We’ve known for awhile that the first three spots in the Cubs’ 2012 rotation would be taken by Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Paul Maholm. We learned last week that Jeff Samardzija is all but a lock for the rotation, leaving Randy Wells and Chris Volstad in a fight to the death for the final spot. Dale Sveum appears to have decided who’s filling that final spot.
Manager Dale Sveum told SiriusXM radio’s Jim Bowden there’s “probably” one rotation spot open and that Chris Volstad is already in. After Bowden tweeted the remark, Sveum tried to clarify matters.
“His name came up,” Sveum said. “But there’s nothing etched in stone there. What I said was ‘Obviously if he keeps throwing the ball the way he’s throwing the ball, he’s going to be hard to keep out of the rotation.’ It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.”
Randy Wells hasn’t allowed a run in four outings so far this spring. How does he feel about being the odd man out?
“I’m more of a ‘whatever they want me to do’ kind of guy,” Wells said. “I’d be disappointed. It has been three years in the rotation … but it could be a new challenge, something exciting. … Either way you’re going to have to make adjustments. If I do end up in the rotation, I’ll try to do better and have a better year than last year.”
Maybe it’ll be better because he can sleep off his hangovers in the bullpen.
Randy may not have to worry himself about the bullpen, as Jeff Samardzija still has two more games to pitch in Cactus League play. But even allowing 7 runs on Friday didn’t deter Dale Sveum from gushing about him.
“I think in his case he probably learned a lesson about yesterday and understanding the starting rotation when you have to face 40 batters, the soft stuff has to come into play,” Sveum said. “You can’t throw 90 percent of all your pitches 91 mph and above.”
(snip)
“More than anything I think he got away from what built his confidence,” Sveum said. “He didn’t pitch inside at all. He got no ground balls, no balls put into play on broken bats. I think we were pitching into his glove side too much and it got him in trouble. I think he got away from what has really made him successful early in the spring and last half of last season.”
(snip)
“I don’t think so,” Sveum said. “We’ll find that out. He has a couple more starts but the velocity, everything is there. That’s more pitch selection and understanding. It’s probably the best thing that happened to him to tell you the truth.”
I hope Sveum doesn’t say the same thing the first time Spellcheck gives up 7 runs in a regular season game.
I think the reason that Randy Wells isn’t too distraught about being relegated to the “long man” slot is because he knows that at some point Spellcheck is going to implode and open up a spot in the rotation for him.
Or Dempster breaks down, or Maholm fades further into meh, or any of the other stiffs starts pitching well enough that the Yankees are willing to toss us some prospects to cover their rotation.
I’d be surprised if we have half the spare parts sitting around at the end of the year. The stiffs are the used cars we picked up at auction. We’re trying to flip them for other teams’ B- to A- prospects. If we get close to looking like we are in it around the end of May, then our Byrds, Maholms, Sotos, and Dewitts are gone by the middle of June.
Last thing management needs is this team winning it all. The fan reaction to letting the guys who win our first WS in 100+ walk afterwards would be ticket sale suicide. The new regime is rebuilding from the foundation up. The major league team is assets to be used in the rebuilding/restocking of the development system. Welcome to the used car lot that will be the luxury brand in the NL central once we’re done remodeling.
Well said.
Also, betting on Spellcheck to be the most spectacular flameout of the rotation is really short sighted. Spend some time on baseball reference looking to Maholm and who he compares to.
Best case scenario is he’s 29 year old Doug Davis, or a lefty version of Frank Castillo.
The average scenario is he’s done in the bigs in 2 years.
Worst case- this is he Cubs. I can’t wait to see what actually happens.
Trust me Randy Wells, going to the bullpen is the best thing in your career at this point because besting the guy who used to have your slot in the rotation when you return should be a cake walk.
I had absolutely no idea that Maholm was locked into the rotation until this post. I don’t see him doing much of anything even average this season. But you are right, the best the Cubs can hope for is that all these placeholders play well enough that some contender flips prospects for them in the hope that they can be add depth to key positions.
Fans that are being cautiously optimistic and think that the Cubs will post 80 wins at most fail to realize that the design isn’t to have the team intact as is throughout the entire season; if the trade deadline guts the roster as the front office hopes it does, a late season swoon will be very much in order.
Its weird rooting for the team to do well enough to trade much of the roster, but thats kinda what I feel I’m doing
I’m hoping we start playing better after the trade deadline. That should be when Rizzo and Jackson start playing everyday against MLB pitching. A late season swoon means our top prospects’ greatest value is salary relief for a year or two while the Family Ricketts upgrades Wrigley in Lego type fashion- modern modules on the existing structure. Unfortunately this is also part of the plan for the money making part of the operation.
Did Volstad even pitch this Spring? I must have missed all those games. Heh.
To quote his write-up on ESPN…
“Tread very, very carefully if you pick him as NL-only roster filler.”
Not just carefully, or very carefully; but very, VERY carefully.
The Cards cut Julies boyfriend today.
Only the beard is my boyfriend. You can keep the rest of him.
Behold!! The Marlins’ homerun feature is finished!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJqm8ybv4Uw
No really, it’s an alternative energy generator. When someone hits a home run, it activates the power plant.
Although it was a multimillion dollar investment, the Marlins and City of Miami expect to see exponential returns in the innings Carlos Zambrano is pitching.
I’m disappointed. I thought there would be flames and fireworks, too.
Yeesh, it reminds me of a nickel slot I used to play in Reno…