Marshall and Maddux

[Caryatid]

2/3 of the Cubs wins have come when one of these two has been pitching.

[soccer10k]

Hopefully that will change and Z will get in on the action.

[Derwood]

2/3 of the Cubs wins have come when one of these two has been pitching.

 

true

 

Sidney Ponson also has a winning record.

 

Sample size

[Caryatid]

2/3 of the Cubs wins have come when one of these two has been pitching.

 

 

 

true

 

Sidney Ponson also has a winning record.

 

Sample size

 

Regardless, my point was that its a good sign when two question marks are producing as well as these two have.

[Balsa]

2/3 of the Cubs wins have come when one of these two has been pitching.

 

true

 

Sidney Ponson also has a winning record.

 

Sample size

 

Why do you drain me of optimism by mentioning that? *grumble* Stupid sample size...

[beersoakedivy]

Hopefully that will change and Z will get in on the action.

 

 

The CUBS are 3-1 in games started by Z. He does not have a W, but they are winning when he pitches.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Hopefully that will change and Z will get in on the action.

 

 

The CUBS are 3-1 in games started by Z. He does not have a W, but they are winning when he pitches.

 

CUBS are 3-2 when Zambrano starts.......

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
 1  Mon 04/03  @ Cincinnati       16- 7  Zambrano      
 4  Sat 04/08    St. Louis         3- 2  Zambrano      
 8  Thu 04/13    Cincinnati        3- 8  Zambrano      
13  Tue 04/18  @ Los Angeles   N   1- 2  Zambrano      
18  Mon 04/24    Florida       N   6- 3  Zambrano      

[beersoakedivy]

Hopefully that will change and Z will get in on the action.

 

 

The CUBS are 3-1 in games started by Z. He does not have a W, but they are winning when he pitches.

 

CUBS are 3-2 when Zambrano starts.......

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
 1  Mon 04/03  @ Cincinnati       16- 7  Zambrano      
 4  Sat 04/08    St. Louis         3- 2  Zambrano      
 8  Thu 04/13    Cincinnati        3- 8  Zambrano      
13  Tue 04/18  @ Los Angeles   N   1- 2  Zambrano      
18  Mon 04/24    Florida       N   6- 3  Zambrano      

 

Thanks for the correction...still not bad

[soccer10k]

What are we when Rusch starts?

[beersoakedivy]

What are we when Rusch starts?

 

1-3

[da bears]

Z will get his wins. Hopefully Maddux and Marshall can continue to pitch well and eventually Z joins in on the action. Hell, maybe Guzman will pitch like we hoped he could. They just need to bridge the gap to Prior and Wood, and thus far, they've done a hell of a job (talking about Guzman and Marshall).

[Fred Hornkohl]

What are we when Rusch starts?

 

1-3

 

Yep.....

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
 2  Wed 04/05  @ Cincinnati        6- 8  Rusch        
 6  Tue 04/11    Cincinnati        2- 9  Rusch        
11  Sun 04/16  @ Pittsburgh        7- 3  Rusch        
16  Sat 04/22  @ St. Louis         1- 4  Rusch        

[beersoakedivy]

What are we when Rusch starts?

 

1-3

 

Yep.....

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
 2  Wed 04/05  @ Cincinnati        6- 8  Rusch        
 6  Tue 04/11    Cincinnati        2- 9  Rusch        
11  Sun 04/16  @ Pittsburgh        7- 3  Rusch        
16  Sat 04/22  @ St. Louis         1- 4  Rusch        

 

He pitched well enough to get the win against St. Louis but the offense was absent that day.

[CubsWin]

I'm beginning to believe that Sean Marshall is the real deal. I'm not expecting him to continue to put up performances like he did last Tuesday, but he's got a decent shot at putting up an ERA under 4 in his rookie season. Considering the lack of playing time Marshall has had in his minor league career, staying under a 4 ERA becomes even more impressive.

 

Looking at next year's rotation, if Sean is equal to the task and can be a solid back of the rotation guy for the Cubs, who should fill out the rest of the '07 rotation? Obviously Z and Prior, assuming they are both healthy, should be in there. That leaves two spots left and a lot of options with which to fill them.

 

Wood's option could be picked up, or he could be resigned to a different deal. Maddux could be resigned, especially if he continues pitching this well. Rich Hill is currently tearing up AAA, and I mean tearing it up- 25 IP, 13 H, 7 BB, 33 Ks, 1.44 ERA, 0.80 WHIP. The Cubs just called up Angel Guzman who's got the stuff but is struggling a bit with his control at the moment which isn't unusual considering the amount of time he has missed due to injury. Jerome Williams has put up solid numbers over the first three seasons of his career and is still just 24.

 

That's five reasonable options. We will learn more about how good each of those options will be come September. Will Wood be healthy then? Will Maddux have an ERA under 3 come September? Will Hill still be tearing up AAA or will he have been called up and how did he fare in the bigs this time around? The answers to those questions and others will make the decision a lot easier.

