2008 Chicago Cubs Season

[Scartissue]

Maybe I'm being overprotective of ZMan right now, but this rotation scares the piss out of me when he's not pitching. I'm not drinking the Dempster kool-aid yet, Lilly and Hill are in funks, and I will never trust Marquis. Fair point that most of the pen's been taxed, but I would have pitched Marshall for at least three innings last night. He hasn't pitched in awhile, and we may need him to get some long relief for transitioning to the rotation at some point.

Tonight, we see Volquez. He was traded for Hamilton in a swap of high ceiling/high risk players. I'll be keeping an eye on Volquez over the next few years, as he is the indirect result of a favor the Cubs did for the Reds.

[nathanKent]

DeRosa's bat definitely earns him a starting gig but I agree with you that he he looks like a fish out of water in LF . Mark isn't a wizard with the glove at 2B but he's by far better there than in the OF. Murton didn't get the call because Lou likes what he's getting out of Fontenot's bat as a tablesetter. Mike is a good utility/sub player but he's streaky, he proved that last year when he was called up. Without a doubt Murton in LF and DeRosa in 2B is better defensively than DeRosa in LF and Fontenot in 2B but Lou believes DeRosa in LF and Fontenot in 2B is a better fit for the offensive lineup.

And Cubs fan's bitched about Dusty Baker's short leash and lack of trusting his youngsters. Hill's scouting report is out on him, he made his impact last year by throwing high fastballs and low curveballs. If he can't locate either one then he's in trouble and that has been a huge problem thus far. Hill has been working on his changeup but it was hit hard in spring and hit hard thus far in 08. Some scouts feel that it's altered his pitching delivery and that he's telegraphing his curveball, but Larry says elsewise. Still like I said before, I'm more worried about Lilly than Hill. Unlike Hill, Lilly's velocity is significantly down, his location is off, and he has a history of arm troubles and he threw a career high in 07.

I think Murton/DeRosa would be better offensively too. I'm really at a loss as to why he's made this decision.

Are you of the opinion that Lilly will need significant time off? It would only make sense, given that he's a Cubs pitcher.

[nathanKent]

DeRosa should play, no question there. But he's clearly not comfortable as a outfielder. Even on the single before the double, that was a play Soriano may have had a shot at.

I don't understand not bringing Murton up at all. We're essentially replacing Soriano's bat with Fontenot's while also weakening our defense at second and in left. Murton in left and DeRosa back at second is a better lineup offensively and defensively.

Also, I read in the trib today that Lou may be running out of patience with Rich Hill. Which baffles me. Hill is young, but he isn't some rookie. He's pitched almost 300 innings in the last 2 years and been an above average starter the whole time. Plus he's only made two starts and only one was bad. His first start he went 6 innings, gave up 2 runs on 4 htis and 3 walks, while striking out 4.

I think Mark is uncomfortable in left, but I don't think he's at all uncomfortable in right. If I'm not mistaken, hasn't he logged more innings at RF than at 2B?

Regarding Murton, Lou must have something against him. There's no other explanation. We're supposed to be in the business of winning games, and under no circumstance does Patterson present us with a better opportunity to do so. And now our options in LF are a reserve centerfielder and two infielders.

Regarding Hill, my understanding (and keep in mind that my information is entirely secondhand, as the game wasn't broadcast in Kansas) is that his first start wasn't really that good either, and that he more or less backed his way into a quality start. Of course that's exactly what you want a pitcher to do, but between spring training and his two starts he has yet to show the ability to locate pitches.

[Bob Sacamento]

The pen has had a high workload and we needed Z to eat some innings tonight. Especially since Lilly is next up and he's been struggling. And as Rockin said, 102 pitches isn't even remotely excessive for Z.

Yeah usually I'm with Scar on this but with our pen's huge load recently and starter questions coming up, Z could throw 100 pitches. I also want to say, Zman could probably throw even more now that he's cut down on his velocity to increase his control and movement.

DeRosa should play, no question there. But he's clearly not comfortable as a outfielder. Even on the single before the double, that was a play Soriano may have had a shot at.

I don't understand not bringing Murton up at all. We're essentially replacing Soriano's bat with Fontenot's while also weakening our defense at second and in left. Murton in left and DeRosa back at second is a better lineup offensively and defensively.

DeRosa's bat definitely earns him a starting gig but I agree with you that he he looks like a fish out of water in LF . Mark isn't a wizard with the glove at 2B but he's by far better there than in the OF. Murton didn't get the call because Lou likes what he's getting out of Fontenot's bat as a tablesetter. Mike is a good utility/sub player but he's streaky, he proved that last year when he was called up. Without a doubt Murton in LF and DeRosa in 2B is better defensively than DeRosa in LF and Fontenot in 2B but Lou believes DeRosa in LF and Fontenot in 2B is a better fit for the offensive lineup.

Also, I read in the trib today that Lou may be running out of patience with Rich Hill. Which baffles me. Hill is young, but he isn't some rookie. He's pitched almost 300 innings in the last 2 years and been an above average starter the whole time. Plus he's only made two starts and only one was bad. His first start he went 6 innings, gave up 2 runs on 4 htis and 3 walks, while striking out 4.

