In the 4 healthy seasons Ted Lilly has had since becoming a full time starter his combined ERA is 4.12, if you remove last year's performance you still have a 4.23 ERA over a 3 year span in the AL East, that's pretty damn good.

 

I'd say the odds are in favor of Ted Lilly finishing the year with an ERA at or below 4.35. (assuming he's healthy of course)

Ned Yost is going to find himself out of a job soon. The Brewers have no energy this season. Yost still hasn't realized that David Bush is a 3-4 inning pitcher.

Ned Yost is going to find himself out of a job soon. The Brewers have no energy this season. Yost still hasn't realized that David Bush is a 3-4 inning pitcher.

 

I was up in Grenn Bay Friday, they really like the name Ned Toast.

Bottomline is if Ted Lilly is your second best starter, you're not much of a legitimate contender. There's no way in hell Dempster is going to keep up anywhere near the pace he's on. Lieber and Marquis both stink. No telling when Rich Hill will be back up. Sean Gallagher? They really have no pitching depth. And it'll be next to impossible for them to trade for any good pitching before the trade deadline. One, what they hell do they have that anybody would want (the days of molesting the Pirates appear to be a thing of the past)? Two, you have to go back to the Astros and Randy Johnson in 1998 for the last time a "contending" team was able to land an impact starter in-season. It doesn't happen very often.

Bottomline is if Ted Lilly is your second best starter, you're not much of a legitimate contender. There's no way in hell Dempster is going to keep up anywhere near the pace he's on. Lieber and Marquis both stink. No telling when Rich Hill will be back up. Sean Gallagher? They really have no pitching depth. And it'll be next to impossible for them to trade for any good pitching before the trade deadline. One, what they hell do they have that anybody would want (the days of molesting the Pirates appear to be a thing of the past)? Two, you have to go back to the Astros and Randy Johnson in 1998 for the last time a "contending" team was able to land an impact starter in-season. It doesn't happen very often.

 

I bet Sean Marshall is in their rotation by June.

It also depends on what you mean by "true contender." If you mean a World Series team, then I agree - I only think there is one true contender in the NL under those terms. If you mean "can make the playoffs," then I'll disagree, because the Cubs offense is top 3 in the NL.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/l/lillyte01.shtml

 

His career ERA + is 101. Granted that's skewed slighlty by his bad start this year, but he had a career high ERA+ of 122 last year.

 

He still is a consistent pitcher and likely will end up around his career averages, which would mean he will be better the rest of the year

I bet Sean Marshall is in their rotation by June.

 

and that's a positive for the cub?

Haren cruising along and then gives up a 2 out rbi to Lilly. Lilly's pitching fantastic today also. DBacks need to get the lead again before Marmol comes in.

Justin Upton making Ted Lilly look great today. Already with the hat trick and Marmol will give him the golden sombrero later.

Justin Upton making Ted Lilly look great today. Already with the hat trick and Marmol will give him the golden sombrero later.

 

Eric Byrnes might be the most overrated player in baseball. I'm not sold on the DBacks offense, as they seem like they'll struggle against good righty pitching.

Eric Byrnes might be the most overrated player in baseball. I'm not sold on the DBacks offense, as they seem like they'll struggle against good righty pitching.

Eric Byrnes or Carlos Quentin, who ya got?

Eric Byrnes or Carlos Quentin, who ya got?

Well, you also still have to take in to account that the guy they got for CQ helped them grab Haren...

Eric Byrnes or Carlos Quentin, who ya got?

 

Is that supposed to be an actual question?

Is that supposed to be an actual question?

rhetorical

I'll never believe that Mark Reynolds actually homered off of Marmol during the postseason last year.

Eric Byrnes sucks.

 

I only saw the Gamecast what actually happened there?

Weak interference call. Replay showed that Byrnes never touched Soto.

Weak interference call. Replay showed that Byrnes never touched Soto.

 

Was it a 3-2 pitch to Byrnes?

Was it a 3-2 pitch to Byrnes?

 

Yes - again Gameday was all over the place though

Haren pitched a great game, but not putting away Lilly with 2 outs might be the game. Cubs have the pitching advantage the next two games, so hopefully Arizona pulls one out.

Let me guess, did Byrnes chase a 3-2 slider out of the zone?

I think the guys in 9th stack up nicely against Wood if Cruz can hold them.

I think the guys in 9th stack up nicely against Wood if Cruz can hold them.

 

Co Jack does, but I don't think Young and Upton have much of a chance against him.

or not

 

The middle of that order is so much more dangerous than the Sox.