Starting Rotation Breakdown: 2011 vs 2012

The Cubs starting pitching depth was one obvious area of weakness for the squad throughout the year. Although Matt Garza put together a good year and Ryan Dempster was a solid middle of the rotation starter, after that the rotation was a mess.

Entering Spring Training, the Cubs felt that they had plenty of starting pitching. However after Carlos Silva was traded before injuries to Andrew Cashner and Randy the first week of the season, the lack of depth became apparent. Carlos Zambrano ended up disqualified for the final few months of the season after an up and down year.

Casey Coleman, who probably should have been developing in Triple-A, made 17 starts and posted a 3-9 record with an ERA of 6.40. Rodrigo Lopez was picked up and made 16 starts, Doug Davis (1-7, 6.50 ERA) made nine starts and Ramos Ortiz was picked up for two starts. Out of desperation the Cubs stuck left handed reliever James Russell in a starting role, who clearly was not cut out to start. If the Cubs had started the season with more starting pitching depth, they would not have resorted to the likes of Russell, Coleman and Davis.

The 2012 season will start with a much larger quantity of starters on the squad. While last year's team started with just six players with starting experience (excluding Kerry Wood, Sean Marshall and Carlos Marmol who were not starting options), this year's will have, at this point, 13. Matt Garza is penciled in as the number one baring a trade, while Ryan Dempster will be the number two. Young starters Randy Wells, Chris Volstad and Travis Wood will compete for spots in the middle and back of the rotation along with veteran lefty Paul Maholm. All six of these players are legitimate starting options, while Jeff Samardzija, Manny Corpas, Andy Sonnanstine and Rodrigo Lopez could be serviceable, along with the possibility of a more developed Casey Coleman bouncing back or a prospect like Chris Carpenter stepping up.

If the season started tomorrow, who would follow Dempster and Garza in the rotation? Do the Cubs have quality starting options? Feel free to comment with your thoughts!

Spring Training Preview: The Starting Rotation

Carlos Zambrano
Big Z worked out hard and dropped some weight this offseason. Nine wins is not going to cut it this year. Zambrano says he's finally calmed down, but we've heard that before. If there one guy on the Chicago Cubs that needs to step it up the most, it's Carlos. The Cubs lack the "ace" that most of the elite baseball teams have. When he's on he shows signs of being the horse, but inconsistency has riddled Zambrano's career.
My Prediction: Lock for Opening Day Roster and rotation

Ryan Dempster
After a great 2008 season in which he moved to the rotation and put up 17 wins, Dempster faltered in 2009, possibly in part because of off the field family distractions. Demp said at the Cubs Convention that his daughter is starting to do better. Hopefully this will lead to a return to 2008 form, and he's not the lone Cub in that category. Ryan's a great guy, and we wish him the best on and off the field.
My Prediction: Lock for Opening Day roster and rotation

Randy Wells
The Cubs' rotation could really hinge on Wells. Randy had a marvelous rookie campaign a year ago, but as Cubs fans experienced first hand with Soto a year ago, the dreaded sophomore slump is always a possibility. Can Wells really be counted on to be a consistent middle of the rotation starter after less than one season in the bigs? Lou has him penciled in to the rotation, but we'll have to wait and see how it turns out!
My Prediction: Lock for Opening Day Roster and rotation

Ted Lilly
The Bulldog was the only Cub on the NL All-Star team in 2009, and although he did suffer and injury and miss some time in the second half, he and Wells were the best Cub pitcher last year. Lilly had a shoulder surgery this offseason, so he will miss Spring Training and most likely not be ready to start until mid to late April. 2010, his 3rd season with the Cubs, will be a big year for Lilly because afterwards he will hit the free agent market. Right now, however, he will focus on getting healthy and returning to a rotation that cannot afford to lose guys for long periods of time.
My Prediction: Will start the year on the DL

