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Cubs Set Playoff Roster
The Cubs got around to naming their playoff roster and the only big surprise is that Craig Monroe was left off for either Ronny Cedeno or Mike Fontenot. Also Kevin Hart made the team, leaving Trachsel, Ohman and Marshall off. We shall go to war with these 25 - glory awaits thee:
Starters (3): Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Rich Hill
Relievers (8): Ryan Dempster, Bob Howry, Carlos Marmol, Mike Wuertz, Kevin Hart, Scott Eyre, Kerry Wood, Jason Marquis.
Infielders (6): Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Mark DeRosa, Ryan Theriot, Mike Fontenot, Ronny Cedeno.
Outfielders (6): Jacque Jones, Felix Pie, Matt Murton, Alfonso Soriano, Cliff Floyd, Daryle Ward.
Catchers (2): Geovany Soto, Jason Kendall.
Soto was also named the Game 1 starter behind the plate although the full lineup wasn’t announced.
The DBacks did though announce their lineup for Game 1:
Chris Young, Stephen Drew, Eric Byrnes, Tony Clark, Mark Reynolds, Jeff Salazar, Chris Snyder and AUGIE! Ojeda with Brandon Webb batting ninth.
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95 Responses to “Cubs Set Playoff Roster”
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Steve Traschel say good bye…
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:43 pm
[…] peter.westwood+wptrac@ftwr.co.uk wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptThe Cubs got around to naming their playoff roster and the only big surprise is that Craig Monroe was left off for either Ronny Cedeno or Mike Fontenot. Also Kevin Hart made the team, leaving Trachsel, Ohman and Marshall off. … […]
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Ojeda? wow. Seriously?
October 2nd, 2007 at 7:57 pm
E-man rejoice!
On-man is no-man.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Ojeda has had something that might generously be called a “renaissance” with the D-backs this year.
I mean, he’s still Augie Ojeda, but he’s found a manager who appreciates all that Augieness brings to the table.
God help me if Augie plays any hand in beating us in a game……
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:11 pm
Here is the Cubs post-season roster I predicted here at TCR on September 17th.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:13 pm
so close AZ Phil, Cedeno punk’d you.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:31 pm
This article seems like those of Cubs’ past…
Kind of funny to finally be on the other end, eh?
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=669600
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:37 pm
No complaints here re the Cubs NLDS roster. Given Theriot’s 2n half struggles at the plate, you can now pitch hit for him and put in Cedeno at short if need be.
Monroe had ample opportunities to shine and never did. Be a real plus if Ward is truly recovered from his injury.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Transmission — October 2, 2007 @ 8:06 pm
Ojeda has had something that might generously be called a “renaissance” with the D-backs this year.
I mean, he’s still Augie Ojeda, but he’s found a manager who appreciates all that Augieness brings to the table.
God help me if Augie plays any hand in beating us in a game……
============================
TRANS: Whatever Augie Ojeda does, I’d still MUCH rather have Augie! playing 2B against the Cubs in the NLDS than Orlando Hudson. Even though they ended up with the best regular season record in the N. L., rest assured the D’backs are absolutely, positively NOT the same team without O-Dog in the lineup.
October 2nd, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Only slight surprise to me is Wuertz over Marshall, mostly because Marshall can eat innings if a starter gets pulled. Then again, Marquis is in the bullpen. Sure hope Wardosaurus is good to go. We heard anything new on that front?
Go get ‘em, boys.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Haven’t waded through the earlier threads but has anyone compared this year’s Cubs vs. the 2003 model?
