What to do about the rotation

[UMFan83]

It's still early but I think most of us here are concerned about the performance of our rotation thus far. I kind of expected the rotation to be a problem spot this season, hence the reason I projected the Cubs to win 83 games this season, but its still disconcerning to be proven right so far. Take a look at some of the performances we've gotten so far:

 

Lilly:

4.2 IP, 4 ER

3.2 IP, 5 ER

4.1 IP, 5 ER

 

Hill:

6 IP, 2 ER

3 IP, 3 ER

 

Marquis:

5.1 IP, 4 ER

 

Zambrano:

6.2 IP, 0 ER

7 IP, 2 ER

6 IP, 5 ER

 

Dempster:

6 IP, 1 ER

7 IP, 0 ER

 

Thats a grand total of 2 starts over 7 IP all year, 4 starts lasting less than 5 IP, and 4 quality starts out of the first 11.

 

So what do we suggest is done. We have 7 "starters" on our team if you include Lieber and Marshall. We also have Gallagher who is sitting in Iowa waiting for a game to not be rained out. How do you propose the rotation is fixed? Fill one of the other guys in there? Just keep it as it is and let the pitchers settle down and work itself out? I lean towards change, but I thought the rotation was pretty awful before the season. Basically you have an ace (Z), a #3 starter (Lilly) and three #5's (Hill, Dempster, Marquis) in there.

[TruffleShuffle]

send hill to the bullpen, marquis and lilly to iowa. call up donald veal and jeff samardzija and put them in the rotation. also put lieber in the rotation. convert ryan harvey to a reliever and bring him up to the bullpen too; send down pie for more seasoning.

[Jon]

I say nothing. They can't afford to go forward without Hill and they won't remove Lilly, nor should they. I'd love to see Marshall in there over Marquis or Dempster, but Marquis would have to struggle for a good month before anything happens.

 

The bottom line is that we're only two weeks into the season. No pattern or streak going on right now is going to continue over the course of the season. The personnel decisions should have been made when the roster is set. They shouldn't be making decisions based on two or three outings.

 

Of course, Piniella would change his mind if someone looked at him funny while taking the field. Who knows what's going to happen.

[UMFan83]

send hill to the bullpen, marquis and lilly to iowa. call up donald veal and jeff samardzija and put them in the rotation. also put lieber in the rotation. convert ryan harvey to a reliever and bring him up to the bullpen too; send down pie for more seasoning.

 

Do Marquis and Lilly still have options? How will we get Veal on the 40 man? I like where you are headed but you need to think through your solution.

[UMFan83]

I say nothing. They can't afford to go forward without Hill and they won't remove Lilly, nor should they. I'd love to see Marshall in there over Marquis or Dempster, but Marquis would have to struggle for a good month before anything happens.

 

The bottom line is that we're only two weeks into the season. No pattern or streak going on right now is going to continue over the course of the season. The personnel decisions should have been made when the roster is set. They shouldn't be making decisions based on two or three outings.

 

Of course, Piniella would change his mind if someone looked at him funny while taking the field. Who knows what's going to happen.

 

No I agree, and I'm not proposing to pull Lilly from the rotation at all. I am more worried because I thought the rotation was going to be awful coming into the season, and so far it has been. I think Marshall and Lieber from the start were better options that Marquis and Dempster.

 

Dempster has pitched well but I am still not sure I am close to trusting him.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

trade for Justin Upton

[bhogg]

It looks like Dempster whould start every game.

[Keener98]

I think Demp will be fine. Obviously not as good as hes been, but not as bad as hes been in his past as a starter either. My feelings about Jason Marquis have been well documented here, so all Ill say is, he sucks. Lilly is the one Im most concerned with. Hes getting hit, and hit hard. But what the hell are you going to do with a guy who is in the 2nd year of a 40 million dollar deal? The only thing feasible is putting him on the DL, and seeing if he can get things figured out on the side. Z will be fine.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

I guess you could take a deep breath...step back and realize that Lilly probably won't continue to pitch this bad, Hill won't continue pitch this bad.....Dempster likely will come back to earth.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Go back in time and make more of an agressive move for Zack Greinke last season.

[RynoRules]

I guess you could take a deep breath...step back and realize that Lilly probably won't continue to pitch this bad, Hill won't continue pitch this bad.....Dempster likely will come back to earth.

 

Lilly's struggles concern me as much as Hill's, if not more. Lilly was up in the zone most of the night. He's not walking people so much as he's throwing weak stuff.

[Keener98]

I guess you could take a deep breath...step back and realize that Lilly probably won't continue to pitch this bad, Hill won't continue pitch this bad.....Dempster likely will come back to earth.

