Cubs adding a pitcher?

[CubColtPacer]

I found this little nugget in the game notes yesterday that I didn't expect:

 

The Cubs aren't done tinkering. They are looking for an experienced pitcher who could provide long relief help.

 

"We're getting close," Piniella said. "I think you might see us add one more piece and that's the end of it."

 

I don't think that it would hurt, although I doubt it's going to be much of a help either.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070823&content_id=2165554&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

[JeffH]

Revisiting Carlos Silva?

 

Is Minnesota sufficiently buried?

[anabiono]

Revisiting Carlos Silva?

 

Is Minnesota sufficiently buried?

 

honestly, i would be super pumped if we landed Silva...he, in all honesty, would be a very nice addition to this staff...and would probably do a little bit better in the NL

[daske17]

I wouldn't mind adding an experienced pitcher either. With another long stretch of games coming up, it would be good to have a relatively "fresh" arm in the bullpen that can provide long relief for some of our younger pitchers.

 

And I'm sure where the kids are ranking in terms of IP, but I would expect some of them being a little fatigued as September rolls in.

[JeffH]

I would find it hard to be "super pumped" about Silva, but I believe he could be useful.

[anabiono]

in my opinion he is a lilly-esque type addition and would be moving from AL Central to the NL Central

 

on paper...it looks very promising to me...especially as a late season addition for the playoff push

 

i would certainly be more excited than i am about monroe

[Guest]

Wouldn't Silva as an above average SP this season be more expensive to acquire than your usual middle reliever?

[C.C.]

Wouldn't Silva as an above average SP this season be more expensive to acquire than your usual middle reliever?

 

I'd rather he start and put Marquis for the long man.

[CubColtPacer]

Wouldn't Silva as an above average SP this season be more expensive to acquire than your usual middle reliever?

 

I'd rather he start and put Marquis for the long man.

 

I doubt they suddenly pull Marquis from the rotation now, especially since in the last month he has stopped his downward trend.

[moorecg]

Wouldn't Silva as an above average SP this season be more expensive to acquire than your usual middle reliever?

 

I'd rather he start and put Marquis for the long man.

 

Marquis had a QS last time out....

 

I think he'd be great as we could use him as a spot starter to set up the rotation for different situations...e.g., letting him pitch against Houston or Pit to make sure that Zambrano faces the Cards....(not sure if thats a good thing after yesterday)

[pitchcs]

Carlos Silva is god awful. Sometimes when I watch him pitch I wonder how on earth he is even a major leaguer.

[killthegoat06]

I didn't want to make a new thread, so I'll ask it here. Is Guzman coming back to the bullpen this season? I thought he was supposed to be back by now (and he could be long relief) or is he done for the season?

[hawkeyecub]

Carlos Silva is god awful. Sometimes when I watch him pitch I wonder how on earth he is even a major leaguer.

 

Just because he doesn't strike out batters?

 

He's not great, but he's a groundball pitcher who doesn't walk many batters. He has a career 52-44 record and 4.30 ERA. This is his 4th year starting for the Twins and he's basically had 3 above-average to good years and one terrible year.

 

And yes Raisin is right. If we want Silva just for some long relief help, the Twins are going to ask for quite a bit. They could have/could still get more from a team desperate for a starter.

[E.J.]

I didn't want to make a new thread, so I'll ask it here. Is Guzman coming back to the bullpen this season? I thought he was supposed to be back by now (and he could be long relief) or is he done for the season?

 

Looking at minorleaguebaseball.com, it looks like Guzman hasn't pitched in a live game since July 7th, so I'm guessing he's probably done for the year.

 

Rotoworld's latest on Guzman was from August 3rd:

 

 

Angel Guzman-R- Cubs Aug. 3 - 1:29 pm et

 

Cubs transferred RHP Angel Guzman to the 60-day disabled list.

Guzman has already missed two months with a strained elbow ligament, but figures to return in late August.

 

I wouldn't be too optimistic about him coming back and helping us this season.

[jersey cubs fan]

Wouldn't Silva as an above average SP this season be more expensive to acquire than your usual middle reliever?

 

I'd rather he start and put Marquis for the long man.

 

I doubt they suddenly pull Marquis from the rotation now, especially since in the last month he has stopped his downward trend.

 

Most likely true. It was going to take a lot to get the 3-year contract out of the rotation anyway. Marshall and Lilly both have 180 inning issues, and Hill could probably use a bit of a break at any moment.

[moorecg]

Wouldn't Silva as an above average SP this season be more expensive to acquire than your usual middle reliever?

 

I'd rather he start and put Marquis for the long man.

 

I doubt they suddenly pull Marquis from the rotation now, especially since in the last month he has stopped his downward trend.

 

Most likely true. It was going to take a lot to get the 3-year contract out of the rotation anyway. Marshall and Lilly both have 180 inning issues, and Hill could probably use a bit of a break at any moment.

 

We're getting pretty close to having Marquis down to only a Two year contract...if he can do what he's done this year again next year the deal really won't have been that bad...we really needed the 200 innings this year.

[biittner77]

Why trade for a veteran long reliever now? In another week the Cubs can call up Gallagher, Cherry, Ohman, Cotts, Petrick, Rapada and possibly Mateo. If they're putting in a long reliever, that means the game is already won or lost. If the Cubs are already down 4 runs, how much worse can putting Petrick in be than Silva?

 

Also, why not just use Kerry Wood in that role?

[jersey cubs fan]

Why trade for a veteran long reliever now? In another week the Cubs can call up Gallagher, Cherry, Ohman, Cotts, Petrick, Rapada and possibly Mateo. If they're putting in a long reliever, that means the game is already won or lost. If the Cubs are already down 4 runs, how much worse can putting Petrick in be than Silva?

 

Also, why not just use Kerry Wood in that role?

 

A long reliever does not mean the game is already won or lost. Your starter could get knocked out, for one reason or another, in the 4th or 5th, or even the 6th, with the back of the bullpen all tired. I wouldn't put Wood in anything close to that roll.

 

I would think they are looking for somebody to be a long reliever, and spot starter. They will need a 6th starter at least once, with the DH coming up. And some of the other guys could use a rest.

[Roast]

Revisiting Carlos Silva?

 

Is Minnesota sufficiently buried?

 

honestly, i would be super pumped if we landed Silva...he, in all honesty, would be a very nice addition to this staff...and would probably do a little bit better in the NL

 

Honestly?

[nikao]

Living here in Minnesota, I'd have to say that Silva would be a good back of the rotation kind of guy. He had a horrible year last year but has been decent this year. Not a headliner, but probably not much different than Marquis. He has the ability to go deeper in games, though. A couple of years ago I think he had a 70-something pitch complete game.

 

The Twins are in trouble, though. They'll want a good return. Hunter's contract is up and Santana was very unhappy with the lack of moves at the deadline. And the offense has been horrible since the break--last in the AL by a good measure. And they don't have anyone in the system to provide that in the near future. Any trade will be for offensive prospects. There's been open talk of trading Santana now just to reload the offense, since they probably won't be able to afford him when his contract is up next year.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Silva loves him some astroturf.

[Lefty]

Bob Wickman? (I am not wishing, I am merely playing my drink-binge game "Think Like Hendry")

[CubColtPacer]

Bob Wickman? (I am not wishing, I am merely playing my drink-binge game "Think Like Hendry")

 

Wickman is another short reliever who has had chemistry problems. He is completely the opposite of what Hendry is looking for.