Jason Marquis

One of our readers ("DB") caught Steve Phillips saying a deal of Jason Marquis to the Colorado Rockies for relief pitcher Luis Vizcaino was "close". Famous last words of any rumor...

MLB Trade Rumors has it as well (apparently part of the update ticker on ESPN2).

Marquis is owed $9.875M and the story out of Colorado yesterday was that they couldn't "absorb hardly any of his $9.8 million salary this season." Cot's Baseball Contracts has Vizcaino as making $3.5M in 2009 and a $4M option in 2010 with a $500K buyout. That would still leave the Rockies on the hook for $6.375M and I'm going to guess that the Cubs are still throwing $1-2M more the Rockies way if this does indeed go down.

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6:24 PM CST UPDATE: Reader "DB" is all over it today including an update from Bruce Levine on ESPN 1000. The highlights:

• Marquis trade may not be competed until next week
• Deal for Bradley is essentially done but also won't be announced for a week or two
• Moving Marquis means the Cubs may once again hit up the Padres about Peavy
• Hendry might try to spin Vizcaino if he does acquire him
• DeRosa may still need to be moved if they go after Peavy

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6:32 PM CST UPDATE: Troy Renck at the Colorado Post makes the deal sound pretty official, although he concurs with Levine that it likely won't be announced until next week. He mentions the Cubs sending $1M to the Rockies. If true, the Cubs take on at least $4M ($3.5M plus a $500K buyout for next year) and send $1M to the Rockies, netting themselves $4.875M in savings, a bit more if you count the $500K buyout towards next season's payroll.

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6:50 PM CST UPDATE: Wittenmyer chimes in and says it's at least $875K going to the Rockies. I should also mention that Vizcaino was arrested on a misdeamoner DUI in Florida in October.

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7:11 PM CST UPDATE: Rosenthal also says it would be less than $1M headed to the Rockies.

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8;25 PM CST UPDATE: Bruce Miles throws a wet blanket on the deal saying it's possible but not done yet. Adding that the deal is essentially in the Rockies hands to approve.

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	*Jon Niese	SP	Jason Marquis
	1-0, 4.09, 9 K, 6 BB, 11 IP		10-9, 4.39, 87 K, 65 BB, 160 IP
SS	#Jose Ryes	LF	Alfonso Soriano
LF	*Dan Murphy	2B	Ronny Cedeno
3B	David Wright	1B	Derrek Lee
1B	*Carlos Delgado	3B	Aramis Ramirez
CF	#Carlos Beltran	C	Geovany Soto
RF	*Ryan Church	RF	Mark DeRosa
2B	#Luis Castillo	CF	Reed Johnson
C	*Brian Schneider	SS	Ryan Theriot
P	*Jon Niese	P	*Jason Marquis

 

Remember when we were all mortified by the schedule and the impending final road trip to New York and Milwaukee? Good times. Now it's nothing more than a really expensive scouting trip and a chance to play spoiler. Looking at the Mets lefty heavy lineup makes it look like Ted Lilly could be a key contributor in a possible playoff series and that Sean Marshall would make the playoff roster if we play them down the road. 

Speaking of spoiler, the best case scenario for the Cubs is that the races stay close until Sunday or possibly extend into tie-breakers so the teams are forced to use their aces late in the season and can't arrange their rotations the way they like. For example, Johan Santana is scheduled to start tomorrow and then again Sunday. Let's say the Cubs take three of four from the Mets and the Brewers can scrap together two of three from the Pirates. They'll be tied heading into the weekend and the earliest either could clinch is Saturday then and more likely Sunday, if not later.

Sit back and enjoy some tension-free baseball,
although the Cubs do need a win or a Phillies loss to secure homefield advantage.

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	Ben Sheets	SP	Jason Marquis
	13-8, 2.97, 155 K, 45 BB, 194 IP		10-8, 4.36, 84 K, 60 BB, 154.2 IP
CF	Mike Cameron	LF	Alfonso Soriano
2B	#Ray Durham	2B	*Mike Fontenot
3B	Ryan Braun	1B	Derrek Lee
1B	*Prince Fielder	3B	Aramis Ramirez
SS	J.J Hardy	CF	*Jim Edmonds
RF	Corey Hart	RF	Mark DeRosa
3B	*Craig Counsell	C	Geovany Soto
C	Jason Kendall	SS	Ryan Theriot
P	Ben Sheets	P	*Jason Marquis

 

The Marlins took care of business for the Cubs, so it means a Cubs sweep will clinch the division. Tonight is the win they'll have to steal with Marquis on the mound against Ben Sheets. 

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	Jason Marquis	SP	*Zach Duke
	8-7, 4.76, 71 K, 52 BB, 134.1 IP		4-12, 5.29, 72 K, 42 BB, 151.1 IP
LF	Alfonso Soriano	RF	*Nyjer Morgan
SS	Ryan Theriot	SS	Jack Wilson
1B	Derrek Lee	CF	*Nate McLouth
3B	Aramis Ramirez	1B	*Adam LaRoche
CF	Reed Johnson	LF	*Brandon Moss
RF	Mark DeRosa	2B	Freddy Sanchez
2B	Ronny Cedeno	3B	Andy LaRoche
C	Henry Blanco	C	Raul Chavez
P	*Jason Marquis	P	*Zach Duke

 

The Cubs go for the sweep, and once again I am reminded that I don't know how to add Rob's broom graphic to the game results box at the top of the right-hand column. I'll make you a deal, Jason Marquis: you win the game, and I'll work on the broom.

