Back end of the bullpen

[srbin84]

Novoa has done ok and should stay but Ohman, Aardsma and Wuertz have all been awful and we can't depend on Howry, Eyre and Williamson to pitch every game. How about sending Ohman and Aardsma down for Williams and Kerry Ligtenberg. Put Williams in the rotation and Rusch in the pen as garbage man if we have to keep him on the roster because of his contract.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Why are we condemning Wuertz and Ohman based on their combined 7 and 2 thirds innings, when they were both significantly better in a combined ~120 innings last year.

[srbin84]

Everytime one of those three come in, they stink. Obviously they need to work something out in the minors. They can start with control.

[treebird]

Everytime one of those three come in, they stink. Obviously they need to work something out in the minors. They can start with control.

8 innings

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Everytime one of those three come in, they stink. Obviously they need to work something out in the minors. They can start with control.

8 innings

 

Furthermore, over 6 of those innings are very solid work, with a couple of poor outings skewing the numbers.

[Rob]

Part of what's huring these guys so much is the lack of a real long-man in the pen, too. I think Aardsma threw 60 pitches today... that's not what he's used to.

 

Not many pitchers are going to do well being stretched into a long role when they haven't been groomed for one.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Everytime one of those three come in, they stink. Obviously they need to work something out in the minors. They can start with control.

 

7.2 combined poor innings this year, 120 combined good innings last year.

 

Meanwhile, guys like Lightenberg have done what what Wuertz and Aardsma have done this year - done well at AAA - but what's to say Kerry's going to suddenly have a big league resurgence?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Part of what's huring these guys so much is the lack of a real long-man in the pen, too. I think Aardsma threw 60 pitches today... that's not what he's used to.

 

Not many pitchers are going to do well being stretched into a long role when they haven't been groomed for one.

 

That and not being used consistently.

[srbin84]

Everytime one of those three come in, they stink. Obviously they need to work something out in the minors. They can start with control.

 

7.2 combined poor innings this year, 120 combined good innings last year.

 

Meanwhile, guys like Lightenberg have done what what Wuertz and Aardsma have done this year - done well at AAA - but what's to say Kerry's going to suddenly have a big league resurgence?

 

If he doesn't, we haven't lost anything.

[srbin84]

Everytime one of those three come in, they stink. Obviously they need to work something out in the minors. They can start with control.

8 innings

 

Furthermore, over 6 of those innings are very solid work, with a couple of poor outings skewing the numbers.

 

Show me because I don't see them in the game logs. And btw, I count about 15 innings, not 8.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Everytime one of those three come in, they stink. Obviously they need to work something out in the minors. They can start with control.

 

7.2 combined poor innings this year, 120 combined good innings last year.

 

Meanwhile, guys like Lightenberg have done what what Wuertz and Aardsma have done this year - done well at AAA - but what's to say Kerry's going to suddenly have a big league resurgence?

 

If he doesn't, we haven't lost anything.

 

Gotta take someone off the 40-man to bring him up.

 

You're getting excited over Lightenberg's 2.2 shutout innings.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Everytime one of those three come in, they stink. Obviously they need to work something out in the minors. They can start with control.

8 innings

 

Furthermore, over 6 of those innings are very solid work, with a couple of poor outings skewing the numbers.

 

Show me because I don't see them in the game logs. And btw, I count about 15 innings, not 8.

 

I was addressing Wuertz and Ohman, they have a combined 7.2 IP this year.

 

Combining their good outings:

 

6.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 6 K, 2 BB

 

Which comes to a 0.00 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 8.53 K/9, 3.00 K/BB

[srbin84]

Tiger, you're not counting that Wuertz outing where he got 2 outs and gave up 2 hits against St. Louis, are you?

 

 

Gotta take someone off the 40-man to bring him up.

 

You're getting excited over Lightenberg's 2.2 shutout innings.

 

I forgot about that. Well, just bring up Wuertz then. He's the best of the three guys I mentioned.

[NCCubFan]

Novoa has done ok and should stay but Ohman, Aardsma and Wuertz have all been awful and we can't depend on Howry, Eyre and Williamson to pitch every game. How about sending Ohman and Aardsma down for Williams and Kerry Ligtenberg. Put Williams in the rotation and Rusch in the pen as garbage man if we have to keep him on the roster because of his contract.

Williams can't be called back up yet. He was sent down on April 23, and a player can't be called back up until at least 10 days after being sent down.

[Diffusion]

Dempster, Eyre, Howry, Williamson, Wuertz, Novoa, Ohman.

 

Quit messing around and get our seven best relievers out there. I think everyone's in agreement about the first four. The last three combined last year for...

 

163.2 IP, 139 H, 16 HR, 89 BB, 181 K, 3.74 ERA (majors only)

199.2 IP, 163 H, 19 HR, 102 BB, 211 K, 3.70 ERA (Iowa included)

 

...and so far this year they're at...

