Lou's shake-up: Guzman and his 3.18 ERA to pen

[windycityfan]

Considering Howry and Dempster's come back yesterday, who knows whether Lou will stand pat and keep his bullpen the way it is - or just blow it up and try something different per his 'Monday shake-up'.

 

Some thoughts:

 

Angel Guzman for closer. Papelbon anyone? Guzman has as good repertoire and poise to command this role. His stint as reliever this year tells me he can successfully come into action when called upon.

 

Sean Marshall for 5th starter. .191 against AVG, 8BB in 24 innings. Been there done that. Readiest to join the rotation.

 

Alfonso Soriano to 2B. I understand the defense is as a liability as the bullpen is and putting Soriano here is almost asinine. However, here he'll at least keep himself from killing someone else in the outfield (does he ever look bad out there?), sit down DeRosa (not doing anything at the moment, super-sub role instead and use him as platoon with Jacque Jones) and play the best players (especially Floyd/Murton having the best chance to play together, even Murton going back to LF where he wouldn't look as clueless).

 

Solidifying the pitching corps by strenghtening the end of the bullpen (Dempster is not good folks and Guzman doesn't walk about more than half the batters he faces) and a bottom half lineup of Floyd (possibly our most 'dangerous' hitter), Barrett, Jones/DeRosa/Pagan and Murton should serve better than what we've seen to date.

 

Thoughts?

[NCCubFan]

Just a hunch on my part, but I really think it involves at least one significant trade. The way he was talking to me sounded like more than just shaking up the roles of current players, and if he were just changing the role of current players there would be no need to wait until Monday.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Angel Guzman for starter

[NCCubFan]

Angel Guzman for starter

Agreed 100%. He's looking good as a starter this year, so he should stay in the rotation unless he starts to struggle.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I'm beyond irritated with the Guzman to the pen suggestions. Just because idiot managers elsewhere are doing it, doesn't make it right. Papelbon should be starting, so should Guzman. It makes no sense to take your best pitchers and put them in for 50 innings instead of 200.

[ronsanto10]

yeah...i was at the game on the 17th and he looked pretty good....and dempster is not terrible, i mean he has only blown 2 chances.....hes no Latroy Hawkins......at least not yet....and the dumpster looked good yesterday...1-2-3 in the 9th.....

Angel Guzman for starter

Agreed 100%. He's looking good as a starter this year, so he should stay in the rotation unless he starts to struggle.

[Magnetic Curses]

guzman has been pitching reasonably well, he's far too valuable when he's pitching many innings as opposed to a few.

[windycityfan]

I'm beyond irritated with the Guzman to the pen suggestions. Just because idiot managers elsewhere are doing it, doesn't make it right. Papelbon should be starting, so should Guzman. It makes no sense to take your best pitchers and put them in for 50 innings instead of 200.

 

It's just a thought pal, cool your jets.

 

The starting rotation is still in good shape and the bullpen is not. I'd love for Guzman to become a horse for years to come as a starter, but any more blown wins and the wheels of this team fall off.

 

It doesn't make any sense either having no shut down closer when this team's offense will not separate enough through comfortable leads.

[moorecg]

The idea of Soriano back to 2nd would be very interesting...yeah, he's a bucher...no question...but you get Floyd, Jones and Murton in the line up every day...You get DeRosa in his best role, that of a super sub...You get Riot at SS and Izturis becomes a late inning defensive replacement...(could concievably even move Soriano to the OF in the late innings if necessary to keep his bat in, Riot to 2nd, Izturis to ss)

 

Not saying I love it, but it sure would be a shake up.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

My jets aren't hot, I'm just pointing out that it's a terrible suggestion.

 

It makes less sense to have a "shut down" closer when you deliberately weaken your pitching staff in order to get there.

[windycityfan]

My jets aren't hot, I'm just pointing out that it's a terrible suggestion.

 

It makes less sense to have a "shut down" closer when you deliberately weaken your pitching staff in order to get there.

 

Cause potentially there's more available quality starters (if you consider no marginal drop off production by inserting Marshall into the rotation while removing Guzman) than closer material.

 

Your counterpoint is welcomed, however.

[Magnetic Curses]

i don't mind derosa at 2nd and theriot at SS. derosa hasn't been bad thus far.

[JeffH]

i don't mind derosa at 2nd and theriot at SS. derosa hasn't been bad thus far.

 

He hasn't?

[Chocolate Milk]

i don't mind derosa at 2nd and theriot at SS. derosa hasn't been bad thus far.

 

He has been slumping with the bat as of late but I have been impressed with his patience.

[RynoRules]

I sincerely hope that any trade involves a package that includes Jacque and receiving a .900 OPS corner OFer or .850 OPS SS, but that's pretty much just a dream at this point.

[Guest]

What's the problem with the Cubs current closer?

 

He has a .186 BAA and a 1.03 WHIP and he's 9/10 in save opportunities.

 

I can just see the Cubs overreacting and moving Gooz to the pen because he can't win or can't go deep into games (he could have on Thursday if they wanted to push him). And I'd be pissed if they did.

