Rotation Predictions?

[karch34]

Anyone want to guess the last two spots behind Garza, Dempster, and Maholm?

I'm going to say Volstad and Wood.

[ChronicKerr]

Wells and Wood with Volstad as #6 (long relief). Just a guess at this point.

[GYBE]

Wood still has options for AAA...I wonder if they might consider sending him down. I hope not.

I'd like to see Wells as a swingman with Wood/Volstad taking the spots. I think they have more upside. Chances are, someone will go down and we'll need the 6th guy.

[karch34]

Sounds like Smardz is close to in. Agree we'll need a 6th at some point.

[ChronicKerr]

Latest trib article has Smardz as the #4 with Wells and Volstad battling for 5. Sounds like Wood won't crack the opening day rotation.

[karch34]

Smardz has pitched well, but for some reason I have doubts he'll be successful as a starter. Hope I'm wrong though.

[SportsWorld]

Dempster
Garza
Maholm
Volstad
Shark

[jl342323]

1.ryan
2.matt
3.chris
4.jeff
5.paul

[GYBE]

Dempster
Garza
Maholm
Volstad
Shark

This looks to be the correct answer.

I'm still a little surprised Dempster is getting the opening day start. I know he has longevity, but Garza's easily our best. Since we're trying to sign him to a long-term deal, I think keeping the ace happy would be a priority.

Garza seemed a little annoyed by it on twitter.

[SportsWorld]

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd ... b&c_id=mlb

MESA, Ariz. -- Jeff Samardzija set school records in touchdowns, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns at Notre Dame, has played in bowl games and in front of 100,000 fans. But on Thursday, he scored a personal goal, securing a spot in the Cubs starting rotation.

The right-hander was named as the No. 3 starter, following Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza. Chris Volstad and Paul Maholm round out the starting five.

"This could be right up there," said Samardzija, who has pitched primarily in relief for the Cubs since he was drafted in 2006. "It's definitely at the top because I feel I went through college and I just played. It was natural and I didn't have too many setbacks. I didn't play much freshman, sophomore year because I was 185 pounds.