Kevin Gregg is a sham closer

[David]

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.

 

 

That's a bit premature, IMO. You don't need to be lights out to be a closer. Guys like Borowski and Dempster are just fine, especially when you actually have a much better arm in the bullpen for the tight spots. He obviously has to pitch a lot better than he has already. We shall see.

 

 

It'd be nice if Marmol got the 1 run saves and Gregg got the easier ones or whatever... which Lou could get away with given that he had indicated that they'd both be getting some of the saves, but I doubt that's what he has in mind.

[Guest]

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.

 

There should be lemon laws in place for that.

[Sever82]

To me, Gregg is like howry but with a breaking ball. They both throw weak fastballs and both are not deceptive with their delivery. Lous excuse of getting gregg up and that gregg can't pitch more than one inning is complete bull. If Gregg continues to be shaky and Lou doesn't make Marmol the closer, then he is a complete idiot.

[David]

To me, Gregg is like howry but with a breaking ball. They both throw weak fastballs and both are not deceptive with their delivery. Lous excuse of getting gregg up and that gregg can't pitch more than one inning is complete bull. If Gregg continues to be shaky and Lou doesn't make Marmol the closer, then he is a complete idiot.

 

You think Marmol would be more valuable to us as a closer than in his present role where he's probably more likely to come in with runners on in close games and such?

[Tracer Bullet]

I haven't been thrilled with Lou's in-game decisions, but his choice to keep Marmol in his current role was a great one.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

To me, Gregg is like howry but with a breaking ball. They both throw weak fastballs and both are not deceptive with their delivery. Lous excuse of getting gregg up and that gregg can't pitch more than one inning is complete bull. If Gregg continues to be shaky and Lou doesn't make Marmol the closer, then he is a complete idiot.

 

You think Marmol would be more valuable to us as a closer than in his present role where he's probably more likely to come in with runners on in close games and such?

 

 

I'd say it's pretty close, actually. Marmol isn't used exclusively in high-leverage situations, and presumably Gregg wouldn't be going exclusively to Marmol's role.

 

If Gregg is going to be bad and the idea of Marmol taking only the one-run saves isn't going to happen, then yes, the Cubs are probably better off with Marmol closing.

[David]

To me, Gregg is like howry but with a breaking ball. They both throw weak fastballs and both are not deceptive with their delivery. Lous excuse of getting gregg up and that gregg can't pitch more than one inning is complete bull. If Gregg continues to be shaky and Lou doesn't make Marmol the closer, then he is a complete idiot.

 

You think Marmol would be more valuable to us as a closer than in his present role where he's probably more likely to come in with runners on in close games and such?

 

 

I'd say it's pretty close, actually. Marmol isn't used exclusively in high-leverage situations, and presumably Gregg wouldn't be going exclusively to Marmol's role.

 

If Gregg is going to be bad and the idea of Marmol taking only the one-run saves isn't going to happen, then yes, the Cubs are probably better off with Marmol closing.

 

Yea. I'd be really interested in seeing who pitches in MORE high leverage spots. I know Marmol's number was watered down by a lot of lower leverage appearances last year, but in terms of number of tight appearances, I wonder if he had more than Wood.

 

I hate being THAT guy who asks about/for the stats rather than looking them up, but I don't really know where to look up those leverage stats. :oops:

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Baseballprospectus.com>Statistics>Reliever Expected Wins Added>Sort by team, year and LEV

 

Kerry Woods' leverage index last year was 1.73, Marmol's was 1.37.

[David]

Right, but how is that calculated?

 

If it's watered down by all the lower leverage spots that Lou wasted Marmol in, it's not what I'm looking for. I'm wondering who pitched in more high leverage spots, not whose high leverage appearances made up a greater percentage of their total appearances, if that makes sense.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I see.

 

Yes, Marmol's was significantly watered down by his low-leverage appearances.

 

But I suspect that will be true this year as well.

