My thoughts on today's pitchers

[Tim]

From my blog entry

[Jazz]

Good read Tim. I like that these are on the front page, well at least a link to them.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I agree with your assessment, Tim.

 

Gooz threw the changeup twice by my count, both times out of the zone. I will have to go back and watch again to make sure as I was not really looking for that.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I agree with your assessment, Tim.

 

Gooz threw the changeup twice by my count, both times out of the zone. I will have to go back and watch again to make sure as I was not really looking for that.

 

A few folks in the game thread said he threw a change or two.

 

Tim, why can't we comment?

[Guest]

I agree with your assessment, Tim.

 

Gooz threw the changeup twice by my count, both times out of the zone. I will have to go back and watch again to make sure as I was not really looking for that.

 

A few folks in the game thread said he threw a change or two.

 

Tim, why can't we comment?

hmm...

 

I may have disabled those in addition to the trackbacks that were causing me headaches. I'll check.

[Soul]

It would be a stretch to think Prior will be a better option in only 3 week's time over Guzman, who is presently throwing 95 MPH heat, a wicked curve, and hasn't even bothered to break out his best pitch (change) yet.

 

Guzman needs to be that final starter. Mark can figure things out and provide relief if and when Marquis collapses.

[Guest]

Raisin,

 

It would appear that comments are working in some templates and not in others.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Raisin,

 

It would appear that comments are working in some templates and not in others.

 

Gotcha.

[NCCubFan]

Angel Guzman is going to be a very good pitcher in this league.

I agree. Just keep your eyes off of him in Roadkill. :D

[cubweiser03]

Prior did have some good movement on his fastball, although im not quite sure if thats all good yet. When Mark was Mark he was best when he could locate his fastball wherever he wanted, it may have been straight but it was straight on the black. His fastball was like Schillings and Clemens and he could locate it wherever he wanted to. Today his fastball kinda 'tailed' to the right to me. Wood has great movement on his fastball, except he cant control it as much as Mark. I always thought that since Mark could locate his fastball much better than Kerry it was a better pitch even without the movement

 

Maybe this was because of his arm slot. It was observed by a few people today that his arm slot did not appear as much over the top as what it was before, it was more from the side, not near as much as Z's but didnt look like the old Markl Prior motion. It was a step in the right direction today, i need to see more of 'how' he is going to pitch. The curve having bite was nice, guys were swinging at garbage way away meaning they were really fooled

 

Guzman is the Guzman we all dreamed of having. Its really encouraging seeing him pitch so well after all those injuries.

[Jazz]

I'm really impressed with Guz so far, and I think indeed he has returned to that blue chip prospect ability he had at one point. But we now have a problem with too many pitchers. Right now, i have us going into the season with

 

1 - Zambrano

2 - Lilly

3 - Hill

4 - Marquis

5 - Guzman

 

6 - Prior

7 - Miller

8 - Marshall

9 - Wood?

 

Where do Prior/Miller/Marshall go?

[Guest]

If Prior continues to improve and shows that he's even 80-90% of the old Prior by opening day, he'll get the nod and Guz will either be the long man or will be sent to Iowa. I'm actually happy with either spot for him as he'll have to learn to get major league hitters out at some point, anyway. Many a great pitcher started their career in the pen for a while.

[98navigator]

I'm really impressed with Guz so far, and I think indeed he has returned to that blue chip prospect ability he had at one point. But we now have a problem with too many pitchers. Right now, i have us going into the season with

 

1 - Zambrano

2 - Lilly

3 - Hill

4 - Marquis

5 - Guzman

 

6 - Prior

7 - Miller

8 - Marshall

9 - Wood?

 

Where do Prior/Miller/Marshall go?

 

After reading Miller's quotes, about not wanting to pitch out of the bullpen, I have to think that he will be traded if he does not earn the 5th spot. Marshall is well behind the other starter candidates so he'll have to be sent to AAA. Prior will probably be DL'd and sent on rehab but there is speculation that he could be sent to AAA if he doesn't earn the fifth spot. If Prior doesn't improve, Guzman should earn the 5th spot. If Prior returns to 2005 form Guzman is bound for AAA.

[hawkcub]

If Prior continues to improve and shows that he's even 80-90% of the old Prior by opening day, he'll get the nod and Guz will either be the long man or will be sent to Iowa. I'm actually happy with either spot for him as he'll have to learn to get major league hitters out at some point, anyway. Many a great pitcher started their career in the pen for a while.

 

The fact that Guzman hasn't had the success at the Major League level is what scares me with giving him the nod over Prior. In today's game his success was against guys that probably won't even make the Royals team. If you take that into account he really didn't do anything all that great. Don't get me wrong he can pitch and may be a better option then Prior but lets see what he can do against Major League talent before we anoint him as the #5 guy.

[RichHillIsABeast]

If Prior continues to improve and shows that he's even 80-90% of the old Prior by opening day, he'll get the nod and Guz will either be the long man or will be sent to Iowa. I'm actually happy with either spot for him as he'll have to learn to get major league hitters out at some point, anyway. Many a great pitcher started their career in the pen for a while.

 

Actually starting out in the pen might be a way to keep Guzman's innings down this season. He still has to prove that he can hit 180+ IP w/o a problem. The stuff is back, but I'm not convinced that he won't suffer another injury if he isn't handled gently.

[Outshined_One]

Marshall's going to be in AAA, guaranteed.

