NO MORE Gregg. PLEASE!

[David]

The past two days have sucked, but he's been pretty solid for a while now. I doubt he's going to lose his job.

 

 

This. Nor should he.

 

 

Personally, I'd use our better pitchers for one run saves and just go by how high of a leverage the spot is to determine what relievers to use , but that isn't gonna happen.

[Old Style]

So hows BJ Ryan looking? The numbers look good early on, but any word on the velocity?

 

The only gun readings I've seen have Ryan topping out at 87.

Put him in touch with A-Rod's cousin immediately.

[Hacking Out Machine]

After talking some time to think about it, are we really mad at Kevin Gregg or is this just frustration over the lack of offense the Cubs showed on Sunday? Personally I think most here are more mad at the offense then Gregg.

 

I'd say it's more the frustration of Gregg blowing two consecutive games, though the Cubs did come back to win on Saturday. If these two appearances were sandwiched around something like 10 straight scoreless outings (just throwing a number out there), I don't think it would be that big of a deal.

 

I'm sure a bit of it is the lack of offense on Sunday, but I think a majority of it is Gregg laying an egg on two straight days.

 

I don't know about everyone else, but my biggest frustration is Gregg's inability to stop breaking the cardinal rule of closing, which is: "Keep the other team in the park" If you do nothing else as a closer, this is essential. Gregg is giving up homeruns at an alarming rate, as pointed out earlier in the thread. As much as he is probably their best option for closer among their staff right now, they absolutely CANNOT afford to have him out there if he is going to give up home runs. You can have patience with a guy if he goes through a streak where he gets nickeled and dimed a couple times in a row, but you can't with a guy who keeps proving to you that he's going to give up long balls. Those are immediate daggers.

[imb]

Gregg's given up 10 HR this year... tied for his career worst. All his other numbers are in line, so he's probably just been a little unlucky.

 

Now, the pitches the last couple of days were meatballs, but it seems pretty likely to me that he's just had a little case of bad luck.

[jersey cubs fan]

Gregg's given up 10 HR this year... tied for his career worst. All his other numbers are in line, so he's probably just been a little unlucky.

 

Now, the pitches the last couple of days were meatballs, but it seems pretty likely to me that he's just had a little case of bad luck.

 

I think he had a little case of the being Kevin Gregg. He's jut doing what he does, which is being a run-of-the-mill reliever who can't consistently pitch well. It's hard to compare a "normal" year for him considering he spent the last two years in Miami compared to the more homer happy Wrigley. He was pretty unimpressive before he got to south Florida.

[imb]

Gregg's given up 10 HR this year... tied for his career worst. All his other numbers are in line, so he's probably just been a little unlucky.

 

Now, the pitches the last couple of days were meatballs, but it seems pretty likely to me that he's just had a little case of bad luck.

 

I think he had a little case of the being Kevin Gregg. He's jut doing what he does, which is being a run-of-the-mill reliever who can't consistently pitch well. It's hard to compare a "normal" year for him considering he spent the last two years in Miami compared to the more homer happy Wrigley. He was pretty unimpressive before he got to south Florida.

 

You know, I didn't even think about how much larger Joe Robbie or whatever it's called now is.

 

Either way, I'd rather drop 4 mil on an average reliever and stick him at closer than bank 10 mil on a "proven closer."

 

I'd rather spend that money on more of an impact position, not that we can really rely on Hendry to do that correctly.

[CubColtPacer]

Gregg's given up 10 HR this year... tied for his career worst. All his other numbers are in line, so he's probably just been a little unlucky.

 

Now, the pitches the last couple of days were meatballs, but it seems pretty likely to me that he's just had a little case of bad luck.

 

I think he had a little case of the being Kevin Gregg. He's jut doing what he does, which is being a run-of-the-mill reliever who can't consistently pitch well. It's hard to compare a "normal" year for him considering he spent the last two years in Miami compared to the more homer happy Wrigley. He was pretty unimpressive before he got to south Florida.

 

Moving to Wrigley has not been the reason for the change in his HR rate. He's given up as many HR's in Florida this year as he has in Wrigley. And in the previous 2 years in Florida, he gave up 5 HR at home, 5 HR away.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I really think that between Marmol, Guzman, and Marshall, we have a closer for next year, and between those 3, Stevens, Gaub, Grabow, Parker, Berg, Patton, etc, we can put a solid pen together. If they want to pick up a cheap vet to go with them, go for it. The main off season targets should be

 

A. either re sign Harden or aquire another front end starter.

B. Aquire a 2nd baseman who can hit.

 

4th outfielder and backup catcher can be easily found within the system.

