Cubs to Announce Rotation & Bullpen Roles Tomorrow

[CubFanPhilly]

Your rotation by the trade deadline:

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Lieber

Hill

Marshall or Gallagher

 

Marquis will be traded (along with about $5 mil. in cash). Dempster will be working mop up/middle relief in the pen.

[YearofDaCubs]

Demp will probably lose his job within a month.

That's exactly what's going to happen.

[wvcbxl]

I don't see the point of Soriano in the 2 spot. Is he really that less likely to run just by moving? Why not just tell him to run less in the first place? Fukudome's value is somewhat marginalized by being used primarily as protection for Ramirez. Aramis has never had much protection yet he's been fine without it. And Fukudome is the closest thing this team has to a top of the order hitter.

 

I agree that swapping Soriano and Fukudome would seem the most obvious move, and would improve the lineup.

[NewUserName]

Demp will probably lose his job within a month.

That's exactly what's going to happen.

 

Since everyone knows this to be true, why are the Cubs even wasting their time?

[apete6]

I don't see the point of Soriano in the 2 spot. Is he really that less likely to run just by moving? Why not just tell him to run less in the first place? Fukudome's value is somewhat marginalized by being used primarily as protection for Ramirez. Aramis has never had much protection yet he's been fine without it. And Fukudome is the closest thing this team has to a top of the order hitter.

 

I agree that swapping Soriano and Fukudome would seem the most obvious move, and would improve the lineup.

 

See, I disagree. While I don't really like Soriano in the 2 hole, I would HATE having him bat 5th. "Protection" in the order is usually overrated, but if Soriano was batting 5th, he would see a very steady diet of breaking balls because no one is afraid of pitching to DeRosa or Soto. He would likely rack up an obscene amount of Ks because of his free-swinging nature. Batting him in front of Lee and/or Ramirez should ensure Soriano seeing many fastballs.

 

If Lou is adamant about batting Theriot #1, I would like to see Fukudome or Lee #2 followed by Soriano and then Ramirez.

 

Ideally you could easily just bat Fuk #1, Lee #2, Sori #3 and move Theriot to the bottom.

[YearofDaCubs]

Demp will probably lose his job within a month.

That's exactly what's going to happen.

 

Since everyone knows this to be true, why are the Cubs even wasting their time?

Probably because they want to be good guys and at least give Demp a shot at it.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Demp will probably lose his job within a month.

That's exactly what's going to happen.

 

Since everyone knows this to be true, why are the Cubs even wasting their time?

Probably because they want to be good guys and at least give Demp a shot at it.

 

If they want to be good guys, they can go through the make a wish foundation and give some dying kid a chance at the rotation. If they want to win games, they should keep Dempster out of the rotation.

[Banedon]

We ought to start a pool...to see what day the rotation turns into...

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Lieber

Hill

Marshall

[Wheelimus]

In a perfect world one of them would pitch so well early on that we could trade them for an upgrade at shortstop.

 

Of course, in this perfect world Ronny Cedeno magically starts fielding like Ozzie and hitting like Banks and the point would be moot. In this world we'd just be the first team ever to have a 6 man rotation and every person win 20 games. :P

[jmajew]

I don't see the point of Soriano in the 2 spot. Is he really that less likely to run just by moving? Why not just tell him to run less in the first place? Fukudome's value is somewhat marginalized by being used primarily as protection for Ramirez. Aramis has never had much protection yet he's been fine without it. And Fukudome is the closest thing this team has to a top of the order hitter.

 

I agree that swapping Soriano and Fukudome would seem the most obvious move, and would improve the lineup.

 

See, I disagree. While I don't really like Soriano in the 2 hole, I would HATE having him bat 5th. "Protection" in the order is usually overrated, but if Soriano was batting 5th, he would see a very steady diet of breaking balls because no one is afraid of pitching to DeRosa or Soto. He would likely rack up an obscene amount of Ks because of his free-swinging nature. Batting him in front of Lee and/or Ramirez should ensure Soriano seeing many fastballs.

 

If Lou is adamant about batting Theriot #1, I would like to see Fukudome or Lee #2 followed by Soriano and then Ramirez.

 

Ideally you could easily just bat Fuk #1, Lee #2, Sori #3 and move Theriot to the bottom.

 

I was thinking Fuk, Soriano, Lee, Ramirez, DeRosa, Soto, Pie, Theriot. Soriano needs protection so he can hopefully see a steady diet of fastballs. Ramirez has proven he does not need protection so I see no need to emphasize getting some for him, if Soto can put up a line of 270/350/475 he could be the perfect remedy for that anyway. Fukodome is an ideal leadoff hitter. He drives the ball very well and takes a lot of pitches, he may not steal bases but he does everything else that a leadoff hitter is "supposed" to do.

[jersey cubs fan]

I would HATE having him bat 5th. "Protection" in the order is usually overrated, but if Soriano was batting 5th, he would see a very steady diet of breaking balls because no one is afraid of pitching to DeRosa or Soto. .

