Randy Wells - Future Star?

From Tyler Juranovich at http://www.playerpress.com/ -

If there was a single ray of hope that shined last year for the Cubs, it was pitcher Randy Wells. In a year full of disappointments and distractions, the Cubs had one player who looked to be growing in talent and not wasting it.

Wells’ numbers were very good for a rookie season: 12-10 with a 3.05 ERA and a 5.65 K/9 rate.

With those numbers alone there is hope that Wells can become a #2 starter in the future. But the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Juranovich went on to state -

There were multiple times were Wells would have a great outing and go 6 or 7 innings and only gave up one run, but the Cubs’ offense would fail to put any runs on the board, leaving Wells with a no-decision in a game that should have been a W.
In Wells’ first two starts he pitched 11 scoreless innings. Both were no-decisions. His next four starts he went 0-2 but pitched at least 6.2 innings and never gave up more than three runs.
Wells’ record didn’t show how well he pitched during those games.
There were plenty of chances for him to get many more wins than 12, but the offense was just unable to produce for him, something that can be frustrating for both the pitcher and the fans.

If Wells repeats last year's performance, combined with more run production from the Cubs' offense, we might just seen the emergence of a new ace.

Lilly May Have an Injury in Addition to His Shoulder

Ted Lilly, the Cubs starting pitcher who is recovering from surgery on his throwing shoulder and is expected to start the season on the DL, now may have another problem.  Lilly has been experiencing unspecified problems with his right knee for the past week.

Lilly, who threw 25 pitches off flat ground today, is going to have his right knee examined by a doctor and may also undergo an MRI on his knee.  Lilly claims that he does not think its anything serious.  Lets hope Lilly is right, as the Cubs need him to come back healthy, the sooner, the better.

Hendry says Lilly won't be rushed

From ESPNChicago.com -

Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said there is not a clear-cut date for the return for pitcher Ted Lilly, who is coming back from left shoulder surgery cleanup.


Media reports have circulated that Lilly won't return until late April or early May.


"I talked to Mark O'Neil [trainer] last week, and he said he is coming along fine," Hendry said. "If he starts April 15 that will be fine. I don't see it being anything unless there is some kind of setback that happens in camp. It was a real minor procedure. In fairness to Ted, we're not going to rush him either. If he's 95 percent on Opening Day then we will wait until he is 100 percent."

Lilly, entering the fourth and final season on his contract with the Cubs, tied Randy Wells for the team lead in wins last season with 12. He is 44-26 in three seasons with the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs All Time Starting Rotation

An interesting article about the greatest Cubs pitchers of all time.  Goes all the way back before the Cubs were even called the Cubs.  Here's the link - http://bleacherreport.com/articles/340861-the-chicago-cubs-all-time-starting-rotation

Four vie for two openings in Cubs rotation

From the Chicago Tribune -

With Ted Lilly out through at least April, the Cubs will be searching for two new members of the rotation, one to replace him and one to replace the departed Rich Harden.

So Cubs camp will turn into a tryout camp.

"An opportunity really," said pitching coach Larry Rothschild, preferring not to use the word tryout. "Somebody's going to get a real nice opportunity."

Four veterans — Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny, Jeff Samardzija and newcomer Carlos Silva — will join several youngsters with the knowledge that one of them could stick all season. And all four look at themselves as starters.

"Absolutely," Gorzelanny said. "That's the way I have to go in. I'm not going in trying to make the bullpen, I'm going in trying to be a starter."

Said Marshall: "I'm training my body to start and pitch every five days and I can always back off and adjust. I like starting, and I like knowing when I'm going to pitch.

"But I also like the relief role when I don't know when I'm going to pitch. You have to get amped up for it. I prefer starting but know that I'm an asset in the bullpen."

Marshall and Gorzelanny are left-handed, as is Lilly. Other than those three, the Cubs' rotation would be all right-handed with Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells.

"I just want people who can get people out, I don't care who they are," Rothschild said.

While Lilly was 12-9 in 27 starts last season, the other four veterans were a combined 7-12 in 24 starts.

Those four, to varying degrees, were mostly relievers, with Marshall making 46 bullpen appearances and Samardzija 18. At least two likely will end up in the pen, although all will be given several spring starts.

Silva is the most experienced starter, going 13-14 in 33 starts in 2007 with the Twins before encountering arm problems last season in Seattle that made him readily available in exchange for Milton Bradley.

Gorzelanny was 20-19 in 53 starts for the 2007-08 Pirates, while Marshall was 13-17 in 43 starts for the Cubs in 2006-07.

Obviously, none can replace Lilly, who had shoulder surgery.

"We've got a lot of games in spring," Rothschild said. "It's a lot easier to put them in the bullpen after starting than it is the other way. And I want guys to have consistent starts when possible."