Playoff Roster

[Derwood]

in the 5 game LDS, any more than 10 pitchers is just lunacy

[El Ridda]

in the 5 game LDS, any more than 10 pitchers is just lunacy

 

 

That's what they did last year (they had 11). I think they will again, especially now that they are going with 4 starters. If they do stick to 10 pitchers in the LDS, then Hoff likely gets the nod as an extra bat off the bench.

[MasterBlaster]

Marquis deserves a playoff spot no matter what happens tonight. He would be great for long relief if Lilly bombs out. Marquis' numbers are just below (better) his career averages in ERA and WHIP, just barely. He's also given up half as many HR's (14) as Lilly (31), and both have the same amount of BB's.

 

I wouldn't be opposed to Pie as a speedy defensive sub, but not excited about his PH abilities. I'd prefer Hoffpauir over Ward if it comes to that as well. Ward had 1 or 2 productive hits all year, he's been completely worthless.

[El Ridda]

in the 5 game LDS, any more than 10 pitchers is just lunacy

 

 

Please justify this statement. The more I think about it, the more I believe that having LESS than 11 pitchers is lunacy. You do realize that there are 2 sets or back to back games during the LDS, right?

[Mizzou]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't teams change their 25 man rosters from series to series?

[jersey cubs fan]

in the 5 game LDS, any more than 10 pitchers is just lunacy

 

 

Please justify this statement. The more I think about it, the more I believe that having LESS than 11 pitchers is lunacy. You do realize that there are 2 sets or back to back games during the LDS, right?

 

Over the course of the regular season you often play 10 or more games with no break. 11 pitchers is more than enough. In the playoffs, you can go with a 4 man rotation, meaning you still have 6 relievers if you go to a 10 man staff. Is there much use in bringing in your 7th best reliever along for the ride? Any close game is going to see Marmol and Wood. Marshall and Marquis can be used for longer stretches if they go extras or the starter gets knocked out very early. Cotts is the loogy and then one more space, say Samardzija. I think 10 is more than enough. That gives you more options off the bench.

[Guest]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't teams change their 25 man rosters from series to series?

 

Correct.

[Backtobanks]

Pie won't make it unless he shows he can hit.

 

And he's going to show that in a week? Pie will likely make it regardless of his hitting because of his defense and speed. Fact is, he is the guy you want in center when trying to preserve a lead, and he is the best guy the cubs have to use as a pinch runner.

 

I think the cubs roster will look like this:

 

Pitchers (11)

 

(S) Z, Demp, Harden, Lilly

® Marquis (longman), Cotts, Marmol, Wood, Howry, Shark, Gaudin (if healthy, Marshall if not)

 

Position players (14)

 

Lee, Derosa, Riot, Ram, Soto, Fukudome, Edmonds, Soriano, Reed, Fontenot, Blanco, Cendeno, Ward, Pie

 

I expect the Cubs to clinch within a few more days and then Lou probably will be giving a lot of playing time to Pie. Pie might be great for speed and defense, but Edmonds and Johnson are pretty solid defensively. If Gaudin is healthy, it wouldn't surprise me for both Marshall and Gaudin to be on the roster. A second lefty in the bullpen might be necessary.

[rawaction]

Here's an interesting question. If the Cubs only take 10 pitchers for the NLDS, would anyone consider Koyie Hill for the 25-man roster? Sad as it is, Hank Blanco is the Cubs best RH hitter off the bench, if the Cubs face LH starter. (Cubs have the potential to face Hamels/Moyer, Santana/Perez 3 times combined in a 5-game series). Maybe sadder, I'd hate to not be able to PH Hank because there is no other catcher on the roster.

[Derwood]

in the 5 game LDS, any more than 10 pitchers is just lunacy

 

 

Please justify this statement. The more I think about it, the more I believe that having LESS than 11 pitchers is lunacy. You do realize that there are 2 sets or back to back games during the LDS, right?