[dew1679666265]

To me, Gregg is like howry but with a breaking ball. They both throw weak fastballs and both are not deceptive with their delivery. Lous excuse of getting gregg up and that gregg can't pitch more than one inning is complete bull. If Gregg continues to be shaky and Lou doesn't make Marmol the closer, then he is a complete idiot.

 

You think Marmol would be more valuable to us as a closer than in his present role where he's probably more likely to come in with runners on in close games and such?

 

 

I'd say it's pretty close, actually. Marmol isn't used exclusively in high-leverage situations, and presumably Gregg wouldn't be going exclusively to Marmol's role.

 

If Gregg is going to be bad and the idea of Marmol taking only the one-run saves isn't going to happen, then yes, the Cubs are probably better off with Marmol closing.

 

I'd wait a little while to make a decision, but if Gregg continues what he's been doing and Guzman continues to look lights out, I'd move Marmol to closer, Guzman into Marmol's current spot and Gregg into middle relief.

[badger1679666666]

Can someone tell me what Gregg's contract was and what Woody's contract was?

[dew1679666265]

Can someone tell me what Gregg's contract was and what Woody's contract was?

 

Gregg: 1 yr / $4.2 million

 

Wood: 2 yrs / $20.5 millon + 2011 option - 2011 option guaranteed with 55 GF in 2009 or 2010 (becomes a club option if it does not vest)

 

That's according to Cot's.

[CubColtPacer]

Can someone tell me what Gregg's contract was and what Woody's contract was?

 

Gregg has 1 year on his deal at 4.2 million.

 

Wood signed a 2 year deal with an option. 10 million this year, 10.5 next year, and an 11 million option (he has a chance to make the option guaranteed by hitting certain criteria or the club could exercise the option as well)

[Outshined_One]

Let's hope he settles down after today's relatively easy outing.

[YearofDaCubs]

Let's hope he settles down after today's relatively easy outing.

He actually looked pretty good out there for a change.

[Benchwarmer]

Like Len said today, because of Gregg's leg-if Lou gets him up, he's going in to pitch. I thought he looked pretty good today also. Don't miss Kerry Wood in the slightest.

[wrigley23]

vance wrote

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

 

actually, yes. I'm loving it greatly. I am a cub fan first & it is very important to the Cub success if he is effective this year. I disagree greatly w/ his usage & w/ his mentality as a leadoff hitter. I certainly root for his solo homers as much as anyone, however.

[wrigley23]

shilz said

what exactly is your angle with this one?

 

go back & read pg #3 & you'll get up to speed. i was joking in response to someone joking that soriano should close.

[Flames24Rulz]

Don't miss Kerry Wood in the slightest.

 

Welcome to the board, Mr. Gregg.

[biittner77]

Whoever said that Gregg= Dempster closing was exactly right. It won't be pretty but most of the time it will be effective.

 

Another element to keeping Marmol in the set up role is money. If they move Marmol to closer it would likely double what he could ask for in arbitration. I'm not sure how much that weighs in the decision but its probably in there somewhere.

[Jehrico]

Don't miss Kerry Wood in the slightest.

 

Welcome to the board, Mr. Gregg.

I was thinking Mrs. Gregg, but yeah. :-))

[rocket]

vance wrote

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

 

actually, yes. I'm loving it greatly. I am a cub fan first & it is very important to the Cub success if he is effective this year. I disagree greatly w/ his usage & w/ his mentality as a leadoff hitter. I certainly root for his solo homers as much as anyone, however.

 

what about his go ahead 2 run homers in the 9th?

[abuck1220]

 

actually, yes. I'm loving it greatly. I am a cub fan first & it is very important to the Cub success if he is effective this year. I disagree greatly w/ his usage & w/ his mentality as a leadoff hitter. I certainly root for his solo homers as much as anyone, however.

 

good thing he was batting leadoff on saturday, eh?

[biittner77]

I don't like Soriano. I am happy when he's productive and don't root against him. I hate seeing him flail away at that slider away. Why does anyone throw him anything else?

 

Why is it wrong to hate good players? Any fool can hate bad players like Neifi Perez. It takes imagination to hate players that don't suck.