Guzman Tweaks Delivery- Piniella Hints at Guzman in the Pen

[C.C.]

Lou's full quote about Guzman in the bullpen.

 

Suntimes

 

''I like the idea of bringing along a young pitcher in the bullpen,'' Piniella said, reiterating a point he made Saturday. ''That's the way you should bring up a young pitcher. Put him in long relief, let him gain some experience there, don't pitch him in pressure situations, and as he gets better, you start increasing his workload a little bit. He can be protected, but at the same time, he'll get his work and he'll watch other major-league pitchers, how they go about their business.''

 

Good god I love Lou!

[Pushfrog98]

Lou's full quote about Guzman in the bullpen.

 

Suntimes

 

''I like the idea of bringing along a young pitcher in the bullpen,'' Piniella said, reiterating a point he made Saturday. ''That's the way you should bring up a young pitcher. Put him in long relief, let him gain some experience there, don't pitch him in pressure situations, and as he gets better, you start increasing his workload a little bit. He can be protected, but at the same time, he'll get his work and he'll watch other major-league pitchers, how they go about their business.''

 

Good god I love Lou!

I love Lou too.

[Jon]

I could've sworn Lou said last week that he wasn't considering Guzman for the bullpen (he'd be in the rotation either in Chicago or Iowa).

[CubColtPacer]

I could've sworn Lou said last week that he wasn't considering Guzman for the bullpen (he'd be in the rotation either in Chicago or Iowa).

 

In retrospect, I think too much was read into that quote from a week or so ago. Lou was asked if Guzman was going to be a reliever, and Lou replied that he wasn't looking at Guzman as a reliever. Now it was taken at the time as that he'd either be a starter at Chicago or Iowa. However, it seems now that Lou was simply saying that he was considering Guzman for being a starter first. Now that Miller is the front-runner for that job, that allows Lou to start thinking of Guzman as a candidate for being a reliever instead of a starter.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'd rather see Guzman in a starting role; either Iowa or the 5th with the Cubs.

 

I don't have a problem letting a young pitcher break in with a bullpen role.

 

I don't either so long as he's getting regular work. Unlike the 2 week stretch last year that Gooz just sat there.

[BRASKYS SCOTCH]

Lou's full quote about Guzman in the bullpen.

 

Suntimes

 

''I like the idea of bringing along a young pitcher in the bullpen,'' Piniella said, reiterating a point he made Saturday. ''That's the way you should bring up a young pitcher. Put him in long relief, let him gain some experience there, don't pitch him in pressure situations, and as he gets better, you start increasing his workload a little bit. He can be protected, but at the same time, he'll get his work and he'll watch other major-league pitchers, how they go about their business.''

 

Good god I love Lou!

I love Lou too.

 

Olive juice, too. :koolaid:

[Soul]

The problem with bringing Guzman north as a reliever is his innings will go way down.

 

That's a significant concern, IMO.

[98navigator]

Cubs.com

 

Why was he on the left? Greg Maddux suggested that the right-hander shift a little because Guzman was having trouble throwing to the outside corner of the plate against right-handers.

 

"That was one of the tips Greg Maddux gave me -- I used to pitch on the right," Guzman said.

 

Bad advice? We shall see... Guz has to pitch well in his next outing to make the team.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

I love the idea of putting a young, talented future starter in the bullpen to start in the future.

 

Hey it worked with Santana...

[NCCubFan]

I love the idea of putting a young, talented future starter in the bullpen to start in the future.

 

Hey it worked with Santana...

It used to be common back in the days of 4-man rotations. Fergie Jenkins began his career as a reliever, and Nolan Ryan was a reliever/spot starter when he first came up. I like it as a way to limit a pitcher's innings his first major league season or two.

[98navigator]

I think I just heard that Angel Guzman beat out Rocky Cherry and Roberto Novoa for the final bullpen spot. I'm not 100% certain because I was listening to ESPN AM 1000 and writing something at the same time... We'll see if something is printed in the post game columns.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I think I just heard that Angel Guzman beat out Rocky Cherry and Roberto Novoa for the final bullpen spot. I'm not 100% certain because I was listening to ESPN AM 1000 and writing something at the same time... We'll see if something is printed in the post game columns.

 

If true, I hope Cherry doesn't let it get to him, because he has had a great spring and has really helped himself. The Cubs will tempted with Marmol, but I hope they install Cherry as Iowa's closer, use Marmol in setup, and keep Holdzkom in AA until he shows he can consistently throw strikes.

[RichHillIsABeast]

I think I just heard that Angel Guzman beat out Rocky Cherry and Roberto Novoa for the final bullpen spot. I'm not 100% certain because I was listening to ESPN AM 1000 and writing something at the same time... We'll see if something is printed in the post game columns.

 

The Rockies announcers were saying Guzman was the 12th man during the game today.

 

<<< wants this to be true

[Mephistopheles]

guzman would be better served in iowa.

[Danny82]

I love the idea of putting a young, talented future starter in the bullpen to start in the future.

