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mrschroeder08 partyvancaptain pee_callus25 Tags 2010 Preview 5 Million Dollar Black Hole AAAA Aaron Heilman Aaron Miles Alfonso Soriano Andres Blanco Angel Guzman Aramis Ramirez Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves B.J. Ryan Baltimore Orioles Bob Brenly Bobby Scales Bonehead Booing Boston Red Sox Brett Jackson Bullpen Canadian Concoction Captain Kneejerk Cardinals Carlos Marmol Carlos Silva Carlos Zambrano Chad Fox Chad Tracy Chicago Cubs Chicago White Sox Cincinnati Reds Cleveland Indians Cold War Colorado Rockies Contracts Cubs-Cardinals Rivalry Cubs sale Cubs Curtis Granderson Daniel Herrera David Patton Derrek Lee Designated Hitter Detroit Tigers Disabled list Dominance ERA+ ERROR Esmailin Caridad ESPN Sucks Eternal frustration Eternal Optimism Farewell Farney Florida Marlins Free Agency Future Gatorade Geovanny Soto Geovany Soto Gerald Perry Grades Houston Astros I-Cubs Injuries Jake Fox Jason Marquis Jason Waddell Jeff Gray Jeff Samardzija Jim Hendry Jim Wolf Joey Gathright John Grabow Jose Ascanio Kansas City Royals Kerry Wood Kevin Gregg Kevin Hart Kevin Millar Koyie Hill LaTroy Hawkins Legendary Lineup Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles Dodgers Lou Piniella Luis Vizcaino Man Crush Mark DeRosa Marlon Byrd Micah Hoffpauir Middle Infield Midwestern Bias Milton Bradley Milwaukee Brewers Minnesota Twins Minor Leagues MLB 2K9 Neal Cotts New York Mets New York Yankees Oakland Athletics October Offseason Opening Day OPS+ Payroll Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates Playoffs Randy Wells Rant Rich Harden Ryan Dempster Ryan Freel Ryan Theriot Sam Fuld Sam Zell Sammy Sosa San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants Sandy Alderson Sean Marshall Seattle Mariners St. Louis Cardinals Steroids Strikeouts Suckiness Tampa Bay Rays TBS Texas Rangers Tom Gorzelanny Tom Ricketts Toronto Blue Jays Trade Tribune Company Tyler Colvin Von Joshua Waivers Walks Washington Nationals WTF Xavier Nady RSS Feed There has been a disturbing trend in the closers role, and I must apologize for defending it initially. Kevin Gregg had a good run early on, but lately he has been stinky bad. The odd thing is, what is happening with him now is pretty crazy. Looking at Fangraphs.com's stats on Kevin Gregg: His flyball percentage this year is 46.6%, which is actually up from his career average of 42%. But what happens with those flyballs is so nuts: 15% (!!!) have gone for home runs. Last year, it was 4.4% and his career is 8.5%. I would say that a lot of it is pitching at Wrigley Field, BUT of the 12 (!!!) home runs he has given up, 7 were on the road, so that really does not account for it. He's just not done well. Chances are he will not be back next year, with the escalating backloaded contracts, and now the spectacular failures. He was a questionable pickup to begin with, with 9 blown saves last year. While he did give us some decent numbers for a couple of months, I think that is about as good as we will see from Kevin Gregg. So now, who closes? Carlos Marmol's control is terrible (8.31 BB/9, but I didn't need to tell you that), and Sean Marshall/John Grabow are lefty specialists. So of course that leaves: Aaron Heilman. Er... I mean, Angel Guzman. He is the best option, but that's not saying he is a great option here is why: On the surface, Guzman looks good. 2.42 ERA, 0.98 WHIP (really good), but the one thing that does concern me is his BABIP against. The league average is .302, and he currently sits at .218. The thing about BABIP (batting average on balls in play) is that it has a HUGE luck factor, and is not as dependent on pitching skill. Now granted, his stuff may get cause weaker contact and that helps, but still .218 is telling me he is getting at least somewhat lucky to this point. There is a good chance that will get higher,. So while I expect Guzman to be better than what we have seen, we still have a black hole in the back of the bullpen. More and more, this season is looking like the 101st lost season in a row for the Cubs, and the window to capitalize on this group of players is closing fast. Posted in: Kevin Gregg, Angel Guzman This last month has been a good one for the Cubs, even if the injury bug has continued to bite hard. Being more specific, this post all-star break stretch has been great. I am pretty cautiously excited, even if the Cardinals have managed to revamp their entire lineup in July.
Posted in: Kevin Gregg, Carlos Marmol, Angel Guzman, I-Cubs, Tom Gorzelanny, 5 Million Dollar Black Hole Yesterday's post was quite negative on the whole. Today I will try to be more balanced, but I still have two negatives to get out. I am a hard man to please. A day later and I am still angry about the Chad Fox thing. Mostly because I feel that the Cubs were dumb and irresponsible for bringing him in to begin with. It is clear his elbow is shot, and has been shot for 4 years now. Yet the Cubs keep giving him an opportunity to ruin it for good. Sure from the Cubs end it is a low risk investment, but I feel like for Chad Fox it is way too dangerous. Yet the Cubs keep giving him an opportunity to do serious damage. If you want to keep him aboard, hire him as a coach or a consultant. It is time to quit, because it is irresponsible as an organization to give this guy the ball anymore. It's like giving the guy who had one too many margaritas his car keys. You are just as guilty for any damage done. So, again, Jim Hendry, STOP IT! Ryan Freel, maybe you are still coming off that head injury. Maybe you are rusty after a couple weeks off. Maybe you and Farney were discussing where to eat after the game. But getting picked off second like that is unacceptable. Shape up fast, I beg of you, or things will not be fun in Chicago. (We have very, very angry fans now-a-days.) I feel I should be positive a bit though... so I will run through it quickly:
Posted in: Chad Fox, Sean Marshall, Angel Guzman, Bobby Scales, Milton Bradley | ||