Marquis a helpful arm?

by bizzle4 on Aug 28, 2008 1:12 PM CDT

I know this sounds crazy just saying makes me laugh but lets look at this. Jason Marquis, as much as we all have had our doubts on him he has been good of late. Yesterdays win 5hit shut out in just a 2-0 game was big. Also pitched well last friday until the one inning got away from him in the 6th or 7th? I can't remember. He is now 9-7. He is 3-1 in his last 5 starts with a 3.90 ERA which is better then Big Z. In the month of August he was 2-0 with a 1.46 on the road. Giving up just 2 ER in 12.1 innings of work. To me he is finally becoming a 5th starter we can agree with. He won't win them all but who can? With Big Z struggling (hopefully he can pick it back up as he did this time last year) I think Marquis can be a huge arm starting in the 5th spot down the stretch. I just wanted to see what everyone else thinks of him if he is still the one we close our eyes for during every pitch or say hey we can win with him...

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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Fire, Gasoline, Gasoline, Fire.

Now that introductions are over. I’ve stated before he is a decent 5th starter. His stats trend to 5-7 innings and .500 baseball.

While it’s not my money, I hate to see roster spots that should be occupied by much cheaper talent occupied by guys making bigger money. Whether its long relief, bench players or 5th starters, I cringe at the money.

I’m okay with Marquis for 2008, provided he moves on in 2009 and takes his contract with him.

Disposable dixie cup drinkin... I'm hiding out in the big city blinking...

by N Oakley on Aug 28, 2008 1:21 PM CDT reply actions

money-wise

i agree with you but i was more talking about the last month of the season

by bizzle4 on Aug 28, 2008 1:26 PM CDT up reply actions

I know.

My positive opinion of him for the last month is based upon my assumption he and his contract will be gone for 2009. I don’t believe he is any better than Sean Marshall, but Jason’s on the payroll, so might as well play him.

Disposable dixie cup drinkin... I'm hiding out in the big city blinking...

by N Oakley on Aug 28, 2008 1:37 PM CDT up reply actions

I think the opinions of Marquis run about

like his record, 50-50. He’s serviceable, but for the money and experience I expect more. I would like to see Marshall occupy that spot because he can gain experience and log some major league innings as a starter. His upside dwarfs Marquis so why is Marquis in that spot?

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 28, 2008 1:30 PM CDT reply actions

this.

yawp yawp. I agree.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 28, 2008 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree.

I swear this conversation breaks out like a rash every time Marquis pitches.

Yes, sir!

by daver on Aug 28, 2008 2:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, he's like a starting quarterback that

sucks but the coach won’t bench him. Of course we here in Chicago have never experienced that.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 28, 2008 2:28 PM CDT up reply actions

My favorite is Rex Orton,

or is it Kyle Grossman. I can never remember…

Oh yeah, it will be the free agent they pull off the scrap heap after game three. Jeff George, the 2nd time.

Disposable dixie cup drinkin... I'm hiding out in the big city blinking...

by N Oakley on Aug 28, 2008 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

Valuable Playoff Long Reliever

If some starter gets bombed early on in a playoff game, Lou is going to have to go to the bullpen early to somebody with experience who can throw 5 innings of quality relief. I think Marquis can fill that role. Lieber’s had injury problems. Marshall doesn’t have the experience of Marquis.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Aug 28, 2008 2:09 PM CDT reply actions

He's got to be on the playoff roster before

he can pich. Are you sure he’s going to make the playoff roster?

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 28, 2008 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions

If 12 Pitchers, Marquis over Lieber

If Lou has 12 pitchers on the postseason roster, I think he would go with Marquis over Lieber as the long reliever. If Lou only has 11 pitchers in the playoffs, I don’t think Marquis will make the roster.

