Yardbarker: Angel Pagan

Looking at the roster....

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:53:35 -0500

Ok, here's a closer look at the 40 man roster, without changing the core of the team there will still be a significant change to the roster......

Free agents this year:

Pedro Martinez, Oliver Perez, Orlando Hernandez, Luis Ayala, Nelson Figueroa, Brandon Knight, Ricardo Rincon, Al Reyes, Tony Armas, Matt Wise,

Damion Easley, Fernando Tatis, Moises Alou, Gustavo Molina, Ramon Martinez, Argenis Reyes, Trot Nixon

Option Year:

Carlos Delgado

Under Contract:

Johan Santana, Scott Schoeneweis, Mike Pelfrey, Billy Wagner ( 60 day)

Brian Schneider, Ramon Castro, Luis Castillo, David Wright, Jose Reyes, Marlon Anderson, Carlos Beltran, Endy Chavez

Arbitration years:

John Maine, Ryan Church, Angel Pagan, Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, Pedro Feliciano

Under Control(option players):

Adam Bostick, Ambiorix Burgos, Eddie Kunz, Carlos Muniz, Jonathan Niese, Bobby Parnell, Joe Smith, Jason Vargas, Nick Evans, Daniel Murphy

Of the group of free agents the only ones I see that have a chance of getting a major league contract is Luis Ayala, Tatis and maybe Damion Easley. The rest will move on or get minor league deals with invites, I believe Ollie will out price himself. As they already indicated Delgado will be pick-up. Those under contract Castillo, Anderson and Schoenweis have to go and I could see one of the catchers moving for a more durable or offensive minded player. Arby player, Heilman has to be moved and Sanchez might go as well.

When all is said and done under my estimation 14 players without options will be returning with the 10 option players on the 40 man roster. So with Santana, Maine, Pelfrey, Feliciano, Ayala, Delgado, Wright, Reyes, Beltran, Church, Pagan, Tatis, Chavez, Schnieder staying and Castro, Sanchez and Easley on the ropes. That doesn't include guys like Smith, Parnell, Murphy, Evans and Niese who have options but could or will make the team. Even without making a drastic move the Mets roster this year will look significantly different.

Lightning in a bottle

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:00:14 -0500

If the Mets make the playoffs or even if they don't one of the amazing story lines will be their ability to catch lightning in a bottle. The Mets are on the verge of a 90 win season which is a very respectable number and even though we'll be disappointed if it doesn't result in a playoff birth the fact is they rebounded well.

Who would have thought when we were in fourth place, seven games behind, double digits below five hundred, and being swept by the lowly Padres in a four game series by the score of 2-1 in three of them, with Willie was on the verge of being fired we would be where we are. We actually have a legitimate shot to make the playoffs with just three games left to play and while I would have liked them to play better down the stretch they have shown enough resiliency and determination to stay in the fight....

Yes, the expected players have come through as Delgado has rebounded from what probably was a slow recovery from a wrist injury. Church carried the team through the first quarter of the season and when he went down Wright took over until Sept. All along Reyes has fueled the fire and Beltran continues to quietly stack-up HOF numbers.

But if you said that a team would lose their number three starter (Maine), Projected Fifth starter (Hernandez), All-Star Closer (Wagner), Starting left fielder (Alou), Fourth outfielder ( Pagan), Fifth outfielder (Nixon), Sixth outfielder/utility player (Tatis), Seventh outfielder (Clark) and ground ball specialist reliever (Wise) all for the season. And then get no production out of the starting second baseman (Castillo) due to slow recovery, lose the starting right fielder for half the season (Church) and your number four starter (Pedro) who when he did finally come back was in-effective. The bench consisted of a never used third catcher, and two ineffective players (Chavez/Anderson) who slump offensively most of the year. Along with losing the replacement second basemen (Easley) down the stretch to injury and having both catchers in and out of the line-up all year. Also losing back-up pitching options in AAA to injuries ( Armas/C. Vargas/J.Vargas/Burgos), couple that with a nightmare manging distraction and you'd say it was a fifty win season.

