Update On The Starting Rotation Competition

For the most part, all of the starters in competition for the 4th and 5th rotation spots have gotten off to good starts in Spring Training. Here is a look at the stats of the pitchers involved in the competition, as well updating the current status of the competition itself.

Randy Wells: 5 innings pitched giving up 1 unearned run on 5 hits, with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk.

Andrew Cashner: 4 innings pitched giving up 3 earned runs on 6 hits, with 3 walks to go along with 1 strikeout.

Braden Looper: 2 inning pitched giving up 1 earned run on 2 hits, with 1 strikeout.

Todd Wellemyer (Not Including his start today): 2 innings pitched giving up no runs on 1 hit, with 2 strikeouts.

Carlos Silva: 1 inning pitched giving up 6 runs(3 earned) on 3 hits, with 1 walk.

Obviously it is still too early to tell who will be the final two starters in the Cubs rotation, but there still is some concern that I see out of some of the candidates. I use the term concern loosely, as it is only the first week of games in spring training. Perhaps the most prominent thing that I want to focus on is Andrew Cashner’s control. So far this spring, Cashner has had a difficult time finding the strike zone with his pitches. But again, you can not judge someone on only 4 innings. Randy Wells, however, is off to an excellent start this spring. His new found attitude for the game of baseball, appears to be improving his production on the field.

Bruce Levine had several updates on the Cubs’ starting rotation competition during his Saturday morning radio show, “Talking Baseball”, on ESPN Radio 1000.

• Levine believes that Mike Quade has no set timetable to announce who the final two starters will be. As Levine put it, Quade could name the  #4 and #5 starters in a week, or he may wait till the final days of Spring Training. To be honest, if Randy Wells has another week of solid production, I would imagine that Quade names Wells as one of the starters in the rotation. As for the final spot, I’m still inclined to believe that it will go to Andrew Cashner.
• As for Braden Looper and Todd Wellemyer, Levine feels that the two would have to completely overpower hitters this spring in order to get a spot in the rotation.
• For Looper, Levine reported that if he does not make the Cubs roster then he will call it a career.
• However, Wellemyer would have to assess his situation before making any decision, if he was left off the Cubs 25 man roster. To be honest, Todd Wellemyer has impressed me so far this spring. While I do not think he will make the Cubs’ rotation, I think there may be a good chance that he lands in the Cubs’ bullpen.

As of now, it would appear that Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner are the favorites to land the final two spots in the rotation. The Cubs are pushing for Cashner to be in the rotation, and assuming he improves his control over the course of his next few outings; he should be in line for the 5th spot in the rotation. Wells, obviously, deserves a spot in the Cubs’ rotation and shouldn’t be competing for one.