Playoff Rotation Announced

[mikeyt34]

Dempster, Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster

 

Marquis was named to the bullpen

Edited September 26, 2008 by mikeyt34

[Cynosure]

Good... Zambmbrano didn't deserve to be Game 1 starter. He also doesn't deserve to be Game 2 starter.

[Sammys Boombox]

With the way Lilly is pitching I would like to see him between Harden and Z, with Z actually pitching 4th...

 

Dempster, Harden, Lilly, Zambrano.

 

Of course I think Z would let it go to his head that he was fourth and it make him completely ineffective.

[mikeyt34]

I was a bit surprised to see Zambrano get game 2 over Harden, but I think Lou knows what is best for the team. There are different ways to look at it. Zambrano might be fired up to pitch in front of the home crowd, like he needs anymore firing up, but the home crowd may actually settle him down if the Cubs can get an early lead. If Zambrano got into trouble on the road, the crowd may get into his head a bit too much.

Harden and Lilly should be able to handle the crowd better than Z at this point, even though Z has been a road warrior throughout his carreer. Z has been WAY to emotional lately, and 50,000 fans against him may not be the best situation for him.

I'm anxious to see the rest of the roster, but I'm sure Lou is waiting to see how Hoffpauir does this weekend, as well as Gaudin.

[UMFan83]

Man, I wish Zambrano was 3rd.

 

I don't like not knowing what we will get from our starting pitcher if we lose game 1.

[rawaction]

Man, I wish Zambrano was 3rd.

 

I don't like not knowing what we will get from our starting pitcher if we lose game 1.

 

What does this mean? You don't know what you're gonna get on any given day from anybody. Secondly, if you do think Zambrano is iffy, why don't you think Harden and Lilly are iffy? Third, if you think Zambrano is iffy, then wouldn't you rather have him going in game 2 than 3? Where you're faced with a must win down 2-0, or going for the kill up 2-0, or in a pivotal tie breaking game with the series tied at 1.

[UMFan83]

Man, I wish Zambrano was 3rd.

 

I don't like not knowing what we will get from our starting pitcher if we lose game 1.

 

What does this mean? You don't know what you're gonna get on any given day from anybody. Secondly, if you do think Zambrano is iffy, why don't you think Harden and Lilly are iffy? Third, if you think Zambrano is iffy, then wouldn't you rather have him going in game 2 than 3? Where you're faced with a must win down 2-0, or going for the kill up 2-0, or in a pivotal tie breaking game with the series tied at 1.

 

Given Zambrano's last 7-8 starts, its more likely you are going to get a bad start from Z than Harden and Lilly. Harden had a bad start or two, and Lilly has had his clunkers, but neither has been nearly as erratic as Z.

 

And I'd rather him going game 3, on the road (where he pitches better) than game 2, yes. It's easier to come back from down 0-1 than 0-2, and if we're down 0-1, I don't feel as comfortable with Z pitching as someone like Lilly or Harden.

[rawaction]

Man, I wish Zambrano was 3rd.

 

I don't like not knowing what we will get from our starting pitcher if we lose game 1.

 

What does this mean? You don't know what you're gonna get on any given day from anybody. Secondly, if you do think Zambrano is iffy, why don't you think Harden and Lilly are iffy? Third, if you think Zambrano is iffy, then wouldn't you rather have him going in game 2 than 3? Where you're faced with a must win down 2-0, or going for the kill up 2-0, or in a pivotal tie breaking game with the series tied at 1.

 

Given Zambrano's last 7-8 starts, its more likely you are going to get a bad start from Z than Harden and Lilly. Harden had a bad start or two, and Lilly has had his clunkers, but neither has been nearly as erratic as Z.

 

And I'd rather him going game 3, on the road (where he pitches better) than game 2, yes. It's easier to come back from down 0-1 than 0-2, and if we're down 0-1, I don't feel as comfortable with Z pitching as someone like Lilly or Harden.

 

Harden has had control issues and hasn't looked as sharp over the same period as Zambrano has looked bad. Lilly has had issues giving up the longball. Zambrano's bad outings recently have come when he was clearly not 100% and/or games that were meaningless. He dominated the playoff game last year, while Lilly crapped the bed.

 

I'm not really saying I disagree with you, but I don't think Zambrano has any more worries than Harden or Lilly.

[killthegoat06]

Dempster, Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster

 

Marquis was named to the bullpen

Howry also named to bullpen.

[Illini Iceman]

Man, I wish Zambrano was 3rd.

 

I don't like not knowing what we will get from our starting pitcher if we lose game 1.

 

What does this mean? You don't know what you're gonna get on any given day from anybody. Secondly, if you do think Zambrano is iffy, why don't you think Harden and Lilly are iffy? Third, if you think Zambrano is iffy, then wouldn't you rather have him going in game 2 than 3? Where you're faced with a must win down 2-0, or going for the kill up 2-0, or in a pivotal tie breaking game with the series tied at 1.