The Mets have had a successful season thanks to contributions from the most unlikely characters and even some of those are part of the injury list but Manuel became an expert at catching lightning in a bottle.

To start the season Angel Pagan became the player who was passed back and forth between the Mets and Cubs for cash considerations to a .275 hitting starting left fielder.

Regardless of missing the last two weeks of the season Fernando Tatis should be the comeback player of the year, before dislocating his shoulder diving for a fly ball he was hitting .297. Tatis a natural third basemen was a starting corner outfielder, number six hitter and a key component of this team after not playing regularly since 2003.

Then their are the two rookies straight out of double A, Nick Evans and David Murphy. Evans had that three double debut in Colorado and has cooled since but the righty is still hitting a respectable .262. Murphy already has a nickname ( D-Rex) and has turned into a starting number two hitting table setter. Murph is hitting .325 and continues to come up big hitting a ninth inning triple in a tie game.

Then there are the journeyman who are the epitome of playing the hot hand. Rem. Raul Casanova the catcher who's bounced through multiple organizations and hit .273 in 20 games when Schneider went down. Now Robinson Cancel who has been a career minor leaguer is filling in at catcher and had a huge game tying hit last night along with hitting .245 (not bad for a catcher). A. Reyes stuck in the Indians system for six years signed a minor league deal this year and came up for the first time to play a decent second base and while he's very cool now (.219)in July hit .286. Who would of thought the 28 y/o castaway from the Rays, Brian Stokes would have played such a key role in the pen down the stretch or waiver wire pick-up Luis Ayala would be the closer. The regulars in the pen have been bad but some of the call-ups have contributed at times including 33 y/o Brandon Knight and Nelson Figueroa. Until the three run bomb Mexican League pitcher Ricardo Rincon had been perfect against lefties.....

Finally with second base once again becoming a black hole and other then one year of Jose Valentin hasn't been productively filled since Jeff Kent/Edgardo Alfonzo days, Ramon Martinez emerged. Manuel has been reluctant to use the call-ups he's been unfamiliar with and Martinez was waived earlier this year by the Dodgers when they were begging for infielder but he was slow to recover from a thumb injury. In his first major league at bat of the season he hit a double and then drew a walk. Last night he got his first start and played a solid second in the muddy infield, with the season on the line he had a huge hit.

It's truly Amazin that the Mets are even in this position.......

Pirates Dealing Wilson, Sanchez

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 21:52:55 -0500

Pirates GM Neal Huntington was a little naive when he came into this season thinking the Pirates could compete. While Paul Maholm and Ian Snell may be on verge of stardom, the offense cannot support the pitching, especially a lineup without a power hitter like Jason Bay. The Pirates will likely trade Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez to clear up some payroll, as well as bring in a couple prospects in return. It is possible the Mets could be a suitor for Freddy Sanchez. They currently have Luis Castillo in the spot, but they are reportedly looking to trade him. Bringing in Sanchez wouldn't cost the Mets more than a pair of Double-A prospects, along with a player like Angel Pagan. As for Wilson, he will likely be dumped for a Double-A prospect and cash. Because he is 31, and has a high salary, it should bring down his value. Nonetheless, a team that misses out on Rafael Furcal or J.J. Hardy (through trade), could be in on Wilson. The Orioles, Tigers, and Blue Jays are possible suitors.

The Pirates are still several years away from being a contender, but they should start building up their minor league system in preparation of competing in four or five years. One way they can do this is by trading their big salary guys, and putting some of that money towards drafting better players. They did that somewhat in this draft by drafting Tanner Scheppers and Pedro Alvarez. Scheppers is injured and that dropped his value from a Top 10 guy to an early second rounder, a great pick by the Pirates.

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Pirates Dealing Wilson, Sanchez

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:36:41 -0500

This story was approved by MLB Rumors.

Will Cubs Add Reinforcements?

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 21:33:43 -0500

With the AAA Iowa Cubs having been eliminated from the PCL playoffs yesterday and with veteran RHP Jon Lieber having suffered a possible career-ending arm injury, I would think that there will be some additional players added to the Cubs active roster today or tomorrow.

