Didn't they trade Pie and acquire two pitchers?

 

I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to imply he was traded for outfielders, however the outfield had became too crowded with guys who can hit and play D. Fonsi only hits, Dome is great on D, Johnson is great on D and can hit some, and Bradley was a new addition. Hendry wants to win now and the Cubs window is closing, they don't have the time to let Pie develope in the Bigs and triple A is doing him no good.

Let me add this as well. Pie was out of options, so he would have either had to make the big leauge roster or be released. He would have never made the Roster, so at least we got a piece that the Padres wanted and if not a decent young lefty

Pie is only 23 yrs old. Unless this is a move for Peavy, this is a horrible move on the Cubs part.

I get the feeling that Piniella has never seen a lot in Pie. I wished the Cubs would give him a shot to find out once and for all if he can be a contributor in the majors, and he was the best defensive CF they had. Baltimore has Adam Jones in CF, so I don't know that Pie gets a full shot there, either.

Pie is only 23 yrs old. Unless this is a move for Peavy, this is a horrible move on the Cubs part.

Not sure if you are aware what "options" are, but Pie was out of them, meaning he would either have to be on the 25 man roster or be released. He couldn't have been sent back to the minors. It was either trade him now for something or release him after spring training and get nothing.

I get the feeling that Piniella has never seen a lot in Pie. I wished the Cubs would give him a shot to find out once and for all if he can be a contributor in the majors, and he was the best defensive CF they had. Baltimore has Adam Jones in CF, so I don't know that Pie gets a full shot there, either.

 

Baltimore has said they are going to put Pie in LF

Baltimore has said they are going to put Pie in LF

I don't think that Pie has enough offensive potential for LF, but this is the Orioles, after all.

I don't think that Pie has enough offensive potential for LF, but this is the Orioles, after all.

 

I agree but it seems thats where they plan to use him. Dome didn't have enough offense to warrant playing RF either but he did it:lol:

I really don't have a problem with getting rid of Pie. I think all Cub fans had high expectations for him, but he has yet to produce and the Cubs are more of a "win now" team than one that can wait on him. Johnson and Fukudome will split time in CF and they should be fine there.

 

The starting rotation is a bigger concern for me. Harden has a minor tear in his throwing arm, and with his injury history, I'm very concerned about his status. Rothschild has already said he's not even close to being ready to throw off the mound. Z and Lilly are a solid 1-2 right now, but without Harden it gets shaky after that. Marshall will be good for about 25-30 starts this year, and Samardzija will get a chance to be the #5, but getting Peavy would be huge if that's the route the Cubbies decide to take. Either way, I think were solid with Marmol and Kelly Gregg as the setup and closer.

 

I think the biggest offseason move that will come back to bite Chicago is getting rid of DeRosa. With him you have a player that can play 5 different positions and is one of the more underrated hitters in the game. Also a great teammate who was one of the leaders in the clubhouse. Absolutely hate to see him go, both on and off the field.

The Cubs' biggest issue is defense, especially up the middle. DeRosa had a nice couple of years, but if the Cubs can't overcome his absence they aren't nearly as good as they think they are.

 

Theriot at short, Fontenot-Miles at second and Fukudome-Johnson in center doesn't show a lot of defensive promise.