What happens if...

[John]

I just want to know what will happen if Prior and Miller come back to form. They both by chance find it during spring training and impresses pinella. We only need one more spot to fill the rotation. Prior would be #2 but would we trade miller or would he be in the bullpen.

[Ivy Killa]

I just want to know what will happen if Prior and Miller come back to form. They both by chance find it during spring training and impresses pinella. We only need one more spot to fill the rotation. Prior would be #2 but would we trade miller or would he be in the bullpen.

Or he could unfortunately end up like Scott Williamson and be traded.

[John]

I know but the way our pitching is it wouldnt be a bad idea to keep him but will we have room?

[Ivy Killa]

If we go with 7 in the pen and most teams do...then yea we'll have enough room at the expense of a Marshall or Marmol etc...This is probably what the staff will look like.

Starting Rotation
Carlos Zambrano
Ted Lilly
Rich Hill
Jason Marquis
Mark Prior

Bullpen
Neal Cotts
Ryan Dempster
Scott Eyre
Bob Howry
Wade Miller
Will Ohman
Kerry Wood

[HOLYCOW!25]

I've been wondering this for some time too. I haven't seen much of Wade Miller though so I don't really know what to say of him,

[Ivy Killa]

^I remember him from his Houston days. If he's healthy and returns to form this guy could be good.

[Al Spanglers ghost]

You can never have to much pitching.That would be a great problem for Uncle Lou to have this year.
Has anybody heard what is going on with Glendon Rush?
He had that dangerous health problem with a blood clot,but I have not heard much about it since the end of the season.

[NeifiPerezMVP2007]

I would think Jason Marquis would be the long man if both are healthy. You must have Prior if healthy and Miller is pretty good when not hurt too.

[Ivy Killa]

^i'd be happy if that happens....of course we have no idea how either will pitch and that's alot of money to pay a long man.

[Webgem]

You can never have to much pitching...:D

[ChinMusic22]

If Miller and Prior are both healthy, we're in really good shape. I'd move Hill to the bulpen before Miller. If Miller can get back to his Houston form, he's dangerous.

A read about Rusch the other day. He's on blood thinners and can't though until an ti.me between July and September.

[scuba]

I agree with gem, you can't ever have enough pitching. I would say put Miller in the pen where Rusch was and leave Marquis in the rotation. I don't see any team in baseball spending $20 million on a guy just to send him to the bullpen. I think we would trade Marquis before that would happen.

[diehardnorthsider]

I agree with gem, you can't ever have enough pitching. I would say put Miller in the pen where Rusch was and leave Marquis in the rotation. I don't see any team in baseball spending $20 million on a guy just to send him to the bullpen. I think we would trade Marquis before that would happen.

I agree with you guys

[John]

In that case then send hill to the pen, he is the cheapest pitcher we have for a starter and who knows if he will be the first or second half hill. It sure is nice to finally have this problem in pitching and not like last year with not enough. Im surprised they didnt have barrett try to pitch, lol.

[Ivy Killa]

If Hill pitches anything like he did in the second half it would be a waste to send him to the pen and it might further stunt his growth in the majors....leave him in the rotation if he's worthy of staying there.

[John]

The big ? is IF. I hope he does pitch great we need lefties in our rotation.

[HOLYCOW!25]

I would love to have Prior back in the rotation if he can stay injury free and pitch like he did in '03.

[ryno4ever]

Or he could unfortunately end up like Scott Williamson and be traded.

If I remember right, Williamson was asking for a trade. He wasn't one of "Dusty's boys" and felt he wasn't getting enough pitching time.

[Webgem]

If I remember right, Williamson was asking for a trade. He wasn't one of "Dusty's boys" and felt he wasn't getting enough pitching time.


You're right, he did request a trade.

[Ivy Killa]

If I remember right, Williamson was asking for a trade. He wasn't one of "Dusty's boys" and felt he wasn't getting enough pitching time.

My bad, i forgot about that. I was just making the comparison because the same scenario might be in the fold for Miller.

[newt07]

There is also the possibility that Hill would struggle. If that happens, now you have possibly 2 spots open. Our staff would be loaded if we had Prior and Miller healthy, and pitching up to their abilities.

[Ivy Killa]

That would be a lethal rotation if all were healthy...

1. Zambrano
2. Lilly
3. Prior
4. Miller
5. Marquis/Hill

[Al Spanglers ghost]

There is also the possibility that Hill would struggle. If that happens, now you have possibly 2 spots open. Our staff would be loaded if we had Prior and Miller healthy, and pitching up to their abilities.

I couldn't agree more about Rich Hill. When ever you see the projected rotation for next year,everyone seems to count on Rich Hill to be a shoe in.
Hill was kinda like Rex Grossman has been for the Bears this football season,either very good,or very bad.
I think he has terrific potential,but if he has a terrible spring[hopefully not]
I think if you have a healthy Prior and Miller that will be important.
There are only 3 spots in the rotation that should be locked up.

Zambrano 1
Lilly 2
Marquis 3
with Prior,Miller,and Hill competing for the 4 and 5 spots.
I think Cotts will be used as a swing man,much like Dusty used Glendon Rush
the past couple years.

[HOLYCOW!25]

Yea you're right, Hill's really not a shoe in like everyone says. If he has a Spring Training that goes like his second call up was, then he's in, but he is competing with Miller and Prior (assuming he's injury free, I'm pretty sure I heard Miller is doing good) for the 4 and 5 spots.

[newt07]

Like I said before, this rotation could be great. it would be nice to have a solid rotation and a solid offense to compliment them.

[scuba]

Things are looking good so far. It is only January though...:cool:

[Webgem]

Things are looking good so far. It is only January though...:cool:

Pitchers should be starting their throwing programs and getting ready for ST...only 41 days away...:D :D

[bringbacktuffy]

I totally agree that you can never have too much pitching, I have a feeling that someone prob Marquis or Miller, will wind up in a trade for one of the holes in the lineup depending on how the CF situation is addressed. The thing with Hill is that he certainly has the ability, but struggled b/c he lacked the confidence to go after major league hitters. Once he figured out that he could, it was like flipping a light switch from crappy to dominant. If he can keep his confidence there is no reason he would be out of the rotation.

[noleafclover 126]

You're right on there Webgem, you can never have to much pitching... But... Miller makes me kind of nervous. He had shoulder surgery and his velocity has gone down since his Houston days. Now I know, you don't need major velocity to pitch in the majors, but he doesn't look like the same guy I remembered. I hope he does well cause it would really help us. I would rather go to Spring Training loaded on too many arms then not enough. Every year someone usually gets hurt. That is the sad part of baseball but that is how it goes. And if no one gets hurt, we could trade a Marshall or a Marmol to get something else we need.