“THAT’S WHY THEY CALL HIM THE BULLDOG!… HE IS A BULLDOG!!!”

One of my favorite all-time quotes from legendary Cubbie Ron Santo (who just turned 69 this past Wednesday) regarding Chicago’s fourth starter, Theodore Roosevelt Lilly.

Lilly has pitched 200 innings in each of his first two years of a four year, $40 million dollar contract with the Cubbies. Worth every penny. This one play alone may be worth the $40 million Jim Hendry shelled over to Ted:

Yep, that’s all 185 lbs of the Ted Lilly Pain Train destroying the 225 lb filthy Cardinal catcher Yadier Molina…. in the TOP OF THE SECOND!! I love Ted Lilly. You always know you are going to get nothing short of 100 % everytime he takes the mound.

Performance-wise you’re getting a strikeout pitcher who’s tough to hit. Lilly is a flyball pitcher, which makes his success in Wrigley all the more admirable. He has given up no less than 23 homers since 2003, and the long ball is Theo’s kryptonite.  Lilly’s control had been a problem before coming to Chicago, as Lilly walked 3.67 batters per nine innings. However, since joining the Cubbie staff Lilly has walked only 119 batters in 411.2 innings (good for 2.60 BB per 9).

After his fastball, Lilly mixes in an equal number of curves, sliders, and changeups. He is 32-17 in his two years with the Cubs, 91-75 overall (with the Expos, Yankees, A’s, Blue Jays and Cubs). Last year Theodore set his career best for wins with 17 against 9 losses.

Lilly has started 34 games in each of the last two years. In 2008 he went 8-3 after the all-star break in 14 starts and posted a 3.32 ERA. He won his last four starts in September (posting a 0.64 WHIP), before disappearing against the Dodgers in the NLDS.

And I don’t mean that he disappeared performance wise, he simply didn’t get the chance to perform. Hindsight is 20/20, and if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, but I questioned Lou’s playoff rotation last year and am upset now that I have been reminded of it.

Sure Demp had a great season as pointed out in Rolf’s preview on Wednesday. But as Guy said on Monday, Z is our ace. Z is our number one. Z is our man. And Lilly was pitching the best baseball in the majors at the time, the hottest guy out there and he don’t crack your top three?? Not even a chance to redeem himself after he beat the snot out of his glove (ala Tanner Boyle in Bad News Bears) in Arizona two years ago?

“That was a nightmare,” Lilly said after that loss. “I don’t care how many games I won in the regular season. It’s the postseason that matters.” Hell hath no fury like the two years worth of anger and rage Lilly will have built up and waiting to be released upon the competition this postseason, let’s hope he gets a chance.

Sorry for the venting, on to the Pinkie’s season predictions for Lilly:

SEASON		TEAM		W		L		ERA		G		GS		CG		SHO		SV		SVO		IP		H		R		ER		HR		HBP		BB		SO
1999		EXP		0		1		7.61		9		3		0		0		0		0		23.2		30		20		20		7		3		9		28
2000		NYY		0		0		5.63		7		0		0		0		0		0		8.0		8		6		5		1		0		5		11
2001		NYY		5		6		5.37		26		21		0		0		0		0		120.2		126		81		72		20		7		51		112
2002		NYY		3		6		3.40		16		11		2		1		0		0		76.2		57		31		29		10		5		24		59
2002		OAK		2		1		4.63		6		5		0		0		0		0		23.1		23		12		12		5		1		7		18
2003		OAK		12		10		4.34		32		31		0		0		0		0		178.1		179		92		86		24		5		58		147
2004		TOR		12		10		4.06		32		32		2		1		0		0		197.1		171		92		89		26		6		89		168
2005		TOR		10		11		5.56		25		25		0		0		0		0		126.1		135		79		78		23		3		58		96
2006		TOR		15		13		4.31		32		32		0		0		0		0		181.2		179		98		87		28		4		81		160
2007		CHC		15		8		3.83		34		34		0		0		0		0		207.0		181		91		88		28		3		55		174
2008		CHC		17		9		4.09		34		34		0		0		0		0		204.2		187		96		93		32		7		64		184
2009       CHC				17	9	3.98	34	34	2	1	0	0	194.1	174	90	86	25	5	62	169

Sounds about right to me...

**Ted will take the mound as the Cubs take on the Rangers today @ 3p ET**