Why the 2010 Milwaukee Brewers Will Suck
Editor’s Note: Yes, it’s that time of year again - the time for us to settle back into our protective bubble where the Chicago Cubs are destined for greatness, and every other team in the National League Central is bound for spectacular failure. If you’d care to check out last year’s fare:St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros. Already featured for 2010: Cincinnati Reds, Houston Astros.
The 2010 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and that means two things: (1) we’re all so deprived of real baseball action that we’re willing to treat meaningless Spring Training games like they’re the playoffs, and (2) the prognosticators are out in full force. Yes, every sports publication in the world puts out a season preview. Some are interesting, some aren’t. For the most part, folks just don’t have the time necessary to do the kind of in-depth preview that is going to be of any use to a reader that actually follows the team being previewed.
So most previews end up being pretty surface level, and boring. Well, we’re not going to do that here at Bleacher Nation. It’s much more interesting (notice how I subtly pat myself on the back?) to simply examine why the team currently sucks and is going to suck in 2010.
So enjoy - we’ll be previewing the suckiness (suckosity?) of the other teams in the National League Central over the next five weeks. Up next, Bud Selig’s favorite beer-swillers, the Milwaukee Brewers. Read the full preview on why the 2010 Milwaukee Brewers will suck, after the jump.
ShareThe Cubs Clearly Think Mike Fontenot Can Be the Backup Shortstop
Mike Fontenot is locked in a battle with Jeff Baker to be the starter at second base (even though it’s a natural platoon situation, but whatever - I don’t get paid $4 million by the Chicago Cubs to make these decisions like Lou Piniella), but the Cubs are hoping he can also be the backup at shortstop.
And so far, so good.
Manager Lou Piniella also was pleased at something that didn’t show up in the box score: Mike Fontenot’s performance at shortstop.
“That’s one of the highlights of [Monday's] game,” Piniella said. “He made a couple real nice plays and felt real comfortable out there. We’ll continue to play him there from time to time. It gives us different options, if we chose.”…
“I enjoy moving around,” Fontenot said Tuesday. “It’s fun to do that. Most of the time, if I’m not starting, I’m probably at shortstop. It breaks up the monotony.”…
Fontenot had been slowed by a sore right shoulder, which he injured last Thursday in the Cubs’ first Cactus League game when he took a tumble at third base. He hasn’t had any problems since.
“I completely forgot about it,” he said.
The Athletics didn’t waste any time testing Fontenot’s throwing ability, as he fielded several grounders in the early going.
“They tried to get me right off the bat,” Fontenot said. “That’s usually what happens is you get out there and someone hits a missile at you. It was just good to get out on the field. I hadn’t played in a few days.”
The throw from short compared with second base is different.
“It’s a little bit further,” he said. “You just have to move your feet a little more and make sure you’re not just sitting back. You have to get your feet set.”
The left-handed-hitting infielder batted .305 in 2008 and was tabbed the Opening Day second baseman for ‘09. But he batted .236 in 135 games last year. The good news is that he never let his offensive struggles carry over onto the field.
Fontenot doesn’t mind moving back and forth in the infield.
“It’s always good to show the Cubs, or anybody else, that you can play multiple positions,” he said. “You never know what’s going to happen. I look forward to any opportunity I can get on the field, even if they want to throw me out in the outfield. I’m available for anything.”
Last year, pitcher Sean Marshall was moved to left field for one batter so he could stay in the game in relief. If Marshall can handle the outfield, so can Fontenot. But the Cubs will worry about the infield for now.
“I was encouraged by what I saw,” Piniella said. “He feels comfortable with it, which is more important than anything else.” cubs.com.
Interesting that Fontenot said it’s good to show the Cubs or anybody else that you can play multiple positions.
To me, it’s pretty clear that the Cubs are not going to carry an extra infielder for defense. Andres Blanco’s knee injury didn’t make the decision, but it didn’t help. Piniella is already touting Fontenot’s ability to handle shortstop, and that’s really all he needs to know. Ultimately, it’s probably fine. Ryan Theriot will rarely sit, and if he’s out for an extended period of time, the Cubs will bring up a defensive shortstop - Starlin Castro or otherwise.
