Soriano hurt

[BillScottCanRake]

"they are more worried about using Pie's options than they are lacking confidence in his ability"

That's not it. The Cubs have already used one of Pie's options this year. Pie isn't being brought up because Soriano plays LF and they already have several options with Murton, Floyd, Pagan, and DeRosa. Eric Patterson is no slouch as a prospect either.

 

Just to clarify what John said, players get "option years", which are basically years in which a player can be shipped back and fourth between the majors and minors as many times as a team wants.

 

More information can be found at the Brewerfan.net FAQ.

 

How does "optioning" work? Generally, after 3 pro seasons, a player must be protected on a club's 40-man roster or he becomes eligible for the Rule 5 draft. Once a player is added to a club's 40-man roster, the club then 3 available option years during which they can place him on "optional assignment" to a minor league club. A player can be sent up and down as many times as the club so chooses within those three seasons. Once a player is "out of options", he must clear "waivers" in order to be sent down again. * If a player is not sent to the minors during a year, an option is not used. * If a player is on the 40-man roster in spring training but optioned to the minors before the season is underway, an option is used. * If an assignment in the minors lasts 20 days, an option is not used.

Since Pie has spent time in the minors this season, he's use an option. He can't use any additional options until next season no matter how many times he might be recalled or sent down.

[brewcrew00]

ESPN just reported that it's not a strain but rather a 1cm tear in the muscle. For those curious a strain is several micro tears in a muscle, so for it to be classified as a tear and not a strain, it has to be somewhat serious. I would imagine he's out longer than a month.

[razzzorsharp]

Quick update: On ESPN they said Soriano tore his quad, instead of just straining. They said the tear was 1 cm though I don't know what that really means.

[saget]

Tears are not good, I know that much.

[splitterpfj]

A torn quad is the same injury Joe Mauer had earlier in the season, he missed a full month.