 

the LDS schedule goes:

 

Game 1

Game 2

Off Day

Game 3

Game 4

Off Day

Game 5

 

You only need 4 starters (assuming no one goes on short rest), which leaves you with a 6 man bullpen, which is pretty standard. Two guys in that pen will probably be Marquis and Marshall, both of whom can pitch a lot of innings if the starter gets pulled early. That leaves you with 4 more "specialty" relievers (likely Wood, Cotts, Marmol and Smardzjia). That's plenty.

 

If Gaudin is healthy and reliable, I'm fine with an 11th pitcher, but that's the max.

[jersey cubs fan]

Here's an interesting question. If the Cubs only take 10 pitchers for the NLDS, would anyone consider Koyie Hill for the 25-man roster? Sad as it is, Hank Blanco is the Cubs best RH hitter off the bench, if the Cubs face LH starter. (Cubs have the potential to face Hamels/Moyer, Santana/Perez 3 times combined in a 5-game series). Maybe sadder, I'd hate to not be able to PH Hank because there is no other catcher on the roster.

 

Ehhhh, not all that interested. I'd rather Lou start a lineup that isn't all RH against a LHP, leaving Cedeno on the bench as well.

[CubColtPacer]

Here's an interesting question. If the Cubs only take 10 pitchers for the NLDS, would anyone consider Koyie Hill for the 25-man roster? Sad as it is, Hank Blanco is the Cubs best RH hitter off the bench, if the Cubs face LH starter. (Cubs have the potential to face Hamels/Moyer, Santana/Perez 3 times combined in a 5-game series). Maybe sadder, I'd hate to not be able to PH Hank because there is no other catcher on the roster.

 

Ehhhh, not all that interested. I'd rather Lou start a lineup that isn't all RH against a LHP, leaving Cedeno on the bench as well.

 

Which still leaves Blanco as your top pinch-hitter against a LHP. But he's been pinch-hitting Blanco with only 2 catchers all season. I don't see why the Cubs would have to suddenly carry 3 catchers during the playoffs in order to pinch-hit with him.

[SouthSideRyan]

Here's an interesting question. If the Cubs only take 10 pitchers for the NLDS, would anyone consider Koyie Hill for the 25-man roster? Sad as it is, Hank Blanco is the Cubs best RH hitter off the bench, if the Cubs face LH starter. (Cubs have the potential to face Hamels/Moyer, Santana/Perez 3 times combined in a 5-game series). Maybe sadder, I'd hate to not be able to PH Hank because there is no other catcher on the roster.

 

I called it colossally stupid to do that either in this thread or maybe another, so no, I would not consider Koyie Hill. And I don't even hate Koyie Hill as much as most people. FREE JAKE FOX

Edited September 18, 2008 by SouthSideRyan

[jersey cubs fan]

Here's an interesting question. If the Cubs only take 10 pitchers for the NLDS, would anyone consider Koyie Hill for the 25-man roster? Sad as it is, Hank Blanco is the Cubs best RH hitter off the bench, if the Cubs face LH starter. (Cubs have the potential to face Hamels/Moyer, Santana/Perez 3 times combined in a 5-game series). Maybe sadder, I'd hate to not be able to PH Hank because there is no other catcher on the roster.

 

Ehhhh, not all that interested. I'd rather Lou start a lineup that isn't all RH against a LHP, leaving Cedeno on the bench as well.

 

Which still leaves Blanco as your top pinch-hitter against a LHP. But he's been pinch-hitting Blanco with only 2 catchers all season. I don't see why the Cubs would have to suddenly carry 3 catchers during the playoffs in order to pinch-hit with him.

 

I didn't mean to imply that Cedeno was the better RH bat off the bench.

[twothousandfive]

Marquis deserves a playoff spot no matter what happens tonight.

 

I'd say no one deserves a spot unless their role can be defined and justified. Marquis can't start in the post-season -- with the days off, there is no reason for it. But he can be a help in an extra inning game, or if a starter struggles and has to be pulled before the end to the fourth. I think he's on because he has a role.

