2007 Rotation

[WrigleyField 22]

This kinda deals with transactions, but could go in baseball dicussions too I guess. Feel free to move.

 

After the game there was a poll on the postgame show on which young starter would be in the rotation next year- Marshall, Marmol, Guzman, Hill, or the final answer all of them!

 

The way I see it next year Zambrano is the only lock. Maddux likely goes, Priors health is questionable, and if Wood isn't let go his health too is questionable.

 

So there are 4 spots to fill and what do you know we have 4 "ready" arms. We won't be in a position to win next year. The best we could hope for is to be bad to maybe below average but know we are setting ourelves up for the future. Some people might want a high priced FA like Zito, but he wouldn't push us over the edge to win. Lets see who out of the 4 we can count on to be a mainstay in our rotation when we are in a positon to win('09?'10?). If we can find two starters from the group then we would only have two other starting spots which could be filled from the next group of young pitchers- Gallagher,Pawalek, Veal, etc, a FA, and/or ideally a healthy Prior.

 

Next years rotation

Zambrano

Marshall

Marmol

Guzman

Hill

-If Prior is healthy you can rotate the last 3 guys Marmol,Guzman,Hill from the two starter spots and long relief.

 

That is just one small part of the whole plan I would like to see going into next year, the rest of which I will do sometime closer to the offseason.

 

I can deal with sucking next year, but I dont wanna suck with expensive old guys.

 

Anyone else in favor of the all-young rotation next year?

[PrimeTime]

Not really.. Im sick of rebuilding and expiriementing, We want a team that cant make us contenders and win us a world series...And you know the tribune would never do that, they rather have a decent looking team that sucks than have a bunch of kids that do better in the field...they care about interest and bigger names than losing.....If we have a team like the Marlins with a bunch of rookies.no one will come to wrigley..so it will never happen...

Assuming Prior returns to his normal form... The trio of Z, Zito and Prior would be a dominant 3 right there, and the for a 4 and 5 and Marshall, and Guzman of Marmol would be nice..... I dont know about you guys but Im not waiting to " rebuild" with a bunch of kids and have a fire sale for prospects so we can win a world series in the year 2024...We have the money, Go get Zito, Go get Carlos Lee, Go get Soriano, get Cabrera,get whoever..I want good players who can pitch and a offense that can manufacture runs.. Remember how good it felt to be in the playoffs in '03? If we rebuild with a bunch of prospects , the next time we reach the playoffs, half of us will be dead...I want to have that '03 playoff feeling now and not when im 75 years old..

[A New Era]

Ok think about this for a second. How could we not be in a position to win, when our division basically is terrible this year. How could using the $20+ million from Wood and Maddux and adding a couple key guys like Zito and Carlos Lee not put us in position to win? This year's terrible downward spiral I attribute to 3 things that could be easily fixed next year.

 

1) Dusty and his goon coaches (replace them)

2) Relying on Wood and Prior (replace them)

3) Derreck Lee's injury (and yes this is the last on the list).

 

I don't mind keeping Prior, but you just cannot rely on him as your "#2". . How could this team (with competent coaches) not be in a position to win?

 

Zambrano

Zito

Marshall

Marmol

Guzman/Hill/Prior

 

D. Lee

2B Walker/other

Cedeno

Ramirez

Barret

C. Lee

Pie/Pierre

Jones

 

Aardsma

Eyre

Howry

Dempster

 

And fill in the blanks. How you could fill out the line-up would depend on how you replaced Pierre. I wouldn't want to see Pie batting 1st. But I also wouldn't Mind Pierre back if he improves the 2nd half. I really attribute his suckatude to the fact he let D.Lee's absence effect him mentally. He really is a better player that what he was showing. .

 

Pierre

2B Walker/other

D. Lee

C. Lee

Ramirez

Barret

Jones

Cedeno

P

 

We're a big market team. No reason to not build on what we already have, by spending a couple ten Million.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Ok think about this for a second. How could we not be in a position to win, when our division basically is terrible this year. How could using the $20+ million from Wood and Maddux and adding a couple key guys like Zito and Carlos Lee not put us in position to win? This year's terrible downward spiral I attribute to 3 things that could be easily fixed next year.

