5th starter

[CubColtPacer]

I feel bad even thinking of baseball at a time like this, but because of the absolutely horrible tragedy today, the Cubs now have an unexpected off day. What should happen to Guzman? The Cubs now will not need a 5th starter until May 12th. My hope is that the team will keep Guzman in Iowa until then so that more time can shake out the OF situation a little bit. What do you think-pitch him this week as planned, or wait until the 12th?

[NCCubFan]

I feel bad even thinking of baseball at a time like this, but because of the absolutely horrible tragedy today, the Cubs now have an unexpected off day. What should happen to Guzman? The Cubs now will not need a 5th starter until May 12th. My hope is that the team will keep Guzman in Iowa until then so that more time can shake out the OF situation a little bit. What do you think-pitch him this week as planned, or wait until the 12th?

Pitch him. Reportedly he's already left Iowa and rejoined the Cubs to get some side work with Rothschild in. What this may change is that they may send down a pitcher rather than a position player; with two upcoming days off and the Cubs' starters going deep into the games (including Z finally) they may not need to carry 12 pitchers for now.

[soccer10k]

I feel bad even thinking of baseball at a time like this, but because of the absolutely horrible tragedy today, the Cubs now have an unexpected off day. What should happen to Guzman? The Cubs now will not need a 5th starter until May 12th. My hope is that the team will keep Guzman in Iowa until then so that more time can shake out the OF situation a little bit. What do you think-pitch him this week as planned, or wait until the 12th?

Pitch him. Reportedly he's already left Iowa and rejoined the Cubs to get some side work with Rothschild in. What this may change is that they may send down a pitcher rather than a position player; with two upcoming days off and the Cubs' starters going deep into the games (including Z finally) they may not need to carry 12 pitchers for now.

 

Guzman could be used as the long relief man if necessary.

[chuckywang]

You always pitch your best available starter. Tomorrow, that'll be Hill.

[kroth1342]

I'm not so sure - if he hasn't been activated to the major league club (not sure if I'm using the correct term), then it may not be such a bad idea to give him one more AAA start. He hasn't exactly been a world-beater down there.

[killthegoat06]

I'm not so sure - if he hasn't been activated to the major league club (not sure if I'm using the correct term), then it may not be such a bad idea to give him one more AAA start. He hasn't exactly been a world-beater down there.

 

I agree. Give him some more practice. Also,give Pie more playing time so you can decide if Pie deserves the starting spot (which I know most of us agree on) or if he should go down to give the spot to Jacque. I hope Cedeno goes down.

[98navigator]

This postponement eliminates a need for a fifth starter. Rich Hill's spot in the rotation shouldn't be compromised so that Guzman can pitch. At this point, the goal should be to keep the top 4 starters on as normal a schedule as possible. If Hill pitches tomorrow, and Lilly follows him on Tuesday, Marquis will be scheduled to pitch on his normal rest Wednesday. Because Thursday is an off day, Zambrano should pitch Friday.

[killthegoat06]

This postponement eliminates a need for a fifth starter. Rich Hill's spot in the rotation shouldn't be compromised so that Guzman can pitch. At this point, the goal should be to keep the top 4 starters on as normal a schedule as possible. If Hill pitches tomorrow, and Lilly follows him on Tuesday, Marquis will be scheduled to pitch on his normal rest Wednesday. Because Thursday is an off day, Zambrano should pitch Friday.

 

Agreed

[Jehrico]

I'm not so sure - if he hasn't been activated to the major league club (not sure if I'm using the correct term), then it may not be such a bad idea to give him one more AAA start. He hasn't exactly been a world-beater down there.

He probably isn't pitching with a green light either. He's probably down there working on certain pitches within a given pitch count while he's down there. I;d be surprised if he's down there throwing whatever he wants while he's stretching back out.

