Thoughts on '07 Cubs Rotation

[Knyption]

So we have the rotation for '07 set unless Prior can return to health and form..

 

I'm wondering though who will get shafted if Prior does return...

 

So we have

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Marquis

Hill

Marshall/Guzman/Miller/Prior/Marmol

 

That said, if Prior returns to form and Miller good as he has been in the past who do you demote / send to the pen.

 

I would imagine that Lilly and Marshall are stuck in the rotation given thier hefty contracts.. but something tells me Hill will outperform both of them.

 

Will money play over winning and Hill get sent to the pen?

Will a healthy and performing (if) Miller get traded?

Would the other youngsters get dealt or dwell yet again in the minors?

 

I personally think in the most optimistic world if everything goes above expectations with health the cubs should do the following

 

Zambrano

Prior

Hill

Lilly

Marquis/Miller

 

With good health to everyone will this happen."??? only lou knows

[neely crenshaw]

there will be a whole lot of questions to be answered. it unfortunately may be easier to pick than we hope.

prior has to get healthy or he is a non factor

miller has to continue to get healthy especially his fastball or he is a non factor

marquis has to get much better or he is a non factor

hill has to prove his work the 2nd half is the real deal

marshall has to become consistent

guzman,marmol, etc... the same

 

we could have a glut or we could just a little better than last year. we have added lilly, who should be an inprovement..but was last year's amrquis any better than the young kids we sent out-not really.

with prior,marquis,marshall and guzman you have 4 pitchers who probably combined for a 7.00 era last year! if that happens again, what will we do?

[CubinNY]

So we have the rotation for '07 set unless Prior can return to health and form..

 

I'm wondering though who will get shafted if Prior does return...

 

So we have

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Marquis

Hill

Marshall/Guzman/Miller/Prior/Marmol

 

That said, if Prior returns to form and Miller good as he has been in the past who do you demote / send to the pen.

 

I would imagine that Lilly and Marshall are stuck in the rotation given thier hefty contracts.. but something tells me Hill will outperform both of them.

 

Will money play over winning and Hill get sent to the pen?

Will a healthy and performing (if) Miller get traded?

Would the other youngsters get dealt or dwell yet again in the minors?

 

I personally think in the most optimistic world if everything goes above expectations with health the cubs should do the following

 

Zambrano

Prior

Hill

Lilly

Marquis/Miller

 

With good health to everyone will this happen."??? only lou knows

 

My guess is that Miller won't last the full season. In addition other pitchers will miss starts. I think there is enough room for everyone. After Z it's the quality I worry about, not the quantity.

 

I think Guzman has a chance to take a spot, but I am going to assume that at least one of Marshall/Guzman/Marmol/Hill/Mateo will be traded. If I had to place a bet on it I would bet Guzman gets traded. He has the highest potential of the group. I hope this isn't the case though.

[Abe Frohman]

I think that we can breath a little now that we have two quality starters in Lilly and Marquis. Forget what the Cubs paid them. If they think they know how to turn Marquis around, we'll see.

 

The thing is, you NEVER know who is going to have a big year. We have enough starters now that there will be good competition for jobs, much like the White Sox had in 2005 with the emergence of Brandon McCarthy. I just hope that the fact that the Cubs paid Lilly and Marquis a ton will translate to they are guaranteed a spot in the rotation.

 

I like what Rich Hill showed last year. He got rocked early, and seemed to get over whatever hump it was - and become a dominant pitcher. Zambrano is virtually a lock to succeed, and Prior could be a HUGE bonus.

 

The Cubs are due for some good luck, but it is good that this year they are not really counting on it.

[CubinNY]

I think that we can breath a little now that we have two quality starters in Lilly and Marquis.

 

Quality?

[Abe Frohman]

I think that we can breath a little now that we have two quality starters in Lilly and Marquis.

 

Quality?

 

I am known for my sarcasm and exaggerating skills.

[10man]

I think that we can breath a little now that we have two quality starters in Lilly and Marquis.

Quality?

I am known for my sarcasm and exaggerating skills.

Yeah. I believe the streaking KFC bucket gave you away.

[rsmoler]

What I find very interesting is how many pitchers on the 40 man roster have major league experience. Of the 22 pitchers currently on the roster only 2, Clay Rapada and Rocky Cherry, have not logged innings for the Cubs. So if the Cubs keep 12 pitchers on their 25 man roster, there should be 8 other quality, somewhat experienced, arms ready to help out if the Cubs need them. Some of these guys have got to pan out.

[dew1679666265]

So we have the rotation for '07 set unless Prior can return to health and form..

 

I'm wondering though who will get shafted if Prior does return...

 

So we have

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Marquis

Hill

Marshall/Guzman/Miller/Prior/Marmol

 

That said, if Prior returns to form and Miller good as he has been in the past who do you demote / send to the pen.

 

I would imagine that Lilly and Marshall are stuck in the rotation given thier hefty contracts.. but something tells me Hill will outperform both of them.

 

Will money play over winning and Hill get sent to the pen?

Will a healthy and performing (if) Miller get traded?

Would the other youngsters get dealt or dwell yet again in the minors?

 

I personally think in the most optimistic world if everything goes above expectations with health the cubs should do the following

 

Zambrano

Prior

Hill

Lilly

Marquis/Miller

 

With good health to everyone will this happen."??? only lou knows

 

I wouldn't discount the idea of another bullpen arm (I suspect Ohman or Eyre) being traded thus opening the option of moving Miller to the pen should he prove healthy.

I think that's the most likely option if the best case scenario happens and Prior and Miller are both healthy and effective.

The rotation would then be (not necessarily in exact order):

Z

Prior

Hill

Lilly

Marquis

 

Bullpen:

Cotts

Miller

Howry

Dempster

Wood

Wuertz

Eyre/Ohman (whoever is not traded)

[Abe Frohman]

I think that we can breath a little now that we have two quality starters in Lilly and Marquis.

Quality?

I am known for my sarcasm and exaggerating skills.

Yeah. I believe the streaking KFC bucket gave you away.

 

No mention of Phat Phil Fulmer of Tenn. failing to catch it?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I think that we can breath a little now that we have two quality starters in Lilly and Marquis.

 

Quality?

 

Starters?