[UK1679666180]

I agree with keeping Gregg at closer for now and trying to ride it out. Hopefully with Guzman being used in more close and late games than someone like Heilman as well as Marshall doing very well out of the pen that those will help the Cubs more than expecting Gregg to improve where he's been. But as I mentioned somewhere else, the offense scoring more runs will help Gregg out more than anything.

[soapy]

as frustrated as i am with Gregg, the thing i'd like to see most is keeping Heilman out of close games. jesus, lou, this isn't that hard to figure out.

[jersey cubs fan]

But as I mentioned somewhere else, the offense scoring more runs will help Gregg out more than anything.

 

I'm not sure how that could possibly be true. I mean, a 1 run lead is a 1 run lead no matter how many runs it took to get there. Gregg's offense already bailed him out Saturday night. Improvement by the offense would be nice overall, but I don't really see how it has anything to do with Gregg's performance. If he blows a lead he blows a lead.

[jersey cubs fan]

Gregg's given up 10 HR this year... tied for his career worst. All his other numbers are in line, so he's probably just been a little unlucky.

 

Now, the pitches the last couple of days were meatballs, but it seems pretty likely to me that he's just had a little case of bad luck.

 

I think he had a little case of the being Kevin Gregg. He's jut doing what he does, which is being a run-of-the-mill reliever who can't consistently pitch well. It's hard to compare a "normal" year for him considering he spent the last two years in Miami compared to the more homer happy Wrigley. He was pretty unimpressive before he got to south Florida.

 

Moving to Wrigley has not been the reason for the change in his HR rate. He's given up as many HR's in Florida this year as he has in Wrigley. And in the previous 2 years in Florida, he gave up 5 HR at home, 5 HR away.

 

I didn't say it was the reason. I said it's tough to talk about what is and is not a normal season for Gregg. He wasn't good until he went to Florida, and when he became good he didn't stay good for long. He came out of nowhere to rack up save totals and become a "proven closer" and then lost the closing job. He's a reliever, and he's not a dominant one. So inconsistency should be expected, not looked at as flukish.

[UK1679666180]

But as I mentioned somewhere else, the offense scoring more runs will help Gregg out more than anything.

 

I'm not sure how that could possibly be true. I mean, a 1 run lead is a 1 run lead no matter how many runs it took to get there. Gregg's offense already bailed him out Saturday night. Improvement by the offense would be nice overall, but I don't really see how it has anything to do with Gregg's performance. If he blows a lead he blows a lead.

 

The Cubs have played a bunch of close low scoring games this year, even if it's one run more here or there, it might turn that one run game into a 2 run game and given Gregg's HR ratio and decent WHIP, it becomes more important with him than most closers. Maybe that run turns it into a 4 run lead instead of a 3 run lead and with Lou, he won't feel compelled to use Gregg in the lower leverage situation.

 

I'd be curious to see the save situation between Gregg and Woody last year to see the diff. between 1 run leads and 2-3 run leads between each year.

[jersey cubs fan]

But as I mentioned somewhere else, the offense scoring more runs will help Gregg out more than anything.

 

I'm not sure how that could possibly be true. I mean, a 1 run lead is a 1 run lead no matter how many runs it took to get there. Gregg's offense already bailed him out Saturday night. Improvement by the offense would be nice overall, but I don't really see how it has anything to do with Gregg's performance. If he blows a lead he blows a lead.

 

The Cubs have played a bunch of close low scoring games this year, even if it's one run more here or there, it might turn that one run game into a 2 run game and given Gregg's HR ratio and decent WHIP, it becomes more important with him than most closers. Maybe that run turns it into a 4 run lead instead of a 3 run lead and with Lou, he won't feel compelled to use Gregg in the lower leverage situation.

 

I'd be curious to see the save situation between Gregg and Woody last year to see the diff. between 1 run leads and 2-3 run leads between each year.

 

Or maybe he blows a 3 run lead. A save situation is a save situation. He's pitched in plenty of games with more than a 1 run lead. He's blown some, he's given up some runs without relinquishying the lead in some, and he's been successful in most.

