Kevin Gregg out as closer
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 18, 2009 8:11 AM CDT
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According to the Chicago Tribune, Lou Piniella has said that Kevin Gregg will not be the closer. Here is a link to the story in the Tribune.
Having attended the game in person, I have to say it was one of the most frustrating closer meltdowns I have ever seen, on TV or in person (definitely the worst in person).
My question is this. If indeed Gregg is removed as closer, who should fill the role? Please vote in the poll so we can see how BCB'ers think.
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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Link and typo
Sorry, but people will be confused. You wrote that Lou said Gregg will be closer but I think you forgot a NOT.
The link to the article is here:
http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/08/gregg-blows-closers-role.html
Whatever u sent us took me to a stats page for Gregg.
The link works for me.
Thanks for the typo. I’ve fixed it.
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by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 18, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions
No problem
When I clicked it didn’t bring me to article but maybe its on my end.
Which link did you click?
Check the one for the Tribune, that links me to their game recap.
This space for rent ... to anyone who can think of something to put here.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 18, 2009 10:07 AM CDT up reply actions
I THINK ADAM LIND SHOUL DBE TH ECLOSER.
Actually I think Guzman is our best option right now. Or anyone but Gregg.
I assume Vermont meant to say the Trib is claiming Gregg is out as closer
If true, the Cubs have really only one option … Guzman. As I detailed in the other Gregg-related thread, he is the only viable option at this point. As the Cubs’ chances for the postseason continue to shrink, giving Guzman the closer’s job gives the team a chance to see if the kid can handle it. He certainly has the stuff, so the only question is does he have the intangibles. The only way to find that out is by running him out there in the 9th. If he fails, you know you need to bring someone else in for next season, but if he succeeds, you have your new closer.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
I was claiming that.
It was late, I had been at the game, it was a bad night all around.
This space for rent ... to anyone who can think of something to put here.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 18, 2009 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Marshall
he is my choice, Guzman should take Marmol’s role as fireman, and let Marshall finish it out.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
A bold choice.
But Sean “pitches to contact” a little too much to be a closer – at least for my tastes. I guess Guzman is the obvious choice, though that leaves the team with a home run pitcher (Gregg) and a BB artiste (Marmol) in the setup roles. (Oh, and Heilman, of course!) I think Lou may give Carlos his shot – he hasn’t walked a batter in three consecutive outings and he’s, theoretically at least, “next in line.”
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
Marshall has done well in the pen over all
it also is only a one pitcher swap, instead of reworking the entire bullpen this late into the season. Marshall, Grabow and Guzman should be the top 3 used from the pen right now.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
I've always been a Marshall fan...
…but his success as a reliever comes in a pretty small sample (26 IP) and his numbers just don’t scream “dominating.” Many of his good outings out of the bullpen have been of the very short variety and probably aided by some good luck and favorable matchups. His stuff is good for a starter and, generally, in long relief, but it doesn’t really scream “late innings shutdown guy.”
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
most important
i wont wake up to see 4 damn posts about Gregg and the closer role.
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
After last night, it is to be expected.
It was worst to watch that in person, and get taunted by Padres fans on the way out.
Some of them two rows behind me had “Cubs suck” shirts, and they were trying to incite me in the ninth inning.
This space for rent ... to anyone who can think of something to put here.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 18, 2009 10:25 AM CDT up reply actions
So, essentially, you want Marshall to be the closer...
…as a sort of “Crazy/Repetitive/Unnecessary Fanpost Prevention Move”? Hm, y’know, that actually is something I might be able to get on board with.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
its worth a try
got nothign to lose using Marshall instead of other options
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Marshall's success in the pen
comes form the fact that he is usually used against LH hitters only. That is not the kind of pitcher you can use as a closer. OTOH, Guzman is used against RH and LH hitters usually. If a change has to be made, and it sure looks like it does, Guzman is a much better choice than Marshall.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Aug 18, 2009 11:11 AM CDT up reply actions
and who dridges it to Guzman?
