Farnsworth and Fassero?

[SS Billy]

Any ideas on who should close now that Jeff Shaw has priced himself out of the running? Alfonseca is available but kind of a meathead...Fassero did a great job in a limited role last year but Farnsworth is still a little ' iffy' above the shoulders for me to hand him the ball in the 9th with the game on the line. But maybe he is ready.
I don't think Flash Gordon will be an impact player this year...Too much down time and looking done. Ideas?:confused:

[Baseball Guru]

If I were the Cubs I'd try and get Alfonseca....
He is better than anything else the Cubs have at this point....

[bd811]

id actually like to see them give it to one of the young guys...farnsworth expecially. If nt him, then duncan or chiasson. i wouldnt trade for alfonseca unless it is a really good deal.

[SS Billy]

BD811-
At this point Farnsworth is probably the best alternative..I agree about Alfonseca and I agreed with the Cubs brass that Shaw was overpriced..
I wouldn't give the ball to rookies in a contention year, which this is...but overall I'm feeling good about the Cubs chances. The NL central is going to come down to who stays healthiest but the Cubbies offense is improved as is their defense. The pitching is solid...If Hundley is healthy and remembers his swing from a couple years ago it's going to be Cubs at the top...:bigsquare :bigsquare :bigsquare

[bd811]

Originally posted by SS Billy
BD811-
At this point Farnsworth is probably the best alternative..I agree about Alfonseca and I agreed with the Cubs brass that Shaw was overpriced..
I wouldn't give the ball to rookies in a contention year, which this is...but overall I'm feeling good about the Cubs chances. The NL central is going to come down to who stays healthiest but the Cubbies offense is improved as is their defense. The pitching is solid...If Hundley is healthy and remembers his swing from a couple years ago it's going to be Cubs at the top...:bigsquare :bigsquare :bigsquare

i agree that they have a good chance this year. I think Hundley will have a really good year this year. He lost 12 pounds, and he has been workin on layin off the off speed pitches all offseason. plus, he will be healthy and last year his mother died so you cant say that didnt affect his performance. what do you think about prior coming up this year?

[SS Billy]

Everything I read about Prior (especially his college stats against aluminum bat wielding opponents) makes me think he's going to be a #3 starter by June.. The brass will keep him at AA at the beginning for future financial reasons but he'll be in the rotation by May....I think he's rookie of the year material if they bring him along slowly...I would like to see him as a #5 right out of the box. Wood, Lieber, Prior, Cruz and Bere is the September rotation in my perfect world, thats potentially 75-80 wins among the starters...but this IS the Cubs were talking about so I guess we'll play the season just to see....How about you? A Prior fan?
:cool:

[bd811]

Originally posted by SS Billy
Everything I read about Prior (especially his college stats against aluminum bat wielding opponents) makes me think he's going to be a #3 starter by June.. The brass will keep him at AA at the beginning for future financial reasons but he'll be in the rotation by May....I think he's rookie of the year material if they bring him along slowly...I would like to see him as a #5 right out of the box. Wood, Lieber, Prior, Cruz and Bere is the September rotation in my perfect world, thats potentially 75-80 wins among the starters...but this IS the Cubs were talking about so I guess we'll play the season just to see....How about you? A Prior fan?
:cool:

HUGE prior fan. I think he will definately be up by May, if he doesnt make the roster out of ST(which there is almost no chance he will), and when he is, i think we will have one of the best pitching staffs in the NL, maybe all of baseball. Its pretty exciting. I think the only reason they are keeping him down tho, is so his contract lasts longer--which is a pretty smart thing to do IMO.