
jax_cubs
Mar 25, 2008 May 09, 2008 1 7
I am currently in the Navy and a student at the University of Florida. I am separating from the military and graduating from school this summer so I am spending what little free time I have job-hunting. You know one?!
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Fixing Rich's Mistakes
Obviously Rich Hill has forgotten to complete his delivery. He's leaving pitches up...and in and out and everywhere but in the strike zone. He needs work and will quickly become Larry Rothschild's special project. Hopefully he fixes himself. Until then, things need to change and here's how I would do it.
Technically the Cubs have seven guys on their staff that have, and probably still can, start for the Cubs. They have the five in the rotation and then Marshall and Lieber in the pen. I would move Hill to the bullpen, Marshall to the rotation and leave Lieber in the long relief role. He has thrived there and I have a feeling we may need his spot starting later in the season. Not to mention the fact that Marshall is a lefty leaving two in the rotation.
I know that Marshall has been working in short relief lately, but I think we can fix his stamina fairly quickly and here's how...
Lilly is slated to pitch today. I would quickly explain to Lilly that because of his later inning struggles this year he's only pitching four innings. Give us four very good, innings. That's all we need. After the fourth (or earlier if Lilly runs into problems) throw Marshall in there. Let him throw at least three or four innings. This could serve a two-fold purpose here. You taxed your bullpen yesterday (as with every other Hill start) so it allows you to go 7 or 8 innings with two guys and it allows Marshall to regain a bit of stamina. Let's not forget he was starting just a few weeks back so it shouldn't take long. I know they could both go out there and get hammered but someone is going to have to take their lumps so let it be these two.
In addition to that I would call up J.R. Mathes from AAA and send down Fox. I know Fox is a great story and he pitched relatively well last night, but he's the weakest link right now. This gives you another lefty in the pen and Mathes has pitched well in AAA this year. He has a 3.41 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP. Regardless, he's a temporary fix.
I don't know how they are going to restore Hill's confidence and I think that's the biggest thing that needs to be done. He looks beat on the mound. He struck out the first batter of the game yesterday on three pitches, which should give him a ton of confidence but he still looked rattled. Last year he seemed to walk out there with this aura. He seemed to say "Here's my fastball, here's my curve ball. Do what you can." Now he looks scared to throw in the strike zone. There's a reason Rothschild is one of the best pitching coaches in the league and I expect him to fix that. We'll see the Hill of last year before the season is over.
I haven't run these plans by Jim or Lou, but they shouldn't have a problem with them so expect to see these roster moves today!
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