Cubs Postseason Roster

The Cubs won the NL Central. Now the real fun begins next week with playoff baseball. Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella have some decisions to make concerning the roster. Here is in my opinion whoshould be on the Cubs 25 man roster for the post season.

Catchers – Geovany Soto and Henry Blanco. Really not any decision to make here. These two will make the team.

Infield – Derek Lee, Mark De Rosa, Ryan Theriot, Aramis Ramirez, Mike Fontenot, Daryle Ward and Ronny Cedeno. Again not much controversy here. These guys have all been with the team from April and all of them will be there in October.

Outfield – Alphonso Soriano, Jim Edmunds, Reed Johnson, Kosuke Fukadome, and Felix Pie. Soriano, Johnson and Edmunds are givens. Kosuke has been horseshit since July but has to make it. He still brings the glove and can lay down a bunt. Still, he should not start any games in the playoffs. The Cubs will more then likely only carry 11 pitchers. That leaves one spot for a position player. To me it comes down to Houfpauir and Pie. While I think Houfpauir has had a tremendous year at Iowa, in the playoffs you might need a pinch runner or someone to go play centerfield. Pie fills both roles. (He may be the fastest guy on the team.) So, while I feel bad for Houfpauir, Pie should make the roster.

Pitchers – Carlos Zambrano, Rich Harden, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly, Kerry Wood, Carlos Marmol, Neal Cotts, Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardijza, Bob Howry, and Jason Marquis. To me this comes down to three guys for two spots. The four starters are obvious as are Marmol and Wood. Marshall and Cotts have to make it because you will need at least 2 lefties in the post season. Samardzija has been shaky lately but in the post season I think he will turn it on. This guy is a big game player. So, that leaves Marquis, Gaudin and Howry for two spots.

Gaudin based on last night’s performance looks like he is still hurt so, this decision becomes easier. Marquis has earned a spot. He has pitched much better over the last six weeks. He also provides insurance in case Zambrano or Harden get hurt. On top of that, he can pinch hit or pinch run or you could ask him to lay down a bunt. Howry has been bad all year. Howry has two pitches at this point. A straight as an arrow low 90’s fastball and a slider that is as flat as a pancake. Both of those pitches are very hittable. Howry needs to be perfect with his location or he gets hit. I just don’t trust the guy and I think he is done. However, there is no other choice. I’m sure that Hendry and Piniella are hoping his experience in the post season will serve him well. I just hope we don’t need him in a crucial situation to get a big out.

Let’s hope these 25 can get it done and this city can celebrate like never before. I have always maintained the day the Cubs win it, it will make the celebrations we had for the 85 Bears, the 2005 White Sox and the 6 Bulls Championships look like a funeral in comparison.