 

Soriano needs protection so he can hopefully see a steady diet of fastballs.

 

You guys are kidding yourselves if you think Soriano is ever going to see a steady diet of fastballs just because Lee is hitting behing him. Protection is a junk idea. Pitchers are going to pitch to Soriano the same no matter where he hits, which is trying to convince him to get himself out.

[kente777]

Well, it's Marquis and Dempster per Cubs.com

[jersey cubs fan]

Well, it's Marquis and Dempster per Cubs.com

 

Welcome to yesterday.

[Springfield_CUBBY]

Well, it's Marquis and Dempster per Cubs.com

 

Welcome to yesterday.

:lol:

[hardcorecubfan]

Why no mention of Marshal?

[hardcorecubfan]

Why no mention of Marshal?

[98navigator]

Why no mention of Marshal?

 

Eyre is expected to start the season on the DL. Marshall and Pignatiello are both being given the opportunity to win that bullpen spot to start the season. However, Len read a quote by Lou today that said the spot is Sean's if he pitches well. Carmen has been lights out this Spring, but I think Lou feels Sean is ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

One could argue that it's better to send Sean to AAA to keep him stretched out as a starter. I doubt he'll be able to get enough innings, to maintain anything near a starters stamina, in the bullpen with Lieber slated as the longman. It seems to me that Pignatiello's repertoire more closely fits the role Eyre is leaving vacant... Of course, this could all be moot if Marquis is traded in the 11th hour.

 

edit:

The competition for the bullpen spot will be decided between Sean Marshall and Pignatiello, although Cubs manager Lou Piniella was leaning toward Marshall.

 

"If Marshall can handle the job, basically it's his," Piniella said. "Let's see what he does here in the next couple days."

 

"Marshall pitched well last year and did a nice job for us and I'm appreciative of that," Piniella said. "We have to find out in short order if he can pitch out of the bullpen. I know Pignatiello has had a really nice spring. What he's done basically is open the door for himself here if need be. If Marshall doesn't respond or can't handle this situation, then Pignatiello is the guy we're going to take."

 

Cubs.com

[Guest]

I'm definitely not pleased to see Theriot batting anywhere other than seventh or eighth though it was to be expected.

[Illini Iceman]

Why no mention of Marshal?

 

Eyre is expected to start the season on the DL. Marshall and Pignatiello are both being given the opportunity to win that bullpen spot to start the season. However, Len read a quote by Lou today that said the spot is Sean's if he pitches well. Carmen has been lights out this Spring, but I think Lou feels Sean is ahead of him in the pecking order.

 

One could argue that it's better to send Sean to AAA to keep him stretched out as a starter. I doubt he'll be able to get enough innings, to maintain anything near a starters stamina, in the bullpen with Lieber slated as the longman. It seems to me that Pignatiello's repertoire more closely fits the role Eyre is leaving vacant... Of course, this could all be moot if Marquis is traded in the 11th hour.

 

edit:

The competition for the bullpen spot will be decided between Sean Marshall and Pignatiello, although Cubs manager Lou Piniella was leaning toward Marshall.

 

"If Marshall can handle the job, basically it's his," Piniella said. "Let's see what he does here in the next couple days."

 

"Marshall pitched well last year and did a nice job for us and I'm appreciative of that," Piniella said. "We have to find out in short order if he can pitch out of the bullpen. I know Pignatiello has had a really nice spring. What he's done basically is open the door for himself here if need be. If Marshall doesn't respond or can't handle this situation, then Pignatiello is the guy we're going to take."

 

Cubs.com

 

I think Pignatiello would do a better job in the loogy role until Eyre gets back than Marshall and seems to me it is more useful to keep Marshall starting at AAA so he is ready to step in to the Cubs rotation if needed. Only reason I can see that they would keep Marshall in the pen over Pignatiello is if they feel they owe it to him to give him a big league spot so they don't want to demote him to AAA.

[apete6]

I think Pignatiello would do a better job in the loogy role until Eyre gets back than Marshall and seems to me it is more useful to keep Marshall starting at AAA so he is ready to step in to the Cubs rotation if needed. Only reason I can see that they would keep Marshall in the pen over Pignatiello is if they feel they owe it to him to give him a big league spot so they don't want to demote him to AAA.

 

I completely agree. I know they would like to show Marshall some "love" because they know they pretty much screwed him with that BS Trachsel acquisition last year, but the fact is that Piggy would fit the Cubs need better. With Lieber in the bullpen, there is no need for Marshall to be a long man.

 

I say let Marshall go down to AAA and be a starter. Maybe they end up trading him later in the season. Or, they can wait for Dempster and/or Marquis to suck and bring him up to start. If Marshall has a solid season starting at AAA or MLB, they almost have to give him a rotation spot next year when Dempster and Liber's contracts are up. Then again, Marshall should have had a spot all of last year and this year, too.