This makes sense to me. Ryan Dempster has the most wins on the team-17. He has a lower ERA than Zambrano. But most of all, he has 14 wins already this year at Wrigley field (AKA-The Shrine). Having him start game 1, also insures that he would pitch in game 5, should it be required. Plus Zambrano has had some issues with consistency (or lack thereof) and Dempster has been the most consistent pitcher in the rotation. Hopefully it motivates Z to pitch lights out in game 2, rather than putting him in a funk.

Amazing-this guy went from the closer, to battling his way back into the rotation, to being the starter with the most wins, who will start game 1 of the playoffs. Hats off to Ryan dempster!!!

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Go Cubs!!!!

Yep this is a no brainer, now the question is does Z or Harden go in game 2?

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Z for sure, so that he can go again game 5 (if necessary). That's why he's not going first.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

They're going 4 man for the NLDS.

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Fire Phil Emery

It also depends on who the opponant is.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I think Zambrano. Harden has been terriffic, but I think Lou goes with Z in game 2. If you went simply by ERA or recent performances, Zambrano would probably go in game 4. Throw out the No-Hittter and he's had a lot of mediocre to bad starts in the last 6-7 weeks.

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Go Cubs!!!!

while i would like to see harden in game 2, i wouldn't have a problem with Z. it's a good change up. something he doesn't really have...

I'd much rather have Harden go than Z. Zambrano's been so up and down lately...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

where is Lilly in the mix? He has pitched "lights out" the last few starts.

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Proud to be UNVERIFIED.

Lilly is 16-9, reaching a new career high in wins, with a chance still for 17. But his ERA is 4.17, compared to Zambrano's 3.91 ERA. Pretty close though. I think Zambrano certainly has the better upside, but Lilly is more consistant. If you throw out lilly's starts against the Reds, where he was 0-4, his record would be 16-5, with a considerably lower ERA. Lilly is a very nice #4, and he has been pitching well of late, but I worry that if you threw them according to recent (over the last 4-6 weeks) performances, that Z would be very upset, as he would likely be #4. I don't think his ego could take that. He should be fine with #2 after Dempster. But anything past #2, I think could be a problem for him. I think Carlos is going to have a very nice playoff run though. We shall see very soon....

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Go Cubs!!!!

Lilly is a fly ball pitcher, so the Cubs better not start him at home at all...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

Dempster has been the most consistent pitcher on the team. He also handles stress much better than Zambrano. (Z would go completely over the top if he was pitching in the first game.) To me the rotation is a no-brainer:

1. Dempster
2. Hardin
3. Zambrano
4. Lilly

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Seriously?

I think Ryan has been nails tough at home this season for the Cubs, and Lou's making the right call starting Dempster in Game 1 of the NLDS. I overheard something yesterday that Game 1 at Wrigley starts Wednesday @ 1p. That can't be right, even though TBS Sports will hold all the cards in regards to start times for Round 1 of Bud Selig's MLB Postseason...

Last I heard game is at 5:30 PM.

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Seriously?

some more bad thoughts here...starting to sense a trend here elmhurst and rfdc seem habitual offenders

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Ah, Rich Harden.

Good call.

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Nah, go ahead and rain on this idiot's parade.

There are hundreds of bad thoughts here, and in the Sox and Bears section as well.

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i find it funny that these know it alls were so wrong so often..keyser seems to be smarter than the average bear on his predictions

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Unless you are talking about the White Sox record

He predicts them to win the division at some point, every year


They rarely win the division

havent seen that yet...but he eems pretty accurate on his mlb moves

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Somehow my brand of baseball stupid hasn't been in these. Going to dig and find something exceptionally dumb I've said.

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Team Cutler.

lemme save ya some time and find some larry holmes threads

@ messed up..i will be digging up your randy wells posts in one year

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I envision a future where Shuc runs me off the board in 4 years and 708stud bumps my old meatball Cubs threads.

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847pimp thinks that your suggestion that LaHair is going to win the MVP in 2012 is ludicrous

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I dont think I went that far... just 40 HRs.

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