Kinky Recap: Stick A Fork In Howry

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 7:57 AM CDT

So the purpose of this fanpost is really for one thing only, as you can see. To prove I am not a ledge jumper though, I will start with the positive. Our 3 and 4 hitter are finally making contact and helping this team win. Our other All Stars are starting to make contact as well....heck let's be frank....the entire lineup is showing more patience, making contact, and producing runs (whether they are helped out by fans or not!).

Our pitching has been pretty damn good with a few exceptions here and there. Three 10 win pitchers (I believe the only in the majors?) in our rotation, and relief has been fairly effective....EXCEPT,

BOB HOWRY. This guy IMO, is absolutely done. He needs to go. He is worthless to this team. When he comes into the game we are sure to give up runs. When he was warming up last night, not only did I say "WTF LOU?", but I thought "we are gonna need runs now"...and we did. Reed Johnson saved this team from Howry (barely) and for that I am grateful.

As far as Howry is concerned, he is a liability and he has nothing left. What good is a 92MPH fastball if you put it over the heart of the plate? Even when this guy isn't giving up hits or HRs, he is getting squared up and then the D is saving his arse. DLee illustrated this on Tony Clark's lineout last night. Mark Reynold just HAPPENED to miss the 10th or so fast ball on his AB and Howry, IMO, got lucky.

Am I alone in thinking this guy needs to be elsewhere? I hope not. I hope Lou/Hendry sees this sooner than later.

I hope I added enough positive to remove me from the pessimism category. :)

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation, Bleed Cubbie Blue, or Al Yellon, editor-in-chief. FanPost opinions are, however, valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

To quote some peoples favorite poster

Howry is nothing better than a middle reliever at this time.

Also Mark Reynolds HAPPENS to miss a lot of pitches, it was no fluke that he struck out.

Missouri Tigers 2008 Cotton Bowl Champs

by nji232 on Jul 24, 2008 8:08 AM CDT 0 recs

No, no...

...he would say something like, “Howry sucks! He’s nothing but a mop-up guy at this point.”

Sniff, sniff…I miss you, BlueMike.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 24, 2008 10:10 AM CDT up 0 recs

Don't fret daver...

he’ll be back.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

I could see Howry end up on the 15 day DL soon

with some sort of injury.

by siwook on Jul 24, 2008 8:22 AM CDT 0 recs

That's exactly what I wrote in my recap...

... before I even saw this comment.

Don’t be surprised to see Samardzija up and Howry to the DL.

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

by Al on Jul 24, 2008 8:37 AM CDT up 0 recs

ha - I hadn't even made it to your recap

struggling relievers ending up on the DL with a random injury happens quite often. Samardzija could be that little spark that ignites everything again.

by siwook on Jul 24, 2008 9:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'm thinkin'

That little spark is a guy named Soriano.

by StevenABQ on Jul 24, 2008 10:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'd say

I’m “hopin” Soriano is that spark. We need to get it going on a roll here. Roll over FLA and then take that momentum and crush the Brewers. It can be done with our pitching staff if the offense wakes up. I liked what I saw last night.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 10:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

I'd consider him a big spark,

but a spark nonetheless

I’ll take any spark right about now

by siwook on Jul 24, 2008 2:22 PM CDT up 0 recs

Right.

Jon Lieber just did. Howry can join him.

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

by Al on Jul 24, 2008 10:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

I don't know about inherited runners

but he’s been charged with earned runs in five of his last eight appearances. I don’t want that in the late innings when the Cubs are winning, either.

''Listen, losing Soriano is no box of chocolates.'' ~Lou Piniella

by JohnM on Jul 24, 2008 8:27 AM CDT 0 recs

With Kerry Wood's status in the air

we suddenly have a very shaky bullpen. Marmol is hit and miss and right now our most consistent reliever is Neal Cotts. (Yikes!!!!) I’m not jumpimg off the ledge either but I have some major concerns.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 24, 2008 8:28 AM CDT 0 recs

Don't hate on Cotts

He has been lights out since being recalled.

by GoCubbies34 on Jul 24, 2008 8:53 AM CDT up 0 recs

Cotts

scares me whenever he comes in. I think he has been lucky quite a bit, because he really doesn’t seem to have the best “stuff”.

by adam316 on Jul 24, 2008 9:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

I disagree, I think Cotts is looking more like 2005 Cotts..

..This is certainly the best he has pitched since ‘05.

He has answered the bell just about every time Lou has pointed the left arm in his direction.

