Who Should Be In The Cubs Bullpen?

[David]

Samardzija probably doesn't belong in the Cubs bullpen right now. Couldn't they keep Patton by sending Jeff to AAA to get innings as a starter?

 

Not if they keep all of Vizcaino, Gaudin, and Guzman. I think Jeff to AAA is assumed right now but the Cubs still have to clear even more room.

 

Vizcaino, Guadin, Guzman

Cotts, Marmol, Gregg

 

Oh, I'm missing Heilman.

 

I think Guzman may just be a lost cause at this point. But Harden starting on the DL (using 4 starters for a couple weeks) allows you to start with those 7 plus Patton, and gives you time to trade. Or, if Patton falls on his face once given the job, you can live with returning him if you have to.

 

 

Has there actually been talk of Harden starting on the DL? As far as I know he's still slated to make his final tuneup start on Saturday at Yankee Stadium and then be our fourth starter for the real games.

[jersey cubs fan]

Has there actually been talk of Harden starting on the DL? As far as I know he's still slated to make his final tuneup start on Saturday at Yankee Stadium and then be our fourth starter for the real games.

 

Not official talk from the Cubs, but they walk on egg shells every day with his arm, and readily admit there is some concern with him being behind at this point. Theoretically he could start in NY and then make his first real start a week later. But Harden's value to the Cubs lies in October. There's no reason to rush to have him ready in April.

[Guest]

Harden seems like the logical choice to hold down the #5 spot. Skip him when the opportunity presents itself. If he's feeling great, let him pitch.

 

Zambrano

Lilly

Dempster

Marshall

Harden

[Little Slide Rooter]

Cubs Trying To Sort Out Bullpen Arms

By Tim Dierkes [March 31 at 1:32pm CST]

According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, Cubs GM Jim Hendry is working the phones in an attempt to sort out his bullpen situation. Chad Gaudin, Angel Guzman, David Patton, and Jeff Samardzija are vying for two spots. Samardzija can be sent to Triple A, but Patton is a Rule 5 pick and the other two are out of options. Something has to give; a trade of Guzman or Gaudin seems likely. Gaudin may be less desirable given his $2MM salary. Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald weighs in here.

 

I guess that leaves us with the question do we rather move our one time top prospect or the serviceable swingman whose owed 2 mil? If only the Peavy deal got done we wouldnt have this little problem.

[haubrich91]

Cubs Trying To Sort Out Bullpen Arms

By Tim Dierkes [March 31 at 1:32pm CST]

According to Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune, Cubs GM Jim Hendry is working the phones in an attempt to sort out his bullpen situation. Chad Gaudin, Angel Guzman, David Patton, and Jeff Samardzija are vying for two spots. Samardzija can be sent to Triple A, but Patton is a Rule 5 pick and the other two are out of options. Something has to give; a trade of Guzman or Gaudin seems likely. Gaudin may be less desirable given his $2MM salary. Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald weighs in here.

 

I guess that leaves us with the question do we rather move our one time top prospect or the serviceable swingman whose owed 2 mil? If only the Peavy deal got done we wouldnt have this little problem.

 

Hasn't stopped us before.

[Wrigley Rat]

Chad Fox is also here, but he will report to Triple-A Iowa after the Cubs-Yankees series in New York, accoridng to Cubs sources.

 

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/03/cubs-down-to-last-two-bullpen-spots.html

[Wrigley Rat]

The option of putting Gaudin, Patton or Guzman on waivers ends Wednesday afternoon, but sources said the Cubs won't do that with any of the three relievers. The final roster doesn't have to be turned in until Sunday, the first day of the 2009 season, when Philadelphia plays Atlanta. So it could come down to the final game on Saturday in New York.

 

"There will either be a trade, an option.... anything but (putting one of them through) waivers," manager Lou Piniella said. "We're just going to pitch everybody and see what happens. We have some depth.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/03/cubs-down-to-last-two-bullpen-spots.html

 

I wonder if that could mean the Cubs could go with a 13-man pitching staff for a while until a trade can be worked out. Could that mean Fukudome being sent to AAA to get his at bats in for a couple weeks? That would be what I would do rather than lose one of those pitchers for nothing. It also sends a message to Kosuke that if you don't come to camp ready to produce, we'll use those options to send you to the minors. He still makes his millions, but has to ride the bus and sleep in crummy hotels! :)

[Little Slide Rooter]

The option of putting Gaudin, Patton or Guzman on waivers ends Wednesday afternoon, but sources said the Cubs won't do that with any of the three relievers. The final roster doesn't have to be turned in until Sunday, the first day of the 2009 season, when Philadelphia plays Atlanta. So it could come down to the final game on Saturday in New York.

