Kevin Gregg SUCKS!

[roadtotheshow]

We need to get him out of the closers role.

 

Why would we throw a breaking ball to Kelly when he is soooooooo late on gregg's fastball

 

Any thoughts?????

[Butterscup1679666578]

Because we have so many better closer options in the pen.

[Guest]

We need to get him out of the closers role.

 

Why would we throw a breaking ball to Kelly when he is soooooooo late on gregg's fastball

 

Any thoughts?????

 

No thoughts. You have read my mind.

[roadtotheshow]

Only if Guzman didnt get hurt :(

[Soul]

We need to get him out of the closers role.

 

Why would we throw a breaking ball to Kelly when he is soooooooo late on gregg's fastball

 

Any thoughts?????

 

No thoughts. You have read my mind.

 

He fell in love with his crappy breaking stuff. It proved to be a wonderful strategy.......for Tigers fans.

 

The only thing that should make you feel better is the fact that Hoffpauir had exactly 0 chance against Zumaya's fastball, but he inexplicably chose to throw his crappy changeup or whatever the hell that pitch was.

 

So we only had the lead because of a stupid pitch the inning before.

[Guest]

I have a newfound hatred for relievers in general. I propose we shorten the games to 5 innings and send all of the relievers overseas to help with the war or something.

[Cubbie Swagger]

Because we have so many better closer options in the pen.

I think we do. But that's not saying much... being better than Kevin Gregg isn't much to brag about. My little brother closes for his little league team and I think I'd rather send him out there right now.

[mhuber92211]

you all realize that these were the first runs he had given up in a month right?

 

Kneejerk reactions are pointless..

[Clem Fandango]

you all realize that these were the first runs he had given up in a month right?

 

Kneejerk reactions are pointless..

 

Actually, it's been 3 weeks. Yaburnt!!!!!

[UMFan83]

Because we have so many better closer options in the pen.

I think we do. But that's not saying much... being better than Kevin Gregg isn't much to brag about. My little brother closes for his little league team and I think I'd rather send him out there right now.

 

Little league has closers now??

[Cubbie Swagger]

you all realize that these were the first runs he had given up in a month right?

 

Kneejerk reactions are pointless..

Actually, I for one have been hating on Kevin Gregg even while he was pitching well.

 

Because we have so many better closer options in the pen.

I think we do. But that's not saying much... being better than Kevin Gregg isn't much to brag about. My little brother closes for his little league team and I think I'd rather send him out there right now.

 

Little league has closers now??

They sure do. He plays first base and then comes on in the 6th inning to close the game out. :D

[Tracer Bullet]

Because we have so many better closer options in the pen.

I think we do. But that's not saying much... being better than Kevin Gregg isn't much to brag about. My little brother closes for his little league team and I think I'd rather send him out there right now.

 

Little league has closers now??

 

We didn't have closers, but we had innings limits (I think 10 IP a week). We played twice a week, Tuesday and Friday or something. So the starter would throw 5 innings and then another guy would pitch the last 2, at least, that's how most teams did it. Though I don't think anyone thought of it as "closing."

 

As for the thread, Gregg's hanger was probably payback for Zumaya throwing, in Brenley's words, the stupidest pitch I've ever seen. Guy dropped a changeup over the heart of the plate after throwing about a dozen fastballs from 98-104 past everyone who stepped up. If Zumaya throws one more 100 mph fastball, the Tigers probably don't bat in the bottom of the 9th.

[Banedon]

you all realize that these were the first runs he had given up in a month right?

 

Kneejerk reactions are pointless..

 

It was only his 4th save opportunity during that time though. Maybe he just chokes in save situations? I'm just spitballing here.

[dew1679666265]

you all realize that these were the first runs he had given up in a month right?

 

Kneejerk reactions are pointless..

 

It was only his 4th save opportunity during that time though. Maybe he just chokes in save situations? I'm just spitballing here.

 

His best seasons have come when he's been a closer and not just a reliever.

[fasttrack21]

you all realize that these were the first runs he had given up in a month right?

 

Kneejerk reactions are pointless..

Actually, I for one have been hating on Kevin Gregg even while he was pitching well.

What a strange thing to do/say.

[David]

you all realize that these were the first runs he had given up in a month right?

 

Kneejerk reactions are pointless..

 

 

.

[Tyrant]

Kevin Gregg in the last month:

 

2.77 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 10/3 K/BB ratio

 

He's been very good since he started slow in April. He doesn't SUCK.

[champaignchris]

I've seen a number of comments in the press about "all" of Gregg's blown saves...