 

1) Dusty and his goon coaches (replace them)

2) Relying on Wood and Prior (replace them)

3) Derreck Lee's injury (and yes this is the last on the list).

 

I don't mind keeping Prior, but you just cannot rely on him as your "#2". . How could this team (with competent coaches) not be in a position to win?

 

Zambrano

Zito

Marshall

Marmol

Guzman/Hill/Prior

 

D. Lee

2B Walker/other

Cedeno

Ramirez

Barret

C. Lee

Pie/Pierre

Jones

 

Aardsma

Eyre

Howry

Dempster

 

And fill in the blanks. How you could fill out the line-up would depend on how you replaced Pierre. I wouldn't want to see Pie batting 1st. But I also wouldn't Mind Pierre back if he improves the 2nd half. I really attribute his suckatude to the fact he let D.Lee's absence effect him mentally. He really is a better player that what he was showing. .

 

Pierre

2B Walker/other

D. Lee

C. Lee

Ramirez

Barret

Jones

Cedeno

P

 

We're a big market team. No reason to not build on what we already have, by spending a couple ten Million.

 

That is the first time I've heard this as the reasoning for his attrocious season thus far. So, since DLee is back Pierre should start putting up some astronomical numbers. I just don't see it.

[Fro]

You might as well trade Zambrano if you're going to start 4 kids

WE HAVE A $100 MILLION DOLLAR PAYROLL... WE CAN AFFORD TO SIGN FREE AGENTS!

[A New Era]

I wouldn't want to see Pie batting 1st. But I also wouldn't Mind Pierre back if he improves the 2nd half. I really attribute his suckatude to the fact he let D.Lee's absence effect him mentally.

 

We're a big market team. No reason to not build on what we already have, by spending a couple ten Million.

 

That is the first time I've heard this as the reasoning for his attrocious season thus far. So, since DLee is back Pierre should start putting up some astronomical numbers. I just don't see it.

 

Not "ASTRONOMICAL" numbers. But very good #'s. Just watch it happen.

[soapy]

It depends a lot on how Prior finishes up the season. If he stays healthy and they keep him around, I'd probably go something like...

 

Zambrano

Schmidt/Zito

Prior

Two of Marshall/Marmol/Hill/Guzman

 

Two of the Marshall/Marmol/Hill/Guzman group get traded for a hitter. Also, I'm still very foolishly hoping that Jerome Williams can still put something together. He could factor in as well, even if it's just as a spot starter in case of injury.

[Sammy Sofa]

You might as well trade Zambrano if you're going to start 4 kids

WE HAVE A $100 MILLION DOLLAR PAYROLL... WE CAN AFFORD TO SIGN FREE AGENTS!

 

Exactly. It's a waste of Z if you're going to have him followed by 4 baseball babies. Trade him while his value is peak for someone like A-Rod. If you have Z, use him with a guy like Prior and a good free agent to be the pitching anchors...relying on more than 2 starting rookie pitchers unless you absolutely have to due to injuries is ridiculous unless you've got a team of monster bats. And I'll happily see Marshall AND Marmol go if it means the Cubs do something smart and try and get Cabrera.

[NCCubFan]

We won't be in a position to win next year.

It's Hendry's responsibility to make sure they ARE in a position to win next year. It's unreasonable for him to expect fans to be patient for two or three more years after he allowed what looked like a perennial contender to deteriorate. He created the problem; it's up to him to fix it right away. Any moves made need to be with the idea of winning next year, not in two or three (or even longer) years, and if they don't win next year he needs to be held accountable, contract extension notwithstanding.

[soccer10k]

I wouldn't want to see Pie batting 1st. But I also wouldn't Mind Pierre back if he improves the 2nd half. I really attribute his suckatude to the fact he let D.Lee's absence effect him mentally.

 

We're a big market team. No reason to not build on what we already have, by spending a couple ten Million.

 

That is the first time I've heard this as the reasoning for his attrocious season thus far. So, since DLee is back Pierre should start putting up some astronomical numbers. I just don't see it.

 

Not "ASTRONOMICAL" numbers. But very good #'s. Just watch it happen.

 

I hope you're right. I don't think it will happen but I hope it does.

[soccer10k]

We won't be in a position to win next year.

