4/9 Astros (Williams) @ Cubs (Lilly) 1:20CST, WGN/XM 185

[98navigator]

Howry's been iffy since the day he arrived here. Definitely not as advertised.

 

Howry was great last year, and he may wind up being so this year, but the early returns are bad.

Edited April 9, 2007 by 98navigator

[jersey cubs fan]

I meant he gave up runs... I know they never lead. This game should still be tied. If that isn't the fault of the bullpen (specifically Howry) then I don't know what is....

 

The starter pitched to a 4.50 ERA.

The lineup had an OBP of about .270 and scored 3 measly runs.

Yes, Howry had a bad outing as well. But the blame for the loss lies on many shoulders. A loss is more than just who was on the mound when the other team took the lead.

[jersey cubs fan]

Howry's been iffy since the day he arrived here. Definitely not as advertised.

 

Howry was great last year and he may wind up being so this year but the early returns are bad.

 

Yeah, he was great last year, far from iffy. But that's the problem when you sign aging middle relievers to longterm deals. They aren't the picture of stability.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

nice job garner, 2 games for lidge and he's out as closer... nice knee jerk reaction there

 

Lidge was out of the closer job last year.

 

not true. He blew a save in their homestand.

 

 

My point is he lost the closer job last year also. It's not that big of a knee jerk reaction. The guy for whatever reason doesn't have it.

 

It's knee jerk because he had been reinstalled as closer. It only took one blown save, and a bad relief appearance in a non save situation, for Garner to say TODAY that Wheeler is his closer.

 

 

He had gotten rocked by the Cards the day before.

[oldstyle81]

Howry shouldve been out of that inning

[Alberto Es El Hombre]

nice job garner, 2 games for lidge and he's out as closer... nice knee jerk reaction there

 

Lidge was out of the closer job last year.

 

not true. He blew a save in their homestand. it was temporary last year

 

He lost the job last year.

 

Got it back this year. Blew a game already this year.

 

It's not like Lidge was dominant last year. He wasn't.

 

I think you can trace the beginning of the end of Lidge's dominance as a closer to this...

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2005/10/18/nmFsUnO3.jpg

[98navigator]

I meant he gave up runs... I know they never lead. This game should still be tied. If that isn't the fault of the bullpen (specifically Howry) then I don't know what is....

 

The starter pitched to a 4.50 ERA.

The lineup had an OBP of about .270 and scored 3 measly runs.

Yes, Howry had a bad outing as well. But the blame for the loss lies on many shoulders. A loss is more than just who was on the mound when the other team took the lead.

 

Get over the "4.50 ERA." 6 IP with 3 ER is widely accepted as a Quality Start. His overall ERA is 2.77

 

Obviously, the team needed to score more runs. It was also Howry's job to make sure the opponents didn't score so that the home team had a chance.

[YearofDaCubs]

nice job garner, 2 games for lidge and he's out as closer... nice knee jerk reaction there

 

Lidge was out of the closer job last year.

 

not true. He blew a save in their homestand. it was temporary last year

 

He lost the job last year.

 

Got it back this year. Blew a game already this year.

 

It's not like Lidge was dominant last year. He wasn't.

 

I think you can trace the beginning of the end of Lidge's dominance as a closer to this...

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2005/10/18/nmFsUnO3.jpg

No doubt about it.

[Omar]

And we're back under .500... I hate this feeling.

[98navigator]

Howry's been iffy since the day he arrived here. Definitely not as advertised.

 

Howry was great last year and he may wind up being so this year but the early returns are bad.

 

Yeah, he was great last year, far from iffy. But that's the problem when you sign aging middle relievers to longterm deals. They aren't the picture of stability.

 

In theory, I can't disagree but he's been good for a while...

 

Like I said before, he may well pitch effectively, overall, this year. I don't like what I've seen from him in two games (today and game three in Cincy).

[oldstyle81]

reporter, whats the worst part of the loss

lou, the loss

[bcruise]

Sounds like Lou's downplaying the umpiring...a lot of "We just got beat".

[Soul]

Howry's been iffy since the day he arrived here. Definitely not as advertised.

 

Howry was great last year and he may wind up being so this year but the early returns are bad.

 

Yeah, he was great last year, far from iffy. But that's the problem when you sign aging middle relievers to longterm deals. They aren't the picture of stability.

 

He struggles every time he pitches, including last year. It's only a matter of time before he gets rocked. A pitcher can look good on the stat sheet but use your eyes, it's obvious the guy struggles to get hitters out. Sure he can ride the dragon for a while, get the outs. But eventually it's going to come crashing down.