Starting pitching - 2003 bunch by a large margin (I don’t see Z/Lilly nearly as shut-down, dominant as Prior/Wood)
Relief pitching - assuming Howry, Wood and Marmol assume major roles, this is a big advantage of 2007 model over JoBo, Sir Tightpants and Remlinger … nobody else from the 2003 relief squad deserves to be mentioned
Starting outfield - Soriano, Jones, Floyd vs Alou, Lofton, Sosa — gotta go with 2003
Starting infield - Soto, Lee, Derosa, Aram, Theriot vs. Miller, Karros, Grudz, Aram, A-Gonz — 2007 takes it with both bats and D
Bench - 2003 had Gabor, Ramon Martinez, Randal Simon, Tony Womack, O’Leary, Glanville vs. 2007 Kendall, Cedeno, Fontenot, Murton, Pie, and Ward (who may be injured). If Ward is healthy, big advantage to 2007 bench, otherwise not so much
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I recall them earlier saying this was the lineup
Sori
Theriot
Lee
Floyd (b/c Webb is rh)
ARam
DeRo
Jones
Catcher (who now we know is Soto)
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:13 pm
I am SO disappointed that Oh-Man! is not on the playoff roster.
Damn!
But, I’ll manage to get over it…
- sigh -
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:16 pm
[…] Administrator wrote an interesting post today!.Here’s a quick excerptThe Cubs got around to naming their playoff roster and the only big surprise is that Craig Monroe was left off for either Ronny Cedeno or Mike Fontenot. Also Kevin Hart made the team, leaving Trachsel, Ohman and Marshall off. … […]
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:22 pm
I think this is exactly the roster I predicted about 10 days ago. I can’t help feeling that if Marquis didn’t have 2 more years guaranteed, Marshall would have been taken. I wouldn’t put it past Lou to take Marshall over Marquis in the NLCS.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Oh without doubt, Phil, I’m happy it’s Ojeda and not Hudson. Just noting the curiousity of his return.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:43 pm
Solid Roster.
At this point, I’d rather see Hart start game 4 over Marquis if Z can’t hack it.
October 2nd, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Auggie? The guy that wasn’t good enough to get called up on the ‘06 Cub team that damn near lost 100 games?
Wow.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:20 pm
AZ PHIL:
O-Dawg.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:25 pm
AZ Phil,
Does the ready reserve travel with the team (Marshall, Ohman, Blanco, Monroe)? I heard the Cubs sent Trachsel home……did they do the same with Monroe? It sounds like Marshall is going to stay in AZ for the IL games.
Also, Cubs.com reporting that Guzman underwent Tommy John surgery.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:25 pm
Ryno: Auggie? The guy that wasn’t good enough to get called up on the ‘06 Cub team that damn near lost 100 games?
Neither was Fontenot, Pie, or Soto.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:48 pm
yes, the same auggie ojeda who slugged .320 vs. AAA hitters in 06 for iowa and had a sub-neifi performance for ARZ this year.
he has a glove and is quick with it, though…only reason he has a job in professional baseball at all. really really good glove…
anyone remember the “auggie game”? i know a few do cuz they respond well when i do that stupid “AUGGIE AUGGIE AGGUIE AUGGIE…” thing i break out every so often. that was fun stuff.
October 2nd, 2007 at 10:54 pm
well damn…and oops…
i took my stats on auggie from:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com.....jeda.shtml
…but they’ve only updated his ARZ stats til Sept. 10th…evidently he went on a batting tear after Sept. 10th cuz his stats changed dramatically from the (.236/.295/.319 avg/ob%/slg stats given there.
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:06 pm
Indeed, Augie actually has a decent line for the year. Zero power, still, and zero speed, still, but I’m happy to see him put up a respectable ave and obp for the year.
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:23 pm
if he can keep his ob% somewhere respectable and consistant…and be able to do it cold off the bench…he might stick around for someone.
even after his mini-breakout in MIN they didnt want him and BAL just stuck him back in their AAA system.
got off to a rough start back in ARZ, but really turned it on to end with the #s he got vs. that sept. 10th set of stats.
AUGGIE! AUGGIE! AUGGIE! AUGGIE!