"When I got to Chicago, fans came to Wrigley Field just to have fun, now they come to see us win. The expectations have changed, for the players and for the fans. It’s about winning." Kerry Wood, 7/14/08

by JB 23 on Jul 24, 2008 9:08 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed

but he does have a history of going to AAA which always lingers in my head.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 9:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

Last year, yes.

He looks completely different this year.

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

by Al on Jul 24, 2008 9:16 AM CDT up 0 recs

Agreed.

But so we want to rely on him to be our #1 bullpen arm? I don’t really.

Side note: I forgot to add in the AWESOME SB by Lilly which was one of the smartest things I ahve seen a Cub pitcher do all year. Perfectly executed and did exactly what it should have done…score the run. Kudos to Ted Lilly (aka. my friend Steve..aka the guy who owes Daver money).

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 9:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

that was a great play.

Howry… well. What are you gonna do? He needs to fix it, now, or go. Is Wuertz doing any better in AAA?

’’If somebody had told me we were going to lose Soriano for eight weeks, lose [Carlos] Zambrano and Kerry Wood for a couple of weeks apiece, and then at the same time lose [Reed] Johnson, and then when we played the American League not have a DH [then-injured Daryle Ward], and be in first place by two games, I’d tell you we were pretty fortunate.’’ Lou Piniella (7/23/08)

by drewishdrewid on Jul 24, 2008 9:27 AM CDT up 0 recs

Wuertz!!!! Them's fightin' words!

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 24, 2008 9:29 AM CDT up 0 recs

From what I can find...........

...........Wuertz has only appeared in three games for a total of three innings; three hits, three walks and one earned during this time.

Obviously the walks are going to keep him in Iowa a bit longer.

"Happiness? A good cigar, a good meal, a good cigar and a good woman - or a bad woman; it depends on how much happiness you can handle." ~ George Burns

by tville on Jul 24, 2008 11:46 AM CDT up 0 recs

Doesnt Cotts thown a 95 mph heater and a nice bender?

Whats wrong with that stuff?

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

by californiachicagoan on Jul 24, 2008 12:33 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah, I think Cotts has great stuff.

His problem in the past has been a chronic inability to throw strikes. He’s been doing that lately and having some nice success. He looked great last night.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 24, 2008 12:45 PM CDT up 0 recs

Marmol is hardly hit or miss

For all his recent issues, which I believe he put behind him, he is still very good. He just showed he is human

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

by californiachicagoan on Jul 24, 2008 12:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

That is his problem

he is himan and not a cyborg.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 1:47 PM CDT up 0 recs

He's a what?

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 24, 2008 1:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

A HIMAN! WHAT IS SO CONFUSING ABOUT THAT?

OH! I meant human! Whoops!

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 2:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ahhhhh, much better.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 24, 2008 2:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

Last night with Howry

I felt it was a matter of the Diamondbacks getting hits on some good pitches. I think he might be close to done but Lou’s gonna give him a few more looks. Howry is a better second half pitcher but it’s the second half so it’s time to figure out if there’s a problem.

by ak123 on Jul 24, 2008 8:38 AM CDT 0 recs

His location has really been bad.

He used to live on the corners with good velocity but like Raggae said, he is living in the heart of the plate. His movement won’t allow him to be in the middle of the palte so he has been getting rocked all year. I don’t buy the “it’s still early for him” argument. After a while, a trend is an indicator of what the truth really is. I think the guy might be done.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 24, 2008 8:46 AM CDT 0 recs

I think you nailed it

Howry has middling stuff, but his ability to absolutely paint the corners led to hitters swinging at sliders that looked like they were going to make the corner.

Now that Bobby can’t locate his pitches, hitters wait on a fastball and smack it.

*Synth intro to "Jump"*

by SouthsideCub on Jul 24, 2008 8:55 AM CDT up 0 recs

Exactly.

Now, the question is: is this happening because he’s getting old and losing his abilities, or is he hurt?

If he’s hurt, get him on the DL immediately. If it’s the other reason… well then, there are other choices to be made.

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

by Al on Jul 24, 2008 9:03 AM CDT up 0 recs

Al,

Good morning sir. What is Howry’s contract status?

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 24, 2008 9:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

This is the last year of a three-year deal he signed in 2006.

IIRC, it was for about $13 million.

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

by Al on Jul 24, 2008 9:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

Thanks Al...

Jimmyeatworld

by Jimmyeatworld on Jul 24, 2008 9:22 AM CDT up 0 recs

I don't think Howry is done

But I think that
a) Lou won’t trust him in an important situation for some time unless he proves he can pitch again, and
b) I wouldn’t be totally shocked if Howry got it together and threw some good innings down the stretch. He’s done it in the past and his arm seems to get better as the year goes on. (That said, we’re almost into August, so he doesn’t have much time left)

*Synth intro to "Jump"*

by SouthsideCub on Jul 24, 2008 9:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yep, this sums it up perfectly.

