98navigator

For now... I understand your hesitance towards Miller, but who is the better option? I don't think a case can be made for Prior right now, or even Guzman. Obviously, Miller is the best option right now for a lot of reasons. I still think that, before long, Mark Prior is going to reestablish himself and pitch in the rotation. So, if Miller pitches well he will net a nice prize in a trade. If not, the next likely candidate is Angel Guzman. I could be wrong, but I find it hard to believe that Wade Miller is going to resurrect his career this late. Between the two, I find it really hard to root for Miller long term over Prior because of ability and age. I'd take a healthy Prior over Miller too, obviously. I just don't get your angst about it right now. When Prior shows he can be effective, then there will be an issue. Until then it is Miller's spot. I just want him to pitch well. Period. This is his best start of the Spring by far! Hopefully, it translates into real games because winning is the bottom line.

CYY? Cy Young :lol:

Miller for CYY

For now... I understand your hesitance towards Miller, but who is the better option? I don't think a case can be made for Prior right now, or even Guzman. Obviously, Miller is the best option right now for a lot of reasons. I still think that, before long, Mark Prior is going to reestablish himself and pitch in the rotation. So, if Miller pitches well he will net a nice prize in a trade. If not, the next likely candidate is Angel Guzman. I could be wrong, but I find it hard to believe that Wade Miller is going to resurrect his career this late. Between the two, I find it really hard to root for Miller long term over Prior because of ability and age.

For now...

Guzman and Miller have been about the same. All things being equal, I'd prefer the pitcher with the greater upside. Upside is great, actual performance is better. Guzman has been hurt just as much, if not more than Miller. Miller has done well enough to earn a spot. He's been healthy and made every start so far, that is a good sign. People forget how good of a pitcher he used to be. He'll most likely never see that type of success again, but he can still be usefull. Miller has missed more time than Kerry Wood. Unlike Guzman, Miller isn't likely to get better. There's no way of knowing if Miller will be healthy enough to withstand pitching an entire season; both he and Guzman appear healthy right now and that's all you can say... I've watched/listened to all of his starts this year and this is clearly his best. It's about time! This isn't the Miller of the early 2000's I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. If Guzman pitches well out of the pen he will get his chance, I'm not worried about that. I would worry about him starting the season in the rotation. Guzman has had hot springs before. In his 10 starts last year he put up the following numbers: 10 GS 56 IP 68 H 46 ER 7.39 ERA Let him adjust to ML level in the pen. I also don't think Prior should be handed a spot just because his name is Mark Prior. He has not earned it, Miller has been better. Take those numbers with a grain of salt. You can make a similar argument against Rich Hill... The way things currently stand, I don't think there will be room for Guzman (unless Wood is DL'd).

Guzman and Miller have been about the same. All things being equal, I'd prefer the pitcher with the greater upside. Upside is great, actual performance is better. Guzman has been hurt just as much, if not more than Miller. Miller has done well enough to earn a spot. He's been healthy and made every start so far, that is a good sign. People forget how good of a pitcher he used to be. He'll most likely never see that type of success again, but he can still be usefull. Miller has missed more time than Kerry Wood. Unlike Guzman, Miller isn't likely to get better. There's no way of knowing if Miller will be healthy enough to withstand pitching an entire season; both he and Guzman appear healthy right now and that's all you can say... I've watched/listened to all of his starts this year and this is clearly his best. It's about time! This isn't the Miller of the early 2000's I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Guzman and Miller have been about the same. All things being equal, I'd prefer the pitcher with the greater upside.

It's one inning. He has yet to have a really good outing. RAMMY! Agreed, but I think given that he hasn't been horrible plus his games at the end of this last year he'd be a better option over Marquis, especially with how cheap he is. I understand. I'm just upset because Prior isn't ready. We're settling for Miller. That isn't Miller's fault, that ball is in Prior's court. Miller has been much better than Prior and deserves the spot over him. I'm looking at it from the perspective of the good of the team. It has nothing to do with faulting Miller. I just believe there are better options (at least there will be). I think Prior will supplant him before long and Miller will be traded. Miller has won by default--being better than Prior, to this point, isn't saying much. If he had been pitching well, perhaps I'd have a different view. By default or not, he is still the best option at this point in time, over Prior. So he's essentially better than nothing (because before the glimer of hope Prior provided in his last start--there was nothing). I'd prefer Guzman to Miller. Anyway...