ShareSpring Training Battle Watch: March 4, 2010
If you’ve been around long enough to remember, you’ll recall that we believe the primary focuses (foci?) of Spring Training games are (1) who’s making the team? and (2) who’s playing where? Those are the Spring Training Battles, and they mean a whole lot more than the actual outcome of the games. So that’s what’s up. And off we go.
The Cubs exploded all over the Athletics in their first Spring Training game, 9-3. Save some for the rest of Spring Training, guys - er, and the season. To the Battle notes:
- Sean Marshall threw two hitless innings, and unless he’s traded, he’ll make the team - the question is simply whether he’ll be a starter or reliever.
- Mike Parisi, the Cubs’ Rule Five pick de jour, is also gunning for a spot in the rotation, but he’d be happy to settle for a spot in the pen. He threw two innings and gave up a solo home run, striking out two.
- Tyler Colvin has an outside shot of making the big club as a back-up outfielder, and although his ability to handle center field defensively might make more of a difference than his hitting, his hitting sure isn’t lacking. Already drawing rave reviews for his batting practice spectaculars and his added muscle, Colvin homered and doubled twice.
- Starlin Castro went 1-3 with a triple, but he’s still highly unlikely to make the club.
- Chad Tracy and Brad Snyder each had a hit in a couple of at bats.
Initial Spring Training Rotation Set
All of the Chicago Cubs’ expected starting pitchers, and those competing to be in the starting rotation, will get a shot in the first week of Cactus League games.
The Cubs have their Cactus League rotation set for the first five games. Randy Wells will get things started Thursday vs. the A’s, with Carlos Zambrano scheduled for Friday vs. the Diamondbacks. Carlos Silva will go Saturday vs. White Sox, and Jeff Samardzija and Tom Gorzelanny will both start Sunday in split squad games. Ryan Dempster goes Monday at Oakland. Sunday is the first of five scheduled split-squad games. Muskat Ramblings.
Mike Parisi and Sean Marshall, who are also gunning for a starting spot, will follow Wells in Thursday’s game. Keep an eye on who keeps starting as the Spring Training schedule wears on - most teams don’t keep their offensive starters in the game much beyond the first half, so getting pitching starts, as opposed to relief appearances, is the best way to test a guy’s starting mettle.
ShareEsmailin Caridad Has Already Won a Bullpen Spot?
The race to take a spot in the Chicago Cubs bullpen is a wildly crowded one. Carlos Marmol, Angel Guzman (if healthy), and two of the would-be starting pitchers (Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny, Jeff Samardzija, and Carlos Silva (sigh)) seem like mortal locks to make the pen.
But is a fifth pitcher already locked in as well?
Piniella said rookie right-hander Esmailin Caridad, who debuted last August and had a 1.40 ERA in 14 appearances, is all but assured a spot in the bullpen.
”He’s on the team; he’s almost got to pitch himself off,” Piniella said. ”I don’t think he will. I like this young man. He competes. He’s got a good arm. He can pitch a lot. And he handled himself here quite well the last two months or so of the season that he was here.”
In fact, it might not be out of the question to see Caridad pitch himself into a late-inning setup role, especially if Guzman’s recovery goes longer than expected.
”He’s got the stuff for it,” Piniella said. ”Now, does he have the experience, the savvy? We’ll have to wait and see. One good thing about this young man is he’s not scared.” CHICAGO SUN-TIMES.
Caridad has been high on the Cubs’ radar since late 2008, but I’ll be frank: I had no idea that he was this locked in. Given that the list of other pitchers competing for spots in the bullpen is almost too long to recount without missing someone (Jeff Gray, Mike Parisi, Jeff Stevens, Justin Berg, Blake Parker, John Gaub, Thomas Diamond, James Russell, J.R. Mathis, Jeff Kennard, Vince Perkins, Casey Coleman, and Andrew Cashner), it’s hard to imagine that Caridad is locked in.
But so Piniella has said. I guess we’ll see how it plays out, and hopefully Caridad doesn’t get complacent.
ShareHere’s Something Scary: Carlos Silva Was Really Trying in Seattle
Whenever the Chicago Cubs bring a reclamation project on board, there are certain things that can inspire optimism. The guy was playing through pain or with a lingering injury the last couple of years. The guy was having family issues that distracted him. The guy had signed a huge contract and became complacent.
