Missing Pieces in the Cubs' Pen

[theunfortunatecubsfan]

In response to my latest piece of baseball enjoyment, who do you guys think could/should fill the final spots of the Cubs' bullpen?

Obviously Marmol, Wood, and Marshall are guaranteed to take the final three spots, but what happens from there?

The back end of the bullpen was never an issue for the Cubs in 2010. The depth of the pen will be a big deciding factor in 2011, and beyond, I think.

 

[waldo7239117]

Marmol
Wood
Marshall
Grabow
Maine
?
?

I would like the Kids to make it, but I think the vets to not make the rotation will make the pen. Also, I think Samardzija will have a spot because he's out of options. And I highly doubt Maine has a spot.

 

[theunfortunatecubsfan]

Marmol
Wood
Marshall
Grabow
Maine
?
?

I would like the Kids to make it, but I think the vets to not make the rotation will make the pen. Also, I think Samardzija will have a spot because he's out of options. And I highly doubt Maine has a spot.

I guess this was a pretty tough question. In order to answer properly, you have to figure out if the Cubs will go with 12 or 13 pitchers, and to figure that out, you have to figure out the Cubs' roster. Darwin Barney will contribute to that, since he can play alll of the infield, and I guess Colvin will be our backup 1B, which I like so long as he isn't the 1B in 2012 (wayyyyy too much athleticism to be wasted at first base).

IF Cashner begins 2011 as a starter, which is anticipated, you have to figure the Cubs going with 13 pitchers, so you can limit his innings, and not wear out the pen.

In response to your reply, it'll either be either Maine or Grabow, and since Grabow gets paid 2.7M (ridiculously), he'll make it, sending Maine back to AAA for a bit more seasoning on his slider, which he struggled to locate last year. Everything else will be up for grabs, with Russell, Stevens, or Coleman being the swingman.

 

[Captain Obvious]

I guess this was a pretty tough question. In order to answer properly, you have to figure out if the Cubs will go with 12 or 13 pitchers, and to figure that out, you have to figure out the Cubs' roster. Darwin Barney will contribute to that, since he can play alll of the infield, and I guess Colvin will be our backup 1B, which I like so long as he isn't the 1B in 2012 (wayyyyy too much athleticism to be wasted at first base).

IF Cashner begins 2011 as a starter, which is anticipated, you have to figure the Cubs going with 13 pitchers, so you can limit his innings, and not wear out the pen.

In response to your reply, it'll either be either Maine or Grabow, and since Grabow gets paid 2.7M (ridiculously), he'll make it, sending Maine back to AAA for a bit more seasoning on his slider, which he struggled to locate last year. Everything else will be up for grabs, with Russell, Stevens, or Coleman being the swingman.

13 pitchers? Are you high? No team carries 13 pitchers and we really should only be carrying 11. But it'll be 12.

Marmol
Wood
Marshall
Grabow
Russell
Shark
Silva

is what we are probably looking at, I'd say.

 

[poodski]

In response to my latest piece of baseball enjoyment, who do you guys think could/should fill the final spots of the Cubs' bullpen?

Obviously Marmol, Wood, and Marshall are guaranteed to take the final three spots, but what happens from there?

The back end of the bullpen was never an issue for the Cubs in 2010. The depth of the pen will be a big deciding factor in 2011, and beyond, I think.

For starters, very well written article. Hadn't really thought about Maine to be honest.

As for who I would like to see take the other 4 spots I would probably look at something like Grabow, Stevens, Gaub and Looper.

Looper is probably the one that is the weirdest out of that group, but here is why: Braden Looper: Right Handed Specialist? | FanGraphs Baseball

 

[waldo7239117]

Gaub sucks, Stevens is very very inconsistent that makes him bad, Jeff sucks too and I'm iffy on Coleman.

 

[poodski]

Gaub sucks, Stevens is very very inconsistent that makes him bad, Jeff sucks too and I'm iffy on Coleman.

Umm how does Gaub suck?

 

[waldo7239117]

Umm how does Gaub suck?

He's not good. He has not been good in ST and I'm not a fan of him. I know he was injured but...

 

[bobferg]

There are a lot of missing parts in this pen outside of the back 3.

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

There are a lot of missing parts in this pen outside of the back 3.