 

"There will either be a trade, an option.... anything but (putting one of them through) waivers," manager Lou Piniella said. "We're just going to pitch everybody and see what happens. We have some depth.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/03/cubs-down-to-last-two-bullpen-spots.html

 

I wonder if that could mean the Cubs could go with a 13-man pitching staff for a while until a trade can be worked out. Could that mean Fukudome being sent to AAA to get his at bats in for a couple weeks? That would be what I would do rather than lose one of those pitchers for nothing. It also sends a message to Kosuke that if you don't come to camp ready to produce, we'll use those options to send you to the minors. He still makes his millions, but has to ride the bus and sleep in crummy hotels! :)

 

No, it just means that Gaudin or Guzman will probably be traded in the next few days.

[CubsWin]

The option of putting Gaudin, Patton or Guzman on waivers ends Wednesday afternoon, but sources said the Cubs won't do that with any of the three relievers. The final roster doesn't have to be turned in until Sunday, the first day of the 2009 season, when Philadelphia plays Atlanta. So it could come down to the final game on Saturday in New York.

 

"There will either be a trade, an option.... anything but (putting one of them through) waivers," manager Lou Piniella said. "We're just going to pitch everybody and see what happens. We have some depth.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports_hardball/2009/03/cubs-down-to-last-two-bullpen-spots.html

 

I wonder if that could mean the Cubs could go with a 13-man pitching staff for a while until a trade can be worked out. Could that mean Fukudome being sent to AAA to get his at bats in for a couple weeks? That would be what I would do rather than lose one of those pitchers for nothing. It also sends a message to Kosuke that if you don't come to camp ready to produce, we'll use those options to send you to the minors. He still makes his millions, but has to ride the bus and sleep in crummy hotels! :)

 

No, it just means that Gaudin or Guzman will probably be traded in the next few days.

Right on cue...

 

The Trib - Paul Sullivan

The Cubs bullpen situation will be settled this weekend in New York, and word out of Colorado is that the Rockies are interested in acquiring Chad Gaudin. If that happens, the Cubs could keep both Angel Guzman and Rule 5 pick David Patton, and send Jeff Samardzija to Triple-A Iowa. The Cubs probably aren't expecting much back for Gaudin, who hasn't pitched well since his mysterious fall last August put him on the disabled list with backs problems.

[Little Slide Rooter]

After Spring Training, the correct answer to the question in the title of this thread is

 

Gregg

Marmol

Heilman

Cotts

Patton

Fox

Vizcaino/Guzman

[CubsWin]

After Spring Training, the correct answer to the question in the title of this thread is

 

Gregg

Marmol

Heilman

Cotts

Patton

Fox

Vizcaino/Guzman

According to how guys have performed in ST, yes, that is the group that deserves to go north. But, there is more to consider than just their most recent performance. I'm conflicted.

 

Gaudin does have an established track record in the majors that guys like Guz and Patton don't, but Gaudin, including his performance today against the Tribe (2 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER) has been so bad dating back to August 7th of last year that, at this point, I'm okay trading him. He's only had one outing back on March 9th in which he didn't give up a run. I just don't trust him to magically turn it around once the season starts. Gaudin's done everything he can to not make the team.

 

And much to my surprise, Chad Fox has done everything he can to make it. He, too, has an established major league record. Unfortunately, the last time he pitched well and, for that matter, was healthy was in 2003. But he certainly has looked good this spring.

 

Guzman has been brilliant and then not so much. He at least has a decent ceiling.

 

Vizcaino has looked better this spring and has had recent major league success against righties, so I feel most comfortable going with him. And that's not a good sign.

 

The back end of the Cubs pen is filled with question marks. They should have Samardzija and Hart in AAA has fall back options, but Hart isn't a sure thing at the major league level. If he were, he'd be going north. And I would really like to be able to have Shark stretch out in Iowa and be ready in case one of the starters goes down.

 

The bullpen guys haven't made it easy with the way they've performed. I fear the back end of the pen will be the weak link on this team no matter who they break camp with. If those guys you mentioned all perform during the season like they have in ST, then they should be okay, but what are the chances of that?

[Shilzzz]

wow. what an exciting bullpen. this is going to be an annoying season.

[17 Seconds]

wow. what an exciting bullpen. this is going to be an annoying season.

 

what's wrong with it? i think the pen looks better this year than it did last year, or at least the last 3 innings do. i'll take heilman/marmol/gregg over howry(or whatever garbage we were tossing out there in the 7th)/marmol/wood

[17 Seconds]

After Spring Training, the correct answer to the question in the title of this thread is

 

Gregg

Marmol

Heilman

Cotts

Patton

Fox

Vizcaino/Guzman

 

fox isn't making the team.

