Someone across the street said it had to with the fact that Marshall took over Harden's spot today. The Post is showing Marshall/Santana at 11-13, so it couldn't have been that. Then, my co-worker calls his local, and gets told it was because the Cubs were playing too good lately. After a good five minute laugh, I figured I'd come on here and get an educated answer.
They're just setting up their rotation for the playoffs such that each of their main guys gets just one more start. It;ll be Zambrano Wednesday, Harden Thursday, Dempster Friday and Lilly Saturday. I believe. Although I wouldn't assume that is the playoff order. I think Dempster and Harden will be flipped.
Doubt it? That's what it is.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sport...cubs-juggle-pitching-rotation,0,1503948.story
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Zambrano looks like Game 3 starter for Cubs
Cubs juggle rotation to prepare for playoffs
<dl class="byline">By Phil Rogers |Tribune staff reporter<dd>9:31 PM CDT, September 22, 2008</dd></dl> NEW YORK - Rich Harden has been pushed back in the Cubs' pitching rotation, a hint that Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano could slide all the way to the No. 3 slot in manager Lou Piniella's postseason rotation.
Piniella is doing no more than dropping clues, for now. He says he will announce his rotation at some point during the weekend series in Milwaukee, perhaps after he knows whom the Cubs will face in the first round.
Piniella said on Monday that left-hander Sean Marshall will start Tuesday's game in place of Harden, who is being pushed back to Thursday's series finale. Zambrano, who no-hit Milwaukee on Sept. 14 but got pounded for eight runs in 12/3 innings by St. Louis on Friday, remains in his Wednesday slot.
"We're starting to get ourselves realigned for postseason play," Piniella said. "I don't have anything to tell you, but we will sometime during the Milwaukee series."
Related links
<!-- END rail --> Ryan Dempster, who is 14-3 with a 2.86 earned-run average at Wrigley Field, won his 17th game on Sunday and is on track to face Milwaukee on Friday at Miller Park. That lines him up to start Game 1 of the playoffs on Oct. 1. Harden would have six days' rest before a start in Game 2.
Zambrano, who has a 5.51 ERA since the All-Star break, is lined up to throw a simulated game Monday and then work Game 3.
"He needs work," Piniella said of Zambrano, who has pitched only 102/3 innings in the last 27 days. "He missed two starts prior to the no-no, then the next start was messy. We're going to let him work as much as possible."
Ted Lilly, who initially was scheduled to start against the Mets on Thursday, has been pushed back to Saturday in Milwaukee. He could be available to work out of the bullpen in Games 1 and 2 before a possible start in Game 4, if necessary. Dempster would be on track to work a Game 5 at Wrigley.
The good news for the Cubs is that all four possible playoff opponents are less productive (judged by OPS) against right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers. The Cubs are currently set to face the Mets, who hit 14 points lower against right-handers than lefties (.277-.263).
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Zambrano looks like Game 3 starter for Cubs
Cubs juggle rotation to prepare for playoffs
<dl class="byline">By Phil Rogers |Tribune staff reporter<dd>9:31 PM CDT, September 22, 2008</dd></dl> NEW YORK - Rich Harden has been pushed back in the Cubs' pitching rotation, a hint that Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano could slide all the way to the No. 3 slot in manager Lou Piniella's postseason rotation.
Piniella is doing no more than dropping clues, for now. He says he will announce his rotation at some point during the weekend series in Milwaukee, perhaps after he knows whom the Cubs will face in the first round.
Piniella said on Monday that left-hander Sean Marshall will start Tuesday's game in place of Harden, who is being pushed back to Thursday's series finale. Zambrano, who no-hit Milwaukee on Sept. 14 but got pounded for eight runs in 12/3 innings by St. Louis on Friday, remains in his Wednesday slot.
"We're starting to get ourselves realigned for postseason play," Piniella said. "I don't have anything to tell you, but we will sometime during the Milwaukee series."
Related links
- Cubs clinch home-field advantage for NL playoffs
-
Cubs 9, Mets 5 Photos - Monday's box score
- <h4>Playoff opponent</h4> <form method="post" action="/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-080921cubspoll,0,4436164,post.poll"> Which team do you want to see the Cubs play?
