Postseason Bullpen Unofficially Announced

[killthegoat06]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080927&content_id=3560251&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

Not official, but article says the bullpen will be Wood, Marmol, Howry, Shark, Cotts, Marshall, Marquis. (unless injury)

 

 

Which means Gaudin and Weurtz out, as we suspected.

[Roast]

Howry being in infuriates me.

[inari]

There is literally no explanation for Howry.

[splintersag]

Howry, Howry.

[Joe_Cub]

lou's trotted howry out all season long and will probably do the same all postseason

[Schwarber Fan]

Gaudin and Wuertz are both better than Howry

 

unreal

[YearofDaCubs]

I don't think Marquis should have made it. Sure, he's done well for us but that was as a starting pitcher. I'd rather see Wuertz over Marquis.

[splintersag]

I don't think Marquis should have made it. Sure, he's done wll for us but thatwas as a starting pitcher. Id rather see Wuertz over Marquis.

The problem I have with leaving out Marquis is that if a starter gets shelled or injured. We need a long reliever in the pen, and while I guess you're thinking Marshall would fill that role, I think Sean will be used as more of a LOOGY.

 

But yes, hopefully we'll never have to actually use Marquis this postseason.

[YearofDaCubs]

I don't think Marquis should have made it. Sure, he's done wll for us but thatwas as a starting pitcher. Id rather see Wuertz over Marquis.

The problem I have with leaving out Marquis is that if a starter gets shelled or injured. We need a long reliever in the pen, and while I guess you're thinking Marshall would fill that role, I think Sean will be used as more of a LOOGY.

 

But yes, hopefully we'll never have to actually use Marquis this postseason.

I think Marshall has done will as out of the pen giving us more than 1 inning per outing. We also have Cotts who sucks but hey he's a lefty. I feel more comfortable with Marshall coming out of the pen than Marquis.

[rawaction]

Since Gaudin's injury, the bullpen has gone from a strength to a potential weakness for the Cubs. At one point, Gaudin and Samardzija were battling it out for the role of 7th inning reliever. They were pretty much interchangeable. Now, Jeff has walked 8 in 8 innings this month with a 2.26 WHIP. Gaudin got hurt, then got lit up and isn't even on the roster. Cotts has been pretty bad recently as well, with a 7.20 ERA. Howry has been horrible all year, but because of his age, will likely be back in a prominent role.

 

If the Cubs starters can't go 7 OR if the starters go 6, and Marmol or Wood can't go 2 innings, the Cubs have some serious question marks.

[ChiCubsFan]

I soooooo wish Wuertz was included. He at least has potential to be good. Very good, actually.

[rynefan]

Lou's obsessed with Howry's experience... he's said it more than once. Marquis didn't do as good as I hoped out of the bullpen today, so I hope he can smooth things out there. The bullpen is fairly shaky right now..... hopefully we won't need them much!

[erik316wttn]

Has anyone grilled Lou on his usage of Howry when guys like Wuertz, who have been far better this year, barely even get to warm up?

[Vanilla Ice]

hopefully marshall becomes the 7th inning guy.

[Wilson A2000]

Gaudin and Wuertz are both better than Howry

 

unreal

 

How is Gaudin better than Howry?

 

Howry will only get to pitch in a blowout loss or win. He will have no impact on any series. But Wuertz should have been on the postseason roster.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I dont blame Lou for keeping Gaudin out. Hes stunk lately. Maybe its been injury related, maybe not. Still, aside from Marmol and Wood, Id trust Wuertz over any of these other jokers.

 

At any rate, I get the feeling we've seen the last of Wuertz as a Cub. With the 2009 bullpen likely revolving around Marmol, Wood, Gaudin, Samardjia, and Guzman, and a lefty of some sort, be it Cotts, Marshall, or someone else all together, Wuertz will likely be traded for some sort of mid level prospect or bench bat.

[mdwilla]

I heard a rumor that Howry is dating Lou's daughter.

[Sammy Sofa]

Wuertz should be there over Marquis. Marquis has been horrid as a reliever over his career.

[bearjuice]

I heard a rumor that Howry is dating Lou's daughter.

 

Wrong.

 

Lou's daughter is dating Corey Patterson, while Howry is cheating on his wife with Natosha Baker.

[DiamondMind]

Wuertz totally should get the inclusion over Howry. This is indefensible.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Gaudin completely played himself off the roster this week, unfortunately.

 

I'm very happy Marquis made the roster. He's going to be very helpful out of the pen.

 

Howry shouldn't be there, but Lou loves him and Gaudin made no case for himself since returning from injury.

[CubinNY]

ly.

 

I'm very happy Marquis made the roster. He's going to be very helpful out of the pen.

As long as he doesn't pitch.

[cubsfan26]

There's no surprise at all that Mike Wuertz didn't make the roster. He's been on Lou [expletive] list for a long time. This season we just don't know what were going to get from Wuertz from game to game. His ERA is pretty good, but alot of that has to do with either another pitcher cleaning up his mess, or him giving up other pitchers runs. Of course Bob Howry has been even crappier, but Lou is going with a guy who throws strikes and has the track record of being pretty good.

 

 

Other veteran relievers have struggled in the regular season in the past, and pitched well in the postseason. So I think Lou is hoping Howry can give the team 3 or 4 weeks of good relief pitching. Who knows maybe Howry can pitch like he did in May/June and be somewhat of a plus in the playoffs. That said I think Mike Wuertz should have made the roster as well. What he did yesturday shows what he's capable of doing when he's on. Of course I wouldn't pitch Wuertz that often, but what he did yesturday makes him more valueable then what Marquis will probably give the team in a five game series.

 

 

 

My two biggest concerns about the playoffs is the middle relief and the offense. If our starter only gives us 5-6 innings were gonna have to count on either Howry, Samardzija, Marshall or possibly Cotts for a batter. Marmol will probably pitch the 7th and 8th in some games, but depth of his pen is a concern. What happens if we get stuck in a 12 or 13 inning game, do you trust any of those guys? I don't. As for the offense, I know it's different from last season. But just the way it got shut down in the postseason last year, makes me worried that it will happen again.

[Post Count Padder]

I hate how disrespected Wuertz is with this franchise.

[rynefan]

I heard a rumor that Howry is dating Lou's daughter.

 

Ha ha... at least it would explain things!