Kind of some boring notes for today-
- Corey Koskie will start every other day for the rest of Spring Training.
- The Cubs are expected to make an announcement that they will retire #31 in honor of Maddux and Fergie Jenkins on May 3rd.
- Lou is not ready to officially announce the 5th starter but Santo believes no doubt that it will be Marshall.
- Lou loves Jose Ascaino velocity. He also really likes David Patton.
- Ron thinks Hoff will be a star this year.
-------------------------------------------------------------
- The Cubs may look to release Paul Bako if they name Koyie Hill their backup catcher. The Cubs will likely go with Johnson and Castillo in AAA Iowa but the Cubs may pursue Josh Bard, who was recently released by the Red Sox. Bard has done a good job this Spring going 6 for 14 with a homer, 5 RBI, and 2 doubles. He is now 30 years old and has been on the decline the past couple of season (mainly due to injury woes.). In 2007 he hit a respectable .285 with a .364 OBP, 5 homers and 51 RBI in 118 games. In 2006 he had a great season, hitting .338 with a .406 OBP, 9 homers, and 40 RBI in 93 games. Josh Bard is switch hitter and a good defensive catcher ( except last season when he just threw out 7.6% of base runners, a season when he was dealing with shoulder woes). He had a 37.1% caught stealing rate with the Indians from 2002 to 2005 and caught 14% of base runners as a Padre (may be due to the air in San Diego).
He has been on the decline but I feel the Cubs should offer him a minor league contract and have him play with Castillo in AAA Iowa and release Mark Johnson, that way if Hill does not handle the job in Chicago the Cubs have Castillo/Bard option rather than Castillo/Johnson.
Just makes sense to me.
More to Come!
2 comments:
I hope Ascanio and Patton make the team. They have some really good arms.
Santo is the man!!!!
Post a Comment