No movement = highly hittable. I feel bad for Howry – I’ve always liked him, but he’s just too vulnerable out there right now. On the bright side, he’s not walking guys. His K:BB ration is 37:7, so he’s still got his control and, correct me if I’m wrong, but his velocity seemed fine last night. He’s just throwing the ball where major league hitters can crush it. I’m not sure whether to label him “done,” but he should definitely be slotted down in the bullpen, and I believe Gaudin should be considered his replacement.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 24, 2008 10:17 AM CDT up 0 recs

He's never walked guys and at this point in his career, that hurts him. Howry is like a lot of

pitchers who have a small margin for error. For him, being off target means being off target in the strike zone. That is a killer for guys that bon’t have a lot of movement on their pitches.

A guy like Maddux can be slightly off, but he knows how to be off in the zone. He still might not walk anyone, but he won’t get killed because he knows how to make a pitch look good but make it move out of the zone so a batter can’t get the sweet meat of the bat on the ball. Howry can’t pitch like that. He never has and he never will.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 24, 2008 10:30 AM CDT up 0 recs

Daver

I would agree to slot him down in the pen if that meant only 5 run leads or more. Honestly, this guy still DOES have velocity, puts the ball in the K zone, just RIGHT in the middle. I think his other problem is, he throws too many predictable pitches. I know that a pitcher with only a couple pitches is often this way but that is why the movement is so important. This is what he seems to be lacking. I also know pitch calling is important withHowry but can’t really lay it on Soto here. Execute a little better and those HRs are strikes.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 10:56 AM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah, Bob or Len mentioned last night....

...that, like most relievers, Howry’s has two pitches. But when both of them are landing predictably in the fat part of the plate, bad results are inevitable. It’s a damn shame. I still think that if someone could have just gotten Bobby the Howry Cow shirt, he’d be Mariano Rivera right now. But that’s just me.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 24, 2008 10:59 AM CDT up 0 recs

How long can a one pitch pitcher last.

Especially when there is nothing special about that pitch? Yeah he is done unless he can get an offspeed pitch working.

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

by californiachicagoan on Jul 24, 2008 12:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

Hey Kinky

You aren’t the guy that ran out on to the field last year and tried to attack Howry are you?

I kid.

by adam316 on Jul 24, 2008 9:00 AM CDT 0 recs

Just got out of jail in fact!

Seriously though, my biggest frustration with Howry is that I remember him and Eyre in their first season were absolutley lights out. It was all wasted on a pitiful season and a bad manager.

Now we have the makings of a WC team and these two either can’t stay healthy or just stink up the joint.

Reynolds does miss a lot but he got a piece of several high fastballs in that AB so to keep calling or throwing that pitch, when you have not been locating well, is absurd.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 9:11 AM CDT up 0 recs

No ledge jumping here

It’s a fact that he’s been awful lately.

Ledge jumping is stating that because Howry stinks right now that the season is over or the post that someone posted in the CC thread that the Cubs will finish the season 10 games under .500. That person has already left the ledge.

by rlpete on Jul 24, 2008 9:02 AM CDT 0 recs

I for one

don’t mind ledge jumpers that much. I’d rather they did it quietly so as not to disturb the rest of us too much, but if that’s not possible then so be it. And I prefer if their ghosts don’t keep coming back to haunt us, re-enacting the jump over and over again.

The ones that are really annoying though are those who are always out on that damn ledge talking about jumping and never actually doing it. Ledge-cloggers I call ‘em. They clog up the ledge so nobody else can get a clean jump.

by simonuk on Jul 24, 2008 11:57 AM CDT up 0 recs

Again...

they are now referred to as “leap jumpers”, not ledge jumpers.

I move to have them referred to them as leap cloggers in this case.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 12:04 PM CDT up 0 recs

Your Leaps are Clogged with Cubs

I haz blurg: hotbeans.wordpress.com

by digitalbenjamin on Jul 24, 2008 3:20 PM CDT up 0 recs

He certainly looks done. I would to see Hendry add one more piece to our bullpen from the outside

Samardzija might be great sooner rather then later, but do we really want to rely on a guy with 25 IP in AAA during the stretch drive.

