Crosstown Postgame 6/18. Wow!

[CubColtPacer]

If we can break into that juicy Cubs bullpen, even we should be able to crank out 4-5 runs.

 

/posted on Indians board before this weekend's series

 

Our pen really hasnt been that bad lately. Sure, Marmol blew yesterday, but even in those extra inning games, one of the pens was bound to give up a run eventually, and since our offense had no intention of scoring, our pen got tagged with the L.

 

The pen definitely has been a whole lot better. Adding Ascanio and Marshall has helped. Gregg has been great for most of the past 2 months and Heilman has settled down.

 

Their June numbers:

Ascanio: 6 2/3 IP, 1.35 ERA, 1.20 WHIP

Gregg: 8 IP, 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP (and no walks)

Guzman: 7 2/3 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.7 WHIP

Heilman: 6 1/3 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP

Marshall: 6 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP

Patton: 2 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.5 WHIP

Marmol: 8 IP, 5.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP

 

If you went back into late May, you would find more evidence of the same transformation. The Cubs bullpen really isn't a bad bullpen anymore with all of the roster shuffling. They aren't as good as they have pitched recently, but they have 4-5 good guys to turn to at any given time. The Cubs even have enough depth at this point to go without Marmol for a little while and still be decent, although obviously Marmol when he's on makes this bullpen quite a bit better.

[Little Slide Rooter]

If we can break into that juicy Cubs bullpen, even we should be able to crank out 4-5 runs.

 

/posted on Indians board before this weekend's series

 

Our pen really hasnt been that bad lately. Sure, Marmol blew yesterday, but even in those extra inning games, one of the pens was bound to give up a run eventually, and since our offense had no intention of scoring, our pen got tagged with the L.

 

The pen definitely has been a whole lot better. Adding Ascanio and Marshall has helped. Gregg has been great for most of the past 2 months and Heilman has settled down.

 

Their June numbers:

Ascanio: 6 2/3 IP, 1.35 ERA, 1.20 WHIP

Gregg: 8 IP, 2.25 ERA, 0.75 WHIP (and no walks)

Guzman: 7 2/3 IP, 2.35 ERA, 1.7 WHIP

Heilman: 6 1/3 IP, 2.84 ERA, 1.26 WHIP

Marshall: 6 IP, 3.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP

Patton: 2 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.5 WHIP

Marmol: 8 IP, 5.63 ERA, 1.63 WHIP

 

If you went back into late May, you would find more evidence of the same transformation. The Cubs bullpen really isn't a bad bullpen anymore with all of the roster shuffling. They aren't as good as they have pitched recently, but they have 4-5 good guys to turn to at any given time. The Cubs even have enough depth at this point to go without Marmol for a little while and still be decent, although obviously Marmol when he's on makes this bullpen quite a bit better.

 

Marmol has been painful. When hes on, hes on, but lately, thats been few and far between. How long before Guz gets that set up spot for a while? Carlos may just need some low pressure situations to find his groove. Or maybe he just needs to pitch in the ASG again. Worked last year.

[BleedCubbieBlue81]

 

Marmol has been painful. When hes on, hes on, but lately, thats been few and far between. How long before Guz gets that set up spot for a while? Carlos may just need some low pressure situations to find his groove. Or maybe he just needs to pitch in the ASG again. Worked last year.

Is it just me, or does it look like Marmol's arm slot is off? It looks like he's changing it almost on a pitch by pitch basis. I was watching him the past few appearances, and it looks to me like he's all over the place.

[Fred Hornkohl]

CUBS' bullpen sine 27 May.....

 

05/27 - 06/18        IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC    ST   ST%  P/IP   GB   FB   GB%   IR  IRS  IRS%  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Ascanio             7.7    5    1    1    6    9    0   142    83  0.58  18.5    7    7  0.50    1    1  1.00  7.04 10.57  0.00  1.43  1.17
Marshall            6.0    3    2    1    5    3    1    90    53  0.59  15.0   12    3  0.80    2    0  0.00  7.50  4.50  1.50  1.33  1.50
Gregg              11.0    8    2    2    3    9    1   198   126  0.64  18.0   13   10  0.57    0    0  0.00  2.45  7.36  0.82  1.00  1.64
Guzman             10.0    9    2    2    5    5    0   161    95  0.59  16.1   15    9  0.63    7    2  0.29  4.50  4.50  0.00  1.40  1.80
Heilman             8.3    8    2    2    2    5    0   142    86  0.61  17.0   13    8  0.62    6    2  0.33  2.16  5.40  0.00  1.20  2.16
Patton              3.0    3    1    1    2    3    1    53    37  0.70  17.7    4    2  0.67    0    0  0.00  6.00  9.00  3.00  1.67  3.00
Marmol             11.0    5    5    5   12    8    0   220   118  0.54  20.0   10   15  0.40    3    1  0.33  9.82  6.55  0.00  1.55  4.09
Waddell             1.7    3    1    1    0    2    0    31    21  0.68  18.6    2    1  0.67    0    0  0.00  0.00 10.80  0.00  1.80  5.40

Totals             58.7   44   16   15   35   44    3  1037   619  0.60  17.7   76   55  0.58   19    6  0.32  5.37  6.75  0.46  1.35  2.30

[Tracer Bullet]

I don't care what the numbers say for the last few weeks, those last 4 guys scare the crap out of me right now.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I don't care what the numbers say for the last few weeks, those last 4 guys scare the crap out of me right now.

 

Waddels gone, Im starting to trust Heilman again, and we know what Marmols capable of. As for Patton, that little experiment needs to come to an end. Im sure hed have no problem making it through waivers and if they really want him that bad, a deal could probably be worked out. If not, oh well.

