Free Agent Pitchers

[goonys evil twin]

i'd like ted lilly. not as the big name but as a 2nd or third guy.

 

he takes the ball everyday has less questions than say buerhle who mph is down. obviously he wouldn't get 10 mil a year either.

z, schmidt, marshall, lilly...and one of many names would not be too bad.

we would also have to spend money on offensive help.

 

Lilly has never thrown 200 innings, and has only had 30 or more starts twice. He's a sub 100 ERA+ guy, who had an 80 last year. He might be worth taking a flyer on, but he's no better than half the prospects the Cubs could throw out there.

[stitchface]

Wakefield would be a nice pickup at the right price. generally solid, lots of innings. not sure what his injury status is though. How about Smoltz? Zito I think would do well moving to the NL. A staff with barry, marshall and hill might be redundant however and Zito may be very expensive.

 

I don't really agree that pitching is the Cubs biggest hole, however. They need at least one MI that can get on base and some power in the oufield corners desperately. I would target Soriano first and look for a bargain amongst the pitchers - particularly given that underwhelming list.

[Soriano12]

Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton

Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton

Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton

Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton

8)

[stitchface]

i'd like ted lilly. not as the big name but as a 2nd or third guy.

 

he takes the ball everyday has less questions than say buerhle who mph is down. obviously he wouldn't get 10 mil a year either.

z, schmidt, marshall, lilly...and one of many names would not be too bad.

we would also have to spend money on offensive help.

 

Lilly has never thrown 200 innings, and has only had 30 or more starts twice. He's a sub 100 ERA+ guy, who had an 80 last year. He might be worth taking a flyer on, but he's no better than half the prospects the Cubs could throw out there.

 

but he can throw a punch apparently.

[NorthsideAvenger]

 

Lilly has never thrown 200 innings, and has only had 30 or more starts twice. He's a sub 100 ERA+ guy, who had an 80 last year. He might be worth taking a flyer on, but he's no better than half the prospects the Cubs could throw out there.

 

Agreed. I believe both Marshall and Hill are atleast as talented (and as good as Lilly, at their peaks) as Lilly, and literally the fraction of the cost. Lilly would be redundant.

 

Now, I know this season is screwed up, but what about going after Zach Grienke? He is a frontline young "potential" pitcher, who had some "issues" with the Royals, so I thinking maybe Moore might want to move him now, and start bringing in his kid of players.

[stitchface]

Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton

Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton

Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton

Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton Adam Eaton

8)

 

he'd fit right in - lots of walks and injuries.

[Guest]

i'd like ted lilly. not as the big name but as a 2nd or third guy.

i would love it if the cubs would sign schmidt and zito but who here thinks that will happen?

lilly has looked like steve carlton at times(he was dropping a 95mph heater and a plus curve) and sometimes like steve carlson(freind of mine who can't pitch a lick) but he takes the ball everyday has less questions than say buerhle who mph is down. obviously he wouldn't get 10 mil a year either.

z, schmidt, marshall, lilly...and one of many names would not be too bad.

we would also have to spend money on offensive help.

 

this isn't ideal but we have to think the way hendry thinks because i do not see him going after both zito and schmidt..even though we need them.

we also need offensive help so signing those 2 would mean our offense remains the same except with some 2nd rate add on in center until pie is ready!

I think the only time Lilly ever hit 95 he got arrested for speeding!

[neely crenshaw]

no seriously i have seen him twice this summer and he was filthy! i had to take a double take! once was against the sox. he was 94-95 all night and ate them up. and his curve was zito-esque...i saw him later and he was very estes-esque but as a .500 number 4-5 pitcher he would look decent. he is also very different than any of our lefties or zito..so teams would see a different look when they play us.

i always thought that was a problem when we sent out wood, prior, z and clement and then had farns in the pen..i mean how tough is 100 mph when you faced 98 all day!

[hardcorecubfan]

Dude, just target cheap, decent AL starters.

 

Bring them to the NL and watch them dominate. I'm certain that Meche would be great in the NL Central.

 

Is this sarcastic?

 

Not according to the authority ESPN. It was a wild statement they made yesterday

[mg420]

i'd like ted lilly. not as the big name but as a 2nd or third guy.

i would love it if the cubs would sign schmidt and zito but who here thinks that will happen?

lilly has looked like steve carlton at times(he was dropping a 95mph heater and a plus curve) and sometimes like steve carlson(freind of mine who can't pitch a lick) but he takes the ball everyday has less questions than say buerhle who mph is down. obviously he wouldn't get 10 mil a year either.

z, schmidt, marshall, lilly...and one of many names would not be too bad.

we would also have to spend money on offensive help.

 

this isn't ideal but we have to think the way hendry thinks because i do not see him going after both zito and schmidt..even though we need them.

we also need offensive help so signing those 2 would mean our offense remains the same except with some 2nd rate add on in center until pie is ready!

 

i would MUCH rather keep hill as a starter than have the cubs get lilly.

[jtownie]

What about Randy Wolf?

[questionmarkgrace]

well we can cross radke off the list what with all the retirement talk his strained/torn labrum.

