Miller's spot in the rotation?

[Backtobanks]

Today's Tribune discusses the return of Sean Marshall and how the Cubs will have trouble finding room in the rotation for Wade Miller. Personally, I think the Cubs ought to give a long look at Miller during September. If Miller can be somewhat effective, he could be a cheap bottom-of-the-rotation pitcher for next year. Hoping for a free agent signing and a return to form from Prior would leave the Cubs with only one rookie in the rotation and 2-3 others for depth. Also, the young pitchers who aren't in the regular rotation could be part of a trade package to acquire an impact bat. The article states Marmol will go to the bullpen with Miller, Mateo, and Guzman fighting for the 2 rotation spots behind Zambrano, Hill, and Marshall.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

If Miller is at 100% and his velocity is back, then I also want to see him given a look for next season. If he could return to his Houston form, it would be much more valuable to have him on the team in '07 than most of the rookies we've been trotting out there.

[Sammy Sofa]

Agreed. It's cool giving the rookies a shot, but outside of Hill I don't think any of them are ready to be here a full year and be truly competitive. Let them work it out in the minors/bullpen and fill in when needed. If Miller is showing he can be competitive, he definitely needs to be given a shot. He'd be a cheap, decent veteran starter if he has anything left.

[fiver]

If Miller is at 100% and his velocity is back, then I also want to see him given a look for next season. If he could return to his Houston form, it would be much more valuable to have him on the team in '07 than most of the rookies we've been trotting out there.

 

We both know that is the current problem. He hasn't bounced back well from the surgery and is not close to performing as he did with Houston. I believe the Cubs front office is probably handling this appropriately. Let the younger guys play until/if Miller gets enough of his "stuff" and endurance back to be able to battle in the major leagues. I do believe we'll see him before the season ends.

[garsky]

The problem is this: say you bring him up and he does OK; now he becomes more expensive, as more teams consider giving him a chance next year.

 

On the other hand, if he comes up and tanks, he's all ours, in all his suckiness.

 

It's a lose-lose proposition. Might as well just shut him down for the rest of the year.

[CuseCubFan69]

Trade him for a PTBNL. If he does well take the better player and if he stinks up the joint take the worst guy on the list.

[Backtobanks]

If Miller is at 100% and his velocity is back, then I also want to see him given a look for next season. If he could return to his Houston form, it would be much more valuable to have him on the team in '07 than most of the rookies we've been trotting out there.

 

We both know that is the current problem. He hasn't bounced back well from the surgery and is not close to performing as he did with Houston. I believe the Cubs front office is probably handling this appropriately. Let the younger guys play until/if Miller gets enough of his "stuff" and endurance back to be able to battle in the major leagues. I do believe we'll see him before the season ends.

 

That sounds great except you only have 1 month to make a decision on Miller, while you have this month plus all of spring training to make decisions on the young guys.

[Backtobanks]

Trade him for a PTBNL. If he does well take the better player and if he stinks up the joint take the worst guy on the list.

 

Nobody is going to trade for him until he proves he's healthy. By then the season will be over and he will be a free agent.

[CuseCubFan69]

Trade him for a PTBNL. If he does well take the better player and if he stinks up the joint take the worst guy on the list.

 

Nobody is going to trade for him until he proves he's healthy. By then the season will be over and he will be a free agent.

 

What do they lose when they give up a non-prospect? That's why I wrote if he does well they give up more and almost nothing if he doesn't produce or is hurt again. Maybe instead of a non prospect some cash to help pay for the 1 million the Cubs wasted.

Edited August 31, 2006 by CuseCubFan69

[Soriano12]

Maybe Miller will return to give us a whole 1 start in 2006!

 

 

Keep throwing darts Jim...I know its been 3 years, but I'm sure you will

hit the board again.

[dew1679666265]

The problem is this: say you bring him up and he does OK; now he becomes more expensive, as more teams consider giving him a chance next year.

 

I really doubt one good month would bring Miller more than what he got this year. Plus we might get a discount because we gave him the opportunity. Ultimately I'd say he gets another $1m/1 yr deal.

 

On the other hand, if he comes up and tanks, he's all ours, in all his suckiness.

 

It's a lose-lose proposition. Might as well just shut him down for the rest of the year.

 

He's all ours the rest of this season, he's not signed after it. If he comes up and sucks, we just let him go in the offseason, no risk at all.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Miller is fried, please don't give him starts that belong to more deserving candidates.

[dew1679666265]

Miller is fried, please don't give him starts that belong to more deserving candidates.

 

The problem is, who's truly more deserving? I'm all for playing the kids at this point, but I don't want kids that clearly not ready up here doing nothing but hurting their confidence. As long as Miller doesn't push out Z, Hill or Marshall I'm ok. Marmol needs to be in the minors to work on his control and Mateo and Guzman could use the work down there to.

[Sammy Sofa]

Miller is fried, please don't give him starts that belong to more deserving candidates.

 

Like who?

 

I think the only 2 rookies that basically NEED to be in the rotation right now are Guzman and Hill, especially the latter. Combine them with Z and you've still got 2 spots open. Marshall was up for pretty much the whole year...does he really desperately need this last month? What's he got left to prove? Marmol's injured right now and Mateo I think would be better off working out of the bullpen (I still think he could make a great closer down the line). Yes, there are always other people to try out, but Miller's here for 1 more month...why not see what he can do? What is there to lose? More fun with Rusch? Because you know Dusty's using him before they bring up any more rookies.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Miller is fried, please don't give him starts that belong to more deserving candidates.

