Lou on XM

[CubinNY]

Hates giving up walks, "you can't walk guys and run the count with at wrigley"

 

Likes the young pitchers and thinks that they've learned a lot. Thinks Marmol could be a good pitcher and looks to use him in the bullpen

 

Thinks Wood could be a huge addtion "at the end of the game" (sounds like Dempster could be on the hot seat)

 

Loves Soriano, "I look for some big flys at the begining of the game"

 

Not much else to report.

[Tracer Bullet]

Hates giving up walks, "you can't walk guys and run the count with at wrigley"

 

Likes the young pitchers and thinks that they've learned a lot. Thinks Marmol could be a good pitcher and looks to use him in the bullpen

 

Thinks Wood could be a huge addtion "at the end of the game" (sounds like Dempster could be on the hot seat)

 

Loves Soriano, "I look for some big flys at the begining of the game"

 

Not much else to report.

 

I'm looking forward to 40 solo home runs too!

[Flames24Rulz]

Hates giving up walks, "you can't walk guys and run the count with at wrigley"

 

Likes the young pitchers and thinks that they've learned a lot. Thinks Marmol could be a good pitcher and looks to use him in the bullpen

 

Thinks Wood could be a huge addtion "at the end of the game" (sounds like Dempster could be on the hot seat)

 

Loves Soriano, "I look for some big flys at the begining of the game"

 

Not much else to report.

 

According to ESPNEWS, Piniella wants Wood to close for him next year.

[imb]

I'm so much more excited for this season than I was for last season.

[Prior4CyYoung]

ya I heard it on outside the lines as well. Piniella wants Wood as his closer. they also made it sound like Wood didnt have a problem with that either.

[Lefty]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

[RichHillIsABeast]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

 

You could take some of that strain off with Howry and Eyre easily enough.

[David]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

 

Are we going to have 9th inning leads that often?

[UMFan83]

I'm so much more excited for this season than I was for last season.

 

I am too but that doesn't really say much

[Lefty]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

 

Are we going to have 9th inning leads that often?

 

We had about 80 last year.

[Lefty]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

 

You could take some of that strain off with Howry and Eyre easily enough.

 

Remember when Schilling closed and had to start warming up in the 6th or 7th? I would rather have Weurtz or Howry close and find a more stable and creative way to use Wood. But this is the Cubs. Stable, maybe. Creative, no.

[TruffleShuffle]

I'm so much more excited for this season than I was for last season.

 

I am too but that doesn't really say much

 

yeah same here... last year I predicted 74 wins and had absolutely no hopes for that club. I'm at least interested in this year's team because of Hill's development, the possibility of Wood in the bullpen, and of course the first real blockbuster free agent signing in who knows how long.

[Mizzou]

ya I heard it on outside the lines as well. Piniella wants Wood as his closer. they also made it sound like Wood didnt have a problem with that either.

Really? Wow, I hadn't heard that. If that's true, that's outstanding news. I've been saying Wood for closer all offseason. I hope it works out.

[LeftCoastCubFan]

ya I heard it on outside the lines as well. Piniella wants Wood as his closer. they also made it sound like Wood didnt have a problem with that either.

Really? Wow, I hadn't heard that. If that's true, that's outstanding news. I've been saying Wood for closer all offseason. I hope it works out.

At the end of the game more likely means setup man for now, at least until he proves healthy enough

[Jon]

Hates giving up walks, "you can't walk guys and run the count with at wrigley"

 

Likes the young pitchers and thinks that they've learned a lot. Thinks Marmol could be a good pitcher and looks to use him in the bullpen

 

Thinks Wood could be a huge addtion "at the end of the game" (sounds like Dempster could be on the hot seat)

 

Loves Soriano, "I look for some big flys at the begining of the game"

 

Not much else to report.

 

I'm looking forward to 40 solo home runs too!

Really.

 

At least he realizes that giving up walks is a no-no in Wrigley. Now we'll just have to see if drawing walks and hitting for power is something he's going to be interested in promoting.

[abuck1220]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

 

do you really see dempster's ability as good enough to close?

[Guest]

I'm so much more excited for this season than I was for last season.

 

I am too but that doesn't really say much

 

yeah same here... last year I predicted 74 wins and had absolutely no hopes for that club. I'm at least interested in this year's team because of Hill's development, the possibility of Wood in the bullpen, and of course the first real blockbuster free agent signing in who knows how long.

 

darn optimist.

[Balsa]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

 

do you really see dempster's ability as good enough to close?

I think Demp had to be injured or something. I mean, sure he had some close calls but he was stellar all of 2005 and half 2006.

 

But I think Wood is a better closer without a doubt.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

 

do you really see dempster's ability as good enough to close?

I think Demp had to be injured or something. I mean, sure he had some close calls but he was stellar all of 2005 and half 2006.

 

I'm more inclined to think 05 was an aberration. His entire career has been much less than stellar.

[mhuber92211]

Could be talk to raise the value of Dempster. Many teams are looking for closers and if they are considering Turnbow, Dempster is a better option

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Sun-Times from Thursday, 12/5[/url]"]Despite reports Ryan Dempster is on the trading block, Hendry appears committed to his closer, who became a liability because of a series of meltdowns late last season.

 

What gives Hendry so much confidence in Dempster, who went 1-9 with 24 saves in 33 chances?

 

''Character,'' Hendry said. ''I saw a guy come back from Tommy John surgery before most people would have. I saw a guy save 26 games in a row that nobody had any idea could save games. I saw a guy that won't accept failure. I know a guy that, on the first day of spring training, will be totally committed to being the guy that we saw the year before.

 

''I have a lot of faith that Ryan Dempster will be a quality closer.''

[soapy]

Sun-Times from Thursday, 12/5[/url]"]Despite reports Ryan Dempster is on the trading block, Hendry appears committed to his closer, who became a liability because of a series of meltdowns late last season.

 

What gives Hendry so much confidence in Dempster, who went 1-9 with 24 saves in 33 chances?

 

''Character,'' Hendry said. ''I saw a guy come back from Tommy John surgery before most people would have. I saw a guy save 26 games in a row that nobody had any idea could save games. I saw a guy that won't accept failure. I know a guy that, on the first day of spring training, will be totally committed to being the guy that we saw the year before.

 

''I have a lot of faith that Ryan Dempster will be a quality closer.''

That may or may not just be Hendry trying to maintain some leverage. I really think they need to move some of these tradable assets in the pen if they are adding Wood and Cotts (and maybe Marmol and/or Miller) down there.

[Lefty]

Do you really see Wood's arm as resilient enough to close?

 

do you really see dempster's ability as good enough to close?

 

Who said I wanted Dempster to close? I actually mentioned Wuertz or Howry. I accept your apology.

[cheapseats]

Sun-Times from Thursday, 12/5[/url]"] I saw a guy that won't accept failure. I know a guy that, on the first day of spring training, will be totally committed to being the guy that we saw the year before.

 

The thing is, if you look at his stats, he was pretty much the same pitcher in 2006 that he was in 2005. He gave up more flyballs in 2006 than he did in 2005, but his linedrive rate was actually lower than it was in 2005.

 

He didn't walk guys as often in 2006.

 

Dempster is what he is. He was lucky in 2005 and unlucky in 2006. I'd rather he pitch for someone else next year when we see how his luck goes in 2007.

[sethuel1]

Don't look at his stats. look into his eyes.