 

Here's a pretty typical one:

http://espn.go.com/chicago/columns/blog?post=4282635&name=friedell

 

The problem is, he's only blown three saves in fourteen chances... Last night, June 2, and April 10.

 

He's posted a 4.18 ERA, which isn't very good for a short reliever. But he had a 5.59 ERA in April, a 3.86 ERA in May, and has had a 3.27 ERA so far in June.

 

The other options are:

Guzman... hurt

Marmol... three saves, three blown saves, 33 BB in 33 2/3 IP.

uhhhhhhh...

 

Ascaino? Marshall?

 

Point is, Gregg's not very good. But he's good enough. If the Cubs hadn't just gone a whole month averaging less than three runs a game, the Cubs would be in first place about a game and a half up on the Cardinals, and no one would be blowing a gasket about this.

[champaignchris]

And for what it's worth

 

Kerry Wood: 9 saves, 4 blown saves, 5.68 ERA in 25 1/3 IP.

[Banedon]

Lets not pretend that 11/14 in save opportunities makes him a good closer.

 

He's 10th in the NL and would be 11th in the AL in save percentage.

[Guest]

you all realize that these were the first runs he had given up in a month right?

 

Kneejerk reactions are pointless..

 

Is it really kneejerk when you hated him before he got here, hated him when he got here, and have hated him the entire time he's been here and will probably hate him long after he has left this place?

 

I think not.

[dew1679666265]

Lets not pretend that 11/14 in save opportunities makes him a good closer.

 

He's 10th in the NL and would be 11th in the AL in save percentage.

 

It doesn't make him good, but nobody's arguing that - I don't think. He's a pretty average closer, no more, no less.

[Banedon]

Lets not pretend that 11/14 in save opportunities makes him a good closer.

 

He's 10th in the NL and would be 11th in the AL in save percentage.

 

It doesn't make him good, but nobody's arguing that - I don't think. He's a pretty average closer, no more, no less.

 

Well first, I'm not sure what I was looking at, but I was wrong...he's 12th (out of 16) in the NL in save percentage, not 10th. And would be 12th (out of 14) in the AL as well, not 11th.

 

Now maybe he's average in some other stats, but those are definitely below average.

[dew1679666265]

Lets not pretend that 11/14 in save opportunities makes him a good closer.

 

He's 10th in the NL and would be 11th in the AL in save percentage.

 

It doesn't make him good, but nobody's arguing that - I don't think. He's a pretty average closer, no more, no less.

 

Well first, I'm not sure what I was looking at, but I was wrong...he's 12th (out of 16) in the NL in save percentage, not 10th. And would be 12th (out of 14) in the AL as well, not 11th.

 

Now maybe he's average in some other stats, but those are definitely below average.

 

They are, but that's also not many chances. The only difference between Gregg and Chad Qualls is number of opportunities. Qualls has had two more opportunities and has converted them. A percentage in 14 chances isn't all that predictive, so you can't assume Gregg will follow the 76% success rate he's put up to this point.

 

He's been better than Matt Lindstrom and Matt Capps in nearly everything but converted save opportunities. What is the average lead that Lindstrom and Capps face each outing? Do they have more or less 1-run leads to protect than Gregg? That plays a huge factor in save percentage.

 

His overall numbers are more important than the fact that he's had fewer save opportunities than every pitcher on the list ahead of him and has blown three of those opportunities. And his overall numbers put him in a tie for 9th with Chad Qualls. That's slightly below average, but that's also after a horrible start to the year. If he continues to pitch the way he has for the past month, those numbers will only improve.

[David]

Lets not pretend that 11/14 in save opportunities makes him a good closer.

 

He's 10th in the NL and would be 11th in the AL in save percentage.

 

It doesn't make him good, but nobody's arguing that - I don't think. He's a pretty average closer, no more, no less.

 

Well first, I'm not sure what I was looking at, but I was wrong...he's 12th (out of 16) in the NL in save percentage, not 10th. And would be 12th (out of 14) in the AL as well, not 11th.

 

Now maybe he's average in some other stats, but those are definitely below average.

 

 

But stats like that are almost worthless. Before one pitch yesterday, where did he rank at 11 of 13? The sample size is essentially meaningless, not to mention the fact that the stat itself isn't all that it's cracked up to be.

 

Anyway, closers don't need to be great pitchers. They just need to be able to get 3 outs without giving up 1-3 runs. Personally, I wish the role itself didn't even exist, but nothing's going to change about that.