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MLB: Cubs Playoff Roster

CYdTracked

CYdTracked

Well-Known Member
Mar 23, 2006
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Grimes, IA
So watching some of the games this week got me thinking who should make the post season roster because a few guys are definitely making cases for and not being on it this week. Lou said he is probably going with 11 pitchers meaning 14 position players.

The obvious:
Soto
Blanco
Cedeno
DeRosa
Fontenot
Lee
Ramirez
Theriot
Edmonds
Fukudome
Johnson
Soriano
Cotts
Marmol
Wood
Dempster
Harden
Lilly
Marquis
Zambrano

That's 20 (12 position 8 pitchers)

So pick 2 from the position players:
Ward
Hoffpauier
Pie

And 3 from the pitchers:
Howry
Marshall
Samardzija
Wuertz
Gaudin
Hart

After last night I don't see how you can't have Hoffpauier on the roster and I am really split on Ward and Pie because I thought no chance Pie could ever make it but he's batted .316 since his callup with OBP of .381 and adds a defensive replacement and pinch running option while Ward has struggled all year and is hitting just .188 this month, .150 in August and .174 in July which to me is not good numbers for a guy who is supposed to be your big left handed bat off the bench.

For pitchers I really don't want to see Howry make it but he probably will. He's been terrible lately and I would guess Marshall and Samardzija will make it too because Gaudin is still banged up and if he was healthy he'd be a shoe in I think. Wuertz and Hart have looked good at times but are too inconsistent.

So what do you Cubs fans think?
 
I don't want to be a downer, but I think what you listed above is pretty cut and dry on who should be on the roster! You really can't take a risk and reach for any other players than within your 40 man roster.
 
I don't think Marquis is a SHOE in... but if he is...
We take Ward and Hoffpauir. And we take Gaudin (if he's healthy), Samardijza, and Marshall. Howry gets put on if Gaudin isn't healthy.
 
guitarchitect7 said:
I don't want to be a downer, but I think what you listed above is pretty cut and dry on who should be on the roster! You really can't take a risk and reach for any other players than within your 40 man roster.
Click to expand...

So which 2 do you think makes it from Pie, Ward, and Hoff? I'm betting Hoff and Ward although I'd almost rather not take Ward and go with Pie. I'm not a Pie fan, in fact he's probably my least favorite player on the team because he's been a waste of talent but I think he would bring more options in a tight game than Ward. Pinch hit I want Hoff, defensive replacement and pinch runner I want Pie leaving Ward the odd man out.

I do think Marquis is a shoe in but he'll be pitching out of the pen. He's had an ERA under 4 the past 3 months and was 5-5 over that stretch. I don't think he's done anything over that span to hurt his chances of making the playoff roster like he did struggling down the stretch last season. Big Z's last 2 outings still concern me even with the no hitter before that. Dempster is going to be the Game 1 starter then either Z or Harden 2 and 3 with Lilly as the 4th guy in the rotation.
 
As I tried to explain in last night's game thread, the post season roster is limited to players on the active (25 man, not 40 man) roster as of 8/31. There have to be injury or DL situations to tap into the 40 man roster.
 
I wish Gaudin was ptiching like he was prior to his injury...He was a key part of our bullpen and could have been a solid 7th inning to go with Marmol and Wood
 
Steve said:
As I tried to explain in last night's game thread, the post season roster is limited to players on the active (25 man, not 40 man) roster as of 8/31. There have to be injury or DL situations to tap into the 40 man roster.
Click to expand...

Isn't that just a formality? "Uh oh, looks like Joe has hamstring trouble. We're going to have to call up Bob from the 40 man."
 
I think you got to have Pie for his speed. The ability to steal a base late in the game is incredibly valuable in the postseason. Just ask Dave Roberts and the 04 Red Sox!
 
Clonegrad07 said:
I don't think Marquis is a SHOE in... but if he is...
We take Ward and Hoffpauir. And we take Gaudin (if he's healthy), Samardijza, and Marshall. Howry gets put on if Gaudin isn't healthy.
Click to expand...

I'd agree. I don't know that Marquis will be in for sure.
 
travman23 said:
So which 2 do you think makes it from Pie, Ward, and Hoff? I'm betting Hoff and Ward although I'd almost rather not take Ward and go with Pie. I'm not a Pie fan, in fact he's probably my least favorite player on the team because he's been a waste of talent but I think he would bring more options in a tight game than Ward. Pinch hit I want Hoff, defensive replacement and pinch runner I want Pie leaving Ward the odd man out.
Click to expand...

I've been a fan of Hoff for a few weeks now, long before last night. I think he should be the top bat off the bench (but dear God don't let him play defense). He's batting .400 in 25 ABs since his call-up in September.
 
I'd go with Pie and Hoffpauir. Ward really brings nothing to the table right now that these two can't. Pie is the fastest guy on the team, and Hoffpauir probably has the most power from the left side on the bench (and probably the right side). He also brings more of a glove as a back-up at 1B than does Ward. The only thing Ward really has going for him is his veteran experience, but the same could be said about Marquis and Howry.

That being said, I still want Gaudin on the playoff roster. I think he's just working out the kinks right now, but could be very effective in the next couple of weeks. I think Samardzija is a lock, as well. I would rather see Marshall in there next. And I'm unsure about the last pitcher. I'd rather have Marquis than Howry. But would be ok with Hart over both of them...
 
Well if you want to talk about injury "formalities" Lieber went on the 60 day DL on Sept 9th and if Gaudin is not healthy enough there are 2 spots right there you can use for that late callup exception.

Right now the pen has been terrible, read they have a 5.89 ERA in September. The worst ones in the pen this month:

Cotts: 7.20 although only given up a total of 4 runs in 3 of 8 appearances
Howry (aka gas can): 6.35 although technically he has not given up a run since Sept 2nd but 4 walks and 10 hits in 5 2/3 not a good thing.
Samardzija: 5.87 after not giving up a run the entire month in August over 14 1/3 innings.
Wuertz: 6.23 (just 3 runs in 1 appearance otherwise he's been OK)
Marshall: throw out his 2 starts and he had 2 1/3 scoreless relief innings
Wood: 7.45 6 of 7 for saves
 
superdorf said:
Cause he comes in with a 3 run lead and gives up 2.
Click to expand...

Somebody made a good point the other day, probably during one of the games I was watching. But, Wood is really not any different than Dempster was the past couple of years. Still quite shaky. Although, I still feel more comfortable seeing Wood come in to close than I ever did with Dempster. And, ironically, I'm now way more confident to see Dempster on the mound than any other Cubs pitcher. And I'm glad to see that he'll be the first game starter. What a difference a year makes!
 
I would bet that the cubs only take 12 pitchers at the most. That would be 3 starters and 9 relievers.
 
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