It's Hendry's responsibility to make sure they ARE in a position to win next year. It's unreasonable for him to expect fans to be patient for two or three more years after he allowed what looked like a perennial contender to deteriorate. He created the problem; it's up to him to fix it right away. Any moves made need to be with the idea of winning next year, not in two or three (or even longer) years, and if they don't win next year he needs to be held accountable, contract extension notwithstanding.

 

Agreed. Teams have done the worst to first thing before. It doesn't happen all the time, but it's possible. And even if the team can't do that, they should try to be competative in 2007. If you are competative then there is a chance that your team catches fire and grabs a playoff spot.

[Fro]

If you're not trying to be competitive in 2007/2008, you might as well trade every single player on the team (except the rookie pitchers/Cedeno).

 

Those two years are our window with Lee/Prior/Z/Barrett/Aram (before it costs $13 million a year to have Zambrano as our starter).

[SouthSideRyan]

You might as well trade Zambrano if you're going to start 4 kids

WE HAVE A $100 MILLION DOLLAR PAYROLL... WE CAN AFFORD TO SIGN FREE AGENTS!

 

How bout we sign free agents to play for our worst in the majors offense then?

[soccer10k]

You might as well trade Zambrano if you're going to start 4 kids

WE HAVE A $100 MILLION DOLLAR PAYROLL... WE CAN AFFORD TO SIGN FREE AGENTS!

 

How bout we sign free agents to play for our worst in the majors offense then?

 

Or maybe then can sign some FA's to IMPROVE the "worst in the majors offense."

[srbin84]

You might as well trade Zambrano if you're going to start 4 kids

WE HAVE A $100 MILLION DOLLAR PAYROLL... WE CAN AFFORD TO SIGN FREE AGENTS!

 

How bout we sign free agents to play for our worst in the majors offense then?

 

How are we in starters ERA? I have to imagine near last. The only thing saving us is Z.

[beowulf28]

Not really.. Im sick of rebuilding and expiriementing, We want a team that cant make us contenders and win us a world series...And you know the tribune would never do that, they rather have a decent looking team that sucks than have a bunch of kids that do better in the field...they care about interest and bigger names than losing.....If we have a team like the Marlins with a bunch of rookies.no one will come to wrigley..so it will never happen...

Assuming Prior returns to his normal form... The trio of Z, Zito and Prior would be a dominant 3 right there, and the for a 4 and 5 and Marshall, and Guzman of Marmol would be nice..... I dont know about you guys but Im not waiting to " rebuild" with a bunch of kids and have a fire sale for prospects so we can win a world series in the year 2024...We have the money, Go get Zito, Go get Carlos Lee, Go get Soriano, get Cabrera,get whoever..I want good players who can pitch and a offense that can manufacture runs.. Remember how good it felt to be in the playoffs in '03? If we rebuild with a bunch of prospects , the next time we reach the playoffs, half of us will be dead...I want to have that '03 playoff feeling now and not when im 75 years old..

 

I'm going to get flamed for this, but here goes:

 

I don't want a bunch of over-priced, over-hyped, and over-the-hill geezers. But I don't want a team of just the kids, either. I want a GOOD blend of both. I want the kids who are big-league ready to play; not kids who are rushed to the bigs...like Corey Patterson was. And I don't want the once-standard old geezers like the Cubs have done in the past...even the recent past. I want veterans who are around 30-ish, who can be around for 4-6 years; however long it takes to win a pennant...and, hopefully, a World Series. I'm not sure if JH is capable of putting that together, but that's what I want. The Tribsters have the money, I'm just not sure if Hendry has the ability to put together a team of high OBP, high OPS hitters. Forget looking for clutch hitting, we need to get people with speed combined with people with power, AND high OBP! That's what we need, IMHO.

 

Sorry if I've reiterated anyone's post, and I hope I didn't come across as angry. I'm just frustrated with this team, this team's philosophy, and the upper management...including ownership. Thanks! :)

[beowulf28]

We won't be in a position to win next year.

It's Hendry's responsibility to make sure they ARE in a position to win next year. It's unreasonable for him to expect fans to be patient for two or three more years after he allowed what looked like a perennial contender to deteriorate. He created the problem; it's up to him to fix it right away. Any moves made need to be with the idea of winning next year, not in two or three (or even longer) years, and if they don't win next year he needs to be held accountable, contract extension notwithstanding.

