Opening Day rotation

[toonsterwu]

As a side note, the near lock comment came from Paul Sullivan's twitter feed.

 

If that's the case, it's awfully hard for me to imagine Volstad not making it, based off the strong spring he's had so far. Granted, Wells has been good as well, so it's a tough call, but Volstad would seem to carry high importance than Wells, which should garner him the nod.

 

I do wonder if any team would come calling about Wells. Doubt it, because there's simply too many spare parts that could be shopped (pitching wise) that it's hard to see us getting enough value for Wells to justify a move now.

[Guest]

I think it's pretty clear at this point how things will end up shaking out.

 

- Dempster, Garza & Maholm are guaranteed spots in the rotation due to a combination of skill, contract, hopes for trade value and veteranness in varying combinations.

 

- Shark is probably the highest upside guy left and they're going to give him every shot to make it as a starter

 

- Wells is likely perceived as having the most limited upside and the most value as a long-man in the pen

 

- Volstad is clearly winning the battle over Wood for the last spot in the opening day rotation

 

- The team will use Wood's last option (may not be available next year if they don't use it now, anyway) and send him to Iowa as depth in the rotation for injuries / performance / trades clearing a spot. Fully expect him to be in the rotation by July 15th

 

Honestly, unless we get a solid offer for Dempster and he's willing to waive his 10/5 rights this early in the season, I'm okay with things shaking out this way. I just hope that Shark & Volstad hit their ceilings.

[davell]

Shark and Volstad both have 2/3 starter potential. We need one of them to show it. If one does, the FO job just got a bit easier if we have another really solid SP, other than Garza. Our staff could quickly become a major strength, going forward.

[Rob]

Shark and Volstad both have 2/3 starter potential. We need one of them to show it. If one does, the FO job just got a bit easier if we have another really solid SP, other than Garza. Our staff could quickly become a major strength, going forward.

 

I really don't see Volstad as having 2 potential. He's never even cracked 7 K/9. A groundballing innings eater 3? Maybe. But to be a 2 requires occasional dominance.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I hold out hope that Wood will either pitch better in the last few meaningless games, or management will ignore spring training and give him the last spot over Volstad (or make a trade and get them both in there).

 

But if that is how it shakes out, my excitement at Samardzija's development into a starter outweighs my Wood disappointment.

[Guest]

Shark and Volstad both have 2/3 starter potential. We need one of them to show it. If one does, the FO job just got a bit easier if we have another really solid SP, other than Garza. Our staff could quickly become a major strength, going forward.

 

I really don't see Volstad as having 2 potential. He's never even cracked 7 K/9. A groundballing innings eater 3? Maybe. But to be a 2 requires occasional dominance.

He's always been seen as having good enough stuff to get more K's, though.

[davell]

Wood will get his shot. I hope we stretch him out in AAA personally. I don't care if we use Wells as a long guy or just trade him. Wood can be our 6th starter, 7th can be Lopez or whoever. Give Rusin or Jackson a shot. Glad to see Volstad have another solid outing today. It's cool to have options.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Looking at that rotation, I marvel at how cheap, solid and young it is, with long-term upside. I think it should reasonably project as an above-average rotation for 2012.

 

Which gives me two thoughts:

 

1) Epstein and Hoyer and etc. are very, very good at accomplishing what they put their mind to.

 

2) It's infuriating that they decided to give up on 2012, because with some offense this could easily be a playoff team.

[davell]

While true, I love the fact everyone has raved about Rizzo. Instead of Prince, we're going to have a very solid run producer very cheap, with money to spend on bigtime acquisitions elsewhere. With Brett looking great too, we've got lots to look forward to already, come June or so. But yes, the early returns show our front office is pretty damn good.

[toonsterwu]

Shark and Volstad both have 2/3 starter potential. We need one of them to show it. If one does, the FO job just got a bit easier if we have another really solid SP, other than Garza. Our staff could quickly become a major strength, going forward.

 

I really don't see Volstad as having 2 potential. He's never even cracked 7 K/9. A groundballing innings eater 3? Maybe. But to be a 2 requires occasional dominance.

He's always been seen as having good enough stuff to get more K's, though.

 

Much as I like Volstad and prefer him to get the rotation nod over Wood (both guys are fairly close in talent level, Volstad probably with a tick higher ceiling, but he's simply doing better right now, and when the talent is close, that should get the edge out of spring), it should be noted that it was always HOPED that his stuff would be good enough to get more K's. For several years in the minors, the hope was that his fastball would add velocity to it as he physically matured. It never really did. He added the slider a couple years back because the curve-ball never got sharp enough or consistent enough (and same went for the change-up - both were solid but never really plus offerings that would rack up the K's). I think the hope for more K's now lies with perhaps an improved slider, as IIRC, he only added it 2-3 years ago.

 

Realistically, I think Volstad is more of a 3-4 innings-eating starter who, if he has a great year, a little luck, and isn't on a strong rotation, could be a passable 2nd starter. Say, Chien-Ming Wang's best years with the Yankees. He's a bigger, slightly better version of Randy Wells, with more potential.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Looking at that rotation, I marvel at how cheap, solid and young it is, with long-term upside. I think it should reasonably project as an above-average rotation for 2012.

 

Which gives me two thoughts:

 

1) Epstein and Hoyer and etc. are very, very good at accomplishing what they put their mind to.

 

2) It's infuriating that they decided to give up on 2012, because with some offense this could easily be a playoff team.

 

It all depends on the question marks: Soriano, Soto, Stewart, DeJesus, LaHair, Volstad, Samardjzia, Maholm, Wood, Marmol. If we can get some real production out of enough of these guys, we should be able to stay close enough to the rest of the division that if the right upgrade is available, we can end up surprising a lot of people. The Brewers and Cardinals have both taken big steps back, and The Reds might be a bit better but they don't exactly frighten me.

