I'm not here to start no trouble, I'm just here to do the pitching staff shuffle!

by NightPutting on May 21, 2007 11:10 PM CDT Comment 16 comments

Per Comcast SportsNite (clearly the most trusted source in sports journalism): Neal Cotts is AAA-bound, while Guzman will be groomed for bullpen duty, and the tall one, Sean Marshall, will enter the rotation and start for the Cubs this week.

I'm glad to hear it personally. I want Dempster to succeed at whatever he does, but he's really the only guy we can trust at the closer spot right now. Marmol's got "closer of the future" written all over him, but his command can best be described as "shades of Rick Vaughn".

What do you guys think? Marshall was 6-9 last year with a 5.59 ERA. Can he pull a Rich Hill and really lock down the fifth starter spot?

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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Marshall

Sean Marshall showed some promise to me last season. I hope he's worked on his cutter and won't be afraid to throw it in to RH hitters, more consistently. I also hope he's worked on his change. Obviously he's a classic pitch to contact pitcher and will never have high K totals, but he simply can not afford to have high BB totals and I hope his control is better than last season. Otherwise he won't survive at this level. I think that's the biggest key with him. Avoid the BB's.

As far as Cotts being drop kicked to Iowa? Hallelujah.

by lemon20pie on May 22, 2007 1:10 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Cotts...

... well, this sounds like a knee-jerk Lou reaction to Sunday's performance. Scott Eyre's been consistently worse than Cotts, but he's got a big-money multi-year deal and probably cannot be sent down without his permission.

Marshall did, as the above poster said, show some promise last year. I hope the experience, plus recovery from his injury, makes him major-league ready. I guess we'll find out Wednesday or Thursday.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 22, 2007 3:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it is only a pre-transitional move

Someone jumped the gun with Dempster moving over to starting this might take a week or two, but being signed through '08 for $5M a year is a bargain if Dempster can be a Marquis-like.

Who would Dempster replace in the rotation though? Let's see if it is not Lilly or Hill or Marquis than it is either Marshall or Zambrano.

hmmm sounds like a trade....Me guessing Z is being offered but whomever is interested wants to see if the horse can carry the load.

I think Eyre is also being showcased and he has shown signs of recovering....As for Guzman being a starter with a big fastball and strong slider could be an answer.

Marshall is an interesting idea, if he follows Hill's path and has developed both the mental game and another pitch (cutter) with his curve, his change up and regular fastball it is interesting. He is a make them hit the ball pitcher unlike the K's that Lilly and Hill make happen.

Finally interesting thoughts with MLBtraderumors with the Japanese OF'er leaving Jones & Murton open also.

Harry Carey: 3 & 2, 2-out, no place to put him...tying run on 3rd...winning run on 2nd...THE PITCH....HEE POOOOPPPED....IT UP!

by Ivy Walls on May 22, 2007 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

re: I think it is only a pre-transitional move

Can you please post a link to the mlbtraderumors article?

Thanks.

Send...more...paramedics!

by dat cubfan daver on May 22, 2007 10:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

MLBtraderumors link

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2007/05/cubs_trade_spec.html

by John Q Freejazz on May 22, 2007 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks!

Send...more...paramedics!

by dat cubfan daver on May 22, 2007 11:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm hoping

Cotts is being sent down to join the Iowa rotation, and be an alternative to Marshall. I imagine the conversation with Cotts was "Go down for 2-3 weeks and get stretched out. If we don't need you as a starter at that point, we'll bring you back up to the bullpen. Otherwise, we'll give you a shot at the rotation even if you struggle a little with your secondary pitches in AAA." They did the same thing with Guzman.

The call of the Cub fan, c. 1893: "one long, ravaged, derisive yell...a cyclonic whoop!"

by zambranofan on May 22, 2007 7:58 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That....

... actually makes sense.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 22, 2007 8:12 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think you hit the nail on the head

n/t

"Just give me 25 guys on the last year of their contracts; I'll win a pennant every year" - Sparky Anderson

by MPH73 on May 22, 2007 12:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

I was skewered by Al and others at the time of the Cotts deal, but in my opinion he was brought here to be a possible option in the rotation. He may be going down to Des Moines to stretch out. Still, I do not understand why Wil Ohman has a job and Cotts doesn't right now. Ohman and Cotts both have contracts.

Grasshopper, snatch the pebble from my hand...

by BlueMike on May 22, 2007 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because Ohman can turn down assignment.

He can't be sent down to the minors without his approval -- he has acrued enough service time. Cotts can be sent down. And... you just listed the other reason; Cotts can be stretched out to start, and Ohman can't.

by cwyers on May 22, 2007 5:29 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

As a 5th starter

Marshall will be just fine, but, cut him some slack because that is what he'll be, our 5th starter. I think he'll take us into the 6th inning with no problem. He'll win some games and probably make us mad when loses. I think this is the best possible move for our rotation.

This is Harry Carray, goodbye from Wrigley Field and So Long Everybody.

by mrcubsfan on May 22, 2007 8:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

As long as...

... the corresponding move of Guzman to the bullpen improves the bullpen, I'm fine with this.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al on May 22, 2007 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed...

if Marshall can go 6 innings of solid work each time out, and if Guzman upgrades whatever part of the pen he assumes, then I'm happy with the move of Guzman to the pen.

Essentially, my only concern is that I don't want to see the team address one problem area by creating another problem area.

by SouthernCub on May 22, 2007 11:59 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs