cubsfan26

There's no surprise at all that Mike Wuertz didn't make the roster. He's been on Lou [expletive] list for a long time. This season we just don't know what were going to get from Wuertz from game to game. His ERA is pretty good, but alot of that has to do with either another pitcher cleaning up his mess, or him giving up other pitchers runs. Of course Bob Howry has been even crappier, but Lou is going with a guy who throws strikes and has the track record of being pretty good. Other veteran relievers have struggled in the regular season in the past, and pitched well in the postseason. So I think Lou is hoping Howry can give the team 3 or 4 weeks of good relief pitching. Who knows maybe Howry can pitch like he did in May/June and be somewhat of a plus in the playoffs. That said I think Mike Wuertz should have made the roster as well. What he did yesturday shows what he's capable of doing when he's on. Of course I wouldn't pitch Wuertz that often, but what he did yesturday makes him more valueable then what Marquis will probably give the team in a five game series. My two biggest concerns about the playoffs is the middle relief and the offense. If our starter only gives us 5-6 innings were gonna have to count on either Howry, Samardzija, Marshall or possibly Cotts for a batter. Marmol will probably pitch the 7th and 8th in some games, but depth of his pen is a concern. What happens if we get stuck in a 12 or 13 inning game, do you trust any of those guys? I don't. As for the offense, I know it's different from last season. But just the way it got shut down in the postseason last year, makes me worried that it will happen again.

That's the time he's most dangerous. Nobody blows a 4 run lead as easily as Howry. We don't need that in the playoffs. I'm shocked and disappointed. True, but at least he doesn't walk anybody. So if Howry comes in a game and gives up a few hits. Hopefully Piniella will see he has nothing and will pull him really fast. I'm not really surprised Howry made the team though. The fact that Lou kept using him even after he struggled, should have been a pretty big sign that he was going to make the roster. Plus with Gaudin and Guzman sucking so much the last two weeks, there isn't really a better option to replace him right now. For how bad Howry has pitched at times, it's kinda surprising his era is only at 5.17 in 69.2 IP. His era is bad, but for the amount of innings Howry pitches in and with how much he has sucked at times, you would think his era would be closer to 6 right now. Howry making the postseason roster, kinda reminds me of Alfonseca making the roster in 2003.

Lets just hope we don't see Bob Howry in any playoff games unless were winning by alot. I really miss the good Bob Howry, who use to spot his good mid 90s fastball very well, and get hitters out. This Bob Howry throws 88-90, and if he doesn't spot his pitch in the right spot he gets crushed.

Gaudin just doesn't look like the same pitcher since returning this week. There's no way Piniella will add him to the roster after the way he pitched. Which IMO is a blow to our bullpen, because when this team was playing some of it's best baseball in late July through August, having Gaudin, a good Samardzija with Marmol and Wood made our bullpen pretty strong. Now if our starters only go 5-6 innings in the playoffs were gonna have to hope Samardzija, Marshall or Cotts can pitch the 6th and 7th innings. We will probably have to bring in Marmol for more then a inning as well.

I don't see the Brewers beating the Phillies in the playoffs. We all saw how they played against them a few weeks ago in Philly. The Brewers winning a game against the Reds and three against a horrible Pirates team doesn't change that. They still have plenty of issues, when it comes to winning in the playoffs. First of all who knows with Sabathia will have left, and if Sheets can even pitch in the playoffs. Not to mention they don't get on base enough, and often don't hit good pitching. Plus their bullpen is still isn't good and they don't really play good defense either. Of course if Sabathia, Sheets and Gallardo are all healthy and pitching good(which is a long shot) in the playoffs they could be scary. So thats why I rather have them miss the playoffs just in case. But the Brewers are 8 and 17 against the Dodgers, Phillies and Cubs this season for a reason. By the way Ryan Dempster is 4-0 with a 2.52 in four starts against the Brewers this season.

By looking at the game logs for Harden since early July, I kinda agree with that. Harden has gone 7 innings in a game 4 times since July, and three of the games were against a bad offensive teams in the Reds, D-backs and Nationals. When he faces teams with good/decent teams, like Phillies(even though he had a great start against them in June), Mets, Angels,White Sox,Red Sox and Brewers he's been mostly a 5-6 inning pitcher. Harden is hard to hit against anybody, but if he doesn't have his top notch stuff good teams are going to make him work hard to shut them down. Which causes him to not be in the game very long. Now there probably isn't a huge difference with Dempster, but if you had to say who do you think will go longer in a game, I think most would take Dempster. That doesn't mean Dempster should start game 1, but I don't have a big problem with it either. The only problem I have with it is the game 5 factor. In a must win game 5, I'd rather have Harden on the mound. But I guess Dempster isn't a bad option either, with the way he has pitched this year.

I'd be surprised if Lou keeps Ward off the playoff roster. Lou is gonna want a veteran pinch hitter off the bench. I can't see Lou trusting Hoffpauir coming off the bench to get a big hit or walk, with his lack of experience against ML pitching and not having much experience as a pinch hitter. I always felt the last spot was between Pie and Hoffpauir. Pie seemed like he would have a advantage because of his speed and defense. But I think Hoffpauir bat has impressed Lou alot, and wouldn't be surprised if he ends up starting a game or two in RF in the playoffs. With Fukudome being the late inning defensive replacement and pinch hitter/runner.

I just hope Chad Gaudin makes the playoff roster. I know he struggled the other night, and has been a little shakey in the two other games he pitched in. But hopefully Lou see's those games as somewhat of rehab games, and If Gaudin can give us a good inning or two this weekend he will be on the roster. Before Gaudin got hurt he was pretty good for us(other then that game against the Nationals were he struggled in a blow out), and gives us another decent option with Samardzija in the 6th and 7th innings. I really don't care if Howry or Marquis make the roster, because if either of those guys are pitching in a big situation in the NLDS we're gonna be in trouble. I just hope both Marquis and Howry don't make it while Gaudin isn't on the roster.

FWIW Since April 22nd, Lilly is 16-6, with a 3.65 era, 166 SO, 56 BB in 29 starts(180 IP).

I'd go Dempster game 1, Harden game 2, Zambrano game 3 and Lilly game 4.

I wouldn't mind adding McLouth, but I dunno if the Pirates are serious about trading him, and doubt they would trade him to the Cubs. Plus I don't think the Cubs really have the prospects to get him. I do think it's important, for this team to get a little younger offensivly. I would love to add a young CF or RF, who could potentially take over in the 3-4 spot next year or in the future. Derrek Lee is getting older, and if he's on the decline he needs to be moved down in the order come next season or in 2010. Ramirez is over 30, and Soriano will be 33 next season. I still think those two have some good years left, but come 2010-2011 those guys might to decline some. If we can get a new number 3 hitter, with Soto as the clean up hitter. Then older players like Lee, Soriano and Ramirez batting around them, we could stay good for a while.