Jeff Samardzija
The Shark pitched great out of the bullpen in the final few months of the 2008 season, but then struggled when he was given a chance to start in 2009. The former Notre Dame football standout has bounced back and forth between AAA and the big leagues and between the rotation and the bullpen over the last two years. He has worked on developing some new pitchers in Mexican Winter Ball this offseason. Samardzija has made it clear that he wants to be in the rotation rather than the pen.
My Prediction: Will start the year in the Cubs' rotation

Tom Gorzelanny
Gorzo was acquired from the Pirates just before the trade deadline last July, and went 7-3 in 22 games (7 starts) with the Cubs in the final two months. The Chicago native is a left handed hurler and is also fighting for the final spot in the Cubs' rotation. He has more experience in the big leagues than Samardzija does, but does he have better stuff?
My Prediction: Will start the year taking Lilly's spot in the rotation, before moving to the bullpen when Ted returns.

Sean Marshall
Marshall has done just about everything since making his big league debut with the Cubs in 2006. This lefty's Cub resume includes starting, relieving, being used as a swing man, long relief, left handed specialist, set-up man, and even playing left field for one batter last July in a Sunday night game at Wrigley against the Cardinals. Sean has paid his dues succeeding in just about every role the Cubs have tossed him in to. However, the Cubs could use him in a utility role once again.
My Prediction: Swing Man

Carlos Silva
The best thing about Silva- his name is not Milton Bradley. The Cubs acquired Silva in a swap of bad contracts with Seattle this offseason, and according a multiple reports out of Arizona, Lou Piniella is not pleased with the shape that Carlos has reported to camp in. Silva will get into some Spring Training games and try to win a spot in the rotation, but most likely will not be a major factor this season in any capacity.
My Prediction: Will start the season hidden on the DL

So, if Zambrano, Dempster, Wells, Samardzija, Gorzelanny, and Marshall all make 25-man roster, which most likely they will, there are just 6 spots left on the pitching staff even with Lilly and Silva starting the season on the DL. There are 14 pitchers in camp (plus Silva) competing for those six spots in the bullpen, and I'll have the pen preview for you sometime in the next couple of days!

A Little Baseball Before the Football

Let's catch up on the latest Cubs rumors and news from this weekend!:

• Cubs infielder Jeff Baker is prepared to win a starting job in camp.
• The people in Florida still feel that Naples is in the running for Cubs Spring Training, even though most sources are reporting that the Cubs will stay in Mesa.
• Jose Contreras is close to signing with the Phillies. ESPN.com reports that the Cubs had interest in the former White Sox righty.
• Jayson Stark thinks the Cubs have set aside their interest in Ben Sheets, because they are more in need of a bench bat and a setup man.
• Jon Heyman reports that if Johnny Damon doesn't resign with New York, the Yanks would then ink someone off the remaining list of free agent outfielders. Once the Damon situation is resolved, things could fall in to place for the Cubs outfield.
• Phil Rogers wonders if Derrek Lee will be finding a new home after this season.
• In Spring Training, one of the battles that will be really fun to watch is for spots in the starting rotation. Dave van Dyck breaks down the four candidates- Silva, Samardzija, Gorzeallany, and Marshall- that will be competing for two spots.
• Jim Edmonds is interested in playing in 2010, after sitting out the '09 season. Phil Rogers and I agree that the Cubs should pursue the veteran center fielder, who played very well for the Cubs in 2008.
• Rogers added in the same article that he mentioned Edmonds, that nothing has been decided as to which cap Andre Dawson will wear when he is inducted into the Hall of Fame next July. Phil says that if the decision was in the hands of MLB, it would be a "slam dunk" for the Cubs, but unfortunately the HOF get the final say.
• So Taguchi, who appeared in only 6 games for the Cubs last season, has signed to play in Japan this season.
• Mark Gonzales of the Tribune reports that the Cubs have been invited to watch reliever Oscar Villarreal, who underwent reconstructive elbow surgery in April of 2009, pitch. If healthy, Oscar could be a nice piece to add to the Cubs' bullpen.
• David Kaplan of WGN Radio says that Jonny Gomes is the Cubs first choice to add as a fourth outfielder right now.

That's it for now, I'll keep you posted as Spring Training quickly approaches!