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	Jason Marquis	SP	Jeff Karstens
	6-6, 4.69, 62 K, 44 BB, 111.1 IP	(AAA)	6-4, 3.80, 55 K, 15 BB, 68.2 IP
LF	Alfonso Soriano	2B	Luis Rivas
RF	*Kosuke Fukudome	1B	*Doug Mientkiewicz
1B	Derrek Lee	CF	*Nate McLouth
3B	Aramis Ramirez	C	#Ryan Doumit
CF	*Jim Edmonds	3B	Andy LaRoche
C	Geovany Soto	RF	*Brandon Moss
2B	*Mike Fontenot	LF	Jason Michaels
SS	Ronny Cedeno	SS	Jack Wilson
P	*Jason Marquis	P	Jeff Karstens

The Cubs take a five game winning streak back to the Friendly Confines and a chance to extend their five game lead in the Central with 19 of 28 games at home through the month of August. Marquis goes against the third best offense in the NL, but that was before the trades of Jason Bay and Xavier Nady.

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	Jason Marquis	SP	Yusmeiro Petit
	6-5, 4.44 ERA, 53 K, 39 BB, 99.1 IP		0-1, 3.06 ERA, 11 K, 1 BB, 17.2 IP
SS	Ryan Theriot	SS	*Stephen Drew
RF	*Kosuke Fukudome	LF	Conor Jackson
1B	Derrek Lee	2B	#Orlando Hudson
3B	Aramis Ramirez	1B	*Chad Tracy
CF	*Jim Edmonds	3B	Mark Reynolds
C	Geovany Soto	C	*Miguel Montero
LF	Mark DeRosa	CF	Chris Young
2B	*Mike Fontenot	RF	*Alex Romero
P	*Jason Marquis	P	Yusmeiro Petit

The Cubs reach the century mark of the season that may mark their century-long run of futility. A little known fact is that they've lost the 100th game of every season since 1909 foreshadowing their 100-year drought (don't bother looking it up, I've posted it on the Internet, so it must be true)

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	Jason Marquis	SP	Matt Cain
	6-4, 4.96, 44 K, 34 BB, 85.1 IP		4-6, 4.44, 97 K, 44 BB, 105.1 IP
RF	*Kosuke Fukudome	LF	*Fred Lewis
SS	Ryan Theriot	2B	#Ray Durham
1B	Derrek Lee	RF	#Randy Winn
LF	*Daryle Ward	C	Bengie Molina
C	Geovany Soto	CF	Aaron Rowand
CF	*Jim Edmonds	1B	*John Bowker
3B	Mark DeRosa	3B	Jose Castillo
2B	*Mike Fontenot	SS	#Omar Vizquel
P	*Jason Marquis	P	Matt Cain

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NL West and Barry Zito proved to be the cure for what ailed the Cubs last night. The Cubs will look to continue their dominance over the NL West with Jason Marquis getting the start gainst 23-year old Matt Cain. Lou counters by mixing up the lineup a bit from last night, dropping Soto and DeRosa in the order and inserting Darlye Ward in left (Keep the ball down, Marquis!). Scrappy McFontenot also gets a start at second base.

Game notes fun after the jump...

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	Jason Marquis	SP	Roy Halladay
	4-3, 4.54, 36 K, 28 BB, 67.1IP		8-5, 3.07, 81 K, 12 BB, 102.2 IP
LF	Reed Johnson	RF	Alex Rios
RF	*Kosuke Fukudome	DH	*Matt Stairs
1B	Derrek Lee	3B	Scott Rolen
DH	Aramis Ramirez	CF	Vernon Wells
CF	*Jim Edmonds	1B	*Lyle Overbay
3B	Mark DeRosa	C	Rod Barajas
2B	*Mike Fontenot	LF	*Brad Wilkerson
C	Henry Blanco	SS	David Eckstein
SS	Ronny Cedeno	2B	*Joe Inglett

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh dear, I think Lou has the interleague schedule confused with the preseason one. I'll be the first to say it - THIS LINEUP SUCKS!

That should be good for three to four runs off Halladay. They'll probably need five with Marquis on the mound though.

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	Ben Sheets	SP	Jason Marquis
	3-0, 0.96, 24 K, 4 BB		1-0, 3.47, 15 K, 9 BB
2B	Rickie Weeks	LF	Reed Johnson
CF	Mike Cameron	SS	Ryan Theriot
LF	Ryan Braun	1B	Derrek Lee
1B	*Prince Fielder	3B	Aramis Ramirez
RF	Corey Hart	RF	*Kosuke Fukudome
3B	Bill Hall	2B	Mark DeRosa
SS	JJ Hardy	C	Geovany Soto
P	Ben Sheets	CF	*Felix Pie
C	Jason Kendall	P	*Jason Marquis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No, you're not imagining things--this is the Brewers' second visit to Wrigley Field in the season's first month while the Cubs have yet to visit Milwaukee and won't do so until after the All-Star break.

