Miller is the 5th starter...

[C.C.]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070327&content_id=1861688&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[Tedward]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070327&content_id=1861688&vkey=spt2007news&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Beaten by 3 min. See Transaction thread.

[brinoch]

No real surprise here.

[E.J.]

I think this was pretty much a given after Miller's last start. He pretty much pitched his way into that 5th spot with a great performance. Hopefully Prior can spend time down in AAA getting him arm strength back and make his way up to the big club soon.

[USSoccer]

Boooo to this decision coming before Prior's start tomorrow.

[A New Era]

Well miller does look pretty good. My hope is that Miller pitches so well, and if Prior is returning to form. That Marquis is the one booted to the long releif role, no matter what salary is. That would give us the best possible rotation. I'm not sayin it will happen, I'm saying if the everything happens like I envision it, it would be best for the Cubs. .

 

Z

Lilly

Prior

Hill

Miller

[bc2k]

Well miller does look pretty good. My hope is that Miller pitches so well, and if Prior is returning to form. That Marquis is the one booted to the long releif role, no matter what salary is. That would give us the best possible rotation. I'm not sayin it will happen, I'm saying if the everything happens like I envision it, it would be best for the Cubs. .

 

Z

Lilly

Prior

Hill

Miller

 

Agreed, which is why I'm happy with Miller winning the 5th spot.

[Chocolate Milk]

:crossesfingers:

[Wheelimus]

Well miller does look pretty good. My hope is that Miller pitches so well, and if Prior is returning to form. That Marquis is the one booted to the long releif role, no matter what salary is. That would give us the best possible rotation. I'm not sayin it will happen, I'm saying if the everything happens like I envision it, it would be best for the Cubs. .

 

Z

Lilly

Prior

Hill

Miller

 

Agreed, which is why I'm happy with Miller winning the 5th spot.

 

Or, better yet, Marquis pitches great, so does Miller, and Prior is just forcing the issue in extended spring training and/or Iowa, that we have every team in baseball just begging us for the odd man out. :D

 

**keeps sipping the kool-aid**

[A New Era]

Ahh, yeah, that koolaid is pretty refreshing. .

[Omar]

On the ESPNEWS MLB news ticker, it says "Cubs Prior will not start the season. (Could start season on DL or AAA)"

 

Anyhow, I think Lou will use him against the Cardinals so Rich Hill wont face him twice.

[killthegoat06]

With the 5th starter decided and the bench decided (Cedeno, Theriot, Ward, Floyd/Murton, Blanco) all that is left is the bullpen. I know Eyre, Howry, Dempster, Cotts, and Ohman will make it. Has there been any indication about the other 2 spots?

[CubColtPacer]

With the 5th starter decided and the bench decided (Cedeno, Theriot, Ward, Floyd/Murton, Blanco) all that is left is the bullpen. I know Eyre, Howry, Dempster, Cotts, and Ohman will make it. Has there been any indication about the other 2 spots?

 

Wuertz got one of the two spots-the other spot is between Guzman/Cherry, with Guzman having the inside track.

[Mizzou]

Why not wait til after Prior's start tomorrow to make this decision?

[CubColtPacer]

Why not wait til after Prior's start tomorrow to make this decision?

 

My guess is that they didn't see the race as that close. Even if Prior was brilliant tomorrow, they were more comfortable with starting Miller in the rotation at the beginning of the season. Because of this, they announced it now so the controversy wouldn't be as large if Prior does pitch great tomorrow.

[Mizzou]

Why not wait til after Prior's start tomorrow to make this decision?

 

My guess is that they didn't see the race as that close. Even if Prior was brilliant tomorrow, they were more comfortable with starting Miller in the rotation at the beginning of the season. Because of this, they announced it now so the controversy wouldn't be as large if Prior does pitch great tomorrow.

It just doesn't make sense considering what Lou said in yesterday's Tribune:

 

"With Prior, as with Wood, I've said all along we didn't want to push," Piniella said. "He's made some nice steps here in camp, he really has. Is he ready by Opening Day? Let's see how he pitches on Wednesday."

[98navigator]

Why not wait til after Prior's start tomorrow to make this decision?

 

My guess is that they didn't see the race as that close. Even if Prior was brilliant tomorrow, they were more comfortable with starting Miller in the rotation at the beginning of the season. Because of this, they announced it now so the controversy wouldn't be as large if Prior does pitch great tomorrow.

It just doesn't make sense considering what Lou said in yesterday's Tribune:

 

"With Prior, as with Wood, I've said all along we didn't want to push," Piniella said. "He's made some nice steps here in camp, he really has. Is he ready by Opening Day? Let's see how he pitches on Wednesday."

 

That was before he officially committed, today, to Miller.

[pete the dog]

Why not wait til after Prior's start tomorrow to make this decision?

 

My guess is that they didn't see the race as that close. Even if Prior was brilliant tomorrow, they were more comfortable with starting Miller in the rotation at the beginning of the season. Because of this, they announced it now so the controversy wouldn't be as large if Prior does pitch great tomorrow.

It just doesn't make sense considering what Lou said in yesterday's Tribune:

 

"With Prior, as with Wood, I've said all along we didn't want to push," Piniella said. "He's made some nice steps here in camp, he really has. Is he ready by Opening Day? Let's see how he pitches on Wednesday."

 

 

Who is that in your sig? :shock:

[Mizzou]

Why not wait til after Prior's start tomorrow to make this decision?

 

My guess is that they didn't see the race as that close. Even if Prior was brilliant tomorrow, they were more comfortable with starting Miller in the rotation at the beginning of the season. Because of this, they announced it now so the controversy wouldn't be as large if Prior does pitch great tomorrow.

It just doesn't make sense considering what Lou said in yesterday's Tribune:

 

"With Prior, as with Wood, I've said all along we didn't want to push," Piniella said. "He's made some nice steps here in camp, he really has. Is he ready by Opening Day? Let's see how he pitches on Wednesday."

 

That was before he officially committed, today, to Miller.

Obviously.

[98navigator]

Why not wait til after Prior's start tomorrow to make this decision?

 

My guess is that they didn't see the race as that close. Even if Prior was brilliant tomorrow, they were more comfortable with starting Miller in the rotation at the beginning of the season. Because of this, they announced it now so the controversy wouldn't be as large if Prior does pitch great tomorrow.

It just doesn't make sense considering what Lou said in yesterday's Tribune:

 

"With Prior, as with Wood, I've said all along we didn't want to push," Piniella said. "He's made some nice steps here in camp, he really has. Is he ready by Opening Day? Let's see how he pitches on Wednesday."

 

That was before he officially committed, today, to Miller.

Obviously.

 

I wasn't trying to be sarcastic. I think Lou had already made up his mind; it was reported in the paper, a few days ago, that he slipped up and used Miller's name when talking about the 5th starter. Now it's official. Prior's start wasn't going to influence him and in all fairness, he hasn't pitched enough innings....

 

Bruce Miles/ Daily Herald

 

Piniella may have spilled the beans later in his postgame talk when he said, “He’s going to be the fifth guy out of the box.” A few seconds later, Piniella amended his statement to say Miller is “competing” for the fifth spot.

 

Carrie Muskat / Cubs.com

 

He was crisp today and he came out throwing from the first inning," Piniella said. "We don't need to back him off. Remember, he's going to be the fifth guy out of the box, so he'll have more time than anybody else. The next time out with Miller we can let him pitch as long as need be."

 

Wait -- Miller is the fifth guy? Piniella quickly corrected himself to say Miller is competing for the fifth spot.

 

"Let's leave it as the fifth starter will have more time," Piniella said.