Does anyone trust Bob Howry?

[Sammy Sofa]

Outside of May, he's been a human gas can. Can we get Wuertz back up yet?

[AlwaysaCub]

"Not I" answered the fly.

[inari]

Not one bit. Given that this is the final year of his deal, I think he's approaching DFA territory.

[Clem Fandango]

I'm sure Steve Phillips would trust him with his life

[TruffleShuffle]

before this year i would've said absolutely. i still kinda think that this year is a fluke, given that he's been a very good reliever for several years. i probably would have even thought about keeping him around beyond this year. but he just doesn't seem to be getting the results that he got in the past, and i'm not sure why.

[Brett]

before this year i would've said absolutely. i still kinda think that this year is a fluke, given that he's been a very good reliever for several years. i probably would have even thought about keeping him around beyond this year. but he just doesn't seem to be getting the results that he got in the past, and i'm not sure why.

 

He's not hitting his spots. Command is poor this year. Less movement on his fastball, too, if my eyes don't deceive me.

[YearofDaCubs]

before this year i would've said absolutely. i still kinda think that this year is a fluke, given that he's been a very good reliever for several years. i probably would have even thought about keeping him around beyond this year. but he just doesn't seem to be getting the results that he got in the past, and i'm not sure why.

I think he's cooked. Last year Howry was the same type of pitcher as he is now when he lost his velocity. Somehow he managed to get it back midseason. But this year his velocity hasn't come back and when you mainly rely on the fastball to get batters out, you will be affected by the loss of velocity. He had a nice run in Chicago but he has no business pitching in the 7-9th innings in close games. At least he was worth the money he got unlike Eyre who was inconsistent and injury prone.

[abuck1220]

i'm just glad we're finding out he sucks now as opposed to game 3 of the nlcs or something.

[Soul]

before this year i would've said absolutely. i still kinda think that this year is a fluke, given that he's been a very good reliever for several years. i probably would have even thought about keeping him around beyond this year. but he just doesn't seem to be getting the results that he got in the past, and i'm not sure why.

 

How about because he's going to turn 35 in a few days?

[Derwood]

is he tipping his pitches or something?

[Schwarber Fan]

is he tipping his pitches or something?

 

Can't really tip your pitches if you throw only 1 pitch

[Derwood]

is he tipping his pitches or something?

 

Can't really tip your pitches if you throw only 1 pitch

 

so then, yes, he is

[Jon]

Howry throws his slider roughly 25% of the time.

[Mizzou]

Howry throws his slider roughly 25% of the time.

It sure doesn't seem like he does.

[Jon]

Howry throws his slider roughly 25% of the time.

It sure doesn't seem like he does.

The rate of sliders has doubled since last season, actually. From FanGraphs.com:

 

            FB           SL             
2005 Indians 82.6% (92.8) 15.6% (86.4) 
2006 Cubs    82.8% (92.8) 14.7% (84.2)
2007 Cubs    86.2% (92.3) 9.7%  (84.4)    
2008 Cubs    75.8% (91.1) 23.0% (83.0)

 

The data has his change at 1.2% this season. I'm not sure if he throws one, so it's likely a misclassified slider. Same with last season, when it was over 4%

[YearofDaCubs]

Howry throws his slider roughly 25% of the time.

It sure doesn't seem like he does.

The rate of sliders has doubled since last season, actually. From FanGraphs.com:

 

            FB           SL             
2005 Indians 82.6% (92.8) 15.6% (86.4) 
2006 Cubs    82.8% (92.8) 14.7% (84.2)
2007 Cubs    86.2% (92.3) 9.7%  (84.4)    
2008 Cubs    75.8% (91.1) 23.0% (83.0)

 

The data has his change at 1.2% this season. I'm not sure if he throws one, so it's likely a misclassified slider. Same with last season, when it was over 4%

Not surprising at all. Without his fastball being the same he has to rely on his secondary pitches. Unfortunately, for him it hasn't been working great. He's very hittable right now

[CubsBears29]

Does anyone trust Bob Howry?

 

I'd trust Bob Howry with my life.

 

I wouldn't trust Bob Howry with a 3-run Cub lead.

[BigSlick]

Its a shame Chad Gaudin gave up 2 hits, I was hoping he'd take the reins from Howry as "RH I go to whenever Marmol isn't available" to Lou

[inari]

Gaudin's been pretty bad in his brief time with the Cubs.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Gaudin's been pretty bad in his brief time with the Cubs.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cgi?share=1&n1=gaudich01&year=2008&t=p#162:166:sum

[inari]

Gaudin's been pretty bad in his brief time with the Cubs.

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/pi/gl.cgi?share=1&n1=gaudich01&year=2008&t=p#162:166:sum

 

That's what I get for trusting my eyes.

[Sammy Sofa]

DeRosa's awesome catch hopefully didn't give Bob a stay of execution.

[gflore34]

DeRosa's awesome catch hopefully didn't give Bob a stay of execution.

 

I gotta think Howry' nearing a DFA, most especially if Gaudin and Samardzija prove to be effective.

[Soul]

DeRosa's awesome catch hopefully didn't give Bob a stay of execution.

 

I gotta think Howry' nearing a DFA, most especially if Gaudin and Samardzija prove to be effective.

 

I'm worried about Samardzija though. He showed better control @ AAA, but I wouldn't be suprised to see the control problems resurface in Chicago.

[jersey cubs fan]

DeRosa's awesome catch hopefully didn't give Bob a stay of execution.

 

I gotta think Howry' nearing a DFA, most especially if Gaudin and Samardzija prove to be effective.

 

I would be shocked if Howry was DFA. The only way I see that happening is if he continues his most recent suck job for a full month