The Cubs Starting Rotation and How They Will Finish!

Andrew Elterman by Correspondent Written on April 20, 2009
CHICAGO - APRIL 17: Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano #38 of the Chicago Cubs delivers the ball against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 17, 2009 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Set Rotation:

Carlos Zambrano:

Last year: 14-6 3.91 ERA

This year: 16-9 3.27 ERA

Carlos Zambrano last year was one of the best pitchers in the league starting behind Ben Sheets in the All-Star game. He had a No-Hitter against the Houston Astros and wasn't the same after that. He got beaten up by the Cardinals, which could have been because of his grandmothers death, but he didn't seem the same after that giving up seven runs to the Cardinals and six runs to the Dodgers in game two of the NLDS.

He started this season a bit slow struggling in the first couple of innings of the game against the Astros but ended up giving a quality 6 inning start and one run allowed. He had another quality-like start against the Crew pitching 6 innings and giving up three runs, but then in 7 innings of work against the Cards he gave up seven runs.

His outlook on the season seems complicated but given his history he will bounce back for another All-Star season. He is a power pitcher and will again dominate the league. I say he will have nine losses just because he also has a history to be erratic when angry, and we all know it will happen.

Ryan Dempster:

Last Year: 17-6 2.96 ERA

This Year: 15-7 3.59 ERA

What a huge season for Ryan Dempster just a year ago. He went from a struggling starter to a closer back to the starting rotation. He surprised everyone in the league going undefeated on the home-stand until the end of the year in a rained-out loss to the Astros. He was dominating pitcher baffling everyone he faced. He had a career high in innings pitched, wins, strikeouts, and ERA.

The problem I think he will have this year is that now batters are expecting him to be good and will make him work a bit harder. He hasn't looked terrible this year but he hasn't looked great either.

In his first start he went six innings and gave up two runs, followed by another six inning performance giving up four runs, and a 4.2 inning performance giving up another four innings. He has been an ERA dropper in most rotations and bull-pens and will hopefully be able to do it again.

Ted Lilly:

Last Year: 17-9 4.09 ERA

This Year: 17-10 4.13 ERA

Ted Lilly started last April off on a terrible note with a 6.00 ERA. He approved as the season went on and ended off with a career high 17 wins and a modest 4.09 ERA.

He has good stuff and will usually get you the win, He started this year off on a TERRIBLE note giving up four Home-Runs in five innings, but made up for it by delivering a near No-Hitter against the Colorado Rockies giving up one hit and no runs over six and two-third innings.

He is showing that he wont start of to slow this year, but is averaging almost one Home-Run per game in his career. He has been a high win pitcher in his career but also a high loss pitcher.

Rich Harden:

Last Year: 5-1(With Cubs) 1.77 ERA in 12 starts

This Year: 21-5 2.42 ERA

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written on April 20, 2009 Preview/Prediction

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