Cubs to Announce Rotation & Bullpen Roles Tomorrow

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

On Monday, it appears the Cubs will announce who will occupy the third and fifth spots in the rotation as well as closer.

 

Link.

 

Piniella acknowledged before Sunday's game against the Padres, which the Cubs won, 7-3, that he knows what he's going to do, but wanted to wait until pitching coach Larry Rothschild has a chance to talk to all participants

 

Has Wood made the decision easy for Piniella to pick between the three right-handers, Wood, Bob Howry and Carlos Marmol?

 

"We'll make it for you tomorrow," Piniella said. "I would think if it's Woody, he's earned it."

[KenCub]

My choices:

 

3rd rotation - Marquis (until he's traded)

 

5th rotation - Lieber

 

long relief/spot start - Dempster (until Marquis is traded)

 

closer - Wood

 

7th inning - Marmol

 

8th inning - Howry

 

lefty arm - Pignatiello (until Eyre's elbow pain is addressed or subsides)

[17 Seconds]

"[Marquis] hasn't done anything in spring -- except get me mad once -- to lead me to believe he won't be in the rotation," Piniella said.

 

Piniella was joking about the mad part. The disagreement occurred after Marquis' first start March 1 against the Angels when the right-hander said he could take his services elsewhere if he wasn't in the Cubs' rotation. Piniella reacted angrily after hearing that, but apologized the next day.

 

That makes it sound like Marquis will get a spot.

[Rob]

I think Demp might've pitched his way out of a rotation spot (unless we can find a taker for Marquis in the next week or two).

[17 Seconds]

I bet it will be Dempster and Marquis.

[Rob]

I bet it will be Dempster and Marquis.

 

I'm under the impression Lieber signed because he was essentially guaranteed a rotation spot unless he pitched his way out of it. If memory serves, he's had the best spring of all those three guys.

[17 Seconds]

I thought so too, but the above comment about Marquis makes it sound like he'll be in it, and I'd be surprised not to see Dempster get a spot after Lou has been selling him so hard since ST started. Couple that with the article that came out last week about Lieber saying he'd be happy to pitch out of the bullpen, I think it will be Dempster and Marquis.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

I hope Eyre needs tommy john

[Post Count Padder]

I hope Eyre needs tommy john

Tommy John probably doesn't feel the same way about Eyre.

[Schwarber Fan]

I bet it will be Dempster and Marquis.

 

I'm under the impression Lieber signed because he was essentially guaranteed a rotation spot unless he pitched his way out of it. If memory serves, he's had the best spring of all those three guys.

 

I don't think Lieber's even in the decision. I'm pretty sure he's guaranteed a spot.

[rawaction]

Seems to me like you pretty much have to put Dempster in the rotation. The Cubs made up their mind last year that he was gonna get a shot to start. He has been stretched out this spring to do just that. Putting him in long relief does nothing for the team. He's not starting like he was conditioned all spring to do. He not closing where he has had success in recent years. He's also likely to take the longest to get stretched back out if he moves to long relief.

 

My guess is Leiber goes to long relief. He's done it recently. He's said he's ok with doing it. Until Marquis gets traded or struggles, I think that's the way it will/should go.

[Keener98]

Seems to me like you pretty much have to put Dempster in the rotation. The Cubs made up their mind last year that he was gonna get a shot to start. He has been stretched out this spring to do just that. Putting him in long relief does nothing for the team. He's not starting like he was conditioned all spring to do. He not closing where he has had success in recent years. He's also likely to take the longest to get stretched back out if he moves to long relief.

 

My guess is Leiber goes to long relief. He's done it recently. He's said he's ok with doing it. Until Marquis gets traded or struggles, I think that's the way it will/should go.

 

I agree, I think Lieber goes to the pen, and Dempster and Marquis start. Lieber saying he'd have no problem going to the pen basically guarantees it to me. If Marquis gets moved to the pen hes going to be a pain in the ass, and Dempster moving to the rotation was the Cubs idea, so I doubt they go back on that already. Lieber in my opinion will be in the pen until Marquis is traded.