 

The problem is, who's truly more deserving? I'm all for playing the kids at this point, but I don't want kids that clearly not ready up here doing nothing but hurting their confidence. As long as Miller doesn't push out Z, Hill or Marshall I'm ok. Marmol needs to be in the minors to work on his control and Mateo and Guzman could use the work down there to.

 

The problem with that is the minor league season is over in 4 games. Even if the minor league season wasn't coming to a finish, I'm not sure why these guys couldn't work in the big leagues.

[stitchface]

pushing out Z would be a good thing. no reason to run him into the ground.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Miller is fried, please don't give him starts that belong to more deserving candidates.

 

Like who?

 

I think the only 2 rookies that basically NEED to be in the rotation right now are Guzman and Hill, especially the latter. Combine them with Z and you've still got 2 spots open. Marshall was up for pretty much the whole year...does he really desperately need this last month? What's he got left to prove? Marmol's injured right now and Mateo I think would be better off working out of the bullpen (I still think he could make a great closer down the line). Yes, there are always other people to try out, but Miller's here for 1 more month...why not see what he can do? What is there to lose? More fun with Rusch? Because you know Dusty's using him before they bring up any more rookies.

 

Mateo needs innings. The minor league season is about over, so I'd rather he get a start than Miller. Zambrano, Marshall, Marmol, Hill, Guzman for the last month.

[Sammy Sofa]

If Marmol will even be there. If he is, great, let him pitch. I just don't see the need to pencil in Marshall over Miller for this last month. Marshall has nothing left to prove this year...Miller does.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

If Marmol will even be there. If he is, great, let him pitch. I just don't see the need to pencil in Marshall over Miller for this last month. Marshall has nothing left to prove this year...Miller does.

 

So just don't let Marshall pitch? Marshall has plenty left to prove.

[Sammy Sofa]

pushing out Z would be a good thing. no reason to run him into the ground.

 

Correction...the ground runs into Z. And it is destroyed.

[Sammy Sofa]

If Marmol will even be there. If he is, great, let him pitch. I just don't see the need to pencil in Marshall over Miller for this last month. Marshall has nothing left to prove this year...Miller does.

 

So just don't let Marshall pitch? Marshall has plenty left to prove.

 

We know Marshall is back with the team in some capacity next year. Unless he magically developed a new pitch or some extra speed to his fastball, what does he have that we'll see in the last month that we didn't see the last 4? He's got plenty of time in the future with the team and we basically know what he can do. Miller's potentially gone after this year, so this is the only chance to see if he has anything left. Why not do that?

 

And I'm not saying Marshall has to be the one who loses a spot to Miller. It could easily be Mateo or Marmol. Both are here for a while, they're not going to be wanting for playing time at some level with the Cubs. This is the only go for Miller. Maybe there's something there. Maybe not. It's not like we're talking delaying Wood's surgery or something by setting these guys back a month. A missed month in the doldrums of the year isn't going to cripple them if they actually have the stuff to make it in their futures.

Edited September 1, 2006 by Sammy Sofa

[RichHillIsABeast]

the rotation for the rest of the season should be:

 

Zambrano

Marshall

Hill

Guzman

Miller

 

If we go to a 4 man rotation to give Z more shots at Ws and the Cy Young, Guzman should be the odd man out.

[dew1679666265]

Miller is fried, please don't give him starts that belong to more deserving candidates.

 

The problem is, who's truly more deserving? I'm all for playing the kids at this point, but I don't want kids that clearly not ready up here doing nothing but hurting their confidence. As long as Miller doesn't push out Z, Hill or Marshall I'm ok. Marmol needs to be in the minors to work on his control and Mateo and Guzman could use the work down there to.

 

The problem with that is the minor league season is over in 4 games. Even if the minor league season wasn't coming to a finish, I'm not sure why these guys couldn't work in the big leagues.

 

D'oh, I completely forgot the minors were ending, it's late and I'm tired. I do think they could work in the majors but for Marmol especially, he's looked borderline terrible with his control. Moving to the minors would take a little pressure off of him in that the hitters he faces would not be as good, thus he could work on his control. Even with the minors ending, I still think Miller should get a start or two and see if he's got anything. If he does have nothing, put the kids back in there.

[Sammy Sofa]

Miller is fried, please don't give him starts that belong to more deserving candidates.

 

The problem is, who's truly more deserving? I'm all for playing the kids at this point, but I don't want kids that clearly not ready up here doing nothing but hurting their confidence. As long as Miller doesn't push out Z, Hill or Marshall I'm ok. Marmol needs to be in the minors to work on his control and Mateo and Guzman could use the work down there to.

 

The problem with that is the minor league season is over in 4 games. Even if the minor league season wasn't coming to a finish, I'm not sure why these guys couldn't work in the big leagues.

 

D'oh, I completely forgot the minors was ending, it's late and I'm tired. I do think they could work in the majors but for Marmol especially, he's looked borderline terrible with his control. Moving to the minors would take a little pressure off of him in that the hitters he faces would not be as good, thus he could work on his control. Even with the minors ending, I still think Miller should get a start or two and see if he's got anything. If he does have nothing, put the kids back in there.

 

Exactly.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

We've already seen Miller has nothing left from his time in the minors. He has no velocity, and he got hit hard. The last few years have taught us that when you have a chance to see what your prospects have, you need to take it. The more time they get at the ML level the better.