[98navigator]

Tribune

 

Manager Lou Piniella said Sunday's scheduled starter, Rich Hill, would pitch Monday night in Pittsburgh, followed by Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

Guzman, who was with the team but not on the roster, will return to Triple-A Iowa to make his next start Tuesday.

 

With a day off Thursday, the Cubs will come back with Carlos Zambrano on Friday against Washington at Wrigley Field, followed by Hill again Saturday against the Nationals.

 

"We've got two options," Piniella said. "Pitch [Guzman] on Sunday against the Nationals at home or pitch him against the Phillies to start a road trip [May 7] on the East Coast. We're probably leaning toward the former."

 

If Guzman pitches Sunday, Piniella will be able to insert a right-hander between his two lefties, Hill and Lilly, a move he said was going to happen eventually.

[killthegoat06]

Tribune

 

Manager Lou Piniella said Sunday's scheduled starter, Rich Hill, would pitch Monday night in Pittsburgh, followed by Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

Guzman, who was with the team but not on the roster, will return to Triple-A Iowa to make his next start Tuesday.

 

With a day off Thursday, the Cubs will come back with Carlos Zambrano on Friday against Washington at Wrigley Field, followed by Hill again Saturday against the Nationals.

 

"We've got two options," Piniella said. "Pitch [Guzman] on Sunday against the Nationals at home or pitch him against the Phillies to start a road trip [May 7] on the East Coast. We're probably leaning toward the former."

 

If Guzman pitches Sunday, Piniella will be able to insert a right-hander between his two lefties, Hill and Lilly, a move he said was going to happen eventually.

 

sounds good

[soccer10k]

Tribune

 

Manager Lou Piniella said Sunday's scheduled starter, Rich Hill, would pitch Monday night in Pittsburgh, followed by Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis.

 

Guzman, who was with the team but not on the roster, will return to Triple-A Iowa to make his next start Tuesday.

 

With a day off Thursday, the Cubs will come back with Carlos Zambrano on Friday against Washington at Wrigley Field, followed by Hill again Saturday against the Nationals.

 

Good news.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Then I'm guessing it will shake out something like this..........

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter         Opp Starter
24  Mon 04/30  @ Pittsburgh    N    -    Hill            Duke          
25  Tue 05/01  @ Pittsburgh    N    -    Lilly           Armas         
26  Wed 05/02  @ Pittsburgh         -    Marquis         Snell         
27  Fri 05/04    Washington         -    Zambrano        Williams      
28  Sat 05/05    Washington         -    Hill            Bergmann      
29  Sun 05/06    Washington         -    Guzman          Patterson     
30  Tue 05/08    Pittsburgh    N    -    Lilly           Gorzelanny    
31  Wed 05/09    Pittsburgh         -    Marquis         Maholm        
32  Thu 05/10    Pittsburgh         -    Zambrano        Armas         
33  Fri 05/11  @ Philadelphia  N    -    Hill            Myers         
34  Sat 05/12  @ Philadelphia  N    -    Guzman          Hamels        
35  Sun 05/13  @ Philadelphia       -    Lilly           Eaton         
36  Mon 05/14  @ New York      N    -    Marquis         Pelfrey       
37  Tue 05/15  @ New York      N    -    Zambrano        Perez         
38  Wed 05/16  @ New York      N    -    Hill            Glavine       
39  Thu 05/17  @ New York           -    Guzman          Maine         
40  Fri 05/18    Chicago (AL)       -    Lilly           Beuhrle       
41  Sat 05/19    Chicago (AL)       -    Marquis         Vazquez       
42  Sun 05/20    Chicago (AL)       -    Zambrano        Danks         

[rawaction]

The circumstances absolutely stink, but the Cubs rotation is set up perfectly. Guzman gets a start against the Nats, a team he should be able to do well against.

[YearofDaCubs]

OK, that makes sense. So what will be the move to get Guz up here again? Somebody called down, or traded?

[killthegoat06]

OK, that makes sense. So what will be the move to get Guz up here again? Somebody called down, or traded?

