Why is Randy Wells battling for a rotation spot?

[poodski]

Why Is Randy Wells Battling for a Rotation Spot? | FanGraphs Baseball

One of the more compelling story lines for any team in the spring is the battle, whether faux or real, for the final rotation spots. We often see teams set up battles among youngsters and veterans to foster a sense of competition — that is, so that they take nothing for granted. What we don’t often see is a team’s second best pitcher without a guaranteed rotation spot. Yet that is happening in the Chicago camp. Early in the spring we learned that Randy Wells was not guaranteed a role in the rotation, but was instead in a battle with the likes of Braden Looper and Todd Wellemeyer for two open spots. The perception of a battle continues into March, which makes it even more baffling.

During the last two seasons Wells has been the Cubs’ second best pitcher to Ryan Dempster. While both Ted Lilly and Carlos Zambrano had lower ERAs, they also pitched fewer innings: Wells was 77.1 innings ahead of Zambrano and 65.2 up on Lilly. Zambrano had a better FIP, but a worse xFIP. Lilly had similar FIPs and xFIPs. It all amounted to 6.4 WAR for Wells, 5.9 for Zambrano, and 5.1 for Lilly. If you’d rather measure based on overall outcomes rather than fielding-independent ones, Wells’s 6.1 bWAR topped Zambrano’s 5.4 and Lilly’s 6.0. Now that Lilly has moved west, it’s even clearer that Wells is the second best remaining pitcher.

more at the link...

 

[The Bandit]

Because he sucked last year

 

[Jntg4]

I expect him to be announced as a starter within a week.

 

[Jntg4]

Why Is Randy Wells Battling for a Rotation Spot? | FanGraphs Baseball



more at the link...

Second best remaining pitcher?

He's not better than Garza.

I think FanGraphs forgot about Garza.

 

[bobferg]

Competition never hurts.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Hes hot then hes cold.

Hes yes than hes no.

Hes in then hes out.

 

[poodski]

Second best remaining pitcher?

He's not better than Garza.

I think FanGraphs forgot about Garza.

Garza wasnt a Cub.

And its also debatable who is better.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Garza wasnt a Cub.

And its also debatable who is better.

this guy

 

[Jntg4]

this guy

:yep:

 

[poodski]

this guy

:yep:

Meh. Personally he gives up way too many flyballs.

That's not gonna fly in Wrigley.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

Meh. Personally he gives up way too many flyballs.

That's not gonna fly in Wrigley.

TL supposedly was gonna do the same.

 

[DewsSox79]

if it is a must win game to clinch a playoff birth, and I had to choose, matt garza all day long.

 

[Captain Obvious]

Because he sucked last year

Did you read the article?

Second best remaining pitcher?

He's not better than Garza.

I think FanGraphs forgot about Garza.

Did you read the article?

if it is a must win game to clinch a playoff birth, and I had to choose, matt garza all day long.

Agreed, but even if Garza is better, why is Wells having to compete for a spot?

 

[theunfortunatecubsfan]

TL supposedly was gonna do the same.

He did. 1.46 HR/9 was among the higher rates among Cubs.

Others who posted GB% in the 30's put up below-average HR rates include Diamond, Atkins, Mateo, Schlitter, Russell, and Samardzija. The only one that didn't was Carlos Marmol.

 

[theunfortunatecubsfan]

if it is a must win game to clinch a playoff birth, and I had to choose, matt garza all day long.

I think it's universally agreed that the Cubs won't be in a position to clinch a playoff birth.

 

[Jntg4]

Did you read the article?



Did you read the article?



Agreed, but even if Garza is better, why is Wells having to compete for a spot?

He quoted the article CO, I assumed he quoted all of it.

 

[poodski]

He quoted the article CO, I assumed he quoted all of it.

Well I did say:

more at the link...

posting long articles tends to clutter things up so I will only post a few paragraphs most the time.

 

[X]

Dempster, Garza, Z, Wells, then a toss-up...probably not Cashner at first, but he'll be in a spot start/swing man type of role.