I find it laughable that Dusty has his rotation set the way it is... even if the Cubs win the division with it. He's got 4 quality quality starters, and one who his s***, yet it will be the latter who would start a one-game playoff (on full rest) if that were to occur. You heard it here first: Next Monday, for the tie-breaker, its Oswalt vs. S.ESTES! at Wrigley. They can always bring out Zambrano on three days rest, but even the best pitchers out there become less effective on short rest. REGARDLESS OF IT ALL: If the Cubs goto the playoffs, their game 1 and game 2 starters (on full rest) would be Zambrano and Clement. That's NOT the same as Prior-Wood, no matter how good Zambrano has been. If I were in a 5 game series (or a one-game playoff), I'd want Prior out there for 3 out of five... and I'd take my chances of winning with that. (ditto for the Astros and Oswalt).
I think there are a few days off between the final game and the start of the series. My guess is that Dusty figures the Stros won't catch em. DD
Playoffs start next tuesday.... no matter what. Prior is pitching on Saturday... four days rest is he starts on Thursday (which would either be an off-day, or game 3). Wood is pitching on Sunday... You see my point? The only way Prior and Wood could start the playoffs is IF the Astros lose tommorow (with the Cubs winning), and the same thing happens Friday as well. Then the Cubs clinch before Saturday, and Dusty can rest em. But, that's a big IF.
Zambrano really had a rough outing last time out. I am kind of hoping that we would face him in a tie-breaker situation. And Shawn Estes??
He does... but any pitcher is fallable on 3 days rest. And he will be on three days rest since he's pitching tommorow.
Zambrano didn't play well last time he was out. I remember that he gave up a ton of runs in three or four innings. Besides, this is a guy that you can take advantage of in big game situations. He's only 22 years old and seems to lose control now and then. Among cubs' top three pitchers (Prior, Wood, Zambrano), I would rather see Zambrano in a one-game series. However, as I said, I wouldn't mind seeing Estes starting for them...
I would much rather face Wood or Prior who we have had recent success against than Zambrano. Zambrano absolutly demolishes us every time we see him.
that little sinking fastball zambrano has eats us up. obviously we would want to face estes or clement but wood has struggled this year against us as well. either way if oswalt goes monday in a one game playoff we have a chance vs. anyone. anyways what i might do is come back with wade and roy for the final 2 against the brewers. it'd be a day less rest for both but miller got knocked out of his last start early and roy only threw 86 pitches this afternoon. i think they would still be fresh. it probably will depend on what happens with redding and robertson's starts. i just don't want to save roy for a start he might not get.
I don't think how Dusty has the lineup set is stupid. You have to MAKE the playoffs before you worry about them! Do you think he's worrying about a one game playoff right now? No, because if he wins his games now, he doesn't have to worry about a playoff. Why would you pitch your lousy pitchers now and risk losing just to save your best pitchers. What's the point of saving your best pitchers? What if you save them and don't even make it to the playoffs?
Guys.... I could CARE LESS about who we face in the playoff, let's get back to EVEN before we can even think about it. As it is now, there is NO playoff. DD
If we tie the Cubs at the end of the regular season, do they not advance because of the head to head results?
There is a one game playoff that will be played in Chicago because of a coin toss that had taken place sometime last week or the week before.