 

Aside from the platoon players, who is the RH PH against a lefty? I still don't think they have a good option against Jon Lester at Fenway in the WS. Is Ronnie Cedeno or Hanry Blanco your DH for that game?

[Andy]

Marquis deserves a playoff spot no matter what happens tonight.

 

I'd say no one deserves a spot unless their role can be defined and justified. Marquis can't start in the post-season -- with the days off, there is no reason for it. But he can be a help in an extra inning game, or if a starter struggles and has to be pulled before the end to the fourth. I think he's on because he has a role.

 

Aside from the platoon players, who is the RH PH against a lefty? I still don't think they have a good option against Jon Lester at Fenway in the WS. Is Ronnie Cedeno or Hanry Blanco your DH for that game?

Look at Ronny's splits. Just because Lou is always putting Cedeno in against righties doesn't make it smart, or even neutral. Ronny sucks against lefties.

 

Blanco would be the DH in that spot.

[killthegoat06]

How long before game 1 does the official playoff roster get announced?

[SaorsaDaonnan]

predictions:

 

Marquis: in. every playoff team wants a long reliever as insurance against the possibility that a starter goes down to injury, ineffectiveness, or a high pitch count, or in case the game goes into extras. in our case, there is an even greater need because of the higher-than-normal probability that a starter (Harden) goes down early and disastrously. bullpen exhaustion can sometimes be overcome, especially in a five game series, but with Z's recent soreness the Cubs will want to avoid putting themselves in a situation where Z has to throw 120-130 pitches twice in a week. in a seven game series a long reliever is indispensable because the fourth starter will be needed as a starter...but a long reliever who hasn't pitched in a week and a half is dangerous, so even if the club were inclined to think they didn't need Jason for the NLDS, they'd probably roster him for it just to keep him tuned up for the NLCS and WS.

 

Marshall: in. no way the Cubs will be comfortable with only one lefty in the bullpen. Cotts' youth and indistinguished history will only underline the need for alternatives. Lilly will be a quasi-bullpen pitcher in the NLDS, but he'll be needed as a starter in the NLCS and WS if the Cubs advance out of the first round, and the Cubs will want to keep NLCS/WS bullpen pitchers fresh by getting them some pt in the NLDS. also, having both Marquis and Marshall gives the Cubs an extra innings capability even if one of them is needed to rescue a disaster start. finally, in the absence of a disaster starter, Marquis' presence allows Lou to use two loogies per game if he so desires.

 

 

Edmonds: in. Jimmy Ballgame has been the club's most productive center fielder this season by a wide margin, is a veteran presence and a former gold glove winner, and was the starting CF for a team that won the World Series two years ago. no way the brass talk themselves into taking a pass on that. the credentials are strong enough that they'd put him out there even if we had superior young talent...which we do not.

 

 

Fukudome: probably in. it's hard to see the Cubs embarrassing a player they just signed to a large multiyear deal, especially when the alternatives aren't exactly Pujolsesque. given the choice between DeRosa RF/Fontenot 2B and Fukudome RF/DeRosa 2B (I assume the Cubs like these more than DeRosa RF/ Cedeno 2B because of righty-lefty balance), the Fukudome option has both better defense and more veteran experience, two things the Cubs will value, especially in close & late playoff situations.

 

 

Howry: probably in. veteran presence is an attractive thing for most baseball officials, and playoff experience doubly so. the club has been a little down on Wuertz for two years now, and Guzman has very limited experience and mixed major league success, and the Cubs have proven a willingness to go with 11-man playoff pitching staffs in the past, so they probably believe that there is room for both Howry and Samardzija.

 

 

Samardzija: would be in if the roster were to be written today, but could go either way. impressed with August performance but could lose his spot to Gaudin or even Hoffpauir. Cubs are probably excited but nervous about the idea of handing a playoff spot to a player they think is very promising but very raw. fate could be determined by control or dramatic incidents more than rate of hits given up or net baserunners per inning.

