3 Days Rest?!?

[mhuber92211]

For Some reason, Lou is having Zambrano go on 3 days rest (after his Friday Start) and Lilly will also go on 3 days rest after this weekend. Add this to a Trachsel start on 3 days rest (Thursday) and we seem to be using that 6 man rotation quite well.

 

Any ideas as to why?

 

Also, Kevin Hart, NOT Marshall is slated to start game 2 of the doubleheader.

 

all this is from Rotoworld blurbs...

[Outshined_One]

From Rotoworld:

 

Carlos Zambrano will start Friday on five days' rest, but the Cubs plan to have him work on three days' rest next week.

Ted Lilly will also make a start on three days' rest next week. "We wont have to, but to get everything back on track, we're going to have to bring both back on three days' rest," manager Lou Piniella said. "Both Zambrano and Lilly have done it before, and we're only asking them to do it once." Zambrano has a better chance of succeeding on short rest than Lilly does.

 

Steve Trachsel will remain the rotation and start Thursday against the Astros on three days' rest.

The Cubs wanted to hold Carlos Zambrano back to face St. Louis on Friday. Trachsel only threw two innings Sunday, so he shouldn't have much trouble bouncing back. Of course, that doesn't mean he'll be any good.

 

This has "bad idea" written all over it.

[NCCubFan]

Pass on leaving Trachsel in and Marshall out.

[CubmanPi]

Sean Marshall killed Lou's dog.

[Outshined_One]

Lou's been wearing Bad Idea Jeans.

[Brian]

Cubs.com has Marshall starting one of the double header games.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070910&content_id=2199836&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

and this gem

 

Cubs manager Lou Piniella had considered inserting rookie Kevin Hart into the rotation for Thursday so Zambrano could face the Cardinals, but opted for the veteran Trachsel.

 

"I don't think we really have much choice," Piniella said Monday. "He didn't throw many pitches yesterday in Pittsburgh, so it's not like he pitched six or seven innings."

 

:wall:

[NCCubFan]

Cubs manager Lou Piniella had considered inserting rookie Kevin Hart into the rotation for Thursday so Zambrano could face the Cardinals, but opted for the veteran Trachsel.

 

"I don't think we really have much choice," Piniella said Monday. "He didn't throw many pitches yesterday in Pittsburgh, so it's not like he pitched six or seven innings."

Um, Lou, there's a reason he didn't throw many pitches Sunday.

[rawaction]

That's an excellent comment. "I didn't have a choice"? How about not starting him, that's a choice?

[soapy]

what a joke, Lou. of course you have a choice. this is dusty logic.

 

"what do you want to do? win or play kids?"

[CuseCubFan69]

I'm not sure that I'd plug Hart into the rotation either.

[Keener98]

I'm not sure that I'd plug Hart into the rotation either.

 

While Id prefer Gallagher, I dont like the idea of Marshall and Lilly going back to back. Id prefer to give them a different look in game 2.

[biittner77]

I'm not sure that I'd plug Hart into the rotation either.

 

Maybe not, but between him and Gallagher they ought to be able to get through 1 game to keep from potentially disurpting 3 other games.

 

This is the kind of move that, even if it works out, is still a dumb idea.

[SouthSideRyan]

Is there a particular reason we're holding Z back for the Cardinals? STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE CARDINALS

[kujay]

Is there a particular reason we're holding Z back for the Cardinals? STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE CARDINALS

 

There is something to be said for not inserting Z into what will be a charged atmosphere here on Friday night. Let him pitch on Thursday in sleepy Houston.

 

With all the energy of the rivalry and the Cards' last chance to stay in the race, I'm afraid Z will fizzle.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is there a particular reason we're holding Z back for the Cardinals? STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE CARDINALS

 

He usually dominates them, so I guess that's the reason, but you are dead right. The Cubs need to win games, not worry about STL.

 

This is all very short-sighted, and a bit panicky if you ask me. I see no reason to try and get Trachsel back out there as soon as possible, if anybody should be skipped, it's Mr. Experience. I hate shortening rest as a general rule. If somebody has consistently shown the ability to handle the 3 day rest thing, then do it all year long. But don't just decide in the middle of September you want to throw off everybody's schedule because you are too scared to let a younger pitcher throw. If there is any marginal difference between youth and experience, it is almost certainly offset by the difference between having your vets go on 4 and 3 days rest.

 

And as far as I can tell, Zambrano has never started on 3 days rest, and Lilly has done it only once in his career.

[Sammy Sofa]

Is there a particular reason we're holding Z back for the Cardinals? STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE CARDINALS

 

There is something to be said for not inserting Z into what will be a charged atmosphere here on Friday night. Let him pitch on Thursday in sleepy Houston.

 

With all the energy of the rivalry and the Cards' last chance to stay in the race, I'm afraid Z will fizzle.

 

At the same time, Z's numbers against the Cards are pretty fantastic. Getting him a start against them might help get him locked back in.

[C.C.]

Is there a particular reason we're holding Z back for the Cardinals? STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE CARDINALS

 

There is something to be said for not inserting Z into what will be a charged atmosphere here on Friday night. Let him pitch on Thursday in sleepy Houston.