NO ONE…..there is a big problem. Grabow and Marshall would be the “best” choices out of the pen, leaving two lefties to bridge SP to CL…..
sometimes the choice cannot be the most “sensible” based on stats alone
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
When the stats are lined up against you
that would be a logical thing to say.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Aug 19, 2009 8:04 AM CDT up reply actions
Rothschild need to go ASAP
My 2 cents: I’m a big Marshall fan too, but making him the closer is the wrong move. I truly believe Marshall is worn out from overuse in the pen. Looking at his stats from August 7th, when pitching at least an inning, he has not looked good. I fear that he may never recover from the mismanagement of Lou and Larry.
IP H R ER HR BB K
Aug 7 2.0 5 3 3 0 1 3
Aug 12 3.1 6 5 5 2 3 4
People want to blame Baker for Wood/Prior, but some blame must go to Rothschild too.
Until LR gets Marmol to stop falling off the mound towards 1st base, commanding his pitches, Marmol will not be a closer.
Smoltz: I would much rather him go to STL and work with Dave Duncan than for him to be coached by Rothschild. At least Duncan would get something out of him, if there is anything left in the tank.
Maybe a house cleaning of the minor leagues coaching staff is in order too.
Well, I feel your frustration and I agree about Marshall...
…but I’m not sure firing Larry Rothschild would do anything right now other than throw the pitching staff into further chaos. I mean, maybe Larry could’ve done more with Marmol, but it’s not like he can force Carlos to pitch a certain way. He can certainly tell him what he’s doing wrong – and I have to believe they’ve looked very carefully at Carlos’ mechanical issues – but Larry can’t hold his hand while he’s on the mound.
As far as Smoltz goes, I don’t think he has much use for pitching coaches these days. So I don’t think that really factors into his decision of which team to play for.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
let's assume for a moment
Larry has talked with Marmol and is trying to get him to stop falling off the mound. If that is the case and Marmol refuses to listen, then demote him until he corrects the problem. The kid has filthy stuff, but he needs to command his pitches before he is ever considered a closer at the major level.
If your players aren’t listening to you, as their coach, then it’s time to move on to another job.
Don't Think He's a Quisenberry-Type
Well, Dan Quisenberry proved you can be an effective closer pitching to contact with the Royals back in the 1980’s, but I don’t think Marshall has the same kind of stuff that Quisenberry had. However, I’d much rather have Marshall than Marmol or Gregg closing right now.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Does anyone else think?
This is just a feint by Lou?
I seem to remember the last time he made a big production of making changes, nothing changed.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
Damn Worf
agreeing w/ you twice in the first two posts I read.
by Madison Cub Fan on Aug 18, 2009 10:36 AM CDT up reply actions
Wow, you are serious???
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Aug 18, 2009 10:02 AM CDT reply actions
Oh, he's dead serious.
He’s going to post a link to a Trib article and a related poll and there’s not a damn thing any of us can do to stop him.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
Dave,
This might actually be a reply fail to Worf. Check above, at the other post lookingdeadred made.
This space for rent ... to anyone who can think of something to put here.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 18, 2009 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions
Actually, I think it's a reply to Tim's suggestion of making Marshall closer.
I’m just havin’ some fun with lookingdeadrred.
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
exactly
Marshall has been effective in the pen because Lou is very careful to use him in situations where he most likely to be effective. You can’t do that with your closer. There is very little to suggest Marshall would be an effective closer … very little. I honestly thought Cubbie-Tim was joking around, but apparently he was not.
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Aug 18, 2009 11:16 AM CDT up reply actions
I am kinda joking, kinda serious
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
yeah, right
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Aug 19, 2009 8:05 AM CDT up reply actions
No, it was a reply to making Marshall the closer
I always turn to the sports section first. The sports page records people's accomplishments; the front page has nothing but man's failures.
~Earl Warren
by lookingdeadred on Aug 18, 2009 11:13 AM CDT up reply actions
I noticed after the game that someone in the threads said
There was a Twitter post claiming that Gregg would be removed. I went to the Tribune a short while later, and they confirmed it.
This space for rent ... to anyone who can think of something to put here.
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Aug 18, 2009 10:13 AM CDT up reply actions
I applaud this idea.
Opposing teams would be so shocked and overconfident, their hitters would be swinging way early on everything. Do it, Lou! Do it!
