The Cubs are winning despite not having a starting pitcher last six innings since that Zambrano 130-pitch outing.

Really? (checks) Yup. In fact, they haven't even had a day off in that stretch.

5/29 Marquis 5.3
5/30 Lilly 3
5/31 Dempster 5
6/1 Gallagher 5.7
6/2 Zambrano 5
6/3 Marquis 5

Weird. They won the first three games of this streak by a combined score of 8-3. They've won the last six by a total of 44-32. It's nice that their hitting and winning, but any time the starters wanna pick it up some, that would be really apprecited.

as long as their winning im happy

Chicago Tribune blog:

Marquis lasted only five innings, putting a strain on an already overstrained bullpen. Lou was not happy when Marquis walked Paul McAnulty to lead off the fourth, and strolled out to the mound like he had a crowbar up his sleeve. An animated chat with Marquis ensued, and while amateur lip-readers in the press box were trying to decipher what he said, the only words were could figure out were unprintable.

"It was one-sided obviously,” Marquis said. “He had some productive words, and we’ll go from there. No hard feelings. He made great points out there. I went out there and tried to do the job I needed to do."
...
Asked about Marquis, Piniella said Marquis is, well, I’m not sure what he said, but here’s the exact quote:
"This turnaround of the rotation is, yeah, I mean, Marquis is, you know, uh… I don’t know. How do you balk with a pitcher on first base when we’re not holding him on? We’re not holding the guy on!

"I don’t know if it’s concentration or what, but anyway… The next time around the rotation we’re going to let these guys throw more. We’ve got no choice."

The rotation's a bit of a concern of mine. I don't think you need absolutely lights out pitching, but Z's the only one I think that is capable of such. Lily, when on, is very good and Dempster's been a pleasant surprise. The flip side is that Lily hasn't been on as often this season and the caveat of Dempster's great start is that I'm waiting for the wheels to fall off. I think Gallagher's going to improve, but the team needs to seriously consider moving Marquis to the pen.

I think it is obvious that for the Cubs to be a frontrunner for 'best team in baseball' they are going to need to get another starting pitcher before the deadline. So let the speculation begin. Who might be available? What would be the cost? Are we willing to deal Pie for a stud pitcher at the deadline? I say yes. Let's get it done this year. Go for it. We've got a great lineup and a tremendous bullpen and the best pitcher in the league (so far, and as I've been waiting for Zambrano to take that next step, I don't believe--and don't want to believe--that the other shoe is going to drop). All we need is a stud #2, and we've got the best Cubs team of my or my parents' lifetime (damning with faint praise?). Regardless, the Cubs are probably (80%+ according to BP's simulations) going to be a playoff team. So the question becomes: how does the team prepare for the playoffs?

I generally don't like the idea of having 12 pitchers, but I begrudgingly have come to accept it in the era of increased offense and decreased starting pitcher workload. I am all ready to rail on the 13th pitcher being added to the roster and then...I look at the upcoming schedule and think okay, this team needs 13 pitchers. It's a damn good thing that a few of them can hit a bit.

I guess with the offense this team has, then can afford to carry the extra pitcher.

I guess with the offense this team has, then can afford to carry the extra pitcher.

We have a backup outfielder, 2 middle infielders (though one of them can play at the corners or in the outfield), and a backup catcher. Their bench production has been good (even if they've gotten terrible hitting as pinch hitters) and so we don't really need a 5th bench player right now. I think the 13th pitcher is a good idea if only to help share the load the starters have been pushing onto the bullpen.

I was just checking out the Cubs' offensive splits. The only batting positions where their OPS is below league-average are CF (sOPS+ of 97, OPS of .728 v. league of .748) and PH (sOPS+ of 79, OPS of .568 v. league of .627). They have an sOPS+ for pitchers of 202, for catchers of 155. Outside of CF and PH, their worst sOPS+ is LF at 116. Not bad for a bunch of dreck.

Okay, you guys are helping me swallow the 13th pitcher pill a little better than I was. But Hart over Ascanio?

Speaking from an ugly personal experience the impact of a tired bullpen is all too real. Ned Yost created his own problem in 2007 by sticking to a predetermined "plan" of using certain relievers in the 7th, 8th and 9th innings with an almost religious and rigid zeal and come July the group was either exhausted or hurt.

Lou clearly is not that foolish. But an extended stretch of starters not providing some semblance of durability within games will almost certainly have a ripple effect. And once you get in that mudpit it's d*mn hard to crawl back out.

But Hart over Ascanio?

Ascanio has to stay in the minors 10 days before he can be recalled, unless someone were to go on the DL.

I think it is obvious that for the Cubs to be a frontrunner for 'best team in baseball' they are going to need to get another starting pitcher before the deadline.

I disagree with this premise, much less that it's obvious. I still have faith that Hill will get his act together and will be replacing Marquis in the rotation sometime by the end of July.

I still have faith that Hill will get his act together and will be replacing Marquis in the rotation sometime by the end of July.

I don't know. I exchanged e-mails with a second cousin who follows the Iowa Cubs and he told me Hill has pitched twice in the last three weeks and not got past the third inning either time. Don't know if there is a pitch count involved but in the last outing my cousin said Hill got strikeouts but only three walks because the opposition was chasing.

So I have no personal firsthand observations. But that doesn't seem very promising.......

I am aware of his struggles in Iowa. That's why I'm calling it faith...