Cubs pen looking tough???

by CubFaninCA on Sep 21, 2007 7:34 PM CDT

Marmol's been great all year and Howry and Eyre have been quite good of late. Howry's ERA is under 2 his last 25 outings and Eyre's allowed 2 runs his last 21 innings..

Dempster's been shaky, but he's still only blown 3 or 4 saves, and Wood is showing signs here and there..

With more rest days in the playoffs, Cubs pitching could really shutdown some teams, since they'll be able to use Marmol & Howry in more games..

Any opinions?

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Sure, pen is a plus....

...but doesn't do you a lot of good if fall behind a team like Ariz (likely first round foe) or SD which also have good pens...not like Cincy which they and did rally against...

I think all the playoff teams have decent bullpens to better than decent, with Cubs in above avg. category....Yankees and Boston actually a little shaky here, as is Clev.

Problem is for Cubs many of their starters incl. Z. and Marquis tend to get in early trouble.

by writerinwrigley on Sep 21, 2007 8:30 PM CDT reply actions

Z will be ok

Lilly's been solid, and Hill's usually good for 5 innings...

I think it's really good to see Howry and Eyre pitching very well.. Lou will be able to go to his pen earlier in the playoffs.

SORIANO! YESSSSSSSS! JIMBO!!!

by CubFaninCA on Sep 21, 2007 8:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Strong bullpens

are definitely a plus in the playoffs but so is strong starting pitching. We are good but not great at both of those. Also, don't forget that Marmol is fairly new at this. It doesn't seem to have affected him so far but you just never know. And, we've got some work to do before we have to start thinking about this, but I think we can agree that it will be great if we do end up having to think about it.

I know that you believe that you understood what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant. - Robert McCloskey

by pageian on Sep 21, 2007 8:42 PM CDT reply actions

Carlos Marmol

5-1 ERA: 1.25 K: 89 BB: 33 BAA: .168

SV: 1

"I don't think anybody's paying attention to the Cubs." - Prince Fielder

by jasoniniowa on Sep 22, 2007 12:18 AM CDT reply actions

playoff roster

z
lilly(do you pitch him number 1 so hegets 2 starts or Z)?
marquis
hill

hart
wood
ohman
eyre
howry
marmol
demp

i like our bullpin as long as we stay away from the "oh-man" factor.
position player wise i think we can compete with every team in the NL. i like our chances if we get in.

put soriano in the 5-hole please!!!!

by tbizzle83 on Sep 22, 2007 1:50 AM CDT reply actions

Hart...

... won't be on the playoff roster, it'll be Wuertz in that slot.

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

by Al Yellon on Sep 22, 2007 4:19 AM CDT up reply actions

I have been told to expect Cubs going with 10

pitchers...4 starters and 6 relievers. Piniella won the risk setting up the rotation this week. IF the Cubs play a T-TH-S-S-M or W-T-S-S-M schedule a 6-man bullpen is fine since there is two day off day they only need 3 starters but the second they need 4 starters but could use the #2 starter as a reliever in game 4 or 5.

The relievers are Dempster, Howry, Marmol, Eyre, Wuertz for certain. The decision is Ohman or Wood. Some of the decision might be on whom the Cubs eventually match up and which playoff schedule, if series one; Cubs could go with Wood and use Hill as a lefty out of the pen since they will only need 3 starters, of series two they probably will go with Ohman having two lefties. Either way Lou will probably settle on who has the hot hand.

More importantly 15 position players leave a decision between Blanco as a 3rd catcher allowing Lou to play two catchers during the game and having Cedeno as a true utility infielder. BTW Cedeno has performed with 3 RBI hits in his last three appearances. Remember the HOT HAND.

Club stats since June'07; 59-44, against LHP starters; 12-13, and 21-10 in one run games.

by Ivy Walls on Sep 22, 2007 11:02 AM CDT up reply actions

What it allows.....

a strong pen allows Lou to take out a starter very early in a playoff game that is going the wrong way. Much like he did with Marquis yesterday. No need to get into the 5th inning, go to the pen to win now. We just have to keep it close so we're not down 3-4 runs.

This is Harry Carray, goodbye from Wrigley Field and So Long Everybody.

by mrcubsfan on Sep 22, 2007 8:32 AM CDT reply actions