While the Cubs (16-9) were losing two of three on the road to the Nationals and scoring 10 runs this past weekend, the Brewers (14-11) were dropping two of three at home to the Marlins and scoring six runs. The Brewers, who led the NL in batting with RISP (.303) going into the series, went just 1-for-26 against the Marlins in those same situations.

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP	*Tom Gorzelanny	SP	Jason Marquis
	1-1, 6.75, 6 K, 11 BB		0-0, 5.23, 4 K, 6 BB
CF	*Nate McLouth	CF	Reed Johnson
2B	Freddy Sanchez	SS	Ryan Theriot
LF	Jason Bay	1B	Derrek Lee
1B	*Adam LaRoche	3B	Aramis Ramirez
RF	Xavier Nady	RF	*Kosuke Fukudome
C	#Ryan Doumit	LF	Mark DeRosa
3B	Jose Bautista	C	Geovany Soto
SS	Brian Bixler	2B	Ronny Cedeno
P	*Tom Gorzelanny	P	*Jason Marquis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No kidding--starting pitchers' combined K:BB ratio this season is 1:1.7.

The Cubs go for five in a row this season against the Pirates and their eighth overall versus the Bucs dating back to last September.

In the first half of Wednesday's day/night Cubs exhibitiongameathon, Ryan Dempster gets the start at HoHoKam (2:05 Central Time), while in the second game, starting at 9:05 Central Time, Jon Lieber throws against the Giants.

If Lou Piniella sticks to his vow to name the five-man starting staff by the end of the week, this would be the last chance for Dempster and Lieber to make their respective cases. Jason Marquis, who allowed just one run in five innings against the Royals Tuesday, has made a pretty good case for himself already.

Miniscule sample sizes and spring training weirdness aside, here's how Dempster, Lieber, and Marquis stack up so far:

The Cubs are a little over two weeks into spring training with about three weeks before Opening Day. It's time to check in on the yearly ritual of spring training battles. What's the fun of spring training without a little competition? The Cubs have a few spots up for grabs and today I'll look at the starting rotation battle between Jon Lieber, Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis and Sean Marshall. I won't pretend that Sean Gallagher has a legitimate chance, although I guess I am pretending that Sean Marshall does.

Unable or unwilling to trade for some of the top notch talent that was moved over the offseason, such as Johan Santana, Erik Bedard or Dan Haren; the Cubs head into 2008 with much of the same talent that was good for the second best ERA among NL starting staffs last year. Carlos Zambrano, Ted Lilly and Rich Hill
will anchor the staff, and if Marquis and Marshall win the jobs, you'll have the same starting five that took the mound for the bulk of last season.

That though, appears to be the least likely scenario, as Ryan Dempster is getting his wish to compete for a starting spot and the Cubs signed Lieber on a one year deal. It appears to be a bit of a logjam at the moment, but the bullpen or the trade market can alleviate that "problem" at the end of spring training.

Let's take a look at the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate after the jump...

One of our readers, chifan, says he heard on the radio that the Cubs and Red Sox are close to a deal that would send Sam Fuld and Jason Marquis to the Red Sox for Coco Crisp. I've also seen the same radio rumor mentioned on a few other message boards as well, so keep your eyes and ears open.

Reader Crunch beat me to this by a couple minutes in the Comments, but Paul Sullivan of the Tribune writes that after making his Spring Training debut Saturday in a 6-2 Cubs loss to the Angels (2 runs, 3 hits allowed in 2 IP), Jason Marquis let it be known that he wants to be traded if the Cubs aren't going to let him start:

"I love Chicago. I definitely want to stay here...But I also signed as a starter...I love (Chicago), I love the fans, I love the stadium. I also have a family to worry about, too. I think I can take my services elsewhere...and help another team, in that capacity as a starter."

How Marquis's family would suffer if he was pitching long relief, I'm not sure.

Lou Piniella's response after he was informed of Marquis's comments:

"You know, that galls me about Marquis, it really does. I'm not pleased with that comment. We've had a good camp over here, everybody's getting an opportunity. Go out and win a spot in the rotation."

Sullivan also writes that Boston scout Keith Champion was at Saturday's game, which one might connect with the Cubs' reported interest in Coco Crisp. When Curt Schilling's latest injury came to light, Marquis's name came up as a possible trade target for Theo Epstein, but since the Sox recently signed The Pitcher Who Used To Be Bartolo Colon, their interest in Marquis might be less...if there was ever any to start with.

Today, Carrie Muskat asks herself, "Can Dempster make a successful conversion from closer to starter?"
Her answer:

After three seasons as the closer, Dempster is switching back to the rotation for the first time, full-time, since 2002. The right-hander has trained hard this offseason, but it won't be easy to go from one-inning outings to seven or eight. He'll be challenged with the addition of Lieber.

I think Dempster will mostly be challenged by the fact that he is not a very good starting pitcher.
Dempster's career numbers as a starting pitcher only, along with those of another guy who we often kick around: