April Rotation

[bc2k]

Since it looks like we won't have at least one of Kerry, Prior and Wade Miller until sometime in May (at best), who will fill the 5-man rotation?

 

Or will John Baker go with a 4-man rotation?

[ThePenguin11]

The rotation will be:

 

Zambrano

Maddux

Rusch

Williams

Hill or Guzman

 

Personally, I would rather see:

 

Zambrano

Maddux

Guzman

Hill

Williams

 

...with Willams getting the skip in the rotation. What better time to see what these guys can do in the majors? They can't be any worse than Rusch can they? Not that he's awful, but he's gotten by with some pretty plain stuff.

[CUBZ99]

I may be alone on this one, but the Rusch signing is looking pretty good right now. To have a guy that can make 2 or 3 starts in April until Wood, Miller and/or Prior come back is a luxury. I know alot of people don't like Rusch much, but he has shown in his time with the Cubs so far that he can eat up some innings and hold his own.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

The situation is pretty bad when Rusch looks good.

[abuck1220]

who can't eat up innings? i've never understood why guys who get battered around for 5-6 innings get praised simply for taking up innings.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

who can't eat up innings?

 

Kerry Wood, Mark Prior. There are two names that come to mind. ](*,)

[Ding Dong Johnson]

who can't eat up innings?

 

Kerry Wood, Mark Prior. There are two names that come to mind. ](*,)

 

Oh snap!

[soccer10k]

The situation is pretty bad when Rusch looks good.

 

Seconded

[Careless]

The rotation will be:

 

Zambrano

Maddux

Rusch

Williams

Hill or Guzman

 

Personally, I would rather see:

 

Zambrano

Maddux

Guzman

Hill

Williams

 

...with Willams getting the skip in the rotation. What better time to see what these guys can do in the majors? They can't be any worse than Rusch can they? Not that he's awful, but he's gotten by with some pretty plain stuff.

Not sure why you'd skip williams when A) he's a good shot to be better than maddux B) he's a good shot to be better than rusch C) he's a good shot to be better than hill D) he's a good shot to be better than guzman E)he's young enough that more innings have a fair chance to significantly increase his trade value. I'd put williams as 2 and not skip anyone (maybe go to a 5.5 man rotation)

[Blueheart05]

Since it looks like we won't have at least one of Kerry, Prior and Wade Miller until sometime in May (at best), who will fill the 5-man rotation?

 

Or will John Baker go with a 4-man rotation?

 

Until about April 15th My guess is

 

Zambrano

Maddux

Williams

Rusch

 

After the 15th I think they will spot start Hill or Guzman.

 

 

Oh yeah, who is John Baker? :wink: I believe Dusty's real name is "Johnnie." LOL

[TrueBlueCubFan]

Since it looks like we won't have at least one of Kerry, Prior and Wade Miller until sometime in May (at best), who will fill the 5-man rotation?

 

Or will John Baker go with a 4-man rotation?

 

Until about April 15th My guess is

 

Zambrano

Maddux

Williams

Rusch

 

After the 15th I think they will spot start Hill or Guzman.

 

Oh yeah, who is John Baker? :wink: I believe Dusty's real name is "Johnnie." LOL

 

It's also not out of the realm of possibility that one of: Miller,Wood or Prior could be ready.

[badgercub]

who can't eat up innings? i've never understood why guys who get battered around for 5-6 innings get praised simply for taking up innings.

 

They can help take the strain off of an overworked bullpen, which is what happened to the Cubs last year.

[jkrapfl]

What about Marshall? Does he have any chance at being in the rotation to start the season?

[goonys evil twin]

who can't eat up innings? i've never understood why guys who get battered around for 5-6 innings get praised simply for taking up innings.

 

They can help take the strain off of an overworked bullpen, which is what happened to the Cubs last year.

 

That doesn't change the fact that almost anybody can do it. Hill could do what Rusch does (suck for 5-6 innings at a time), and do it cheaper.

[goonys evil twin]

Until about April 15th My guess is

Zambrano

Maddux

Williams

Rusch

After the 15th I think they will spot start Hill or Guzman.

It's also not out of the realm of possibility that one of: Miller,Wood or Prior could be ready.

 

I'm guessing Blueheart is right on what the rotation will look like in early April. And I believe Prior might still be back shortly after that, if not, Hill will get a start unless Guzman or some other kid is absolutely dominating at the time.

[badgercub]

who can't eat up innings? i've never understood why guys who get battered around for 5-6 innings get praised simply for taking up innings.

 

They can help take the strain off of an overworked bullpen, which is what happened to the Cubs last year.

 

That doesn't change the fact that almost anybody can do it. Hill could do what Rusch does (suck for 5-6 innings at a time), and do it cheaper.

