Bleacher Bums Forum

If Darvish comes back this season, pitches well, and the Cubs make the playoffs, I would like to see them carry 13 pitchers in the postseason.

Probably an unpopular opinion, but I think that thirteenth position player will be far less impactful than having that extra pitcher.  The playoffs are just so brutal on a pitching staff.

The right 13 pitchers, I would agree.  If one of the 13 is named Chatwood, I disagree.

With a 4 man rotation and a lot of off days I think 13 would be overkill.

NLDS is usually 2 games then a travel day.

12 pitchers is already overkill with a decent 4-man rotation in a postseason series.  Assuming Darvish did come back and pitch well and so did Morrow the Cubs would certainly have the depth to carry 13 pitchers (and no, Chatwood not among them) if they wanted.  But that doesn't mean they should.

12 pitchers is already overkill with a decent 4-man rotation in a postseason series.  Assuming Darvish did come back and pitch well and so did Morrow the Cubs would certainly have the depth to carry 13 pitchers (and no, Chatwood not among them) if they wanted.  But that doesn't mean they should.

The "decent 4-man rotation" is the issue.  As it the assumption that Darvish will come back and pitch well. 

To me, the reality is that the Cubs do NOT have a decent 4-man rotation.  Hamels, after 9 days of rest following 10 days for his previous start, still took ~100 pitches to get through 5.  Lester and Hendricks nibble a lot and normally are at or over 100 pitches within 5 innings.  Even before his injury, it was exceptional for Darvish to finish 5 innings; and several of the games where Maddon did try to push him beyond four innings, it wasn't so much to win the game as for long-term-season reasons, to protect the pen, or to build Darvish up, or to get him a W, or to build his confidence, or something.  Coming back after the injury, I don't think you want to be expecting Darvish to be giving you 5-inning starts. 

Sure, if things go right, some of the starters might be sharp and well-rested and give a five or even a six-inning start in the playoffs.  But for the most part, I think in the playoffs you want to be ready and willing to be pulling starters pretty early, if they aren't unusually sharp.  Hope for 5 innings, but be willing to settle for 4 or 3 or even less.  No point in letting Hendricks or Lester or Q or Darvish pitch tired or pitch "off" in the playoffs. 

In the playoffs with off days, 4-5 innings is all you need.
6- Kinsler/Chisek
7- Strop
8- Edwards
9- Marrow

Will in with Montgomery/Wilson/Chavez as needed.

Well, no, but I'd rather have Bote with a chance of KB getting healthy than .750 OPS KB-gutting-it-out.  I'm less worried about making the playoffs than I am doing well in the playoffs, so the health of a lot of these guys is more important than having them back Right Now.

Kris Bryant first went on the DL on June 23.  You can't do well in the playoffs if you don't get there.

In the playoffs with off days, 4-5 innings is all you need.
6- Kinsler/Chisek
7- Strop
8- Edwards
9- Marrow

Will in with Montgomery/Wilson/Chavez as needed.

I'd rather have the extra pitching depth so you can pull a starter even earlier if the game warrants.  And we've seen enough tough games to know that a lot of innings 6-9 will require multiple relievers per inning.  And not every guy will be able to pitch every day.