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:24 pm
and MIN just just him back in their AAA system, i mean =p
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Hart and Fontenot over Marshall suprises me. The rest of it was pretty clear cut. I don’t like Marshall’s chances of getting on the roster for the NLCS (if we make it), just because he won’t have pitched for so long, regardless of the handedness of our opponent. It’s really a shame, because he has been more influential in getting the Cubs here than Hart,the Fontenaught, Cedeno, Monroe, Wood, Soto and arguably Marquis.
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:35 pm
Me likey this lineup. Well done, Lou!
October 2nd, 2007 at 11:41 pm
im a bit surprised they’re going with monroe over pie because of pie’s lack of work and keeping some kind of RH presence for the OF on the team besides murton.
still…personally, i dont care. monroe showed nothing…pie is at least a hell of a pinch running option and defensive option if used for nothing else but that.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:05 am
No real surprises honestly. Cedeno gets the edge over Monroe most likely because of Theriot’s slump. Also the D-backs have only 1 lefty in the rotation (Davis who is a mini reverse splits pitcher) and one LOOGY in Slaten. As for the pitching Hart’s cutter makes him a psuedo-Loogy.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:53 am
Guys,
The BIG move by Lou is starting Soto over Kendall.
Though this might appear obvious to most fans, many managers wouldn’t have gone with Soto.
Certainly, neither Ozzie nor Dusty would have done this.
Gotta love Lou.
Professor Jim
October 3rd, 2007 at 2:53 am
the Angel Guzman news that he underwent Tommy John/Ulnar collateral ligament elbow reconstruction doesn’t surprise me. From my perch this far away, when I read the reporters say he had medial (inner) elbow pain, but it wasn’t the UCL, I sensed something was amiss. Tendinitis of the nearby flexor/pronator muscle origin is common but usually resolves with treatment. Ulnar nerve entrapment or Cubital tunnel syndrome was also mentioned by Az Phil and it will be interesting to find out if Guzman’s surgery addressed that as a part of his problem, since it is possible that both the nerve and an injured UCL were tbe source of Guzman’s medial elbow pain/inflammation. It also shows that an MRI reading when Guzman broke down in May (that was read as showing that his UCL was not damaged) isn’t as accurate or useful as one is lead to believe.
October 3rd, 2007 at 5:14 am
Re: #11:
You forgot the manager category. Big advantage 2007.
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:24 am
DP - You are right. Bad oversight on my part and yep, advantage LouPa over Mr. Cloggingthebases.
Still, in a 5 game series, I’d take the 2003 Cubs in 4 over the 2007 Cubs (4 series starts of Prior/Woods of 2003 very tough to beat).
October 3rd, 2007 at 6:30 am
I didn’t have a big problem with Dusty’s managing in 2003, other than going with his starters too long down the stretch and in the playoffs. Given the bullpen he had, though, you can’t blame him too much. It was just Farnsworth, Remlinger and Borowski. The other guys were just there to give those three some more options to chat with.
During the regular season, I would have like to see Heop played more when he came back, but he didn’t start the really attrocious lineup decisions until late in 2004, as I recall.
Before we’re too quick to absolve Pinhead of all Kendall playing, Soto was on the bench plenty of days in September when he didn’t need to be. Who’s fault was that?
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:03 am
A little more fuel for that fire…
We have one guy who has hit ..202 .257 .263 over the month of September, and one who has hit .391 .417 .696, but it’s the guy who’s hitting .202 who’s getting the starts in the playoffs, by all reports.
Then there is the great Dempster debate (where I actually agree with Pinhead that throwing Marmol into the highest pressure situations in his first full season isn’t the greatest plan).
Lou may be just as much a ‘my guy’ person as Dusty. He may just be more willing to accept younger players as his guys.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:09 am
Real Neal - To be fair, I thought Dusty managed pretty well in the 2003 playoffs, found myself more often than not agreeing with his lineups/moves in both the NLDS and NLCS series. Definitely had his hands tied behind his back with respect to the sorry relief pitching situation — would have helped if JoBo not run out of gas by October.