 

But if you had to choose right now, would you bring Maddux back next season knowing how many other, younger and cheaper options you have at your disposal? If he finishes with an ERA under or around 3, I think you have to.

 

What about Wood? If he can pitch in 25 games this season and do what he normally does, I would try to redo his contract such that the 13 million dollar option the club has on him would become a 10 million dollar contract for '07 with a mutual option for another 10 in '08 with a 3 million dollar buyout. I would only do this deal if it wouldn't prohibit me financially from acquiring a big time RFer should that opportunity present itself.

 

However, if keeping Wood and Maddux is so costly that they can't afford to trade for/sign a better RFer, then I say get the RFer and let one or both of those pitchers go and give Hill a shot. He looks ready.

[BeerHere]

I can see the Cubs trading away a pitcher for a big impact bat in the outfield. I'm not sure which FA's will be there though so maybe a trade won't be needed, but Prior, Wood or Zambrano could get an Abreu if Philly is out of it at the deadline. Will Abreu be a free agent after 2006?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Will Abreu be a free agent after 2006?

 

No, he's due $15M in 2007 and 2008 is a club option at $16M ($2M buyout)

[badgercub]

What about Wood? If he can pitch in 25 games this season and do what he normally does, I would try to redo his contract such that the 13 million dollar option the club has on him would become a 10 million dollar contract for '07 with a mutual option for another 10 in '08 with a 3 million dollar buyout. I would only do this deal if it wouldn't prohibit me financially from acquiring a big time RFer should that opportunity present itself.

 

However, if keeping Wood and Maddux is so costly that they can't afford to trade for/sign a better RFer, then I say get the RFer and let one or both of those pitchers go and give Hill a shot. He looks ready.

 

More of a question than a comment, but would MLB or the Players Association allow you to rework Wood's contract to pay him less money? And why would Wood do that? If he does come back and pitch well I truly believe there is some team out there willing to pay him big money. Look at the contract Burnett got and he has a history of injuriies and is on the DL right now.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I know people don't want to consider the possibility, but if the Cubs get Wood and Prior back healthy and Marshall continues to impress, there will be a lot of teams that would be interested in trading a bat for Marshall.

 

The more poise he shows here, the more his value rises.

 

Teams likely won't have interest in Wood as his cost will be high in dollars and he has an expensive option. Prior would draw some interest, but it will be Marshall or possibly Guzman that would attract the most attention as the Cubs search for a bat.

 

It's too early to tell which teams will be in or out of the races, but I would think the Phillies might would take Marshall in a package for Abreu.

 

If he can continue to post solid outings, he could interest the Marlins in a package for Cabrera.

 

Right now, it isn't remotely a possibility, but would Marshall not be the type of pitcher the Reds would have interest in in a deal for Kearns or Dunn?

 

All of those could become possibilities.

[SoonerCubFan]

Good thread, all positive. Some additional thoughts/comments:

 

1. Don't forget Wade Miller in this equation, and Carlos Marmol may be a factor by next spring. May have 8-9 very good to outstanding options. All in all, we definitely should have plenty of top notch trade chips and still have a surplus should all return to health.

 

2. I'd love to see the Cubs give Greg any fair amount to continue to pitch as long as he wants in a Cubs uniform. All the reasons I wanted us to get him in 2004 (leadership/presence, solid innings eater, winner) I think are as valid as ever or moreso, and it would be great to see him make a run at #3 in all time wins (374+).

[bc2k]

I know people don't want to consider the possibility, but if the Cubs get Wood and Prior back healthy and Marshall continues to impress, there will be a lot of teams that would be interested in trading a bat for Marshall.

 

The more poise he shows here, the more his value rises.

 

Teams likely won't have interest in Wood as his cost will be high in dollars and he has an expensive option. Prior would draw some interest, but it will be Marshall or possibly Guzman that would attract the most attention as the Cubs search for a bat.

 

It's too early to tell which teams will be in or out of the races, but I would think the Phillies might would take Marshall in a package for Abreu.

 

If he can continue to post solid outings, he could interest the Marlins in a package for Cabrera.

 

Right now, it isn't remotely a possibility, but would Marshall not be the type of pitcher the Reds would have interest in in a deal for Kearns or Dunn?

 

All of those could become possibilities.

 

I'm picking up what you're throwing down, but I think Z would be the most ideal trading chip. He doesn't make the dollars that Wood does, and is more proven than the Marshalls and Guzmans.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I know people don't want to consider the possibility, but if the Cubs get Wood and Prior back healthy and Marshall continues to impress, there will be a lot of teams that would be interested in trading a bat for Marshall.

 

The more poise he shows here, the more his value rises.

 

Teams likely won't have interest in Wood as his cost will be high in dollars and he has an expensive option. Prior would draw some interest, but it will be Marshall or possibly Guzman that would attract the most attention as the Cubs search for a bat.

