Pitchers And Catchers Report

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=23930:date=Mar 18 2009, 06:38 PM:name=Dingo)-->QUOTE (Dingo @ Mar 18 2009, 06:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Ascaino just gave up 5 runs in the 9th to lose the game.

His era is up to 12.71

I would be cutting his ass<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Cut him? Send him to Iowa.

[Clapp]

Didn't catch who is on this broadcast right now but I'm pretty sure he's one of the guys that puts together the USA roster. He also just said their first choice is Lee, but with Lee out a few days they don't know if that will work.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Koskie, attempting a comeback after more than two years of severe post-concussion symptoms, left in the third inning Thursday after reporting that he didn't feel well about a half-inning after diving for a grounder, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. After a Cubs trainer tended to Koskie, he left the ballpark and was to be evaluated again Friday morning. ''When he dove for that ball, it caused him some problems, and when he said he wasn't feeling well, we got him out of there right away,'' manager Lou Piniella said.
Spin:
It's unclear whether this was caused by the concussion, but the Cubs didn't take any chances.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Sounds like his vertigo to me and I know what that's all about. It happens frequently to me when I bend down, like he obviously did there. If that's still a problem he can't play. It's something that the doctors can't just diagnose in a simple visit too, it comes and goes, so it's very possible he still has this problem and they weren't aware of it.

[Clapp]

We already knew this would be the case, but Marshall was officially named the #5 starter.

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->It's March Madness in the Cubs' bullpen, where almost all of the attention figures to be focused during the final two weeks of spring training.

It's also where the best story lines might play out, including a potential Cinderella story with Class A pitcher David Patton taking an upset bid deep into camp.

''I'm going to tell you this: He's in the picture here,'' manager Lou Piniella said Thursday after another impressive inning by the Rule 5 draftee.

Patton is only one line on a bullpen bracket already busted open by shaky spring performances from several pitchers who otherwise might be closing in on jobs.

Instead, Piniella said he has two openings for about a half-dozen candidates after confirming the long-held assumption that Sean Marshall will fill the final starting spot and informing Aaron Heilman and Jeff Samardzija that they're competing for bullpen spots.

Heilman is in, one of five relievers Piniella has settled on. The others are closer candidates Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg, left-hander Neal Cotts and apparently Chad Gaudin, despite pitching poorly in all but two outings.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->But don't sleep on Patton, who's guaranteed a long look, if only because the Rule 5 restrictions require him being offered back to Colorado if the Cubs don't keep him in the majors.

''He's impressive,'' Piniella said of the 24-year-old from the Seattle area who never has pitched at a higher level than Class A and never had been to a big-league camp. ''Notice we're not pitching him early in the ballgame. We're pitching him later in the game, with leads, to see how he responds. And he's throwing strikes and showing a lot of composure for a kid that pitched in A-ball last year.''

A 12th-round draft pick in 2004, Patton has a 21-25 record and 4.46 ERA as a pro. But after a longer throwing program this winter in response to the Rule 5 opportunity, he has allowed only one run in 7 2/3 innings after pitching out of trouble in the eighth Thursday.

More impressive: He has nine strikeouts (two Thursday) and no walks.

''I have an opportunity here to take a huge step in my career,'' Patton said. ''That's what I've wanted ever since I was a little kid. And to have the opportunity to be in camp and be able to pitch for Lou and the Cub organization is a great honor, and I just want to keep it going.''<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Link(Wittenmyer)

I think the most impressive thing is that he's been able to handle the Arizona sun.

[Ace]

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

[Brock]

It's a nice story and I hope he makes it and does well but he's pitched 7 2/3 good innings in meaningless games.

[rok]

Our middle relief situation is starting to concern me.

[Fella]

<!--quoteo(post=24252:date=Mar 20 2009, 10:14 AM:name=rok)-->QUOTE (rok @ Mar 20 2009, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Our middle relief situation is starting to concern me.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah, me too. Really Marmol, Gregg and Heilman are the only 3 pen guys I'm comfortable with right now. Everyone else has either really sucked or has no experience.

[rok]

<!--quoteo(post=24256:date=Mar 20 2009, 11:22 AM:name=Fella)-->QUOTE (Fella @ Mar 20 2009, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=24252:date=Mar 20 2009, 10:14 AM:name=rok)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rok @ Mar 20 2009, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Our middle relief situation is starting to concern me.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Yeah, me too. Really Marmol, Gregg and Heilman are the only 3 pen guys I'm comfortable with right now. Everyone else has either really sucked or has no experience.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Gaudin is the guy I'm most worried about. Ever since his back issues late last year, he's been a catastrophe. I'm not sure if he sucks because of his back or if he just sucks.

[Butcher]

Someone will step up. We have a lot of arms and odds are that we'll be able to put together a decent pen. As long as our starters hold up, I'm not overly concerned with our relief pitching.

[ruby23]

I actually like the pen.

[veryzer]

<!--quoteo(post=24262:date=Mar 20 2009, 11:35 AM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Mar 20 2009, 11:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I actually like the pen.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


me too. i thought we were all beyond putting stock in spring training.

[ruby23]

<!--quoteo(post=24277:date=Mar 20 2009, 12:38 PM:name=veryzer)-->QUOTE (veryzer @ Mar 20 2009, 12:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=24262:date=Mar 20 2009, 11:35 AM:name=ruby23)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ruby23 @ Mar 20 2009, 11:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I actually like the pen.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


me too. i thought we were all beyond putting stock in spring training.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We have 7 spots and about 10 guys that are good enough to be on the 25 man, I really don't see a problem. The individual roles will figure themselves out, but I don't see a huge cause for concern in the pen.

[jeffy]

<!--quoteo(post=24262:date=Mar 20 2009, 11:35 AM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Mar 20 2009, 11:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->I actually like the pen.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Me too. Now that Howry and Weurtz are gone, it's not nearly as fragile as it used to be. And Gregg and Heilman seem to be good additions so far.