Any of these things would allow Cubs fans to have just the tiniest shade of optimism about new arrival, Carlos Silva. Silva, acquired in a crap-in, crap-out swap with the Mariners for Milton Bradley, was absolutely horrible in his two seasons in Seattle. Sure, he was hurt last year, but he was awful in 2008, long before the injury. But, he had signed a huge contract before 2008, so maybe, for those first two years, he had let himself go a little bit. Maybe he let himself get comfortable - and we can cling to the hope that he will rededicate himself now. Yes. Yes. I’m starting to feel the optimism.
The only thing that could bring me down would be to learn that Silva was really committed to being the best he could be when he arrived in Seattle.
Silva now is battling not only for a spot in the Cubs rotation but also to redeem himself.
“To be honest, for me, my last two years have been very disappointing, and not for Seattle, but for myself,” Silva said Friday. “It was disappointing because I worked very hard for my numbers and to have a good season.
“But here [with the Cubs], I’m coming with a clear mind. This is my first year in the big leagues, know what I mean? I don’t care how long I’ve been in the big leagues.”
Actually, his first season was 2002. Silva made his Major League debut on April 1 that year for Philadelphia. But he’s decided to make a fresh start. Forget the two seasons with the Phillies or the four with the Twins, although his success in Minnesota helped him get a four-year, $48 million contract with the Mariners in December 2007.
Now, Silva joins Jeff Samardzija, Tom Gorzelanny and Sean Marshall as candidates for a spot in the Cubs rotation.
“We’ll just let ‘em pitch,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “We have a lot of split-squad games early, so we’ll need some innings. There’s some jobs to be won here right now, not only in the rotation but in our bullpen.”
That’s fine with Silva.
“I like to have competition, I like to be fighting for my job, I like to own my spot,” Silva said. “When I signed the contract with Seattle, my mind changed so much. I wanted to maybe impress everybody. I wanted to show people why they paid me so much money — I don’t know why, but I think that’s how I felt. cubs.com.
Son of a crap. If that’s what Silva pitches like when he’s really trying, when he’s committed to being all he can be, what’s he going to look like for the Cubs? Throw in the fact that he’s reportedly out of shape, and it’s probably absurd for us to hope for anything more than Silva taking up space in the bullpen.
Then again, maybe he was saying that, after signing that big contract, he put too much pressure on himself to perform. Maybe he got out of his usual routine, and tried too hard. Maybe now that the expectations could not possibly be any lower, Silva will be able to get back to what made him a (moderately) successful pitcher in the first place - throwing strikes, using his defense, keeping the ball down. Maybe he really can pull it together enough to be a 4.30ish ERA, fifth starting innings eater for the Cubs. Maybe.
Aw crap. Look at me getting optimistic again.
ShareJeff Samardzija Really Wants to Start for the Cubs
Jeff Samardzija came to the Chicago Cubs on a major league contract when he was drafted a few years ago. That means that he came with big expectations.
And although he’s performed well in his way up the minor league chain, and was great in a brief stop with the Cubs in relief at the end of 2008, he was very disappointing last year in his first chance to really claim a full-time gig at the big league level. In his mind, that was at least partly because he never felt certain about where he was going to be - in the majors or the minors, in the rotation or in the pen. Hopefully this year, wherever he ends up, is where he ends up.
The right-hander had three stints with the big league team, April 23-May 6, June 30-Aug. 13 and Sept. 8 through the end of the season. He was looking for a chance to settle in one place. Shuttling back and forth didn’t help last season.
“That’s probably No. 1 on the list,” he said. “Just knowing in my head I wasn’t going anywhere and I had a solid month or however many starts to make the adjustments I wanted to make and go from there.”…
In 2008, Samardzija was used strictly in relief with the Cubs and posted a 2.28 ERA in 26 games. Last season, he made his first Major League start Aug. 12 against the Phillies — one of two starts in 2009 — and served up seven runs on eight hits over 3 1/3 innings. Not exactly an outing worth celebrating, but Samardzija said now it was all positive.
“I’m pretty good at ‘in the moment’ and being kind of stubborn with myself and being set in my ways and what I want to work on,” Samardzija said. “I took a lot out of last year. Was it tough and how I wrote it up? It wasn’t how I wrote it up, and it was tough. But I learned a lot and learned how it works growing up in this league and just playing baseball in general.
