Playoff Roster

[27up27down]

Hmm, that's possible. Then you have Z on 4 days, Demp on 10, and Harden on 8. I don't know if I'm a fan of Z on regular rest in the playoffs, though. No reason not to let him take advantage of an extra day or two going in.

[Illini Iceman]

Hmm, that's possible. Then you have Z on 4 days, Demp on 10, and Harden on 8. I don't know if I'm a fan of Z on regular rest in the playoffs, though. No reason not to let him take advantage of an extra day or two going in.

 

I would start Dempster in game 1. He has been their most consistent starter and seems like with his personality he would be in the best position to handle the high emotions of the first game of the playoffs and potentially the pressure of a game 5. Maybe go Dempster, Harden, Zambrano. Z has said that he would like to pitch game 3 so I would take him up on it. Lilly has pitched so well I would let him go in game 4 (if necessary) and not try to bring anyone back on short rest.

[27up27down]

I would start Dempster in game 1. He has been their most consistent starter and seems like with his personality he would be in the best position to handle the high emotions of the first game of the playoffs and potentially the pressure of a game 5. Maybe go Dempster, Harden, Zambrano. Z has said that he would like to pitch game 3 so I would take him up on it. Lilly has pitched so well I would let him go in game 4 (if necessary) and not try to bring anyone back on short rest.

Yeah, Lilly's a shoo-in for game 4, it would seem. I'm not a big fan of speculating about the emotions and personality, but what he's been able to do this year can't really be argued with. Whichever way the Cubs go, we can all agree it's a pretty awesome problem to have.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Roster IMO...

 

Outfield: Soriano, Edmonds, Johnson, Fukudome, Pie, DeRosa (6)

Infield: Lee, Fontenot, Theriot, Rameriz, Cedeno, Soto, Blanco, Ward (8)

SP: Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, Lilly (4)

BP: Wood, Marmol, Zamardjiza, Howry, Cotts, Marshall, Marquis (7)

 

Anyone else notice the physical shape Pie seems to be in since his call up? He looks tremendous in my opinion, and would be a great asset late in ballgames defensively/pinch running.

 

The main disagreement of what the playoff roster will be comes down to whether or not Gaudin is ready, which is looking more and more unlikely, so Marquis is going to have to fill that role. It wouldn't break my heart to see Marquis over Howry if Gaudin comes back as well.

 

Anyone like to see Hoffpauir on the roster instead of Fukudome? You would lose A LOT defensively playing Micah in RF, but at least Micah seems to have a clue when he's batting. I would like to see a lot of Micah in the outfield this week once the Cubs clinch, and see how he handles himself defensively and with the bat. Screw Fukie's salary and do whats best for the team, cause Fukudome has looked pathetic at the plate pretty much the entire second half of the season.

 

this +Gauidin -Howry or Samardzdjiajiajia

[anabiono]

it is only my gut feeling, but i feel leaving fukudome off the playoff roster is a bad move

 

he WILL have big hits in the playoffs

[SaorsaDaonnan]

               vs. left                 vs. right

MIL        .274/.352/.470            .246/.316/.420
NYM        .277/.350/.443            .263/.336/.416
PHI        .255/.336/.462            .255/.331/.425
LAD        .272/.347/.415            .259/.324/.388
FLA        .235/.316/.391            .287/.357/.459      

 

if we play the Marlins in the NLDS, using Ted Lilly in game four is a no-brainer: we get a good matchup and more rest

for our starters. unfortunately, the more likely scenarios involve us playing one of the other four teams, all of whom have

been notably better against lefties than righties. it's an open question whether or not a Lilly start would be better than a

second Dempster start against those teams.

Edited September 21, 2008 by SaorsaDaonnan

[27up27down]

it is only my gut feeling, but i feel leaving fukudome off the playoff roster is a bad move

 

he WILL have big hits in the playoffs

To me, it has nothing to do with "big hits." The playoffs aren't about scoring runs - you win in the playoffs by preventing the opposition from scoring. Fukudome is a HUGE part of why the Cubs staff has had so much success.

[Vanilla Ice]

it is only my gut feeling, but i feel leaving fukudome off the playoff roster is a bad move

 

he WILL have big hits in the playoffs

To me, it has nothing to do with "big hits." The playoffs aren't about scoring runs - you win in the playoffs by preventing the opposition from scoring. Fukudome is a HUGE part of why the Cubs staff has had so much success.

actually, they are about scoring runs.

[bukie]

it is only my gut feeling, but i feel leaving fukudome off the playoff roster is a bad move

 

he WILL have big hits in the playoffs

To me, it has nothing to do with "big hits." The playoffs aren't about scoring runs - you win in the playoffs by preventing the opposition from scoring. Fukudome is a HUGE part of why the Cubs staff has had so much success.

actually, they are about scoring runs.

 

You can prevent runs until the snow falls, but if you don't score runs, you're not winning any games.

[El Ridda]

it is only my gut feeling, but i feel leaving fukudome off the playoff roster is a bad move

 

he WILL have big hits in the playoffs

To me, it has nothing to do with "big hits." The playoffs aren't about scoring runs - you win in the playoffs by preventing the opposition from scoring. Fukudome is a HUGE part of why the Cubs staff has had so much success.

actually, they are about scoring runs.