 

and patton shouldn't make it over guzman

[Guest]

After Spring Training, the correct answer to the question in the title of this thread is

 

Gregg

Marmol

Heilman

Cotts

Patton

Fox

Vizcaino/Guzman

 

fox isn't making the team.

 

and patton shouldn't make it over guzman

I believe he was suggesting that if things were based primarily on ST performances, that would be the composition of the pen.

[mdwilla]

I really hope Gaudin's back comes up lame. He is a solid young starter/swingman to sell low on. Patton has been been filthy this spring as well as last season in the minors. It would be a shame to lose either of these two only to watch Guzman get hurt three weeks into the season.

[Warren Brusstar]

I really hope Gaudin's back comes up lame. He is a solid young starter/swingman to sell low on. Patton has been been filthy this spring as well as last season in the minors. It would be a shame to lose either of these two only to watch Guzman get hurt three weeks into the season.

 

This is my hope. I generally believe spring training numbers are meaningless, but this late in the spring there's absolutely no reason to believe that Gaudin will suddenly be able to get people out in regular season games. He's been absolutely terrible. Having said that, he's the best long-term bet of anyone competing for a spot, so it would be just fine with me if they DLed for whatever minor tweak is causing him to pitch like horse manure.

[NCCubFan]

The deadline for the final roster cutdown is 3:00 P.M. Eastern time this afternoon. I think optioning Samardzija is a slam dunk (I think he should be at Iowa stretched out as a starter anyway without even considering his poor spring). So to me it's Guzman, Gaudin, and Patton for two spots. Guzman is #1 in the pecking order IMO (even though his overall spring numbers are poor he's been good lately). Before his TJS he showed that he can pitch well at the major league level when healthy, and at least for now he seems healthy. I doubt he'll ever reach the potential he showed his first few years in the system, but I think he can still be a solid reliever. So that would make it Gaudin vs. Patton for one spot. Maybe they can trade Gaudin and keep Patton. If not, I'd like to see what Patton can do at the major league level during the regular season before making a final decision. At the same time, I'm not sure I want to completely write Gaudin off because of his earlier major league success. So my preference would be to see if Gaudin is willing to say he's "injured" and place him on the DL to start the season (maybe he can put things together in extended Spring Training and a rehab stint in the minors). If he won't go along with that and the Cubs have to choose between the two I'd have to go with past major league success over not having pitched above class A but having a good spring. I'm not sure the Cubs will, though. Given that Gaudin is already in Lou's doghouse, if he won't go along with a plan to make the roster decision easier he may be the odd man out.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Gooz has looked sharper lately. He'll make the team unless some team shows interest and makes a solid offer at the last minute. Shark will likely be in Iowa prepering for Hardens first DL stint. That leaves Gaudin and Patton. Gaudin had a solid inning yesterday, but I dont think that knowcking out some Yankee prospects will be enough to get him out of the doghouse. Patton hasnt looked as good his last few outings. He labored yesterday after getting the first 2 out quick, but showed control problems, which Lou hates more than the home run ball. Vizcainos looked brutal lately, but hes owed too much money to take a bath on it.

[NCCubFan]

I completely forgot about Vizcaino being part of the equation. :oops:

[Little Slide Rooter]

Im guessing Hendry is on the phones trying to get in a last second deal, probably for Gaudin. Who knows, maybe it will be that blockbuster with San Diego weve been waiting for for 4 months. Probably not, but we can hope.

[dew1679666265]

Im guessing Hendry is on the phones trying to get in a last second deal, probably for Gaudin. Who knows, maybe it will be that blockbuster with San Diego weve been waiting for for 4 months. Probably not, but we can hope.

 

You're calling the Gaudin for Peavy deal then? :D

[cubsfan26]

Guzman and Patton get the final two roster spots. Chad Gaudin was released and Jeff Samardzija was sent to Triple A. The Cubs will have to pay 1.6m of Gaudin 09 salary. I guess the Cubs couldn't find a taker for Gaudin, unless they paid almost all of his salary. I'm not a fan of releasing Gaudin at all, hopefully that move doesn't come back to haunt us. His stock really dropped though, with him struggling so bad late last season and this spring.

[Guest]

It says a lot about how much his stock dropped that Hendry couldn't find a taker for him.

[PackLandVA]

So do the Cubs pay Gaudin's salary if he's picked up by another team? What if he signs a minor league deal with another team?