Ok, I'm bringing this up in light of Stache's post in the ST thread:

http://www.brewerscubs.com/messageboard ... 20#p464078


So, what are your guys' thoughts on who makes/misses the 2012 rotation?

Garza
Dempster
Maholm
Volstad
Wells/Wood (Not sure who gets the nod yet)

Shark, Coleman, Lopez, and one person above misses the rotation for now. The first 3 are locked and maybe even Volstad as well, but the 5th spot can be won.

I wouldnt say any spot is locked right now. you just know there will be some injuries in spring training and if detroit loses a starter, they will pony up for garza, same goes for the rest of the big spenders this off season. At least there is gonna be real competition in camp, thats the best case. without expecting to win this year, a decision on who's future would be more promising might beat out a veteran, at least I hope they can beat out lopez and ortiz.

I think barring a trade or injury, Garza, Dempster, and Maholm are locks for the rotation. Just based on skill, salary, and contract configuration.

I think 4-9 ranks like this:

Wells
Wood
Volstad
Coleman
Shark
Lopez

I don't foresee a scenario in which Wells is left out of the rotation unless he bombs in ST. I like Wood more than Volstad becasue of upside so he'd be my #5.

So my starting 5:

Garza
Demp
Maholm
Wells
Wood

I wouldnt be surprised if Wells was dealt. Also I have Shark as a good sleeper to make the rotation.

I like Volstad and Wood to both make the rotation with Wells and Samardzija both missing the rotation. Wells will be in the minors and come up if there is an injury and Samardzija to the bullpen or minors.

I think the rotation will be

Garza
Dempster
Maholm
Volstad
Wood

Shark and Wells in the bp unless something drastic happens either good or bad during ST.

I think with Volstad now being in arbitration, the Cubs really need to see what they have in him. I think he goes to the rotation simply replacing Carlos Zambrano. What happens with #5 I think will come down to Randy Wells vs. Travis Wood. In my opinion, Wells will go to the pen or be traded.

I still think there's some untapped potential in Randy Wells. I don't know now patient we should be with him though. I do think he'll get the #5 spot going into the season.

sedgy145 wrote:I think with Volstad now being in arbitration, the Cubs really need to see what they have in him. I think he goes to the rotation simply replacing Carlos Zambrano. What happens with #5 I think will come down to Randy Wells vs. Travis Wood. In my opinion, Wells will go to the pen or be traded.

if he is in arbitration and they leave him in the minors, that would sure make his price lower next year.

doesnt matter who gets in as long as they are the best 5 in spring training.

Wells in the pen would make little sense, IMO. Hes a guy like Coleman, where his value is as a SP.

Hes either in the rotation or at Iowa.

Don't both Wells and Wood have an option left? It that's the case, send one down to Iowa. Do you know what there's no such thing as? Too much starting pitching depth.

BassmanUW wrote:Too much starting pitching depth.

Absolutely agreed there. Don't want a situation like last year where you have to scrap the waiver wires for guys like Doug Davis.

The Stache wrote:

BassmanUW wrote:Too much starting pitching depth.

Absolutely agreed there. Don't want a situation like last year where you have to scrap the waiver wires for guys like Doug Davis.

but you dont stunt the growth of a pitcher that has been in the majors for three years by putting him back on the farm either. Forget about numbers last year, there is an actual pitching coach here now.

You aren't seriously talking about stunting the growth of Wells, are you? The best you can hope to get from him is 2010. He's not a good pitcher. If you have better options you stick him in Iowa and know you have a bad arm that can eat innings if you need it due to injury. Wells is going to give you 5.75 K/9, a 2.25 K/BB, give up a .320 OBP with a 1.40 WHIP and 4.25-4.75 ERA. His HR rate was a bit higher last year and I'll give him a pass on that one from being unlucky, it happens over small sample sizes, but that doesn't change the numbers he has been consistent with his entire big league career, i.e. K/BB, K/9, etc.

Was it you or Blb we were warning about Wells after 2009 that his ERA was much lower then it should have been based on his other numbers? It evened out in 2010 to be more normalized based on his other numbers. In 2011 he either had a bad year, which I'm writing if off as, or he is going to be more HR prone then he had shown in the past. Either way he never was a good pitcher.