It's one inning. He has yet to have a really good outing. RAMMY! Agreed, but I think given that he hasn't been horrible plus his games at the end of this last year he'd be a better option over Marquis, especially with how cheap he is. I understand. I'm just upset because Prior isn't ready. We're settling for Miller. That isn't Miller's fault, that ball is in Prior's court. Miller has been much better than Prior and deserves the spot over him. I'm looking at it from the perspective of the good of the team. It has nothing to do with faulting Miller. I just believe there are better options (at least there will be). I think Prior will supplant him before long and Miller will be traded. Miller has won by default--being better than Prior, to this point, isn't saying much. If he had been pitching well, perhaps I'd have a different view.

Inaccurate

It's one inning. He has yet to have a really good outing. RAMMY! Agreed, but I think given that he hasn't been horrible plus his games at the end of this last year he'd be a better option over Marquis, especially with how cheap he is. I understand. I'm just upset because Prior isn't ready. We're settling for Miller.

Not really skipping but staying on Zambrano's rest days. Every starter (1-4) will get 6 starts in April with the 5th starter having 4. Cubs.com

It's one inning. He has yet to have a really good outing. RAMMY!

What's Len talking about? Miller was recorded at 90mph one time this ST.

I think I'm the only person here who is rooting against Wade Miller. Well, maybe not rooting against but I'm not happy that he has apparently won the fifth spot. If he'd had any real competition he would be an afterthought! He hasn't really pitched well or gotten deep into his starts. He needs to go 5-6 innings today...

Well, the big problem is that you really can't ship out a veteran to the MiLs without his consent. The only thing a manager can do is bench a guy if he isn't cooperating. As far as what Dusty would have done, I'm not sure but I'm glad that I don't have to worry about it... I didn't agree with a lot of his in-game decisions but I'm not so sure that he was above getting in the face of some veteran players; Barrett said that Baker let him have it when he wasn't doing what was expected.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070323/capt.14e75065a2654f82b09daf455bcbd3c7.giants_cubs_spring_baseball_azcc108.jpg Barrett in under the tag (at least that's what the ump said). :wink: http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070323/capt.d113c997870f436c84875e81e5407e3d.giants_cubs_spring_baseball_azcc107.jpg Z! http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070323/capt.c1b3b51dc57d4aa9aa7cee8cc3b4779f.giants_cubs_spring_baseball_azcc105.jpg Sori http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070323/capt.780260a73b624f11955c5c20939e15ea.giants_cubs_spring_baseball_azcc103.jpg Ronny homers http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070323/capt.c7037cf8ce8d46faa16593ded00bc182.giants_cubs_spring_baseball_azcc104.jpg Alfonso congratulates Ronny http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070323/capt.7888a28d6b744e989e3ca696dbf098bb.giants_cubs_spring_baseball_azcc102.jpg Frandsen scores under Zambrano's tag http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070323/capt.31e14e98e3ed44748cf04342f7658f6e.giants_cubs_spring_baseball_azcc101.jpg Jacque almost makes the catch.

The interesting question is: why would an extra off day benefit Prior? All the research shows that for the majority of MLB pitchers, there's no discernible health or performance benefit from pitching on four days rest instead of three days rest. I'm sure the same would hold true for five days rest vs. four days rest. Physically small guys like Pedro Martinez or older pitchers might be exceptions to the above. A lot of managers, Dusty Baker included, seem to believe that giving a guy an extra day off after having him throw too many pitches in a start makes up for the high pitch count. In the earlier part of this decade, Boston used to give Pedro extra days off and then trot him out for 130+ pitches. That was stupid. I'm sure you can add pitchers with a history of arm/shoulder/achilles injuries to the exception list. They are being overly cautious; there's no reason to rush, from the team's perspective, because they have other options. Lou has said as much.

I think I just figured out the Cotts situation: According to The Cub Reporter, Cotts has two MiL options but he would have to clear waivers before going to Iowa. He is a LHP and isn't injured (I actually think he'd get more takers than Prior because he's a less expensive gamble for a bullpen or rotation spot). Even though the Cubs could pull him back, from waivers, I don't think they want to bother with the headache. That's my best guess... The Cubs Reporter

Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Cubs Win!

Audio only but he sounded sharp. 1 IP, 1 H

This guy is getting in subtle digs about the Cubs' futility. :? Dempster coming in

I wonder if Z threw close to 100 pitches in his 6 innings? Cubs.com

I guess they are being extra cautious. Eventually, he will have to get on a regular schedule if he pitches in the rotation.