The Cubs Pitcher is Named Casey Coleman, Cubs Sweep Marlins 5-1

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

Addressing what we were discussing in the game thread (minus the strain on the bullpen) and some other notes;

Starter Chris Volstad exited after five for no other reason than a lack of offense. Rodriguez pinch hit Scott Cousins hoping to spark something. The Marlins had two singles to that point.

"It was a tough call for me because he was throwing the ball good and keeping us in the game," Rodriguez said.

Volstad struck out at least one batter in four of his five innings and walked one. Over his last three outings he's totaled 17 strikeouts and just three bases on balls. He was at 12 walks and 18 strikeouts after his first five outings.

All four hits Volstad allowed went for extra bases, including a Reed Johnson RBI-double in the second and Marlon Byrd two-run homer in the fourth. For the second straight night, Byrd sent a first-pitch over the left-field wall. Wednesday, it was an Edward Mujica splitter. Thursday, Byrd tagged a Volstad sinker that didn't run inside enough.

"My strikeouts are getting up there, I'm in the [strike] zone, not falling behind many guys," Volstad said. "Definitely in the right direction, just one pitch here or there."

The home run ball was a huge problem for Volstad in 2009, when he allowed the fourth-most (29) among National League pitchers. His 1.64 homers per nine innings would have ranked second-worst in the circuit had Volstad pitched enough innings to qualify.

Last season and so far in 2011, Volstad has addressed the issue. He's lowered his homers per nine to 0.95, including a 1.23 mark in 44 innings this season.

"I want to stay in the game as long as I can, but that's the way it goes," Volstad said. "We've got to get something going and usually a pitcher isn't the one to do that at the plate."

Cubs sweep, send Marlins to seventh loss in nine home games

[Party]

Get over it, he was pulled early.

[Chewford]

The move was completely uncalled for. Volstad was pitching pretty well and very little chance Scott Cousins leading off an inning is going to lead to much.

Not that any of it mattered because we couldn't score anything except when Stanton decided to utilize his boomstick.

[Party]

I'm glad we have the luxury of pulling a really average starter early and turning it over to a great bullpen in order to try and create something offensively.

[Beef]

What did Rich and Tommy say?

Nothing that follows this would ever strike my fancy

[Mainge]

Get over it, he was pulled early.

It was still incredibly stupid.

[THE_REAL_MIBS]

I'm glad we have the luxury of pulling a really average starter early and turning it over to a great bullpen in order to try and create something offensively.

And, in turn, burn that bullpen early in the season, once again, for like, the 5th year in a row. We all know how that's turned out.

Like we were saying in the game thread, it's not just about tonight.

And, yeah, I'm with Chewie. Putting Scott Cousins in to "spark the offense" is retarded. Dude is batting .167 and has a grand total of two hits in the month of May.

[Ramp]

Really have no issue with the move to yank Volstad after 71 pitches/5 innings with him due up in that inning.

[MiamiHomer]

I really think it's getting blown out of proportion. Three other bullpen arms were used which probably would have happened anyways. Webb just threw 2 innings rather than just 1.

[Party]

And, in turn, burn that bullpen early in the season, once again, for like, the 5th year in a row. We all know how that's turned out.

Like we were saying in the game thread, it's not just about tonight.

And, yeah, I'm with Chewie. Putting Scott Cousins in to "spark the offense" is retarded. Dude is batting .167 and has a grand total of two hits in the month of May.

We've burned through bullpens for 5 consecutive years?

[jOOj]

We lost because of me, I'll wear it. Sorry everyone.

[Metes]

I take full responsibility

[Party]

And, in turn, burn that bullpen early in the season, once again, for like, the 5th year in a row. We all know how that's turned out.

Like we were saying in the game thread, it's not just about tonight.

And, yeah, I'm with Chewie. Putting Scott Cousins in to "spark the offense" is retarded. Dude is batting .167 and has a grand total of two hits in the month of May.

You don't waste one that early into the game. I'm 100% okay with whatever decision Edwin makes in that situation.

1) Volstad is not exactly the type of pitcher who was guaranteed to blow through the line-up for two more innings.

2) Edwin likes making unconventional moves. I completely respect that because it has worked really well for him. He's made more than a few moves that took the entire game to playout and fit perfectly in the grand scheme of things in the end but look really bad in the beginning.

[Erick]

And, in turn, burn that bullpen early in the season, once again, for like, the 5th year in a row. We all know how that's turned out.

Like we were saying in the game thread, it's not just about tonight.

And, yeah, I'm with Chewie. Putting Scott Cousins in to "spark the offense" is retarded. Dude is batting .167 and has a grand total of two hits in the month of May.

Yeah, it really sucked to "burn out" our three worst relievers tonight (one of them probably won't even be here after Saturday).

Pretty sure the problem in recent years with the bullpen has more to do with the fact that it wasn't as good as this one.
--------------------

We suck against shitty unknown pitchers.

I'm not sure why this saying is so popular tonight on both boards.

We had a bad game against a bad pitcher. It happens? Which other terrible pitchers has the team sucked against?

[Mainge]

Confirmation bias.