[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I just looked him up. He's not that bad. He's had one really bad year, but I am not certain that makes him a horrendous option for the back end of the rotation.

 

We need front end guys. We've got the backend covered.

 

You've got that right, because from the looks of it, our rotation is ass!

[JWCUB]

I just looked him up. He's not that bad. He's had one really bad year, but I am not certain that makes him a horrendous option for the back end of the rotation.

 

We need front end guys. We've got the backend covered.

 

IMO thats why Schmidt was a MUST.

[Andy]

I just looked him up. He's not that bad. He's had one really bad year, but I am not certain that makes him a horrendous option for the back end of the rotation.

 

We need front end guys. We've got the backend covered.

 

You've got that right, because from the looks of it, our rotation is ass!

Ba-dum-sshh.

 

He'll be here all week! Tip your waitresses.

[NoDak]

I echo those who have stated that Marquis for a 1 yr $3-5M deal I can live with. Marquis for 4yr $40M (and I haven't seen this reported anywhere, so don't worry) would be bad. He is still a young pitcher and has had success in the past. If he can even improve to the point of league average (well within his ability) this could be a decent little signing.

[inari]

I'm not sure why some of you are okay with Marquis for any amount of money. If he's in the rotation for $5 or $5,000,000, it still hurts our chances to win. It's not my money, so I'd rather that they spend it on the best available player.

[goonys evil twin]

I'm not sure why some of you are okay with Marquis for any amount of money. If he's in the rotation for $5 or $5,000,000, it still hurts our chances to win. It's not my money, so I'd rather that they spend it on the best available player.

 

If he pitches like last year, he hurts you. But if he pitches like last year, and makes very little money, it's easy for the manager to put somebody in his place. If he pitches like he has at his best, he helps the team.

[Guest]

I'm not sure why some of you are okay with Marquis for any amount of money. If he's in the rotation for $5 or $5,000,000, it still hurts our chances to win. It's not my money, so I'd rather that they spend it on the best available player.

I'm for it because my feeling is that the best available player for the rotation is Angel Guzman. Getting Marquis on a cheap, one year deal wouldn't keep Guzman out of the rotation if he looks good in the spring. That kind of deal can easily be dealt or DFA'd.

 

(btw - I'm also hoping the the better than best option for the rotation will be a healthy Mark Prior. If we fill the entire rotation with 4/$40M guys it would mean that Hill would go back to Iowa if Prior and Miller came to camp healthy.)

[kente777]

I just looked him up. He's not that bad. He's had one really bad year, but I am not certain that makes him a horrendous option for the back end of the rotation.

 

We need front end guys. We've got the backend covered.

 

You've got that right, because from the looks of it, our rotation is ass!

 

I'm not so sure. I've got a feeling that both Miller and Hill will have a good year. The wild card is Prior. If he comes back and pitches 25-30 games, we could have a kick ass rotation. We need some good luck for a change!

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm not sure why some of you are okay with Marquis for any amount of money. If he's in the rotation for $5 or $5,000,000, it still hurts our chances to win. It's not my money, so I'd rather that they spend it on the best available player.

I'm for it because my feeling is that the best available player for the rotation is Angel Guzman. Getting Marquis on a cheap, one year deal wouldn't keep Guzman out of the rotation if he looks good in the spring. That kind of deal can easily be dealt or DFA'd.

 

(btw - I'm also hoping the the better than best option for the rotation will be a healthy Mark Prior. If we fill the entire rotation with 4/$40M guys it would mean that Hill would go back to Iowa if Prior and Miller came to camp healthy.)

 

Bingo... this is why I'd prefer Marquis over someone like Suppan. The Cubs have enough "ifs" - Miller, a healthy Prior, a healthy Guzman, or guys like Marshall, Marmol, Veal, Gallagher, Mateo, etc, in the high minors. If you sign Suppan and if Hill remains a mainstay in the rotation, then you've got four spots taken up for the next 4 years, and only one for all those other options - at least a couple of whom will hopefully become better than Lilly and Suppan.

[baseball7897]

Marquis has a very live arm. If the reports of him fixing his mechanical flaw are true, then I think he can return to his 04 form.

[TruffleShuffle]

Marquis has a very live arm. If the reports of him fixing his mechanical flaw are true, then I think he can return to his 04 form.

 

http://www.fangraphs.com/graphs/105_P_season_full_9_20061001.png

 

Certainly suggests a mechanical flaw. When he was getting ground balls and improving his LD%, he was moderately succesful. The fly ball % has really skyrocketed the last two years, which is crippling for someone whose best pitch is supposed to be his sinking fastball.