I forgot that Big Z started the 2nd game of the NLDS … can’t find the box score, but I believe he did okay, though they lost to the Braves that game.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:20 am
Woo hooo… It’s Whacking Day!!
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:22 am
Kerry Wood had been very effective at getting lefties out. Last I checked they were hitting .158 against him…
That Chase Field (or whatever its called now) has huge gaps, no question in picking Pie over Monroe…
Comparing with the 03 team, this team is much better defensively, especially the outfield. We’re younger and more athletic, thanks to all the young guys that have contributed.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:29 am
I would be quick to remove Ryan Dempster from the closer’s role given his well-known troubles this season. The Cubs have several excellent alternatives to choose from, including the reborn Kerry Wood as well as Carlos Marmol, Bob Howry, and even rookie Kevin Hart. The Cubs must not let a shaky closer ruin the collective contributions from the rest of the pitchers.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:31 am
Real Neal wrote:
Before we’re too quick to absolve Pinhead of all Kendall playing, Soto was on the bench plenty of days in September when he didn’t need to be. Who’s fault was that?
—————————————————————————–
I don’t think it’s an unreasonable move on Lou’s part to break Soto in for a few weeks when he first was called up. The Cubs were in a pennant chase and you don’t just change catchers on a dime. Kendall was not playing like paska at the time either.
Lou has managed to make Soto his virtually everyday catcher with very little mention of it or controversy. In my opinion, Soto locked down the job when he visited Z on the mound and grabbed his shirt to calm him down…and Z responded. That move took some kyrpas on Soto’s part.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:37 am
I don’t like Marshall’s chances of getting on the roster for the NLCS (if we make it), just because he won’t have pitched for so long, regardless of the handedness of our opponent.
Hendry said that Marshall may stretch out with the Instructional League so that he is available for the LCS.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:50 am
Altman:
“Also, Cubs.com reporting that Guzman underwent Tommy John surgery.”
Well, that is another wasted stud talent in the Cubs farm system. Not that it should be unexpected as he has been injury prone for years.
October 3rd, 2007 at 7:58 am
Scott D B,
I assumed they were not going to send Marshall straight home after the off-season, but he’s going to be an inusance policy most likely. There’s a big difference between the Leon Johnsons of the wolrd than the Chase Utleys. I could be wrong, but like always, I doubt it.
“I don’t think it’s an unreasonable move on Lou’s part to break Soto in for a few weeks when he first was called up.”
Me neither. Wasn’t he first called up in July though?
The problem was that Lou wasn’t breaking him in, he was starting him in night games after day games and then Soto forced his way into the lineup by knocking the crap out of the ball.
If Soto were batting .270 .310 .450, he would likely still be the backup catcher (or not on the roster), only when it became blantantly obvious to everyone that he was our best chance to win on a given day did he get named starter, and going into Cincinatti, Kendall, not Soto was expected to start over the weekend.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:16 am
The was starting him in night games after day games and then Soto forced his way into the lineup by knocking the crap out of the ball.
I’m sorry. Forgive me, but isn’t that the way it’s supposed to work?
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:18 am
I mean, I don’t get it. You get what you want (Soto starting game 1 in a a playoff series AGAINST A RIGHT HANDER) and you’re still not happy.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:23 am
Job well done, I’d say. My only quibble is Marquis over Marshall, and even with that, having Hart on the roster gives them a good option to plug in for several innings in the none-too-unlikely event Marquis craps out if they end up starting him.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:27 am
I haven’t really paid attention to Kevin Hart much, but he’s not stretched out as a starter is he? If Zambrano ends up not able to start the 4th game, Marquis would pretty much be are only option?
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:28 am
our*
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:29 am
Late to the party here, but can I just say to Trans that your posts in the [censorship] thread were pretty cockamamy.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:30 am
Lou has managed to make Soto his virtually everyday catcher with very little mention of it or controversy.