 

Given Zambrano's last 7-8 starts, its more likely you are going to get a bad start from Z than Harden and Lilly. Harden had a bad start or two, and Lilly has had his clunkers, but neither has been nearly as erratic as Z.

 

And I'd rather him going game 3, on the road (where he pitches better) than game 2, yes. It's easier to come back from down 0-1 than 0-2, and if we're down 0-1, I don't feel as comfortable with Z pitching as someone like Lilly or Harden.

 

Harden has had control issues and hasn't looked as sharp over the same period as Zambrano has looked bad. Lilly has had issues giving up the longball. Zambrano's bad outings recently have come when he was clearly not 100% and/or games that were meaningless. He dominated the playoff game last year, while Lilly crapped the bed.

 

I'm not really saying I disagree with you, but I don't think Zambrano has any more worries than Harden or Lilly.

 

Another thing to consider is that Harden has been quoted as preferring to pitch at night. Since the first two games are almost definitely going to be day games based on the schedule I have seen then Lou may be trying to also get Harden a night game start by sending him in game 3. Don't know if his splits actually support that he pitches better at night.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

If we are going 4-man, it doesn't matter who is 2 and who is 3, you are getting one guaranteed start each.

 

I don't mind giving Zambrano the start at Wrigley between the two.

[Guest]

I would like to see less Lilly versus the brewers and more versus the mets.

[17 Seconds]

I have more confidence in Harden, but I like Zambrano starting at home. It seems like he gets rattled much easier on the road.

[B]

Dempster, Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster

 

Marquis was named to the bullpen

Howry also named to bullpen.

Howry

[killthegoat06]

Dempster, Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster

 

Marquis was named to the bullpen

Howry also named to bullpen.

Howry

now that we know howry and marquis are in the playoffs, it seems as though one of gaudin, samardjia, cotts, and marshall will miss the playoffs. Who do you guys think isn't on the roster? Source: cubs.com article that announces playoff rotation

[Illini Iceman]

Dempster, Zambrano, Harden, Lilly, Dempster

 

Marquis was named to the bullpen

Howry also named to bullpen.

Howry

now that we know howry and marquis are in the playoffs, it seems as though one of gaudin, samardjia, cotts, and marshall will miss the playoffs. Who do you guys think isn't on the roster? Source: cubs.com article that announces playoff rotation

 

Gaudin is out. No way Lou trusts him in any key situation the way he has pitched since coming back from the DL. IMO - they will send him out to AZ to pitch during the NLDS and consider activating him for the NLCS if someone else struggles.

[Sagebrush923]

Howry was NOT exactly named to the roster. The quote I read at Tribune.com is Lou said he "had" a talk with Howry and told him "we need you to pitch well". Was that talk before this current audition period? Has Howry pitched well? It is open to interpretation whether Lou was warning Howry to shape up or encouraging him to step up in the playoffs. I think Howry has not made it yet.

[killthegoat06]

Howry was NOT exactly named to the roster. The quote I read at Tribune.com is Lou said he "had" a talk with Howry and told him "we need you to pitch well". Was that talk before this current audition period? Has Howry pitched well? It is open to interpretation whether Lou was warning Howry to shape up or encouraging him to step up in the playoffs. I think Howry has not made it yet.

Look on cubs.com. It says howry for sure is playing october baseball.

[Illini Iceman]

Howry was NOT exactly named to the roster. The quote I read at Tribune.com is Lou said he "had" a talk with Howry and told him "we need you to pitch well". Was that talk before this current audition period? Has Howry pitched well? It is open to interpretation whether Lou was warning Howry to shape up or encouraging him to step up in the playoffs. I think Howry has not made it yet.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080926&content_id=3554007&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Jason Marquis, who is 11-9 with a 4.43 ERA in 28 starts, will be in the bullpen for the postseason. The Cubs will carry 11 pitchers.

 

"We're probably still playing around with one spot [in the bullpen]," Piniella said. "That's it."

 

One reliever who has secured a spot is Bob Howry, who is 7-4 with a 5.17 ERA in 71 appearances this season.

[Sagebrush923]

Here's the Cubs.com text:

 

MILWAUKEE -- The Cubs may not know who they're playing in the National League Division Series, but they have set their rotation.

 

Ryan Dempster, a 17-game winner who made his final regular-season start Friday against Milwaukee, will start Game 1 of the best-of-five series, which opens on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. He'll be followed by Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.91 ERA), Rich Harden (5-1, 1.77 ERA) and Ted Lilly (16-9, 4.17 ERA).

 

"I said before I announced any pitcher that I had confidence in all four of my starters," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Friday after meeting with the starters. "All games are equally important, and we chose to go this way."

 

Piniella said the order would most likely not change depending on who the Cubs face in the first round of postseason play. Asked if a pitcher's home and road records helped him make the decision, Piniella paused.

 

"Let's not get too technical," he said. "It's those four. Everybody's got to do their job now."

 

Jason Marquis, who is 11-9 with a 4.43 ERA in 28 starts, will be in the bullpen for the postseason. The Cubs will carry 11 pitchers.

 

"We're probably still playing around with one spot [in the bullpen]," Piniella said. "That's it."