"The big possum walks late." - Harry Caray

by memphiscub on Aug 28, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions

You don't need 12 pitchers in the playoffs. The 12th guy

is your 5th starter. He’s unnecessary.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 28, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up reply actions

i was crunching numbers last night

and i’m terrible with them, so maybe i’m wrong (because these numbers look WAY too good)…….if i am, someone let me know

here are his last 9 starts:

8/27: 0ER 7IP

8/22: 4ER 5.1IP

8/13: 2ER 5.1IP

8/6: 4ER 6.1IP

8/1: 3ER 6.0IP

7/27: 6ER 6.0IP

7/22: 3ER 6.0IP

7/11: 0ER 7.0IP

7/1: 2ER 7IP

That averages out to 6.1 innings per game and 2.6 earned runs per game….that’s pretty darn good if you ask me, considering he’s our fifth stater

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 2:41 PM CDT reply actions

oh and he only gave up 6 home runs during that stretch

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions

He's still our 5th starter. Unless he's going to beat

out Lilly or Big Z, he doesn’t need to be on the roster.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Aug 28, 2008 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions

agreed

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions

well,

as they say, I wanna cherrypick those stats. Two outings were EXTREMELY good — the 8/27 and the 7/11. If you take those two out, now you’ve got:

3.4 runs per game
5.9 innings per game

I was originally going to say that my problem with him was his consistency, but he’s pretty consistently going 6 innings. I think he was hired with the idea that he’d consistently go SEVEN innings plus, and he’s not been able to do that more than three times.

Our 2008 Chicago Cubs -- FINDING WAYS TO WIN!

by drewishdrewid on Aug 28, 2008 2:57 PM CDT up reply actions

I should also mention that I really

like that the Cardinal fans hate him.

Disposable dixie cup drinkin... I'm hiding out in the big city blinking...

by N Oakley on Aug 28, 2008 3:00 PM CDT up reply actions

and he doesn't get enough credit for...

…..being a decent hitter and his pinch running duties…..it may not ever change the course of a game, but it’s much better than having TRL run or having risking injury to an ace

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 3:02 PM CDT up reply actions

why cherrypick?

i could do the same and take out two of his bad starts

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

take out his 7ER game

and he’s at 2.25 ER’s/game and 6.1 innings/game

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 3:05 PM CDT up reply actions

i mean take out his 6ER game

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 3:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Another weird thought

I have a strange thought.

How about putting him in the pen in September to get him used to pitching there?

Go Cubs

by puckishcubsfan on Aug 28, 2008 3:15 PM CDT reply actions

i mentioned the same thing yesterday

i like his postseason experience, just not sure who he replaces

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 3:19 PM CDT up reply actions

whoops i was thinking october

nevermind

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 3:48 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, if all goes well...

…he probably wouldn’t get that much experience pitching in the pen during the postseason. What, is Lou supposed to put Marquis in over Marmol so Jason can get the hang of being a reliever? No player should “get used” to doing anything in the postseason – it’s do or die.

Yes, sir!

by daver on Aug 28, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions

i immediately think about time wakefield

how did he get used to pitching out of the pen in the postseason?

by cubswynn on Aug 28, 2008 3:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Tell me more.

Yes, sir!

by daver on Aug 28, 2008 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions

he is the best starting pitcher we have

…when we’re playing the pirates. other than that, he’s pretty spotty.

by nathew on Aug 28, 2008 3:44 PM CDT reply actions

i know

howry

by The Stig on Aug 28, 2008 5:38 PM CDT reply actions

oops

marquis over howry

by The Stig on Aug 28, 2008 5:39 PM CDT reply actions

This is all pretty interesting to me.

This could have all been posted on a Cardinals Blog last year. It’s pretty much the same stuff.
I was kind of high on him for the first 2 seasons we had him. I thought the guy had the potential to blossom into something. but after awhile I got tired of waiting.
Consistency is his problem. As soon as you get disgusted with him he shows some real talent, then tails off again. He might be one of those guys who makes a career of “potential”.
The word here was that he’s hard headed…likes to do things his way and isn’t as teachable as he should be. I don’t know if that’s true or not but sometimes he looks like that might be the case.
Tony took the ball away from him for the playoffs and he never pitched here again. If that happens to him again maybe his lights will go on….or maybe not.

"I wouldn't be a part of any club that would have me as a member" : Groucho Marx

by Dave Pendleton on Aug 28, 2008 7:33 PM CDT reply actions

I am a broken record...but Marquis is a good 5th starter...

…he’s a MLB pitcher, but he is NOT a 1-3 quality starter. If people had realistic expectations of Marquis they might conclude that he’s been a good signing—worth the money.

They keys for Marquis are strikes and GBs.

by DudeVf11 on Aug 28, 2008 8:49 PM CDT reply actions

i am thnkful to have a 5th starter with a winning record.

he may not always look the greatest. but he does alot more for us then other teams get out of there 5th starter

"Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living." --Alvin Dark

by preachermancubsfan on Aug 29, 2008 12:04 AM CDT reply actions