Can Silva Turn Things Around and Be Useful?

[Guest]

He didn't look lucky today...

 

we were playing the astros, you don't need luck

 

they scored 2 runs today and UPPED their RPG

True, but that has nothing to do with how he was looking. He kept the ball low and was making it move late. He didn't walk anybody. He pitched well. And I thought he'd be keeping the end of the bench warm down in the bullpen.

 

Even if he goes out there and gives up 10 runs in 5 innings today, it doesn't change the fact that he has had two really good starts to one bad one, and that's a ratio I think anyone would take all year long. I'll eat some crow if that happens, because I'm one of the biggest skeptics here. However, it's only been 2 starts. I'm still leaning towards Zambrano being way better than he's been so far, and Silva not being as good as he's been so far.

[imb]

He didn't look lucky today...

 

we were playing the astros, you don't need luck

 

they scored 2 runs today and UPPED their RPG

True, but that has nothing to do with how he was looking. He kept the ball low and was making it move late. He didn't walk anybody. He pitched well. And I thought he'd be keeping the end of the bench warm down in the bullpen.

 

so what? he was playing a minor league team.

[mcgoobs]

It's way too early to come to any conclusions. The only thing we can say is that he's faced the same teams as the rest of our starting staff (duh) and so far has performed the best.

 

It will be interesting to see what happens when Lilly returns to the rotation. If Silva continues to pitch well, and if Gorzelanny does as well and isn't bothered by a bruised pitching arm, who does Lou send to the pen?

[NCCubFan]

I doubt that the Cubs would be creative, but until such time as either Silva or Gorz clearly lays claim to the position I'd like to see them share the role. What I envision is one time through the rotation Silva would start and Gorz would be in long relief, and switch it the next time through.

[CubsWin]

He didn't look lucky today...

 

we were playing the astros, you don't need luck

 

they scored 2 runs today and UPPED their RPG

True, but that has nothing to do with how he was looking. He kept the ball low and was making it move late. He didn't walk anybody. He pitched well. And I thought he'd be keeping the end of the bench warm down in the bullpen.

 

so what? he was playing a minor league team.

So what? His stuff looked good. You can continue to ignore my point if you want. It doesn't make it any less valid.

[CubsWin]

He didn't look lucky today...

 

we were playing the astros, you don't need luck

 

they scored 2 runs today and UPPED their RPG

True, but that has nothing to do with how he was looking. He kept the ball low and was making it move late. He didn't walk anybody. He pitched well. And I thought he'd be keeping the end of the bench warm down in the bullpen.

 

Even if he goes out there and gives up 10 runs in 5 innings today, it doesn't change the fact that he has had two really good starts to one bad one, and that's a ratio I think anyone would take all year long. I'll eat some crow if that happens, because I'm one of the biggest skeptics here. However, it's only been 2 starts. I'm still leaning towards Zambrano being way better than he's been so far, and Silva not being as good as he's been so far.

And I'm right there with you. I draw no conclusions from his start thus far, and I'm a firm believer that things will even out as the season progresses. Alls I'm sayin' is I never saw this coming and that it's further evidence he really did have a breakthrough side session with Rothschild like he claimed he did.

[imb]

He didn't look lucky today...

 

we were playing the astros, you don't need luck

 

they scored 2 runs today and UPPED their RPG

True, but that has nothing to do with how he was looking. He kept the ball low and was making it move late. He didn't walk anybody. He pitched well. And I thought he'd be keeping the end of the bench warm down in the bullpen.

 

so what? he was playing a minor league team.

So what? His stuff looked good. You can continue to ignore my point if you want. It doesn't make it any less valid.

 

what was your point? he's good enough to pitch in AA? super.

[CubsWin]

 

we were playing the astros, you don't need luck

 

they scored 2 runs today and UPPED their RPG

True, but that has nothing to do with how he was looking. He kept the ball low and was making it move late. He didn't walk anybody. He pitched well. And I thought he'd be keeping the end of the bench warm down in the bullpen.

 

so what? he was playing a minor league team.

So what? His stuff looked good. You can continue to ignore my point if you want. It doesn't make it any less valid.

 

what was your point? he's good enough to pitch in AA? super.

