The main contenders for the 2008 NL Central have made rotation moves in the past two days….
….The Cubs released their season-starting rotation and bullpen, and it looks like the Ryan Dempster Rotation Experience is going forward, and Kerry Wood has the closer’s spot. The Cubs arguably have made decisions that result in inexperienced pitchers in important places; Dempster has not pitched in a rotation since 2003, and Wood has only faced 4 leads in 33 career bullpen appearances…
…Dempster has considerable experience in his early career for starting games, but he has never been more than a mediocre middle-to-low rotation pitcher. However, he has built a decent career as a reliever in the past four seasons, with an average 86% leads converted percentage.
Dempster as a starter: 161 G, 156 GS, 965 IP, 1008 H, 565 R, 778 K/503 BB; 73 quality starts (47%); 5.27 runs average, 5.99 IP/G
1998 2 QS / 11 GS (18%)
1999 12 QS / 25 GS (48%)
2000 18 QS / 33 GS (55%)
2001 19 QS / 34 GS (56%)
2002 15 QS / 33 GS (45%)
2003 7 QS / 20 GS (35%)
Dempster as a reliever: 226 G, 6 GS, 254.3 IP, 235 H, 127 R, 229 K/128 BB; 92/107 leads converted (86%), 13/41 IR/IS (32%)
The Cubs may lose more in short relief than they gain in the rotation with Dempster….
…Meanwhile, the Brewers released low rotation and long man candidate Claudio Vargas. Presumably, the Brewers have so much confidence in their young pitchers that they do not feel the need to keep their depth, even after losing Chris Capuano to injury.
What does this do for the team? LHP Zach Jackson started SP as the ninth pitcher for the club; he is now the seventh. Previously, it would have taken three injuries or effectiveness problems to reach Jackson; now it will only take one….
….Vargas could immediately improve at least two division rotations. In St. Louis, he could serve as a back-up should the Clement project take a wrong turn, Pineiro return to his career norms, or Braden Looper’s arm fall off. In Cincinnati, he could conceivably kick Belisle or Fogg out of the Reds’ rotation, or hold a spot until Vasquez and Bailey are ready….