Zambrano to start July 8th?

[cuubs4life]

its the last game before the brake. I saw in an article that he would start the FIRST game after the brake though. I'm confused........

[CubColtPacer]

It's a 4 day break. Z can start the last game before the break, and still be on normal rest to start the first game after the break as well.

 

I haven't heard confirmation that Z will start the first game after the break. The last thing I heard is that it will either be Z or Marquis first, then a left-hander, then the other one of Z and Marquis, then the other two left-handers. That will be the order after the break. I certainly hope it will be Z though as the Cubs could use every possible game he can start on normal rest.

[forbez18]

I still find it hard to believe that the Cubs have 3 lefties in their rotation. However, it would be nice to have big Z get in there and keep the train going whille things are going well.

[anabiono]

yes...the 3 lefty situation is actually starting to get to me a bit...

[nolanwood]

The three left situation has worked to our benefit against some teams...

[CubFanPhilly]

yes...the 3 lefty situation is actually starting to get to me a bit...

 

What's the hangup with three lefties? If they're the most effective starter options, what difference does it make?

 

 

It's just another baseball myth.

[A New Era]

yes...the 3 lefty situation is actually starting to get to me a bit...

 

What's the hangup with three lefties? If they're the most effective starter options, what difference does it make?

 

 

It's just another baseball myth.

 

I don't think anyone actually quoted a myth. Which myth are you talking about?

[Schwarber Fan]

Hopefully he starts Sunday - I'll be there

[killthegoat06]

Hopefully he starts Sunday - I'll be there

Way to not be selfish. :)

[UMFan83]

The rotation should be Zambrano, Hill, Marquis, Lilly, Marshall. I think its good to break up Hill and Marshall.

[CubFanPhilly]

yes...the 3 lefty situation is actually starting to get to me a bit...

 

What's the hangup with three lefties? If they're the most effective starter options, what difference does it make?

 

 

It's just another baseball myth.

 

I don't think anyone actually quoted a myth. Which myth are you talking about?

 

The myth that you can't have three lefties in a rotation. It wouldn't even be a discussion if they threw with the other hand.

[CubFanPhilly]

Fourteen occurances is obviously a small sample size, but I don't see much here that supports the idea that a lefty following another lefty is a bad thing:

 

Lefties pitching in the same series:

          Date Opp. IP   R  ER
Hill       4/14 CIN  7.0  0   0
Lilly      4/15 CIN  6.0  3   3 <-

Hill       4/24 MIL  6.2  4   4
Lilly      4/25 MIL  7.0  2   1 <+

Hill       4/30 PIT  7.0  2   2
Lilly      5/1  PIT  5.1  5   4 <-

Hill       5/11 PHI  5.0  5   5
Lilly      5/13 PHI  8.0  1   1 <+++

Hill       5/22 SD   6.0  5   5
Marshall   5/23 SD   7.0  2   2 <+

Lilly      5/25 LAD  4.1  5   5
Hill       5/27 LAD  6.0  0   0 <+++

Marshall   5/28 FLA  6.1  3   2
Lilly      5/30 FLA  7.0  6   5 <---

Hill       6/2  ATL  7.0  3   1
Marshall   6/3  ATL  6.2  1   1

Hill       6/7  ATL  8.0  1   1
Marshall   6/8  ATL  6.0  1   1
Lilly      6/10 ATL   .2  0   0 (Lilly ejection)

Hill       6/12 SEA  6.2  3   3
Marshall   6/13 SEA  8.0  2   2 <+

Lilly      6/15 SD   8.0  1   1
Hill       6/17 SD   3.0  5   5 <---

Marshall   6/19 TEX  4.0  4   4    
Lilly      6/21 TEX  7.0  5   5 <-

Hill       6/23 CWS  5.2  1   1
Marshall   6/24 CWS  6.1  0   0 

Hill       6/29 MIL  3.0  5   5
Marshall   6/30 MIL  2.0  7   6 <-

 

If anything I see more evidence of the second lefty doing better. But my point is it makes hardly any difference.

[98navigator]

I read that Z will start the first game after the Break only if he doesn't pitch in the All Star game (assuming he's voted in). Otherwise, Marquis will start the first game followed by a lefty "most likely Lilly" followed by Zambrano in the third game.

[NCCubFan]

I think he could pitch an inning in the All-Star Game and still start Friday. His inning could take the place of his normal throwing between starts.

[CubColtPacer]

I think he could pitch an inning in the All-Star Game and still start Friday. His inning could take the place of his normal throwing between starts.

 

I think he could as well, but the Cubs don't seem to want to do that (as I read the same thing as navigator). I'm hoping Z doesn't make the All-Star team and he pitches Friday.

[NCCubFan]

I think he could as well, but the Cubs don't seem to want to do that (as I read the same thing as navigator). I'm hoping Z doesn't make the All-Star team and he pitches Friday.

I'm hoping that too, but I think it's now more likely that he will since they need an injury replacement for John Smoltz in addition to the winner of the fan voting.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I think he could as well, but the Cubs don't seem to want to do that (as I read the same thing as navigator). I'm hoping Z doesn't make the All-Star team and he pitches Friday.

I'm hoping that too, but I think it's now more likely that he will since they need an injury replacement for John Smoltz in addition to the winner of the fan voting.

 

Nope. Oswalt is named as Smoltz's replacement, which is a little odd since they announced it before letting the fan vote run its course.

 

Here it is from rotoworld.

 

Roy Oswalt will replace the injured John Smoltz on the NL All-Star roster.

Odd that MLB named him to the spot before the Final Vote was completed, as Oswalt was one of the pitchers in the mix for the opening. He's probably the least deserving choice based strictly on performance this year, but since Smoltz was elected via the player ballot, his replacement was chosen by going to the player who received the next highest amount of votes.

[CubColtPacer]

The rotation after the break will be:

 

Zambrano, Lilly, Marquis, Hill, Marshall

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070705&content_id=2069124&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[CubmanPi]

The rotation after the break will be:

 

Zambrano, Lilly, Marquis, Hill, Marshall

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070705&content_id=2069124&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

I think that's the current best-worst arrangement as well, though Hill and Marshall are in a pretty heated debate over the bottom spot right now.

[Schwarber Fan]

The rotation after the break will be:

 

Zambrano, Lilly, Marquis, Hill, Marshall

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070705&content_id=2069124&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

so is it still Lilly-Z on July 7/8?

[CubColtPacer]

The rotation after the break will be:

 

Zambrano, Lilly, Marquis, Hill, Marshall

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070705&content_id=2069124&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

so is it still Lilly-Z on July 7/8?

 

Yes, it is. Z will end up pitching back to back turns in the rotation on the last game before the break (the 8th) and the first game after the break (the 13th).