Ted Lilly To Start Home Opener

by Al Yellon on Mar 13, 2007 4:46 AM CDT in Chicago Cubs News

Yes, we know this already, from Bruce Miles, who writes that Lou Piniella has decided on his rotation:

Opening Day can't be too far away when a manager begins to set his pitching rotation.

Lou Piniella did that Monday as he filled in a couple of key blanks. After Carlos Zambrano pitches the April 2 opener against the Reds in Cincinnati, lefty Ted Lilly will go in the second game of the season, two days later.

Jason Marquis will pitch the series finale in Cincinnati, and lefty Rich Hill will open the Milwaukee series on Friday, April 6.

Which means that the fifth starter -- whoever he is, as Piniella says that's still an open question -- will start Saturday in Milwaukee (since Lou says in Miles' article that he won't skip the fifth spot, even with the April 3 off day), then Z will throw the Sunday game at Miller Park, and Lilly should start the home opener against the Astros on April 9.

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12 Pitchers

I still hope that Lou decides against carrying 12 pitchers come opening day. 11 is plenty.

There's always next year.

by BJ Simpson on Mar 13, 2007 7:36 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed...

... especially in April with all the off days.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 13, 2007 7:40 AM CDT up reply actions

The 5th spot...

looks to be just about anybody's. Prior isn't having the type of spring that automatically puts him there. I haven't heard much about how Miller is pitching this spring. Could Guzman end up grabbing that 5th spot? The rest of the rotation looks about like what I thought it would be. Now lets keep them all healthly and everything else shuols take care of it self.

Has anyone heard how Sean Marshall is doing this spring? 5th spot candidate?

by VandalayIndustries on Mar 13, 2007 7:57 AM CDT reply actions

oops...

it was supposed to "should take care of it self.

by VandalayIndustries on Mar 13, 2007 7:59 AM CDT up reply actions

Marshall..

... has not pitched yet, still rehabbing an injury. He may throw later this week.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 13, 2007 8:06 AM CDT up reply actions

At this point

I think Miller's got the lead for the 5th spot. Prior, IMHO, won't even be on the opening day roster much less in the rotation.

by NO100 on Mar 13, 2007 9:16 AM CDT up reply actions

Unless...

... Miller shows real progress in today's start, I'd have to say that Guzman is the prime #5 candidate.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 13, 2007 9:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Guzman has looked good

but Miller has as well. If the Cubs can get him into a desireable state, his trade value would be huge and maybe then open up a spot for Guzman.

by NO100 on Mar 13, 2007 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions

Agreed.

Again, today's Miller start is very important for those reasons.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 13, 2007 9:31 AM CDT up reply actions

True

I am just very glad that at least spots 1 through 4 have NO DRAMA! And for spot 5, there's 3 guys (if you can stretch that to include Prior) with a couple of reserves should those guys have failed.

As this spring training is going along, the deals for Lilly and Marquis are looking better and better.

by NO100 on Mar 13, 2007 9:41 AM CDT up reply actions

re: Agreed.

Yeah, I see Miller and Guzman being about equal right now. Here's how I'd break it down:

Miller's advantages: More consistent control and proven ability to compete and succeed in regular season Major League games (though not recently, of course).

Miller's disadvantages: Lacks velocity and "dominating" stuff.

Guzman's advantages: Much better velocity and potentially "dominating" stuff.

Guzman's disadvantages: Inconsistent control and remains decidedly unproven in real Major League games.

I think Miller is still the safer bet, as I'd take consistency and experience over velocity and potential. Then again, if Guzman were to really wow us on Thursday, I'd gladly change my tune.

Congratulations, Mr. Prior, you are now the dark horse.

I didn't have the ball, bitch!

by daver on Mar 13, 2007 10:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Was Miller re-signed this offseason?

Cause when we first signed him before last season, it was a one year contract right?

And if so, doesn't that mean we can't trade him?

by DTJchris on Mar 13, 2007 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

I pretty sure

the rule on this has changed. Not positive though.

by NO100 on Mar 13, 2007 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

He was signed before the offseason...

...he didn't become a free agent because he resigned with the Cubs before free agency began. Ergo, he can be traded.

by cwyers on Mar 14, 2007 12:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Thanks for clarifying this.

And yesterday's appearance, decent enough, probably has generated some interest in him.

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 14, 2007 4:04 AM CDT up reply actions

I was hoping Hill would go day 3

as I'll be at that game in Cincinnati. Guess it doesn't matter because, hey, I'll be at a Cubs game and that makes everything all right in the world (that and the Skyline Chili dogs.)

HOF!? Jerks... I support Al 110%!

by Jettero2112 on Mar 13, 2007 8:35 AM CDT reply actions

But you'll get to see Jason Marquis pitch!

What could be better?

;)

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

by Al Yellon on Mar 13, 2007 8:52 AM CDT up reply actions

A hot poker to the eye?!

I guess Marquis has been doing OK this spring. Hopefully he'll have a good outing (and many more after that). Hoping the Reds throw Homer Baily that day. Be interesting to see him go.

HOF!? Jerks... I support Al 110%!

by Jettero2112 on Mar 13, 2007 9:21 AM CDT up reply actions

See ya there!!

I think I'm also going to the Lilly game. Which should be fun because I can make fun of Arroyo's hair the whole game (I think he's their 2nd starter).

by TheHawk5 on Mar 13, 2007 3:09 PM CDT up reply actions

Marquis #3?

I guess in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter too much, but having Jason Marquis listed as your #3 starter is a little bit embarrassing. He definitely could be better than we expect though, which is good as long as we don't expect him to be better. I also think it makes sense having him in the third spot to break up Lilly and Hill since they are somewhat similar lefties, and having Hill as the number four kind of offsets the pain of having Marquis at number three.

by pageian on Mar 13, 2007 11:51 AM CDT reply actions

It won't matter that much

Once the season gets rolling. They'll all get about the same number of starts.

by gjdow on Mar 14, 2007 5:58 PM CDT up reply actions

Too early to say

Prior could bounce back. Guzman could look awful next time out. Miller might look very good or very bad today. It's a fluid situation and we have three weeks left.

If I were Piniella, of course, I'd use the off-days as much as possible to avoid having to use a fifth starter early in the season. But he does have a point when he says he doesn't want that fifth guy to spend two weeks on the bench.

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

by danimal15 on Mar 13, 2007 3:02 PM CDT reply actions