Kevin Gregg is a sham closer

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

soriano close? Nah...he has his hands full as our bunny hopping, solo home run, free swinging, "i only feel comfortable leading off" guy.

 

I bet you are loving Soriano's hot start this year, aren't ya?

[YearofDaCubs]

Can we PLEASE stop trading with the Marlins..

[Outshined_One]

RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE!!

[killthegoat06]

4 run lead and he gave up 3 baserunners .... loser

[cubsfan26]

I try not to overreact about 4 games or 3 innings. But Gregg is pitching really poorly the last few games. Having him struggle like this in big situations is only gonna kill is confidence. So maybe Marmol should be the closer until Gregg gets back on track. I know Gregg isn't a great pitcher, but there's no way he's this bad.

[Shilzzz]

soriano close? Nah...he has his hands full as our bunny hopping, solo home run, free swinging, "i only feel comfortable leading off" guy.

 

what exactly is your angle with this one?

[BigSlick]

Something we're all in consensus about, Gregg is pretty crappy

 

He's possibly our second worst bullpen arm behind fan-favorite Neal Cotts and doing the most important job.

 

Awesome!

[Gingerballs Lives]

I hate his face.

[GlassCow]

Watching Gregg pitch makes me throw up in my mouth. Marmol (of course) was ridiculously awesome tonight, followed by Gregg trying to blow an unblowable lead.

[cubsfan26]

He's possibly our second worst bullpen arm behind fan-favorite Neal Cotts and doing the most important job.

 

 

I know were all overreacting here, because thats what Cubs fans do. But his numbers from 06-08 as a reliever were pretty solid. I can't think of anyone besides Marmol who's numbers were that good on a three year average(Heilmans might be close). I know we haven't seen that guy yet, but at some point we will. I'm just scared if he keeps struggling and blows a bunch of games it can ruin him and make him worthless for the rest of the year. The Cubs need Kevin Gregg to pitch the way he's capable of. So hope he gets it together.

Edited April 13, 2009 by cubsfan26

[David]

Something we're all in consensus about, Gregg is pretty crappy

 

He's possibly our second worst bullpen arm behind fan-favorite Neal Cotts and doing the most important job.

Awesome!

 

 

No.

 

 

That said, I'd probably rather Guzman close than Gregg, but that would never fly. It would be a slap in the face to Marmol.

 

It sucks that people think "closer" is this incredibly important and prestigious pseudo-position.

[BigSlick]

Something we're all in consensus about, Gregg is pretty crappy

 

He's possibly our second worst bullpen arm behind fan-favorite Neal Cotts and doing the most important job.

Awesome!

 

 

No.

 

 

That said, I'd probably rather Guzman close than Gregg, but that would never fly. It would be a slap in the face to Marmol.

 

It sucks that people think "closer" is this incredibly important and prestigious pseudo-position.

We've been posting on this board for years now, you don't have to give me that speech. I understand that if we had a real 'ace' reliever or a 'fireman' or something like that it would be pretty important, but as it is his job on the team is very important.

[Warren Brusstar]

He's possibly our second worst bullpen arm behind fan-favorite Neal Cotts and doing the most important job.

 

 

I know were all overreacting here, because thats what Cubs fans do. But his numbers from 06-08 as a reliever were pretty solid. I can't think of anyone besides Marmol who's numbers were that good over a three year average. I know we haven't seen that guy so far, but at some point we will. I'm just scared if he keeps struggling and blows a bunch of games it can ruin him and make him worthless for the rest of the year.

 

 

If by "solid," you mean "not as good as Mike Wuertz," then yes.

[David]

We've been posting on this board for years now, you don't have to give me that speech. I understand that if we had a real 'ace' reliever or a 'fireman' or something like that it would be pretty important, but as it is his job on the team is very important.

 

 

I never said you're one of the people that overvalue the closer. I was just lamenting the fact that what I would see as the ideal way to setup this bullpen couldn't happen because of the fact that it's viewed this way (by fans, players, coaches, etc. alike).

 

But you did say Gregg is doing the most important job.

 

Really, I just wish Marmol would be used in the highest leverage spots, regardless of inning or whether it's a save situation, but that's not going to happen either.

Edited April 13, 2009 by David

[cubsfan26]

He's possibly our second worst bullpen arm behind fan-favorite Neal Cotts and doing the most important job.

 

 

I know were all overreacting here, because thats what Cubs fans do. But his numbers from 06-08 as a reliever were pretty solid. I can't think of anyone besides Marmol who's numbers were that good over a three year average. I know we haven't seen that guy so far, but at some point we will. I'm just scared if he keeps struggling and blows a bunch of games it can ruin him and make him worthless for the rest of the year.

 

 

If by "solid," you mean "not as good as Mike Wuertz," then yes.

 

I'm not gonna get in this debate, but Mike Wuertz had one Kevin Gregg like year(07) in the last three seasons. In 06 and 08 he spent time in the minors for a reason. Gregg has put up his numbers in 62, 84 and 68 innings. It's hard to say Wuertz is better when Wuertz only pitched in 44 and 40 innings in 06 and 08. With the way Wuertz struggled before he got sent down, he most likely has a much higher era if he pitches in the innings Gregg does.