 

You can prevent runs until the snow falls, but if you don't score runs, you're not winning any games.

 

 

True. Thing is, despite his absent bat, Fukudome can do some things to help the cubs score. He would add value as a pinch runner, and if the cubs desperately needed someone to come in and get a bunt down, Fuk would be one of the best options they would have (Reed being the other).

[Schwarber Fan]

I'd just like to add that I am legitimately worried about Lou putting [expletive] into a big spot in the playoffs and him blowing it.

 

And there's no way he's left off the playoff roster, despite the fact he should be.

 

And no, I didn't type "Howry"

[anabiono]

[expletive]

 

holy [expletive] that is [expletive] awesome

 

[expletive] [expletive] [expletive] [expletive] [expletive] adjective didn't work [expletive] [expletive]

[Old Style]

I think Dempster needs to start either game 1 or 2 at Wrigley.

[27up27down]

You can prevent runs until the snow falls, but if you don't score runs, you're not winning any games.

Fukudome's D > Fontenot's bat. As good as Fontenot's bat has been, he can't be expected to OPS .900 for the duration of the playoffs - he's already fallen pretty far off that pace over the course of August and September. Even at Fukudome's worst, he'll work the count and pick up a walk here and there. He's not hurting the lineup a great deal if he's in the #8 spot, and if he catches one ball that would have otherwise fallen in for a double with an average RF in his place - happens much more often than you'd think - he's helping the team.

 

Pitching wins championships, and a great defense turns good pitching performances into great ones - the '07 Rockies are a great example. There's no reason a rotation fronted by Jeff Francis and Ubaldo Jimenez should've been within sniffing distance of the playoffs, but when you give them one of the best defenses of the last ten years, they're good enough to win an NL title.

[twothousandfive]

Pitching wins championships

I'm sure the Toronto Blue Jays, with the best ERA in the major leagues, will be pleased to hear that.

 

Fukudome has a knack for contributing. His OBP is the same as Derek Lee's, better than Soriano, Cedeno, etc. and not that much lower than Hoffpauir or Fotenot. Those guys have much more power this year, and fewer Ks recently. But Fukudome has rarely gone more than two starts in a row without contributing something in the box score -- walk, hit, sacrifice, etc. Add in his strong defense, and I think he belongs, and will probably start at least the first game.

 

Among Fotenot, Hoffpauir and Pie is where the decision will be made, I think. With Ward as the LH PH, I think Hoffpauir is left off.

[bukie]

Fontenot is not going to be left off the roster. He has the third highest EQA of anyone on the team. It makes less sense to leave him off than it does Theriot.

[jersey cubs fan]

Fontenot is not going to be left off the roster. He has the third highest EQA of anyone on the team. It makes less sense to leave him off than it does Theriot.

 

I'm with you on the first point, but not the second. Theriot is the starting SS and one of only two SS on the roster.

[bukie]

Fontenot is not going to be left off the roster. He has the third highest EQA of anyone on the team. It makes less sense to leave him off than it does Theriot.

 

I'm with you on the first point, but not the second. Theriot is the starting SS and one of only two SS on the roster.

 

Ehh, I admit it's a poor comparison. I was looking for the most expendable starter on the Cubs. Probably should've gone with Fukudome.

 

If we're willing to accept that Lou is going to have Howry and Ward on the team because they're veterans above all else, and Fukudome is in because of his defense, there are probably 1-2 spots up for grabs among Gaudin, Marquis, Wuertz, Pie and Hoffpauir. If the Cubs go 11 pitchers, then it'll likely be Marquis and Pie. If they go 10 pitchers, likely Pie and Hoffpauir. If 12 pitchers, probably Gaudin and Marquis.

[27up27down]

Fontenot is not going to be left off the roster. He has the third highest EQA of anyone on the team. It makes less sense to leave him off than it does Theriot.

I probably worded that poorly. Fontenot's obviously on the roster, but that was why I'd rather see Fukudome in the lineup every day.

[David]

Why do people try to act like a different game is being played in the postseason?

 

It's still baseball. You're trying to score more runs than you limit the opposition to in the majority of a 5 or 7 game series.

 

It takes both pitching and hitting to win...just like any other baseball game

[SouthSideRyan]

I'll eat my hat if the Cubs take anything more or less than 11 pitchers.

[bukie]

I'll eat my hat if the Cubs take anything more or less than 11 pitchers.

I could see them going 10 pitchers for the World Series to take an extra batter for the DH position.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'll eat my hat if the Cubs take anything more or less than 11 pitchers.

I could see them going 10 pitchers for the World Series to take an extra batter for the DH position.

 

I think they'd be more willing to go with 10 in a short series than a 7-gamer.

[SouthSideRyan]

I'll eat my hat if the Cubs take anything more or less than 11 pitchers.

I could see them going 10 pitchers for the World Series to take an extra batter for the DH position.

 

But then you don't need batters to hit for the pitcher. AL teams tend to carry more pitchers than NL teams during the regular season.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd like to see them carry 10 just so he has to eat a hat