The Chicago Tribune's headline and beat writer Paul Sullivan's assertion -- "[Ronny Cedeno] figures to get a full-time role in 2006" -- is undermined by GM Jim Hendry's actual quote offered in support: "'We're very high on Ronny, and I feel if he continues to progress he has a very good shot at playing for us next year,' general manager Jim Hendry said."

That statement hardly means anything, and and is the kind of statement made by general managers all the time about young players who may or may not actually get a starting job the next season.

Moreover, without input from the man who actual makes the lineup decisions -- Dusty Baker -- it's impossible to say whether Cedeno is a "likely" starter next season. Baker obviously feels that playing Cedeno now would mean that he wasn't trying to win games. Is a few months going to change that?

I don't even know if Cedeno should be a likely starter next year. He has certainly shown remarkable improvement the last couple of years. He went from a 552 OPS with high-A Daytona in 2003 to a 729 OPS with double-A West Tennessee in 2004 to a 921 OPS with triple-A Iowa this year. His power has slightly increased each year, as has his batting average. His walk rate has remained largely the same, though it is a bit higher in 2005. In 69 at-bats and 4 walks with the big league club this year, Cedeno has hit .304/.351/.391. He has also shown a nice glove. Plus, he will only be 23 next year. He is likely to get even better.

Cedeno isn't going to play every day during the month of September. That's too bad. From all appearances, the dropoff from Neifi Perez to Cedeno doesn't exist. Even if it did, the Cubs would be better served finding out what they have on their hands.