[98navigator]

I agree with Dempster and Marquis to the rotation and Lieber for bullpen duty. Lieber's open acceptance of a bullpen role does make Lou's decision easy. I can also see Pignatello getting Eyre's spot with Lahey being traded.

 

"I'm not even worried about it," said Lieber, one of three pitchers vying for two spots in the rotation. "You can't do nothing. Like I've said before, I'm more than happy to go to the bullpen. Those guys ... deserve to be in that rotation. They've done a great job."

Link

[UMFan83]

That's stupid. What value does Lieber have out of the pen? At least Dempster has been in that role before with mild success.

[XZero771679666304]

That's stupid. What value does Lieber have out of the pen? At least Dempster has been in that role before with mild success.

 

Yeah, that's pretty dumb. But I still think Marquis gets traded.

[nolanwood]

Lieber has pitched great this spring and the best of those three; he should be in that rotation. Demp should be in the bullpen anyways, he's an awful starter.

[inari]

Count me among the group that thinks Leiber is a waste in the bullpen.

[98navigator]

I think Lou will elect to put Lieber in the bullpen over Dempster (or Marquis). First of all, Dempster becoming the seldom used longman, after being the closer, would be a severe blow to his ego and Lou doesn't need that headache especially when it's Marquis he really wants to have moved. It's easier to give the new guy (or the once Cub turned new guy again), Lieber, the bullpen role. Putting Marquis in the bullpen makes it difficult to showcase him if a trade doesn't happen before Opening Day. Lieber will start if Marquis is traded.

[Post Count Padder]

I really think that Marquis will be traded. Best decision? No. Demp should still be in the pen. Hwever, I think it's more likely that the rotation spots go to Lieber and Demp with Marquis getting traded by the end of the week.

[Derwood]

let's not use one month of spring numbers to judge who goes to the pen and who goes to the rotation, okay?

[mul21]

I agree with Dempster and Marquis to the rotation and Lieber for bullpen duty. Lieber's open acceptance of a bullpen role does make Lou's decision easy. I can also see Pignatello getting Eyre's spot with Lahey being traded.

"I'm not even worried about it," said Lieber, one of three pitchers vying for two spots in the rotation. "You can't do nothing. Like I've said before, I'm more than happy to go to the bullpen. Those guys ... deserve to be in that rotation. They've done a great job."

Link

 

When did this happen?

[Post Count Padder]

I agree with Dempster and Marquis to the rotation and Lieber for bullpen duty. Lieber's open acceptance of a bullpen role does make Lou's decision easy. I can also see Pignatello getting Eyre's spot with Lahey being traded.

"I'm not even worried about it," said Lieber, one of three pitchers vying for two spots in the rotation. "You can't do nothing. Like I've said before, I'm more than happy to go to the bullpen. Those guys ... deserve to be in that rotation. They've done a great job."

Link

 

When did this happen?

I think he's predicting that.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

There's speculation now that Marshall could take Eyre's spot in the pen if Scott is unable to start the season. Marshall has been removed from his next scheduled start.

 

Link.

 

Eyre was going to be the only lefty reliever. Now, Carmen Pignatiello (0.00 ERA), Sean Marshall and nonroster man Les Walrond will get looks.

 

"We're going to take a good look at Marshall," Piniella said. "We're probably going to scratch him from his start (Thursday)."

 

The Cubs don't know if Eyre will be ready to open the regular season

[WTFCUBS]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2008/news/story?id=3309506

 

Wood named closer, Marquis #5

 

"while Jon Lieber would hold down the role of long reliever. "

Edited March 24, 2008 by WTFCUBS

[nolanwood]

let's not use one month of spring numbers to judge who goes to the pen and who goes to the rotation, okay?

 

Would you rather use their '03 stats?

 

:lol: :wink:

 

I agree with your comment, which further solidifies why Dempster belongs nowhere near the rotation.