Derek Smart says that Ryan Theriot should not be an everyday shortstop, but instead should play the super-sub role. And he is right. Barring a trade for Miguel Tejada (for whom the Cubs refused to trade Mark Prior straight up in Winter 2005), Ronny Cedeno should be given an even shot to win the job in spring training.

Jake Fox (0-for-1) has "won" the battle with Scott Moore (0-for-5) to remain following Derrek Lee's return from his suspension. The Cubs have recalled Ronny Cedeno, who has been killing the ball at Iowa since his demotion, while demoting Moore.

Baseball Prospectus's Kevin Goldstein notes (sub. req'd) that Ronny Cedeno is doing what he does best: knocking the cover off the ball in triple-A. Cedeno hit 5 home runs in 4 games from June 27-30, and is now hitting .387/.466/.638 in 45 games for Iowa. The last time Cedeno was in Iowa, in 2005, he hit .355/.403/.518, leading to his disappointing audition as the starting shortstop for the big league club in 2006. If the Cubs could find someone to assume Cesar Izturis's overpriced contract, Cedeno may find his way back to the big leagues soon.

The Cubs have starting pitchers hitting better than shortstops Cesar Izturis and Ronny Cedeno. Lou Piniella has apparently had enough. Ryan Theriot is today's starter at short.

http://mvn.com/mlb-cubs/2007/03/21/cedeno-makes-teami-jump-off-a-cliff/

Earlier this month, The Cub Reporter's Rob G. stated, in a headline, that if Ronny Cedeno made the Cubs team, then Rob G. would "jump off a cliff." The implication was that Cedeno was not deserving of a roster spot and that by adding Cedeno to the team, then the Cubs were worsening their chances for success in 2007. Well, according to The Score AM 670, Cedeno has been added to the Cubs roster and Felix Pie has been sent down, yet again, to AAA. Will Rob G. keep his word?

In any event, let's check out young Cedeno's ST stats at:

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/stats/sortable_player_stats.jsp?c_id=chc

(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) Aramis Ramirez is not looking back. He is looking ahead.

Ramirez opened a three-game series at Philadelphia on Monday night with a two-homer, seven-RBI night, bringing his season totals to 35 homers and 110 RBIs.

Those numbers are respectable, and with an "out" clause in his four-year contract this winter, he could find some huge money on the free agent market.

(Courtesy of The Sports Xchange) The Cubs figure to activate shortstop Cesar Izturis from the disabled list either Monday or Tuesday, and they need to figure out what to do with rookie infielder Ronny Cedeno.

Cedeno, who has been subbing for Izturis, likely will move back to second base. However, the Cubs have been impressed with Ryan Theriot's play at second in recent weeks.

The Chicago Cubs have promoted second baseman Eric Patterson to triple-A Iowa. He made his debut last night, hitting a home run in his first at-bat. Nevertheless, as Chicago Cubs Minor League Baseball notes, Patterson's promotion "is a little surprising considering Patterson wasn't exactly lighting it up at AA West Tennessee with a line of 263/330/408." Patterson hit .333/.405/.535 for low-A Peoria last season. It's certainly possible that the Cubs are setting up a competition between Patterson and Ronny Cedeno for the starting second baseman job by sometime next season. Cedeno is just two months older than Patterson.