Who Should Be In The Cubs Bullpen?

[CubsWin]

Cubs.com

 

According to this article, Marmol, Gregg, Heilman and Cotts are in and there are three spots remaining. Vizcaino has pitched better as of late and has a good track record against righties. Gaudin has struggled this spring. Guzman who is out of options and has looked great of late, apparently since having a side session with Rothschild. That leaves Kevin Hart (who I believe still has options), Jeff Samardzija (who I know has options left), Randy Wells (who I believe still has options), Rule 5 pick David Patton who has given Lou no reason to send him back, and NRIs Chad Fox, Mike Stanton and Jason Waddell.

 

Cut loose the NRIs. Fox had pitched well, but with all the other options, they don't need him. I hope Samardzija goes to AAA. His future should be as a starter and if Guzman keeps pitching like he has his last two outings, Shark won't be needed in the pen. Let him get his innings as a starter and be ready to be called up in case of injury. Take Guzman north and if he struggles, deal with that then.

 

That leaves two spots. Contracts would dictate the Cubs choose Vizcaino and Gaudin. If Hart doesn't have options left, then I think you have to take him over one of those two. Lou is going to want a long man. Gaudin fits that bill the best, but Hart has starter experience as well. Randy Wells's stuff has never really done anything for me. As far as I'm concerned, they should send him down, but I'm open to someone selling me on him.

 

I don't care who the closer is. I think Marmol is the better, more dominant pitcher, so I would prefer to see him facing the opponents best hitters no matter the inning or being brought in to kill a rally no matter the inning. So...

 

Gregg

Marmol

Heilman

Cotts

Guzman

 

With Vizcaino, Gaudin, and Hart left to battle it out for the final two spots over the last week and a half. That's how I see it. How do you see it?

[17 Seconds]

Yeah I like

 

Gregg

Marmol

Heilman

Cotts

Guz

Gaudin

Vizcaino

[TruffleShuffle]

i'd prefer someone other than cotts

[Schwarber Fan]

i'd prefer someone other than cotts

 

I think we all would be he's the token LHP

[Backtobanks]

i'd prefer someone other than cotts

 

I think we all would be he's the token LHP

 

I don't understand why the Cubs didn't look into Beimal, Ohman, and Reyes while they were available at bargain-basement prices.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Marmol

Gregg

Heilman

Guzman

Patton

Cotts

Vizcaino or Gaudin

[Little Slide Rooter]

i'd prefer someone other than cotts

 

I think we all would be he's the token LHP

 

I don't understand why the Cubs didn't look into Beimal, Ohman, and Reyes while they were available at bargain-basement prices.

 

The Giants are reportedly shopping Jack Taschner. I wonder if we could get him for either Fox or Hoffpauir plus a low level prospect or 2.

[RedFlash]

Marmol

Gregg

Heilman

Guzman

Patton

Cotts

Vizcaino or Gaudin

 

Me likey, and prolly most likely. Patton has definately pitched himself onto the Cubs staff. At worst, the Cubs should find a way to keep him (ahem, perhaps trade Guzman to the Rockies so that the Cubs can keep Patton). I don't like Cotts, even as the token LHP, and I wish teamS would learn that you don't need to keep a crappy lefty just because you need a lefty. Heilman has made Gaudin exependable. Vizcaino has no spot in the bullpen, IMO.

[17 Seconds]

so is it safe to say David Patton is this spring training's rocky cherry?

[17 Seconds]

i'd prefer someone other than cotts

 

I think we all would be he's the token LHP

 

I don't understand why the Cubs didn't look into Beimal, Ohman, and Reyes while they were available at bargain-basement prices.

 

The Giants are reportedly shopping Jack Taschner. I wonder if we could get him for either Fox or Hoffpauir plus a low level prospect or 2.

 

That sounds terrible. Taschner is worse than Cotts. A lot worse actually

[JeffH]

I wouldn't be surprised if Harden starts the year on the DL, allowing us to carry an eight-man bullpen including Vizcaino, Gaudin, Guzman, and Patton.

 

Of course, that will only delay the decision.

[jersey cubs fan]

I wouldn't be surprised if Harden starts the year on the DL, allowing us to carry an eight-man bullpen including Vizcaino, Gaudin, Guzman, and Patton.

 

Of course, that will only delay the decision.

 

That's where I'm putting my money as well.

[Mephistopheles]

Didn't Cotts have the hardest fastball to hit in the majors last year?