 

Exactly! :D

[baseball7897]

07 Rotation:

 

1. Zambrano

2. Zito

3. Prior

4. Wood

5. Marshall

 

If the Cubs sign Zito they could take a gamble on Wood for another year.

[CubsBullsBears]

This is what I want:

 

 

Big Z

Zito

Marshall

Marmol

Guzman

 

 

Knowing Hendry and Cubs luck, he is going to bring back Wood, re-sign Prior, rely on them to be healthy, they'll have their annual DL trips, he'll give his "I fell short" crap on not getting Zito, he's going to rely on Maddux to return, not sure yet about him, and he's going to just shuttle in and out our minor-league pitchers.

 

This is what I think:

 

Big Z

Marshall

???

[srbin84]

07 Rotation:

 

1. Zambrano

2. Zito

3. Prior

4. Wood

5. Marshall

 

If the Cubs sign Zito they could take a gamble on Wood for another year.

 

I love your Zito love. We need one more pretty reliable guy to back up the bottom 3 three though. Hopefully it's Marmol, but that's expecting a lot. We'll see how he progresses.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

07 Rotation:

 

1. Zambrano

2. Zito

3. Prior

4. Wood

5. Marshall

 

If the Cubs sign Zito they could take a gamble on Wood for another year.

 

I would like to see Jason Schmidt in the rotation next year.

[WrigleyField 22]

I guess I just don't trust the guy spending the money. With his extension our first offseason without Hendry would be before 2009... If we suck a little less next year, are wild-card contendors in 2008 then we can get a GM who knows what hes doing before 2009 to spend some money on the right kind of players that can put us over the top. Ideally I would just want Hendry gone this offseason, but I don't see that happening.

 

Briefy looking at next year (with a whole new coaching staff)

Zambrano

Marshall

Marmol

Guzman

Hill

(Prior)

Dempster

Howry

Eyre

Wuertz/Aardsma/etc

 

Barrett

Lee

Walker

Cedeno

Aramis

Murton/Jones platoon?

stopgap CF-till Pie is ready

stopgap RF

 

Bench(no Niefi,Bynum etc)

young prospects=good Soto/Theriot/etc

That would be a pretty cheap team, but still with enough big names to keep the casual fans happy so the Trib would go for it.

 

In 2008 you could start to look for a FA RF or maybe you will have traded for one by then, also Pie should be ready to step in at CF and Patterson at 2B. By that time Cedeno/Murt/Bench guys have exp so you are breaking in only 2 rooks. You have an idea of who will stick in the rotation so you can start to look for FA pitchers long term.

 

Then 2009 is just a matter of putting the final pieces in. Hendry would be gone so there would be hope that a GM who values OBP and other stats can put the final pieces in, such as the rotation, bullpen, LF?

 

I just don't want to see Hendry compromising our future with huge FA spending on the wrong players. I just am hopng we can sit tight and find out who will be a piece to the puzzle when we win.

[NewUserName]

I wouldnt give Jason Schmidt more than a couple of million for one year.

[baseball7897]

The 07 FA market for SP is not to strong. Zito, Schmidt and Mulder are the top pitchers on the market and will probably get 11-13 million a year. Marquis is another guy who could be in that money range if he could pitch better. Guys like Jeff Weaver and Vicente Padilla could be cheap. I wouldnt mind the cubs taking a gamble on either of those 2. Maybe if Miller can show he is worthy for a 1 yr deal the cubs could give him a shot in the rotation next year. That could mean maybe giving Wood the closer role next year. He has 3 dominating pitches and looked confident in the bullpen role last year.

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

The 07 FA market for SP is not to strong. Zito, Schmidt and Mulder are the top pitchers on the market and will probably get 11-13 million a year. Marquis is another guy who could be in that money range if he could pitch better. Guys like Jeff Weaver and Vicente Padilla could be cheap. I wouldnt mind the cubs taking a gamble on either of those 2. Maybe if Miller can show he is worthy for a 1 yr deal the cubs could give him a shot in the rotation next year. That could mean maybe giving Wood the closer role next year. He has 3 dominating pitches and looked confident in the bullpen role last year.

 

 

The Cubs would never sign Padilla....I don't think. Not that I want him as a Cub, but it would make the Cubs/White Sox series even more heated.