“I’m happy with where I’m at now with where I’m pitching and how the ball’s coming out. I really haven’t put the ball down this offseason, which feels great. It’s the first time I’ve done that. I’m ready to go.”
He’s still young baseball-wise and knows it. Samardzija made a name for himself on the football field, catching passes as a stellar wide receiver at Notre Dame. The Cubs selected him in the fifth round of the 2006 Draft, and he has committed full-time to baseball.
Now, it’s a matter of finding the right role. He succeeded as a reliever in ‘08 but wants to start.
“The future — you never know,” Samardzija said. “I want to give starting a fair enough shot. I feel with my body and with my arm I can be a successful starting pitcher who goes deep into games every fifth day. I feel that can happen.
“Being a young guy, there’s still stuff I need to work on, and coming from a football background, maybe there’s even more to work on. I want to give [starting] its fair shot. I’ve done it my whole life.
“I wouldn’t qualify last year as giving it a full shot to be a starter. I thought at the end of the season it went pretty well, but it was only two starts, and you can’t take too much from that. I want to do it. That’s how I’m looking at it.”
There is an opening in the Cubs rotation. Ted Lilly could miss the first month, maybe less, after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder in early November. There are three starters set in Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells, and lots of candidates for the vacancies, including newly acquired Carlos Silva.
Samardzija, Gorzelanny and Sean Marshall are all friends. But they’re all competing for the same thing.
“As a young guy, that’s how you look at it first is that they’re buddies,” Samardzija said. “Obviously, they’re good friends and they’re on your team and you want to win with them. The older you get, the more you understand what this game is about. In the end it’ll make you stronger.” cubs.com.
Given that Samardzija, more so than Gorzelanny, Silva and even Marshall, is thought of by the Cubs in their long-term plans, you have to believe he’ll be given every opportunity to claim that fifth starter spot. Many believe, however, that his future is in the bullpen. He’s always looked like a guy who can be dominant in bursts where he can let it all hang out, but struggled a bit when he had to hold something back in order to pitch 6, 7 innings.
ShareSpring Training Participants
Here’s a helpful recap of the players participating in Spring Training with the Chicago Cubs this year - pitchers and catchers report this week. Thanks to Bruce Miles for putting this together.
Pitchers: Mitch Atkins, Justin Berg, Esmailin Caridad, Ryan Dempster, Rafael Dolis, John Gaub, Tom Gorzelanny, John Grabow, Jeff Gray, Angel Guzman, Ted Lilly, Carlos Marmol, Sean Marshall, Marcos Mateo, Mike Parisi, Blake Parker, David Patton, Jeff Samardzija, Carlos Silva, Jeff Stevens, Randy Wells, Carlos Zambrano
Catchers: Welington Castillo, Koyie Hill, Geovany Soto
Infielders: Jeff Baker, Andres Blanco, Mike Fontenot, Micah Hoffpauir, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot
Outfielders: James Adduci, Marlon Byrd, Tyler Colvin, Kosuke Fukudome, Sam Fuld, Xavier Nady, Alfonso Soriano
Nonroster invitees
Pitchers: Andrew Cashner, Casey Coleman, Thomas Diamond, Jeff Kennard, J.R. Mathes, Vince Perkins, James Russell
Catchers: Robinson Chirinos, Steve Clevenger, Chris Robinson
Infielders: Darwin Barney, Starlin Castro, Blake Lalli, Kevin Millar, Chad Tracy, Josh Vitters
Outfielders: Matt Camp, Brett Jackson, Bryan LaHair, Bobby Scales, Brad Snyder
Obvious player to watch: Starlin Castro
Dark-horse candidates to watch: Darwin Barney, Blake Parker
Pitching prospect to watch: Andrew Cashner
Annual Rule 5 pick: Mike Parisi
I’d also suggest watching John Gaub, a lefty with a chance to make the pen, Jeff Stevens, a righty with a chance to make the pen (received from the Indians, together with Gaub and another prospect for Mark DeRosa), and Casey Coleman - the Cubs’ minor league pitcher of the year last year, whom I think could have a very outside shot at landing the fifth spot in the Cubs rotation.
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