This is just getting sad(CHC Pitching)
Normally I will only write in this blog about the Cubs to poke fun of them or when they happen to be playing my team, the Cardinals. However, who knows, it might happen more often since I'm now on the outer fringe of Chicago suburbs, since I get more Cubs/Sox news than Cardinals now.
But today we're writing about the Cubs.
It's straight up sad how much this team has been riddled with injuries. Obviously Derrek Lee is a big one, as he went from being the batting champion and 3rd in MVP votes to being out most of the season, and when he did come back briefly, he was a very mediocre first baseman, obviously with lingering effects from the injury.
But beyond that, let's focus on the pitching:
Kerry Wood, being paid 12M this year, has made 4 starts, going 1-2 in those 4 starts, and has spent the vast majority of the season on the DL.
Mark Prior, being paid 3.65M, carrying the expectations of once being considered among the top, most can't miss prospects in baseball, has started 9 games this season, going 1-6. He has also spent most of the season on the DL
Glendon Rusch, being paid 2.75M, has made 9 starts and pitched in relief in 14 games and is 3-8.
He has made two stints on the 15-day DL, most recently coming back on the 22nd.
Wade Miller, who was signed as an injured free agent, is being paid 1M and has not made a start. To be fair, this deal might not be bad still. Cardinals fans may remember that a few years ago they took a chance signing the rehabbing Chris Carpenter, who sat out a full year, resigned with the Cardinals, and then put together a strong season in 2004 and won the Cy Young in 2005. If Wade re-ups with the Cubs next year, who knows, he could re-emerge as a pitcher who matters again.
Even the young guys are in on the act.
Carlos Marmol, a young righty from the Dominican, was just placed on the DL with right shoulder fatigue. He has made 13 starts and compiled a 5-6 record, a very lofty record compared to his compatriots listed above.
Sean Marshall, another of the young guys, was placed on the DL on July 25th with a strained left oblique(a nasty injury for any baseball player, but I'd have to imagine it's REALLY bad for a pitcher.) For the season, he is 5-8 in 19 starts(an impressive number of starts for this list).
Last, but certainly not least, young lefty Ryan O'Malley, who threw 8 shutout innings against the Astros, left his most recent start with elbow pain and is reported to have an inflamed elbow. He is not on the DL at this time, but the report was read on WSCR(The Score) this morning.
Oh yeah, remember that guy Greg Maddux? Well, by trading him off, the Cubs acquired talented SS Cesar Izturis who was injured early this season and basically replaced when the Dodgers signed Rafael Furcal(Who the Cubs courted unsuccessfully). Izturis was placed on the 15-day DL today, the 23rd.
As a Cardinals fan, I do enjoy seeing the Cubs struggle. However, this list of injuries is just insane. Wood and Prior came into the season injured. Miller was signed with the intention of rehabbing him. So we'll take those out. However, all these young guys going down is just horrible. Some of this MUST be bad luck, however, when you see a team consistently have guys go down with injuries year after year, and the players range from veterans(Kerry Wood) to young prodigies(Prior), to even the guys you throw in to fill in when things are bad(Marmol, Marshall, O'Malley), there MUST be something going on there.
Dusty Baker's handling of pitchers has been long criticized and probably is partially the reason. I also question whether Rothchild could have anything to do with it. Having no idea what is said to the pitchers or how they are coached, this is completely ungrounded speculation, but there has been an obvious pattern in the Chicago Cubs rotation the last few years, culminating with this year.
I guess the real question is: How long will Cy Young candidate Carlos Zambrano's arm last?
But today we're writing about the Cubs.
It's straight up sad how much this team has been riddled with injuries. Obviously Derrek Lee is a big one, as he went from being the batting champion and 3rd in MVP votes to being out most of the season, and when he did come back briefly, he was a very mediocre first baseman, obviously with lingering effects from the injury.
But beyond that, let's focus on the pitching:
Kerry Wood, being paid 12M this year, has made 4 starts, going 1-2 in those 4 starts, and has spent the vast majority of the season on the DL.
Mark Prior, being paid 3.65M, carrying the expectations of once being considered among the top, most can't miss prospects in baseball, has started 9 games this season, going 1-6. He has also spent most of the season on the DL
Glendon Rusch, being paid 2.75M, has made 9 starts and pitched in relief in 14 games and is 3-8.
He has made two stints on the 15-day DL, most recently coming back on the 22nd.
Wade Miller, who was signed as an injured free agent, is being paid 1M and has not made a start. To be fair, this deal might not be bad still. Cardinals fans may remember that a few years ago they took a chance signing the rehabbing Chris Carpenter, who sat out a full year, resigned with the Cardinals, and then put together a strong season in 2004 and won the Cy Young in 2005. If Wade re-ups with the Cubs next year, who knows, he could re-emerge as a pitcher who matters again.
Even the young guys are in on the act.
Carlos Marmol, a young righty from the Dominican, was just placed on the DL with right shoulder fatigue. He has made 13 starts and compiled a 5-6 record, a very lofty record compared to his compatriots listed above.
Sean Marshall, another of the young guys, was placed on the DL on July 25th with a strained left oblique(a nasty injury for any baseball player, but I'd have to imagine it's REALLY bad for a pitcher.) For the season, he is 5-8 in 19 starts(an impressive number of starts for this list).
Last, but certainly not least, young lefty Ryan O'Malley, who threw 8 shutout innings against the Astros, left his most recent start with elbow pain and is reported to have an inflamed elbow. He is not on the DL at this time, but the report was read on WSCR(The Score) this morning.
Oh yeah, remember that guy Greg Maddux? Well, by trading him off, the Cubs acquired talented SS Cesar Izturis who was injured early this season and basically replaced when the Dodgers signed Rafael Furcal(Who the Cubs courted unsuccessfully). Izturis was placed on the 15-day DL today, the 23rd.
As a Cardinals fan, I do enjoy seeing the Cubs struggle. However, this list of injuries is just insane. Wood and Prior came into the season injured. Miller was signed with the intention of rehabbing him. So we'll take those out. However, all these young guys going down is just horrible. Some of this MUST be bad luck, however, when you see a team consistently have guys go down with injuries year after year, and the players range from veterans(Kerry Wood) to young prodigies(Prior), to even the guys you throw in to fill in when things are bad(Marmol, Marshall, O'Malley), there MUST be something going on there.
Dusty Baker's handling of pitchers has been long criticized and probably is partially the reason. I also question whether Rothchild could have anything to do with it. Having no idea what is said to the pitchers or how they are coached, this is completely ungrounded speculation, but there has been an obvious pattern in the Chicago Cubs rotation the last few years, culminating with this year.
I guess the real question is: How long will Cy Young candidate Carlos Zambrano's arm last?
posted by Matt at 5:58 PM
1 Comments:
After reading this blog I somewhat have to agree. Now don't think that since I am agreeing that I am not a fan of the Cubs, in fact, I'm actually a die hard fan. However, I too feel that it is getting very tiresome watching all of these injuries come. I have long told people that the reason the Cubs are the way they are is because of the front office. Just get rid of them all. Wipe out the entire system and rebuild, what can it hurt?
Perhaps all the injuries have something to do with the bigger picure. This could be due to the lack of motivation in the clubhouse and upper office. I feel that the Cubs are so unmotivated and no one motivates them, that no matter how good they are they won't go anywhere. This is why I feel , if the proper motivation, any time, including the Cubs could get rid of all of those injuries and start playing like a major league team instead of a minor league one.
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