Cintron released today

[ryno4ever]

I just heard it on ESPN 1000 that he was released. I'm thinking that he was Hendry's backup plan....and he shall not be named will not be making his way to the northside now....just my speculation.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

I look for him to sign with the O's very soon. They were in pursuit of him before the Cubs signed him earlier this off-season.

[Bockstock]

I'm guessing this means Cedeno and Fontenot make the team, and begs the question what do the Cubs plan on doing with Murton??

He still has options, but I read somewhere Hendry promised to trade him if he didn't attain a significant role on the roster.

[cubbyfanforever]

I look for him to sign with the O's very soon. They were in pursuit of him before the Cubs signed him earlier this off-season.

Took the words right out of my mouth. I was at Orioles hangout, they even have a thread that says "Does anyone know of any SS that will be released by other teams soon? "

[Cubbies10]

He has had troubles this Spring, wasn't really going to get time with us so good decision to release him.

[cubbyfanforever]

MESA, Ariz. -- Ronny Cedeno is in. Alex Cintron is out.

That's the word at Cubs camp Wednesday morning as Cubs players packed their belongings onto the equipment truck to be shipped back to Chicago for the regular season.

Cintron, who received a non-roster invitation to camp, was hampered this spring by a freak injury in which he was hit in the face by a foul ball off the bat of Mark DeRosa. No sooner did he return to action when he was sidelined with a sore hamstring.

Cintron hit .316 in 38 at-bats and played well defensively, but was the victim of a numbers game. The Cubs have made nothing official yet, but Cintron's locker was cleared out on Wednesday morning and he was not in camp.

Cedeno hit .308 this spring and earned a chance to return as the back-up to Ryan Theriot at short. The experiment to try Cedeno in center didn't go well and he only got a couple of appearances out in the outfield. Nevertheless, Cedeno was out of options and had to either make the club or be put on waivers, where some team no doubt would've claimed him.

Cedeno said Wednesday he was told that he'd made the club.

That leaves one spot open for either Matt Murton or Mike Fontenot, so it depends on whether the Cubs want to have an extra infielder or outfielder. The Cubs already have five outfielders, including two reserves in Daryle Ward and Reed Johnson. Murton has had a productive spring, hitting .345, while Fontenot has hit .255.

It's a tough decision for Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella, since both players made contributions to last year's division-winning team.

[Cubbies10]

Its hard to keep Matt Murton on the roster, should we really carry 6 Outfielders? its going to be one hard decision to make for the management.

[TrueBlueCubFan]

I'm guessing this means Cedeno and Fontenot make the team, and begs the question what do the Cubs plan on doing with Murton??

He still has options, but I read somewhere Hendry promised to trade him if he didn't attain a significant role on the roster.

Where did you read Hendry saying this? B/c I can't recall ever hearing or reading this.

My guess is they won't give Murton away. He is likely to be sent to AAA & provide a nice insurance policy in case one of the Cubs corner OF'ers goes down.

[InfinitePulse]

Yeah they're definitely going to keep Murton around because he is prime trade bait.

[ryno4ever]

I don't know. I'm wondering if they won't keep Murton and send Fontenot down. Soriano's legs aren't proven at 100% yet and Lou has stressed that he wants to keep everyone fresh by giving them more days off.... Pie is simply unproven...as is Fukudome at the major league level. Having the backup of Murton gives Lou a little more flexibilty in the outfield on any given day.

In the infield, there is much more versitility among the everyday players. Ward can play first, Dero can play just about everywhere in the infield, Theriot short and second, Cedeno short or second, and possilby third.

I think Murt will stay for his bat off the bench.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Its hard to keep Matt Murton on the roster, should we really carry 6 Outfielders? its going to be one hard decision to make for the management.

Once Johnson was signed, that pretty much ended Murtons chances. Murton has nearly no value with this current roster. I like Murton, but he really isn't good a 1 thing, hes bellow average at all things IMO.
Johnsons the 4th outfielder, but hes CF if Pie can't progress. Ward can play right or left and Cedeno can play center. So, how can Lou justify Murton taking a roster spot to be the 7th outfielder? He can't. Hes gotta be traded so he can play, its the right thing to do for Murtons sake.

[ryno4ever]

Okay I was wrong in my thinking, on chicagosports.com they just announced that Fontenot got the spot:

That leaves the last spot for Mike Fontenot as the Cubs decided to go with an extra infielder over an extra outfielder. The Cubs will bring five outfielders to Chicago, including two reserves in Daryle Ward and Reed Johnson.

It was a tough decision for Jim Hendry and Lou Piniella, since both Fontenot (who hit .255 this spring) and Murton (who hit .345) made contributions to last year's division-winning team.

Murton will be sent to Triple-A Iowa or traded.

[Cubbies10]

Murton really has to be traded, we cant ask him to spend another season in and out of the minors, its not really fair on him.

Just on a side note people, ESPN 1000 is going a focus on the NL Central within in the next hour and a half on the Mike Tirico show, so it might be worth getting it on.

[cubbyfanforever]

Murton really has to be traded, we cant ask him to spend another season in and out of the minors, its not really fair on him.

Just on a side note people, ESPN 1000 is going a focus on the NL Central within in the next hour and a half on the Mike Tirico show, so it might be worth getting it on.

I think the Orioles trade is still on, why would we have Cedeno and Fontenot on the team at the same time, the logical choice would be Murton and Cedeno on the team, unless Murton and Cedeno I think will be included in a trade.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Orioles trade or not, Murton MUST be traded because he has no chance with this team.

[cubbyfanforever]

Per ESPN 1000...

The Cubs released Alex Cintron.. Too many concerns about his hanstring and elbow.

Stoney Also said he believes the Ro***s trade is FAR from dead.. Too many Orioles scouts at our games lately. He believes a final push is being made for him as we speak.

