Juan Mateo called up

by jonpyardi on Aug 1, 2006 6:59 AM CDT

InsideTheIvy.com says Mateo will get the call to pitch in relief with the departure of Greg Maddux.

This would lead me to believe that Glendon Rusch is back in the rotation, right? It was my hope we'd see Jerome Williams, Angel Guzman, or Jae Kuk Ryu back in the rotation, but it appears this isn't the case.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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un-fucking-believable

Why even bother playing the rest of the season?

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 1, 2006 10:07 AM CDT reply actions

No.

I believe this means that the bullpen is completely taxed. They are bringing up Mateo in case he's needed until Thursday, when they'll bring up Ryu, Williams, or most likely Guzman to start.

This is simply bringing up someone for 2 days to try to save an arm or two in our bullpen.

by ontheuptick on Aug 1, 2006 10:14 AM CDT reply actions

Plus...

... Mateo is not on the 40-man roster. There's a spot open, though, with two players (Maddux & Walker) being removed and only one (Izturis) added.

by Al Yellon on Aug 1, 2006 10:16 AM CDT up reply actions

you're too fast!

Check out my Cubs Minor League System website: Top Cubs Prospects

by jonpyardi on Aug 1, 2006 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions

good point

You may be right.

It also means that Mateo has been added to the 40 man roster too.

I believe that still leaves 1 slot open.

Check out my Cubs Minor League System website: Top Cubs Prospects

by jonpyardi on Aug 1, 2006 10:17 AM CDT up reply actions

It's right.

And, with the stiffs we have going the next 2 days, Mateo will probably need to pitch 2 innings in each game.

This move was absolutely necessary to help the bullpen. They couldn't have just brought up a starter for Thursday's start, when they need bullpen help NOW.

On Thursday, we can pray that Rusch is DFA'd, but I'm sure they'll just send Mateo down..

by ontheuptick on Aug 1, 2006 10:21 AM CDT up reply actions

Williams?

He's given up 91 hits in 75 innings, and has a 36/24 K/BB rate in Iowa. Nothing to merit a promotion. The other two aren't much better, in fact Guzman's ERA is higher, but I'd still rather see him than Williams.

by davidalanu on Aug 1, 2006 3:39 PM CDT up reply actions

This makes no sense.

Rusch threw two innings last night. He can't go on Thursday.

Mateo has talent, and might even be ready to pitch in the majors. But that leaves the Cubs starter-less for Thursday.

by Al Yellon on Aug 1, 2006 10:14 AM CDT reply actions

Maybe

they want him to start so he'll blow his arm out and his oh so successful career will be over.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 1, 2006 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions

I say put in Cedeno.

And then, pray to Krishna.

...right downtown and PRINT IT!!!

by CliffX on Aug 1, 2006 10:18 AM CDT reply actions

Put in Neifi

maybe he can save the team just like last year.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 1, 2006 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Jerome Williams pitched Saturday

so he could go Thursday.

Ryu's suppose to start tonight.

I'd like to see Williams given another shot. He's been good his last 3 starts @ Iowa.

by CubFaninCA on Aug 1, 2006 10:23 AM CDT reply actions

Guzman...

...pitched on Friday, so he could go as well.

by ontheuptick on Aug 1, 2006 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions

I want Guzman

he was great in his last appearance up here. 5.1 innings, 1 hit, and 0 runs, right?

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 1, 2006 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't think

his last outing was good. He might not be 100% now. I don't want to see Guzman come up and get shelled, if he's not 100%.

by CubFaninCA on Aug 1, 2006 10:37 AM CDT up reply actions

Just looked it up

June 16th against Detroit:

5.1 IN, 3H, 1R, 3BB, 8K

Yep, that sure was a shitty outing. I even said before Guzman was sent down that he was injured and the Cubs didn't want to put him on the DL or send him down bc the injury would be exposed. Some people, including Al, said I was dead wrong.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 1, 2006 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

So...

... why didn't he pitch for two weeks after that?

by Al Yellon on Aug 1, 2006 10:46 AM CDT up reply actions

By "two weeks after that"

do you mean right after the June 16th game?

If that is what you mean, bc he had an injury and Hendry knew that if he put him on the DL it would really mess up trying to trade him down the road bc he's been so injured in the past it would scare people off again. He could have sent him to the minors, but he would have been sitting there too. They just had to deal with having him on the bench injured and never being played.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 1, 2006 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions

So send him to the minors.

It hurt the team, because most of that time was during Michael Barrett's suspension -- so essentially the team was playing for 10 days with a 23-man roster. Should have sent him down and brought up an extra hitter.

by Al Yellon on Aug 1, 2006 1:52 PM CDT up reply actions

But then

he'd have to not play in the minors. What would be the excuse then? The injury would have come out then bc people would wonder why he wasn't playing while in AAA. Him not playing with the Cubs could be explained as we don't need him right now.

"Incidentally, Colossus was right and I was wrong about Maddux being dealt." -Al Yellon

by colossus @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Aug 1, 2006 2:10 PM CDT up reply actions