What are the possibilities?

[cubsfan5150]

Forgive me if this has been brought up, but I've got a gut feeling that we've seen Dempster's last days as a closer. Something tells me that when he gets back, Hill or Marshall might not be around any longer. With Marmol and Howry at the end of the pen, Piniella has exactly what he wants. I hope none of this happens, but I won't be suprised to see Dempster walking the bases loaded in the first instead of the ninth.

[Skyballer]

I agree to an extent but still, Dempster might not be a starter, the trade may include one.

[daske17]

Does Hendry not remember the disaster Dempster has been in his career as a starter? The only time he's displayed any value to a team is when he became the Cubs closer. Even when he started briefly in 2005 for the Cubs it was pretty awful.

[Sammy Sofa]

Why have we seen our last of Dempster as a closer?

 

Marmol is much more useful in the 7th-8th innings.

[NCCubFan]

I don't think Dempster is going to the rotation upon his return, trade or no trade. It was ruled out earlier when discussed because he needs to stretch it out before he's ready to return to a starting role. I don't think anything's happened since then to change that.

[cubsfan5150]

I don't think Dempster is going to the rotation upon his return, trade or no trade. It was ruled out earlier when discussed because he needs to stretch it out before he's ready to return to a starting role. I don't think anything's happened since then to change that.

 

 

I'm not sure that it will happen either. The only reason that I see the possibility is because Lou wants a strong arm guy in the ninth, and even though Dempster can throw hard, he's not a "here it is, see if you can hit it" type of pitcher, such as K-Rod. Howry and Marmol are exactly that type though. As far as stretching it out, now's the chance to do it without any detriment to the team, he can do it in the minors whenever he rehabs.

[cjbucks]

I don't think Dempster is going to the rotation upon his return, trade or no trade. It was ruled out earlier when discussed because he needs to stretch it out before he's ready to return to a starting role. I don't think anything's happened since then to change that.

 

Agreed - he's obviously not ready to pitch one inning at this point why would he be put in a situation to pitch 5-7 innings hopefully?

[turn2]

I like how people think Marmol is going to be a closer as if the 7th and 8th innings Marmol has been pitching isnt important. Just because he doesnt get a save, it doesnt mean Marmols role has been less important, therefore it wouldnt shock me if they left it as is. Plus, Dempster is one of Hendrys guys (that he claimed off the garbage heap). I would like to see Gallagher given a chance in the rotation as spot duty though. Id like to see another option over Hill and Marquis who have been way too eratic.

[Keener98]

I like how people think Marmol is going to be a closer as if the 7th and 8th innings Marmol has been pitching isnt important. Just because he doesnt get a save, it doesnt mean Marmols role has been less important, therefore it wouldnt shock me if they left it as is. Plus, Dempster is one of Hendrys guys (that he claimed off the garbage heap). I would like to see Gallagher given a chance in the rotation as spot duty though. Id like to see another option over Hill and Marquis who have been way too eratic.[/quote

 

So you want Hill and Marquis removed from the rotation? Are you serious?

[turn2]

I like how people think Marmol is going to be a closer as if the 7th and 8th innings Marmol has been pitching isnt important. Just because he doesnt get a save, it doesnt mean Marmols role has been less important, therefore it wouldnt shock me if they left it as is. Plus, Dempster is one of Hendrys guys (that he claimed off the garbage heap). I would like to see Gallagher given a chance in the rotation as spot duty though. Id like to see another option over Hill and Marquis who have been way too eratic.[/quote

 

So you want Hill and Marquis removed from the rotation? Are you serious?

 

Thats not what I said. Dont put words in my mouth. Id like to have another option. Thats all I said, dont take it beyond that.

[Keener98]

I like how people think Marmol is going to be a closer as if the 7th and 8th innings Marmol has been pitching isnt important. Just because he doesnt get a save, it doesnt mean Marmols role has been less important, therefore it wouldnt shock me if they left it as is. Plus, Dempster is one of Hendrys guys (that he claimed off the garbage heap). I would like to see Gallagher given a chance in the rotation as spot duty though. Id like to see another option over Hill and Marquis who have been way too eratic.[/quote

 

So you want Hill and Marquis removed from the rotation? Are you serious?

 

Thats not what I said. Dont put words in my mouth. Id like to have another option. Thats all I said, dont take it beyond that.

