Pitching Options

I have long advocated the need of an effective, if not superior dependable rotation for the Cubs to be considered a viable playoff contender. History shows that no matter how prolific your offense is, without a quality rotation, you're unlikely to win the big prize.

With that said, let's look at some of the options available to upgrade the Cubs rotation. Of course the higher the number of innings pitched per HR and BB, the better.

B. Zito age 29:
2006: 3.83 ERA 221 IP 27 HR 99 BB
Career: 3.55 ERA 1 HR every 9.7 Inn. 1 BB every 2.6 Inn.

J. Schmidt age 34:
2006: 3.59 ERA 213 IP 21 HR 80 BB
Career: 3.91 ERA 1 HR every 10.9 Inn. 1 BB every 2.6 Inn.

J. Weaver age 30:
2006: 5.76 ERA 171 IP 34 HR 49 BB
Career: 4.58 ERA 1 HR every 8.2 Inn. 1 BB every 3.7 Inn.

J. Suppan age 32:
2006: 4.12 ERA 190 IP 21 HR 69 BB
Career: 4.60 ERA 1 HR every 7.6 Inn. 1 BB every 3.0 Inn.

T. Lilly age 31:
2006: 4.31 ERA 181 IP 28 HR 81 BB
Career: 4.60 ERA 1 HR every 6.5 Inn. 1 BB every 2.5 Inn.

G. Menche age 28:
2006: 4.52 ERA 191 IP 23 HR 60 BB
Career: 4.65 ERA 1 H every /5.7 Inn. 1 BB every 2.5 Inn.

V. Padilla age 29:
2006: 4.50 ERA 200 IP 21 HR 70 BB
Career: 4.06 ERA 1 HR every 9.6 Inn. 1 BB every 2.9 Inn.

R. Wolf age 30:
Came back fron TJS 2006 pitched in 4 games. Missed significant time in 2004 and all of 2005.
2003: 4.23 ERA 200 IP 27 HR 78 BB
Career: 4.21 ERA 1 HR every 7.5 Inn. 1 BB every 2.7 Inn.

There are 5 interesting trades possible. Pittsburgh is looking for a LH power bat to play RF and Cleveland is looking for bullpen help.

Pittsburgh has three LH starters and would consider trading any one of them for a LH power bat in RF.

Z. Duke age 24:
2006: 4.47 ERA 215 IP 17 HR 66 BB
Career: 3.72 ERA 1 HR every 15 Inn. 1 BB every 3.3 Inn.

P Maholm age 25:
2006: 4.76 ERA 176 IP 19 HR 81 BB
Career: 4.27 ERA 1 HR every 10.3 Inn. 1 BB every 2.7 Inn.

T. Gurzelanny age 25:
2006: 3.79 ERA 61 IP 3 HR 31 BB
Career: 4.52 ERA 1 HR every 16.8 Inn. 1 BB every 2.0 Inn.

Cleveland is open to trading RHP Westbrook or LHP Lee for bullpen help and some prospects.

J. Westbrook age 29:
2006: 4.17 ERA 211 IP 15 HR 55 BB
Career: 4.35 ERA 1 HR every 11.7 Inn. 1 BB every 3.3 Inn.

C. Lee age 28:
2006: 4.40 ERA 200 IP 29 HR 58 BB
Career: 4.39 ERA 1 HR every 7.3 Inn. 1 BB every 2.9 Inn.

There is some real quality in this list, with a majority of them being middle of the order starters. The youngsters, and Wolf having come back from TJS, could have a big upside for what we'd either have to pay or trade to acquire them.

Let's contrast the two know starters in the Cubs 2007 rotation, Zambrano and Hill, and the prospect Marshall.

C. Zambrano age 26:
2006: 3.41 ERA 214 IP 20 HR 115 BB
Career: 3.29 ERA 1 HR every 13 Inn. 1 BB every 2.2 Inn.

R. Hill age 27:
2006: 4.17 ERA 99 IP 16 HR 17 BB
Career: 5.12 ERA 1 HR every 6.5 Inn. 1 BB every 2.5 Inn.

S. Marshall age 25:
2006: 5.59 ERA 125 IP 20 HR 59 BB
Career: 5.59 ERA 1 HR every 6.3 Inn. 1 BB every 2.1 Inn.


With a quality start these days considered 6 innings, a HR to IP ratio of 6 would result in a HR yielded every start. Not a good thing. Also combining a low HR to IP ratio and a low BB to IP ratio is a recipe for disaster.

If any of you have any other criteria you think might be helpful in evaluating this list, please contribute it along with your comments.