Every player should be accorded the privilege of at least one season with the Chicago Cubs. That's baseball as it should be played - in God's own sunshine. And that's really living."

by DC Cubbie on Jul 24, 2008 9:12 AM CDT 0 recs

No we want a new arm here IMO

I would entertain anything over Howry.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 9:15 AM CDT up 0 recs

I tell you what shocks me

that in a game that would likely stop a skid and hopefully turn things around for this team, Lou had Howry warming up with a 1 run lead in the 8th. Had Lou done this with a 6 run lead, okay but they flashed to Howry in the pen with a 4-3 score.

this seems like a time for your most affective reliever…not Howry.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 9:16 AM CDT 0 recs

Why not Gaudin?

It really seems like Lou is saving him. I don’t even know how good he is. He looks great in limited appearances but gets taken out to early. I’d like to se him in Howry’s spots.

by Mapmaker on Jul 24, 2008 9:25 AM CDT 0 recs

He may be the logical choice if Henry doesn't pick

up another reliever. He seems to have good stuff and his arm looks pretty fresh. I don’t have his stats from this year but apparently he pitched preety well for the A’s. He might do OK as the 8th inning guy.

"Hats for bats.....keep bats warm." - Pedro Cerrano
"Hey bartender, Jobu needs a refill !!!!!!!" - Eddie Harris

by willie mays hayes' gloves on Jul 24, 2008 9:31 AM CDT up 0 recs

Definitely Gaudin

I like what I have seen but another arm would be very helpful now.

As for Wuertz, I’d like him to have less playing time as well. Does he need to go yet? I don’t think he has performed as badly as Howry has as of late.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 9:46 AM CDT up 0 recs

it would be nice if jim got someone near the trade deadline....

by lexmarklover on Jul 24, 2008 9:43 AM CDT 0 recs

Yo Kinky

Glad you changed your avatar…the last one kinda creaped me out.

Demp and Rich: proof that people that live in igloos and say "eh" can contibute!

by Canadian Cubs Fan on Jul 24, 2008 10:03 AM CDT 0 recs

Thought I'd represent...

glad it works for you!

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

BTW

that was a picture of me in my more tribal days…

I’mnot offended though, I creeped out a lot of people.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 12:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

The bullpen is shaky right now...

Wood - Blister Boy will likely be out until Sept. 1 at this rate.
Marmol - Could be on the other side of the dark patch, but who knows?
Gaudin - We DID trade for this guy, right Lou?
Eyre - A poor man’s Will Ohman at this point
Howry - A homeless man’s Eyre at this point
Cotts - Could be the next Farnsworth or could be the next Marmol. It’s like canned food without the label. Who knows?
Lieber - Um, who?
Marshall - In limbo depending on what happens with Marquis.
Wuertz—I’d rather see Antonio Alfonseca back at this point

Me no likee the bullpen.

Pluto will always be a planet to me!

by DaBard on Jul 24, 2008 10:45 AM CDT 0 recs

I'd say that's a little harsh...

...regarding Scott Eyre. It seems like he’s been injured for much of the season, and Lou hasn’t given him that many shots when he’s been activated. I’d call him an unknown at this point.

Nanika Ga Okoru!

by dat cubfan daver on Jul 24, 2008 11:01 AM CDT up 0 recs

Perhaps...

OK, a poor man’s Mike Remlinger

Pluto will always be a planet to me!

by DaBard on Jul 24, 2008 11:12 AM CDT up 0 recs

Oh snap!

That’s harsh too!

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 12:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

This turkey is done!

Sorry having fun w pics for a second

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 2:55 PM CDT 0 recs

I don't get it.

Ramy goes 0-28, and we all ask when his slump will end. He may or may not have been playing with an injury.

DLee went 25 games without a HR, and we all speculate on the disappearance of his power and when it will come back. He may or may not have been playing with an injury.

DeRo has had a horrible July, and we all speculate on whether all the position switches have affected him. He may have been trying to do too much to make up for the loss of Sori. He may or may not be playing with an injury.

Howry has had an up-and-down season, sometimes getting torched, and sometimes looking like his old self. He may be pressing to pick up the slack for Woody. He may or may not be playing with an injury.

Why are we assuming that Howry is done, but the other guys are just in a slump?

"I've never complained about it. I'm thankful to have a jersey." Mark DeRosa, 22 Aug 2007

by DeRoMyHero on Jul 24, 2008 4:38 PM CDT 0 recs

Because this "up and down" phase

has gone on now for over a season. Howry struggles more than he succeeds. He does so consecutively as well. Guys like DLee and Rami are stars of this game and the assumption has to be that they will come out of it. They have proven they will regain their form. Howry has failed to show us this over the past season…and I don’t just mean this one, I mean dating back to 2007.

This is my reasoning anyway.

Calm down.

by Kinky Reggae on Jul 24, 2008 6:11 PM CDT 0 recs