Wade Miller

[98navigator]

Wade Miller may be behind Prior because of reduced arm strength.

 

Link

 

"Wade doesn't have the arm strength that Kerry [Wood] and the rest of these guys have, obviously," Piniella said. "He's got good rotation in his breaking ball and he's spotting his fastball very well. Velocity is not the name of the game with Wade. It's more changing speeds and utilizing pitches and hitting his spots."

 

 

Lou also would like to see more fastballs:

 

 

...Piniella said. "I've been pleased. The only thing I mentioned to the pitching coach [Larry Rothschild], and it's early in camp, but I'd like to see our pitchers throw more strikes with the fastball. Outside of that, I'm pleased. Everybody's working and in shape. We haven't had any setbacks injury-wise, and that's very important."

 

Also, Marquis is likely the 5th starter so the rotation right now looks like

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Prior

Hill

Marquis

[Soul]

Also, Marquis is likely the 5th starter so the rotation right now looks like

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Prior

Hill

Marquis

 

Oh really? So it took about 1 week of ST for the whole "Prior is our 5th starter" thing to be thrown to the 4 winds ;)

[Sarcastic]

Also, Marquis is likely the 5th starter so the rotation right now looks like

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Prior

Hill

Marquis

 

Oh really? So it took about 1 week of ST for the whole "Prior is our 5th starter" thing to be thrown to the 4 winds ;)

 

If he is healthy, it doesn't make any sense to make him the 5th starter. Rotation order doesn't especially matter if you aren't skipping starters anyway.

 

I always thought the "Prior should be considered the 5th starter" thing was pointless anyway. Either he'll pitch or he won't.

[98navigator]

Also, Marquis is likely the 5th starter so the rotation right now looks like

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Prior

Hill

Marquis

 

Oh really? So it took about 1 week of ST for the whole "Prior is our 5th starter" thing to be thrown to the 4 winds ;)

 

LOL, apparently so. The Cubs must be reasonably pleased with his progress and health going forward... It looks like Marquis will get the 5th spot. :D

[Outshined_One]

Also, Marquis is likely the 5th starter so the rotation right now looks like

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Prior

Hill

Marquis

 

Oh really? So it took about 1 week of ST for the whole "Prior is our 5th starter" thing to be thrown to the 4 winds ;)

 

There's a joke in here about Lou Piniella being full of hot air or Jason Marquis blowing in this statement, but I've said enough. :)

[RichHillIsABeast]

If Marquis is the 5th starter, Cotts is going to send him packing. If Cotts doesn't, Guzman will.

[David]

If Marquis is the 5th starter, Cotts is going to send him packing. If Cotts doesn't, Guzman will.

 

I sure hope so, but there's about 21 million reasons why that won't happen (I know, predictable response, sue me). Hopefully, if Marquis is stinkin it up, Lou won't hesitate to go to one of the other options.

 

At least it seems they realize he's no better than the 5th starter on this staff. It just makes you wonder why they would give him that contract in the first place, though.

[cubweiser03]

Wade is more about throwing that hard curve, he's not a locate and finesse pitcher. Velocity may not matter so much on his fastball but it matters on his hard curve and getting that hard bite. If he is throwing high 80's fastball he aint gonna be the pitcher he was.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

If Marquis is the 5th starter, Cotts is going to send him packing. If Cotts doesn't, Guzman will.

 

Gooz Gooz Gooz!

[RichHillIsABeast]

If Marquis is the 5th starter, Cotts is going to send him packing. If Cotts doesn't, Guzman will.

 

Gooz Gooz Gooz!

 

The 3 plus pitches are back! Marquis is a goner.

 

It sucks that the Cubs wasted 21MM on him, but you go with performance over payroll when the WS is your goal. I'm sure Hendry will see the light before the ASB, if not sooner.

[Mark Priors Calves]

i doubt marquis is going anywhere until at least next off season.

[NCCubFan]

i doubt marquis is going anywhere until at least next off season.