 

19 IP, 23 H, 4 HR, 11 BB, 16 K, 8.05 ERA (majors only)

31.2 IP, 32 H, 4 HR, 15 BB, 24 K, 5.68 ERA (Iowa included)

 

Yes, they've given up a lot of runs, but for guys that have obviously been struggling, those peripheral numbers just aren't THAT terrible, and, for crying out loud, it's 19 innings (because they've been fine at Triple-A). Just quit messing them around, up down up down, quit judging them on one or two bad April outings, and just trust in them, because they will come around. Yes, they walk too many guys, but how many bullpens are perfect top to bottom? The three last year combined for a 3.70 ERA. Anyone here want to argue that was a fluke?

 

Rotation of... Zambrano, Maddux, Marshall, Guzman, Hill/Rusch/Williams

 

At some point you've got to believe Rusch is going to stop giving up a home run every two innings. But he's just got to be DFA'd.

[rawaction]

With Novoa, Ohman and Aardsma all likely unable to pitch until Tuesday at the earliest. I would call up Hill and Wuertz and send Aardsma and Novoa to the minors. Hill is there in case the Cubs need a long man in the next 2 days, and if not....then he can take Rusch's next start and Rusch should be able to be the long man out of the pen by Tuesday/Wednesday.

 

I really like Novoa, but the Cubs aren't gonna get rid of Rusch, so at the very least, he'll have a spot in the pen. And I think Wuertz is better, though, not so far this year.

[NCCubFan]

I would call up Hill and Wuertz and send Aardsma and Novoa to the minors. Hill is there in case the Cubs need a long man in the next 2 days, and if not....then he can take Rusch's next start and Rusch should be able to be the long man out of the pen by Tuesday/Wednesday.

And if Hill is needed in long relief before then they could call up Ryu for a spot start on Thursday, or by then Williams would be eligible to be called back up.

[Shavo]

I would like to see a Rusch DFA, but I just don't see the Cubs doing that given the contract. 2 scenarios I would be ok with ...

 

 

Rusch DFA, AAArdsama sent down. Jerome Williams and Michael Wuertz recalled.

 

AAArdsama sent down, Wuertz up. Rusch to long relief. Ohman sent down. Williams to the rotation.

 

 

I only want to see Hill up if hes going to the rotation and staying there for the rest of the year. If hes getting called up just until Prior is back, I'd go with Williams.

[Diffusion]

You can DFA Rusch and send him to the minors. If he's claimed off waivers or he refuses the assignment, the Cubs lose him but they don't owe him the rest of his contract. Otherwise, while they'll still owe him the rest of his deal, they won't lose him, but won't have to put up with him on the 25-man roster right now.

[RynoRules]

You can DFA Rusch and send him to the minors. If he's claimed off waivers or he refuses the assignment, the Cubs lose him but they don't owe him the rest of his contract. Otherwise, while they'll still owe him the rest of his deal, they won't lose him, but won't have to put up with him on the 25-man roster right now.

 

If you are right, DFA him. Now please. This is pretty much how I feel while watching him pitch:

 

 

 

http://images.usatoday.com/sports/photos/14bigmac.jpg

[Shavo]

You can DFA Rusch and send him to the minors. If he's claimed off waivers or he refuses the assignment, the Cubs lose him but they don't owe him the rest of his contract. Otherwise, while they'll still owe him the rest of his deal, they won't lose him, but won't have to put up with him on the 25-man roster right now.

 

I figure Hendy would feel foolish to send 5 Mill to the minors. That is where Rusch belongs, however.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

You can DFA Rusch and send him to the minors. If he's claimed off waivers or he refuses the assignment, the Cubs lose him but they don't owe him the rest of his contract. Otherwise, while they'll still owe him the rest of his deal, they won't lose him, but won't have to put up with him on the 25-man roster right now.

 

I figure Hendy would feel foolish to send 5 Mill to the minors. That is where Rusch belongs, however.

 

I'm getting the feeling there is a greater sense of urgency this year and the Cubs will not put up with mediocre performances. Wuertz was on a short leash as was Williams. In years past, those guys would have still been here.

 

I have no doubt that Rusch's days in the rotation are numbered. The only thing that could keep him in the pen isn't his salary but the fact that Ohman is struggling as well.

[Diffusion]

I have no doubt that Rusch's days in the rotation are numbered. The only thing that could keep him in the pen isn't his salary but the fact that Ohman is struggling as well.

 

Ohman still hasn't been as bad as Rusch, and he was a lot more effective last year as a lefty reliever. Sending him to the minors would also burn his last option. The best move right now really is to let Rusch keep starting, like he wants...in Iowa.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I have no doubt that Rusch's days in the rotation are numbered. The only thing that could keep him in the pen isn't his salary but the fact that Ohman is struggling as well.

 

Ohman still hasn't been as bad as Rusch, and he was a lot more effective last year as a lefty reliever. Sending him to the minors would also burn his last option. The best move right now really is to let Rusch keep starting, like he wants...in Iowa.

 

I agree. Notice above in an earlier post I said he should be DFAed. I just think Ohman's performance could be enough reason for the Cubs to try to stash Rusch in the pen a little longer.

[oldstyle81]

Aardsma looks completely unprepared for facing MLB hitters.