 

It's too early to tell which teams will be in or out of the races, but I would think the Phillies might would take Marshall in a package for Abreu.

 

If he can continue to post solid outings, he could interest the Marlins in a package for Cabrera.

 

Right now, it isn't remotely a possibility, but would Marshall not be the type of pitcher the Reds would have interest in in a deal for Kearns or Dunn?

 

All of those could become possibilities.

 

I'm picking up what you're throwing down, but I think Z would be the most ideal trading chip. He doesn't make the dollars that Wood does, and is more proven than the Marshalls and Guzmans.

 

If a small package including Z could net us Willis and Cabrera, I might be inclined to pull the trigger so long as that package is not deep in pitching. If Z is ever dealt, I would prefer to see him end up in the AL.

[CubsWin]

What about Wood? If he can pitch in 25 games this season and do what he normally does, I would try to redo his contract such that the 13 million dollar option the club has on him would become a 10 million dollar contract for '07 with a mutual option for another 10 in '08 with a 3 million dollar buyout. I would only do this deal if it wouldn't prohibit me financially from acquiring a big time RFer should that opportunity present itself.

 

However, if keeping Wood and Maddux is so costly that they can't afford to trade for/sign a better RFer, then I say get the RFer and let one or both of those pitchers go and give Hill a shot. He looks ready.

 

More of a question than a comment, but would MLB or the Players Association allow you to rework Wood's contract to pay him less money? And why would Wood do that? If he does come back and pitch well I truly believe there is some team out there willing to pay him big money. Look at the contract Burnett got and he has a history of injuriies and is on the DL right now.

The extension wouldn't be paying him less money. It still guarantees him 13 million for one year's worth of work. It just moves 3 million of it into a buyout for '08.

 

I have no idea if Wood is willing to do something like that. I was simply saying that that is what I would try to do.

 

As to whether that is illegal per the latest CBA, I don't know exactly. Good question.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I know people don't want to consider the possibility, but if the Cubs get Wood and Prior back healthy and Marshall continues to impress, there will be a lot of teams that would be interested in trading a bat for Marshall.

 

The more poise he shows here, the more his value rises.

 

Teams likely won't have interest in Wood as his cost will be high in dollars and he has an expensive option. Prior would draw some interest, but it will be Marshall or possibly Guzman that would attract the most attention as the Cubs search for a bat.

 

It's too early to tell which teams will be in or out of the races, but I would think the Phillies might would take Marshall in a package for Abreu.

 

If he can continue to post solid outings, he could interest the Marlins in a package for Cabrera.

 

Right now, it isn't remotely a possibility, but would Marshall not be the type of pitcher the Reds would have interest in in a deal for Kearns or Dunn?

 

All of those could become possibilities.

 

I'm picking up what you're throwing down, but I think Z would be the most ideal trading chip. He doesn't make the dollars that Wood does, and is more proven than the Marshalls and Guzmans.

 

Once again, that depends on where we're dealing Zambrano. He's going to get really expensive next year in arbitration and then could leave that team via free agency. Marshall or to some extend Guzman would give a team an arm that is relatively cheap for a longer period. To a contending team with enough payroll, Zambrano is the most attractive. On the other hand, I could see more interest in Marshall as far as some teams are concerned.

[RyCubsFan]

I know people don't want to consider the possibility, but if the Cubs get Wood and Prior back healthy and Marshall continues to impress, there will be a lot of teams that would be interested in trading a bat for Marshall.

 

The more poise he shows here, the more his value rises.

 

Teams likely won't have interest in Wood as his cost will be high in dollars and he has an expensive option. Prior would draw some interest, but it will be Marshall or possibly Guzman that would attract the most attention as the Cubs search for a bat.

 

It's too early to tell which teams will be in or out of the races, but I would think the Phillies might would take Marshall in a package for Abreu.

 

If he can continue to post solid outings, he could interest the Marlins in a package for Cabrera.

 

Right now, it isn't remotely a possibility, but would Marshall not be the type of pitcher the Reds would have interest in in a deal for Kearns or Dunn?

 

All of those could become possibilities.

 

 

I was thinking something along the same lines, Vance. With his control, poise, and brief success, Marshall could have a lot of trade value. He also might not be necessary for the Cubs, who would have Z, Prior, Wood, Maddux, Guzman, and Hill.

 

And honestly I'd rather trade Marshall than Guzman. I like Sean, but Guzman has a higher upside than him.

[RyCubsFan]

If a small package including Z could net us Willis and Cabrera, I might be inclined to pull the trigger so long as that package is not deep in pitching. If Z is ever dealt, I would prefer to see him end up in the AL.

 

Why would the Marlins want Z back? He'll be making the money that Willis will. So they would not necessarily be gaining salary wise.

 

I wouldn't want to trade Z. He's on track to be a future HOFer.