This is an interesting read. I disagree with him in a coulpe areas.

Pitching staff: I think Marshall will be the 5th starter and Samardzija will open the season in the minors. The last bullpen spot will go to Angel Guzman because he's out of options and will not clear waivers.

Bench: I think they keep Gathright over Taguchi. The fact he's right handed and Japanese is not reason enough to keep him. I also think Hendry will add a right handed hitting 3B/1B better than Luis Rivas.

I also disagree with his batting order but I have that in another post.


http://www.goatriders.org/2009-early-roster-thoughts

Gotta disagree with your assessment of the Guzman situation. Unless he shows that he has fully returned to the form he showed 3 years ago and is impressive in the spring, they will probably deal him to another team for a minor league prospect or simply waive him. The bullpen has too many better candidates. Samardzjia may well go to AAA to start there, in anticipation of a possible need in the rotation, due to Hardens shaky status though. But if everyone should stay healthy, they would probably bring him back up and put him in the bullpen, by mid-season just the same. He's valuable as a bridge to the setup guys, or as a setup guy himself. After this season, they may well slot him into Harden's spot in the rotation.

I still expect a change or two, as I can't see Hendry really counting on Miles as the backup 3rd baseman, should Ramirez get hurt.

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Go Cubs!!!!

samardzija starts the season in the pen, right where he should be. no way he get demoted just to make room for angel guzman. if guzman is good this spring and earns a spot, great. if not, they arent going to hang on to him and watch him get his ass kicked just because of options.

if they really wanted samardzija to be a starter, he should definitely be in the minors. they need him in the pen, where he pitched well for them last year. samardzija got his ass kicked starting in the minors, and isnt close to being a starter in the big leagues.

The reason I think they give Guzman another chance is because he's only 27 yrs old and throws 95 mph. If he stays healthy he's a huge lift for the bullpen and can eventually take over the Bob Howry 7th inning role. If he gets hurt again, oh well, bring Samardjiza back. It just seems like a no lose situation to keep Guzman and let him work his way back because if the cubs don't someone else will.

They'll give Guzman every opportunity to win a spot in the pen, but I agree they won't keep him around simply because he's out of options. My guess is that Samardzija is the fifth starter or he starts in Iowa. While he may be better suited for the pen, they seem to really like his potential as a starter.

if he had been pitching in the majors and contributing, i would say he is "only" 27. i think in his case, as hyped up as he has been, it is more accurate to say he is "already" 27. every year we hear about him, and every year he doesn't deliver. i hope he earns a spot, but if he doesnt, thanks for the memories.

Plus lets not forget that prospects from the Carribean are very rarely the ages they claim to be he could be 27 going on 31

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