And Cubs fan's bitched about Dusty Baker's short leash and lack of trusting his youngsters. Hill's scouting report is out on him, he made his impact last year by throwing high fastballs and low curveballs. If he can't locate either one then he's in trouble and that has been a huge problem thus far. Hill has been working on his changeup but it was hit hard in spring and hit hard thus far in 08. Some scouts feel that it's altered his pitching delivery and that he's telegraphing his curveball, but Larry says elsewise. Still like I said before, I'm more worried about Lilly than Hill. Unlike Hill, Lilly's velocity is significantly down, his location is off, and he has a history of arm troubles and he threw a career high in 07.

[Windy City Fan]

Why is Lou pitching Zambrano in the sixth? It's frickin April, a time when you take it easy on pitchers if possible.

The pen has had a high workload and we needed Z to eat some innings tonight. Especially since Lilly is next up and he's been struggling. And as Rockin said, 102 pitches isn't even remotely excessive for Z.

Yeah, that wasn't good. On the other hand, he's getting it done with the bat, no question. I think DeRosa is a better OF than that, and the way he is hitting, he needs to play everyday. But you were probably thinking every day at 2B, with Matt in LF.

DeRosa should play, no question there. But he's clearly not comfortable as a outfielder. Even on the single before the double, that was a play Soriano may have had a shot at.

I don't understand not bringing Murton up at all. We're essentially replacing Soriano's bat with Fontenot's while also weakening our defense at second and in left. Murton in left and DeRosa back at second is a better lineup offensively and defensively.

Also, I read in the trib today that Lou may be running out of patience with Rich Hill. Which baffles me. Hill is young, but he isn't some rookie. He's pitched almost 300 innings in the last 2 years and been an above average starter the whole time. Plus he's only made two starts and only one was bad. His first start he went 6 innings, gave up 2 runs on 4 htis and 3 walks, while striking out 4.

[Jeff Pico]

DeRosa looking scary out there in left. That ground rule double was a playable ball. Each misplay by DeRosa makes me wonder why Murton is up here and in left.

Yeah, that wasn't good. On the other hand, he's getting it done with the bat, no question. I think DeRosa is a better OF than that, and the way he is hitting, he needs to play everyday. But you were probably thinking every day at 2B, with Matt in LF.

[rockin500]

Why is Lou pitching Zambrano in the sixth? It's frickin April, a time when you take it easy on pitchers if possible.

102 pitches through 7 innings? thats not work for Z.

[Scartissue]

Why is Lou pitching Zambrano in the sixth? It's frickin April, a time when you take it easy on pitchers if possible.

[Windy City Fan]

DeRosa looking scary out there in left. That ground rule double was a playable ball. Each misplay by DeRosa makes me wonder why Murton is up here and in left.

[Windy City Fan]

Eric Patterson got the call up: http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3350215

What the hell do we need another infielder for? Why would they pass on this chance to give Murton some at bats? We know he can hit so we can defiantely help the team. And if they do want to trade him, it certainly wouldn't hurt for him to come up and a chance to remind folks what he can do at the major league level.

[nathanKent]

i didnt really boo latroy that lustily once he came back. I'm sure I let out a few boos, but nothing too much more than I would for most opposing players. definitely didnt taunt as I think its kind of cheesy to do.

I just remember that one night game from the year after he left where the whole crowd just turned loose on him. And then, under those conditions, he finally pitched a good inning at Wrigley.

I mean.... it was completely classless.... it really was.... But it was really kinda funny too. My (ex) fiancee and I were laughing our unmentionables off.


Here's the writeup on it: http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/art...=.jsp&c_id=chc

[rockin500]

You mean you wouldn't have taunted him, like they did with Latroy a few years back?

i didnt really boo latroy that lustily once he came back. I'm sure I let out a few boos, but nothing too much more than I would for most opposing players. definitely didnt taunt as I think its kind of cheesy to do.

[Scartissue]

If Alf's out for a long time, the greatest LF in the history of the sport is still available....

This is typical Cubs luck. Alf's been one of the healthiest players around before he came to the Cubs. With his age, this could be the start of a bad trend. Wonder if the Cubs' outfield conditions have anything to do with the injuries. I hear we have one of the worst fields in terms of bumpiness in the league.

[nathanKent]

The other alternative would be to go with 11 pitchers. That's a dangerous proposition though, considering Lilly and Hill are due up before the end of the week.

[Bob Sacamento]

Hmmm. I wonder if this is of the 15-day or the 60-day variety?

The early speculation is that it's going to cost him at least 5 games (that's without the MRI results), so what do you do? Do you tough it for that stretch leaving Alf on the roster and playing short a man? Or do you send Alf to the 15day DL, even if he might be ready to comeback sooner, so that you can call up Murton? Or do you go for door number three, send Pie down, call up Murton while keep playing with Alf on the roster? Each option has their own drawback, either leaving your team a bat short OR you shortarm Alf from coming back soon OR you go with Johnson/Fukudome at CF while giving up on Pie for the time being. Personally, I go with DLing Alf ASAP, hammy injuries aren't exactly the quickest healing and we need the bat.

Of course all of this is moot if the MRI comes back tomorrow and it's worse than thought. Let's hope that doesn't happen...