Very little mention, probably because Kendall has been weaker even than expected behind the plate and lousy lately beside it. BUT Kendall is upset about not being #1 according to the papers.
You can Google it.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:35 am
Lou rewards players who hit their way into the lineup. That’s stupid because he somehow should have made them starters quicker. When they inevitably cease hitting .400 TCR mocks them.
I can hardly wait to read how stupid Piniella is for starting Pumpkinsoto.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:38 am
I don’t quite understand the disappointment in seeing Sean Marshall excluded from the playoff roster.
I like Marshall, but it’s sort of like with Matt Murton, I couldn’t tell you why I like him. He doesn’t really do anything well.
Marshall’s fastball tops out at 87-88. To get Jason Kendall, the Cubs traded a tall lefty who throws a curve like Marshall’s and who throws fastballs comfortably at 93, and who has good control. He was tradeable. I doubt that Marshall is.
There are successful Moyer types who can’t get a scout’s or a manager’s attention until they win fourteen or fifteen games twice. Maybe Marshall will be like that.
As to the choice between Marshall and Hart: have you seen the way Hart’s ball moves?
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:38 am
Speaking of Soto. The Cubs are carrying 6 players into the playoffs whose name ends in “oh.”
1 “to”
2 “ot”s
3 “no”s
Any of the other teams got us beat?
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:49 am
“Soto was on the bench plenty of days in September when he didn’t need to be. Who’s fault was that?”
Who gives a [censored]? Did we not win the division anyway?
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:53 am
My disappointment in not seeing Marshall is directly proportional to seeing Marquis. Marshall has been and probably will be a better pitcher then Marquis and has done more for this team this year then Marquis. Marshall deserves to be on the post-season over Marquis to me.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:53 am
Moyer is a good comparison for Marshall. Early in their career they were both great the first time through the lineup, mediocre the second, and downright awful the third. Lou’s had a quick hook with Marshall and been pretty successful hiding him I think. Moyer figured it out eventually, I hope the same is true for Marshall and I kinda think it will be.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:54 am
This is a weaker lineup than ‘03, in ‘03 we had Dave Veres.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:55 am
Here is report card page for this team from Inside Edge, by the way. Was linked to a while ago from Rob, but ESPN has it on their playoff page now:
http://inside-edge.com/teams/chc/
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:04 am
Questionable decisions or not, I believe in Lou!
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:04 am
Check out how much this inside edge system likes Ryan Dempster.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:08 am
Johann said: Marshall deserves to be on the post-season over Marquis to me.
I agree and I’m sure the manager would agree, but the guys with contracts for 2008 with a lot of zeroes at the end are automatically team members in good standing and had to be on the playoff roster.
Take Eyre, for another example. He regained his form to some extent but he’s still pretty marginal. We’re stuck with him.
The one exception is Blanco, but he was really squeezed hard by Kendall and Soto. Also, I suspect that the Cubs are going to make it up to Blanco (as if you really owed something to these millionaire players) by making him a coach or a minor-league manager or a roving catching instructor when he retires after next season.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:11 am
http://inside-edge.com/teams/ari/
Inside Edge rates Augie Ojeda as their best hitter.
Wow, umm, wow. I’m speechless. Stupid Hendry for letting Augie go.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:12 am
djchi:
“Moyer is a good comparison for Marshall. Early in their career they were both great the first time through the lineup, mediocre the second, and downright awful the third.”
Actually this year Marshall has been better considerably better the 2nd time thru the lineup than the first.