 

Im not putting words in your mouth. You said you want to see another option over Hill and Marquis, well how do you see this other option if you dont remove them from the rotation, to see this option?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

I like how people think Marmol is going to be a closer as if the 7th and 8th innings Marmol has been pitching isnt important. Just because he doesnt get a save, it doesnt mean Marmols role has been less important, therefore it wouldnt shock me if they left it as is. Plus, Dempster is one of Hendrys guys (that he claimed off the garbage heap). I would like to see Gallagher given a chance in the rotation as spot duty though. Id like to see another option over Hill and Marquis who have been way too eratic.

 

So you want Hill and Marquis removed from the rotation? Are you serious?

 

Thats not what I said. Dont put words in my mouth. Id like to have another option. Thats all I said, dont take it beyond that.

 

When you say "another option over Hill and Marquis", you have to assume people think you want Gallagher there instead.

[turn2]

I like how people think Marmol is going to be a closer as if the 7th and 8th innings Marmol has been pitching isnt important. Just because he doesnt get a save, it doesnt mean Marmols role has been less important, therefore it wouldnt shock me if they left it as is. Plus, Dempster is one of Hendrys guys (that he claimed off the garbage heap). I would like to see Gallagher given a chance in the rotation as spot duty though. Id like to see another option over Hill and Marquis who have been way too eratic.[/quote

 

So you want Hill and Marquis removed from the rotation? Are you serious?

 

Thats not what I said. Dont put words in my mouth. Id like to have another option. Thats all I said, dont take it beyond that.

 

Im not putting words in your mouth. You said you want to see another option over Hill and Marquis, well how do you see this other option if you dont remove them from the rotation, to see this option?

 

Who said I was at the point where Im ready to pull the plug on either as a starter? But the fact is that theyve been very eratic and if you give the young guy a chance to show you something by squeezing in a start for him, it could pay dividends down the road once if either Hill or Marquis continue to be a problem.

[Keener98]

I like how people think Marmol is going to be a closer as if the 7th and 8th innings Marmol has been pitching isnt important. Just because he doesnt get a save, it doesnt mean Marmols role has been less important, therefore it wouldnt shock me if they left it as is. Plus, Dempster is one of Hendrys guys (that he claimed off the garbage heap). I would like to see Gallagher given a chance in the rotation as spot duty though. Id like to see another option over Hill and Marquis who have been way too eratic.[/quote

 

So you want Hill and Marquis removed from the rotation? Are you serious?

 

Thats not what I said. Dont put words in my mouth. Id like to have another option. Thats all I said, dont take it beyond that.

 

Im not putting words in your mouth. You said you want to see another option over Hill and Marquis, well how do you see this other option if you dont remove them from the rotation, to see this option?

 

Who said I was at the point where Im ready to pull the plug on either as a starter? But the fact is that theyve been very eratic and if you give the young guy a chance to show you something by squeezing in a start for him, it could pay dividends down the road once if either Hill or Marquis continue to be a problem.

 

You said you want to see another option. That to me sounds like you are ready to pull the plug. Rich Hill has struggled, but hes has been one of the top pitchers in baseball over the last year. Am I worried about him, yes a little, but to move him to get Gallagher a start would be stupid. Marquis has done better than what anybody would have expected when he was signed. Gallagher has a 4 era in AAA, so its not like we are talking about Gallardo, Hughes, etc...

[Outshined_One]

Gallagher has a 4 era in AAA, so its not like we are talking about Gallardo, Hughes, etc...

 

In all fairness to Gallagher, he's only made two career starts in AAA. And ERA is a rather piss-poor stat to use for a pitcher in the minors.

[Guest]

More importantly, Gallagher has just 9 innings pitched at AAA. You can't expect a pitcher who's practically skipping AAA to come out and out-perform Rich Hill and Jason Marquis.

[Keener98]

Gallagher has a 4 era in AAA, so its not like we are talking about Gallardo, Hughes, etc...

 

In all fairness to Gallagher, he's only made two career starts in AAA. And ERA is a rather piss-poor stat to use for a pitcher in the minors.

 

Yea I know, I was basically saying that Gallagher has never been put in the same class as a Hughes, Gallardo, or any of the other "sure fire" pitching prospects in the game.

[Keener98]

More importantly, Gallagher has just 9 innings pitched at AAA. You can't expect a pitcher who's practically skipping AAA to come out and out-perform Rich Hill and Jason Marquis.

 

Pretty much my point also, even if I used alot more words trying to get to said point lol.

[Outshined_One]

Gallagher has a 4 era in AAA, so its not like we are talking about Gallardo, Hughes, etc...

