12 pitchers and a 5-man rotation

by VS on Feb 17, 2007 3:43 PM CST

Hopefully this is diary worthy. I saw it yesterday so let me know if there is already a discussion on this somewhere.

Pitch counts: Piniella said he expects to break camp with 12 pitchers.

"We're playing a lot of games early in the year, we go to the [West] Coast where you're not going to get rained out," Piniella said of the Cubs' April schedule. "Also, I don't like the idea of whoever our fifth starter is to pitch all spring and then sit. We'll stay in rotation as much as possible when the season starts so everybody gets their innings in."

Still to be determined is who will be the long man in the 'pen. Left-hander Neal Cotts will be stretched out this spring. Someone asked if Mark Prior was a candidate for a relief role.

"I didn't say that," Piniella said. "We are going to have to find somebody who can go long. We need somebody out there who can pitch some innings out of the long spot. I don't know who that's going to be."

The article also has some tidbits on Marshall's progress, the possibility of DeRosa batting 2nd, some Floyd stuff, etc. Murton, Colvin, Patterson, and Pagan were early arrivals to ST.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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See?

Already, stuff like "I hope this is diary worthy."

It is my man VS. Don't worry about it.

As per this article:

I've read somewhere else where Cub fans are freaking out about Hill possibly not getting a spot because of what they read in this article but I haven't seen that at all yet.

IMO, the odd man out will be Wade Miller unless Mark Prior gets hurt again, which is entirely possible.

If Prior stays healthy through ST and April, don't be surprised if Wade Miller is dealt elsewheres either.

PINIELLA!

by theprognosticator on Feb 17, 2007 3:47 PM CST reply actions

What schedule is he looking at?

The Cubs' first game on the west coast is May 23, the 45th game of the season -- nearly 1/3 of the way through the schedule. There are six off days through the first seven weeks. That's hardly an onerous schedule.

Twelve pitchers is a big, big mistake, as I've written here before. All it does is limit your bench options, and he says he doesn't want his pitchers to sit? What happens in practice is that the 12th guy sits for ten days, and then gets lit up because he's rusty (Call this Todd Wellemeyer Syndrome).

The only games the Cubs have before May 23 where they are guaranteed not to get rained out are the three in Milwaukee the first weekend of the season.

Reconsider, Lou. At least for the first few weeks.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 17, 2007 3:54 PM CST reply actions

Hear! Hear!

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Feb 17, 2007 4:42 PM CST up reply actions

the part about the two-hole

leaves me optimistic for murton, though i dont think he'll get it in the end

DON'T TRADE PIE!

by kylejo on Feb 17, 2007 4:14 PM CST reply actions

Two spot

Id like to see it alternate based on the opposing pitcher between Barrett and Murton.

Of course im a CUBS FAN What other Chicago baseball team is there?

by Galvan316 on Feb 17, 2007 11:06 PM CST reply actions

That would be nice.

But, I doubt you'll see either one bat second, ever. Mark DeRosa will likely bat second.

Is this a good idea? Not really. But that's what the most likely outcome is.

"[BCB] is much better than... well, everything." -- gravedigger, January 21, 2007

by Al Yellon on Feb 18, 2007 4:24 AM CST up reply actions

Sigh

Well, at least DeRosa's a step above Izturis, and we know he'd be in the 2 hole under a different manager. I agree that Murton ought to be there though, and I like the idea of alternating Murton and Barrett.

ROTHSCHILD!

by Perkins on Feb 18, 2007 11:23 AM CST up reply actions

I actually like

Murton/Barrett in the two - hole a lot.

The Mets do something very similar with Paul LoDuca hitting 2nd in front of the Mets boppers.

by cubsfan2883 on Feb 18, 2007 1:10 PM CST up reply actions

2nd spot

i,d prefer murton in the 2nd hole but i guess derosa will be o.k.izturiz needs to bat 8th.theriot would be the ideal 2nd guy.hope theriot gets some playing time.he,s a little hustler.

by NOMAR on Feb 18, 2007 5:46 AM CST reply actions

12 Pitchers

12 Pitchers in April is a mistake. That extra guy on the bench can make a difference in a game, wether it be offensively or defensively. Is Lou expecting some short outings from pitchers? I don't get it.

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Feb 18, 2007 1:15 PM CST reply actions

He probably is.

I mean we have inning eaters, but they aren't good inning eaters(Lilly and Marquis don't really have a high IP/start right? I didn't check, so if not I apologize.)

Still though, I don't think another pitcher is that necessary.

"I don't talk. I just let what I do talk for myself." -Johan Santana

by sparkles721 on Feb 18, 2007 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

At the same time which is more valuable

a Ronny Cedeno player filling the end of your bench or Wuertz/Ohman.

If the trade block is not particularly rife with offers for Ohman who seems to be the odd man out here... Then why further destroy his value by sending him to AAA. I don't mind going with 12 Pitchers. Especially since the Cubs do not have 14 position players that light my world

by cubsfan2883 on Feb 18, 2007 1:25 PM CST reply actions

Actually...

... I think there HAS been some interest in Ohman, from the Tigers in particular.'

You're not talking about Cedeno as the 14th position player; he's likely headed to Iowa. It would be pointless to keep someone like Cedeno on the bench.

Your starting eight are: Barrett, Lee, DeRosa, Izturis, Ramirez, Murton, Soriano, Jones (barring deals)

Your bench is: Floyd, Ward, Blanco, Theriot, Pagan.

Now, would you rather have, say, a Tomas Perez (who can play several positions and pinch-run, etc.) -- a non-roster guy this year -- or a 12th pitcher? I'll take the bench guy. Maybe when you get into crunch time in midsummer you could use a 12th pitcher, sometimes. But not in April, at the very least.

I Support Julie!

by Al Yellon on Feb 18, 2007 1:38 PM CST up reply actions

An extra outfielder would be nice

Having Soriano, Jones, Murton, Floyd as potential outfielders is great ofensively but not so good defensively. Having a fifth guy who can actually play all the outfield positions well could be very valuable late in a close game.

"Harlem Furniture......You'll like our style!"

by Imtrejo on Feb 18, 2007 9:50 PM CST up reply actions

Well Pagan can play all the OF positions

But I'm not sure how well.

ROTHSCHILD!

by Perkins on Feb 18, 2007 10:22 PM CST up reply actions

12

The problem with having 12 pitchers is that the manager feels pressure to use all 12 of them, when there's really no need to. It just leads to excess, unnecessary pitching changes and longer games. More lefty-righty substitutions and the like. Great for the advertisers. Terrible for fans.

"Hello again, everybody. Harry Caray from Wrigley Field on a beautiful day for baseball."

by danimal15 on Feb 18, 2007 8:05 PM CST reply actions

Can someone please

explain to me the benefit of having 12 pitchers vs 11 pitchers? I imagine it has to do with the idea that they haven't built up the durability to pitch more than a few innings, thus it's a "just-in-case" scenario, correct?

MCDONOUGH!

by secdelahc on Feb 18, 2007 8:09 PM CST reply actions