5th Starter Battle Down to Miller vs Guzman

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

While it still seems like speculation to me, here's the higlights.

 

A wide-open derby for the fifth spot in the Cubs' rotation now appears to be a two-man race between veteran Wade Miller and youngster Angel Guzman after two key decisions were made Tuesday involving long-shot candidates Mark Prior and Neal Cotts.

 

Prior won't face hitters again until Friday, when he pitches in a minor-league intrasquad game. Cotts, who allowed two runs and three hits in two innings Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, will assume the long-reliever role.

 

 

''Prior needs some work,'' Piniella said.

 

Prior, who was supposed to pitch in a minor-league intrasquad game Thursday, has been pushed back to Friday after a vigorous, 50-pitch throwing session Tuesday. It was a good-news, bad-news situation for Prior. The good news was he made some strides on the mound in Mesa; the bad news was he lost a valuable day in the derby at a point when time is running out.

 

 

The Cubs face three difficult choices for Prior at the end of camp: He could be moved to the bullpen, he could be sent to Class AAA Iowa or he could start another season on the disabled list. The bullpen seems the most unlikely of the three.

 

''That's hard to say right now,'' pitching coach Larry Rothschild said. ''We'll see as time goes on. Right now, my answer would be I think he needs to throw pitches and start and get the work in between.''

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

The Trib seems to think Miller is the front-runner here.

 

Link.

 

With Wade Miller making another strong start, he appears to be the front-runner for the fifth starter spot, which probably pushes Neal Cotts into the bullpen as a long reliever, Mark Prior to extended spring training and Angel Guzman back for more minor-league seasoning.

 

"[Miller's] quietly doing a really nice job," Piniella said after a four-inning, two-run outing Tuesday. "He's getting a little better every time out. He knows how to pitch. You have to like what you see."

[RynoRules]

I think Miller may win out, but only b/c Guzman still has options.

[CubColtPacer]

I think Miller may win out, but only b/c Guzman still has options.

 

Agreed-if it's anywhere close Miller will win because if Miller wins, Guzman is still there if anything goes wrong with one of the pitchers. If Guzman wins and somebody goes down, you either have to start Cotts, hope Prior has come back, or turn to one of the other minor leaguers.

[Wheelimus]

Miller could also "win" with the hope being that he pitches decently enough to bring more in a trade.

 

However, I'd highly prefer Angel Guzman be given the chance instead.

[moorecg]

From the Trib article:

 

Miller, still fighting off the effects of shoulder surgery after the 2005 season, hit 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun against a strong Diamondbacks lineup.

 

If he's hitting 90+ on a consistent basis again Miller could end up being a very good pitcher for us...or at least be a very valuable trade piece...I didn't know he was throwing that hard again...thought I'd just heard mid 80s with location and movement.

[CubColtPacer]

From the Trib article:

 

Miller, still fighting off the effects of shoulder surgery after the 2005 season, hit 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun against a strong Diamondbacks lineup.

 

If he's hitting 90+ on a consistent basis again Miller could end up being a very good pitcher for us...or at least be a very valuable trade piece...I didn't know he was throwing that hard again...thought I'd just heard mid 80s with location and movement.

 

Well, he only hit 90 once-they said he was 87-89 consistently. That's still a good improvement from the earlier reports, and I think he can be effective at that speed.

[MustangMike]

I think Miller may win out, but only b/c Guzman still has options.

 

Since the cubs announced they would seek a trade for Miller if he didn't make the team (which as everyone knows will up his value :roll: ), I don't see Miller losing this job in any way unless he gets hurt at this point.

[C.C.]

From the Trib article:

 

Miller, still fighting off the effects of shoulder surgery after the 2005 season, hit 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun against a strong Diamondbacks lineup.

 

If he's hitting 90+ on a consistent basis again Miller could end up being a very good pitcher for us...or at least be a very valuable trade piece...I didn't know he was throwing that hard again...thought I'd just heard mid 80s with location and movement.

 

Well, he only hit 90 once-they said he was 87-89 consistently. That's still a good improvement from the earlier reports, and I think he can be effective at that speed.

 

And I also think he'll add a mile or two...Once he gets stronger with more work.

[CubColtPacer]

From the Trib article:

 

Miller, still fighting off the effects of shoulder surgery after the 2005 season, hit 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun against a strong Diamondbacks lineup.

 

If he's hitting 90+ on a consistent basis again Miller could end up being a very good pitcher for us...or at least be a very valuable trade piece...I didn't know he was throwing that hard again...thought I'd just heard mid 80s with location and movement.