[Irrelevant Dude]

Looking at that rotation, I marvel at how cheap, solid and young it is, with long-term upside. I think it should reasonably project as an above-average rotation for 2012.

 

Which gives me two thoughts:

 

1) Epstein and Hoyer and etc. are very, very good at accomplishing what they put their mind to.

 

2) It's infuriating that they decided to give up on 2012, because with some offense this could easily be a playoff team.

I think it is a stretch to call the Cubs' rotation anything better than average at this point. Combine that with a below average bullpen, and this team needs more than just a little offense to make the playoffs. I fail to see how anyone could consider anything Epstein/Hoyer have done so far to be "infuriating."

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I think it's pretty clear at this point how things will end up shaking out.

 

- Dempster, Garza & Maholm are guaranteed spots in the rotation due to a combination of skill, contract, hopes for trade value and veteranness in varying combinations.

 

- Shark is probably the highest upside guy left and they're going to give him every shot to make it as a starter

 

- Wells is likely perceived as having the most limited upside and the most value as a long-man in the pen

 

- Volstad is clearly winning the battle over Wood for the last spot in the opening day rotation

 

- The team will use Wood's last option (may not be available next year if they don't use it now, anyway) and send him to Iowa as depth in the rotation for injuries / performance / trades clearing a spot. Fully expect him to be in the rotation by July 15th

 

Honestly, unless we get a solid offer for Dempster and he's willing to waive his 10/5 rights this early in the season, I'm okay with things shaking out this way. I just hope that Shark & Volstad hit their ceilings.

 

Agreed completely with this...especially the part about Dempster. There's got to be SOME contender who needs a 4th starter who can give some innings and pick up a decent amount of K's, has experience in the bullpen closing games (come playoff time), and even has playoff/WS experience.

 

Really, really interested to see what's up with Volstad this year. Liked his arm even going into whatever year it was he was drafted in the first out of HS. He's become more of a sinker/slider guy since he's been in the pros, but I like that he uses and even spots his changeup well and his slider is fine considering his main breaking ball was a 12/6 curveball. He's got some upside left, though I think he's more of a 3/4 type...Kind of like Dempster actually, though without Dempster's formerly wipeout slider (balanced out by better mechanics, control, and command).

[Guest]

Looking at that rotation, I marvel at how cheap, solid and young it is, with long-term upside.

Really?

[toonsterwu]

Looking at that rotation, I marvel at how cheap, solid and young it is, with long-term upside.

Really?

 

I could be wrong, but I think KyleJRM was the one that was really heads over heels for Travis Wood. I remember having some discussions with someone here about Wood, and I think it was Kyle. Could be wrong, though.

 

There's really only one young-ish guy with upside, and that's Samardzija, and he's in his prime years (27). Garza is dead smack at the start of his prime years, and Volstad is close enough to it, but again, much as I like him, more of a 3/4 that could pass as a 2/3 depending on the situation, IMO.

[SouthSideRyan]

Looking at that rotation, I marvel at how cheap, solid and young it is, with long-term upside.

Really?

 

I could be wrong, but I think KyleJRM was the one that was really heads over heels for Travis Wood. I remember having some discussions with someone here about Wood, and I think it was Kyle. Could be wrong, though.

 

To be fair, CubinNY hates everything about everyone on the team.

[Guest]

Looking at that rotation, I marvel at how cheap, solid and young it is, with long-term upside.

Really?

 

I could be wrong, but I think KyleJRM was the one that was really heads over heels for Travis Wood. I remember having some discussions with someone here about Wood, and I think it was Kyle. Could be wrong, though.

 

To be fair, CubinNY hates everything about everyone on the team.

I like Castro and I think Barney is better than most people here give him credit for. I like LaHair as a stop gap, but yes, there's not a whole lot to like in the near term.

[seanimal]

oh [expletive] a

[javy knows my name]

Yeah, other than LaHair, this team really blows

[Guest]

Yeah, other than LaHair, this team really blows

To be fair, he really likes Barney, too.

[Soul]

Yeah, other than LaHair, this team really blows

 

My hedge is only buying tix before July.

[Guest]

Yeah, other than LaHair, this team really blows

To be fair, he really likes Barney, too.

I didn't say that

[UMFan83]

2) It's infuriating that they decided to give up on 2012, because with some offense this could easily be a playoff team.

 

Well to be fair, it seems like they were going in hard on Cespedes but he got a ridiculous offer from Oakland and took it. The offense could have been better with Cespedes in there instead of someone like Byrd. Not drastically better but enough to have a small amount of hope for a playoff spot.

[CincyCubsFan]

Yeah, other than LaHair, this team really blows

To be fair, he really likes Barney, too.

I didn't say that

 

When accused of hating the entire team, you named three players that excited you. Two of those were LaHair and Barney. So yea, you kinda did say that.

[jersey cubs fan]

Looking at that rotation, I marvel at how cheap, solid and young it is, with long-term upside.

Really?

 

I could be wrong, but I think KyleJRM was the one that was really heads over heels for Travis Wood. I remember having some discussions with someone here about Wood, and I think it was Kyle. Could be wrong, though.

 

There's really only one young-ish guy with upside, and that's Samardzija, and he's in his prime years (27). Garza is dead smack at the start of his prime years, and Volstad is close enough to it, but again, much as I like him, more of a 3/4 that could pass as a 2/3 depending on the situation, IMO.

 

It's still odd to marvel at how cheap solid and young it is. Because it isn't that young. And most of the cheapness is very short-term.