Zambrano, Lilly and Dempster???

by digitalbenjamin on Sep 15, 2008 8:35 AM CDT

Sorry if this has been posted already, but did anyone else catch this in the Sun-Times today?

Barring injury or another scheduling glitch, that makes the playoff rotation: Zambrano, Lilly and Dempster, with either Marquis or Harden as the final one in a probable four-man rotation.

Are my eyes deciving me that Lilly has been moved up in the rotation ahead of Dempster and Harden? What the heek is going on here?

Full article here by Wittenmyer.

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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WTF?

“either Marquis or Harden as the final one in a probable four-man rotation”?

Is he serious?

by McRipper on Sep 15, 2008 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

What has Gordo been smokin'? If Harden is healthy he

will be the fourth pitcher, we all know that. The only reason that he would state it this way is if he had some inside info on Harden’s medical status. His velocity was down after the layoff and maybe he believes that there are some serious issues to be dealt with. Otherwise, he is totally off the mark. If Marquis couldn’t make the post-season rotation with his last two teams, what makes him believe he could now?

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 15, 2008 8:48 AM CDT reply actions

FOURTH (!) PITCHER????

Harden is our ace, last night’s events notwithstanding. At a minimum, he’s better than everyone outside of Z and Dempster. How could they possibly make him 4th?

by Orval Overall on Sep 15, 2008 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Not fourth in performance, fourth as in having four pitchers

in the rotation. Based on his record and ERA, Harden is clearly the ace of the staff. The only thing that would affect that would be his health.

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 15, 2008 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Lilly

as the 2nd starter would only happen if the matchups called for it… ie. depends on who the Cubs are playing. Demp obviously deserves the 2nd spot. As for Harden, guess time will tell. Marquis deserves the post reason roster, even if he doesn’t start. we need all the help we can get in the pen….

by cubbiefanTN on Sep 15, 2008 8:55 AM CDT reply actions

Marquis does deserve a roster spot for the post season, but

you can’t seriously think that Marquis would start over a healthy Harden. Marquis starting can only be a back-up plan if Harden can’t go.

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 15, 2008 9:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Marquis.

I don’t see Dempster, let alone Lilly, starting ahead of Harden in the playoffs. I see the rotation as Z, Harden and Dempster.

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

by N Oakley on Sep 15, 2008 9:07 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

Harden has clearly pitched the best since his arrival. His record and ERA have proven that. Marquis would start only if someone were injured.

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 15, 2008 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions

interesting...this would be a big headline if it were true

Gordon is just doing the old attention grab….

Gotcha…..if Harden was hurt he wouldn’t even be scheduled in the 5-man.

Now speaking of playoff roster

Soto, (Blanco), Dlee (Ward), DeRosa, (Fontenot), Theriot (Cedeno), Ramirez, Soriano, Edmonds, (Johnson), Fukudome…..one or two more?

Zambrano, Dempster, Lilly, Harden…..Wood, Marmol, Samardzija, Cotts, Marquis, …… one or two more…

on the cusp at least one maybe two (Gaudin, Howry, Marshall,
AND at least one…..(Pie, K Hill)

Do the Cubs go into the playoffs with 10 or 11 pitchers?

Piniella: "This is a tougher job than I thought it would be, I'm going to be honest with you."

by Ivy Walls on Sep 15, 2008 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

11 pitchers would be a waste of a roster spot. With one less starter needed in

the post-season vs the regular season, you are better off filling that last spot with a position player. Especially a defensive replacement or proven pinch-hitter.

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 15, 2008 10:05 AM CDT up reply actions

My playoff roster:

Position Player:

2 G. Soto
3 D. Lee
4 M. DeRosa
5 A. Ramirez
6. R. Theriot
7 A. Soriano
8 R. Johnson (J. Edmonds)
9 K. Fukudome

Bench:

R. Cedeno
M. Fontenot
D. Ward
H. Blanco

Starters: (in this order)

R. Dempster ®
R. Harden (L)
C. Zambrano®
T. Lilly (L)

Bullpen:

J. Samardzija
S. Marshall
C. Marmol
N. Cots
J. Marquis
K. Wood

Maybes:
(2 of these, probably the top 2*)
F. Pie *
M. Hoffpauir *
B. Howry
M. Wuertz
K. Hill

-Charlemagne
"Cubs Win!" "Yes, Sir!" - Pat and Ron, June 12, 2008, Walk off HBP, bottom of the 11th

by Charlemagne on Sep 15, 2008 11:36 AM CDT up reply actions

what about Gaudin?

is he returning?