The most-likely candidate for recall would be OF Felix Pie, but 1B-OF-RHPH Jason Dubois might be a possibility if Lou wants a power RH bat off the bench. And veteran 4-A OF Andres Torres had a smokin' PCL playoff run, and he could be used as a SWPH, late-inning OF defensive replacement, and PR, especially since Pie has never really learned how to steal bases. Torres is comparable to ex-Cub OF Angel Pagan.

As for pitchers who might get summoned, fireballer RHP Rocky Roquet has been the hottest Cubs AA/AAA reliever going back to July 21st. Over that period of time (at AA Tennessee through August and then promoted to Iowa for the PCL playoffs), the 25-year old Roquet has thrown 22.1 IP, allowing just 11 H, 3 R (2 ER), 7 BB, 32 K, and only 1 HR, with a 0.80 WHIP, 1.21 ERA, and a .142 OBA. While Roquet doesn't have to be added to the 40-man roster until after next season, Lou loves power arms in his bullpen, and Roquet throws a 96 MPH heater with a mid-80's slider.

And if Hendry/Piniella want a rubber-armed swingman (spot starter/long reliever) to replace Lieber, 26-year old RHP Randy Wells fits that bill. The Cubs will very likely add Wells to the 40-man roster post-2008 anyway (otherwise he can be a six-year minor league FA), so bringing him up to the big leagues now wouldn't be a stretch. Wells was selected by the Blue Jays in the Rule 5 Draft last December, but was reclaimed by the Cubs in April.

And there's always the possibility that the Cubs might add a veteran reliever like 39-year old RHP Hector Carrasco, who spent the 2008 season at Iowa. Carrasco had success as a righty set-up man in the big leagues as recently as a couple of years ago (at Washington in 2005 and with the Angels in 2006), but it's unknown how he would fare now.

RHP Mitch Atkins was the best I-Cubs starter down the stretch, but he's only 22, and while he has developed an effective cutter that has turned him into a legitimate MLB rotation starter prospect, I doubt that he will be brought up now, since he has no experience working out of the bullpen. He is a lock to be added to the 40-man roster post-2008, however.

If the Cubs need additional slots on the 40-man roster prior to the end of the season, they can always transfer Rich Hill from the 15-day DL to the 60-day DL, or place Lieber on the 60-day DL, or outright LHP Carmen Pignatiello and/or RHPs Adam Harben and/or Billy Petrick to the minors (although if they are outrighted prior to signing 2009 MLB contracts, Pignatiello, Harben, and Petrick would be eligible to be minor league free-agents).

Since Lieber was on the Cubs 15-day DL on August 31st. he would provide the Cubs a third post-season roster exemption (allowing the Cubs to add a third player to their post-season roster who was not on the 25-man roster or 15-day or 60-day DL on 8/31) if he is placed back on the DL prior to the start of the NLDS. RHP Chad Fox (on the 60-day DL), and LHP Rich Hill (who was recalled from Daytona and placed on th 15-day DL on 8/31) give the Cubs their other two available post-season roster exemptions.

Updated Cubs Post-Season Roster

Fri, 05 Sep 2008 20:09:29 -0500

I posted something regarding the Cubs post-season roster options here at TCR last month, but here is the updated Cubs 2008 post-season roster eligibility list.

The 29 players on this list are automatically eligible to be included on any of the Cubs three post-season 25-man rosters (NLDS, NLCS, or World Series).

Any player on this list who is on the DL prior to the start of a post-season series can be replaced on the active roster by any player (regardless of position) who was in the Cubs organization as of midnight 8/31.

And any player on the list who is injured during a post-season series (NLDS, NLCS, or WS) can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) be replaced on the active roster during that series by any player who was in the Cubs organization as of 8/31, as long as the player plays the same position as the injured player. If this were to happen, the injured player is ineligible to return to the active roster for the duration of the post-season, although the replacement player could be exchanged for a different player (regardless of position) who was in the Cubs organization as of 8/31 prior to the start of the next post-season series (NLCS or WS).

