Cotts to Cubs Rotation?
In an unexpected twist, southpaw Neal Cotts is being considered for the #5 spot in the Chicago Cubs rotation. I’d assumed that if healthy, Mark Prior had a lock on the position, but apparently this is not the case. Or maybe someone is trying to light a fire under Prior?
So, what’s the deal with Cotts? His last big-league start came May 22, 2004, while with the White Sox. The Minnesota Twins torched him that evening, and he’s made 181 consecutive relief appearance since then.
Cotts hasn’t faced more than 10 batters in any single appearance over the past two seasons. Even then, he’s reached that mark just three times in 2005 and 2006. The last time Cotts did it came on April 5 last year against the Cleveland Indians.
Cotts didn’t have a real good 2006, so maybe the change would do him good. Still, it seems a little weird to me that the Cubs, which acted like Phillip the Hyper Hypo in this year’s free-agent market, is seriously considering a career middle reliever for that final spot in the rotation.
But that’s just me.
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POSTED IN: Personalities, Spring Training
1 opinion for Cotts to Cubs Rotation?
Knuckle Curve » Prior’s Struggles
Mar 11, 2007 at 1:31 pm
[…] Seems like a lifetime ago. Now the latest word is that Prior may not start the season in the Cubs’ rotation. We earlier noted that left-hander Neal Cotts had become a surprise candidate for the #5 spot. Now, apparently right-handers Wade Miller and Angel Guzman have passed Prior on the depth chart. […]
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