Who should be the Cubs Closer?
by Poloplaya14 on Aug 18, 2009 2:23 PM CDT
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Okay, a quick synopsis and a poll. I know there's another poll, but I think that leaves out two very good, very reasonable options. I think that the fact that 25% voted other indicates that that was a flawed poll.
The argument for: All things considered, he hasn't been that terrible this year. He certainly hasn't been good, but he's the only player on the team with recent closing experience.
The argument against: He has sucked this year. He's given up way too many HRs and the Cubs will not make it anywhere with him as the closer. There is no possible way anyone could do worse than Gregg. Plus, I'm no fan of the goggles.
The argument for: When he's on, he is capable of being absolutely dominant. He has unhittable stuff, and also wants to be the closer. No matter what happens this year, I think Marmol will and should be the Cubs closer of the future. Why not let him start this year? And who knows, maybe the the added pressure of pitching in the 9th inning will snap him out of his funk.
The argument against: He has sucked this year. His BB/inning is just beyond bad. If he pitches like he has this year, he will be terrible in the closer's role. And if he fails as closer this year, you may destroy his confidence and ruin what could have been a great career. And who knows, maybe the added pressure of pitching in the 9th inning will overexcite him and make him even wilder.
The argument for: He has, without a doubt been the Cubs' best reliever this year. It's only natural that he should be the closer. He has tremendous stuff, and appears to have the poise necessary to be the closer. And if he can stick, the Cubs have solved the closer problem for years to come.
The argument against: He's been amazing as a setup man, so why mess with what's working so well? It's clear he's found one hell of a groove as a setup man, and there are numerous examples of amazing setup men becoming absolute failures as closer (Latroy Hawkins, anyone?). Just let him keep on dominating the 8th inning, which is just as important as the 9th anyways.
The argument for: I don't see why nobody's suggested this guy be the closer. He's been as steady as the come the past couple years out of the bullpen, and he's got the stuff to be a good closer. He's no LOOGY either, as he actually has pitched better against RHBs than against LHBs.
The argument against: He really doesn't have a lot of experience pitching in high-pressure situations, of which there were very few in Pittsburgh. Throwing him into the fire of a late-season playoff race for a team with high expectations like the Cubs could be a recipe for disaster. In addition to that, he's got a pretty high BB/inning, which is a bad sign.
The argument for: He is the only player on the roster besides Gregg that has closed before at this level. He has the stuff to do it, and somebody's gotta be the odd man out of the rotation. It only makes sense that it would be the guy with a history of being an effective reliever. And John Kruk will eat you if you don't vote for this option.
The argument against: He wasn't exactly stellar the last time he was the Cubs' closer. If he can return to the level he was at last year, he will be infinitely more valuable as a starter than as a closer. Plus, the Cubs are paying him 15 million dollars a year, a reasonable amount for a 17-game winning starter with an ERA under 3, but an obscene amount for a mediocre closer.
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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Smoltz, Mmarshall, Other
each of those could be possible answers
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
Let's wait til he's on the roster til we consider that move.
I think there’s very little chance the Cubs get him. If the Cardinals are willing to offer him a role as a starter, I think there’s no chance he’d turn it down to be a reliever.
we are changing the closer?
I would not ahve guessed, unless reading
or the other one which was deleted.
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
sorry, forgot the other one
Cubs closer is the new PV/Roberts? That is 6 posts today about it……..
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 ♥ PV!!!!!
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.
me too
me too…
the cubs lineup needs moar LIND and HALLIDAY
by jesus christos on Aug 18, 2009 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Even though this is a repeat post, the analysis is the best of the lot..
It’s my favorite one. I’ll even rec it. My take is to let Guzman and Dempster both do some closing and see how they respond (I suppose you could throw Marmol in, but why would he all of a sudden stop walking people now after he has all year). Demp can go back to starting for 17 million next year, but let’s see if he can help the team by closing now – he’ll absolutely do what it takes to help the team.
by DisCUBbobulated on Aug 18, 2009 2:56 PM CDT reply actions
ADAM HANNA PV!
seriously, however, I think Guzman should get first shot.
Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.
ERIC ADAM HANNA LIND III - AT YOUR SERVICE, GOOD SIR!
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.
Until I see someone else new out there
I think Lou will stick with Gregg.
Lou has a tendency to talk big and then not change.
