Ok Cubs fans....Silva over Marshall...really

Dave19642006

Well-Known Member
Nov 21, 2006
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Pinella gave two rotation spots to Gorz and Silva, MArshall in the bullpen....im really lost on the choice of Silva over Marshall.
 
Agreed....what exactly did Silva do to earn that spot over Marshall in the rotation? Makes me think there was never a competition to begin with.
 
I have not followed spring training as much as I usually do, but in just looking at stats, the only thing Silva did better in was his record and games started. His ERA is almost 4 runs higher than Marshal's. Silva also a righty, and Marshals is a south. The Cubs will throw 1 south paw in the rotation until Lilly returns.

This move is a definite head scratcher...
 
Marshall can be a great pitcher for a couple games and then look like he should be in the minors the next game. He's so inconsistent. My guess is Pinella is just going to see if Silva can be a little more reliable.
 
Its all about the Benjamins...

You don't pay a guy that much and not have him play. Their hope is that he is better in the NL when compared to what he did last year in the AL.
 
I don't mind Marshall in the bullpen. He's a somewhat reliable arm in middle to long relief. I think Gorzelanny is the most worthless piece of garbage and can't believe he's starting for the Cubs. I couldn't believe he started for the Pirates. Silva probably isn't much better either. Looks like we'll really need Z, Lilly, and Dempster to have good seasons.
 
Marshall can be a great pitcher for a couple games and then look like he should be in the minors the next game. He's so inconsistent. My guess is Pinella is just going to see if Silva can be a little more reliable.

Yeah, I wouldn't get all up in the air about it. Also kind of surprised to see that Well's numbers are down quite a bit as well. My guess is, when Lilly returns, either Silva or Wells is getting sent down, depending how they do to that point...
 
I'd have to go look at the stats, but last year Marshall's ERA as a reliever was about 1/2 or a 1/3 of what it was as a starter. It may just be that Marshall could be a lot more useful coming out of the bullpen.
 
The way the schedule looks...the 5th starter will only get 1 and just maybe 2 starts for the first 2-3 weeks of the season.
Lilly is projected to be back by then.Mid April was the last hopeful word.
I'd much rather hide Silva as the 5th starter... for now.
 
I'm guessing the Cubs want at least two lefties in the bullpen, so it was going to be either Gorz or Marshall in the bullpen. I think the battle was Gorz vs. Marshall rather than Silva vs. Marshall. As to whether Gorz should have been picked over Marshall, or whether Silva should have been picked over Smardjjzzfgdjsfdia, I think those topics are both fair game.
 
I wouldn't read too much into it. Someone will have to go to the pen when Lilly comes back so Silva's spot on the rotation isn't exactly a sure thing unless he proves he can have success there while Lilly is out. Over the past 4 seasons Silva has started all but 7 games while Marshall has started just 44% of his major league games he's appeared in. His ERA as a reliever is also 1.22 lower than when he's a starter and even last year his ERA was 5.25 in 9 starts compared to 3.23 in 46 relief appearances. Marshall just hasn't shown the consistency over his career as a starter and has proven he pitches well out of the bullpen so I can see why even though the spring numbers don't show it why Silva got the nod. If Silva gets roughed up early you can bet Marshall will be the guy counted on to come in and pitch 3-4 innings to clean up his mess.
 
I watched Silva pitch last week in Arizona and I expected him to get shelled, but he actually pitched pretty well and I came away somewhat impressed.
 
Marshall has pitched in the bullpen, Silva hasn't and you want if you can get something out of the Bradley contract that you just traded
 
Marshall has pitched in the bullpen, Silva hasn't and you want if you can get something out of the Bradley contract that you just traded

Actually before being traded to the Twins Silva was a reliever. At the time I went Milton for a reliever and a utility if(Nick Punto)?
 
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Throw out Silva's first spring start against the white sox and he has given up 3 runs over 14 innings. That's pretty good. His control is pretty good. Only 2 walks in 16 innings. He has earned his spot.
 

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