[CubsWin]

i'd like ted lilly. not as the big name but as a 2nd or third guy.

i would love it if the cubs would sign schmidt and zito but who here thinks that will happen?

lilly has looked like steve carlton at times(he was dropping a 95mph heater and a plus curve) and sometimes like steve carlson(freind of mine who can't pitch a lick) but he takes the ball everyday has less questions than say buerhle who mph is down. obviously he wouldn't get 10 mil a year either.

z, schmidt, marshall, lilly...and one of many names would not be too bad.

we would also have to spend money on offensive help.

 

this isn't ideal but we have to think the way hendry thinks because i do not see him going after both zito and schmidt..even though we need them.

we also need offensive help so signing those 2 would mean our offense remains the same except with some 2nd rate add on in center until pie is ready!

 

i would MUCH rather keep hill as a starter than have the cubs get lilly.

Agreed.

 

Hill has been really good so far in August. He is 3-2, 3.38 through 34.2 IP with 28 Ks and 11 BBs. Since being recalled in June and then again in August, Angel Guzman has posted a 4.09 ERA in 22 IP with 24 Ks and 11 BBs.

 

When you consider that, not coincidentally, both Guzman and Hill had poor outings in the thin air of Colorado, their recent performances become even more impressive. When we remove their Coors Field inflated numbers, Hill's August is 3-1, 2.10. In 30 non-Coors IPs, he has allowed just 21 hits while striking out 26 and walking only 6. Thats a Coors-free WHIP of 0.90. Since June 13th, the Gooz has thrown 19 1/3 non-Coors innings, allowing just 12 hits, striking out 23 and walking 9 with an ERA of 1.40 and a WHIP of 1.09.

 

If Hill and Guzman can keep performing at that level, I am very comfortable with both of them in the rotation next season. Guzman's injury history coupled with Prior's recent injury problems means that the Cubs should still sign two FA pitchers, one top of the rotation and one veteran innings eater.

 

I think Zito will be highly sought after by teams like the Yank-mes and Red Sox. So he won't come cheap. Even though he is getting past his prime, I would still overspend to get him. He is a better option than either Schmidt, Mulder or Lilly performance wise. And with Wood and Maddux no longer on the payroll, the money should be there. Someone like Padilla would be good as the innings eater if he comes cheaply enough. If Prior and the young guns are healthy and pitching well, then Padilla or whoever the veteran 5th starter innings eater would be could be moved to the bullpen or traded after June 15th.

[mg420]

i'd like ted lilly. not as the big name but as a 2nd or third guy.

i would love it if the cubs would sign schmidt and zito but who here thinks that will happen?

lilly has looked like steve carlton at times(he was dropping a 95mph heater and a plus curve) and sometimes like steve carlson(freind of mine who can't pitch a lick) but he takes the ball everyday has less questions than say buerhle who mph is down. obviously he wouldn't get 10 mil a year either.

z, schmidt, marshall, lilly...and one of many names would not be too bad.

we would also have to spend money on offensive help.

 

this isn't ideal but we have to think the way hendry thinks because i do not see him going after both zito and schmidt..even though we need them.

we also need offensive help so signing those 2 would mean our offense remains the same except with some 2nd rate add on in center until pie is ready!

 

i would MUCH rather keep hill as a starter than have the cubs get lilly.

Agreed.

 

Hill has been really good so far in August. He is 3-2, 3.38 through 34.2 IP with 28 Ks and 11 BBs. Since being recalled in June and then again in August, Angel Guzman has posted a 4.09 ERA in 22 IP with 24 Ks and 11 BBs.

 

When you consider that, not coincidentally, both Guzman and Hill had poor outings in the thin air of Colorado, their recent performances become even more impressive. When we remove their Coors Field inflated numbers, Hill's August is 3-1, 2.10. In 30 non-Coors IPs, he has allowed just 21 hits while striking out 26 and walking only 6. Thats a Coors-free WHIP of 0.90. Since June 13th, the Gooz has thrown 19 1/3 non-Coors innings, allowing just 12 hits, striking out 23 and walking 9 with an ERA of 1.40 and a WHIP of 1.09.

 

If Hill and Guzman can keep performing at that level, I am very comfortable with both of them in the rotation next season. Guzman's injury history coupled with Prior's recent injury problems means that the Cubs should still sign two FA pitchers, one top of the rotation and one veteran innings eater.

 

I think Zito will be highly sought after by teams like the Yank-mes and Red Sox. So he won't come cheap. Even though he is getting past his prime, I would still overspend to get him. He is a better option than either Schmidt, Mulder or Lilly performance wise. And with Wood and Maddux no longer on the payroll, the money should be there. Someone like Padilla would be good as the innings eater if he comes cheaply enough. If Prior and the young guns are healthy and pitching well, then Padilla or whoever the veteran 5th starter innings eater would be could be moved to the bullpen or traded after June 15th.

 

the big question again in 2007 will be prior. if the cubs could count on prior being healthy, they might be able to go with z, prior, hill, marshall, mateo/guzman. with prior being an unknown yet again, they will have to go after a zito or schmidt to go along with z leaving guz, mateo & marshall to fight it ou for the #5. it's nice for us hill supporters to see such good results. it just amazes me how some people who look at stats as gospel can ignore them when they feel like it. i can remember people here clamoring for the cubs to trade z for vazquez when he was with the expo's. sometimes the best trade is the one not made. now wood & prior on the other hand...