What's your Cubs rotation?

Roman,

I tend to agree with you in starting Dempster in game 1. Dempster has been the most consistent starter all season. My only concern is if you drop game one and have Lilly going game 2 you are putting yourself in what could be an insurmountable hole with your two "best" pitchers yet to throw.
I'd rather have Harden go out and give you 5-6 dominant innings in game 2 and take your chances with Samardjia, Marmol, and Wood. It's the playoffs and I don't believe you need to think about throwing the lefty in to mix it up in between righties. After all, we all remeber Lily's meltdown againgst the D-Backs last year. Lily has had the tendency to give you 5 or 6 strong innings and then have rough inning (see last start). I'll take Harden any day in game 2, turn it over to Big Z in game 3 and take my chances.

Roman,

I agree whole heartedly with Joe. I would most certainly use Harden in Game 2 if you are going with Dempster in Game 1. Harden has been absolutely lights out. Dempster has rarely needed much help from the bullpen this year. If Harden does in fact need to be taken out early in Game 2, the bullpen should be well rested. Game 3 Would be Big Z. Otherwise I'd go Z, Dempster, Harden.

Dempster, Z, Harden, Lilly. I want Demp throwing 2 games, Z out of the 1 hole to take pressure off, and Harden on the road because it doesn't matter where that guy pitches and who he pitches to, so I want that mental toughness on the first road game. Game 4 is a 50/50 in my mind. If they play the Mets, you could conceivably see Santana again on 3 days rest anyway.

I agree with Joe, you can't leave harden for a game that may not happen. On the other hand, I think Pinella thanks Wrigley will give Lilly a boost and Harden can close out the series depending on if we lose a game. Alot of assumptions. I can care less about Lilly's turn, I do not want Z throwing on the road.

I like Jason's Z throwing in the two hole concept.

Dempster game 1

Lilly game 2

Zambrano game 3

Use Hardin in game 4 (if necessary) or if someone in the first three games leaves early. He pitches well, but does not go deep in to the game, so using him to shut down the opposition and keep it close in relief might be important in a best of five series.

You start with the ace... Dempster has been most consistent this season but Z is the "ace" of the staff. Not to mention he pitched a gem in the game one last year only to have it taken away by Lou's quick trigger. Z will come up big in the big game. Then follow with Dempster. After that "one two punch" we will be up two and then you give the ball to Lilly. Harden will be ready if you need hm in game 4. Also Z tends to go deeper into the game and that would be good for the health of the bull pen.
Zambrano
Dempster
Lilly
Harden

I don't really know. I've thought about it, and then find myself thinking, wow, the cubs have some real pitching depth, that hasn't been so since the 60's. Of course that depth doesn't mean as much in a 5 game series as a 7. So, the first round may be the trickier one for the cubs to get through and then be able to really benefit from their pitching depth in the 7 game series.

So, for the first 5 gamer, usually you use your two best first, so you can bring'em back if need be. But, this isn't necessarily so for this cubs staff, hardin might burn up your bullpen and not bounce back to be ready again in the series, so he's not 1 or 2. Dempster can go deep in a ball game to save pen and is way better at home, so he's a 1 or a 2. Z has been numero uno all year, last year too, and has always carried the load. He's erratic but that's a given by now so if he's healthy, he's still my number 1, demp 2, hardin 3, lily/z4, z/demp 5. Only way I would move lily up into 2 or 3 spot is if match ups with opposing team say lefty best (plus wind will probably be blowing in for most oct. wrigley games).

you could pitch demp 1 over z but why? If you don't think z can handle 1 do you think he'll be any better at 2 or 3? No, if you are going to rely on him at all, rely on him just like you did all year. Demp had great year, and hopefully continues in playoffs, but there is no track record there yet either.

Best to not make any changes for post season that you don't have to, you don't want to out think yourself and upset what has worked well all year.

The rotation does not matter. Winning matters. That's what Jack McKeon knew when the Florida Marlins won in 2003 and what Tony LaRussa learned when the Cardinals won in 2006. The Cardinals faced much stronger teams in the Mets and Tigers, but they focused more on winning games (particularly the 1st game of each series) and less on the order of their rotation.

Whoever faces the Cubs would be wise to put all their marbles into winning the first game -- even if it means changing pitchers every 2 or 3 innings. Why? Because all of the pressure then transfers squarely to the shoulders of the Cubs.

It's about winning at this stage of the season, not about placating egos. Three to four innings out of your starters, unless they are just mowing down the opposition, might be enough. You are not trying to "save your bullpen" at this point of the season.

Dusty Baker would have been wise to learn this lesson.

Lou shouldn't lose sight of this important lesson.

dempster, harden, big z, lilly. since joining the cubs , i feel he has been the best pitcher on this team besides dempster. that isn't didding any of the other cubs pitchers since i still feel 1 thru 4 they have the best staff heading into the post season.