 

You want a case in point? Rod Beck. ERA+ of 144 in 1998, but his struggles were obvious, even at the height of his success with the Cubs. There was no question he would eventually start getting blasted.

[98navigator]

And we're back under .500... I hate this feeling.

 

Don't feel bad. It's too early to live and die with every game. The Astros are 2-5.

[Omar]

Roast has the next game.. and he was at the game today. Probably will start it a little late. Wonder what his reaction will be.. Edited April 9, 2007 by Omar

[jersey cubs fan]

I meant he gave up runs... I know they never lead. This game should still be tied. If that isn't the fault of the bullpen (specifically Howry) then I don't know what is....

 

The starter pitched to a 4.50 ERA.

The lineup had an OBP of about .270 and scored 3 measly runs.

Yes, Howry had a bad outing as well. But the blame for the loss lies on many shoulders. A loss is more than just who was on the mound when the other team took the lead.

 

Get over the "4.50 ERA." 6 IP with 3 ER is widely accepted as a Quality Start. His overall ERA is 2.77

 

Obviously, the team needed to score more runs. It was also Howry's job to make sure the opponents didn't score so that the home team had a chance.

 

Widely accepted by baseball's conventional wisdom is hardly a quality defense of a cliche.

 

6 ip and 3 ER equates to a 4.50 ERA, and that is not good. It's not terrible, but it's hardly something to hang on when blaming others for a loss.

[Brian]

man, I'm feel like crap because of this game. The Cubs are going to lose enough games over the years because of their own incompetence, they don't need outside help.

[jersey cubs fan]

Howry's been iffy since the day he arrived here. Definitely not as advertised.

 

Howry was great last year and he may wind up being so this year but the early returns are bad.

 

Yeah, he was great last year, far from iffy. But that's the problem when you sign aging middle relievers to longterm deals. They aren't the picture of stability.

 

He struggles every time he pitches, including last year. It's only a matter of time before he gets rocked. A pitcher can look good on the stat sheet but use your eyes, it's obvious the guy struggles to get hitters out. Sure he can ride the dragon for a while, get the outs. But eventually it's going to come crashing down.

 

 

this is just plain old nonsense.

[98navigator]

Sounds like Lou's downplaying the umpiring...a lot of "We just got beat".

 

Well, it's true. They certainly had a chance...

[Soul]

Howry's been iffy since the day he arrived here. Definitely not as advertised.

 

Howry was great last year and he may wind up being so this year but the early returns are bad.

 

Yeah, he was great last year, far from iffy. But that's the problem when you sign aging middle relievers to longterm deals. They aren't the picture of stability.

 

He struggles every time he pitches, including last year. It's only a matter of time before he gets rocked. A pitcher can look good on the stat sheet but use your eyes, it's obvious the guy struggles to get hitters out. Sure he can ride the dragon for a while, get the outs. But eventually it's going to come crashing down.

 

 

this is just plain old nonsense.

 

Was it nonsense with Beck, too? How about Borowski? Did you think his 2003 ERA+ of 161 was going to carry over to next season? He struggled to get outs as well. Use your eyes. It's not hard to pick out a pitcher who has trouble. Not hard to pick out the ones who are due for disaster.

[jersey cubs fan]

Was it nonsense with Beck, too? How about Borowski? Did you think his 2003 ERA+ of 161 was going to carry over to next season? He struggled to get outs as well. Use your eyes. It's not hard to pick out a pitcher who has trouble. Not hard to pick out the ones who are due for disaster.

 

Use your eyes? Where am I?

 

Howry was as dominant as a set-up caliber pitcher gets last year. He didn't struggle to get outs. He wasn't flinging crap like Beck.

[Soul]

Was it nonsense with Beck, too? How about Borowski? Did you think his 2003 ERA+ of 161 was going to carry over to next season? He struggled to get outs as well. Use your eyes. It's not hard to pick out a pitcher who has trouble. Not hard to pick out the ones who are due for disaster.

 

Use your eyes? Where am I?

 

Howry was as dominant as a set-up caliber pitcher gets last year. He didn't struggle to get outs. He wasn't flinging crap like Beck.

 

I don't see the dominance you do. Did he look dominant today when got destroyed on that dinger?

[Brian]

7 games in, and we are the laughing stock of the league.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb

 

Is every single article going to say the cubs spent 300mill and haven't won a world series since 1908?

[sweetpeteman]

Howry's three year ERA+: 166, 166, 146. Thats pretty dang good. I'm not too worried, but he needs to bring it back soon.

[Derwood]

can't argue with people who ignore hard numbers. People here shouted about how much Mark Guthrie (he of the 2.74 ERA and 1.55 ERA+) sucked in 2003