* bats or throws left
# bats both

PITCHERS (16):
* Neal Cotts
Ryan Dempster
Chad Fox (placed on DL - 5/19)
Chad Gaudin
Angel Guzman (reactivated from DL - 9/1)
Rich Harden
* Rich Hill (placed on DL - 8/31)
Bob Howry
Jon Lieber (reactivated from DL - 9/1)
* Ted Lilly
Carlos Marmol
* Sean Marshall
Jason Marquis
Jeff Samardzija
Kerry Wood
Carlos Zambrano

CATCHERS (2):
Henry Blanco
Geovany Soto

INFIELDERS (6):
Ronny Cedeno
Mark DeRosa
* Mike Fontenot
Derrek Lee
Aramis Ramirez
Ryan Theriot

OUTFIELDERS (5):
Jim Edmonds
* Kosuke Fukudome
Reed Johnson
Alfonso Soriano
* Daryle Ward

To keep maximum roster flexibility for the three post-season series, the Cubs will certainly keep C. Fox and R. Hill on the DL through the balance of the regular season. Doing this will allow the Cubs to add two players to their post-season roster who were not on the Cubs 25-man roster or 15-day or 60-day DL on 8/31 (such as Micah Hoffpauir and Michael Wuertz, for instance), exchanging them for Bob Howry and Jason Marquis (for example).

This is what the Cubs did last year, when they used three of their four available 8/31 roster exemptions (Angel Guzman, Roberto Novoa, Mark Prior and Angel Pagan were on the DL on 8/31/07 and remained on the DL through the balance of the 2007 season) to add Kevin Hart, Geovany Soto, and Ronny Cedeno to their NLDS roster (Sean Marshall, Henry Blanco, and Craig Monroe were dropped), even though Hart, Soto, and Cedeno were recalled from the minors in September.

Marshall, Blanco, and Monroe, plus Will Ohman and Sam Fuld (who, like Hart, Soto, and Cedeno, had been recalled from the minors in September) continued to travel with the Cubs during the NLDS, however, and any of the three could have been placed back on the 25-man roster for the NLCS or WS if the Cubs had managed to get there. (Adding Ohman and/or Fuld to the 2007 25-man NLCS or WS roster would have required the Cubs to use their fourth 8/31 roster exemption).

Because they were on the Cubs 15-day or 60-day DL on 8/31/08, adding Angel Guzman and/or Jon Lieber to the Cubs NLDS, NLCS, or WS roster would only require that a player who was on the Cubs 25-man roster as of midnight 8/31 (like Howry) be removed from the active roster to make room for Guzman or Lieber (although it's admittedly quite unlikely that Lieber will be added to the post-season roster)

The main problem with adding Guzman (who had Tommy John elbow-ligament transplant surgery a year ago) to the post-season roster is that he has yet to throw two days in a row. In fact, he has so far thrown (at most) once every third day, and while he probably could throw two or perhaps even three innings (tops) when he does pitch, not being able to pitch more frequently--especially if the Cubs go with an 11-man pitching staff throughout the post-season--makes adding Gooz to the Cubs post-season roster a bit problematic. Now, if Guzman can show during September that he can throw two days in row (or at least one inning every-other day), that changes everything.

The post-season rosters can be altered (tweaked) from series to series, in case the Cubs want to drop a LHP (maybe Neal Cotts) in favor of a RHP (perhaps Kevin Hart) for one series, and then maybe replace the RHP (Hart) with that same LHP (Cotts) or maybe even a different RHP or LHP in the next one.

This roster flexibility also would allow the Cubs to carry an extra postion player (like Hoffpauir or perhaps Felix Pie) in case they want to go with an 11-man pitching staff (four starters and seven relievers) in the NLDS, as they did last year.

It also would come in handy if the Cubs get to the World Series, since Hoffpauir would seem to be a good candidate to be at least the left-handed platoon DH (if not full-time DH). In fact, the Cubs could use their two 8/31 roster exemptions to add both Hoffpauir and a right-handed slugger like Jason Dubois (presuming he gets brought up from Iowa after the conclusion of the PCL playoffs) to possibly platoon at DH in the WS. (I believe Daryle Ward would most-likely be used as a one-time per game LHPH even in the World Series, mainly because he is such a slow runner).

