Can Silva Turn Things Around and Be Useful?

[A New Era]

Has his spring performance swayed anyone else?

 

No.

 

No, because I was already in the camp of "well let's just see what we can get out of this guy", with a bit of optimism. So I was already willing to give him a chance. And that's not changed. I will want him to continue pitching as long as he is doing well for a 4th/5th starter.

[Sammy Sofa]

I hope he can carry it over to the regular season, though I doubt he'll be able to. He's simply too hittable. And I'm rooting for Gorzelanny to show what it takes to stay a starter after Lilly comes back.

[dew1679666265]

I hope he can carry it over to the regular season, though I doubt he'll be able to. He's simply too hittable. And I'm rooting for Gorzelanny to show what it takes to stay a starter after Lilly comes back.

 

Didn't Rothschild say he found a flaw in Silva's delivery that he fixed? If so, I'll be interested to see the effect that has, but I'm not taking much from the actual spring results.

[CubColtPacer]

I do think Silva's results in ST might be more indicative than most. If he's not locating pitches well, his stuff is not good enough that even minor leaguers could tee off of him. So the fact that he's pitched well a few outings in a row suggests that he is locating his pitches (and the video highlights of his last outing or two seem to confirm that as most of the pitches are in very pitcher friendly parts of the zone).

 

The thing that needs to be waited upon is the walks. Silva has had the excellent control he needs so far this spring that is needed from him to be successful with how hittable he is. Are teams being too aggressive against him because it is Spring Training and hitting his pitches? Can he continue to throw pitcher's strikes if they let a few of them go by and can he keep the walk rate that far down if they are more patient? That's what I'm going to be looking for.

 

I think Spring Training has been an encouraging sign that he's back to where he was in Minnesota, but the possibilities are still wide open with what he'll do in the regular season.

[Peoriaman]

Yeah, I know some are unhappy he is doing well, but not me. He s a Cub and I am happy he is having early success.

[Backtobanks]

My thought on Silva is enjoy it while it lasts. Anything positive from him is a plus.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, I know some are unhappy he is doing well

 

You never let us down.

 

Nobody is unhappy if he's actually pitching well.

[Backtobanks]

Yeah, I know some are unhappy he is doing well, but not me. He s a Cub and I am happy he is having early success.

 

 

 

 

 

If Silva pitches well, he either becomes trade bait at the deadline or gives us the opportunity to trade some young pitching at the deadline. If you're a Cub fan, nothing bad can come from Silva pitching good.

[Peoriaman]

Yeah, I know some are unhappy he is doing well, but not me. He s a Cub and I am happy he is having early success.

 

 

 

 

 

If Silva pitches well, he either becomes trade bait at the deadline or gives us the opportunity to trade some young pitching at the deadline. If you're a Cub fan, nothing bad can come from Silva pitching good.

 

 

hear, hear.

[CubsWin]

And I'm rooting for Gorzelanny to show what it takes to stay a starter after Lilly comes back.

Yeah, me too. His peripherals are preferable. Say that ten times fast!

 

The stat that worries me the most about Silva, though, is groundout-to-airout ratio. If it's accurate, it's been terrible this spring, especially for a sinkerballer. But otherwise, I have definitely gone from someone who thought he would be a wasted roster space (which was largely how he was described on this site when Hendry traded for him) to thinking that he can actually be a contributor to the team. And it sounds as if, save for BBB, there are some others who have made that transition with me.

 

Now it's wait and see time.

[Guest]

And I'm rooting for Gorzelanny to show what it takes to stay a starter after Lilly comes back.

Yeah, me too. His peripherals are preferable. Say that ten times fast!

 

The stat that worries me the most about Silva, though, is groundout-to-airout ratio. If it's accurate, it's been terrible this spring, especially for a sinkerballer. But otherwise, I have definitely gone from someone who thought he would be a wasted roster space (which was largely how he was described on this site when Hendry traded for him) to thinking that he can actually be a contributor to the team. And it sounds as if, save for BBB, there are some others who have made that transition with me.

 

Now it's wait and see time.

 

Just as long as you go into it with the utmost caution, I don't see a problem with hoping there is a transition. However, there just isn't much to like and I refuse to climb on board no matter how much crow might be served up if I'm wrong. I'm just not much of a fan of any pitcher who isn't very good at missing bats. Unless you have an overpowering sinker ball that induces ground balls with ridiculous regularity, pitchers who aren't prone to striking out hitters fall way down on my list of guys I can reasonably hope will be successful at the major league level.

 

For a guy who has the frame to be a 95+ MPH mow 'em down type of dominant pitcher, all you get is Jason Marquis type stuff that doesn't excite anyone. You can hide guys like that in pitcher's parks like Washington, San Diego or Seattle, but sometimes not as his numbers in Seattle were horrific. The one thing I can take from his career stats is that it does appear as though he can get the opposing pitcher out via the strike out, as his K numbers in the NL were better than his AL numbers. He's basically Jose Lima and living on a career that was based on one or maybe two good seasons that were many moons ago.