[rawaction]

Didn't Cotts have the hardest fastball to hit in the majors last year?

 

I don't know about that, but Cotts is not a problem.

[Little Slide Rooter]

The fact that Gaudin is still gettig starts at this late point in ST makes me wonder if they are trying to make him look enticing to other teams looking for a last minute starter or a swingman. That way, we keep Patton and Guzman, and not have to take a bath on Luis Vizcaino. Sure, Id rather have Gaudin that Vizcaino, as hes younger with more upside, but I dont see too many teams being interested in Vizcaino. I do, however, predict that Vizcaino ends up taking Howrys spot in the s word filter before too long. Now that is one heaping bowl of Vizcaino.

 

Even if Harden starts the season on the DL, Heilman would be the next in line to take his spot, not Gaudin, so why are they still starting the guy instead of giving Heilman the nod, or at least Samardzjia or Atkins if they want Heilman to keep getting relief reps.

[cubsfan26]

Even if Harden starts the season on the DL, Heilman would be the next in line to take his spot, not Gaudin, so why are they still starting the guy instead of giving Heilman the nod

 

 

Lou said that Heilman is probably going to be the 7th inning guy. It's gonna be pretty hard for Heilman to make spot starts, when he's being used as a short reliever. Especially when he hasn't really started since 05. I think Heilman as a starter is done for now, unless a guy in our rotation has a major injury and will be out for a few months. If for some reason Harden starts the season on the DL, we will just skip the 5th spot for a few weeks, with Gaudin being the long guy. Right now I think Gaudin role on this team is as the long guy/spot starter, so it's not a surprise he's starting or getting innings. Because using Heilman as the long guy would be kinda of a waste of his ablity. He either needs to be a starter, or late inning reliever.

[17 Seconds]

what are the chances of chad fox making the opening day roster?

 

i'm not saying i'd want him to, but he's having a very nice spring and we know that hendry has a total broner for him. it wouldn't surprise me to see him make it onto the roster for a couple weeks until he gets hurt

[Illini Iceman]

They should just cut Vizcaino loose. It is bad to pay a guy $4M not to pitch for you, but it is even worse to pay him $4M to suck and possibly cost you games plus cause you to lose another player.

 

Patton and Guz should make the 25 man roster. We will lose either one if they don't make the team. I have to believe that either could do as well as Vizcaino and both have better upside.

 

Worst case if one of them flame out we can bring back Shark, Ascanio, Wells or Hart and I would think between those options we could easily cover the 7th spot out of the bullpen.

[17 Seconds]

They should just cut Vizcaino loose. It is bad to pay a guy $4M not to pitch for you, but it is even worse to pay him $4M to suck and possibly cost you games plus cause you to lose another player.

 

Patton and Guz should make the 25 man roster. We will lose either one if they don't make the team. I have to believe that either could do as well as Vizcaino and both have better upside.

 

Worst case if one of them flame out we can bring back Shark, Ascanio, Wells or Hart and I would think between those options we could easily cover the 7th spot out of the bullpen.

 

i wouldn't get rid of vizcaino yet. he's not having a bad spring and has been great in his last 5 appearances.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Doesnt Gaudin still have an option?

[JeffH]

Doesnt Gaudin still have an option?

 

No.

[mdwilla]

Viz has looked pretty solid his last couple outings , Fox has looked great all spring, Hart has been striking everyone out his last few outings . Guzman looks to be trade bait, I would hope they don't have to outright release him .

[SouthSideRyan]

Releasing Gooz to make room for any one of Hart, Fox, or Vizcaino would be awful enough.

[Little Slide Rooter]

which is why Gaudin should be the odd man out. The guy still has some trade value, and hopefullly some team could pick up part of the tab on him. Patton has earned his spot, and Guzman has shown some flashes of brilliance.

[17 Seconds]

which is why Gaudin should be the odd man out. The guy still has some trade value, and hopefullly some team could pick up part of the tab on him. Patton has earned his spot, and Guzman has shown some flashes of brilliance.

 

whoa. patton has earned his spot over the out-of-options gaudin because of a good spring training? come on. it's spring training. remember when rocky cherry was perfect in ST?

 

gaudin has proven he can be a decent reliever/starter, which is something we'll need with harden in the rotation.

 

what has patton proven? he's almost 25 and has never been past A+ ball.... and hasn't even been good there.