I think the Cubs probably brought up Casey McGehee on 9/1 so that Piniella could get a look at him as a potential right-handed bat off the bench, but also because they had planned to add him to their 40-man roster post-2008 anyway. But if McGehee continues to look overmatched, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Dubois is added to the Cubs active MLB roster once the PCL playoffs are over, with the possibility that he could be added to the Cubs NLDS, NLCS, or (especially) the World Series roster (when a DH would be needed).

Manny Parra Scouting Report, - Mets vs Parra

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 21:10:21 -0500

In case you never seen Manny Parra, This is what to expect when you watch the game. I also have a complete breakdown what the Mets have done against Parra. Enjoy!

Scouting Report on Manny Parra

Stats
	G	GS	W	L	ERA	IP	BB	SO
2008	27	26	10	6	4.00	148.2	67	127
2008 vs. NYM	1	1	0	1	6.75	4.0	1	4

Inside Edge
	ALL	FIRST PITCH	EARLY	TWO STRIKES	AHEAD	BEHIND	VS RHB	VS LHB	OPP BA
Fastballs	59%	66%	60%	46%	44%	74%	60%	54%	.356
Curves	24%	26%	25%	27%	30%	11%	19%	42%	.151
Sliders	2%	0%	1%	4%	4%	0%	2%	1%	.151
Change Ups	13%	7%	12%	16%	15%	15%	16%	2%	.140
Other	3%	1%	2%	7%	7%	0%	3%	2%	.140
Totals	1488	384	884	380	474	404	1197	291	.274

Mets vs Manny Parra

OPPOSING HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Jose Reyes	6	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	.333	.333	.333	.667
Carlos Delgado	5	1	0	0	0	1	0	2	.200	.200	.200	.400
David Wright	4	1	0	0	0	0	1	1	.250	.400	.250	.650
Luis Castillo	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Ramon Castro	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Damion Easley	2	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	1.000	.667	1.000	1.667
Marlon Anderson	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Oliver Perez	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Ryan Church	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Angel Pagan	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Moises Alou	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.500	.000	.500
Carlos Beltran	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.500	.000	.500
Nelson Figueroa	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Totals	34	8	0	0	0	2	2	11	.235	.289	.235	.525

How the tides have changed!

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:31:22 -0500

Today every Mets fan is waking up a little uneasy. Everyone who watched the game last night thought we were going to have a laugher but turned out being a slobber. The Mets are not in first place and today is the first day we have flashbacks of 2007.

The Mets have their ace on the mound, Johan Santana who has to put his best foot forward against our nemesis. Even if Santana pitches well and he don't go the distance,we have to look to see if this beleaguered bullpen can keep their heads on straight and overcome their fears of what happened to them last night. This bullpen has been overused and has not been replaced from last year. The same old parts and Omar has to look for fresh blood next year!!

The Phillies have Kyle Kendrick on the mound today who has not had a great year but, has been reliable against the Mets. It seems like the Phillies wake up all the time verse the Mets..

Kyle Kendrick vs Mets

	G	GS	W	L	SV	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	BAA
Last game vs. NYM		1	0	0	0	0	0	6.0	8	1	1	1	3	2	1.50	1.83	.320
Career vs. NYM	3	3	1	1	0	0	0	15.0	18	10	4	2	12	2	2.40	2.00	.295
Home (this year)	12	12	5	3	0	0	0	65.2	67	27	27	8	20	37	3.70	1.32	.259
Grass (this year)	26	26	11	7	0	0	0	140.1	167	84	76	18	51	64	4.87	1.55	.293

Mets vs Kyle Kendrick:

OPPOSING HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Brian Schneider	8	3	1	0	0	3	3	1	.375	.545	.500	1.045
Jose Reyes	8	3	1	0	0	1	2	0	.375	.500	.500	1.000
Ryan Church	8	4	0	0	1	1	3	0	.500	.636	.875	1.511
Carlos Delgado	7	4	2	0	1	1	1	1	.571	.625	1.286	1.911
Carlos Beltran	7	1	0	0	1	1	1	0	.143	.250	.571	.821
David Wright	7	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	.286	.375	.286	.661
Damion Easley	4	2	0	0	0	1	1	0	.500	.600	.500	1.100
Endy Chavez	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.250	.250	.250	.500
Trot Nixon	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000	.000
Mike Pelfrey	3	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.333	.333	.333	.667
Marlon Anderson	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	.000	.333	.000	.333
Oliver Perez	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Angel Pagan	2	1	1	0	0	2	1	0	.500	.667	1.000	1.667
Totals	65	22	5	0	3	10	14	3	.338	.456	.554	1.010

