Left handed relief help?

by TORCO on Jul 23, 2007 4:29 PM CDT

If the Cubs end up trading for relief, it would appear a lefty might be more needed than another right hander.

Ohman is only adequate as a LOOGY (the difficulty of LH batters hitting him only matched by his difficulty hitting the catcher's glove)
but if Hendry can somehow find a taker for part of Eyre's salary or Scott comes down with a "bad back/elbow/etc." what's the consensus on acquiring one of the available lefties--

Damaso Marte may be expensive to trade for. Ron Mahay and CJ Wilson have ERAs in the 2s in Texas but are they really any good? Royce Ring in SD has an ERA of 3.07 but that may just be Petco? Steve Kline (uggh)?

Any thoughts?

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Of the ones you mention...

... Marte, ugh. He's basically Ohman again.

Wilson's a young guy and the Rangers probably won't deal him. Mahay pitched for the Cubs... six years ago. He's 36. Not interested.

Ring, again, a young guy that the Padres like.

I agree with you re: Steve Kline.

Maybe, just maybe, Scott Eyre might turn it around in the second half. He threw well yesterday.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jul 23, 2007 4:26 PM CDT reply actions

Agree re: Eyre...Mahay OK

I'd trade 'em straight up no problem...

It's pretty amazing how far down Eyre has gone in just a year..he was quite effective last year for the Cubs, and previously.

Ditto Cotts I can't believe this guy who looked SOOOOO good for Sox just a few years ago is toiling in minors and not blowin' 'em away...how'd he get so screwed up?

Don't think Cubs can make a run w./ Ohman as only lefty in pen...gotta come up and face a Griffey, or Bonds, Ryan Howard or P. Fielder in clutch situation...ouch!!

Marte seems like the best option out there but many suitors, no>?

by writerinwrigley on Jul 23, 2007 4:41 PM CDT reply actions

Damaso (ball four) Marte?

no freaking way!!!

"I don't like them fellas that drive in two runs but let in three" Casey Stengel

by MPH73 on Jul 23, 2007 4:44 PM CDT reply actions

id

take marte he has been pretty good this year

by tbizzle83 on Jul 23, 2007 5:17 PM CDT reply actions

How about within the system?

Clay Rapada?

Here are Rapada's splits this year in Iowa, quite LOOGY-esque:

vs Left
ERA 1.00 IP 18.0 H 8 R 2 ER 2 HR 1 BB 8 K 24 BAA .138

vs Right
ERA 5.11 IP 24.2 H 32 R 16 ER 14 HR 2 BB 7 K 15 BAA .337

Or Carmen Pignatiello, who also has a .138 BAA vs. lefties, but with a .268 BAA vs. righties.

by John Q Freejazz on Jul 23, 2007 5:34 PM CDT reply actions

i like it

and i think i read somewhere the cubs are planning on just harvesting help from the farm. I keep expecting either eyre or ohman to come down with a pulled tibia or something.

When in doubt punch Barret in the face

by jds2 on Jul 23, 2007 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

minor league relievers

I've wondered myself about both Rapada and Pignatiello. I have an even harder time extrapolating what relievers will do when they make the jump to the majors than I do with starters. I mean who really thought that Marmol would look this good this soon, for example . . .

by TORCO on Jul 24, 2007 7:13 AM CDT up reply actions