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A few interesting tidbits here. These notes are from the Caravan kickoff from Harry's...
click here to see the full article
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Rothschild said it was too early to say what Jeff Samardzija’s role will be. Samardzija came up from Double A last year and did a good job out of the pen. He could be a mid- to late-innings guy this year or a starter. He also could open the season at Iowa.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Free-agent lefty Randy Wolf remains a possibility for the back of the rotation. Wolf was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA last year between San Diego and Houston.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->--The recently traded Mark DeRosa filled in more than admirably the last two years at third base whenever Aramis Ramirez needed a break. The Cubs don’t seem to have a pure backup there anymore.
“I think Lou will bounce guys around in camp,” Hendry said. "I’m sure he’ll play (Aaron) Miles everywhere in the infield. He’ll play (Ronnie) Cedeno everywhere in the infield. He had talked to you guys in Vegas about moving (Mike) Fontenot over to playing a little shortstop, too. He can play some third, too. We’re a long way from Opening Day. We’re a long way from camp. Maybe there’s a potential addition that we don’t even know about yet that could serve a different role in a utility situation.”
The left-handed hitting Fontenot and the switch-hitting Miles figure to share time at second base, with Miles giving Ryan Theriot a breather at short on some days.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There's some other stuff in there about Pie, Hill, Marquis, etc. Nothing about Peavy or the ownership issue.
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Tough to tell if the Randy Wolf bit comes from Hendry or from Miles' head.
I had two thoughts on the suggestion (and I wrote about it here):
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->1.) I know what you’re thinking: why dump Jason Marquis just so that you can replace him with Randy Wolf? Especially when poor Sean Marshall is just crying for a chance to start again. As a starter in 2007, his ERA+ matched Rich Hill’s that year. Hill was expected to be a mid-rotation starter the next year, and Marshall was banished. Shrug.
2.) If it’s not going to be Peavy, I don’t hate it. Yes, Wolf was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA overall last year, but after arriving in the NL Central, he was pretty darn good: 6-2, 3.57 ERA and a 119 ERA+ (ironically the same as Sean Marshall’s in 2007).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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<!--quoteo(post=11601:date=Jan 14 2009, 05:18 PM:name=Ace)-->QUOTE (Ace @ Jan 14 2009, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Tough to tell if the Randy Wolf bit comes from Hendry or from Miles' head.
I had two thoughts on the suggestion (and I wrote about it here):
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->1.) I know what you’re thinking: why dump Jason Marquis just so that you can replace him with Randy Wolf? Especially when poor Sean Marshall is just crying for a chance to start again. As a starter in 2007, his ERA+ matched Rich Hill’s that year. Hill was expected to be a mid-rotation starter the next year, and Marshall was banished. Shrug.
2.) If it’s not going to be Peavy, I don’t hate it. Yes, Wolf was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA overall last year, but after arriving in the NL Central, he was pretty darn good: 6-2, 3.57 ERA and a 119 ERA+ (ironically the same as Sean Marshall’s in 2007).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Randy Wolf makes my wiener go limp.
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<!--quoteo(post=11603:date=Jan 15 2009, 10:21 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Jan 15 2009, 10:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11601:date=Jan 14 2009, 05:18 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Jan 14 2009, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Tough to tell if the Randy Wolf bit comes from Hendry or from Miles' head.
I had two thoughts on the suggestion (and I wrote about it here):
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->1.) I know what you’re thinking: why dump Jason Marquis just so that you can replace him with Randy Wolf? Especially when poor Sean Marshall is just crying for a chance to start again. As a starter in 2007, his ERA+ matched Rich Hill’s that year. Hill was expected to be a mid-rotation starter the next year, and Marshall was banished. Shrug.
2.) If it’s not going to be Peavy, I don’t hate it. Yes, Wolf was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA overall last year, but after arriving in the NL Central, he was pretty darn good: 6-2, 3.57 ERA and a 119 ERA+ (ironically the same as Sean Marshall’s in 2007).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Randy Wolf makes my wiener go limp.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Women do that to you too...
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<!--quoteo(post=11605:date=Jan 14 2009, 05:23 PM:name=Dingo)-->QUOTE (Dingo @ Jan 14 2009, 05:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11603:date=Jan 15 2009, 10:21 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Jan 15 2009, 10:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11601:date=Jan 14 2009, 05:18 PM:name=Ace)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ace @ Jan 14 2009, 05:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Tough to tell if the Randy Wolf bit comes from Hendry or from Miles' head.
