried about his hitting……ugh.
Nobody cares about your fantasy baseball team
by carmen_fanzone on Apr 5, 2009 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions
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