 

Bye bye Cedeno or Pie.

[chuckywang]

If the Cubs wanted, they could not pitch Guzman until May 12th. Why would they give him an extra start on May 6th against the Nationals?

[jersey cubs fan]

If the Cubs wanted, they could not pitch Guzman until May 12th. Why would they give him an extra start on May 6th against the Nationals?

 

To accomplish two things, breaking up the lefties and allowing him to face an inferior offense at home. Another thing is that by not using your 5th starter until you "have to" you are not building in any extra rest for the other starters. Keeping guys on 4 days rest is great, but it could be helpful to give them an extra day or two here or there. Throwing Guzman on the 6th allows for a little more rest for some of these guys.

 

It's debatable which is the best course of action.

[seanimal]

It's debatable which is the best course of action.

 

Anything not involving Wade Miller is the best course of action.

[Ivy Walls]

Guzman is probably going to get some work in tomorrow and on 4days rest pitch on Sunday...

 

Most of us predicted that Miller would not last April, he hasn't and Guzman is the 5th starter. On the depth chart Cubs have Marmol and then hopefully by July Marshall will be able to back up the rotation.

 

Guzman has the ability, can he mentally do it and make for a strong 5-man rotation? It is set up this way...

 

Zambrano---heavy ball

Hill---dominant curve

Guzman----big fastball

Lilly---sneaky fast

Marquis---sinker slider

[soccer10k]

I know if a player is sent down to the minors they have to spend at least 10 days there but is there a minimum number of days a player has to stay with the big league club when they get called up? In other words can you call up a player on one day and then send him down the next day - not that somebody would necessarily do that but I'm just curious.

[CubColtPacer]

I know if a player is sent down to the minors they have to spend at least 10 days there but is there a minimum number of days a player has to stay with the big league club when they get called up? In other words can you call up a player on one day and then send him down the next day - not that somebody would necessarily do that but I'm just curious.

 

No, you can be sent back at any time. The Cubs did that to a pitcher a year or two ago-their bullpen was very tired and so they pulled up a pitcher from the minors. He got there Sunday morning, went out to the bullpen, and they ended up not using him in the game. He was shipped out that night.

Edited May 1, 2007 by CubColtPacer

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I know if a player is sent down to the minors they have to spend at least 10 days there but is there a minimum number of days a player has to stay with the big league club when they get called up? In other words can you call up a player on one day and then send him down the next day - not that somebody would necessarily do that but I'm just curious.

 

No, you can be sent back at any time. The Colts did that to a pitcher a year or two ago-their bullpen was very tired and so they pulled up a pitcher from the minors. He got there Sunday morning, went out to the bullpen, and they ended up not using him in the game. He was shipped out that night.

 

The Colts?

[CubColtPacer]

I know if a player is sent down to the minors they have to spend at least 10 days there but is there a minimum number of days a player has to stay with the big league club when they get called up? In other words can you call up a player on one day and then send him down the next day - not that somebody would necessarily do that but I'm just curious.

 

No, you can be sent back at any time. The Colts did that to a pitcher a year or two ago-their bullpen was very tired and so they pulled up a pitcher from the minors. He got there Sunday morning, went out to the bullpen, and they ended up not using him in the game. He was shipped out that night.

 

The Colts?

 

Can you tell I have been reading up a little bit on the NFL draft? :D

[soccer10k]

I know if a player is sent down to the minors they have to spend at least 10 days there but is there a minimum number of days a player has to stay with the big league club when they get called up? In other words can you call up a player on one day and then send him down the next day - not that somebody would necessarily do that but I'm just curious.

 

No, you can be sent back at any time. The Cubs did that to a pitcher a year or two ago-their bullpen was very tired and so they pulled up a pitcher from the minors. He got there Sunday morning, went out to the bullpen, and they ended up not using him in the game. He was shipped out that night.

 

Thanks. That's what I thought but I wasn't quite sure.