[cubbyfanforever]

Orioles trade or not, Murton MUST be traded because he has no chance with this team.

You are right, I just like Murton but we have to trade him.

[Cubbies10]

I really dont mind if we get it done or not, when you have 3 months of speculation, reports it is a done deal, and then reports it is dead you get tired of it, if we trade for him, fair enough, if we dont i can deal with it.

[cubbyfanforever]

Ro***ts would be a huge upgrade right now over Cedeno because simply he would just take his place in the roster.

[Bockstock]

Where did you read Hendry saying this? B/c I can't recall ever hearing or reading this.
.

I believe Bruce Miles stated it. I can't remember if I read it on-line or from a secondary source on-line, since I don't live in Chicago and can't listen to 1000 or 670 for Cub updates/talk.

[ryno4ever]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/player?station=chicago

They are talking about the NL Central on espn1000 for this hour for those interested.

[Cubbies10]

Been enjoying it so far, Suppan was on talking about the Brewers, and how they have a better feeling in camp this year.

[ryno4ever]

It dawned on me yesterday, though, that during the Opening Day ceremonies the Cubs will have the 2007 National League Central Champions pennant raised at Wrigley.... with the Brewers lined up along the first base line to watch the whole thing...... he he he!

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

I love how all they talk about is the NBA. Who the hell cares about the NBA?

[ryno4ever]

It will back to the Cub talk in a moment, the guy on the phone is actually the real host of the show who is on NBA assignment..... the guy filling in is doing the NLCentral previews.

[LeeEila's/rant]

Once Johnson was signed, that pretty much ended Murtons chances. Murton has nearly no value with this current roster. I like Murton, but he really isn't good a 1 thing, hes bellow average at all things IMO.
Johnsons the 4th outfielder, but hes CF if Pie can't progress. Ward can play right or left and Cedeno can play center. So, how can Lou justify Murton taking a roster spot to be the 7th outfielder? He can't. Hes gotta be traded so he can play, its the right thing to do for Murtons sake.

I think for the first time I agree completly with you :D

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

I think for the first time I agree completly with you :D

Well, that took long enough! Haha! :D

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

ENOUGH NBA TALK!!!!

[cubbyfanforever]

Been enjoying it so far, Suppan was on talking about the Brewers, and how they have a better feeling in camp this year.

Yeah, it only got better when their front office said that they were going to lock up Fielder and Braun for long term contracts, as you remember Fielder was pi**ed with the contract that was given to him I think a month ago.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Here we go with a 15 minute commercial, great. More Mike Greenberg crap.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

Yeah, it only got better when their front office said that they were going to lock up Fielder and Braun for long term contracts, as you remember Fielder was pi**ed with the contract that was given to him I think a month ago.

Yeah, that was a slick move by Melvin, make your MVP really mad. I'll bet when he becomes a F/A, hes gone.

[Cubbies10]

They do like there NBA on this show but the little bits they do on baseball are usually pretty good, they haven't really talked about the Cubs yet so we still have that to go.

Forgot about that Ryno4ever, will be a pleasant day to watch that flag be raised and all there eyes on it, not long to go now :)

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

I just can't wait for the first pitch, I can't believe its almost here!

[SkullKey]

" ..... during the Opening Day ceremonies the Cubs will have the 2007 National League Central Champions pennant raised at Wrigley..... "

Yea Baby !!!

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

OMFG, I'm wasting my time listening to this crap. Its all about NCAA or NBA.

[Cubbies10]

lol NP, tell me about it, and for someone who has little interest in the NBA and no interest in college ball, its very hard listening to this waiting for some baseball talk.

[ryno4ever]

From Cory Provus' blog on wgnradio.com (the guy who does the Cubs pregame show on WGN radio):

Alex Cintron won’t be a Chicago Cub. He cleaned out his locker after the game yesterday once team personnel informed his agent that he wouldn’t be on the team. Cintron, when healthy, played well this spring. However, he was the odd man out with Ronnie Cedeno and Mike Fontenot ahead of him on the depth chart. The Cintron news wasn’t all that surprising, but what came next sure was.


Lou Piniella announced this morning that both Fontenot and Cedeno would be on the team at the start of the season. We figured that one would make the team but not both. This is bad news for Matt Murton fans. Murton, at the very least, will begin the season in the minors but most likely will be traded in the next 24-48 hours. He deserves an everyday big-league job and that won’t happen as a Cub. Once we hear anything, I’ll be sure to pass it along.


Have a great day…

Cory

This was just posted on his blog (http://wgnradio.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=108&Itemid=312)

[InfinitePulse]

You might want to wait for the local shows then... this is national.

[ryno4ever]

http://sports.espn.go.com/stations/espnradio1000/

They had been talking about (and with) teams from the Central.

[ARamfan]

It dawned on me yesterday, though, that during the Opening Day ceremonies the Cubs will have the 2007 National League Central Champions pennant raised at Wrigley.... with the Brewers lined up along the first base line to watch the whole thing...... he he he!

This will be GREAT to see. Since you'll be there, get a pic if possible. ;)

[ryno4ever]

I will try to get pictures of EVERYTHING.... Opening Day is something every Cub fan should experience at least once in their lifetime. It's not even as much the game, but the electric buzz that surrounds Wrigleyville for the hours before it. It is like a HUGE family reunion with tons of cousins you have never met.... you feel that "bond" to complete strangers. You feel comfortble talking to complete strangers who are wearing the bonding blue and white.

So, I am hoping to catch the excitement for those who are unable to experience it....

[Leprechaun]

i always said i liekd murton.. but he had no spot on the team and he wont be a complete player till he STARTS... wiht that in mind trade him... it woudl be better for both him and the cubs