Asiano (forgot exact name) seemed to pitch well and yet we keep sending him down or not really using him. Leiber is not young, but hardly ever pitches. I think we have more depth in the bullpen than we show generally.

I’m sure Jim will ask about Houston Street. He wouldn’t look bad in a cubs uniform and could be a nice addition.

I think he would be that dependable LHP in the pen that the Cubs need. Eyre has injury problems. Cotts seems to be too up and down. He’s done well of late. I still don’t trust him. In a playoff series, the Cubs are going to need more than Marmol and Wood in the pen to win. They definitely need a good southpaw reliever.

Would be Mahey from KC… check out those numbers!

that is not an everyday guy or the obvious pitchers Z, Demp, Marmol, Wood, and so on if we could somehow get Harden and Street from the As that would be my dream come true

Here’s how we currently stand:

Lieber – long man
Wuertz
Cotts
Gallagher
Howry
Marmol
Wood

I like Gallagher in the rotation, but hopefully he’ll be a good power arm in the ‘pen. It will be interesting to see in what role Lou uses Gallagher—another late-inning guy to help take the pressure off of Marmol?

Lieber has been decent as a long man / blowout pitcher. Cotts has been quite solid. Wuertz, although he’s put a fair number of baserunners on, has managed to maintain a 2.70 ERA. Howry seems like he’s getting into midseason form, finally; his velocity is just about where it was the second half of last year. Marmol, though struggling, is still hard to it. And Wood has been terrific.

So where does that leave room for improvement?

Well, Eyre is on the DL (as is Chad Fox, though I don’t think it’s real likely Fox will be back). Recent reports have indicated that Eyre could be out for a little while, so the Cubs want to add another lefty to the pen.

This is pure speculation on my part, but it wouldn’t totally surprise me if the Cubs went after someone like Damaso Marte, who is probably available. The other obvious choice would be Brian Fuentes.

2008:
Marte: 41.2 IP 12BB 44K 1.13WHIP 3.46 ERA
Fuentes: 35.0 IP 11BB 34K 1.26WHIP 3.60 ERA

Marte’s numbers are slightly better, though when factoring in Coors I think the difference is relatively neglible. I’d guess that Marte would be cheaper both in terms of salary and trade demands (Murton could work out if the Pirates trade Nady).

but I have a feeling the Padres might be grooming him to eventually replace Hoffman as their closer.

saying that the Shark as well as Cashner this years #1 pick will be up this year before possibly joining the rotation in the future if nothing else I think expect to see them both Sept. 1 when rosters expand

Last year, these relief pitchers were traded:

Eric Gagne
Octavio Dotel
Scott Proctor
Ron Mahay
Scott Linebrink

On average, that’s 22 IP and a 3.79 ERA. I fail to see how that’s a significant upgrade. And you could always end up being the team holding the bag on a guy like Gagne or Dotel, a short-term gas can, just as easily as you could end up with the 2008 version of Mahay.

I used to love this guy but ever since he got busted for roids he’s been garbage, not to mention the guy looks like garbage with his hair hanging out of his hat and his pants ten sizes to big

I like the idea of shipping Murton away for Marte, it looks like there is little chance Nady is still in Pitt so I could see it working and neither player is an amazing player so it could work despite being in the same division

These will be some of the names bandied about. I am of the opinion that Jim Hendry will add at least one and maybe two significant arms to the bullpen.

I doubt it and there still in the race but everyone thought he was getting traded last off-season just a thought.

Of Toranto would be a nice addition and hes a lefty.

is to get a SS who gets to grounders instead of just getting his uni dirty. More outs made means longer starter appearances means a rested ‘pen means we win more games.

We all get it. You think Theriot is horrible at defense and you would like anyone who is better. you don’t have to keep repeating yourself.

Yep.