He'll be going somewhere, namely the Cubs' bullpen. :D

[Guest]

Now getting back on the guy this thread started with, and that is Wade Miller:

 

Cubs PROJECTED rotation: Z/Lilly/Prior/Hill/Marquis

Cubs projected Bullpen: Left side: Cotts/Eyre/Ohman

Right side: Howry/Wood/Wuertz/Dempster

 

Cubs projected staff (starting/bullpen)at AAA will consist of:

Angel Guzman

Juan Mateo

Carlos Marmol

Sean Marshall

maybe Sean Gallagher/

Carmen Pignatiello

Randy Wells

 

An intriguing staff to say the least.

 

What happens to Wade Miller? The Cubs have enough arms at AAA to replace whoever gets hurt on the big club, an dif it is a starter, then Cubs do still have Cotts on the roster. What is the need for Wade Miller, now? It's begining to look like the Cubs re-sign him with the promise that if Miller is healthy, he would be showcased for a trade. And considering his pricetag, I could see a few teams like the Mets (Glavine/Duque and), Twins (Ponson/Ortiz in the rotation, nuff said), TB (decent MLB starter at a very low cost) being interested. So, does anybody else think, Wade Miller will not be with the Cubs come Opening Day?

[A New Era]

certainly a possibility. But I'm not sure right away. They might want to have him as back-up plan. He might be a "long swing man" for awhile. Then, depending on how things shape up. Maybe traded. .

[CubsWin]

Now getting back on the guy this thread started with, and that is Wade Miller:

 

Cubs PROJECTED rotation: Z/Lilly/Prior/Hill/Marquis

Cubs projected Bullpen: Left side: Cotts/Eyre/Ohman

Right side: Howry/Wood/Wuertz/Dempster

 

Cubs projected staff (starting/bullpen)at AAA will consist of:

Angel Guzman

Juan Mateo

Carlos Marmol

Sean Marshall

maybe Sean Gallagher/

Carmen Pignatiello

Randy Wells

 

An intriguing staff to say the least.

 

What happens to Wade Miller? The Cubs have enough arms at AAA to replace whoever gets hurt on the big club, an dif it is a starter, then Cubs do still have Cotts on the roster. What is the need for Wade Miller, now? It's begining to look like the Cubs re-sign him with the promise that if Miller is healthy, he would be showcased for a trade. And considering his pricetag, I could see a few teams like the Mets (Glavine/Duque and), Twins (Ponson/Ortiz in the rotation, nuff said), TB (decent MLB starter at a very low cost) being interested. So, does anybody else think, Wade Miller will not be with the Cubs come Opening Day?

Good post. These are the exact questions that I'm sure a lot of us have been asking.

 

Let me add a few more. Was Wade technically a free agent signing even though he was re-signed from last year's squad? If so, does anyone know if that means that he can't be traded before June 15th? Did the new CBA do away with that rule?

 

If he can't be moved before mid-June and doesn't make the 25-man do to the health and performance of the other options, can the Cubs simply place him on the DL claiming that he is still recovering from a surgery that happened over a year and a half ago? Doesn't seem likely, but you never know.

 

Questions aside, I always saw Miller and Marquis as insurance against injuries to other pitchers and lack of performance from the less experienced arms. This is the situation for which Cubs fans have been calling. If we don't want to have to count on Wood and Prior, question mark guys like Miller and Marquis would have to be signed and then we'd have to sit back and let the situation sort itself out. This should be an interesting spring. Getting the answers to the above questions will make it all the more interesting. Anyone?

[Guest]

certainly a possibility. But I'm not sure right away. They might want to have him as back-up plan. He might be a "long swing man" for awhile. Then, depenbumpedding on how things shape up. Maybe traded. .

 

Then who gets bumps to make room for Miller?

[Illini Iceman]

certainly a possibility. But I'm not sure right away. They might want to have him as back-up plan. He might be a "long swing man" for awhile. Then, depenbumpedding on how things shape up. Maybe traded. .