1st time thru: .249/.324/.396/.721
2nd time thru: .230/.281/.619/.619
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:17 am
Well, I don’t think the Inside Edge should be looked at as a complete picture of a player. They pick out certain things to look at, giving you a more complete picture, but it doesn’t tell you everything. It looks like Augie has been patient at the plate and good with strikes on him, which is born out by his increased OBP. He still has other issues though outside that.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:21 am
blanco, for as good as he is…isnt really known for being a teacher-type.
no, he’s not a jerk and he’s not manny and he’s not dismissive of his “work” like irod (notorious for not caring about pre-game talks with pitchers or game plans or video…guy’s natural talent behind the plate holding runners he crutches on).
however, he’s kinda nonchalant and a man unto himself.
he could coach…he’s been around baseball, benches, and coaches enough…i, personally, just dont see that as something he’d be interested in.
people change, though…ryne “hey guys, quit walking all over me” sandberg is a coach now and after a shakey start he seems to have the respect of his “kids” as a teacher and motivator, not just a guy who’s been-there and has a job now.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:22 am
FWIW, Bud Selig was on Mike & the Mad Dog in NY yesterday and was talking about the possibility of adding another WC team in each league. Then having both WC teams play a 1-game playin game on Monday (or Tuesday if a tiebreaker is needed). Than that winner would be the team to move on into the NLDS.
The reason it was brought up is because of the two valid complaints by some:
1) In some cases (NYY/BOST this year as an example) the WC takes away from the division race. NYY had really no reason to put the peddle to the metal to catch BOST for the division this year.
2) The WC team is really not all that penalized in the playoffs and by bringing in an extra WC team in each league and playing a 1-game play in game, it would put more emphasis on division winners as teams would not want to have their whole season come down to a play in game.
While I am not a fan of adding more teams to the playoffs, I actually like this idea. It would me teams go harder for the division, instead of relying on the WC, and it penalizes the WC team some, where now they have very little penalty.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:23 am
“Inside Edge rates Augie Ojeda as their best hitter.”
as shown above by my mistake with auggie’s #s…the guy had 2-3 hot weeks which pumped his #s. on sept. 10th he was a (.236/.295/.319 avg/ob%/slg) guy.
aggregate stats, especially in small samples, can lie.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:29 am
…as an aside…if a guy is gonna go on a hot streak…its better to have that end-of-season.
auggie isnt scaring me, but the short series is the short series.
david eckstein for WS MVP anyone?
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:39 am
seriously, though…i really would like to know the true status of both marshall and blanco.
both are supposedly healthy…neither got much work worth mentioning in sept. for 2 guys who are healthy.
not saying theyre injured…not saying theyre not injured, either.
plenty of chances to use marshall in sept. that were never used. learning a new pitch? sore/tired arm? workload issue? *shrug*
i guess most people, including myself, are assuming blanco’s not 100%…plenty of pinch hit opportunities of L/R matchups that were not used on blanco in favor of weaker contact hitters or lefties.
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:46 am
Crunch_
I was going to say that would be my worst nightmare that Auggie becomes 2006 Ickstein.
~shivers~
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:54 am
Manny, where’d you get those #’s? Is there a convenient place to find ‘em?
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:57 am
In looking at Webb’s numbers vs left handers (.272 vs LH, .199 vs RH) I would think the lineup would be:
Soriano (R) LF
Jones (L) CF
Lee (R) 1B
Floyd (L) RF
Aramis (R) 3B
DeRosa (R) 2B
Soto (R) C
Theriot (R) SS
Zambrano (S) P
This will also help adjust for The Riot’s falloff in the second half, and may give Soriano better looks to run if he gets on base and Jones is up. Look for Cedeno to start against Davis though tomorrow…
October 3rd, 2007 at 9:57 am
Manny, where’d you get those #’s? Is there a convenient place to find ‘em?
Baseball Reference - here are Marshall’s splits.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:04 am
Nevermind on Cedeno. The Riot’s numbers are still better against lefties, and I don’t think Lou wants a wild card in the field if he can avoid it…
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:06 am
Then having both WC teams play a 1-game playin game on Monday (or Tuesday if a tiebreaker is needed). Than that winner would be the team to move on into the NLDS.
