Zambrano bumped up. Marquis to be bumped out?
There will be a full series preview from Kurt later on and Byron has already exchanged pleasantries with the enemy, but I thought I’d just like to inform you (and express my giddiness) that Carlos Zambrano is getting the start tonight in Game 1 against the Phillies instead of Jason Marquis.
After the Cubs completed their sweepage of the Buccos last night, I went out to celebrate with my friends (some of them are Cardinals fans so I use “friends” loosely here), but I had a somewhat hard time fully enjoying myself knowing that the Cubs would be opening up a infinitely more important series against the Phillies with Jason Marquis (6.75 ERA) as our spearhead. Tonight’s game reeked of loss.
After a few adult beverages and countless Marquis-related jokes from my Cardinals “friends”, it was time to call it a night.
When sunlight finally broke, I awoke knowing that today was about frustration and survival. I started to think of excuses to back up the Cubs signing Marquis last year (any help here) and conjuring ways I could deflect the conversation away from how bad of a pitcher he actually is (again, any help would be appreciated).
I lugged myself over to my laptop to look up any stats that might help me only to find the most wonderful gift: Zambrano was going to pitch instead of Marquis. Needless to say, I felt like doing a back-flip (that is if I could actually do a back-flip…and if I wasn’t terribly hung over).
As I read into this move by Lou, I started to realize that perhaps there is more to this than simply Marquis’ proposed sickness keeping him from pitching…Are the Cubs fading Marquis out?
So far, Jon Lieber has looked great out of the bullpen. Can the Cubs really afford to keep him out of the rotation if he continues pitching this well? Then there is Marquis’ performance. I know he’s only had one start but it was not a quality one. Like we are slowly watching Reed Johnson push Felix Pie out of the starting lineup, so too Jon Lieber is removing Marquis.
If Sean Marshall gets a spot start this Sunday because Marquis is still too sick (strep throat) to pitch, I would not be surprised at all if Lieber takes his next start. And the next one after that. And the next one after that…
Maybe I’m just over-analyzing this or suffering from a case of attempted self-fulfilling prophecy, but it looks like Lieber time is on its way.
So anyway, tonight’s matchup is Zambrano (1-0, 1.32 ERA) vs. righty Brett Myers (0-1, 6.30 ERA). Do work Big Z.
After the Cubs completed their sweepage of the Buccos last night, I went out to celebrate with my friends (some of them are Cardinals fans so I use “friends” loosely here), but I had a somewhat hard time fully enjoying myself knowing that the Cubs would be opening up a infinitely more important series against the Phillies with Jason Marquis (6.75 ERA) as our spearhead. Tonight’s game reeked of loss.
After a few adult beverages and countless Marquis-related jokes from my Cardinals “friends”, it was time to call it a night.
When sunlight finally broke, I awoke knowing that today was about frustration and survival. I started to think of excuses to back up the Cubs signing Marquis last year (any help here) and conjuring ways I could deflect the conversation away from how bad of a pitcher he actually is (again, any help would be appreciated).
I lugged myself over to my laptop to look up any stats that might help me only to find the most wonderful gift: Zambrano was going to pitch instead of Marquis. Needless to say, I felt like doing a back-flip (that is if I could actually do a back-flip…and if I wasn’t terribly hung over).
As I read into this move by Lou, I started to realize that perhaps there is more to this than simply Marquis’ proposed sickness keeping him from pitching…Are the Cubs fading Marquis out?
So far, Jon Lieber has looked great out of the bullpen. Can the Cubs really afford to keep him out of the rotation if he continues pitching this well? Then there is Marquis’ performance. I know he’s only had one start but it was not a quality one. Like we are slowly watching Reed Johnson push Felix Pie out of the starting lineup, so too Jon Lieber is removing Marquis.
If Sean Marshall gets a spot start this Sunday because Marquis is still too sick (strep throat) to pitch, I would not be surprised at all if Lieber takes his next start. And the next one after that. And the next one after that…
Maybe I’m just over-analyzing this or suffering from a case of attempted self-fulfilling prophecy, but it looks like Lieber time is on its way.
So anyway, tonight’s matchup is Zambrano (1-0, 1.32 ERA) vs. righty Brett Myers (0-1, 6.30 ERA). Do work Big Z.