 

Then who gets bumps to make room for Miller?

 

Wuertz or Cotts - I think they both have options remainig so they can stick one of them in AAA until a trade or the inevitable injury.

[98navigator]

I think Miller will either start the season on the DL or be traded (with the extreme option being his release). The Suntimes writer adds some interesting notes today:

 

It has been clear for some time that the Cubs aren't counting on Wade Miller to do much for the club this year. But Saturday was the first time anyone in the organization acknowledged publicly that Miller's 2005 shoulder surgery cost him his fastball, probably for good.

 

The former power pitcher, whose fastball routinely reached the mid-90s early in his career with Houston, had trouble reaching the mid-80s when he returned to the mound late last season, and it doesn't look like that has improved early in camp.

[CubinNY]

I think Miller will either start the season on the DL or be traded (with the extreme option being his release). The Suntimes writer adds some interesting notes today:

 

It has been clear for some time that the Cubs aren't counting on Wade Miller to do much for the club this year. But Saturday was the first time anyone in the organization acknowledged publicly that Miller's 2005 shoulder surgery cost him his fastball, probably for good.

 

The former power pitcher, whose fastball routinely reached the mid-90s early in his career with Houston, had trouble reaching the mid-80s when he returned to the mound late last season, and it doesn't look like that has improved early in camp.

 

Miller is done.

[RichHillIsABeast]

Well that's not good. I thought for sure his arm strength would come back close to where it was.

 

Miller is nothing special if he can't push it above 92 regularly.

[CubColtPacer]

I'm not so sure Wade is completely done-even with his fastball only hitting 89 or so on the gun when he came back, his K rate was still high. If he keeps that up and his control gets better, then he could still be very effective.

[98navigator]

Lou also adds this about Miller

 

''Velocity's not the name of the game with Wade,'' Piniella said after the former power pitcher threw live batting practice to teammates. ''He doesn't have the arm strength that Kerry and the rest of these guys have, obviously. But he's got good rotation on his breaking ball, and he's spotting his fastball really well.''

 

I think Lou is just trying to keep it positive. Miller has always counted heavily on his velocity/ability to over power hitters. So unless he can reinvent himself as a finesse pitcher, he's probably going to be really bad (to maybe serviceable as a 5th starter for the Nationals etc) at best or washed up at worst.

 

Luckily, his contract makes him easy to move in a trade or for a release.

[98navigator]

I'm not so sure Wade is completely done-even with his fastball only hitting 89 or so on the gun when he came back, his K rate was still high. If he keeps that up and his control gets better, then he could still be very effective.

 

89 mph is being kind. Reporters are saying he didn't reach the mid 80's

[CubColtPacer]

I'm not so sure Wade is completely done-even with his fastball only hitting 89 or so on the gun when he came back, his K rate was still high. If he keeps that up and his control gets better, then he could still be very effective.

 

89 mph is being kind. Reporters are saying he didn't reach the mid 80's

 

Maybe so-I'm just taking the results from the gun when he was up at Wrigley that I saw, but it's possible that the gun was a fast one. He definitely was getting it up to 89 and sometimes 90 on that particular gun in his starts for the Cubs at the end of last year though.

[98navigator]

I'm not so sure Wade is completely done-even with his fastball only hitting 89 or so on the gun when he came back, his K rate was still high. If he keeps that up and his control gets better, then he could still be very effective.

 

89 mph is being kind. Reporters are saying he didn't reach the mid 80's

 

Maybe so-I'm just taking the results from the gun when he was up at Wrigley that I saw, but it's possible that the gun was a fast one. He definitely was getting it up to 89 and sometimes 90 on that particular gun in his starts for the Cubs at the end of last year though.

 

For his sake, I hope you're right but I don't think that, in his current state, he makes the active roster (barring other injuries). My guess is that he starts the season on the DL which will allow him to make some rehab starts. The decision will be easier for Lou if everyone else in camp is healthy and pitching better.