Not full time but intermittantly to shave off innings for Arrieta ,Lester & Lackey. Hammel,too but his 2nd half fade has been part of the landscape now. A Travis Wood or someone of that nature from the BP isn't that big a drop in quality from the last guy in the rotation anyway.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

Why not? I'm sure they have a guy in the minors who is ready to throw a no-hitter.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Warren, yes

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"That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." Banky
“Been that way since one monkey looked at the sun and told the other monkey ‘He said for you to give me your fuckin’ share.’”

Yes... Why not let Wood or Richards squeeze into the rotation once a month each and keep Jake n the boys fresh.

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No. if they had injury concerns perhaps. But nobody is coming off an injury and I would bet they all would rather remain in the routine they are in. Injuries are almost a certainty. VERY seldom does a rotation make it through a season, without at least 1 member of the rotation (at least) going on the DL, for at least 15 days. Warren is likely to get his chance either through injury or performance based changes. Perhaps Hammel has another 2nd half decline? But Arrieta and the pitching staff is off to a historically great start, so I wouldn't fix something that is anything but broken.

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Go Cubs!!!!

A 6th starter is comparable to a rainout with every body getting pushed back a day. I don't see the big deal if done once a month or so.

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favrefan said:"Chris Coghlan isn't gonna pay your rent, Jimmy."

john danks.... would guarantee the bullpen gets serious work once a week

Dallas Beeler, Travis Wood, Tsuyoshi Wada and Dan Haren all did that last year and when Hendricks had a short start and then one of those guys also exited early, it really taxed the bullpen. That is why Lackey and Warren were acquired. Now they have the depth to assure if an injury crops up, they can avoid the issues they had last season with the back end of the rotation.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Once a month is not a 6th starter. That would be a spot start. A 6th starter would take a regular turn every 6th day, like the Sox did under Ozzie Guillen late in his managerial tenure. With guys like Buehrle who was struggling with decline in the 2nd half of seasons later in his career and guys coming off injuries, Guillen put together a true 6 man rotation to give them extra rest and it worked out quite well.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I don't ever remember the Sox using a true six man rotation.

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Anybody here seen my old friend Bobby?
Can you tell me where he's gone?
I thought I saw him walkin' up to The Hill
With Matthew, Tulsi, and Don

Sox ended 2013 with it:

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/59434888/

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They need to start resting guys for the playoffs

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I know that post is meant as an attempt to interject levity, but I love the way they have been giving regular rest to guys to keep them fresh. A starting pitcher gets 4 of 5 days off. But a position player getting a day off here and there has got to help and when the bench player is a guy like Soler or Baez, the drop off from the starter is negligible. Plus, it keeps the bench guys sharper and more capable when called upon. Gotta give Ross credit for his play so far this year too. He's stepped up with his hitting so far and continued his usual level as a receiver. Even LaStella (who I am not a real big fan of) has done well.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Maybe they can throw one of those pitchers who were all going to be great starters and cause a Rangers GM restless nights.

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O judgment! Thou art fled to brutish beasts,
And men have lost their reason.

Warren is the guy who would take over any rotation spot, should anyone go down with an injury, or due to poor performance over an extended time. They don't really have anyone in the minors truly ready to take on such a role at this time.

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Go Cubs!!!!