Good News for Lilly and the Cubs

The results of the MRI on Ted Lilly's knee came back negative. "There is no significant damage that would require surgery, basically. So obviously that's good news," Lilly said.


Lilly resumed working out with the other pitchers, including some long toss today.

Lilly is rehabbing from the left shoulder surgery he had in November. The left-hander also had meniscus surgery on his left knee in August.


Lilly threw off flat ground Thursday for the first time since undergoing surgery on his throwing shoulder in November. He threw 25 pitches.

Lilly went 12-9 with a 3.10 ERA last season for the Cubs.

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.

The Cubs Should At Least Consider John Smoltz

John Smoltz returned to the National League last year, finishing the season with the St. Louis Cardinals.  He is currently a free agent and one that the Cubs should seriously consider. 

With Ted Lilly expected to start the season on the DL, the Cubs could use a veteran starter, particularly one that could later be converted to a set up man out of the 'pen.  Smoltz could possibly fill both roles.  He of course spent most of his career as a starter and has started some the past two years.  He has also found success as a set up man so, after Lilly returns, Smoltz could then shift to the bullpen and provide a veteran presence there, where there are currently no veterans on the expected roster.

It would be interesting to find out if the Cubs have sent a scout to watch Smoltz work out.  If they haven't, they certainly should.

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.

The latest on "Big Z"

Here's the latest about Carlos Zambrano - from the Chicago Tribune:

After spending the offseason in Chicago for the first time in his career, Carlos Zambrano flew down to Arizona last week to get a head start on spring training.


Pitchers and catchers don't have to report to Fitch Park in Mesa until Feb. 17, but Zambrano already is working out, promising to atone for his nine-victory season.

"We did it quietly," general manager Jim Hendry said. "I don't think he wanted any publicity for that. He's going about his business well. I think you're going to get a very well-focused guy who's determined to rectify last year's season."

With Ted Lilly out until May, the onus will be on Zambrano and Ryan Dempster to get off to good starts and stay healthy, keeping the front end of the rotation afloat until Lilly returns. Zambrano stuck to his offseason workout routines, and the Cubs believe he's committed to staying in shape.

"Carlos was a little heavy last year, there's no question," manager Lou Piniella told fans at the Cubs Convention. "He's another player (besides Geovany Soto) we had a nice conversation with toward the end of the year.

"We said, 'Look, we need for you to step up and give us 200-plus innings. We need for you to win 18-20 ballgames, the way you're fully capable of. But to do that, you have to get yourself in better shape, where we don't have to worry about pitch counts with you.' "

Piniella said Zambrano "promised" he would be in better shape and more focused.

"He looks absolutely wonderful, and I think you'll see a heck of a better performance from him just because of that," Piniella said. "The mental part of it? He's mentally strong. He fights himself at times. He needs to harness that a little bit. But you want competitors on the mound, and Carlos certainly competes."

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."