[RichHillIsABeast]

If Prior continues to improve and shows that he's even 80-90% of the old Prior by opening day, he'll get the nod and Guz will either be the long man or will be sent to Iowa. I'm actually happy with either spot for him as he'll have to learn to get major league hitters out at some point, anyway. Many a great pitcher started their career in the pen for a while.

 

The fact that Guzman hasn't had the success at the Major League level is what scares me with giving him the nod over Prior. In today's game his success was against guys that probably won't even make the Royals team. If you take that into account he really didn't do anything all that great. Don't get me wrong he can pitch and may be a better option then Prior but lets see what he can do against Major League talent before we anoint him as the #5 guy.

 

If you have 3 plus pitches you can do just fine in the major leagues. A 95 mph fastball with movement, plus changeup, and plus curveball are good enough to rate you as a #3 starter or better. Will he stay healthy? I haven't the slightest, but his stuff makes Cotts, Miller, and the current incarnation of Prior look like high schoolers.

[98navigator]

Looks like Piniella is seriously considering Angel for the rotation (if he continues to pitch well of course).

 

Link

 

"He's throwing the ball like he wants a spot here" "That was impressive. I told him after he pitched that he threw the ball very well and I want him to continue to work hard here in camp, and not take anything for granted. We'll see what happens."

 

I don't know what anyone else thinks, but my guess about what Lou meant by "...not take anything for granted" is that Angel has a chance to win the spot. It isn't as far fetched as we might have thought a few days ago...

 

Asked if Guzman could be considered for the long relief role, Piniella said, "I'm not looking at him as a reliever, believe me."

[RichHillIsABeast]

Looks like Piniella is seriously considering Angel for the rotation (if he continues to pitch well of course).

 

Link

 

"He's throwing the ball like he wants a spot here" "That was impressive. I told him after he pitched that he threw the ball very well and I want him to continue to work hard here in camp, and not take anything for granted. We'll see what happens."

 

Asked if Guzman could be considered for the long relief role, Piniella said, "I'm not looking at him as a reliever, believe me."

 

Seriously, Lou is awesome. Dusty would have decided on Z/Lilly/Marquis/Miller/Prior already.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Asked if Guzman could be considered for the long relief role, Piniella said, "I'm not looking at him as a reliever, believe me."

 

Good.

[hawkcub]

So for Guzman it's all or nothing. (Well in the starting rotation in Chicago vs. Iowa.)

[Amazing_Grace]

Looks like Piniella is seriously considering Angel for the rotation (if he continues to pitch well of course).

 

Link

 

"He's throwing the ball like he wants a spot here" "That was impressive. I told him after he pitched that he threw the ball very well and I want him to continue to work hard here in camp, and not take anything for granted. We'll see what happens."

 

I don't know what anyone else thinks, but my guess about what Lou meant by "...not take anything for granted" is that Angel has a chance to win the spot. It isn't as far fetched as we might have thought a few days ago...

 

Asked if Guzman could be considered for the long relief role, Piniella said, "I'm not looking at him as a reliever, believe me."

 

Wow, reading that article, it sure does look like Lou hasn't seen what he wants from Prior and that if things continue as they are, Guzman could win the job outright. He sounded very positive about Guzman, but more significantly, very negative about Prior. "You can't pitch up here with one pitch" isn't exactly a ringing endorsement.

 

Can Prior still be optioned to AAA, or would he have to accept a rehab assignment? Because if things keep going as they are, he may need one. It's encouraging that his velocity climbed so much, but without the control it's pretty meaningless. There's still 3 weeks of ST, so there's still a lot of time to make progress though.

[YearofDaCubs]

Looks like Piniella is seriously considering Angel for the rotation (if he continues to pitch well of course).

 

Link

 

"He's throwing the ball like he wants a spot here" "That was impressive. I told him after he pitched that he threw the ball very well and I want him to continue to work hard here in camp, and not take anything for granted. We'll see what happens."

 

Asked if Guzman could be considered for the long relief role, Piniella said, "I'm not looking at him as a reliever, believe me."

 

Seriously, Lou is awesome. Dusty would have decided on Z/Lilly/Marquis/Miller/Prior already.

Ha ha, how true.

[98navigator]

Looks like Piniella is seriously considering Angel for the rotation (if he continues to pitch well of course).

 

Link

 

"He's throwing the ball like he wants a spot here" "That was impressive. I told him after he pitched that he threw the ball very well and I want him to continue to work hard here in camp, and not take anything for granted. We'll see what happens."

 

Asked if Guzman could be considered for the long relief role, Piniella said, "I'm not looking at him as a reliever, believe me."

 

Seriously, Lou is awesome. Dusty would have decided on Z/Lilly/Marquis/Miller/Prior already.

 

No doubt about it. Although, I still think the Cubs are going to give Prior every opportunity to win the spot. As such, I don't expect the winner to be named until the last minute (unless it's painfully obvious that Prior hasn't improved enough to earn the spot from someone who is markedly better). Ultimately, I trust that Lou will take the best team North (which at this point is the younger Guzman over Prior and Miller--Cotts is no doubt slated for long relief).

[98navigator]

I agree with Tim, Lilly is a much better pitcher than I originally thought. He pitched well but his sinker is still a work in progress:

 

Lilly... was pleased with the progress of a sinker he's been trying to develop.

 

"I still don't have a ton of confidence, but I feel like with each outing I'm seeing results, and that's one of the things you have to have to build confidence," he said. "I was able to get a few groundballs today with the exception of one guy who smoked it pretty good."

 

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