Spring Training 2010

[Ace]

<!--quoteo(post=80094:date=Feb 19 2010, 05:46 PM:name=Clapp)-->QUOTE (Clapp @ Feb 19 2010, 05:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80083:date=Feb 19 2010, 02:45 PM:name=JBconway)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JBconway @ Feb 19 2010, 02:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=80041:date=Feb 19 2010, 12:35 PM:name=Coach)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Coach @ Feb 19 2010, 12:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Lilly:
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <!--quotec-->MRI went well. Normal wear and tear on knee and Lilly is throwing now.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
good news. cubs screwed the pooch by not signing any decent to solid starting pitchers this offseason ( silva DOES not count towards this). our starting pitchers are the brittle bunch & an injury waiting to happen. at some point this season, lily, big z & dempster will be on the dl. we have 0 depth this year. losing harden & not getting a body in his place will hurt this team in the end
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think the rotation is the team's strength actually. Injuries are possible with any rotation... there's not a single 1 of our main 4 that really stands out as a major injury concern, assuming Lilly can go by mid-April to May as reported. Zambrano's made 30 starts in 6 of the last 7 years, with last season being the only time he didn't(still made 28). Dempster made at least 31 starts and threw over 200 innings each of the last 2 years. Lilly's made at least 27 starts in the last 4 years.

I would've loved to get an upgrade at the #5 spot, but at the price it would come... can't get too mad.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

For realsies, Clapp?

Zambrano can be great, but is unpredictable (I love the guy, though, and do consider him an ace)

Dempster is probably established now, but just two years ago, we wondered if he could even put up an ERA under 5.00 as a starter

Wells is no lock to perform

Lilly is hurt

? ? ?

That doesn't look like a strength to me.