I've committed to tweeting about the Cubs for the rest of the season. (Does that sound as ridiculous as I think it does?) Anyway, if you're on Twitter, you can follow me here.
NONE of the above....
We need to bring in Smoltz….
I’m confident he can get the job done!
GO CUBBIES!
Um have you been drinking ?
He has an ERA of 8.32. He got hid HARD and EARLY. At best he might help a team in the back of a bullpen. Just because he
was lights out closer years ago does not make him one now.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Aug 18, 2009 1:55 PM CDT up reply actions
An ERA of 8.32 as a starter.
And he got worse as the game went on. Throwing one inning at a time, he could very well close out games.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Just remember how lefties have hit him this year!
It’s scarry.
If you think you've seen it all...just wait!
by CubFanSince1970 on Aug 18, 2009 5:11 PM CDT up reply actions
maybe he could be a ROOGY
the cubs lineup needs moar LIND and HALLIDAY
by jesus christos on Aug 18, 2009 5:57 PM CDT up reply actions
Can he play LF?
He andd Marsall could sshare LF and closer role :)
The best defense is a good offense.....Lou Pinella...still hasn't managed the Cubs to a post season win. D. Lee still doesn't have a post seasson RBI for Cubs...ditto for Soriano
"It's so simple, it's unbelievable," manager Lou Piniella said. "When you score runs, you win."
No, "scarry" is how Marmol has hit batters
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Aug 18, 2009 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions
;-)
I'm singing, "GO CUBS GO! GO CUBS GO!" -- DrCrawdad on Jun 12, 2009 7:23 AM CDT
Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true! -- Homer J. Simpson
by Shanghai Badger on Aug 18, 2009 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Home vs away....
after last night’s blow up on the road made me think about Gregg appearing to pitch better at home as opposed to on the road. So I looked and here is what I found;
W L ERA G GS CG SHO SO SVO IP H R ER HR BBSO
Home Chicago Cubs 3 1 2.83 29 0 0 0 11 11 28.2 22 11 9 4 8 32
Away Chicago Cubs 1 4 6.18 29 0 0 0 12 18 27.2 28 19 19 8 15 26
So it appears that the Cubs have another pitcher with strangely bad spilts (much was made a couple of weeks ago of Harden’s spilts). Obviously using Gregg as a “home” closer isn’t or at least shouldn’t be an option.
Smoltz is not the answer. Guzman is an intriguing option but, how will he hold up both phyiscally and mentally (with no closing experience) if the Cubs find themselves in a dog fight for a playoff spot in the final weeks of a season? Marmol obviously has the “stuff” to be a closer but, has pretty much been lost as to where his pitches are going on a daily basis. Can he step up if he is given the job? Maybe part of his problems were not getting much of a chance to win the job in the spring. Who knows? Marshall and Grabow again….not the answer IMO.
If the Cubs go outside, which I think they might have to, I would prefer the go to the Mets. The Mets want to dump Wagner who has been effective in the minors. The Mets are injury riddled. Sounds like a win-win. The Mets take a couple of middle level/almost ready prospects they can promote on Sept 1st to fill out their roster to play out the string. The Cubs get a guy who looks healthy, has a lot to prove and has been very successful in the past closing.
sorry............
the stat lines didn’t come out even when I posted it. But, hopefully everyone can line things up and see how much worse Gregg has pitched on the road vs home.
Bring Back Dascenzo to Close
No NL team scored a run off of the pitcher, Doug Dascenzo. Oh, his main gig was being an outfielder.
"The big possums walk late." - Harry Caray
Grace as well
baseball is a game of outs......pop out, ground out, line out, pitch out, strike out, fly out, and Fox and Bud's favorite black out
Guzman, right?
It’s got to be him over Marmol. Carlos is not to be trusted while his control, command whatever is off.
"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject." -Sir Winston Churchill
It's Marmol
According to Twittermyer
href=“http://twitter.com/cst_cubs” >
Harry Caray: Marshall is going back to LA to get cocaine for his injured foot.
Steve Stone: Harry, that’s Novocaine.
by Julio Zuleta's Voodoo on Aug 18, 2009 6:45 PM CDT up reply actions
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