 

 

I know Gregg has pitched like crap the last two games, and I understand people are gonna think he's crap. Thats what fans do when a guy isn't a lights out reliever, and struggled the first week of the season. But if people use there heads for a minute they know Gregg isn't this bad. Remmeber this is the same reliever who averaged a 3.47 era in 215 innings over the last three years, and his highest era season was 3.54. Right now Gregg can't even get through a inning without giving up a run. So he's obviously in a funk, but his track records says he will figure it out. From watching him pitch alot this spring, I can tell his pitches aren't nearly as sharp and he's hanging alot of his pitches. So hopefully he figures it out goes on a scoreless inning streak again soon like he did in spring training.

Edited April 13, 2009 by cubsfan26

[UMFan83]

I'm pissed off about Gregg's performance, and I will easily admit he's not as talented as some of our other bullpen arms...but to call him the second worst reliever on the team after 5 appearances is a little extreme.

[Outshined_One]

I really hope Gregg gets his head back on straight by tomorrow. The Wrigley faithful are going to go nuts if he struggles.

[BigSlick]

I'm pissed off about Gregg's performance, and I will easily admit he's not as talented as some of our other bullpen arms...but to call him the second worst reliever on the team after 5 appearances is a little extreme.

Less of an indictment of Gregg and more a celebration of how strong our bullpen is looking this year

 

except for the Rule V pick, we'll see how he turns out

[David]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090412&content_id=4243418&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

FWIW, which is not much at this point given how he looked tonight after getting two quick outs, it looks like Gregg's knee acts up on him when he sits between innings. I was thinking that someway or another the fact that he pitched in the 8th and then came out for the 9th the other night might've thrown him off somewhat.

 

We'll know soon enough if Gregg can get the job done or if his start is indicative of how he's going to perform most of the season.

 

I just wish the alternative wasn't to have to waste one of the best relievers in baseball as a closer (that sounds kind of weird). But we could have bigger problems, I suppose.

[BigSlick]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090412&content_id=4243418&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

FWIW, which is not much at this point given how he looked tonight after getting two quick outs, it looks like Gregg's knee acts up on him when he sits between innings. I was thinking that someway or another the fact that he pitched in the 8th and then came out for the 9th the other night might've thrown him off somewhat.

 

We'll know soon enough if Gregg can get the job done or if his start is indicative of how he's going to perform most of the season.

 

I just wish the alternative wasn't to have to waste one of the best relievers in baseball as a closer (that sounds kind of weird). But we could have bigger problems, I suppose.

Lol, thinking about the best situation being Guzman or Heilman given the closers role

[TBone]

Long time, no post.

 

I actually had to re-start drinking when I knew Gregg was coming in given the way he'd pitched. I was hoping for a quick 1-2-3 in a low-pressure situation to re-gain his confidence, but wound up slamming my beer faster than Prince eats a monster veggie plate.

 

He really needs to get it figured out and soon, but even if he does...is this the type of guy you want potentially closing out games in the postseason? Imagine if we get there and he's our closer? Why not just end the foregone conclusion and put Marmol in the closer role w/ Gregg setting him up.

 

And how did noone know that he can't get up and sit down until 1 week into the regular season? This never came up in ST or in the supposed pre-trade physical?

 

Ugh!

 

T

[Guest]

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090412&content_id=4243418&vkey=news_chc&fext=.jsp&c_id=chc

 

FWIW, which is not much at this point given how he looked tonight after getting two quick outs, it looks like Gregg's knee acts up on him when he sits between innings. I was thinking that someway or another the fact that he pitched in the 8th and then came out for the 9th the other night might've thrown him off somewhat.

 

We'll know soon enough if Gregg can get the job done or if his start is indicative of how he's going to perform most of the season.

 

I just wish the alternative wasn't to have to waste one of the best relievers in baseball as a closer (that sounds kind of weird). But we could have bigger problems, I suppose.

Waste? It's better than have him pitch to the bottom of the order in the 7th inning with a four run lead.

 

The stuff about Gregg's knee acting up is a copout. He's been bad in every outing this year and He's been a crappy reliever for at least 2 years and six days.

 

It's better to have Marmol pitch in high leverage situations but Lou (and most of baseball) doesn't think that way. In every event, I'd rather Marmol (or most other relievers) pitch when the game is on the line or in the 9th.

 

Gregg sucks.

[Soul]

The whole "can't get up & down or his knee will act up" sounds like a bunch of crap.

 

Maybe we should just dump Gregg on the street and work on getting Woody back at the deadline. Moving Wood out for Gregg was crap from the beginning.

[soonercub]

Watching Greg close is giving me flashbacks to when Dempster was closing!! That is not a particular comfortable feeling.

[jersey cubs fan]

You got to love the manager finding out a week in that his closer had knee surgery that affects him pitching.

 

I'd much rather have Mike Wuertz take the closer's role than Gregg. If you had to save money by letting Wood go, don't go blowing part of that savings on an overpaid "proven closer" who is no better than Antonio Alfonseca was when you wasted millions on him.