There is no such thing as an ugly female breast
this might sound crazy
but i’d try samardzija. for whatever reason he has a history of performing better when being pushed/challenged as a pro and at some point you need to figure out if he can be a high leverage reliever because the cubs don’t appear to have room for him in the rotation until 2011 at the earliest (barring injury).
Boldest suggestion yet.
But Wrigley Field is a beautiful place, and I’d hate to see it burned down by an angry mob of Cubs fans. Seriously, the Shark is not ready to face major league hitters at any point in the game. He could be a decent closer someday. Maybe.
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.
someday never comes
or so john fogerty says. the hidden upside is that if shark is bad as a closer he might ditch his contract to go play football. the bears need a receiver too. this seems win-win to me.
by circuitclout on Aug 18, 2009 3:52 PM CDT up reply actions
ill take greggs 2 pitches over sharks 1.5 pitches
the cubs lineup needs moar LIND and HALLIDAY
by jesus christos on Aug 18, 2009 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Good grief!
Closer at the major league level should not be where a guy works out his problems
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 8:00 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd like to see Smoltz get signed
but the Cards will get him.
Then I’d like it to be Guzman but because it’s the Cubs, it’ll be Marmol.
Just win the next game...!
I am sorry Mrs. Gregg but voting is limited
to non family members. ( no other way to explain that one vote).
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
Ah hadn't thought of that
I suppose White Sox fan works too.
"I am not ashamed to say I love Greg Maddux" - Jim Hendry
Me either Jim
by Doggie Stalker on Aug 18, 2009 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions
5 blown saves
and a 4.71 ERA. Nuf sed.
A child of five would understand this. Send someone to fetch a child of five.
But only seven HRs allowed!!!
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.
So he loses in less dramatic fashion. So what?
by Orval Overall on Aug 18, 2009 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions
(psst ... that was sarcasm)
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 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions
oh, come on
You really would have paid Kerry $20 million? I love the guy, but no way that salary was worth it.
I haven't voted in the FIRST poll on this subject yet.
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.
+1
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 think everyone is forgetting
how much dempster sucked as a closer a couple of years ago and how everyone booed him. I don’t see why we would put him back there, especially when he says how much he enjoys starting so much more.
Well ...
Dempster was great in 2005 — 33 saves in 35 chances. And his ERA was 3.13.
Dempster was bad in 2006 (nine blown saves) — but the team was so bad that he didn’t get consistent save chances. Huge caveat.
Dempster was good in 2007 — 28 of 31 in save chances. Yes, his ERA was high, so calling him “good” can be argued.
Given one great year, one (arguably) good year and one bad year, I don’t think Dempster “sucked” as a closer. But I also think he’s more valuable as a starter.
What is the latest
story on Billy Wagner? Is he an option for this year? Is he an option for next year? If you could get him for a relatively low prospect price and get the Mets to pick up a large portion of his contract is it worth a flyer?
"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb
Your last sentence indicates the problem.
The Mets want to dump Wagner AND his contract. This year’s deal calls for $10.5 million — so the Cubs would be on the hook for about $3 million, maybe a bit less; there’s about 1/4 of this year left. There is a $1 million buyout for next year (or a $8m club option, which the Cubs would likely not exercise).
So unless you could get the Mets to eat almost $4 million, I doubt the Cubs would be interested in him.
"You can observe a lot just by watching." ~ Yogi Berra
Would agree..no sense to pay that.
But he could be an option next year if bought out…maybe not the best….but an option to at least consider.
"When two Whales Fight, many Shrimp Die" - Korean Proverb
by TheRiot Police on Aug 18, 2009 6:08 PM CDT up reply actions
Wasting your time
This is done…We can’t keep saying theres stil time. Any chance we’ve had to make up ground, we suck the fat one.
Carlos Marmol is going to be the closer
Does Lou own stock in an antacid company or something?
And the eighth and final rule: if this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight.
Sign Smoltz
He’s physically ready to go. Hopefully, he can suck up some fumes and pitch some lights out stuff he’s going left as the closer.
It can’t POSSIBLY be any worse than the black hole that the Cubs closing department has become.
Blue mountains high .. Blue valleys low
I don't know which way we will go ..
One summer dream .. one summer dream ..
coda
ELO, 1975
TRICK QUESTION!
YOU CANT CLOSE IF YOU CAN’T GET THE LEAD!
"The riches of the game are in the thrills, not the money." --Ernie Banks
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