Can someone tell me why Rich Harden did not start game 1?

[dynamite140]

I was shocked when i saw Dempster started the first game and Zambrano 2nd. I could not believe Harden as going to pitch game 3. He is the best pitcher on the Cubs... okay the best 6 inning pitcher in baseball.

Were the Cubs thinking at worst they go 1-1 and then Harden will get game 3 which would give them the best chance to go ahead 2-1? Were they thinking if Harden pitches game 1 and loses, they are in deep trouble b/c their ace started the first game and now in big trouble?

 

[krk1030]

I agree. You want your best guy to get 2 starts if possible.

Only advantage is i think he is their best option on the road.

 

[whormoan]

Dempster's home record.

 

[krk1030]

Dempster's home record.

Thats what i thought at first, but i still would rather have Harden. Would have had Dempster go game 2.

 

[dynamite140]

Really? To me it would been

Harden
Zambrano
Dempster


I mean this is your 1st, 2nd, 3rd best pitchers

 

[krk1030]

Really? To me it would been

Harden
Zambrano
Dempster


I mean this is your 1st, 2nd, 3rd best pitchers

Dempster is much much better at home, and you gain nothing with z going game 2 because only the game 1 starter will get a 2nd start.

Too late now, at least they got their best guy in a game they need to win.

 

[jordan17]

Why isnt Launching Pad Lilly in the rotation? he pitched well down the sretch! :lol:

 

[jwblue]

1> He is not one of the Cubs best starters when he can only go 6 innings and hand the ball over to an average bullpen.

2> His last 2 starts he has walked 5 and 6 batters which are his highest totals for the year. Word is that he has lost MPH off his fastball. No surprise.

 

[r.a.]

Why isnt Launching Pad Lilly in the rotation? he pitched well down the sretch! :lol:

He will start game 4 ... if there is one.

 

[prodigy]

harden is the best pitcher in this series.
even if you qualify it by saying he's a 6 inning pitcher, he's still the best pitcher in this series. and he could lose 3-4 mph off his fastball and that wouldnt change anything.

 

[knucklecup]

As soon as Dempster was given game one starting duties, I knew I was going to bet against him. When it shaped up to be the Dodgers, that just put the icing on the cake.

Pinella does a lot of good, but that decision is the reason the Cubs are where they're at.

 

[prodigy]

As soon as Dempster was given game one starting duties, I knew I was going to bet against him. When it shaped up to be the Dodgers, that just put the icing on the cake.

Pinella does a lot of good, but that decision is the reason the Cubs are where they're at.

bingo.

 

[TheBud]

The rotation should have went Harden Dempster then Zambrano... Zambrano's to emotional, gets too jacked up in big games in Wrigley..should had him in LA

 

[OTK]

Dempster has been outstanding all year. People wouldn't be saying this if Dempster pitched his normal great game. He pitched poorly, and that happens. Too late to go back and change it. Harden is probably their best pitcher though and is probably the best pitcher in the playoffs altogether.

Easy to second guess now, but I get why people would say this. Dempster is a great pitcher though and they likely would have won if he pitched to his normal standards.

 

[hardys4ever2000]

Dempster's home record.

i second that

 

[VoiceofReason101]

Its common sense really as to why go with Ryan 1st and Z 2nd. Quick answer: Ryan home record and has been pitching the most consistent without any physical setbacks unlike the other two "aces".
Putting Big Z second is simply a shrink type move by Lou. How do you think Z would react pitching him 3rd? Think about that for a second. He considers himself the ace and he happens to be the highest paid player. Hes an emotional pitcher/player/guy and putting him 3rd would have been something he might have taken personally. Also putting him 2nd gives him the home crowd which I fathom Lou was counting on in giving him an emotional lift.

This is the logic and reasoning behind what was done.

LAD simply have the more consistent pitchers in my mind. I had them to win the NL before the season for that very reason and wiht the addition of Manny this team simply has all the tools to win it all. Whats amazing is that they got NOTHING from Penny or Schimdt all year. Think if at least Penny would have been in the rotation.

 

[Factor15]

What about the Curse.... The Fact that the cubs are destined to lose. The cubs are MEANT to lose.

 

[Harvey Dent]

Look at what Lou did last year

 

[crazykind]

i totally agree lou made a monumental error by not starting his lights-out pitcher in game one...when i saw it i thought rich had to be injured or something

losing game one is big, losing game one at home is huge...even if harden wins game 3 he is likely done for the series which is an absolute waste of the talent you traded for to get you to the top...it looks to me like lou was so enamored with his offense that he forgot what he learned in seattle long ago -- in the postseason, good pitching beats good hitting...im sure he envisioned his ace on the mound to close out the series in game 3 -- shame on you lou, you knew better

 

[RDTrains]

There is strong speculation that Harden is not 100% healthy. I guess will will know more Saturday.