 

When Silva faces Pujols, I'll be watching between the fingers of the hands that will be covering my eyes, worried that the ball Pujols gets ahold of comes flying right through my tv screen.

 

As well as Silva has done so far this spring, it makes me jokingly wonder if opposing teams purposely helped make him look good so that they could help him earn a rotation job, which would give them an opportunity to tee off on him when the games actually count.

 

Never being much of a fan of Gorzellany, I'm really pulling for him to dominate. And I'm absolutely pulling for Lilly to avoid any setbacks so that he can get back sooner rather than later. Why Gorzellany and not Silva? Silva is the kind of guy you love to hate. You wanted nothing to do with him from the moment the rumors surfaced that Seattle would be willing to part with the glorious Carlos Silva in order to take Milton Bradley off the Cubs hands. Filter back through the Milton Bradley trade threads, and I'm sure you would find that most people would rather just cut Milton Bradley loose entirely with no return than to take back such a horrible player that might take up the roster spot of someone with actual potential. Add in that his contract doesn't even come close to matching in production, and it's a guy people would rather ridicule rather than cheer for.

 

Finally, with winds blowing in more often than they blow out early in the Spring and hopefully a bullpen that is getting the job done, management can quickly pull the plug on Silva with limited damage since there are several bullpen arms that can pitch more than an inning at a time.

 

Personally, I would have Silva in the pen and Marshall in the rotation, but Lou is one of those managers that like to reward nice Spring Trainings, so maybe it will be even more temporary than waiting for Lilly to be ready.

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah, I know some are unhappy he is doing well, but not me. He s a Cub and I am happy he is having early success.

 

Were these the same voices in your head that thought Kevin Hart was an MVP?

[Peoriaman]

Yeah, I know some are unhappy he is doing well, but not me. He s a Cub and I am happy he is having early success.

 

Were these the same voices in your head that thought Kevin Hart was an MVP?

 

 

You talking to me?

[SouthSideRyan]

Yeah, I know some are unhappy he is doing well, but not me. He s a Cub and I am happy he is having early success.

 

Were these the same voices in your head that thought Kevin Hart was an MVP?

 

 

You talking to me?

 

Yes.

[Peoriaman]

You got the wrong guy. I was fine with Hart being traded. Decent fastball and marginal major league pitcher. I was actually critical of those who thought he was better than he was. Same with Murton.

 

In fact, posters here got mad at me for posting the disappointing stats of Hart and Murton after he got traded. The samre thing happened with Choi.

 

I have no idea if Silva will be serviceable or better. I am happy he had a good spring training and think he has earned a shot. ^^shrugs^^

 

I do have a question though. Why are some fans here so pissy all the time? Why can't we discuss the Cubs without all the sarcasm and criticism of posters?

[Guest]

I do have a question though. Why are some fans here so pissy all the time? Why can't we discuss the Cubs without all the sarcasm and criticism of posters?

 

lol, you've multiple times mentioned imaginary Kevin Hart-loving NSBBers in a condescending manner the last few days.

[17 Seconds]

You got the wrong guy. I was fine with Hart being traded. Decent fastball and marginal major league pitcher. I was actually critical of those who thought he was better than he was. Same with Murton.

 

In fact, posters here got mad at me for posting the disappointing stats of Hart and Murton after he got traded. The samre thing happened with Choi.

 

I have no idea if Silva will be serviceable or better. I am happy he had a good spring training and think he has earned a shot. ^^shrugs^^

 

What did he do to earn a spot in the rotation over Marshall?

[Sammy Sofa]

I do have a question though. Why are some fans here so pissy all the time? Why can't we discuss the Cubs without all the sarcasm and criticism of posters?

 

Because you consistently make up these ridiculous scenarios that paint you as the lone voice of reason (blargh) in a sea of people going nuts over mediocre or worse players.

 

Please link us to posts where people said they're unhappy over Silva's spring or they would be unhappy if he pitches well in the regular season. The closest you'll find are people worried that a decent spring from him means he'll get more pitching appearances than he should during the regular season even if he ends up tanking, which is unfortunately not an unrealistic scenario.

[Peoriaman]

I do have a question though. Why are some fans here so pissy all the time? Why can't we discuss the Cubs without all the sarcasm and criticism of posters?

 

Because you consistently make up these ridiculous scenarios that paint you as the lone voice of reason (blargh) in a sea of people going nuts over mediocre or worse players.

 

Please link us to posts where people said they're unhappy over Silva's spring or they would be unhappy if he pitches well in the regular season. The closest you'll find are people worried that a decent spring from him means he'll get more pitching appearances than he should during the regular season even if he ends up tanking, which is unfortunately not an unrealistic scenario.

 

Silva has been the whipping boy here ever since we got him. Heck, in the Silva/Gorz are the 4th and 5th guy thread, one poster said Silva made him "throw up in his mouth" and another said "silva is garbage". He is now a Cub and I am happy he is doing well. He has earned a shot and I still don't understand why some have to be so pissy about it. ^^shrugs^^

 

By the way, please point me to one "ridiculous scenerio" I have made up let alone

'consistently". Hell, not sure I have made 10 posts in the last 6 months here. Lord, folks, just chill and enjoy the fact that a guy most thought would suck hasn't to this point. Why are some wound so freakin tight over Silva?