 

Hey it worked with Santana...

 

Liriano and Oswalt too.

 

I'm sure there are many others.

[YearofDaCubs]

I think I just heard that Angel Guzman beat out Rocky Cherry and Roberto Novoa for the final bullpen spot. I'm not 100% certain because I was listening to ESPN AM 1000 and writing something at the same time... We'll see if something is printed in the post game columns.

I heard that on ESPN 1000 but it wasn't Guzman, it was Wuertz they were talking about.

[98navigator]

"Truthfully, to me, the kid has done enough to make the team," Piniella said of Guzman. "The only thing I can tell you is I just don't know about the numbers. I don't know how things will work out in the end. I've been impressed with him, I really have. He has a nice arm, he's worked hard, and he's pitched well."

 

Cubs.com

[Danny82]

guzman would be better served in iowa.

 

I don't see anything wrong with the chance to get to face major league batters.

 

Sure, he gets more game innings in Iowa, but he doesn't get the same challenges at the plate.

[98navigator]

I think I just heard that Angel Guzman beat out Rocky Cherry and Roberto Novoa for the final bullpen spot. I'm not 100% certain because I was listening to ESPN AM 1000 and writing something at the same time... We'll see if something is printed in the post game columns.

I heard that on ESPN 1000 but it wasn't Guzman, it was Wuertz they were talking about.

 

Oh well...

[Laura]

Now Piniella is hinting at Guzman in Iowa?

 

Cubs.com[/url]"]

Which Angel -- outfielder Angel Pagan or pitcher Angel Guzman -- will make the Cubs' final 25-man roster?

 

That seems to be the final decision for Cubs manager Lou Piniella and his staff. There are 31 players still in camp, and the main debate is whether to carry 11 or 12 pitchers. That affects Guzman and Pagan.

[CubsWin]

I think I just heard that Angel Guzman beat out Rocky Cherry and Roberto Novoa for the final bullpen spot. I'm not 100% certain because I was listening to ESPN AM 1000 and writing something at the same time... We'll see if something is printed in the post game columns.

I heard that on ESPN 1000 but it wasn't Guzman, it was Wuertz they were talking about.

 

Oh well...

So did ESPN 1000 say that Wuertz beat out Cherry and that Cherry is definitely not making the team?

 

Novoa was already optioned to AAA. Wood is on the DL. Assuming all three lefties make the team, Wuertz would be the third righty and the final piece of an 11-man staff. But Lou is still considering whether to go with 12, so by my calculations, Cherry is still in play and its down to him or Guzman or neither.

 

That's if the report that Wuertz has made the team is accurate...

[CubsWin]

guzman would be better served in iowa.

 

I don't see anything wrong with the chance to get to face major league batters.

 

Sure, he gets more game innings in Iowa, but he doesn't get the same challenges at the plate.

My concern is that as the 4th righty option and the long relief option, Guzman's innings will be severly limited. He will be dependent upon one of the starters blowing up in the early going (though with this rotation that might not be all that unlikely) or waiting his turn behind Howry and Wuertz. Now if Wuertz is sent to Iowa, and Lou goes with a 6-man pen, then Guz would likely see enough innings for it not to hurt his development as much.

 

Also, if Guzman had shown that his control problems or pitch-tipping problems have been solved (and by control problems I mean getting too much of the center of the plate, walks have never really been a great concern with him) then limiting his innings but having him face major league hitters might be a good idea. But, all of last season and much of this spring, Angel has been hittable at the major league level despite really good stuff. That seems like a situation that would be helped by first dominating at AAA and then being called up.

[seanimal]

Don't know if this was already posted, but from the Tribune today,

 

With Prior and Wood gone, Angel Guzman is expected to lock up the final bullpen spot. Wood will head to the disabled list and Prior will go to Triple-A Iowa to work on gaining consistency. Before Tuesday, Piniella had left a small opening for Prior, and was clearly tired of answering questions about him.

 

So there you have it. Guzman is in.

[YearofDaCubs]

I think I just heard that Angel Guzman beat out Rocky Cherry and Roberto Novoa for the final bullpen spot. I'm not 100% certain because I was listening to ESPN AM 1000 and writing something at the same time... We'll see if something is printed in the post game columns.

I heard that on ESPN 1000 but it wasn't Guzman, it was Wuertz they were talking about.

 

Oh well...

So did ESPN 1000 say that Wuertz beat out Cherry and that Cherry is definitely not making the team?

 

Novoa was already optioned to AAA. Wood is on the DL. Assuming all three lefties make the team, Wuertz would be the third righty and the final piece of an 11-man staff. But Lou is still considering whether to go with 12, so by my calculations, Cherry is still in play and its down to him or Guzman or neither.

 

That's if the report that Wuertz has made the team is accurate...

This was a while ago but they did mention that Cherry would not make the team. This is before Wood got injured though. I personally rather see Cherry make the team over Guzman, and have Guz start in AAA but that's just me.