I had two thoughts on the suggestion (and I wrote about it here):
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->1.) I know what you’re thinking: why dump Jason Marquis just so that you can replace him with Randy Wolf? Especially when poor Sean Marshall is just crying for a chance to start again. As a starter in 2007, his ERA+ matched Rich Hill’s that year. Hill was expected to be a mid-rotation starter the next year, and Marshall was banished. Shrug.
2.) If it’s not going to be Peavy, I don’t hate it. Yes, Wolf was 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA overall last year, but after arriving in the NL Central, he was pretty darn good: 6-2, 3.57 ERA and a 119 ERA+ (ironically the same as Sean Marshall’s in 2007).<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Randy Wolf makes my wiener go limp.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Women do that to you too...
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You, on the other hand, give me raging mahogany.
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Wolf was able to stay healthy last year and pitched 190 innings. But look at the previous 3 seasons:
05- 80 Innings
06- 56.2 Innings
07- 102 Innings
I'd like to go out and get an innings-eater that's a solid pitcher, and ideally somebody that's much more than that(Peavy). I don't see any reason at all to bring in Wolf and I don't think it will happen.
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Van Dyck thinks we'll wait another week or so with the owner situation before they do anything. He also says we only have about 2 years left and then we have no chance to win. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img] People get really carried away with age.
Hendry said we'll bring 28-31 pitchers into camp.
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<!--quoteo(post=11621:date=Jan 14 2009, 05:54 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Jan 14 2009, 05:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Wolf was able to stay healthy last year and pitched 190 innings. But look at the previous 3 seasons:
05- 80 Innings
06- 56.2 Innings
07- 102 Innings
I'd like to go out and get an innings-eater that's a solid pitcher, and ideally somebody that's much more than that(Peavy). I don't see any reason at all to bring in Wolf and I don't think it will happen.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Randy Wolf...please. The Wolf suggestion is code for CUbs will be going after someone else.
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<!--quoteo(post=11625:date=Jan 14 2009, 06:08 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Jan 14 2009, 06:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Van Dyck thinks we'll wait another week or so with the owner situation before they do anything. He also says we only have about 2 years left and then we have no chance to win. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img] People get really carried away with age.
Hendry said we'll bring 28-31 pitchers into camp.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
IMO, age is hugely important. I think that during the steroid era, we got used to guys in their mid 30's playing well, but at no other time in baseball history has that happened. And with 'roids AND amphetamines banished, we're going to continue to see an even MORE obvious trend towards youth.
Soriano and Derrek Lee and now Milt Bradley are hugely important players on this team, and the more they age, the worse they will perform.
Therefore, I think we do have a finite window, at least with this current crew.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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<!--quoteo(post=11628:date=Jan 14 2009, 05:16 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 14 2009, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=11625:date=Jan 14 2009, 06:08 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Jan 14 2009, 06:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Van Dyck thinks we'll wait another week or so with the owner situation before they do anything. He also says we only have about 2 years left and then we have no chance to win. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img] People get really carried away with age.
Hendry said we'll bring 28-31 pitchers into camp.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
IMO, age is hugely important. I think that during the steroid era, we got used to guys in their mid 30's playing well, but at no other time in baseball history has that happened. And with 'roids AND amphetamines banished, we're going to continue to see an even MORE obvious trend towards youth.
Soriano and Derrek Lee and now Milt Bradley are hugely important players on this team, and the more they age, the worse they will perform.
Therefore, I think we do have a finite window, at least with this current crew.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Soriano isn't declining and he won't anytime soon. Lee likely won't be here in 2 years. I don't think Aramis has even had his best season yet. Soto's going to be here for the next decade, Z's still here for awhile, and unless Marmol's arm falls off, he's going to be a part of our team for a long time as well. This team should at least good for awhile. Hopefully we'll have an owner that will spend, and if so, we'll be fine. As long as Hendry's here, I'm confident in the team to be competitive.
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By the way, Hendry was talking about our #5 spot and Shark was about the 4th guy he even mentioned. I believe he just said ideally we'll have Marshall in the swing role again, but he'd be perfectly fine with Marshall in the 5th role. Gaudin's possible, talked about how much he started with Oakland. I think he mentioned Angel as well.
Now Hendry's talking about Shark again, "There's no fail in him. He won't let himself fail. He has no fear... We think he can be a high-end starter or at the back of the bullpen."
Sarah Kustok, who by the way is hotter than fuck, said Hendry would be very comfortable with the rotation if we went with the guys we had, but not to rule out Peavy being a Cub by opening day. I don't know if those were all her words or if he said something similar to that about Peavy.
