Johnson has stepped in and been very solid. Hendry had his eye on him for a while and it seems as if he always makes good decisions when it involves getting guys to come in and get the job done.

The Cubs need to find out whether Pie is a regular, a platoon player, or whatever. For the moment, a platoon of Pie and Johnson is fine with me.

As for the SS position, I am very high on Theriot for some reason. Every season my aspiration has been the SS position but I really think Theriot will continue to improve and he is already a solid player. I just hope he can stay healthy. I'm no where near as big on Ronny Cedeno but he seems to always do okay as long as he is in the fill in role.

Theriot was as good as he's going to be last year, and that (at best) isn't anything special. His range isn't that good at short ... he's a better fit at second base, but that position is pretty crowded in Cubland.

 

If Cedeno can hit enough to stay in the lineup, I would prefer him to be the shortstop.

The Cubs need to find out whether Pie is a regular, a platoon player, or whatever. For the moment, a platoon of Pie and Johnson is fine with me.

Theriot was as good as he's going to be last year, and that (at best) isn't anything special. His range isn't that good at short ..

 

Pie will eventually be a regular, and a good regular at that. He is basically just a rookie still. Great speed, great range, great glove, it was just his bat holding him up and it seems as if it has already improved dramatically this season. The more at bats for Pie the better I think.

 

 

As for Theriot I don't know how you can say that about a guy as young as he is. Why is it so impossible for him to do any better than he did last year in a rookie season? Young players tend to get better, not worst. I mean I get what your saying he did surpass rookie expectations everyone had for him, but will never be as good as he was in his first season?:confused:

Pie will eventually be a regular, and a good regular at that. He is basically just a rookie still. Great speed, great range, great glove, it was just his bat holding him up and it seems as if it has already improved dramatically this season. The more at bats for Pie the better I think.

The way Pie hit in Triple-A last year, he's done all he can do in the minors. It's time to see what he is in the majors.

As for Theriot I don't know how you can say that about a guy as young as he is. Why is it so impossible for him to do any better than he did last year in a rookie season? Young players tend to get better, not worst. I mean I get what your saying he did surpass rookie expectations everyone had for him, but will never be as good as he was in his first season?:confused:

Therot is 28 ... he isn't likely to get any better, and he's just a stopgap at short.

Rocket, what do you think about Pie stepping up? I have nothing but high hopes for him as I think in about five years he could be one of the best Center-Fielders in the game. As for right now keep the roles the same and let both Reed and Felix keep doing what their doing.

 

If you haven't seen Pie in person, you really have to appreciate his defensive abilities. This guy covers so much ground and has such a great read on the ball when it comes off the bat. I truly believe he can be a top 3 defensive CF in the game. He swings the stick great in AAA, but in the pro's he's left a lot to be desired...However he is sweet Lou's personal project this year and I believe all that extra attention will help. He need's to shorten his swing and focus on making contact. He's improved lately under Lou's guidance.

 

The same way w/ Cedeno at short. He's been a stud in AAA swinging the bat and plays great D. If he can learn to hit in the MLB like he did in AAA, which he's been doing lately, he could potentially be an all-star.

 

The biggest thing has been the addition of Fukodome. His patience at the plate has caught on and the Cubs are making starters throw a lot of pitches and get pitch counts up and getting on base a lot, which puts a lot of pressure on the opposition. If the Cubs can stay healthy, the skies the limit, they have all the ingredients of a Championship team. That 7,8,9 inning combo of Howry, Marmol and Wood is as good as any in the NL.

Pie = Patterson

Pie = Patterson

 

Please don't say that:cry:

 

 

Patterson is the biggest disapointment for me on the Cubs over the past 10 years...

You may need to create some room....

You may need to create some room....

 

I never had any faith in Corey, but I'm not ready to give up on Pie yet. If he hits below .250 for the season I'll get a little nervous. I have faith

Please don't say that:cry:

 

 

Patterson is the biggest disapointment for me on the Cubs over the past 10 years...

 

 

Ummm wait a minute there. How about Prior--and Wood for that matter? They were more hyped than Patterson.

Ummm wait a minute there. How about Prior--and Wood for that matter? They were more hyped than Patterson.

 

I can handle injuries, just plain underachieving, I can't, at least with them injured, I didn't have to watch them step up to bat and swing at neck high first pitches every at bat...

I can handle injuries, just plain underachieving, I can't, at least with them injured, I didn't have to watch them step up to bat and swing at neck high first pitches every at bat...

 

Injuries or not those were two of the biggest flameouts in the past 10 years in ALL of baseball. So much talent, so little results. Cubs fans were already reserving places in Cooperstown and making room for World Series Trophies with those two. Patterson never generated that kind of buzz.

The Cubs just took a 9th inning lead on a big 2-run homer by Ramirez.

Kerry Wood blows the save in the bottom of the 9th.

Wood is still a solid contributer, taking the same path as Smoltz and Isringhausen.

 

To me, Prior is the biggest disappointment in the last 20 years. It's not as much that he was hurt as much as he was a soft as baby skin. He refused to pitch through any pain and shut down too quickly. To me, Kevin Orie, Rueben Quevedo, and Bobby Hill were bigger disappointments than Patterson.

Wood is still a solid contributer, taking the same path as Smoltz and Isringhausen.

 

To me, Prior is the biggest disappointment in the last 20 years. It's not as much that he was hurt as much as he was a soft as baby skin. He refused to pitch through any pain and shut down too quickly. To me, Kevin Orie, Rueben Quevedo, and Bobby Hill were bigger disappointments than Patterson.

 

See post 28.