Good comments today:thought-provoking. I tend to want to stick with what has worked in the season as a whole,but agree that Lilly is a bit iffy.I guess I would go Z., Demp., Harden, Lilly, and Z. again if necessary. He's still the ace, and Dempster can lose concentration too. Nobody mentioned Marquis. Are we saving him as a pinch-hitter and pinch-runner? A bit of my thinking could change, depending on how Z. pitches tonight.

What should be the Cub's rotation?

I really don't care whether or not it's clockwise, or counter clockwise, because I've been telling them to sit on it and rotate since '69.

Honestly, the way it's looking, I'd go: Demp, Lilly, Harden, and then Z. Give Z a rest b/c they've leaned hard on him over the years and I think it's catching up with him. Both times he's been rested this year he's responded by pitching great games. With Demp, Lilly, and Harden, it is possible that they could sweep the first round. And then the Cubs can open the next series with their ace (Zambrano) and if they do need him for game 4 of the Division Series, he'll be well rested and having his bat in the lineup will also be an advantage over the opponent. It's Gonna Happen!!!!

over the past several decades the concensus has been that because of curses, black cats and whatever other cosmic reason you can think of, it would be a cold day in hell when the Cubs win a penant and a World Series. Well considering that they were handed a gift (according to Astro players) in the form of playing 2 games in Milwaukee that were scheduled in Houston because of a hurricane, the rising cost of gas, the credit and housing crisis, the worst day on wall street since "the crash" and I'm sure I could list a few more things, I doubt the rotation really matters because it seems that "cold day" has arrived. So if your looking for someone to blame for the collapse of the global economy look no further than the Cubs, their winning way has upset the entire cosmic balance of the universe. If McCain or Obama are really looking for a way to fix the economy quickly they need to find someone to beat the Cubs. Good Luck with that one it ain't gonna happen!!!!

Tim, I doubt if your rational on fixing the economy would work, but what would you consider more important : fixing the economy or the Cubs winning a World Series? Personally, though a long suffering Cub fan, I still would take fixing the economy. Baseball is just a game; the state of our economy entails "real" human suffering

Dempster, Harden, Zambrano, Lilly. This way Dempster could pitch a potential game 5 on five days rest and Harden could come in early on four days rest if Dempster starts getting hit early. Also, there is an off day after game 2 so if Harden only pitches 5 or 6 innings, Lou could use everyone in the bullpen knowing they are off the next day.

A lot of people are mentioning that Harden will only give 5 or 6 innings. I dont bleieve that. The reason he has only pitched 5 or 6 since being traded was to save him for the playoffs. The playoffs, especially this year, are when you push your pitching staff. I think Harden, assuming he is pitching well and has a good pitch count, could go easily into the 7th or 8th. And everyone has seen that when he's on - he's the best shot the Cubs have. I agree Dempster has been the most consistent all year and deserves game 1. If I were skipper:

1 - Dempster
2 - Harden
3 - Zambrano
4 - Lilly

I just dont trust Lilly in the playoffs

I think you definitely have to go with Dempster in game one. As Lou said, he is 14-3 at home and "that speaks volumes". We have to give ourselves the best chance to win, and it's clear that Dempster provides the best chance. He has been the most consistent starter all year long and you know you're going to get a quality start out of him. Then go with Zambrano in game 2. By skipping the so-called "ace" of the staff, maybe it will light a fire under him? I think it will put a chip on his shoulder and he'll come out more focused and determined to have a great start. If you hand the game one start to Zambrano, when he clearly isn't the best option right now, it sends a bad message to the team. We are trying to win a championship here, so all sense of entitlement should be thrown out the window. Then I would leave the starter for game 3 open. If we win the first two, we go with Lily in game 3 and then Harden in game 4 (if necessary). If we split the first two games or are down 2-0 (God forbid), then you go with Harden in game 3. If Lily pitches game 3 and wins, then you have Harden to start game 1 of the next round with pleanty of rest.

Paul trust me when I say that I know fixing the economy is more important. Last year I took a $20,000 loss on a house I had been trying to sell for 2 years and under the best of conditions would take me another year to recover. I was merely trying to have a little fun with all the so called Cubs curses and I'll bet that if Letterman or Leno had used that in their opening monolog you'd have sat there and laughed. So take a chill pill and hope for the best with the economy and for the Cubs as a second thought ok?

Im doing a political debate cover it LIVE CHAT.

If anyone wants to come talk smack about politics.

It will be a civilized bunch or wanna be philosophers and political know it alls, but what else is new.

* I aim to keep it clean in there so bring your manners.

Bculz

Dempster had better win that first game, because opposing teams have figured out how to get into Zambrano's head. (there's a lot of room in there)

It's become painfully obvious that Big Z is easily upset, and takes himself out of games with his emotional immaturity.

All they need do is have quality at-bats, taking him long into the count from the first inning on, and coaxing a few walks out of him.

Then sit back, and watch him implode.

He's his own worst enemy, and his inability to control his emotions and focus on the task at hand will be the Cub's downfall.

Looking back, I think Z shoulda started the playoffs.

Got us the energy we needed. We are flat as a board!