<label><input name="q129123" value="307533" type="radio">Diamondbacks</label> <label><input name="q129123" value="307534" type="radio">Dodgers</label> <label><input name="q129123" value="307535" type="radio">Phillies</label> <label><input name="q129123" value="307536" type="radio">Mets</label> <label><input name="q129123" value="307537" type="radio">Doesn't matter</label> <input style="position: relative ! important; float: right;" value="Vote" class="vote" type="submit"> </form> <!--This ad call with size [sz=88x31] and position [pos=1] has been turned off.-->
- Cubs might cut a pitcher for playoffs
- Paul Sullivan's Cubs mailbag
<!-- END rail --> Ryan Dempster, who is 14-3 with a 2.86 earned-run average at Wrigley Field, won his 17th game on Sunday and is on track to face Milwaukee on Friday at Miller Park. That lines him up to start Game 1 of the playoffs on Oct. 1. Harden would have six days' rest before a start in Game 2.
Zambrano, who has a 5.51 ERA since the All-Star break, is lined up to throw a simulated game Monday and then work Game 3.
"He needs work," Piniella said of Zambrano, who has pitched only 102/3 innings in the last 27 days. "He missed two starts prior to the no-no, then the next start was messy. We're going to let him work as much as possible."
Ted Lilly, who initially was scheduled to start against the Mets on Thursday, has been pushed back to Saturday in Milwaukee. He could be available to work out of the bullpen in Games 1 and 2 before a possible start in Game 4, if necessary. Dempster would be on track to work a Game 5 at Wrigley.
The good news for the Cubs is that all four possible playoff opponents are less productive (judged by OPS) against right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers. The Cubs are currently set to face the Mets, who hit 14 points lower against right-handers than lefties (.277-.263).
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Zambrano looks like Game 3 starter for Cubs
Cubs juggle rotation to prepare for playoffs
<dl class="byline">By Phil Rogers |Tribune staff reporter<dd>9:31 PM CDT, September 22, 2008</dd></dl> NEW YORK - Rich Harden has been pushed back in the Cubs' pitching rotation, a hint that Opening Day starter Carlos Zambrano could slide all the way to the No. 3 slot in manager Lou Piniella's postseason rotation.
Piniella is doing no more than dropping clues, for now. He says he will announce his rotation at some point during the weekend series in Milwaukee, perhaps after he knows whom the Cubs will face in the first round.
Piniella said on Monday that left-hander Sean Marshall will start Tuesday's game in place of Harden, who is being pushed back to Thursday's series finale. Zambrano, who no-hit Milwaukee on Sept. 14 but got pounded for eight runs in 12/3 innings by St. Louis on Friday, remains in his Wednesday slot.
"We're starting to get ourselves realigned for postseason play," Piniella said. "I don't have anything to tell you, but we will sometime during the Milwaukee series."
Related links
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- Cubs clinch home-field advantage for NL playoffs
- Monday's box score
- Playoff opponent
<form method="post" action="/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-080921cubspoll,0,4436164,post.poll"> Which team do you want to see the Cubs play?
<label><input name="q129123" value="307533" type="radio">Diamondbacks</label> <label><input name="q129123" value="307534" type="radio">Dodgers</label> <label><input name="q129123" value="307535" type="radio">Phillies</label> <label><input name="q129123" value="307536" type="radio">Mets</label> <label><input name="q129123" value="307537" type="radio">Doesn't matter</label> <input style="position: relative ! important; float: right;" value="Vote" class="vote" type="submit"> <!--This ad call with size [sz=88x31] and position [pos=1] has been turned off.-->
</form>- Cubs might cut a pitcher for playoffs
- Paul Sullivan's Cubs mailbag
<!-- END rail --> Ryan Dempster, who is 14-3 with a 2.86 earned-run average at Wrigley Field, won his 17th game on Sunday and is on track to face Milwaukee on Friday at Miller Park. That lines him up to start Game 1 of the playoffs on Oct. 1. Harden would have six days' rest before a start in Game 2.
Zambrano, who has a 5.51 ERA since the All-Star break, is lined up to throw a simulated game Monday and then work Game 3.
"He needs work," Piniella said of Zambrano, who has pitched only 102/3 innings in the last 27 days. "He missed two starts prior to the no-no, then the next start was messy. We're going to let him work as much as possible."
Ted Lilly, who initially was scheduled to start against the Mets on Thursday, has been pushed back to Saturday in Milwaukee. He could be available to work out of the bullpen in Games 1 and 2 before a possible start in Game 4, if necessary. Dempster would be on track to work a Game 5 at Wrigley.
The good news for the Cubs is that all four possible playoff opponents are less productive (judged by OPS) against right-handed pitchers than left-handed pitchers. The Cubs are currently set to face the Mets, who hit 14 points lower against right-handers than lefties (.277-.263).
Beat ya hahaha.
