What are the Cubs to do about their pitching?

[MPrior]

Daisuke!

 

Second.

 

I also think that Hill, if he does well to finish out the season, should be looked at very closely as our fifth starter. He has nothing left to prove or learn at the minor league level, whereas each and every one of our other young pitchers could definitely benefit from some more time in the minors (esp. Marmol, I think - he walks WAY too many guys).

 

Of course, if Hill's two recent starts are an aberration rather than an indication of things to come, then we can't afford to give him a spot in the rotation. But if he does well, he might be my first choice of the new guys.

[dew1679666265]

SCHMIDT SCHMIDT SCHMIDT

 

Schimdt will end up with the Yankees...

 

You mean Seattle. Count on it.

 

The only saving grace is does he want to pitch in the AL?

 

Well he grew up near Seattle, still has his home there, and has said many times how much he'd love to play for Seattle in his career. Since this is probably his last big contract, I'd say it's now. A lot of people in Seattle are practically pencilling him in. I think the Mariners will comply.

 

So the Cubs now have virtually no chance of signing either Schmidt or Zito? Great. Middle of the road FA starter here we come.

 

Somebody that has yet to be mentioned is Mike Mussina. Granted he's getting a bit old but his numbers this year are solid (3.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 136/30 K/BB ratio). There's a chance that the Yankees won't pick up his option for $17m and I suspect we could then grab him for cheaper than Zito or Schmidt and for fewer years (hopefully just 1 or 2 tops), freeing up an extra spot earlier for the kids.

[goonys evil twin]

Somebody that has yet to be mentioned is Mike Mussina. Granted he's getting a bit old but his numbers this year are solid (3.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 136/30 K/BB ratio). There's a chance that the Yankees won't pick up his option for $17m and I suspect we could then grab him for cheaper than Zito or Schmidt and for fewer years (hopefully just 1 or 2 tops), freeing up an extra spot earlier for the kids.

 

They will either pick up the option or sign him to a new deal. Perfect timing for a resurgent year after back to back bad seasons (actually, average, but bad for a highly paid supposed "ace").

[ManCrushOnNomar]

Daisuke!

The Dais-man cometh.

[dew1679666265]

Somebody that has yet to be mentioned is Mike Mussina. Granted he's getting a bit old but his numbers this year are solid (3.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 136/30 K/BB ratio). There's a chance that the Yankees won't pick up his option for $17m and I suspect we could then grab him for cheaper than Zito or Schmidt and for fewer years (hopefully just 1 or 2 tops), freeing up an extra spot earlier for the kids.

 

They will either pick up the option or sign him to a new deal. Perfect timing for a resurgent year after back to back bad seasons (actually, average, but bad for a highly paid supposed "ace").

 

If they do then this idea is moot, but if they don't he'd look great as our 2nd or 3rd starter.

[goonys evil twin]

Somebody that has yet to be mentioned is Mike Mussina. Granted he's getting a bit old but his numbers this year are solid (3.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 136/30 K/BB ratio). There's a chance that the Yankees won't pick up his option for $17m and I suspect we could then grab him for cheaper than Zito or Schmidt and for fewer years (hopefully just 1 or 2 tops), freeing up an extra spot earlier for the kids.

 

They will either pick up the option or sign him to a new deal. Perfect timing for a resurgent year after back to back bad seasons (actually, average, but bad for a highly paid supposed "ace").

 

If they do then this idea is moot, but if they don't he'd look great as our 2nd or 3rd starter.

 

He'll be 38 before next season, and has been very mediocre the past two seasons, and has health issues. He would be a very risky signing and will be very expensive.

[dew1679666265]

Somebody that has yet to be mentioned is Mike Mussina. Granted he's getting a bit old but his numbers this year are solid (3.46 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 136/30 K/BB ratio). There's a chance that the Yankees won't pick up his option for $17m and I suspect we could then grab him for cheaper than Zito or Schmidt and for fewer years (hopefully just 1 or 2 tops), freeing up an extra spot earlier for the kids.

 

They will either pick up the option or sign him to a new deal. Perfect timing for a resurgent year after back to back bad seasons (actually, average, but bad for a highly paid supposed "ace").

 

If they do then this idea is moot, but if they don't he'd look great as our 2nd or 3rd starter.

 

He'll be 38 before next season, and has been very mediocre the past two seasons, and has health issues. He would be a very risky signing and will be very expensive.

 

If he's too expensive I wouldn't be interested I just thought there might be a chance to get him for cheaper than Zito or Schmidt if our budget won't allow it or if they have no interest.

[goonys evil twin]

If he's too expensive I wouldn't be interested I just thought there might be a chance to get him for cheaper than Zito or Schmidt if our budget won't allow it or if they have no interest.

 

The only way the Yankees won't pay him is if somebody else is willing to give him something crazy. So, the only way to outbid them is to probably bid as high as or higher than what Zito and Schmidt will get. A 2 year $16m deal isn't going to get it done.

[mg420]

z

prior

hill

miller/mateo/marmol/guz

marshall

[HoopsCubs]

z

prior

hill

miller/mateo/marmol/guz

marshall

 

Let's assume you are right and that is the rotation. Let's also assume that the payroll is around $100M.

 

Then, Hendry will still have approx. $24M that he can spend - what's/who's he spending it on?

[Post Count Padder]

z

prior

hill

miller/mateo/marmol/guz

marshall

 

Let's assume you are right and that is the rotation. Let's also assume that the payroll is around $100M.

 

Then, Hendry will still have approx. $24M that he can spend - what's/who's he spending it on?