:yep:

Marshall, Wood, Marmol is about as good as it gets.

But between Berg, Russell, Shark, Grablow - that's about as scary as middle relief can be.

 

[poodski]

Grabow is fine when he is healthy.

Not worth his salary but he is fine when healthy.

 

[waldo7239117]

Grabow is fine when he is healthy.

Not worth his salary but he is fine when healthy.

True. I thought he was good when the Cubs traded for him.

 

[EnjoyYourTiger]

Grabow is fine when he is healthy.

Not worth his salary but he is fine when healthy.

Meh, I've never been like, "Oh, good, Grabow's coming in. He'll get us out of this inning unscathed." Mostly because I'm not sure he's ever done that, haha.

And as much as Waldo and Jntg are going to hate this, this is why I like Cashner in the pen. He offers some stability and one of the few relievers that I feel confident in seeing being called out to the mound.

 

[waldo7239117]

Meh, I've never been like, "Oh, good, Grabow's coming in. He'll get us out of this inning unscathed." Mostly because I'm not sure he's ever done that, haha.

And as much as Waldo and Jntg are going to hate this, this is why I like Cashner in the pen. He offers some stability and one of the few relievers that I feel confident in seeing being called out to the mound.

I would like Cash in the pen because it will make the pen even more bad ass. But I want to give the kid a chance and I have no faith in Wells (has looked good and hopefully it contines)/Silva (could be gone sooner that we may think)/Wellmyer (has looked meh and don't look for anything good)/Coleman (has looked awful)/ Lopper (has not piched so not going to happen)/Russell ( has looked awful too).. So I think Wells and Cash will finish out the last 2 spots and rightfully should.

But I do get where your coming from and makes 100% sense.

 

[bobferg]

The Cubs pen will be great if the Starters can all go 7 every game.

The back 3 is as money as can be.

Everything else is a complete adventure.

Yes Cashner would help the pen out right now, but it would hurt the Cubs in the long run by not letting him start. He has the potential to be a top 3 starter in the MLB, dont waste another season of his development by being in the bullpen.

 

[Jntg4]

Meh, I've never been like, "Oh, good, Grabow's coming in. He'll get us out of this inning unscathed." Mostly because I'm not sure he's ever done that, haha.

And as much as Waldo and Jntg are going to hate this, this is why I like Cashner in the pen. He offers some stability and one of the few relievers that I feel confident in seeing being called out to the mound.

I don't hate it, better than sending him down and locking him in AAA for some bum named Silva like CO wants.

 

[poodski]

Meh, I've never been like, "Oh, good, Grabow's coming in. He'll get us out of this inning unscathed." Mostly because I'm not sure he's ever done that, haha.

And as much as Waldo and Jntg are going to hate this, this is why I like Cashner in the pen. He offers some stability and one of the few relievers that I feel confident in seeing being called out to the mound.

While I agree with your second paragraph I will say this.

What's best for the present is not always best for the future. Cashner definitely helps the 2011 Cubs in the pen, but maybe not the 2012 to 2015 Cubs.

 

[poodski]

I don't hate it, better than sending him down and locking him in AAA for some bum named Silva like CO wants.

Ha. How is Silva a bum?

 

[Jntg4]

Ha. How is Silva a bum?

I believe his first half was a fluke. I still think he is 8.60 ERA pitcher he was for Seattle who can only go 5 innings before he has to be taken out with discomfort (and that last part was how he was in the 1st half with the Cubs too, and all year for that matter).

I'd much rather see Cashner.

 

[poodski]

I believe his first half was a fluke. I still think he is 8.60 ERA pitcher he was for Seattle who can only go 5 innings before he has to be taken out with discomfort (and that last part was how he was in the 1st half with the Cubs too, and all year for that matter).

I'd much rather see Cashner.

So you think 30 innings while injured is more indicative of performance than 1200 innings at a 4.6 ERA?

Sure I'd rather see Cashner but if they are similar in ST bringing Silva up to start and showcase him for a trade to try and save some money is much smarter than just cutting Silva or putting him in the pen.

If Silva sucks the entire ST, then things change, but right now I dont see much of a difference between the two.

On a side note Tango sees Silva having a better FIP than Cashner this year.