 

One reliever who has secured a spot is Bob Howry, who is 7-4 with a 5.17 ERA in 71 appearances this season.

 

"I need Bob to pitch well," Piniella said. "I had a nice little meeting and told him we need him to get nice and sharp and pitch well for us."

 

Zambrano most likely will not pitch in the final regular-season games at Miller Park, site of the right-hander's no-hitter on Sept. 14.

 

"He competes," Piniella said. "Sometimes it detracts away from his abilities. Hopefully, in the postseason, he'll pitch very well for us. We need him to pitch well."

 

The Cubs have yet to determine the final position players who will be on the playoff roster. Micah Hoffpauir, who went 5-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs on Thursday against the New York Mets, was in the starting lineup on Friday.

 

"Let me see who our opponent is going to be," Piniella said. "Let me see how they're constituted and how we match up. We'll wait a little bit on that. I think that will clarify as this weekend goes by."

 

The Cubs could open the NLDS against the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies or Los Angeles Dodgers. Does Piniella have a preference?

 

"No preference," he said. "Regardless of whoever gets in, for us to get done what we want to accomplish, we'll have to beat them the first or second round. We have to be ready to play."

 

The part about Howry securing a spot is not quoted. That is the writer's assumption IMO.

[Illini Iceman]

Here's the Cubs.com text:

 

MILWAUKEE -- The Cubs may not know who they're playing in the National League Division Series, but they have set their rotation.

 

Ryan Dempster, a 17-game winner who made his final regular-season start Friday against Milwaukee, will start Game 1 of the best-of-five series, which opens on Wednesday at Wrigley Field. He'll be followed by Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.91 ERA), Rich Harden (5-1, 1.77 ERA) and Ted Lilly (16-9, 4.17 ERA).

 

"I said before I announced any pitcher that I had confidence in all four of my starters," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Friday after meeting with the starters. "All games are equally important, and we chose to go this way."

 

Piniella said the order would most likely not change depending on who the Cubs face in the first round of postseason play. Asked if a pitcher's home and road records helped him make the decision, Piniella paused.

 

"Let's not get too technical," he said. "It's those four. Everybody's got to do their job now."

 

Jason Marquis, who is 11-9 with a 4.43 ERA in 28 starts, will be in the bullpen for the postseason. The Cubs will carry 11 pitchers.

 

"We're probably still playing around with one spot [in the bullpen]," Piniella said. "That's it."

 

One reliever who has secured a spot is Bob Howry, who is 7-4 with a 5.17 ERA in 71 appearances this season.

 

"I need Bob to pitch well," Piniella said. "I had a nice little meeting and told him we need him to get nice and sharp and pitch well for us."

 

Zambrano most likely will not pitch in the final regular-season games at Miller Park, site of the right-hander's no-hitter on Sept. 14.

 

"He competes," Piniella said. "Sometimes it detracts away from his abilities. Hopefully, in the postseason, he'll pitch very well for us. We need him to pitch well."

 

The Cubs have yet to determine the final position players who will be on the playoff roster. Micah Hoffpauir, who went 5-for-5 with two home runs and five RBIs on Thursday against the New York Mets, was in the starting lineup on Friday.

 

"Let me see who our opponent is going to be," Piniella said. "Let me see how they're constituted and how we match up. We'll wait a little bit on that. I think that will clarify as this weekend goes by."

 

The Cubs could open the NLDS against the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies or Los Angeles Dodgers. Does Piniella have a preference?

 

"No preference," he said. "Regardless of whoever gets in, for us to get done what we want to accomplish, we'll have to beat them the first or second round. We have to be ready to play."

 

The part about Howry securing a spot is not quoted. That is the writer's assumption IMO.

 

Whatever makes you feel better.

[killthegoat06]

 

Gaudin is out. No way Lou trusts him in any key situation the way he has pitched since coming back from the DL. IMO - they will send him out to AZ to pitch during the NLDS and consider activating him for the NLCS if someone else struggles.

Yeah, Gaudin sucks.

[Jon]

I can't imagine that Piniella would add Gaudin to the NLCS roster after being left off the NLDS roster, which is a shame. The dropoff from Gaudin in the 7th to Howry is pretty darn big.

[Brian]

doesn't Z own Dodger stadium? If so game 3 really would have been ideal.

[cubsfan26]

I can't imagine that Piniella would add Gaudin to the NLCS roster after being left off the NLDS roster, which is a shame. The dropoff from Gaudin in the 7th to Howry is pretty darn big.

 

 

Gaudin just doesn't look like the same pitcher since returning this week. There's no way Piniella will add him to the roster after the way he pitched. Which IMO is a blow to our bullpen, because when this team was playing some of it's best baseball in late July through August, having Gaudin, a good Samardzija with Marmol and Wood made our bullpen pretty strong. Now if our starters only go 5-6 innings in the playoffs were gonna have to hope Samardzija, Marshall or Cotts can pitch the 6th and 7th innings. We will probably have to bring in Marmol for more then a inning as well.