Cubs Rotation: Above Average?

[Vanilla Ice]

Interesting article on SI.com

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_weisman/08/30/pitching/index.html

 

Perhaps the playoff contender that could feel best about its starting pitching is the one with the worst overall record: the Cubs. All five Cubs starters last week had an ERA+ over 100, and all but one (Sean Marshall) had made 24 starts or more. For a team that still mourns the disappearance of Kerry Wood and Mark Prior from the starting rotation, that's pretty impressive -- and could be the key to Chicago holding off St. Louis.

 

I think this is true. When you consider some of the starters on other teams at this time of year. I think the Cubs have one of the best rotations in the MLB.

[soccer10k]

I'm shocked to see a writer from SI use ERA+ in an article.

[Post Count Padder]

I'm shocked to see a writer from SI use ERA+ in an article.

I did a double take.

[tfarks]

Earlier in the year, weren't SI the guys who were doing the basic metric introductions, explaining win/loss as a bad indicator, etc.?

[Wilson A2000]

What is ERA +?

[BCVM22]

What is ERA +?

 

Something-adjusted ERA; either League or Park, I can't remember.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

What is ERA +?

Park and league-adjusted ERA. 100 is average. Anything above that would mean that relative to the park he pitches in, that player has performed above average.

[Post Count Padder]

Earlier in the year, weren't SI the guys who were doing the basic metric introductions, explaining win/loss as a bad indicator, etc.?

Not sure, but I know Jon Heyman is not a fan of such stats. IIRC he recently bashed VORP.

[Derwood]

Z is doing his best to drag the rotation back down to average (or below)

[Guest]

unfortunately for the cubs, depth of rotation is not as important in the playoffs as it is during the regular season.

[Drew Doughty]

Earlier in the year, weren't SI the guys who were doing the basic metric introductions, explaining win/loss as a bad indicator, etc.?

Not sure, but I know Jon Heyman is not a fan of such stats. IIRC he recently bashed VORP.

 

he bashed runs created. he would much rather see wins created.

[Guest]

Earlier in the year, weren't SI the guys who were doing the basic metric introductions, explaining win/loss as a bad indicator, etc.?

Not sure, but I know Jon Heyman is not a fan of such stats. IIRC he recently bashed VORP.

 

he bashed runs created. he would much rather see wins created.

 

so he's a big fan of win shares then?

[Mephistopheles]

I'm shocked to see a writer from SI use ERA+ in an article.

 

SI has a partnership with baseball prospectus. Don't be surprised at all.

[soccer10k]

I'm shocked to see a writer from SI use ERA+ in an article.

 

SI has a partnership with baseball prospectus. Don't be surprised at all.

 

Well that's good to hear. Anything to stop having to hear the media cite W-L record when talking about how good a pitcher is.

[Ender]

BP which knows a lot more about baseball than SI lists the Cubs as having the 10th best rotation out of contenders. Thing is they have the 2nd or 3rd best fielding which has been the teams biggest strength this season.

 

Thehardballtimes agrees with this posted on their dartboard rankings...

 

Defense, defense, defense. The Cubs are below average at both hitting and pitching, but their defense is knocking off nearly a run every two games and keeping the Cubs ahead in the Central.

[CuseCubFan69]

BP which knows a lot more about baseball than SI lists the Cubs as having the 10th best rotation out of contenders. Thing is they have the 2nd or 3rd best fielding which has been the teams biggest strength this season.

 

Thehardballtimes agrees with this posted on their dartboard rankings...

 

Defense, defense, defense. The Cubs are below average at both hitting and pitching, but their defense is knocking off nearly a run every two games and keeping the Cubs ahead in the Central.

 

Interesting. With a Theriot at SS and Jones in CF plus Floyd with a glove on and the defense is the reason why they are winning? They are playing slightly above 500 ball and having a healthy staff that is giving some quality innings is what has helped among other things but I wouldn't put defense as the main reason.

[TheDude]

Cubs core bullpen has also been awesome, especially post all-star. While fringe or fill-in guys like Petrick, Gallagher, or Pignatiello have struggled in very small samples, the core of Marmol, Howry, Eyre, and Dempster have been great. Weurtz has been the 'worst' of the core with just league average numbers.

 

The Cubs have a very solid pitching staff top-to-bottom, with the only real holes the 11th and 12th guys.

[Electron Blue]

BP which knows a lot more about baseball than SI lists the Cubs as having the 10th best rotation out of contenders. Thing is they have the 2nd or 3rd best fielding which has been the teams biggest strength this season.

 

Thehardballtimes agrees with this posted on their dartboard rankings...

 

Defense, defense, defense. The Cubs are below average at both hitting and pitching, but their defense is knocking off nearly a run every two games and keeping the Cubs ahead in the Central.

 

pretty much flies into the face of many opinions around here -- in the outfield, particularly...

[Skyballer]

BP which knows a lot more about baseball than SI lists the Cubs as having the 10th best rotation out of contenders. Thing is they have the 2nd or 3rd best fielding which has been the teams biggest strength this season.

 

Thehardballtimes agrees with this posted on their dartboard rankings...

 

Defense, defense, defense. The Cubs are below average at both hitting and pitching, but their defense is knocking off nearly a run every two games and keeping the Cubs ahead in the Central.

 

Interesting. With a Theriot at SS and Jones in CF plus Floyd with a glove on and the defense is the reason why they are winning? They are playing slightly above 500 ball and having a healthy staff that is giving some quality innings is what has helped among other things but I wouldn't put defense as the main reason.

I beg to differ, but that's just me.