Randy Wells has been one of the few bright spots on the team this year, as we all know. Stepping in for Zambrano when we were desperate for anyone who could pitch and pitching lights out, he's certainly proven that he belongs on the major league roster. I understand all of this. Seems to me though that most Cubs fans are screaming for him to be brought into the rotation and either demote Marshall or send him to the bullpen.

This seems pretty silly to me. Marshall has actually been one of the better starters on the team this year. He's stayed healthy, he's thrown strikes (he only has 13 walks in 41 1/3 IP, compared to a decent 29 K's, but Marshall was never pegged as a strikeout pitcher), and he has had quality starts in all but one of his starts this year, the one blip being the game against San Francisco when he gave up five earned runs. Dempster hasn't been this consistent, Zambrano hasn't been this consistent, Harden hasn't been this consistent. Two of those three have been or are on the disabled list, and one seems to lose the strike zone at random times.

Something else to consider: Marshall won the spot out of spring training. He wasn't given the job hands down. Wells was in the mix for that job.

I like Randy Wells. I think if we don't retain Harden next off season (which I think is also the right move, or at least try to trade him), Wells certainly would make an excellent option. But to remove him now, when he hasn't had a ton of appearances, and when Marshall is doing a good job seems stupid to me. If your reasoning is that Marshall is needed in the bullpen as a lefty, make a trade. The rotation is more important than the bullpen on a roster. Marshall is needed more as a starter. Let Wells get his experience in the bullpen and throw him into the mix for a starter next year.