This idea’s kind of cool, at least from a fan’s perspective. Division races have a little more meaning and there’s always a couple playoff games on Monday that add excitement.
Also this means the added benefit of the Wild Card team being at a bit of a disadvantage as it should be. I think in this case the “can’t play team in division rule” should be abolished as it doesn’t seem fair for the team with the best league record to not get to play the disadvantaged team just because they are intra-division.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:08 am
fyi RCN cable is matching Comcast’s move to add TBS HD, purportedly in time for tonight’s game.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:08 am
on Channel 549 (according to an RCN customer service rep)
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:09 am
But the same with the WC originally making division titles not mean as much, if the WC was a two team race and neither team had a division shot, it would be meaningless because they know they’d face in a playoff regardless of who finishes on top.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:41 am
Why is the media kissing hendry’s butt? The team won 85 games.
The media likes him cause he’s accessible and cooperative. Just like Mark Grace.
Total BS.
Hendry is worst GM with a payroll this size. He’s lucky we didnt need 95 wins to win the division.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:49 am
FWIW, Bud Selig was on Mike & the Mad Dog in NY yesterday and was talking about the possibility of adding another WC team in each league. Then having both WC teams play a 1-game playin game on Monday (or Tuesday if a tiebreaker is needed). Than that winner would be the team to move on into the NLDS.
I like the idea, I liked it 2-3 years ago when Jayson Stark had it in ESPN.com column although I think he heard it from someone else.. Hope Selig’s not taking credit for it.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:49 am
sigh…
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:52 am
Comcast added tbs hd????
The origins and recording of “Go Cubs GO”
Trans-
You and I were both right.
http://www.suntimes.com/sports.....03.article
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:55 am
One more edge for 2007 Cubs over the 2003 model:
Lots of fans in the stands thinking twice before they lean over the wall to snag foul balls.
October 3rd, 2007 at 10:56 am
djchi:
“Manny, where’d you get those #’s? Is there a convenient place to find ‘em?”
I got them from Baseball-reference.com. Go to: Sean Marshall page, click on splits 2007 and then scroll down about 2/3 the way.
http://www.baseball-reference......;year=2007
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:00 am
“Hendry is worst GM with a payroll this size. He’s lucky we didnt need 95 wins to win the division.”
Omar Minaya would like to talk to you.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:04 am
Rob G.:
“Hope Selig’s not taking credit for it.”
He kind of took credit for it, because 3 years ago he put together a commission of players and executives to talk about the logistics of it and while he heard good things from the commission he decided against it as he thought the WC was going so good, no sense to change a good thing. But he still likes the idea and doesn’t rule it out bringing it in. Maybe that is how Stark heard of the idea…
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:06 am
Hendry is worst GM with a payroll this size.
Hmmm… Kenny Williams, anyone? You do know that the White Sox’s payroll was about 8 million more than the Cubs, right?
Or how about the Dodgers?
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:08 am
Doug D.:
“Omar Minaya would like to talk to you.”
The Mets had a better record than the Cubs this year in a much tougher division.
But this is not the time to bash Hendry, ND. His team made the playoffs, kudos to him, now lets see what happens.
October 3rd, 2007 at 11:11 am
George Altman — October 2, 2007 @ 10:25 pm
AZ Phil,
Does the ready reserve travel with the team (Marshall, Ohman, Blanco, Monroe)? I heard the Cubs sent Trachsel home……did they do the same with Monroe? It sounds like Marshall is going to stay in AZ for the IL games.
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GEORGE A: The Cubs benefit from having their minor league facility and Instructional League team right here in Phoenix (Fitch Park in Mesa), and so Marshall can stay stretched out as a starter by pitching in Instructs “Camp Day” Intrasquad games each of the next two Thursdays.
