Comments on: The Cubs Won’t Have a Traditional Rotation in 2016 (And That’s a Good Thing)

By: Ron guidolin

Ron guidolin — Wed, 03 Feb 2016 13:15:26 +0000

I like the pitching staff and hope neil ramirez comes back strong again,His injury set him back in2015,but 2914 he was very very good and really could be the guy to make the cubs staff excellent on paper at least. Let’s go cubbies.

By: theguz

theguz — Sat, 16 Jan 2016 05:59:37 +0000

Which is exactly why Ross should be jettisoned. Cubs have crazy flexibility/versatility, and could even go w/9 RP; the 14 Ps, 8 posn players, and Baez, Coghlan, Alcantara or LaStella as the only reserves.

I’d love to see a 6-man rotation, or maybe a 4-man pitching staff ready for every game. Maddon might be the crazy mad scientist to pull it off.

Imagine Arrieta, Lester, Lackey, Hammel, and Hendricks all making 5 fewer starts, pitching 30-35 fewer innings, saving their arms for Oct–and future yrs. Warren is prime #6 candidate (he could be our #3 this yr, yes, that good), but Wood, Richard, Cahill–and even Edwards–could all do it.

By: Nate Greabe

Nate Greabe — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 00:19:18 +0000

Yeah, it would take a serious and probably unrealistic overhaul to succeed in doing what the Rockies tried, but there are definitely less extreme strategies that could work and make a team much better. I think the Cubs are headed that way.

By: Nate Greabe

Nate Greabe — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 00:15:23 +0000

No worries, and you didn’t sound too harsh — I didn’t know about the historical context, and I should have looked into it more. Thanks again for reading!

By: victor19nyc

victor19nyc — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:44:08 +0000

I posted this as a comment back on December 10:
“I am beginning to wonder if “bullpen games” are part of the team’s overall strategy. Rather than trade away talent and/or spend big money on starting pitcher, since as you point out the market has soared this offseason, corner the market on swing guys to spell a starter in trouble (Hendricks and Hammel) or bring someone in for a new look when the opposing lineup flips for the third go around. Comments like “stretching out” pitchers in spring training is a clue that something could be going on. Why else retain Wood, Cahill, CRichard and trade for Warren?

Lester, Arrieta and Lackey are good bets to throw 6+ innings most starts and are less vulnerable to losing effectiveness the third time through a lineup, but having several guys who can come in and throw mid-90s for a couple innings if needed and spot start is an interesting way of building a staff to include keeping everyone fresh for the season.”

By: Bill Thomson

Bill Thomson — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:33:57 +0000

I didn’t mean to sound as harsh as I did, but I have a thing about not mentioning historical precedents (it’s the academic in me). Plus, I have a somewhat visceral reaction from trying to follow Branch Rickey’s “OBP principle” as a kid, only to have a series of coaches tell me to “just swing at the damn ball” (;-). To be proven correct today is little solace to having been moved down and finally out in the batting order in little league.

By: Nate Greabe

Nate Greabe — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:08:25 +0000

Yeah, I didn’t mean that it was a revolutionary idea — just that the Cubs are well suited to put *some* of its strategies into practice when it is appropriate for them. I don’t think there will be any clear pattern — I just think we’ll see more long middle relief appearances (by good pitchers) and some shorter starts in general. And perhaps some “bullpen games” toward the back of the rotation from time to time.

Thanks for reading!

By: Nate Greabe

Nate Greabe — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:05:13 +0000

I don’t think we’ll see anything super revolutionary, but I do think we’ll see more shorter outings, especially early in the year and especially when pitchers like Wood and Warren are well-rested and able to pitch a few innings.

By: Nate Greabe

Nate Greabe — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:03:26 +0000

Thanks!

By: Nate Greabe

Nate Greabe — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 20:03:10 +0000

I agree, but if Baez can play CF, that bench is suddenly a lot less short than it looks right now. Thanks for reading!