There is a saying in baseball: “great pitching always beats great hitting”.  Ted Lilly, Rich Hill, and Jason Marquis, get your act together FAST!  Ted Lilly and Marquis were brought in last season to eat up MAJOR league innings, which they did.  Rich Hill was a prized prospect in the Cubs farm system. Now they look like the THREE STOOGES!

This season Rich Hill numbers are 9.0 innings pitched, seven strikeouts, with an ERA of 5.00 in TWO STARTS! Rich Hill was a catalyst in the rotation last season going 11-9 with an ERA of 3.92. Another key stat with Hill was that he pitched 195 innings last season. Hill had control problems during spring training, this trend has continued thus far. If Hill was to replicate last season’s success; he better start going deeper into games SOON.

                Ted Lilly was the second best pitcher in the rotation last season, but in my view, he overachieved.  Ted Lilly’s number this season numbers are: 12.2 innings, eight strikeouts, and an ERA of 9.95. He has a record of 0-2 this season which is a huge contrast from last season. Lilly went:  13-8 with an ERA of 3.83. He pitched the second most innings on the team with 207.0 innings pitched. Lilly better find his rhythm and find it fast.

                Lastly Jason Marquis, Lou Piniella’s least favorite pitcher, started yesterday game. Marquis lasted only 5 innings, with an ERA of 6.75.  Marquis is a good first half pitcher, but an awful second half pitcher! I wanted Marquis gone to start the season and Lieber in the 5th spot. Piniella went with Marquis in the rotation; we shall see how long that lasts.

                The three Cubs stooges are not the only pitchers struggling. Pitchers like CC. Sabathia and Jason Verlander are also “getting off to slow starts” as the experts state. Most teams do not put too much stock into early season numbers, but make certain they are taking NOTICE.