 

In all fairness to Gallagher, he's only made two career starts in AAA. And ERA is a rather piss-poor stat to use for a pitcher in the minors.

 

Yea I know, I was basically saying that Gallagher has never been put in the same class as a Hughes, Gallardo, or any of the other "sure fire" pitching prospects in the game.

 

Indeed.

 

Although, if anyone has a good reason why Milwaukee has decided to use Gallardo out of the bullpen lately, I'd love to hear it.

[Keener98]

Gallagher has a 4 era in AAA, so its not like we are talking about Gallardo, Hughes, etc...

 

In all fairness to Gallagher, he's only made two career starts in AAA. And ERA is a rather piss-poor stat to use for a pitcher in the minors.

 

Yea I know, I was basically saying that Gallagher has never been put in the same class as a Hughes, Gallardo, or any of the other "sure fire" pitching prospects in the game.

 

Indeed.

 

Although, if anyone has a good reason why Milwaukee has decided to use Gallardo out of the bullpen lately, I'd love to hear it.

 

I dont know either, but I think its a brilliant idea.......

[turn2]

I like how people think Marmol is going to be a closer as if the 7th and 8th innings Marmol has been pitching isnt important. Just because he doesnt get a save, it doesnt mean Marmols role has been less important, therefore it wouldnt shock me if they left it as is. Plus, Dempster is one of Hendrys guys (that he claimed off the garbage heap). I would like to see Gallagher given a chance in the rotation as spot duty though. Id like to see another option over Hill and Marquis who have been way too eratic.

 

So you want Hill and Marquis removed from the rotation? Are you serious?

 

Thats not what I said. Dont put words in my mouth. Id like to have another option. Thats all I said, dont take it beyond that.

 

 

 

When you say "another option over Hill and Marquis", you have to assume people think you want Gallagher there instead.

 

Gallagher, Guzman,...whoever. I like what Ive seen this year from the young guys when given the chance. Plus its not a bad idea to hedge our bets against one of our normal starters faltering (or continuing to falter). Its not exactly realistic since Hill had a strong second half last year and theyll likely want to give him the chance to do that again this year and also they didnt sign Marquis to not be a starter...but thats what I would like to see.

[turn2]

More importantly, Gallagher has just 9 innings pitched at AAA. You can't expect a pitcher who's practically skipping AAA to come out and out-perform Rich Hill and Jason Marquis.

 

If you arrive at a point where you would make the switch, youre basically opting for someone who could be good vs someone you know is bad. Thats where one is at when they are ready to make such a decision. Its not bad to have options.

[Keener98]

More importantly, Gallagher has just 9 innings pitched at AAA. You can't expect a pitcher who's practically skipping AAA to come out and out-perform Rich Hill and Jason Marquis.

 

If you arrive at a point where you would make the switch, youre basically opting for someone who could be good vs someone you know is bad. Thats where one is at when they are ready to make such a decision. Its not bad to have options.

 

Right its not bad to have options thats what the minor leagues are for. However from your original post, you are basically advocating giving somebody a spot start or 2 to see this option, which is absurd. You dont take starts away from someobdy, just to give a kid a spot start or 2, while you are in a race. If somebody gets hurt, then by all means, move Gallagher, Guzman, whoever into the rotation and see what they can do.

[Guest]

More importantly, Gallagher has just 9 innings pitched at AAA. You can't expect a pitcher who's practically skipping AAA to come out and out-perform Rich Hill and Jason Marquis.

 

If you arrive at a point where you would make the switch, youre basically opting for someone who could be good vs someone you know is bad. Thats where one is at when they are ready to make such a decision. Its not bad to have options.

 

Right, but we're nowhere near that point. Hill and Marquis haven't even been the worst starters this season for the Cubs.

[turn2]

More importantly, Gallagher has just 9 innings pitched at AAA. You can't expect a pitcher who's practically skipping AAA to come out and out-perform Rich Hill and Jason Marquis.

 

If you arrive at a point where you would make the switch, youre basically opting for someone who could be good vs someone you know is bad. Thats where one is at when they are ready to make such a decision. Its not bad to have options.

 

Right, but we're nowhere near that point. Hill and Marquis haven't even been the worst starters this season for the Cubs.

 

Yeah, Im not really as concerned with Zambranos April and May in terms of looking forward. What I do see is that Marquis and Hill are getting lit up with greater frequency. Both have had their moments but both also seem to be teetering a little bit at this point...and again, Id rather hedge my bets and cutlivate options so youre not blindly picking someone if the wheels come off with Hill/Marquis.