[Magnetic Curses]

i don't mind derosa at 2nd and theriot at SS. derosa hasn't been bad thus far.

 

He hasn't?

 

no, he hasn't.

[RichHillIsABeast]

What's the problem with the Cubs current closer?

 

He has a .186 BAA and a 1.03 WHIP and he's 9/10 in save opportunities.

 

I can just see the Cubs overreacting and moving Gooz to the pen because he can't win or can't go deep into games (he could have on Thursday if they wanted to push him). And I'd be pissed if they did.

 

There's nothing wrong with Dempster as closer. I was pretty irate with Demp on Thursday, but it's only one bad inning. He's been more than fine this season. If he converts 90% of his saves all year, I'm going to be a very happy individual.

 

Thursday was an aberration. He's been throwing strikes and missing a lot of bats this year. Thursday was just one of those days where a pitcher can't seem to find the plate and when he does it's right down the middle. It happens.

 

If Dempster is demoted, I want Wuertz as closer. Plus plus sliders are fabulous.

[Fred Hornkohl]

i don't mind derosa at 2nd and theriot at SS. derosa hasn't been bad thus far.

 

He hasn't?

 

no, he hasn't.

 

Definitely not bad, but I do have some concern about the way his numbers are trending..........

 

DeRosa             AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS  BABIP     RC  BDI  LOB   RBI%
04/02 - 04/14      30    3    8    0    1    2   16    7    2   10  0.267  0.313  0.533  0.846  0.333    5.0    5   13  0.278
04/15 - 04/24      32    3    8    4    0    2   18    7    4    8  0.250  0.333  0.563  0.896  0.273    6.0    5   15  0.250
04/25 - 05/08      26    3    7    2    0    0    9    3    4    3  0.269  0.387  0.346  0.733  0.304    3.5    3   10  0.231
05/09 - 05/18      18    3    2    0    0    0    2    2    7    4  0.111  0.360  0.111  0.471  0.143    0.7    2   12  0.143

04/02 - 05/18     106   12   25    6    1    4   45   19   17   25  0.236  0.347  0.425  0.771  0.273   15.6   15   50  0.231

[BigbadB]

The pattern I see with Dempster is that he's actually pretty good in save opportunities and horrible in non save opportunities.

 

Quit giving him work with leads that are not save opportunities.

 

Guzman belongs in the rotation.

[rawaction]

The pattern I see with Dempster is that he's actually pretty good in save opportunities and horrible in non save opportunities.

 

Quit giving him work with leads that are not save opportunities.

 

Guzman belongs in the rotation.

 

That's a good idea provided the Cubs either a) win more consistently or b) lead more consistently by 3 or less in the 9th.

[Backtobanks]

Considering Howry and Dempster's come back yesterday, who knows whether Lou will stand pat and keep his bullpen the way it is - or just blow it up and try something different per his 'Monday shake-up'.

 

Some thoughts:

 

Angel Guzman for closer. Papelbon anyone? Guzman has as good repertoire and poise to command this role. His stint as reliever this year tells me he can successfully come into action when called upon.

 

Sean Marshall for 5th starter. .191 against AVG, 8BB in 24 innings. Been there done that. Readiest to join the rotation.

 

Alfonso Soriano to 2B. I understand the defense is as a liability as the bullpen is and putting Soriano here is almost asinine. However, here he'll at least keep himself from killing someone else in the outfield (does he ever look bad out there?), sit down DeRosa (not doing anything at the moment, super-sub role instead and use him as platoon with Jacque Jones) and play the best players (especially Floyd/Murton having the best chance to play together, even Murton going back to LF where he wouldn't look as clueless).

 

Solidifying the pitching corps by strenghtening the end of the bullpen (Dempster is not good folks and Guzman doesn't walk about more than half the batters he faces) and a bottom half lineup of Floyd (possibly our most 'dangerous' hitter), Barrett, Jones/DeRosa/Pagan and Murton should serve better than what we've seen to date.

 

Thoughts?

 

Guzman to the bullpen, maybe.....but not as closer. Marmol in the bullpen and eventually being groomed as a closer, possibly. Marshall in the rotation, possibly..........but 3 lefties isn't a great choice if you can help it. Soriano to 2B will never happen. A butcher at 2B can do a lot more damage than an adequate OF. I would love to see Soriano in RF if it wouldn't mess with his offense. I would love to see Derosa as a super-sub, but that would mean getting an everyday SS in a trade, probably not going to happen. My guess is Eyre will be traded for next to nothing, Wuertz will be given more responsibility, and Dempster will remain as closer (for now).

[rawaction]

My immediate thought when hearing about this supposed shakeup was Guzman to closer's role. Marmol to the rotation.

 

Soriano to 2B is an intriguing thought, though. DeRosa hasn't hit much in May (surprising is 2-21 vs. LHPs), and I think Lou wants to get Floyd and Murton in the lineup more.

[DiamondMind]

I really like Dempster, but whoever classified him as a "novelty" is pretty much right. He may get the job done temporarily, but hes' been on a downward slope for a while now.

[USSoccer]

Why would you take an effective pitcher for 5-6 innings and make him into a 1 inning guy every couple days?