Bob Howry Appreciation Thread

[badger1679666666]

Over the past 28 days:

 

10 hits in 14 IP, 1.29 ERA, .509 OPS against, 1 HR, 14K/3 BB, 2 ER

 

Over the 2nd half (when he turned his season around):

 

25 hits in 33 IP, 1.81 ERA, .576 OPS against, 4 HR, 33 K/6 BB, 7 ER

 

a .504 OPS with 2 outs, RISP.

a .685 OPS late and close

 

 

And despite a horrendous start

 

a 3.46 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 140 ERA +, 64/18 K/BB ratio.

 

He's been a rock in our pen, and got a lot of crap despite pitching well during August in the game threads, it's good to see those people swallowing their tongues regarding his performance. He deserves this appreciation thread.

[Sammy Sofa]

Yeah, I'm not gonna pretend he didn't stink at the beginning of this season, but I've mentioned in more than a few game threads over the last couple of months why it baffles me that some people are so nervous when he comes in. With very few exceptions he's been amazingly lights out. Worked very well last year, too. And he looks like the T-1000.

[badger1679666666]

And he looks like the T-1000.

 

I didn't even THINK about that. :D

 

Besides Marmol can't pitch all the time every game.

[Brian]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-09/32674332.jpg

[Sammy Sofa]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2007-09/32674332.jpg

 

The mighty android of death shows some rare emotion.

 

"Have you seen this boy?"

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/images/2007/06/24/CJTFWzNt.jpg

[CubmanPi]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b3/T-1000.gif/250px-T-1000.gif

[jersey cubs fan]

And he looks like the T-1000.

 

I didn't even THINK about that. :D

 

Besides Marmol can't pitch all the time every game.

 

Lou begs to differ.

[BigbadB]

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

[badger1679666666]

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

 

He definitely had some jingling HUGE brass balls last night.

[CuseCubFan69]

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

 

He looked like he pulled that one out of his kazoo. That was a heck on an inning and he could have folded after the error too, but didn't.

[C.C.]

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

 

That what happens when you keep your emotions in check.

[CubmanPi]

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

 

That what happens when you keep your emotions in check.

Snap!

[CUBZ99]

I"m amazed that Howry is so successful as basically a one pitch pitcher. He must get some amazing movement on his Fastball.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

I'm convinced if Bob Howry had a ML-quality breaking pitch he could be a star closer. As it stands he's clearly an effective reliever, but I can't help but get nervous whenever I see a batter foul off 3-4 of his fastballs consecutively in 2-strike counts (as seems to happen frequently from what I've seen).

[Little Slide Rooter]

I love what Howrys doing now. I like what Eyres doing now. Id rather Ohman not be doing anything.

 

However, as clutch as 2 of those 3 have been as of late, if we miss the playoffs by a few games, we have to look back at all the games that trio blew early on.

[C.C.]

I"m amazed that Howry is so successful as basically a one pitch pitcher. He must get some amazing movement on his Fastball.

 

That's what I don't get. It seems like he's throwing FB down the middle of the plate and batters just miss it.

[Sammy Sofa]

I love what Howrys doing now. I like what Eyres doing now. Id rather Ohman not be doing anything.

 

However, as clutch as 2 of those 3 have been as of late, if we miss the playoffs by a few games, we have to look back at all the games that trio blew early on.

 

Or all the games our offense blew when the pitching only gave 2-3 runs, or kept the lead within 1-2 the whole game.

 

It's simply not fair or realistic to lump something like that solely on the bullpen.

[badger1679666666]

I love what Howrys doing now. I like what Eyres doing now. Id rather Ohman not be doing anything.

 

However, as clutch as 2 of those 3 have been as of late, if we miss the playoffs by a few games, we have to look back at all the games that trio blew early on.

 

Actually, I'll place the blame on our struggling offense and players like Lee who went into the tank for a month even though others are more popular to bash.

[Sarcastic]

I"m amazed that Howry is so successful as basically a one pitch pitcher. He must get some amazing movement on his Fastball.

 

That's what I don't get. It seems like he's throwing FB down the middle of the plate and batters just miss it.

 

He doesn't throw it down the middle often though. He's good at hitting the corners, and he usually just throws lots of pitches on the outside corner at the knees.

 

He has some kind of breaking pitch -- a slider, I think, but he hardly ever uses it. It doesn't seem as effective as his fastball.

[Bull]

peaking at the right time.

 

I think he and Eyre were both overused last year, and that this accounts for the slow start.

 

Edited to add: Howry's career would been very different if Foulke had not emerged in 2000.

[MPrior]

I lump myself with those who don't understand all the Howry hate - even early in the season, it seemed to me more like a slump than anything. I'm glad he's on the team, as I think he's a pretty consistently solid reliever (to the degree that such a thing exists).

 

Eyre, on the other hand, I don't trust despite his recent turnaround.

[Guest]

I"m amazed that Howry is so successful as basically a one pitch pitcher. He must get some amazing movement on his Fastball.

 

That's what I don't get. It seems like he's throwing FB down the middle of the plate and batters just miss it.

 

He doesn't throw it down the middle often though. He's good at hitting the corners, and he usually just throws lots of pitches on the outside corner at the knees.

 

He has some kind of breaking pitch -- a slider, I think, but he hardly ever uses it. It doesn't seem as effective as his fastball.

 

It's a get-me-over slider, not at all effective.

 

Given his past success with the White Sox and Indians, I was really surprised to see a lack of secondary pitches from Howry. I do get nervous when he pitches with that FB (but then again, I get nervous whenever someone is pitching for the Cubs late. The velocity has jumped up on his FB from early in the season (and not surprisingly, he broke out of his slump ever since then). He just don't get the kudos he deserves, especially in the game threads.

[SouthSideRyan]

I was stunned at his early season performance, I know relievers are inconsistent year to year, but Howry had a nice long track record. I expected Eyre's numbers, but Howry's poor performance had me baffled. Great to see him turned around.

[Yeti]

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

 

He definitely had some jingling HUGE brass balls last night.

after checking the sound my own make, i can assure you that big brass balls dont really jingle, its more of a clanking sound ;)

[Bull]

While we are handing out kudos, I nominate Ted Lilly's 7th inning last night as the gutsiest inning by a pitcher this season.

 

He definitely had some jingling HUGE brass balls last night.

after checking the sound my own make, i can assure you that big brass balls dont really jingle, its more of a clanking sound ;)

 

must be hollow. That's why he's not a closer.