How To Fix The Cubs' Bullpen

I immediately thought, “send Zambrano to closer.” Either I’ve read this blog enough now, or I’m on the same page. I think it’s both.

I wonder how both Marmol and Zambrano would take it, though.

He has not been ace material for a long time.

If not the closer, maybe what marmol was before? Or do you think it would have to be the big job for Z not to see it as a demotion?

Marmol gave up his first earned run yesterday. He is NOT the problem. He has earned the closer spot. The Padres are NOT trading Heath Bell for Vitters and Z as closer is not going to happen. At this point the Cubs can either sniff over the scrap heap of guys like Juan Cruz or try to use guys they already have. You are not going to get anyone good in trade at this time and if they don’t start hitting no bullpen can save them. If by late June they are in contention and having the same issues, then they can look for a real trade. Everything else is just something to keep us from forgetting yesterday’s game.

but would the player egos involved allow this to happen? Unfortunately, No.

I agree Al, at the right price, Kerry would be a nice addition to this team. (Although if this ate up all the $ for a mid-season acquisition, I’m not sure this would be my 1st use of the money)

He’s conditioned his arm to throw hard once every five days, with a bullpen day in between. I don’t know if you can slide him to the closer’s role, where he’d possibly throw back-to-back or even three straight days, this season.

in the car after Saturday’s game (I think it was). A fan proposed it on WGN’s post-game call-in show. It sounded pretty wacky at first, but it’s been in the back of my mind since. Maybe not so wacky.

Wood coming back? We LOVE Kerry Wood and it certainly would be scary to other teams to have Z and Wood in the bullpen, but scary for me, too. They can both lose it entirely on the mound. During 2008 whenever Wood came in my guts tied up in knots — you could hear the tension in Pat Hughes and Ron Santo’s voices as well, wondering if Wood would have his control or whether we were in for another roller coaster ride.

much like Lou did in his first year. He’s said it and I’ll repeat it, sometimes you never know until the games begin.

Lou will continue to shuffle the line-up and bullpen until he thinks he has it right. If it never gets “right” then a move for another reliever will probably happen.

The trouble with the shuffling thing is we have winnable games right now. Losing 2 of 3 to the Astros should not have happened.

I think I’d like to wait and see what happens once Lilly is back.

after one bad outing. The guy has been dominant before yesterday. The problem is not having a great 8th inning guy.

…than an idea that flashed through my head over the weekend: Moving Dempster back to the pen to be the primary right-handed set-up guy. I’m not seriously advocating this – especially given Demp’s fantastic outing yesterday. And I can’t really get behind Al’s idea of making Z the closer either.

First and foremost, both Z and Dempster are still far too valuable as starters to limit their innings to bullpen work. And, secondly, regarding Z, he’s just too easily flustered to be an effective closer. Maybe later in his career, but not now.

I actually still feel fairly confident in Marmol. Let’s not ignore the fact that he’s largely throwing strikes – as long as he does that, he’ll be fine. Let’s also not ignore that the Geoff Blum Factor was engaged in yesterday’s game. I just can’t believe that guy screwed us again.

I’m kind of indifferent to Kerry Wood at this point. He’d be a nice morale boost, I suppose. But just because his arm isn’t hurting doesn’t mean his injury woes have gone away. And though I haven’t completely given up on Vitters, Heath Bell would probably be my top choice of the three solutions you’ve proferred, Al. Bell setting up Marmol does sound nice. Juan Cruz is worth a look, too.

Otherwise, it’s just a matter of grinding our collective teeth and waiting for the current pen (with some additions/subtractions from the system) to settle down. And, y’know, scoring more than two runs a game.

I think Zambrano would be a good closer, if his only job were to come in at the beginning of the inning.

No way do I trust him to come into ANY situation with a man already on base. Too many things can go wrong. One wild pitch that scores a tying run would turn into a six-run lead for the other team.

So, he’d have to be the ninth-inning guy.

I’d still rather see if we can con some team into overpaying for him in a trade.

As far as Wood, meh. There’s a reason people shouldn’t get back together after they break up.

First of all, what marmol did to the heart of the Brewer lineup last week was something that very, very few major league pitchers could do. Furthermore, not one other pitcher named on this post could do that. marmol deserves his chance. As someone else noted, he’s saved 16 of his last 17 opportunities.

As for Wood, I’m sure the Cubs have some payroll flexibility, but I’mnot willing to blow my whole wad on him, especially considering that he’s not one of the best relievers inthe game as it is.

Bell woudl be nice … as a setup guy. Again, there is no reason to move Marmol.

Which also brings me back to Z. Again, no reason to move Marmol, so having Z as an $18M setup guy seems ridiculous. He needs to be given every opportunity to prove he’s an effective starter (so that the Cubs can trade him in the off-season).

The Cubs simply right now can’t afford to waste money and the money they’ve spent they have to figure out a way to use wisely. The Soriano contract is a major drag on the team as it is. They cannot add another one like Zambrano’s and that is what would happen if he were moved to the bullpen.