I would think Marshall would then travel with the Cubs to the next round, should a replacement rotation starter be needed in the NLCS or WS. Marshall could even replace Marquis as the #4 starter in the NLCS and/or WS, depending on the opponent, and whether or not Piniella wants to start his #4 starter in game #4 of the NLCS and/or WS. (A lefty starter like Marshall might be a better choice than Marquis to pitch against the Phillies and the Yankees).
Ohman, Blanco, and Monroe will likely remain with team 24/7 throughout the playoffs, since all three will need to be available on a moment’s notice to replace an injured player during a series. It’s also possible that Ohman and Monroe could replace Marquis and Cedeno (or Fontenot) on the 25-man roster should the Cubs 2nd round opponent be the Phillies (who have two lefty rotation starters, and several very dangerous left-handed hitters).
The only problem with keeping both Fontenot and Cedeno on the 25-man roster is that the Cubs now have no “infielder” traveling with the club who can replace an infielder should an inifielder go down with an injury during a post-season series (where an injured player can be replaced, but only by a player who plays the same position).
So if a Cubs infielder suffers a season-ending injury during the NLDS, the Cubs either would have to play one man short, or else “recall” ex-2B (now OF) Eric Patterson (who has been working out with Team USA in preparation for the Taiwan Tour in November), or perhaps AAA Iowa SS Joe Simokaitis (who will be playing for the Mesa Solar Sox–along with Sam Fuld and Sean Gallagher and several other Cubs prospects–in the AFL starting next Tuesday).
Simokaitis will be in proximity to the Cubs while they play the D’backs, but not so much if the Cubs advance to the NLCS and WS. And E-Pat might no longer be considered an “infielder” for replacement purposes, although that would be up to the MLB Commissioner to decide (since roster replacements for injured players during a post-season series must be approved by the Commissioner).
Angel Pagan might also be available as an outfield option. He has been medically cleared to play and has been working out at Fitch Park for a couple of weeks, although he has yet to play in an Instructional League game.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:27 pm
Mannytrillo:
“The Mets had a better record than the Cubs this year in a much tougher division.”
Minaya also assembled a starting rotation with an average age of 56 that crumbled down the stretch. Also, he had an extra $15 million to play with than Hendry.
But yeah, Southside Kenny probably would have been a better (or worse, as the case may be) example.
Just for fun, I decided to look up Team Payrolls and Win Totals for 2007 to see which teams got the most bang for their buck. Here’s the list, in order of Wins/Million $ (hopefully this doesn’t get sent to moderation due to the post length). Should this be how GMs are judged? I doubt it.
Tampa Bay Devil Rays
Florida Marlins
Washington Nationals
Pittsburgh Pirates
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
Cleveland Indians
San Diego Padres
Milwaukee Brewers
Minnesota Twins
Texas Rangers
Cincinnati Reds
Kansas City Royals
Toronto Blue Jays
Philadelphia Phillies
Atlanta Braves
Oakland Athletics
Detroit Tigers
St. Louis Cardinals
Los Angeles Angels
Chicago Cubs
Houston Astros
Seattle Mariners
San Francisco Giants
New York Mets
Los Angeles Dodgers
Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
Chicago White Sox
New York Yankees
So, it looks like after a certain point, extra payroll doesn’t help all that much since the teams with the best records and highest payrolls are still mostly at the bottom of the list.
October 3rd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
Thanks, AZ Phil………..let’s hope they win AND stay healthy!
October 3rd, 2007 at 3:11 pm
My one pretty good connection did not come through for NLDS tix. Damn! Maybe NLCS if we’re lucky.
What really kind of sucks is checking eBay for tix and seeing that there are dozens of cheap ones for the games in Arizona.
October 4th, 2007 at 5:24 pm
I’d rather have Monroe than Pie. They both hit .220ish, but I’d rather have the righty for more flexibility when you have the lefty jones in center. I guess Pie gives you a great pinch-runner and def replacement, but Monroe played pretty well in the playoffs last year. He only hit .240 overall, but hit 5 HR in 50 ABs and hit .300 through the ALDS and ALCS.
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