Edited April 4, 2010 by Peoriaman

[Peoriaman]

I do have a question though. Why are some fans here so pissy all the time? Why can't we discuss the Cubs without all the sarcasm and criticism of posters?

 

lol, you've multiple times mentioned imaginary Kevin Hart-loving NSBBers in a condescending manner the last few days.

 

"Multiple times"? Are you kidding me? One mention of how a number of posters were upset over the Hart and Murton trades at the time. They were very marginal players. As condescending as some posters here can be, I am shocked that thought even gets noticed here. People need to chill man.

Edited April 4, 2010 by Peoriaman

[Peoriaman]

You got the wrong guy. I was fine with Hart being traded. Decent fastball and marginal major league pitcher. I was actually critical of those who thought he was better than he was. Same with Murton.

 

In fact, posters here got mad at me for posting the disappointing stats of Hart and Murton after he got traded. The samre thing happened with Choi.

 

I have no idea if Silva will be serviceable or better. I am happy he had a good spring training and think he has earned a shot. ^^shrugs^^

 

What did he do to earn a spot in the rotation over Marshall?

 

I suspect that the Cubs are looking at the fact that Marshall has been more effective the last few years out of the pen rather than starting and Silva's history is more of a starter. That said, I would have had no problems with Marshall starting, I love the kid. Hell, if the Cubs thought Silva was a poor pitcher, I would have no problem with them releasing him. Those guys who get paid to make those decisions know a lot more about baseball than I do.

 

I am just happy both had a fine spring training. It is a long season---if somebody struggles, others will get the chance to step in.

 

I make no predictions that Silva will be a long-term solution, I am just happy maybe we saved 5 mil out of the Bradley trade and there is a chance Silva can be useful.

[Guest]

I do have a question though. Why are some fans here so pissy all the time? Why can't we discuss the Cubs without all the sarcasm and criticism of posters?

 

lol, you've multiple times mentioned imaginary Kevin Hart-loving NSBBers in a condescending manner the last few days.

 

"Multiple times"? Are you kidding me? One mention of how a number of posters were upset over the Hart and Murton trades at the time. They were very marginal players. As condescending as some posters here can be, I am shocked that thought even gets noticed here. People need to chill man.

 

NO ONE was upset over Kevin Hart or thought he was super, that's the point. The fact that you've mentioned these imaginary people several times in the last week in some "I can't believe these people thought that way" fashion is not only hilarious, but makes your "why can't we talk about baseball without making it about the posters" appeal hypocritical to say the least.

[Peoriaman]

I do have a question though. Why are some fans here so pissy all the time? Why can't we discuss the Cubs without all the sarcasm and criticism of posters?

 

lol, you've multiple times mentioned imaginary Kevin Hart-loving NSBBers in a condescending manner the last few days.

 

"Multiple times"? Are you kidding me? One mention of how a number of posters were upset over the Hart and Murton trades at the time. They were very marginal players. As condescending as some posters here can be, I am shocked that thought even gets noticed here. People need to chill man.

 

NO ONE was upset over Kevin Hart or thought he was super, that's the point. The fact that you've mentioned these imaginary people several times in the last week in some "I can't believe these people thought that way" fashion is not only hilarious, but makes your "why can't we talk about baseball without making it about the posters" appeal hypocritical to say the least.

 

You just want to fight don't you? Sorry, I refuse to bite.

 

I am happy Sliva is pitching well and looking forward to a good season.

[inari]

I do have a question though. Why are some fans here so pissy all the time? Why can't we discuss the Cubs without all the sarcasm and criticism of posters?

 

lol, you've multiple times mentioned imaginary Kevin Hart-loving NSBBers in a condescending manner the last few days.

 

"Multiple times"? Are you kidding me? One mention of how a number of posters were upset over the Hart and Murton trades at the time. They were very marginal players. As condescending as some posters here can be, I am shocked that thought even gets noticed here. People need to chill man.

 

NO ONE was upset over Kevin Hart or thought he was super, that's the point. The fact that you've mentioned these imaginary people several times in the last week in some "I can't believe these people thought that way" fashion is not only hilarious, but makes your "why can't we talk about baseball without making it about the posters" appeal hypocritical to say the least.

 

You just want to fight don't you? Sorry, I refuse to bite.

 

I am happy Sliva is pitching well and looking forward to a good season.

 

Are you serious? He doesn't want to fight! He's calling you out for something pretty legit. Literally no one was sad to see hart go. Some were mad we traded for Grabow at all but that's a different animal.

[Peoriaman]

Actually, several here questioned the trades of both Hart and Murton. Selective memory.

 

That said, that was a year ago and I hope we are all wishing success for Silva and Marshall. Go Cubs. As usual, I can't wait for opening day.