Johan Santana vs Phillies

	G	GS	W	L	SV	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP	BAA
Last game vs. PHI		1	0	0	0	0	0	8.0	8	2	2	1	0	4	2.25	1.00	.267
Career vs. PHI	4	4	1	0	0	0	0	27.2	20	8	8	2	6	25	2.60	0.94	.200
Away (this year)	14	14	6	4	0	1	1	95.0	87	35	32	9	19	73	3.03	1.12	.238
Grass (this year)	27	27	12	7	0	2	1	184.0	162	62	54	20	47	153	2.64	1.14	.233

Phillies vs Johan Santana

OPPOSING HITTER	AB	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS
Pedro Feliz	13	1	0	0	0	1	0	4	.077	.077	.077	.154
Geoff Jenkins	12	3	0	0	0	0	1	6	.250	.308	.250	.558
Pat Burrell	11	4	1	0	0	1	1	2	.364	.417	.455	.871
Jimmy Rollins	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Chase Utley	11	2	0	0	1	1	0	2	.182	.182	.455	.636
Jayson Werth	10	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.300	.300	.300	.600
Ryan Howard	10	3	0	0	0	1	0	2	.300	.300	.300	.600
Shane Victorino	6	1	0	0	1	1	0	0	.167	.167	.667	.833
Carlos Ruiz	6	3	0	0	0	0	0	1	.500	.500	.500	1.000
Eric Bruntlett	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	.250	.250	.250	.500
Chris Coste	4	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
So Taguchi	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Cole Hamels	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	.000	.000	.000	.000
Chad Durbin	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	.000	.000	.000	.000
Joe Blanton	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1.000	1.000	1.000	2.000
Totals	105	22	1	0	2	6	2	28	.210	.224	.276	.500

The 8/31 Exemption (and How to Use It)

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 05:30:36 -0500

August 31st is an important date for contending MLB teams, because that's the date that determines eligibility for post-season rosters.

To be eligible to play in the MLB post-season, a player must be on the club's 25-man roster or 15-day or 60-day DL as of 8/31. However, any player (regardless of position) who is a member of the organization on 8/31 is eligible to replace an injured player on the post-season roster as long as the injured player is placed on the DL prior to the start of the post-season series. (If the "replacement player" is not already on his club's 40-man roster, he must be added to the 40 before he can be added to the post-season roster). NOTE: If a player suffers a disabling injury DURING a post-season series, the club can (with approval of the MLB Commissioner) replace the player with any player who was a member of the organization on August 31st, although in this case (replacing an injured player DURING a post-season series), the replacement player must play the same position as the injured player, and the injured player is ineligible to return to the active list at any later point in the post-season.

Essentially, the more players a club can stash on its 15-day or 60-day DL on August 31st, the more post-season roster exemptions for the club. And more post-season roster exemptions gives a club greater flexibility to tweak its post-season roster from series-to-series.

Using post-season roster exemptions, a club can alter its LDS, LCS, and World Series rosters at the start of each series, adding players who were not on the 25-man roster or DL on 8/31. And since projected match-ups are one of the prime influences in determining how a post-season roster is to be constructed, the ability to add an extra lefty reliever in a series where the opposition has a left-handed heavy batting order, or an extra lefty bat off the bench when the opposition has a right-handed heavy bullpen, could give a club an edge. And in a short series involving two quality MLB teams, any little bit of an edge could make the difference between moving on to the next level and going home.

But to add a player or players to a post-season roster, a club needs post-season roster exemptions, and the only way to ensure having the exemptions when they are needed is to have a couple or three players riding the 15-day or 60-day DL on August 31st.

