The Cubs Cactus League Rotation

[98navigator]

And now Woody will join Prior in pitching on Monday.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070303&content_id=1824960&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp

 

"I told the pitching coach we'll answer all the questions on one day -- it won't take two or three"

 

Ted Lilly also will pitch on Monday. Prior will start the game because he needs a little more time to warm up, with Lilly to follow.

 

I love it

[98navigator]

Looks like Jeff is throwing a lot harder than he once did.

 

Link

 

Samardzija averaged 97 m.p.h. on his fastball and 96 m.p.h. on his slider.

[A New Era]

Looks like Jeff is throwing a lot harder than he once did.

 

Link

 

Samardzija averaged 97 m.p.h. on his fastball and 96 m.p.h. on his slider.

 

Roids or some other enhancing supliment. 8-)

[98navigator]

Looks like Jeff is throwing a lot harder than he once did.

 

Link

 

Samardzija averaged 97 m.p.h. on his fastball and 96 m.p.h. on his slider.

 

Roids or some other enhancing supliment. 8-)

 

LOL, let's hope not.

[RammyFanny]

Looks like Jeff is throwing a lot harder than he once did.

 

Link

 

Samardzija averaged 97 m.p.h. on his fastball and 96 m.p.h. on his slider.

Hmm...I read that his slider was at 88. And then I also read that Shark told Barrett he would throw fastball and sinkers...so maybe they got the slider confused with the sinker or something? Either way im a little confused.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yeah, a 96 mph slider is pretty insane.

[Mephistopheles]

i had a 96 mph slider on mvp baseball. god i was unhittable. we all know it's a mistake, but i know I saw Robb Nen touch 93-94 with his slide piece in his prime.

[98navigator]

i had a 96 mph slider on mvp baseball. god i was unhittable. we all know it's a mistake, but i know I saw Robb Nen touch 93-94 with his slide piece in his prime.

 

Most likely it's a mistake because 96 sounds very optimistic. However, I think the Sox claim Jenks' slider (or some other offspeed pitch) is in the mid 90's.

[Mephistopheles]

some guys throw a cutter in the low 90s. Rivera for instance. Nen was different, his was a true slider. The hardest I think I've seen Lidge throw a true slider was 91. I believe Smoltz got his up to 90 when he was closing. Nen's had plus movement, plus command and plus-plus velocity. If there was ever a plus-plus-plus pitch, his slider might have been it.

[Magnetic Curses]

i forget what game it was, but todd ritchie had a 120 mph slider in a playstation game.

[A New Era]

And now Woody will join Prior in pitching on Monday.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070303&content_id=1824960&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp

 

"I told the pitching coach we'll answer all the questions on one day -- it won't take two or three"

 

Ted Lilly also will pitch on Monday. Prior will start the game because he needs a little more time to warm up, with Lilly to follow.

 

I love it

 

Thank god this game will be in audio on mbl.tv. Wood, Prior, Lilly all pictching in the same game. Should be fun to listen to. I just wish I could watch it.

[imb]

i forget what game it was, but todd ritchie had a 120 mph slider in a playstation game.

 

Not as impressive as Greinke's 56 mph curve on MVP05

[Mark Priors Calves]

i forget what game it was, but todd ritchie had a 120 mph slider in a playstation game.

 

Not as impressive as Greinke's 56 mph curve on MVP05

 

that pitch was criminal.

[98navigator]

Here's the Suntimes' take on the order of the rotation. On the outside chance Cotts makes the rotation, above Miller or Prior, he will pitch in the 5th spot and Marquis in the 3rd spot (because Cott's is a Lefty).

 

Either Prior or Miller will pitch in the 3 spot.

 

Link

 

Piniella's plans for the starting rotation right now involve leaving the No. 3 spot open for the winner of a three-man competition between Prior, Wade Miller and Neal Cotts, with the 1-2-4-5 spots filled by Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly, Hill and Jason Marquis. But he's open to switching Marquis to the 3-spot, with the survivor of the three-man scrum going to No. 5, depending on who wins that job.

[98navigator]

I think Prior is healthy. At least it would appear to be the case because, unlike recent STs, he's participated in the same drills as every other starter. He may have some lingering doubts about his health just because it's been awhile since he pitched. These quotes seem to exemply the doubt:

 

Link

 

"If I prove I'm healthy, I'll have a position,"

 

"...I'm doing everything I can to pitch until my body tells me otherwise, I'll go about my business."

 

Mark Prior's comments about criticism sound pretty level headed:

 

"I just do what I do..." "When people were blowing me up after '02 and '03, it didn't change the way I approached things at all. Obviously, things have turned but that's just the nature of the business. It's what have you done for me lately, and what are you going to do for me tomorrow. It doesn't change the focus of what I'll put into a game or prepare for a game. I always work the same way."

 

 

Here's Wood's comments on pitching tomorrow for the first time in months.

 

"I'm ready to go..." "More than anything, it'll be nice to get out there and get the adrenaline going. I've faced hitters a few times and my arm feels good, but I've lacked the adrenaline for a while now. It'd be nice to get out there and get that first one out of the way."

[98navigator]

Pitcher Roberto Novoa has some tightness in his right shoulder, which is why he hasn't been in a game yet. Reliever Michael Wuertz played catch on Sunday, and could see some action on Tuesday. Left-hander Sean Marshall, slowed because of his shoulder, will throw batting practice on Tuesday and could be in a game by Thursday or Friday.

 

"Things are going real well," Marshall said.

 

Link

[CUBZ99]

Yeah, a 96 mph slider is pretty insane.

 

Your talking Bobby Brownlie territory there.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Yeah, a 96 mph slider is pretty insane.

 

Your talking Bobby Brownlie territory there.

 

I can't believe it took this long for an outlaw curve reference.

[cubfan]

I remember seeing Billy Koch hit 93 mph on a slider while he was pitching for Toranto. His fastball was also at 102 so it could have just been a fast gun.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Yeah, a 96 mph slider is pretty insane.

 

Your talking Bobby Brownlie territory there.

 

I can't believe it took this long for an outlaw curve reference.

 

I was thinking it. That should count for something.

[Mephistopheles]

anyone know whose got the non-hill ss game? is juan mateo gonna grace us with a start?

[Laura]

Neal Cotts

[98navigator]

Lou would like to go with an 11 man pitching staff but it depends on health:

 

Link

 

Manager Lou Piniella said Wednesday he'd like to open the season with 11 pitchers instead of 12, giving him an extra position player.

 

"I don't know if we can do that," he said. "Let's see what happens here. It depends on the starters, depends on the health of our bullpen. I like the idea of that extra guy on the bench."

 

If the Cubs carried only 11 pitchers, Miller or Prior would be in jeopardy because Neal Cotts, the other starter candidate, can be a reliever. The other four starting pitchers are assured of roster spots, as are relievers Ryan Dempster, Bob Howry, Kerry Wood, Scott Eyre and probably Will Ohman

[Guest]

Mike Wuertz not being assured a spot gives me heartburn.

[KingCubsFan]

Mike Wuertz not being assured a spot gives me heartburn.

well, he is injured right now. Besides, who can you kick off the team to make room for him?