First step in solving bullpen woes.....

by perseman on Apr 20, 2010 10:03 PM CDT

I would first like to endorse Al's suggestion that Carlos Zambrano be shifted to the bullpen. Piggybacking on that idea, I think the first step that Lou should take is to declare independence from the ironclad "one inning per reliever per outing rule". Ask yourself this quaetion: Why is Jeff the Shark throwing innings that Marmol (or Zambrano) could be throwing?? Why does every major league team genuflect at the Larussian alter and throw every reliever 1 inning per outing?

What if Lou shifted CZ to the pen, and then committed to using CZ and Marmol 100 innings each out of the pen, instead of divying those innings to the Shark and others who are less worthy?

If Carlos Marmol can give you 110 innings instead of 70, wouldn't you take it??

Am I crazy????

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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Really?

Three threads in the last few minutes on bullpen issues?

We scored ZERO runs and the bullpen is still the issue of the day?

Really?!?!?!

Oh, I'm sorry; did I poke a hole in the echo chamber?

by The Jade Scorpion on Apr 20, 2010 10:07 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs

THIS +1,000,000,000,000,000,000

i couldnt have said it better myself

"God watches over drunks and third baseman."- Leo Durocher

by BelieveinBlue2314 on Apr 20, 2010 10:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh, SORRY

Obviously our bullpen is in great shape!

by perseman on Apr 20, 2010 11:02 PM CDT up reply actions

if you get shut out

it doesnt matter that your bullpen gave up runs

"The roar from the crowd really fired me up," Burish said. "In warmups there were a lot of signs. One said 'Burish, my grandma is pregnant.' I don't know what that means. I skated by it and said, 'it's not mine.' "

by jesus christos on Apr 20, 2010 11:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Sorry guys-it's not 1 or the other.........

It’s both. Because you all know as soon as the offense starts scoring, the bullpen will blow it, and everyone will jump on the bullpen. The bullpen has been far worse than our offense over the course of this young season.

by jballgame on Apr 21, 2010 9:22 AM CDT up reply actions

Has it?

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by daver on Apr 21, 2010 9:33 AM CDT up reply actions

YES!

Our bullpen has a 7+ ERA in the 7th-9th inning (at least). Outside of a few games, the Cubs O has put us in position to win games that the bullpen has blown.

by jballgame on Apr 21, 2010 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions

At least five games....

2 in Cincinnati, and 2 against Houston, and last night in New York, the Cubs would have won if the offense had done its part, even with the bullpen performing the way it did. That’s more than half of our losses. Let’s say, even of those five, the bullpen still blew two of the games even though the offense actually did its part. That’s three extra wins, and instead of 5-9, we’re 8-6, and only a game out of first.

Granted, this is all hypothetical. And yes, the bullpen sucks. I’m not arguing that. But this offense is killing us. Flat killing us.

"Don't complain to me about the stormy weather, boys. Just bring the ship into port." --Steve Stone, September 2004

by ctcoff99 on Apr 21, 2010 12:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Well that is debatable.

I’m not saying you are wrong… but the Cubs have scored the 2nd fewest runs in the NL (only the impotent Astros have scored fewer).

So it is nearly impossible to say the offense has even come close to pulling its weight.

by fsuapollo on Apr 21, 2010 12:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Hey did you know we bat also? We just dont play defense and pitch, we also bat I know its hard to believe cuz u dont see them scoring any runs or out there for very long

"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker

by Eric16 on Apr 20, 2010 10:14 PM CDT reply actions

Sigh

Looks like it is time to avoid the Fanposts and it is only April.

by rlpete on Apr 20, 2010 10:14 PM CDT reply actions

Facepalm......

all that needs to be done after reading this post…

"God watches over drunks and third baseman."- Leo Durocher

by BelieveinBlue2314 on Apr 20, 2010 10:18 PM CDT reply actions

you want Marmol to pitch 100 innings

and Z to pitch 100 innings.

That’s increasing Marmol by about 30 innings, and dropping Z by 50%.

And this is supposed to make things better?

Forget all that other stuff. I gotta believe.

by drewishdrewid on Apr 20, 2010 10:28 PM CDT reply actions

yes!

by perseman on Apr 20, 2010 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions

yes

if it means the Shark pitches 0 innings, I’m down!

by perseman on Apr 20, 2010 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow dude so u wanna take our closer and work him alot more and take him out of a spot he is just fitting into and cut down our starter to half of what he is doin just cuz of 1 guy?

That is some crazy talk right there I dont care who ya are! So ya take 2 guys out of their comfort zone just to make sure 1 guy particular does not pitch ever!! I have a better idea, trade Spellcheck or send him down to AAA if he has options left. Im more worried about Grabow. Who takes Zambranos spot in the rotation and who closes then?

"Women...you can't live without them, and they can't pee standing up." Rube Baker

by Eric16 on Apr 20, 2010 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Umm.....OK

So Bruce Sutter goes into the Hall of Fame pitching 110-120 innings a year, and I am nuts for suggesting that Marmol instead of the Shark should be pitching the 8th. My bad….keep drinking the LaRussa kool aid.

by perseman on Apr 20, 2010 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions

First off, no relievers pitch 110-120 innings anymore.

For the past three seasons, not one full-time reliever has pitched 100 innings, let alone 100+.

Secondly, Marmol is pitcher who becomes worse with overuse. He already has enough battles with control. Increasing his workload from last year by 26 innings just to prevent the usage of another would likely worsen the bullpen. If the problem is keeping Samardzija from pitching, then just send Samardzija down.

"He put up Nintendo-type numbers." -Oneri Fleita [in regards to Kyler Burke's season]

by SydKyd on Apr 21, 2010 12:41 AM CDT up reply actions

And Jenkins used to throw 25 CGs a year

so maybe we should leave our starters in the whole game and forget about a 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 Apr 21, 2010 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions

And how much are we paying Zambrano to pitch the 70-100 innings?

I don’t think so…never going to happen.

How about the team figures out why our players can’t hit.

by ak123 on Apr 20, 2010 10:38 PM CDT reply actions

You are crazy...

I'm a truth teller, I'm a risk taker, I'm like Johnny Cash - I walk the line...

by Jimmyeatworld on Apr 20, 2010 10:48 PM CDT reply actions

Was someone really dumb enough to suggest we put Zambrano in the pen?

really? who said that?

4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42

by fischisgod on Apr 21, 2010 1:43 AM CDT reply actions

Im sorry my blackberry dies when i was in orlando a day ago...

i know no one is stupid enough to say zambrano should go to the pen…i want a legit baseball reason..

4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42

by fischisgod on Apr 21, 2010 1:47 AM CDT reply actions

Scroll down to Al's main post a couple days ago

It was one of a few suggestions he made to fix the pen.

Fontenot (fon-te-no): Cajun for "scrappy"

by cubzfan on Apr 21, 2010 8:11 AM CDT up reply actions

yes

you are crazy, to answer your question.

Marmol is not very good when given the ball a lot.

Z is a very good starting pitcher who frustrates the hell out of many.

Had Hendry realized Grabow was not a must have/keep. Had the stones to go after Putz, Wagner, and/or Saito—proven back-end set up or closer types, then the bullpen would be in much better shape. Losing Guzman was a dagger because it moved up everyone one spot and some of those moving up are not capable to handle it.

by socalbob on Apr 21, 2010 9:38 AM CDT reply actions