So how did the Cubs go about creating their post-season roster last season?

2007 CUBS 25-MAN ROSTER AS OF 8-31-07:

PITCHERS (11): Ryan Dempster, Scott Eyre, Rich Hill, Bob Howry, Ted Lilly, Carlos Marmol, Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood, Michael Wuertz, and Carlos Zambrano

CATCHERS (2): Henry Blanco and Jason Kendall

INFIELDERS (6): Mark DeRosa, Mike Fontenot, Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez, Ryan Theriot, and Daryle Ward

OUTFIELDERS (6): Cliff Floyd, Jacque Jones, Craig Monroe, Matt Murton, Felix Pie, and Alfonso Soriano

DISABLED LIST (4): Pitchers Angel Guzman (sprained elbow ligament), Roberto Novoa (fractured shoulder) and Mark Prior (shoulder surgery) on the 60-day DL, and outfielder Angel Pagan (colitis) on the 15-day DL

Because Guzman, Novoa, Prior, and Pagan were on the DL on 8/31, all four were eligible to be included on the Cubs 2007 post-season roster.

Note that the Cubs went with 11 pitchers for four days (8/28 through 8/31), as LHP Carmen Pignatiello was optioned to Iowa on August 28th, when OF Alfonso Soriano (strained quad) was activated from the DL. But then RHP Sean Gallagher and LHP Will Ohman were recalled from Iowa on September 1st, and RHP Steve Trachsel (acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on 8/31) was also added to the Cubs active roster on 9/1, giving the Cubs 14 pitchers right at the beginning of September (increased to 16 pitchers when Pignatiello and Kevin Hart were brought up on 9/4).

Trachsel was acquired from the Orioles on 8/31 but was not added to the Cubs active roster until the next day, so he was not automatically eligible for the post-season roster. However, he was eligible to be a post-season "replacement player" because he was a member of the Cubs organization on 8/31.

During September 2007, the Cubs recalled pitchers Sean Gallagher, Will Ohman, and Carmen Pignatiello, catcher Geovany Soto, infielder Ronny Cedeno, and IF-OF Eric Patterson from AAA Iowa (Patterson was subsequently optioned to AA Tennessee for disciplinary reasons), and selected RHP Kevin Hart and OF Sam Fuld from AA Tennessee, as Hendry & Piniella opted to go with a 34-man roster over the last month of the season. (Neal Cotts, Jake Fox, Juan Mateo, Billy Petrick, and Jeff Samardzija were not recalled from their minor league optional assignments).

Because Guzman, Novoa, Prior, and Pagan remained on the DL through the balance of the 2007 season, their roster slots became available as post-season roster exemptions, allowing the Cubs to add Kevin Hart, Geovany Soto, and Ronny Cedeno to their NLDS roster. (Hart, Soto, and Cedeno were brought up from the minors in September, so they would not have been eligible to be included on a post-season roster if not for the roster exemptions).

But adding Hart, Soto, and Cedeno to their NLDS roster meant the Cubs had to deactivate three players who had been on their 25-man roster on 8/31, and so they dropped pitcher Sean Marshall, catcher Henry Blanco, and outfielder Craig Monroe. (Marshall stayed "stretched-out" as a starter during the NLDS, throwing 70+ pitches for the Cubs AZ Instructional League team in a "Camp Day" intrasquad game at Fitch Park while the Cubs were in Phoenix to play the Diamondbacks at Chase Field, and Monroe kept active by taking early-morning BP every day that week at Fitch).

Marshall, Blanco, and Monroe, plus Will Ohman (who also threw an inning in the Camp Day intrasquad game at Fitch while the Cubs were in Phoenix) and Sam Fuld, remained with the Cubs throughout the NLDS (Trachsel, Pignatiello, and Gallagher did not), serving as potential "replacement players" in case of a season-ending injury to somebody during the NLDS, and as potential Plan "B" options in the NLCS and World Series (if the Cubs had gotten that far). For instance, Marshall could have been an alternative to Marquis as the #4 starter in an NLCS, or Hart could have been exchanged for Ohman, or Fuld could have replaced Pie or Murrton, or Murton or Pie could have been switched with Monroe.