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1. Soriano has radically declined already. The year before he became a Cub, he hit 41 HR and stole 46 bases. Has he even remotely approached those totals here? (and, yes, injuries are a big part of getting old)
2.Sure, Sarah Kustok is hot, if you like blondes with big tits, but who likes that?
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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<!--quoteo(post=11636:date=Jan 14 2009, 05:48 PM:name=KBwsb)-->QUOTE (KBwsb @ Jan 14 2009, 05:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->1. Soriano has radically declined already. The year before he became a Cub, he hit 41 HR and stole 46 bases. Has he even remotely approached those totals here? (and, yes, injuries are a big part of getting old)
2.Sure, Sarah Kustok is hot, if you like blondes with big tits, but who likes that?<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He's not radically declining. He missed time with injuries(which has never been a problem for him in the past), so his total numbers aren't where they would be in comparison to other years. His speed is still there, that hamstring injury just went to his dome I think and he doesn't always run 100%. If you don't agree with his speed being there, then why was he only caught stealing 3 times in 22 attempts last year? Additionally, Lou talked about the most important thing being to keep Alf healthy and they didn't want him stealing a ton of bases.
2002: 696 at bats, 39 homers, 102 RBI, .300/.332/.547
2003: 682 at bats, 38 homers, 91 RBI, .290/.338/.525
2004: 608 at bats, 28 homers, 91 RBI, .280/.324/.484
2005: 637 at bats, 36 homers, 104 RBI, .268/.309/.512
2006: 647 at bats, 46 homers, 95 RBI, .277/.351/.560
2007: 579 at bats, 33 homers, 70 RBI, .299/.337/.560
2008: 453 at bats, 29 homers, 75 RBI, .280/.344/.532
He's right at where he's always been, he just wasn't on the field as much.
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<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->For starters ... well, that's where young Cubs right-hander Jeff Samardzija wants to wind up when the defending NL Central champs break camp in Arizona this spring.
Ryan Dempster, Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Harden are penciled in as the top four starters, and Samardzija would like a shot as the fifth. A starter in most of his college and minor-league career, Samardzija was 1-0 with a 2.28 ERA and one save in 26 games as a reliever after his late-July call-up last season.
"I would love to [start]," Samardzija said. "All you want is a shot, especially being a young guy. My arm feels good. I just want to go into spring training competing and having fun."
Samardzija, an All-America wide receiver at Notre Dame, struck out 25 batters in 272/3 innings last season. He turns 24 next week, and at times he has to remind himself to keep his competitiveness in check.
"I get pretty excited on the mound, whether it's good or bad," he said. "I want to ride the line kind of in the middle. When you throw in all the fans and all the TV and everything, it's easy to get pumped up and kind of lose your mind. I just have to take a deep breath and relax.
"Pitching in the playoffs was a lot of fun. It's like when you get a taste of something, then you want more of it."
Samardzija would be competing with Sean Marshall and Chad Gaudin for the fifth starter's spot if general manager Jim Hendry is unable to acquire an established veteran such as San Diego's Jake Peavy. He has confidence in his repertoire.
"I have always thrown my fastball [well], and I want to get my other three pitches at the same level so I can have the confidence to throw them at any time," Samardzija said. "The splitter was working well for me last year. The slider was on and off, so I've been working on that. I didn't get to throw the change-up a lot. It's hard mixing in four pitches coming out of the bullpen."
Samardzija started 26 games between Class A Daytona and Double-A Tennessee in 2007. He said the switch from short-inning reliever to starter would require no major arm adjustments.
Manager Lou Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild will make the final decision.
"Right now it's hard to predict which way to go with this," Rothschild said. "He'll get some innings, and it will become more evident."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Link(Tribune)
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Clapp, you showed your point well...Soriano's % stats are about the same as ever.
However, you also magnified <i>my</i> point: as players age, they become a LOT more susceptible to injury. Alf almost never missed a game in his 20's. In his 30's, he's regularly missing big chunks of every season. And when he misses 150+ AB's each year, those AB's invariably go to some shithead like Miles, who can't hit remotely as well as our $137 Million dollar man.
Youth <i>will</i> be served in MLB in this next era.
Still, I think the Cub's quest for a title <i>should</i> be treated with urgency. <b>Extreme</b> urgency. So hell yeah, let's go balls-out right now.
There's nothing better than to realize that the good things about youth don't end with youth itself. It's a matter of realizing that life can be renewed every day you get out of bed without baggage. It's tough to get there, but it's better than the dark thoughts. -Lance
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