Cubs Fifth Starter Discussion

[soapy]

Samardzija has apparently been penciled in the the sixth spot:

 

AP[/url]"]Cubs manager Lou Piniella placed former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija sixth overall right now on the depth chart for the pitching rotation.

 

Sean Marshall is a the top contender for the fifth spot in a starting staff featuring Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Rich Harden.

 

Samardzija could move up, he could stay in the Cubs' bullpen where he pitched well last season or the Cubs could op to send him to the minors to get in work as a potential member of the rotation.

 

Strange that there's no mention of Heilman. It is an AP story though so they may be mistaken. Maybe Bruce can weigh in.

[biittner77]

using someone with Marshall's endurance as a LOOGY is would be really dumb

 

I'm wondering, is this sarcasm? I'm not sure I've ever heard the words endurance and Marshall in the same sentence. His lack of endurance is the main issue that may keep him out of the rotation.

 

Using someone with Marshall's talent as a loogy would be really stupid. If that's what you meant then I agree. Though even if he doesn't win the 5th spot out of ST I'd bet Marshall starts 10-15 games for the Cubs over the course of the season.

[Cubswin11]

Samardzija has apparently been penciled in the the sixth spot:

 

AP[/url]"]Cubs manager Lou Piniella placed former Notre Dame football star Jeff Samardzija sixth overall right now on the depth chart for the pitching rotation.

 

Sean Marshall is a the top contender for the fifth spot in a starting staff featuring Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Ted Lilly and Rich Harden.

 

Samardzija could move up, he could stay in the Cubs' bullpen where he pitched well last season or the Cubs could op to send him to the minors to get in work as a potential member of the rotation.

 

Strange that there's no mention of Heilman. It is an AP story though so they may be mistaken. Maybe Bruce can weigh in.

Heilman seems to be Hendry's boy. Maybe Piniella just doesn't like him, we know how stubborn he can be and if players rub him the wrong way they aren't going to play. I would guess that Piniella might even rank 1 of Guzman or Gaudin in front of Heilman.

[17 Seconds]

using someone with Marshall's endurance as a LOOGY is would be really dumb

 

I'm wondering, is this sarcasm? I'm not sure I've ever heard the words endurance and Marshall in the same sentence. His lack of endurance is the main issue that may keep him out of the rotation.

 

Using someone with Marshall's talent as a loogy would be really stupid. If that's what you meant then I agree. Though even if he doesn't win the 5th spot out of ST I'd bet Marshall starts 10-15 games for the Cubs over the course of the season.

 

Je never said he had the endurance to be in the rotation for a full season. He said he has too much enurance to be wasted as a one out guy, which is true. If he can pitch like 100+ innings between the bullpen and rotation like he did in 2007, that's much better than being wasted for one out.

 

He might not have enough enough endurance to be a starter for a full season, but he still has more endruance than an average reliever, and especially a loogy.

[TruffleShuffle]

fangraphs weighs in: part 1 and part 2

[biittner77]

fangraphs weighs in: part 1 and part 2

 

condensed version: they don't like Old Style's chances.