 

Well, he only hit 90 once-they said he was 87-89 consistently. That's still a good improvement from the earlier reports, and I think he can be effective at that speed.

 

And I also think he'll add a mile or two...

 

I would agree with that-in fact, I almost put it in my original post. I think he'll be able to hit 89-90 consistently and touch 91-92.

[MustangMike]

From the Trib article:

 

Miller, still fighting off the effects of shoulder surgery after the 2005 season, hit 90 m.p.h. on the radar gun against a strong Diamondbacks lineup.

 

If he's hitting 90+ on a consistent basis again Miller could end up being a very good pitcher for us...or at least be a very valuable trade piece...I didn't know he was throwing that hard again...thought I'd just heard mid 80s with location and movement.

 

Well, he only hit 90 once-they said he was 87-89 consistently. That's still a good improvement from the earlier reports, and I think he can be effective at that speed.

 

And I also think he'll add a mile or two...Once he gets stronger with more work.

 

I have no problem with Miller starting if he's healthy and productive, which I believe he will be. I like Guzman though and I always have hope for Prior.

[CubColtPacer]

I think Miller may win out, but only b/c Guzman still has options.

 

Since the cubs announced they would seek a trade for Miller if he didn't make the team (which as everyone knows will up his value :roll: ), I don't see Miller losing this job in any way unless he gets hurt at this point.

 

I didn't think the club announced that at all-Miller just said that he wasn't going to be a bullpen pitcher and then the reporters said that Hendry would likely accommodate him-I didn't actually see any quotes from anybody associated with the Cubs to that effect.

[moorecg]

So what do we do if Miller is the #5 guy and 2 weeks into April both Guzman and Prior are throwing bb's in Iowa?

[rawaction]

Give to Guzman. He's the most talented of the 2, has the best long-term future of all 3 (including Prior). Just give him the job and stick with him there.

[MustangMike]

I think Miller may win out, but only b/c Guzman still has options.

 

Since the cubs announced they would seek a trade for Miller if he didn't make the team (which as everyone knows will up his value :roll: ), I don't see Miller losing this job in any way unless he gets hurt at this point.

 

I didn't think the club announced that at all-Miller just said that he wasn't going to be a bullpen pitcher and then the reporters said that Hendry would likely accommodate him-I didn't actually see any quotes from anybody associated with the Cubs to that effect.

 

I don't know if its a quote or not to be honest, I just don't like it being said. If its by a reporter than fine, but I'd think Hendry would maybe try to shoot back on something like that in some fashion as its not good for the club.

[Soul]

I just don't see Miller having the kind of clout to hold back a superior youngster. There's no desperation to keep Miller. He was a castoff when we got him. A safe gamble that cost us little.

 

If Guzman's better, than Miller should be tossed to the wind or traded or whatever. No biggie.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

From the Trib article, it looks like Guzman could win this thing with a strong performance against the Sox.

 

"I'll let you know Friday after Guzman," Piniella said of an outing against the White Sox.

[Derwood]

if it comes down to ease of roster management, Miller is the obvious choice. You also don't start the year with a disgruntled veteran in the pen

[98navigator]

Miller has already spoken out against pitching in the bullpen, which is why he'll most likely be traded if he does not win the final rotation spot.

[goonys evil twin]

if it comes down to ease of roster management, Miller is the obvious choice. You also don't start the year with a disgruntled veteran in the pen

 

Then remove him from the roster entirely.

 

I don't like the idea of making roster decisions based on service time, and who is going to put up the biggest stink.

[Derwood]

if it comes down to ease of roster management, Miller is the obvious choice. You also don't start the year with a disgruntled veteran in the pen

 

Then remove him from the roster entirely.

 

I don't like the idea of making roster decisions based on service time, and who is going to put up the biggest stink.

 

I don't either, and I'm all for trading him if the right deal comes along. I'm just saying what I think the Cub brass will do

[Wheelimus]

So what infield backup do we trade Miller for? :?:

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

 

I don't like the idea of making roster decisions based on service time, and who is going to put up the biggest stink.

 

+1

[CubColtPacer]

If they determine that Guzman is clearly better, then they should start him. If they decide that it's close, Miller should get the nod.

[Sammy Sofa]

Guzman isn't going anywhere. If he's leaps and bounds better than Miller at this point, sure, give him the nod...but if it's close, let Miller hopefully show off what he's got and improve the return for the Cubs when they trade him.