I go with Z, Demp, and Harden. Although Lilly would be nice to get a lefty arm in there for a different look. If Harden could pitch on short rest, I’d have him #1. That being said, I’m almost use him as a pitcher to close out a series.

Speaking of Harden, is it me, or does it look like he’s altered his delivery. The other day that fastball looked like he was coming right over the top, instead of of to the side.

what would you guys think if Wood returned to the rotation next year if he can make it through healthy this year

Absolutely not on Wood starting. First, the Cubs need to be able to re-sign him. Second, does anyone have any confidence that Wood would be able to stay healthy as a starter?

sign a guy like Sabathia AND Burnett in the off-season (highly likely actually, if Cuban wins the bid for the Cubs)

Huh? You think it is highly like that the Cubs sign Sabathia and Burnett? Or even two comparable players? Not a chance.

Consider this, Derrek Lee, at this pace, in right on target for Sean Casey’s career average.

Career OPS+:
Lee – 123
Casey – 110

They really are not even close. Lee has a 50 point career OPS advantage – that is not “close.”

He beats Lee in nearly every offensive averages category except home runs (15 vs 27), but beats him in hits, doubles, average, OBP, and is even close in SLG.

Hmm… Casey has the advantage in hits, doubles, average, and a very slight advantage in OBP.

Lee has the advantage in runs, 3bs, RBI, SBs, BBs, SLUG, OPS, OPS+, and Total bases.

Lee, over his career, has been a far superior player to Sean Casey.

The major league record is 36—Jim Rice…with 35 games left, at this average, he’ll fall just short of the record at 31 GIDP’s…

Further… 31 GIDP is also not “just falling short” of 36. 36 is 16% more than what Lee is on pace for… that is a big difference.

in all seriousness though, what would you guys think if Wood returned to the rotation next year if he can make it through healthy this year (a la John Smoltz), and we insert Ceda in his place, and name Marmol the closer?

Z
Harden
Dempster
Wood
Lilly

If healthy, that rotation might be the best the league has ever seen….but I’m must be dreaming to think Wood could ever make it through healthy as a starter.

I think a bigger topic of discussion needs to be what to do about Derrek Lee, and not the rotation. Dude grounds into double plays so often and at the most in-opportune times, that you just know, he’s going to do it in the post-season, much like DeRosa did last year….Last year, DeRosa was the GIDP goat, and this year, Lee has taken the cake, and gone above and beyond terribleness.

Consider this, Derrek Lee, at this pace, in right on target for Sean Casey’s career average. Casey has never really fit in well with any team, because of his lack of power in an obvious power position at first base. He beats Lee in nearly every offensive averages category except home runs (15 vs 27), but beats him in hits, doubles, average, OBP, and is even close in SLG.

Regarded as one of the slowest players in the game, Casey has an average of 18 GIDP’s per season. His career high was 27 in 137 games. Lee has 24 in 125 games already, which is about once every 5 games. The major league record is 36—Jim Rice…with 35 games left, at this average, he’ll fall just short of the record at 31 GIDP’s…However, as we all know, Lee hits them in bunches, and has had several games with 2 GIDP’s in one single game, so I wouldn’t put it past him. I tell you what….game on the line in a crucial situation and runners on base, I NEVER want to see Lee up there ever again, especially in games where we might be behind and desperately need runs. He’s a living, breathing, rally killer. I’d almost rather have Hoffpauir than him, and Hoffpauir has definitely earned that opportunity.

He’s also good, and he has only had three bad starts all year, really. YOu’re going to demote him for that? Please.

Harden can’t go deep into games, so you start with Z. Then Demp, Harden, Z (or Lilly based on record) and Z or Demp in 5. That keeps you fresh for the next series without losing anything in this one.

Further… Dempster has pitched so well at home that I think you would want him throwing at Wrigley, which would mean him throwing in either games 1 or 2.

Z
Harden
Dempster
Z (if necessary)
Harden (if necessary)

You have to go all out, and let’s face it, Lilly is NOT the guy you want in there in the postseason unless it’s super cold out, and it’s in Chicago, because that’s the only time when the gopher ball is somewhat mitigated. If they make it out of the first round, I think you have to start differently like:

Dempster
Z
Harden
Dempster
Z
Harden
Dempster

I don’t know…I mean, Samardzija and Marshall could be wild cards in all of this, and I’m glad they’re on the team. It gives us two very capable guys to come out of the pen if the starter gets in trouble, though I like Samardzija more as a set-up guy, and not long-man. I always wondered if the Cubs might give Ceda a shot, and just DFA Howry, or sign a guy like Corpas who was just waived….I guess we’ll see.

And just one final comment….with all of this, I think we’re getting quite a bit ahead of ourselves. Let’s get to the postseason first….but I completely understand the excitement, yet we all know about “Cubbie occurrences” throughout the years.