 

 

Hoffpauir: probably out. has the organization's attention, and might even become primary backup 1B and 1st PH next year, but they still seem to favor Ward for PH duties. Ward's stock has declined throughout the year, though, and a hot streak by Hoffpauir could potentially cause him to pass Ward on the organization's depth chart. (very) long shot that he could beat out Samardzija/Howry if either pitches abysimally from here on out (& if Gaudin doesn't make it back).

 

Ward: probably in. (see Hoffpauir)

 

Guzman: probably out. Lou consistently goes to Howry and Samardzija and Howry over Guzman.

 

 

Gaudin: could replace Samardzija if healthy, or Howry if Samardzija overwhelmingly outpitches him.

 

 

Wuertz; no chance. seems to be behind Howry, Samardzija, Gaudin, and Guzman, as well as Marshall and Hoffpauir.

 

 

Pie: probably in. pinch running skills and good late-game defense will be attractive to Lou, Hendry et al.

[AlwaysaCub]

in the 5 game LDS, any more than 10 pitchers is just lunacy

 

 

Please justify this statement. The more I think about it, the more I believe that having LESS than 11 pitchers is lunacy. You do realize that there are 2 sets or back to back games during the LDS, right?

 

Why do we need at least a 7 man pen? Yes, there are two sets of back to back games, but how is this any different from playing TWENTY games in a row during the season? I see much, much more use for Hoffpauer than some like Wuertz or Gaudin.

[chuckywang]

Does Randy Wells get a start down the stretch just to see if what he's doing is a fluke or not?

[bukie]

Here's what I think the playoff roster will be:

 

Starting Pitchers (4): Zambrano, Dempster, Harden, Lilly

Relief Pitchers (7): Wood, Marmol, Howry, Cotts, Marshall, Samardzija, Gaudin (if healthy)/Marquis/Wuertz

Starting position players (8): Soto, Lee, DeRosa, Ramirez, Theriot, Soriano, Edmonds, Fukudome

Bench position players (6): Johnson, Fontenot, Cedeno, Blanco, Ward, Pie

[mikeyt34]

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.

[Rob]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but can't teams change their 25 man rosters from series to series?

 

Correct.

 

To add to this, we can actually change the roster during the middle of a playoff series. The catch is that it is designed for DL moves, so any player we replace during the middle of the series is ineligible for the rest of the postseason. It's not a rule that is likely to receive any significant use, but it can come into play occasionally. I want to say the Mets had to invoke that rule with El Duque two years ago.

[27up27down]

It's looking like setting up the playoff rotation will be pretty simple. If the normal rotation continued, Dempster, Marquis, and Harden would pitch the last three games of the season. With two off-days between the regular season and the NLDS, you push Harden back to game 2 and then Dempster goes game 3. Then it's Zambrano on 6 days rest, Harden on 8 days, and Demp on 7 days. Perfect.

[Illini Iceman]

It's looking like setting up the playoff rotation will be pretty simple. If the normal rotation continued, Dempster, Marquis, and Harden would pitch the last three games of the season. With two off-days between the regular season and the NLDS, you push Harden back to game 2 and then Dempster goes game 3. Then it's Zambrano on 6 days rest, Harden on 8 days, and Demp on 7 days. Perfect.

 

No way they let Harden pitch on normal rest next week against the Mets. They will almost certainly push him back at least a day or two.

 

My preference is that they let Marshall make Z's next start and Wells make Harden's next start and push each of those guys back. They would still be ready to pitch in any rotation order for the playoffs but it would give them an extra rest.

 

Dempster vs Cards

Marquis @ Mets

Wells @ Mets

Marshall @ Mets

Harden @ Mets

Zambrano @ Brewers

Lilly @ Brewers

Marquis @ Brewers