 

With all the energy of the rivalry and the Cards' last chance to stay in the race, I'm afraid Z will fizzle.

 

It's sad when people are worried about putting Z into pressure situations. If he can't handle the cardinal series he shouldn't be pitching in the playoffs at all. It's silly.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is there a particular reason we're holding Z back for the Cardinals? STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE CARDINALS

 

There is something to be said for not inserting Z into what will be a charged atmosphere here on Friday night. Let him pitch on Thursday in sleepy Houston.

 

With all the energy of the rivalry and the Cards' last chance to stay in the race, I'm afraid Z will fizzle.

 

At the same time, Z's numbers against the Cards are pretty fantastic. Getting him a start against them might help get him locked back in.

 

He's just as good against HOU. And Z consistently struggles on 5 days rest. There's no good reason to take him off a regular 4 rest day rotation.

[jersey cubs fan]

Is there a particular reason we're holding Z back for the Cardinals? STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE CARDINALS

 

There is something to be said for not inserting Z into what will be a charged atmosphere here on Friday night. Let him pitch on Thursday in sleepy Houston.

 

With all the energy of the rivalry and the Cards' last chance to stay in the race, I'm afraid Z will fizzle.

 

It's sad when people are worried about putting Z into pressure situations. If he can't handle the cardinal series he shouldn't be pitching in the playoffs at all. It's silly.

 

Z struggles on 5 days rest. He's too strong. Add in the hype of the series, and you are asking for trouble. It's one thing for him to pitch in a high intensity atmosphere, but to add on the added challenge of throwing off the rythm and having him too strong is needlessly reckless.

[CUBZ99]

Is there a particular reason we're holding Z back for the Cardinals? STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE CARDINALS

 

There is something to be said for not inserting Z into what will be a charged atmosphere here on Friday night. Let him pitch on Thursday in sleepy Houston.

 

With all the energy of the rivalry and the Cards' last chance to stay in the race, I'm afraid Z will fizzle.

 

At the same time, Z's numbers against the Cards are pretty fantastic. Getting him a start against them might help get him locked back in.

 

He's just as good against HOU. And Z consistently struggles on 5 days rest. There's no good reason to take him off a regular 4 rest day rotation.

 

I don't have a problem with Z pitching in the big game. Why not use your worst pitcher against the lesser team? If you are going to pitch Tracshel (which I don't think they should) I would rather see him pitch againt the Astros than the Cardinals.

 

I think its ridiculous that Hendry attempted to tweak the one part of the Cubs that has been consistent all year and caused this mess. I'm not making excuses for Lou, but if he doesn't pitch Trachsel anymore for the rest of the year, he makes Hendry's move look pointless (which it was).

[hardcorecubfan]

Is this about Sweet Lou or Leo the Lip. Last time we used the 3 man rotation was in 69 and we saw how that turned out, but then again it was used all year in 1969

[Soul]

I don't mind it if Lou makes Hendry's move look pointless.

 

Considering that it was pointless, I'm gonna go ahead and say that Jimbo should swallow the ego and admit it and move on.

[CuseCubFan69]

I don't mind it if Lou makes Hendry's move look pointless.

 

Considering that it was pointless, I'm gonna go ahead and say that Jimbo should swallow the ego and admit it and move on.

 

Making your boss look like a fool is a tough sell. I realize it's for the good of the team but this is a sticky situation imo.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't mind it if Lou makes Hendry's move look pointless.

 

Considering that it was pointless, I'm gonna go ahead and say that Jimbo should swallow the ego and admit it and move on.

 

Making your boss look like a fool is a tough sell. I realize it's for the good of the team but this is a sticky situation imo.

 

I don't see how skipping Trachsel makes Hendry look like a fool. Hendry makes Hendry look like a fool. Trachsel pitching makes Hendry look like a fool. Lou deciding he's seen enough of Mr. Experience makes Hendry look like the guy who hired the right manager.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't have a problem with Z pitching in the big game. Why not use your worst pitcher against the lesser team? If you are going to pitch Tracshel (which I don't think they should) I would rather see him pitch againt the Astros than the Cardinals.

 

I think its ridiculous that Hendry attempted to tweak the one part of the Cubs that has been consistent all year and caused this mess. I'm not making excuses for Lou, but if he doesn't pitch Trachsel anymore for the rest of the year, he makes Hendry's move look pointless (which it was).

 

It's not a question of whether you want to use Z in a big game. It's a question of how wise it is to give Z an extra day of rest, and then have him come back on short rest the next time out. Z struggles with too much rest, and he's never gone on 3 days. Yet the Cubs are willing too screw around on both ends of the debate. I also don't have a problem with Hendry wanting to tweak the rotation. The Cubs have a couple guys who don't have a big history of 200 quality innings. The problem is Hendry went with Steve Trachsel, who was absolutely pathetic most of this year and last. Trax sucks, and he has for a while. The Mets tried to get him out of their playoff roster, but injuries to Pedro and Duque forced them to give him starts, and he crapped the bed. Trax is old, but he doesn't have a lot of experience of success in a playoff run. He's absolutely the wrong guy for the job.