My point is he could've been throwing a side session to imaginary batters but the fact still remains, Silva executed his pitches effectively. I don't know what's so hard to understand about that. Maybe you didn't watch the game, but he was getting a lot of his pitches low and over the plate with movement. He threw 91 pitches, 65 of them were strikes. He was hitting his spots with a 91-92 mph fastball with consistency. He didn't walk anybody. Very little of that has to do with the caliber of the hitters he was facing. It has to do with the pitcher's ability to execute his pitches. He looked good.

 

I don't think it means that much. It's just two games, but that's two more well pitched games than I thought he would have when the Cubs acquired him.

[imb]

he was pitching against the worst offense in baseball. he didn't have to worry about them actually making contact, because they suck. of course he was around the zone, it was a small step up from batting practice.

[imb]

is it too late to delete all my posts in here

[CubsWin]

is it too late to delete all my posts in here

Starting to come around a bit? :-)

 

Look, I agree that there is something to being more confident because you are facing a weak offense, but it doesn't impact a pitcher this much. Was Silva simply scared of every hitter he faced while in Seattle? No, he had a side session the first week in March with Larry and Greg and they found something in his stride. He corrected it and he's been improved ever since.

 

I don't know how much longer he can do this, but I'll take it while I can get it.

[Vanilla Ice]

It's not going to last.

[loukycub]

is this thread going to be the nsbb silva version of the "if zambrano starts your in trouble" thread, cause if so, silva sucks, and he's a horrible pitcher.

[17 Seconds]

glendon rusch

[Cubs Fan Dan]

glendon rusch

 

That isnt fair to Silva, Silva's pitches have pretty good backdoor movement and when he puts it in the right spot he can control an offense. Glendon Rusch sucks at pitching.

[SouthSideRyan]

glendon rusch

 

That isnt fair to Silva, Silva's pitches have pretty good backdoor movement and when he puts it in the right spot he can control an offense. Glendon Rusch sucks at pitching.

 

That's not fair to Rusch at all. Their career peripherals are actually really similar. Rusch obviously walked more, but he was also capable of actually striking guys out.

[J.R.]

He keeps getting the job done. How long do we wait to give Jimbo/Rothschild credit?

[bukie]

Sell high!

[Backtobanks]

He keeps getting the job done. How long do we wait to give Jimbo/Rothschild credit?

 

You should be banned for saying anything positive about Hendry even though the "trade" of Bradley for Silva plus Byrd has to be the most one-sided trade in decades.

[17 Seconds]

He keeps getting the job done. How long do we wait to give Jimbo/Rothschild credit?

 

You should be banned for saying anything positive about Hendry even though the "trade" of Bradley for Silva plus Byrd has to be the most one-sided trade in decades.

 

through 5 weeks

[Keener98]

He keeps getting the job done. How long do we wait to give Jimbo/Rothschild credit?

 

You should be banned for saying anything positive about Hendry even though the "trade" of Bradley for Silva plus Byrd has to be the most one-sided trade in decades.

 

Lol you are a piece of work

[17 Seconds]

He keeps getting the job done. How long do we wait to give Jimbo/Rothschild credit?

 

silva has a 1.90 WHIP over his last 3 starts

[Guest]

He keeps getting the job done. How long do we wait to give Jimbo/Rothschild credit?

 

silva has a 1.90 WHIP over his last 3 starts

 

Also...

 

2010: 7 GS, 42 1/3 IP, 3.40 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 26 K, 9 BB, 5 HR

2008: 6 GS, 42 IP, 2.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 18 K, 9 BB, 3 HR

2006: 6 GS, 35 IP, 3.34 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 11 K, 4 BB, 4 HR

 

The 2008 line is his first six starts with the Mariners and the 2006 is his last six starts of the year. He finished with a 6.46 ERA and 1.60 WHIP in 2008 and a 5.94 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 2006. He's shown to put together a run of good starts in the past, even in years where he's stunk.

 

That obviously doesn't mean that he's going to suck this year, but it's hardly early enough to start handing out credit. If he keeps this up into the middle of June, then we can talk about a turnaround.

[J.R.]

He's shown to put together a run of good starts in the past, even in years where he's stunk.

 

That obviously doesn't mean that he's going to suck this year, but it's hardly early enough to start handing out credit. If he keeps this up into the middle of June, then we can talk about a turnaround.

 

I can agree with that.

[Soul]

I'll take whatever Silva can give, for now.

 

Just have Marshall ready to step in if he reverts to his old self.