Dempster Suffers Setback- Not Likely to Be Ready After Break

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Link.

 

It looks like we'll have to make do a little longer without Dempster in the pen.

 

Dempster will be shut down after experiencing some discomfort in his left oblique during a side session on Friday at PNC Park. He is not expected to be activated on July 13.

 

"He threw today and it wasn't good," Piniella said after Friday's game, an 8-4 loss to Pittsburgh. "He's not going to be able to throw at all during the All-Star break. I don't think he'll even be ready for next Friday. It'll be within a few days of that."

 

"I'm just not going to do anything until Thursday," Dempster said. "I'll put my uniform on and cheer my teammates, and that's it.

 

"I don't feel it long tossing, and I don't feel it flat ground," he said. "I just felt it off the mound, about 10 pitches in. That's progress. I couldn't even play catch a week ago."

[Mizzou]

That sucks. Just prolongs the eventual dumping of Eyre. But on the flip side, at least it will (hopefully) allow Marmol to close more games.

[anabiono]

goodness, the cubs at the deadline, as far as moves...it is going to be pretty interesting...me thinks

[Butterscup1679666578]

time to get gagne, jim.

[killthegoat06]

The article says that they still want a 12-man staff. Looks like Petrick will come back up, imo.

[Soul]

Must be more serious than they originally reported.

 

This does suck.

[NCCubFan]

The article says that they still want a 12-man staff. Looks like Petrick will come back up, imo.

Petrick can't be called back up until 10 days after he was sent down, unless it's to replace another pitcher going on the DL. So if the Cubs want to be up to 12 pitchers immediately after the All-Star break it would have to be someone else coming up.

[Balsa]

This makes Kerry Wood's reappearance much more important.

[Shilzzz]

had no idea it was this bad. originally sounded like they just pushed him aside because they need the arm in the bullpen desperately enough, and jones wasn't able to be moved. hopefully he gets well soon, because, while i have a lot of trust in marmol and some in howry, demp has done a fair job this year.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I hope he returns because with Demp in the closer's role, we have a strong back of the bullpen.

 

Dempster handles the ninth. Marmol and Howry can take the 7th and 8th. Ohman could be used for a tough lefty or a string of lefties. Wuertz can fill in when needed and take the sixth when a starter leaves early. Eyre can be used in mop up.

[Soul]

I hope he returns because with Demp in the closer's role, we have a strong back of the bullpen.

 

Dempster handles the ninth. Marmol and Howry can take the 7th and 8th. Ohman could be used for a tough lefty or a string of lefties. Wuertz can fill in when needed and take the sixth when a starter leaves early. Eyre can be used in mop up.

 

Yes, the Wrigley cleaning crew could use another hand. I completely agree.

[A New Era]

I hope he returns because with Demp in the closer's role, we have a strong back of the bullpen.

 

Dempster handles the ninth. Marmol and Howry can take the 7th and 8th. Ohman could be used for a tough lefty or a string of lefties. Wuertz can fill in when needed and take the sixth when a starter leaves early. Eyre can be used in mop up.

 

Yes, the Wrigley cleaning crew could use another hand. I completely agree.

 

Ba-da-bup.

[TruffleShuffle]

we really could use dempster back.... with him in there, along with wuertz, howry and marmol as setup men and ohman as a loogy, the bullpen is actually quite deep.

[macuser2]

I hope he returns because with Demp in the closer's role, we have a strong back of the bullpen.

 

Dempster handles the ninth. Marmol and Howry can take the 7th and 8th. Ohman could be used for a tough lefty or a string of lefties. Wuertz can fill in when needed and take the sixth when a starter leaves early. Eyre can be used in mop up.

 

Yes, the Wrigley cleaning crew could use another hand. I completely agree.

 

Ba-da-bup.

 

:P

[JWCUB]

time to get gagne, jim.

 

Yes, please do.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

According to the Trib, it looks like we shouldn't expect Dempster back until the SF series.

 

Ryan Dempster isn't expected back until sometime during the four-game series with San Francisco on July 16-19, and Piniella said right-hander Billy Petrick will return from Triple-A Iowa next Sunday. Dempster was given Sunday off to go to Niagara Falls with his wife, Jenny.

 

Link.

[JWCUB]

Gagne, Gagne, Gagne.

[CUBZ99]

Gagne, Gagne, Gagne.

 

Gange's numbers look pretty good. Did he get his velocity back? If so he would be a nice addition.

[JWCUB]

Gagne, Gagne, Gagne.

 

Gange's numbers look pretty good. Did he get his velocity back? If so he would be a nice addition.

 

From what I hear, his velocity is not what it once was, however, he has learned the art of "pitching." His fastball tops out in the low 90s now. Still throws hard, but not 98 or 99 like he was.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

If he still has that changeup, low 90's are fine.

[JWCUB]

Also, I'm not sure where I read this, but the Cubs have had scouts at Rangers games scouting Gagne. That would be a huge pick up IMO. Considering the news of Wood being activated at the end of July.....maybe if no set backs. That would give Dempster plenty of time to let his oblique properly heal, and be fresh and rested for Aug. and Sept. With Marmol, Wood, Gagne and Dempster at the end of games....wow, just wow. Granted, it is anyones guess if Wood will even pitch 1 inning in the big leagues this year....If not, just relpace Wood with Petrick. Use Ohman as a LOOGY and throw in Wuertz...thats a nice pen.

[Soul]

Also, I'm not sure where I read this, but the Cubs have had scouts at Rangers games scouting Gagne. That would be a huge pick up IMO. Considering the news of Wood being activated at the end of July.....maybe if no set backs. That would give Dempster plenty of time to let his oblique properly heal, and be fresh and rested for Aug. and Sept. With Marmol, Wood, Gagne and Dempster at the end of games....wow, just wow. Granted, it is anyones guess if Wood will even pitch 1 inning in the big leagues this year....If not, just relpace Wood with Petrick. Use Ohman as a LOOGY and throw in Wuertz...thats a nice pen.

 

I wouldn't mind it. Gagne '07

 

G   ERA  WHIP
28  1.32 .951

 

Small sample, but still.