I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on Sep 15, 2008 2:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Bullhockey

Why the hell would we go out and trade for him if we weren’t willing to let him loose for the playoffs. Are they looking ahead to the NLCS or World Series or something? I remember Lou doing this last year with Z in game one of the NLDS, pulling him for a possible game four. You can’t play for the next game in the playoffs, guys, especially in a 5 game series…

If Harden isn’t in the rotation, then what the hell is he doing on our team? Couldn’t we give him two weeks off and then have him start game 3 or something?

Most importantly, aren’t we getting a little ahead of ourselves here?

Proud recipient of a hot dog shot from the Iowa Cubs hot dog gun.

by IowaCubs- on Sep 15, 2008 9:02 AM CDT reply actions

I had a hard time reading that also

Harden has to be in our top three doesn’t he? Lilly has thrown well and that lefty in the middle would be good, but I would take Harden. Not sure if this is an accurate look at our playoff rotation or not. If we wrap up the division early, I think they will be more posturing.

This is only the beginning....Lou Pinella end of '07 season and Chicago Transit Authority (the band when they were really good).

by mrcubsfan on Sep 15, 2008 9:04 AM CDT reply actions

Ted Lilly is a lefty.

I suspect it’s to go R-L-R – just a guess on my part.

by MN exile on Sep 15, 2008 9:09 AM CDT reply actions

R-L-R ... how about W-L-W

by Orval Overall on Sep 15, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Come on, Lilly stands a chance if given at least a five run lead and if

Lou keeps the bullpen ready.

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 15, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions

I think what Gordo did...

… is simply extrapolate a rotation from the end-of-regular-season rotation, which is, as you can see by the rotation starting yesterday, Z-Lilly-Dempster-Marquis-Harden.

I can guarantee Gordo AND the rest of you that it won’t be that way once October 1 comes. The only thing in Gordo’s article that is likely correct AND news, is that if the Cubs have to go to Houston on 9/29, Sean Marshall will start that game, and be in the bullpen until then.

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 15, 2008 9:11 AM CDT reply actions

Sullivan did the same thing

in his notebook. I think the playoff rotation extrapolation becomes a moot point until they clinch the division and/or home field for the NL Playoffs.

Once that happens, then I think it’ll be lined up so that Zambrano, Harden and Dempster are going in the first three games.

I love to play baseball. I'm a baseball player. I've always been a baseball player. I'm still a baseball player. That's who I am. - Ryne Sandberg

by Bill Potter on Sep 15, 2008 11:29 AM CDT up reply actions

that's a bad idea

Z, Demp and Harden all the way… especially in a short series… Demp should pitch at home, as his numbers this year are significantly better there. Lilly shouldnt pitch at all during the NLDS… yes he is a lefty, but he gives up far too many longballs, and if we are playing Philly, NYM or LA… well they are all home run hitting ball teams.

by scarymonsters85 on Sep 15, 2008 9:20 AM CDT reply actions

yep.

I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on Sep 15, 2008 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Shea and Dodger Stadium are not really hitter-friendly ballparks. It is almost impossible

to hit a homerun out of Dodger Stadium at night and I know that any Cub-Dodger games will be in prime time. Lilly could pitch in either one of those parks.

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 15, 2008 9:36 AM CDT up reply actions

right on.....

Z, Dempster at home in the NLDS and the Harden for game 3

"When I got to Chicago, fans came to Wrigley Field just to have fun, now they come to see us win. The expectations have changed, for the players and for the fans. It’s about winning." Kerry Wood, 7/14/08

by JB 23 on Sep 15, 2008 9:42 AM CDT up reply actions

no need to see lilly

we only need 3 pitchers in the NLDS, and everyone would be pitching on regular rest, too.

by scarymonsters85 on Sep 15, 2008 9:57 AM CDT reply actions

Since Harden Usually Only

Pitches 5 innings or so, what about using him for middle relief and going with Z, Demp and Lilly as the starters… This way, Lou won’t have to worry about pulling Z in the 7th to save him for a possible game 4…

"Who ever heard of the Cubs losing a game they had to have?" -Frank Chance 1B/Manager 1908 World Champion Chicago Cubs

by imknowdummy on Sep 15, 2008 10:32 AM CDT reply actions

He's a starter. You're not

going to change his routine in the middle of the season. Starters are put into relief in theplayoff out of necessity and I really don’t believe that is the case here.

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

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Sep 15, 2008 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Looking way ahead

I wonder if we make the world series Lou might consider holding Z for game 3 to have his bat in the lineup.

Go Cubs

by puckishcubsfan on Sep 16, 2008 8:02 AM CDT reply actions

Not a chance.

As good a hitter as Z is, the rules allow a DH in the AL park. No NL manager has failed to use this since it was put into place for the WS and I don’t expect Lou would become the first.

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 16, 2008 8:22 AM CDT up reply actions