[UK1679666180]

To the guy who flew in from Scottsdale to go to the game and left in the top of the 8th when the score was 5-1.

 

:wave:

[pitchcs]

I don't care what the numbers say for the last few weeks, those last 4 guys scare the crap out of me right now.

 

Waddels gone, Im starting to trust Heilman again, and we know what Marmols capable of. As for Patton, that little experiment needs to come to an end. Im sure hed have no problem making it through waivers and if they really want him that bad, a deal could probably be worked out. If not, oh well.

 

 

Why does it need to come to an end though? It's not like they are desperate for BP arms right now.

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't care what the numbers say for the last few weeks, those last 4 guys scare the crap out of me right now.

 

Waddels gone, Im starting to trust Heilman again, and we know what Marmols capable of. As for Patton, that little experiment needs to come to an end. Im sure hed have no problem making it through waivers and if they really want him that bad, a deal could probably be worked out. If not, oh well.

 

Why does it need to come to an end though? It's not like they are desperate for BP arms right now.

 

They are desperate for roster spots for people who can hit the baseball. What happens when Freel is activated. Does Fox get sent down again because they insist on using 12 roster spots for pitchers without using 12 pitchers?

[pitchcs]

I don't care what the numbers say for the last few weeks, those last 4 guys scare the crap out of me right now.

 

Waddels gone, Im starting to trust Heilman again, and we know what Marmols capable of. As for Patton, that little experiment needs to come to an end. Im sure hed have no problem making it through waivers and if they really want him that bad, a deal could probably be worked out. If not, oh well.

 

Why does it need to come to an end though? It's not like they are desperate for BP arms right now.

 

They are desperate for roster spots for people who can hit the baseball. What happens when Freel is activated. Does Fox get sent down again because they insist on using 12 roster spots for pitchers without using 12 pitchers?

 

 

Not sure about Fox, but you know Lou is going to stick with 12 pitchers.

 

Has he ever not?

[Keener98]

I don't care what the numbers say for the last few weeks, those last 4 guys scare the crap out of me right now.

 

Waddels gone, Im starting to trust Heilman again, and we know what Marmols capable of. As for Patton, that little experiment needs to come to an end. Im sure hed have no problem making it through waivers and if they really want him that bad, a deal could probably be worked out. If not, oh well.

 

Why does it need to come to an end though? It's not like they are desperate for BP arms right now.

 

They are desperate for roster spots for people who can hit the baseball. What happens when Freel is activated. Does Fox get sent down again because they insist on using 12 roster spots for pitchers without using 12 pitchers?

 

I really will be surprised if Freel wears a Chicago Cubs uniform again.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't care what the numbers say for the last few weeks, those last 4 guys scare the crap out of me right now.

 

Waddels gone, Im starting to trust Heilman again, and we know what Marmols capable of. As for Patton, that little experiment needs to come to an end. Im sure hed have no problem making it through waivers and if they really want him that bad, a deal could probably be worked out. If not, oh well.

 

Why does it need to come to an end though? It's not like they are desperate for BP arms right now.

 

They are desperate for roster spots for people who can hit the baseball. What happens when Freel is activated. Does Fox get sent down again because they insist on using 12 roster spots for pitchers without using 12 pitchers?

 

I really will be surprised if Freel wears a Chicago Cubs uniform again.

 

I doubt they give up on him until at least Ramirez comes back. Freel also is showing that his legs are in a little better shape at AAA right now (.385/.529/.538 line in 13 AB's and 3 stolen bases already). I believe he'll get hurt again in just a few weeks, but for right now I don't know why they would be rehabbing him in AAA if he wasn't going to come up the majors in a few days.

[SouthSideRyan]

I think Miles is in more danger than Freel. I think Blanco-Miles-Freel is the order of likelihood on who goes out when Freel comes back.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I think Miles is in more danger than Freel. I think Blanco-Miles-Freel is the order of likelihood on who goes out when Freel comes back.

 

It will be Blanco. The way the sale and financial concers are going, I really cant see them eating 1 2/3 worth of his contract. The only hope is if we can find someone dumb enough to at least take on part of his salary.

[Soul]

I'm having trouble connecting with the excitement over this. We're still a .500 ballclub that is struggling to score runs. We just happened to get a couple homers on a questionable bullpen to pull one out.

 

If I thought this meant the season was turning around that would be different. But I really don't.

 

I mean it's a nice win, don't get me wrong. But that's about it. If they follow it up with an 8 game winning streak, THEN I'll start getting excited.

[SouthSideRyan]

Numbers wise the White Sox have one of the best bullpens in the majors.

[soapy]

i definitely see Freel back with the club. if he's got his legs back (for now), he could actually be a viable option at 3B against LHP while Ramirez is out.

 

the question is whether it will be at the expense of Fox, Blanco or Miles. dear God please let it be Miles.

[Backtobanks]

 

Marmol has been painful. When hes on, hes on, but lately, thats been few and far between. How long before Guz gets that set up spot for a while? Carlos may just need some low pressure situations to find his groove. Or maybe he just needs to pitch in the ASG again. Worked last year.

Is it just me, or does it look like Marmol's arm slot is off? It looks like he's changing it almost on a pitch by pitch basis. I was watching him the past few appearances, and it looks to me like he's all over the place.

 

I think Marmol has 15 different arm slots and 275 different release points.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I'm having trouble connecting with the excitement over this. We're still a .500 ballclub that is struggling to score runs. We just happened to get a couple homers on a questionable bullpen to pull one out.

 

If I thought this meant the season was turning around that would be different. But I really don't.

 

I mean it's a nice win, don't get me wrong. But that's about it. If they follow it up with an 8 game winning streak, THEN I'll start getting excited.

 

this