Unfortuantely, he'll probably give Bynum and Blanco Neifi-like extensions, give Pierre a 3 year extension worth about $20 mil and put the rest in his pocket, saying we look like a good team.

[CuseCubFan69]

z

prior

hill

miller/mateo/marmol/guz

marshall

 

Let's assume you are right and that is the rotation. Let's also assume that the payroll is around $100M.

 

Then, Hendry will still have approx. $24M that he can spend - what's/who's he spending it on?

 

How much does ARod make again? :D

[HoopsCubs]

z

prior

hill

miller/mateo/marmol/guz

marshall

 

Let's assume you are right and that is the rotation. Let's also assume that the payroll is around $100M.

 

Then, Hendry will still have approx. $24M that he can spend - what's/who's he spending it on?

 

How much does ARod make again? :D

 

Considering the money Texas picked up in the deal that sent him to New York, I'm approximating that New York is on the hook for $16M per season for 4 more seasons (2007-2010). :wink:

[A New Era]

z

prior

hill

miller/mateo/marmol/guz

marshall

 

Let's assume you are right and that is the rotation. Let's also assume that the payroll is around $100M.

 

Then, Hendry will still have approx. $24M that he can spend - what's/who's he spending it on?

 

How much does ARod make again? :D

 

Considering the money Texas picked up in the deal that sent him to New York, I'm approximating that New York is on the hook for $16M per season for 4 more seasons (2007-2010). :wink:

 

How much money did they pay to get rid of him? And what's the problems going on in new york, with him?

Edited August 8, 2006 by A New Era

[A New Era]

Z

Prior (hoping he comes back healthy)

#3/#2 starter signing. Does not have to be ace like, but damn good.

Hill/Marmol

Marshall

 

And I'm hoping Hendry makes us all happy and suprises us with a big move for the offense in the off-season.

[d_money]

Z

Prior (hoping he comes back healthy)

#3/#2 starter signing. Does not have to be ace like, but damn good.

Hill/Marmol

Marshall

 

And I'm hoping Hendry makes us all happy and suprises us with a big move for the offense in the off-season.

 

Don't count on Prior. Something is very wrong with him. He's done.

[Magnetic Curses]

it doesn't matter who we get, hitters will continue to draw walks against us, and likely use those walks to score.

 

it's not that our pitchers are wild, it's just that hitters aren't swinging at just anything close anymore--they only seem to swing at pitches down the middle of the plate.

 

this only seems to be a startegy used against us.

 

sorry, i'm venting.

[CuseCubFan69]

it doesn't matter who we get, hitters will continue to draw walks against us, and likely use those walks to score.

 

it's not that our pitchers are wild, it's just that hitters aren't swinging at just anything close anymore--they only seem to swing at pitches down the middle of the plate.

 

this only seems to be a startegy used against us.

 

sorry, i'm venting.

 

No problem. You'd think the geniuses in charge of the Cubs would figure out that umps have shrunk the strike zone too and there is a reason to be patient. Add to that the pitcher can't throw inside anymore so why the heck hack at everything thrown? Oh yeah that's right....it's still 1973.

[cubsjunky95]

Z

Prior (hoping he comes back healthy)

#3/#2 starter signing. Does not have to be ace like, but damn good.

Hill/Marmol

Marshall

 

And I'm hoping Hendry makes us all happy and suprises us with a big move for the offense in the off-season.

 

I don't think MP can be depended on to be a #2 with his history of injuries and the dreadful season he's had thus far. In order for that rotation to fill out they need a top of the line starter (Zito or Schmidt which they probably wont get) for the #2 slot, then another proven veteran (Marquis or Meche) for the #3, then if MP is healthy put him #4 and #5 slot goes to one of the sophmores. At this point anything you get from MP is a huge bonus.

[Shavo]

Meche plz.

[UncleDon]

The Mariners will sign Schmidt, and the Cubs will sign Meche. He has struggled lately, but overall he has been decent. He's young for a free agent - around 27, I think.

 

 

Padilla from Texas was discussed before, but Texas should ante up to keep him. If they do, how about Adam Eaton?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Gil Meche loves Safeco field.

 

3 year splits (2003-2005)

 

Home: 4.18 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 2.00 K/BB, 1.32 HR/9

Away: 5.56 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, 1.47 K/BB, 1.40 HR/9

 

2006

 

Home: 3.84 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 2.68 K/BB, 0.90 HR/9

Away: 4.88 ERA, 1.61 WHIP, 1.47 K/BB, 1.49 HR/9

[The Q]

Matsuka will probably end up in either Seattle, New York or Boston. I woudlnt plan on countin on him. Especially considering it will probably cost $20 mil just to earn the right to NEGOTIATE his contract.

 

Gil Meche may love Safeco, but he's also doing it in the highly superior AL. GMs are saying the difference btw the 2 leagues is now something around 1.50 in ERA. So he'd be a pretty solid addition if he's your #3.

[garsky]

I think the Cubs need to consider shopping Carlos Marmol. He's got good enough stuff that some GMs might overpay, and his lack of control is a killer. The last thing the Cubs need is another pitcher who walks 4+ per 9.

 

Jim Hendry needs to realize that if you're constructing a defensively-oriented ballclub, you need pitchers who hit bats. Like the saying goes, you can't defend against walks.

[cheapseats]

GMs are saying the difference btw the 2 leagues is now something around 1.50 in ERA.

 

I'd look for a source besides GM's, the ranks of which include such nimble minds as Hendry, Littlefield, Bowden, etc. :twisted: