I'd much rather have seen Randy Wells in the Chicago Cubs rotation, but rather than bullpenning him the Cubs have at least done the only other smart thing possible by optioning him to the minors. Good call on that even if it's the result of other poor decisions. I've been saying for awhile that Steve Clevenger is the better catcher and better option to back-up Geovany Soto. He's played better in the minor leagues. He has better projections. He's more versatile. He's just a better player and it's great to see the Cubs pick him over Castillo for the job.
With Wells and Travis Wood optioned to the minors, the Cubs rotation is set with Ryan Dempster pitching opening day. He'll be followed by Matt Garza, Chris Volstad, Jeff Samardzija and Paul Maholm. Maholm is only pitching in the 5th game because he's coming back from injury and the Cubs have taken it easy with him. The final two spots filled in the rotation were Volstad and then Samardzija.
Blake DeWitt and Joe Mather also made the team.
More info on the final roster as it comes.
Mather and DeWitt just made the team per ESPN.
Doug Padilla says Samardzija is the #3 starter.
Muskat is reporting that Gonzalez got sent to AAA, not Amezega, meaning either Amezega is on the roster or dismissed.
@ Rice Cube:
There are a lot of shitty white guys on this team.
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I thought about that the other day. We kind of laughed at the last few Hendry teams because of it, but this is even worse. (dying laughing)
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
WaLi wrote:
Be nice.
@ mb21:
Seriously.
@ Mish:
Yeah, I don’t think melanin levels are the central problem.
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
@ Mish:
That, too.
@ josh:
Yeah, but look at this roster. It’s like Bob Brenly assembled the team.
@ jtsunami:
This is the worst baserunning team I’ve ever seen. Comedy of errors out there.
I better go get my “MATHER” shersy before they all sell out.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Sveum’s baserunning opinions ————-> be aggressive, be be aggressive
josh wrote:
yeah, this
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Barney’s going to inherit the Scraptain role, even over Reed
@ Berselius:
Oh, no doubt, to both.
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
/Omar’d
Coleman also sent down to minors. Given the endorsement Sveum gave him for the pen last week I’m guessing Camp took his spot
Sounds like HP has an article nearly finished about Samardzija looking like a better pitcher, pfx wise. So that will be nice to see.
My guess at the pen is Marmol, Wood, Dolis, Russell, Camp, and one of Castillo/De la Cruz and Lopez/Wells (if someone claims him).
Which 90′s era Cubs team will this Cubs team be most like? My vote is 1997, but could easily be 1994.
@ Berselius:
No Corpas?
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Didn’t they already cut him? Can’t remember. I think he was a NRI so I forgot about him. I get the vibe that they haven’t been too impressed with his stuff.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
That might depend on how much he stands to make with his split contract if he makes the team.
@ Rice Cube:
Of course they just cut a guy who made $2.7MM so whatever.
@ Rice Cube:
I’d be shocked if it was 7 figures even if he makes the squad.
Sveum on Corpas yesterday:
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I think this team is more than capable of losing 40 of 50 games like they did in 1999 and 2000. In 99 the Cubs were 46-47 and 50 games later were 56-87. This team isn’t likely to ever be 46-47, but I can easily see this team going on a stretch like that.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=chc#game_type='S'&playerType=ALL§ionType=sp&statType=pitching&page_type=SortablePlayer&season=2012&season_type=ANY&sportCode='mlb'&league_code='MLB'&split=&team_id=112&active_sw=&position='1'&sortOrder='asc'&sortColumn=era&results=&page=1&perPage=50&timeframe=&extended=0&last_x_days=&ts=1333039166093&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+pitching
11 strikeouts in 8 innings. Superstar.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
(dying laughing)
@ Rice Cube:
Put him in the rotation. He’s transformed.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
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new shit: http://www.obstructedview.net/commentary-and-analysis/other-transformed-cubs.html
Look at the bright side, with all the day games this year they’ll at least be shitty and well tanned.
three yrs. from now–new mgr.–boston dude leaves-ricketts still shaking hands & handing out raincoats-new mgr says will concentrate on fundamentals—-bunting-baserunning etc—more concrete falls–bathrooms get new paid urinals with ads posted to wall to raise $–beer is $ 15–dogs $10–tv goes to paid per view–schedule includes new expansion team Gary Railcats in Gary Ind. due to expansion of Gary airport & casinos–Sox move to Indy-gas is $10 a gallon–cubs draw 3.5 million fans & finish 50 & 162 due to expanded schedule-Soriano signed to new 5 yr extension–same old crap