Danny82

The solution is obviously not as simple as you would make it seem.

In all honesty, I think it depends on whether or not Z is able to go deep into the game today and give the bullpen a break.

I don't think Z is a guy you want to have too many extra days off to rest. You don't want him throwing too hard.

It means (to me) that the Cubs are trying everything they can to find quality starts out of pitchers while waiting for Prior and Wood to return. I wouldn't read too much into it.

??? Either Hill or Guzman is starting Wednesday.

Neither do I. And, in fact, I never said they were the same thing. But lack of mental toughness can lead to a player reverting to his once-erratic ways when he pitches in the majors. And I question whether that might be the case with Hill.

There are not many players in baseball for whom I'd trade Wright. Very, very few. I assume you mean straight up? Willis plus two upper-tier pitching prospects could really turn around the Mets long term pitching outlook. I wouldnt do it for two "decent" pitching prospects in addition to Willis, it would have to be two of their better pitching prospects. I really don't like their pitching prospects all that much. It's just a bunch of 3-4 starters that teams like the Mets can afford through FA. I think Sanchez and Olsen project at higher than 3-4 starters.

fine, but that's not what you said before. you said you didn't want hill b/c he seemed 'rattled' when he was up before. to me that sounded like you were questioning his mental toughness, not his command/control. Well, I am. I think they go hand in hand to some extent. Hill used to have awful control. Since that time, he has shown he has decent command at AA and AAA. However, he hasn't shown that he has good command yet at the major league level. Mental toughness could very well have something to do with that. Maybe that is something that will come to him as the game at the major league level "slows down" a bit for him, or maybe it won't. While I clearly hope that he does find that command at the major league level, it certainly is fair to question whether it ever will.

It's not strange at all. It's perfectly understandable for one to wonder whether or not Hill will be able to perform consistently at the major league level when he has been so erratic so far when he has been up. Historically, Gooz has had better command.

Forgive me if I still feel more confident in Gooz starting at the major league level than Hill. Hill has gotten rattled in his starts more often than not. And you don't know for sure how Gooz is going to be used during his time up. The fact remains that he can help this team right now.

getting hits isn't a problem with this team. hits will come and go. if you're slumping, but still good at recognizing good pitches from bad ones, you can help the team by getting on base--or, as i like to put it, not making an out. i'm sure a toolsy player that is very bad at not making outs is very "sexy" to some, but i'll take a fat, slow player with no arm that is good at not making outs. this team's problem is that it doesn't walk enough. nice BA, crappy OBP. that's why patient teams outcore us. i guess it's all in what you find "sexy"--perhaps making outs at a rapid clip makes you feel all funny inside, but not me, just angry. walks also increase pitch count. This lets you get to the other teams middle relievers, usually a teams weakness, quicker. cobs never seem to do this. the thing is that the cubs also strike out a lot, which should increase pitch counts as well, but doesn't. the cubs manage to strike out on 3 pitches more than any other team, i believe. The Cubs don't strike out a lot. People continue to say this without empirical evidence to support such an assertion. In fact, they are currently 13th in the NL this season in strike outs. They were 14th in the NL last year. So, how is it that the Cubs "strike out a lot"??? Also, while I too wish this team would walk more, it isn't a matter of which is more "sexy"...a hit is more valuable than a walk.

Good call.

Until Jerome starts figuring out how to close out his shoulder and throw strikes, I have no problem with him not being with the big club. He walked the pitcher with the bases loaded for crying out loud. I can't think of anything more annoying.

Well, the pen has been overworked as of late. It's not a bad idea for the near future. He'll still get work.

??? How do you know he won't be in the rotation?

Surprising considering how much Guz has struggled in his last two starts at Iowa.

Like that offer would have gotten him signed.

There's virtually no chance of any deal like that being made. A 5th starter/bullpen arm for the Nat's best hitter? Yeah, not going to happen. I don't care who is the GM.

Well then, if Cedeno was so "obviously" playing him to pull in such a sever manner, shouldn't Walker have been playing virtually up the middle? I guess that depends on what the spray charts say. Also, I don't remember Baker ever saying "walks are overrated". Does anyone have a link? Maybe I missed it.

It'd be better to have a right handed power source off of the bench.

Sounds good to me, all things considered.

Pierre Hairston Walker Ramirez Barrett Jones Murton Cedeno Pretty good.

I think you should quit assuming I don't know these things. I am well aware that Neifi started because Ramirez was hurt. That doesn't take away from the fact that he still started - how do you know Neifi wouldn't have started at 2B instead of Hairston if Ramirez was healthy? But yet...your posts insinuate that you "know" that Neife would have started over Hairston if Ramirez was healthy. When you don't.

The Cubs were ranked 15th.

[making mental note to come back to this thread in three weeks to see if everyone's "premonitions" come true or not...especially in light of so many similar "premonitions" that said Neife would be getting more PT than Cedeno at this point in the season.]