I’d love to see him back in Cubbie blue. Use him in the 8th and to close when Marmol has either struggled or pitched consecutive days. If they are able to reacquire Kerry Wood, the Cubs should essentially use him like the Angels used to use Scott Shields. It’s a perfect role for him.

As long as we’re on the subject, I’m amazed at the difference between “Carlos Marmol the Setup Man” and “Carlos Marmol the Closer.” His control seems better in the closer role, but fatigue is still a concern, which is why Wood would be such a great fit. He has closing experience.

I can’t stand him being our so called “ace”; if we even call him that anymore; when he’s giving up runs left and right like its the holidays.

too expensive and damaged goods. If you could get him for about a 1/3 of his contract, maybe. The glory days have long since past for Kerry Wood and Chicago. How ’bout getting somebody who throw strikes?

Not that your ideas don’t have merit – they do – but this line made me laugh

Couldn’t you see Z pointing to the sky after closing out the ninth inning?

I seem to recall much weeping and gnashing of teeth on BCB about the antics of closers like Valverde and Wilson after getting a save. But now we’d be cheering the same histrionics because it benefited us. Reminds me of that oft-repeated phrase… “yeah, he’s an asshole, but he’s our asshole, dammit”.

again, like there were last season.

I’d do Vitters for Bell in a heart-beat. Woody? Not so much. Love the guy but the injury bug? Who knows what’s wrong with him now.

and the numbers may not bear out my impression, but it seems like Carlos has problems getting out of the first inning in a LOT of his starts. Lots and lots of pitches…

that when the Cubs moved Marmol, they lost what was previously their late-inning bridge, a guy who could give you an inning (or two), and bypass these middling relief options altogether that give Piniella so much pause.

Much as it pains me to say, the Cubs aren’t doing a deal of note this early in the season for a number of reasons, not the least of which is that it makes Hendry look quite incompetent, as he’ll pay through the nose for most anyone of note. And moving a 100 million dollar starter into the closer’s role mid-season is just perplexing. Even if the Cubs were that nutty, why would they trade 200-plus innings of above average starting pitching for 40 innings of questionable relief?

At the end of the day, Lou is going to need to continue to play musical chairs for at least the next month to find someone who doesn’t completely stink in the eighth inning. It might be work looking at Blake Parker and Andrew Cashner, and seeing where that takes you first.

if Z was set up and was doing more than 1 inning Lou wouldnt have to pulkl him for a PH. ;)

but this isn’t it.

Wood isn’t worth Vitters, Bell is too costly to trade for, and Z is far too good a pitcher to move into the pen.

I’d rather see them try some more young arms before even thinking about any of these moves.

Plus his emotions tend to work against him as much as for him.

The Cubs definitely looked at Zambrano as a closer of the future when he was in the minors. Zambrano had 6 saves in 2000 in AAA.

I don’t think moving Zambrano to closer fixes the bigger issue though – which is fix Carlos Zambrano! If you can throw 123 pitches to MLB hitters, you have to be getting into the 7th inning.

Someone asked who goes down to the pen when Lilly comes back and I said Zambrano

HERE

I dunno. Can Marmol warm up that fast? Can he pitch on consecutive days like that?

Start a discussion in Cubs Blog World and sport radio that the Cubs are considering Z for the closer spot, have the BCB moles in the organization start the internal rumor mill grinding, and get it into Z’s head that he ain’t expendable. Be crafty and use subtle psychology to penetrate that thick skull of his.

suddenly trying to sign Matt Capps wasn’t that bad of an idea

Evidently yesterday’s Samsung Mobile 300 was rained out yesterday so they’ve just started their engines and will soon be off and bumping. It’s on FOX if you need a mid-day sports fix…

Fernando Rodney is closing for the Angels right now until the regular closer is off the DL. Once that happens, Rodney will probably get shuffled around. From what I’ve seen, Rodney wants to close, in closing situations he has a low ERA and WHIP, and he could be someone to try and deal for. Just a thought.

when that’s really not our problem. Not to say I’m opposed to trading Vitters, but that seems to be a solution to a problem we don’t really have. Though I think Al hasn’t been paying too close attention if he thinks that Vitters has been terrible this year. He’s 20, hitting in the .270-range, and should be able to make it to the majors in two years or so. Most of the players drafted in the first round with him that have already made it to the majors were college prospects, Jason Heyward being the most notable exception. Give the kid a full year at Daytona, and if he’s still struggling to hit well and earn walks, then it’s time to move on.

Al really stepping out with some idea’s. I am not sure I agree with them though.

A closer’s number one job:

FORGET ABOUT YESTERDAY

Zambrano can’t friggin’ calm himself down enough—ever—to ignore the last day’s events and start fresh. If you blow a game—hell, give your team the loss—you need to forget about it and move on.

Not to mention—how crazy would Cubs fans get over Zambrano’s 9th inning antics??

Dan

Is fine. He had one blown save (yesterday), and looked decent to great in the rest of his outings. Lets not jump off a ledge yet. The rest of the bullpen I agree needs shoring up.