Early Postion Topics to Discuss

[Jeff Pico]

What do you think about these topics?

IT IS WAY TO EARLY TO BENCH FELIX PIE. He needs to play, and 4 games is not enough to draw any conclusions. After all, what was Ramirez hitting after the first 4 games?

IT MAY BE TIME, HOWEVER, TO BENCH RYAN THERIOT: Cedeno has been good so far today, a 3-run double, and a run-saving catch that The Riot cannot make. I love Theriot on the bench, but not in my starting lineup.

HOWRY WILL STRAIGHTEN HIMSELF OUT, DON'T WORRY: A couple bad outings, big deal. He hasn't been Mr. Consistency anyway; sometimes bad, sometimes very very good.

I HOPE PIGGY IS RENTING IN CHICAGO, NOT BUYING: Looks like a ticket to Iowa awaits when Eyre is healthy.

MURTON IS PROBABLY DOOMED TO STAY AT IOWA: I don't think he is taking any at-bats from Fuku vs. LHP. I don't think Reed Johnson is getting himself shipped out anytime either. Barring injury or trade, I feel bad for Matt.

SORIANO IS A GOOD PLAYER, BUT NOT A SUPERSTAR: I am assuming he does rebound from his .072 start.

[nathanKent]

IT IS WAY TO EARLY TO BENCH FELIX PIE. It is. Our commitment is to him, not Reed Johnson. But if he doesn't progress, we need to be prepared to commit to Reed Johnson.

The fact that Johnson just whiffed on a fly out to deep center makes me like Pie more.

IT MAY BE TIME, HOWEVER, TO BENCH RYAN THERIOT: Cedeno will have to show me a lot to make me agree with this statement. And I'm not a big Theriot fan either.

HOWRY WILL STRAIGHTEN HIMSELF OUT, DON'T WORRY: He looked considerably less terrible today.

I HOPE PIGGY IS RENTING IN CHICAGO, NOT BUYING: I'd take Piggy over Eyre any day. He's getting his nerves straightened out. We've gotta give up this hope that Eyre will ever again be the Eyre of 2003.

MURTON IS PROBABLY DOOMED TO STAY AT IOWA: Likely true, unless Fukudome gets moved to CF.

SORIANO IS A GOOD PLAYER, BUT NOT A SUPERSTAR: Great arm, decent speed.... reminds me a lot of Sammy at the plate.

[Scartissue]

IT IS WAY TO EARLY TO BENCH FELIX PIE. Agreed. I don't judge anyone over the course of 4 games. Even Pujols can look like Neifi over such a short period of time.

IT MAY BE TIME, HOWEVER, TO BENCH RYAN THERIOT: Preaching to the choir, my man. Been singing that tune since last year.

HOWRY WILL STRAIGHTEN HIMSELF OUT, DON'T WORRY: Agreed. Relievers are notoriously inconsistent. Guys like Mariano Rivera are extremely rare, and Howry's about as consistent over his career as you will see out of relievers.

I HOPE PIGGY IS RENTING IN CHICAGO, NOT BUYING: Haven't seen him enough this year.

MURTON IS PROBABLY DOOMED TO STAY AT IOWA: Depressing, but not much can be done.

SORIANO IS A GOOD PLAYER, BUT NOT A SUPERSTAR: I felt that way when we were pursuing him, and felt that way even after his solid year last year. My feelings are not affected by his poor start. He's not even the best player on this team. He's behind Lee and Ramirez in my view, and might be behind Fukudome when all is said and done. I think he's a very good player that is overrated. His contract will look real bad in a few more years.

[wrigleybum]

IT IS WAY TO EARLY TO BENCH FELIX PIE. Yep. Johnson really misjudged a crucial fly ball and let it go for a double today. Pie would have caught that. But you guys shouldn't just write off Pie's slow starts. Yes, everyone can have a bad batting average after 4 games, but you have to look at his plate appearances. He is not swinging at good pitches or showing good plate discipline. Still he is a stud fielder/runner, and is the future, so we have to commit to him.

