Rotation?

[Fukudome = God]

So, how does the rotation look like for the Cubs??

Mark Prior should be ready for the home opener right?

So, Zambrano and Maddux in Cincinatti, then Prior, Hill and Williams at home i assume?

Wood to be back by mid-april right?

I'll be honest, i've been stuck in western ny all winter and this area is buzzing on the Buffalo Sabres, so i havn't been fallowing much baseball. Just quick news briefs here and there. Is that an accurate starting rotation for the start of the season?

Also, is anyone close to beating out Williams? Rusch? Guzman?

[otis89]

From what I've heard, it sounds like it'll be Zambrano and Prior in Cincy. That means Maddux will probably start the home opener.

[burger eater]

I assume Rusch will be in the rotation to start the season, not Hill. I'd love to be wrong and see Guzman grab a spot in the rotation, but I can't imagine there's any way he will right out of ST, regardless of how well he does.

Z
Prior
Maddux
Williams
Rusch

Miller sometime later
Wood in August or never

[redwhitenblue]

Z
Prior
Maddux

and a choice between
Rusch
Williams
Guzman
Hill(least likely)

Miller and Wood both mid-May

[Bob Sacamento]

The Cubs won't need the fifth starter until the April 17th-18th-19th series against the Dodgers (likely the 18th) when they play 9 straight games. And that's the only day during the month that a fifth man is needed.

Zambrano, Prior and Maddux are givens for the first three starters, it's the fourth spot that's kind of up for grabs. But it's Rusch's to lose, he's no longer required to be in the pen, and he's had pretty good success in the rotation. In his two years starting games for the Cubs, he's started 35 games with an 11-9 record, going 209 IP, giving up 218 hits, 91 earned runs, 19 hrs, 55 bb, 149 k. That's a 3.92 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, .273 BAA.

Williams would really have to shine the rest of Spring in order to take that last spot from Glendon. And in order for Guzman to take that fourth spot, Williams and Rusch have to bottom out. Hill really doesn't have too much of a shot for the fourth role. But Guzman and Hill should be able to give Williams a run for his money in that fifth man spot that will be needed once or twice in April and most of May as Wood and Miller rehab.

[Fukudome = God]

The Cubs won't need the fifth starter until the April 17th-18th-19th series against the Dodgers (likely the 18th) when they play 9 straight games. And that's the only day during the month that a fifth man is needed.

Zambrano, Prior and Maddux are givens for the first three starters, it's the fourth spot that's kind of up for grabs. But it's Rusch's to lose, he's no longer required to be in the pen, and he's had pretty good success in the rotation. In his two years starting games for the Cubs, he's started 35 games with an 11-9 record, going 209 IP, giving up 218 hits, 91 earned runs, 19 hrs, 55 bb, 149 k. That's a 3.92 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, .273 BAA.

Williams would really have to shine the rest of Spring in order to take that last spot from Glendon. And in order for Guzman to take that fourth spot, Williams and Rusch have to bottom out. Hill really doesn't have too much of a shot for the fourth role. But Guzman and Hill should be able to give Williams a run for his money in that fifth man spot that will be needed once or twice in April and most of May as Wood and Miller rehab.

Nice, thanks for the info. Exactly what i was looking for!!!