I love the Chicago Cubs. I love it even more when they make me eat my words and prove me wrong. If you may remember, I wrote an article not too long ago stating the Cubs are great, but they lack a No. 2 starter.
Well, it turns out that they have not just a number two starter, but a three and maybe a four.
Ryan Dempster pitched yet another lights-out game to improve to five and one on Thursday. Striking out 12 is impressive, even if it was against one of the five worst offenses in baseball.
And on Wednesday, Ted Lilly pitched yet another great game to improve his record and take down Jake Peavy.
Jason Marquis has pitched some really good games as of late, too. If you take out his first couple starts, he has about a 3.50 ERA, which is more than sufficient for a fourth starter.
Get Rich Hill some confidence in his breaking pitches, and this could be one heck of a starting pitching staff, followed up with a great bullpen.
So, I am done trying to say that the Cubs need pitching help to win the World Series. After all, I am not too fond of the taste of crow.
This team looks more than solid enough to make a serious run to the World Series. It is early, I know, but they have proven a lot so far. We'll see how the Jim Edmonds deal works out, but at a cost of only around $300,000, even if he sits the bench all year, it may be worth the money.
I just hate seeing the Cardinal that rocked the Cubs over the last seven years in Cubbie blue.
Check the schedule the rest of the month. The only series that looks worrisome is the series against the SMOKING HOT surging Houston Astros. Hopefully the Cubs pitching will cool off Lance Berkman, and keep the lead they are building in the NL Central.
Worst come to worst, the Cubs play the Pirates another six times in May, which certainly can't hurt the record.
Here's a drink to hoping the Cubs keep the pitching solid, and that the bats can consistently pound out four or five runs a game. If that happens, I will be in Chicago with my good friend Zack, having at least 20 beers for each win the Cubs get in the World Series.
Let's hope they force me to drink 80 beers!
Go Cubs!
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2 months ago
I have to agree with you here; the Cubs' pitching has really come full-circle at this point in the season. Lilly's got himself into shape, with 10 and 11 K's in his last two starts, respectively; Dempster, I'm convinced, could have gotten himself out of trouble today to get a complete game shutout, and Marquis is starting to get a little balanced. However, I can't concede that having Hill in Iowa is going to help him get into form; pending his start on Friday against the Pirates, I'm willing to say Gallagher is a much better option for a fifth starter, and have Hill working out of the 'pen (or sticking around in AAA ball for the rest of the season) down the stretch.
Either way, with four solid starters, a damn good bullpen (19 scorless innings, broken only by Wood letting a run slip vs San Diego), and the offensive production we're getting so far this year, the Cubs are at least going to be playing for a while in October; World Series is possible, but one step at a time, eh?
2 months ago
I believe Hill belongs in AAA until he can figure out his control problems. Those walks were really becoming a problem and were hurting the team drastically. With Soriano finding his swing and the other players staying relatively healthy, the Cubs look like THE team to beat during the warm summer months ahead.
2 months ago
Sam, you just hit on the really scary part. This team is built around hitting. Hitting normally doesn't pick up until June. We are yet to see how powerful this team really can be. They very well could end the year as a top 3 offense and a top 10 pitching staff the way things are looking right now.
2 months ago
Nice article Tyler! I agree that the Cubs have three solid starters in Zambrano, Lilly, and Dempster. For me the jury is out on Marquis. I'm really hoping he can turn things around and be a solid four. For now I hope Gallagher can continue to come up with big starts. I agree if the team stays healthy (knock on wood) they could make a run to the World Series. This year the American League looks a little beleaguered, look the Rays are leading the AL East and the Yankees are in last place, maybe this is the Cubs year! GO CUBS!
2 months ago
No need to eat crow or any other bird my friend. That's what kills me about us Cubs fans - we get too high when things are going well and think the world's ended when it's not. A couple of good weeks doesn't change the fact that the starting pitching is still not as good as Arizona, and probably isn't good enough to go all the way. Zambrano and Dempster have been terrific. The other three starters combined record is awful - check it out. Granted, Lilly is pitching much better now but taken as a whole, you'll find this to be true. And we need Bob Howry to start pitching well, we can't keep running Wood and Marmol out there every day.
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