IT MAY BE TIME, HOWEVER, TO BENCH RYAN THERIOT: For Ronny Cedeno?? I'm sorry, I don't think The Riot is a good starter, but I hate Cedeno. Maybe it's just me though...(Can Brian Roberts play SS??)

HOWRY WILL STRAIGHTEN HIMSELF OUT, DON'T WORRY: Straighten himself to a decent middle reliever? I've never been a big Howry fan, but I don't mind seeing him in the 6th or 7th inning. He for sure won't be as bad as the beginning of the season.

I HOPE PIGGY IS RENTING IN CHICAGO, NOT BUYING: Haha. Agreed, Eyre had a great second half, and hopefully that will continue.

MURTON IS PROBABLY DOOMED TO STAY AT IOWA: "Depressing, but not much can be done."-Couldn't put it better myself.

SORIANO IS A GOOD PLAYER, BUT NOT A SUPERSTAR: No but he is a very solid player, and we seem to have a handful of very solid players, which is a good sign.

[nathanKent]

Guys like Mariano Rivera are extremely rare, and Howry's about as consistent over his career as you will see out of relievers.

And even Rivera gets cold sometimes. I'd rather have Howry cold in April than in August. Still, how does he get by? He has one pitch. It's a good pitch, but it's still only one. Even Wuertz has two, even if he leans on the one most of the time. (His one is good too.)

Depressing, but not much can be done.

I still say move Fukudome to CF and bring back Murton. That gives us the option to trade away Pie. Fukudome was a gold glove CF in Japan, and fielding is the one thing that's relatively consistent at all levels (meaning that it doesn't get a whole lot more difficult between AAA and the majors).

I felt that way when we were pursuing him, and felt that way even after his solid year last year. My feelings are not affected by his poor start. He's not even the best player on this team. He's behind Lee and Ramirez in my view, and might be behind Fukudome when all is said and done. I think he's a very good player that is overrated. His contract will look real bad in a few more years.

Yep. I think he'll be our #3 power hitter, our #3 runner, our #4 fielder, and probably our #5 OBP guy. If Cedeno and Pie live up to their supposed potential, you can drop him him to #3, #4, #6, and #6. And he'll probably never repeat the 40-40-40 thing. At this point I think he's a 30-20-40 guy at best. 30-20-40 and #3, #3, #4, #5 is not worthy of that kind of contract.

[nathanKent]

Johnson really misjudged a crucial fly ball and let it go for a double today. Pie would have caught that.

I was thinking the same thing.

For Ronny Cedeno?? I'm sorry, I don't think The Riot is a good starter, but I hate Cedeno. Maybe it's just me though...(Can Brian Roberts play SS??)

I don't like him much either. I hesitate to say this, but he doesn't look bad thus far this year. But I'm not holding my breath.

As for Roberts at SS, his FP there suggests that Jason Kendall would be an equally good choice.

[Jeff Pico]

Barring a trade, it's going to be Theriot or Cedeno at SS, two players with almost completely different skills, and both with flaws.

Cedeno has good range, some pop, nice arm. He can't take a walk or steal a base, and makes as many dumb mistakes as great plays.

Theriot is a smart player; he works a count, makes contact, takes good chances on the bases, and doesn't make dumb mistakes. He has zero power, not much range, and a rag arm.

If we could combine the two somehow, we would have an All-Star.

[Hack_Miller]

Barring a trade, it's going to be Theriot or Cedeno at SS, two players with almost completely different skills, and both with flaws.

Cedeno has good range, some pop, nice arm. He can't take a walk or steal a base, and makes as many dumb mistakes as great plays. .

Watching Cedeno is so frustrating. Supposedly he has a great arm but how many times have we seen him get cute and side arm it into the dugout. You get the feeling that he has the talent to be a good ML player but he seems content to be exactly what Theriot is, a marginal one.