So knowing what the Cubs did with their September call-ups and post-season roster last year, what are Hendry & Piniella likely to do this year?

If Hendry & Piniella once again go with a 34-man September roster, I would think pitchers Angel Guzman and Jon Lieber will be reactivated from the DL, catcher Koyie Hill will be brought up from Iowa to be the 3rd catcher (the Cubs always add a 3rd catcher in September) and post-season fall-back in case Soto or Blanco were to suffer a disabling injury, and pitchers Michael Wuertz and Kevin Hart, 1B-OF Micah Hoffpauir, and outfielder Felix Pie will be recalled from Iowa. That leaves two spots for a right-handed power bat off the bench (probably either 1B-OF Jason Dubois or OF Jake Fox) and another bullpen arm (probably either Jose Ascanio or Randy Wells).

At present, the Cubs have three players on the DL, with pitchers Chad Fox (sore elbow) and Jon Lieber (sore foot) on the 15-day DL, and pitcher Angel Guzman (TJS surgery rehab) on the 60. Guzman and Lieber will likely be activated from the DL in September, so probably only Chad Fox will provide the Cubs with a ready-made roster exemption for the post-season. (Fox could be transferred to the 60-day DL if an additional spot on the 40-man roster is needed in September).

Of course Lieber has the type of chronic foot problem that probably would allow the Cubs to place him on the DL any old time, so if the Cubs wish to replace a struggling and ineffective Bob Howry with Michael Wuertz and 5th starter Jason Marquis with Micah Hoffpauir, they should be able to do it just by leaving Chad Fox on the DL for the rest of the season and by placing Jon Lieber back on the DL before the start of the NLDS (since Lieber is unlikely to be on the Cubs post-season roster).

Also, LHP Rich Hill (on the Iowa DL with a back problem) and RHP Adam Harben (on the Daytona DL while on extended rehab from 2006 TJS) are both on the Cubs 40-man roster, so either (or both) could be recalled from his optional assignment on August 31st and then be immediately placed on the 60-day DL, giving the Cubs another post-season roster exemption (or two), as well as opening up one (or two) more slots on the 40 in September. (While Harben could get outrighted to the minors at any time, he would have greater value spending the rest of the season on the 60-day DL as a post-season roster exemption than he would by getting outrighted right away).

LHP Carmen Pignatiello and RHP Billy Petrick could also get outrighted if additional slots are needed on the 40-man roster in September, but it's more likely that they will be removed from the 40 after the season.

Mark two more up to the injured list

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:18:18 -0500

Trot Nixon and Angel Pagan are the latest to add their names to list of the Mets heading to Del Boca Vista.

What's wrong with the outfield?

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:25:50 -0500

I continue to hear more and more about the Mets wanting to trade for Xavier Nady to sure up the Mets outfield. Um...why? What is wrong with the outfield? Has Angel Pagan already fallen so far out of favor with Mets fans since he won the game over the Phillies in the 12th inning? Has the Angel Wave already run it's course in New York?

Just a thought: Pagan to first?

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:38:27 -0500

Sure, Carlos Delgado added two RBI's tonight. Sure, Angel Pagan has never played a game at first base. Sure, it's late and this is a most likely misguided thought in a giddy, Pagan-loving, Mets fans head. But. What about Pagan at first?

Catch-22: Pagan or Alou

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:28:11 -0500

As I reported last night, Moises Alou will play in a rehab game in Port St. Lucie, possibly as early as this weekend. When Alou is ready to come back to the team, the Mets will be faced with a very tough decision. Angel Pagan, who has been playing in place of Alou, has easily been the Mets best hitter so far in this young season.

Week 3 Diamond Waiver Wire Gems

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 09:03:08 -0500

Another one of FIO's weekly baseball articles, staff writer Tim Hays gives you some waiver wire players who you should be paying attention to. Whether you're streaming guys at a position or need a fill-in due to injury, these are the players to look at for a pick-up.

Alou to play rehab game

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:03:39 -0500

Moises Alou will play in a rehab game in Port St. Lucie, possibly as soon as next weekend.