 

Well, then Hill would be an innings eater for us. But look at Wood and Prior last year, when they were healthy they were close to the 100 pitch mark by the 5th inning. Enter Michael Wuertz, who suffered later in the season due to his overuse. I am not saying Rusch is a great pitcher, I am just saying guys like that are good to have on a staff because they can help to save your bullpen.

[rawaction]

I'd love to see them give the job to Guzman right out of the chute, and see if he can stay healthy, and/or keep his role when guys come back.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd love to see them give the job to Guzman right out of the chute, and see if he can stay healthy, and/or keep his role when guys come back.

 

If Gooz is 100%, I completely agree.

[BigbadB]

Until about April 15th My guess is

Zambrano

Maddux

Williams

Rusch

After the 15th I think they will spot start Hill or Guzman.

It's also not out of the realm of possibility that one of: Miller,Wood or Prior could be ready.

 

I'm guessing Blueheart is right on what the rotation will look like in early April. And I believe Prior might still be back shortly after that, if not, Hill will get a start unless Guzman or some other kid is absolutely dominating at the time.

 

Even if Blueheart's rotation is accurate, they will need a long man in the bullpen.

[badgercub]

Until about April 15th My guess is

Zambrano

Maddux

Williams

Rusch

After the 15th I think they will spot start Hill or Guzman.

It's also not out of the realm of possibility that one of: Miller,Wood or Prior could be ready.

 

I'm guessing Blueheart is right on what the rotation will look like in early April. And I believe Prior might still be back shortly after that, if not, Hill will get a start unless Guzman or some other kid is absolutely dominating at the time.

 

Even if Blueheart's rotation is accurate, they will need a long man in the bullpen.

 

Wellemeyer?

[goonys evil twin]

But look at Wood and Prior last year, when they were healthy they were close to the 100 pitch mark by the 5th inning. Enter Michael Wuertz, who suffered later in the season due to his overuse. I am not saying Rusch is a great pitcher, I am just saying guys like that are good to have on a staff because they can help to save your bullpen.

 

Come on now. Prior averaged over 6 innings per start. Rusch average less than 6. How in the world does he help save your bullpen? Rusch practically guarantees you'll need more relief work, and he's a greater threat to kill your bullpen by getting knocked out very early.

 

Why do people feel the need to glorify lesser players? Rusch isn't valuable. Rusch is a dime a dozen replacable arm who brings very little to the table.

[goonys evil twin]

Until about April 15th My guess is

Zambrano

Maddux

Williams

Rusch

After the 15th I think they will spot start Hill or Guzman.

It's also not out of the realm of possibility that one of: Miller,Wood or Prior could be ready.

 

I'm guessing Blueheart is right on what the rotation will look like in early April. And I believe Prior might still be back shortly after that, if not, Hill will get a start unless Guzman or some other kid is absolutely dominating at the time.

 

Even if Blueheart's rotation is accurate, they will need a long man in the bullpen.

 

Why? With an 11 man staff they'd still start out with 7 relievers, which is more than enough. All those relievers would have built-in days off as well.

[goonys evil twin]

I'd love to see them give the job to Guzman right out of the chute, and see if he can stay healthy, and/or keep his role when guys come back.

 

If Gooz is 100%, I completely agree.

 

Yeah, I'd go with him as well, if he seems healthy. But I question the Cubs' ability to judge a pitcher's health.

[badgercub]

But look at Wood and Prior last year, when they were healthy they were close to the 100 pitch mark by the 5th inning. Enter Michael Wuertz, who suffered later in the season due to his overuse. I am not saying Rusch is a great pitcher, I am just saying guys like that are good to have on a staff because they can help to save your bullpen.

 

Come on now. Prior averaged over 6 innings per start. Rusch average less than 6. How in the world does he help save your bullpen? Rusch practically guarantees you'll need more relief work, and he's a greater threat to kill your bullpen by getting knocked out very early.

 

Why do people feel the need to glorify lesser players? Rusch isn't valuable. Rusch is a dime a dozen replacable arm who brings very little to the table.

 

I didn't glorify Rusch at all. I said he is NOT a great player, in fact he is mediocre. The statement was made that "anyone" can be an innings eater. Let's take Rusch out of the equation, the point I was making is that their value to a team (an innings eater) is that they can take the ball every 5th day and give your bullpen a break. I never said they were the end all be all of your rotation.

[goonys evil twin]

I was making is that their value to a team (an innings eater) is that they can take the ball every 5th day and give your bullpen a break. I never said they were the end all be all of your rotation.

 

But the fact is they don't take the ball every 5th day and they don't save the bullpen because they generally get pulled earlier. A guy who gives you 200 innings of crap pitching isn't necessarily saving a thing. The claim was that the Cubs are lucky to have Rusch because he's such a good innings eater, yet the evidence would indicate the exact opposite. He only starts on occasion, and he gets knocked out earlier than most pitchers, which puts a greater strain on the bullpen, not less.