 

Lilly's struggles concern me as much as Hill's, if not more. Lilly was up in the zone most of the night. He's not walking people so much as he's throwing weak stuff.

 

 

Yup thats exactly what Ive been saying. Hills control really shouldnt be that hard of a thing to fix. I mean hes always had a high walk rate, but nothing like this. However Lilly is just getting mashed and not missing bats like he did last year. I dont know what his deal is but color me concerned.

[Rob]

Z

Lilly

Hill

 

Those three belong in the rotation. No questions asked. Beyond that, play the hot hand.

[Schwarber Fan]

Marquis out, Lieber in is such an obvious move. Hopefully after Marquis gets shelled tomorrow Lou considers.

[JimSorgi]

Basically you have an ace (Z), a #3 starter (Lilly) and three #5's (Hill, Dempster, Marquis) in there.

I hope you're joking about the bolded part.

[Schwarber Fan]

Basically you have an ace (Z), a #3 starter (Lilly) and three #5's (Hill, Dempster, Marquis) in there.

I hope you're joking about the bolded part.

 

As of right now, Hill should be lucky to call himself a major league starter.

[SouthSideRyan]

I know you'd have to assume that Rich must've given up at least 4 runs in 6 innings with the way people are talking about him, but his actual line in his first start was 6 IP 2 ER.

[Keener98]

Basically you have an ace (Z), a #3 starter (Lilly) and three #5's (Hill, Dempster, Marquis) in there.

I hope you're joking about the bolded part.

 

As of right now, Hill should be lucky to call himself a major league starter.

 

 

Why cause he had a bad start?

[JimSorgi]

Basically you have an ace (Z), a #3 starter (Lilly) and three #5's (Hill, Dempster, Marquis) in there.

I hope you're joking about the bolded part.

 

As of right now, Hill should be lucky to call himself a major league starter.

He should be. Not many people get to accomplish what he's done. But I don't see how that has any relevance here.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

maybe the roation needs more cowbell?

[Little Slide Rooter]

Lilly has been the only one who has been consistantly dreadful so far.

 

Hill had 1 decent outing, and one pretty bad one.

 

Dempster has looked great, but he's going to be walking on egg shells no matter what.

 

Marquis had one start, didnt look great. We'll probably ride him out until at least July and see what happens.

 

Z is Z. 2 great starts, 1 bad one.

 

I noticed on tonights broadcast, the refered to Lilly as Thursdays "scheduled starter", and when they showed the screen, it had Cincinatti pitching Edison whats his face from the Rangers and the Cubs pitching TBA.

[Guest]

Basically you have an ace (Z), a #3 starter (Lilly) and three #5's (Hill, Dempster, Marquis) in there.

I hope you're joking about the bolded part.

 

As of right now, Hill should be lucky to call himself a major league starter.

Not to mention CC Sabathia, Roy Oswalt & many others.

[Guest]

Basically you have an ace (Z), a #3 starter (Lilly) and three #5's (Hill, Dempster, Marquis) in there.

I hope you're joking about the bolded part.

 

As of right now, Hill should be lucky to call himself a major league starter.

Not to mention CC Sabathia, Roy Oswalt & many others.

 

Actually, CC and Roy would be much worse.

[salukifudd]

You should leave the rotation as is (well, get Hill out of the bullpen and into a regular rotation). You have to allow these pitchers the time to get over their struggles. I was hoping Hendry was going to get another quality arm in the offseason, but it didn't happen.

 

Z - you know what you are getting.

Lilly - figured he would regress from last year, hopefully it's not going to continue to be drastic.

Demp - I think will turn out to be a decent #3, I always thought his "stuff" was meant more for a starter than closer. He doesn't have any dominate pitches, but has a couple decent ones especially if his split is doing well.

Marquis - we all know he is a first half producer, keep him in the rotation until it's obvious he's falling off again.

Hill - he will bounce back, it better be sooner than later. Changing your mechanics late in spring training isn't an ideal thing to do.

 

Lieber - I think is a perfect fit for where he is at, long man. Highly doubt he could last a full year as a starter anyways. Keep him where he is at until Marquis deconstructs.

Marshall - hasn't proven he can last a whole season, I would rather see him in AAA stretching things out and have him ready when we need him up. When is Stevie Eyre supposed to be back?

Gallagher - keep him in AAA unless things get desparate, which I really don't think they will.

[VanceJergins]

I projected the Cubs to win 83 games this season, but its still disconcerning to be proven right so far.

 

I'm sure there's somebody in the world that predicted the Tigers to win about 50 games this year. That doesn't mean they're right about anything. The Cubs are a game above .500 in early April, the only thing we should really be worried about right now is the stupid decisions Lou is making.