 

The offense being better will help the team, it's not going to help Kevin Gregg pitch better. If anything he's pitched worse in non-save situation this year, which suggests he needs it close to be sharp.

[dew1679666265]

They better not even think about signing a free agent "closer". It's just a made up position that gets way over compensated on the free agent market. Every year guys come out of relative obscurity to prove themselves as closer, and then lose all their value once they start getting paid. Just keep bringing in live arms from the system and acquire the occasional cheap vet if you must.

 

The reason I'd have interest in Rafael Soriano is that he has posted stellar numbers throughout his major league career (WHIP never higher than 1.143, never walked more than 21 batters) and he's never been a full-time closer so his save numbers aren't real high - thus meaning he might come cheaper. I wouldn't consider paying any closer upwards of $10 million, but I think it might be worth letting Gregg walk and using that money (if we can) for Soriano.

 

That said, I expect him to be too much. If he comes any higher than $4-5 million, I'd lose interest.

 

Soriano's career numbers:

2.74 ERA

306 IP

1.007 WHIP

329:93 K:BB

0.9 HR/9

9.7 K/9

2.7 BB/9

6.3 H/9

157 ERA+

[MembersOnlyJacket]

 

The Cubs have played a bunch of close low scoring games this year, even if it's one run more here or there, it might turn that one run game into a 2 run game and given Gregg's HR ratio and decent WHIP, it becomes more important with him than most closers. Maybe that run turns it into a 4 run lead instead of a 3 run lead and with Lou, he won't feel compelled to use Gregg in the lower leverage situation.

 

I'd be curious to see the save situation between Gregg and Woody last year to see the diff. between 1 run leads and 2-3 run leads between each year.

 

Saturday was the first time he's blown a > 1 run save chance. The other four were 1-run games and when he blows them, it's with the HR ball. And, interestingly enough, Gregg hasn't blown a save at Wrigley Field.

 

You get what you get with Gregg. Every two weeks, he shows up with his bp fastball. It may work against the Nationals, but it ain't getting past two 20-HR guys on the Marlins.

 

Regardless, I will be very nervous watching him down the stretch because just like Borowski, anyone with a bat in their hand is a threat against him.

[nolanwood]

They better not even think about signing a free agent "closer". It's just a made up position that gets way over compensated on the free agent market. Every year guys come out of relative obscurity to prove themselves as closer, and then lose all their value once they start getting paid. Just keep bringing in live arms from the system and acquire the occasional cheap vet if you must.

 

The reason I'd have interest in Rafael Soriano is that he has posted stellar numbers throughout his major league career (WHIP never higher than 1.143, never walked more than 21 batters) and he's never been a full-time closer so his save numbers aren't real high - thus meaning he might come cheaper. I wouldn't consider paying any closer upwards of $10 million, but I think it might be worth letting Gregg walk and using that money (if we can) for Soriano.

 

That said, I expect him to be too much. If he comes any higher than $4-5 million, I'd lose interest.

 

Soriano's career numbers:

2.74 ERA

306 IP

1.007 WHIP

329:93 K:BB

0.9 HR/9

9.7 K/9

2.7 BB/9

6.3 H/9

157 ERA+

 

I'd love to have Soriano - he'd be my top choice, hands down (regardless of the injury risk). However, Soriano IS the full-time closer for the Braves, and I can't imagine they wouldn't bring him back.

[nolanwood]

Andy Behrens reference to this discussion on Gregg...

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blog/roto_arcade/post/Nine-Unassisted-Limping-Beanie-timeless-warrio?urn=fantasy,180374

[dew1679666265]

They better not even think about signing a free agent "closer". It's just a made up position that gets way over compensated on the free agent market. Every year guys come out of relative obscurity to prove themselves as closer, and then lose all their value once they start getting paid. Just keep bringing in live arms from the system and acquire the occasional cheap vet if you must.

 

The reason I'd have interest in Rafael Soriano is that he has posted stellar numbers throughout his major league career (WHIP never higher than 1.143, never walked more than 21 batters) and he's never been a full-time closer so his save numbers aren't real high - thus meaning he might come cheaper. I wouldn't consider paying any closer upwards of $10 million, but I think it might be worth letting Gregg walk and using that money (if we can) for Soriano.

 

That said, I expect him to be too much. If he comes any higher than $4-5 million, I'd lose interest.

 

Soriano's career numbers:

2.74 ERA

306 IP

1.007 WHIP

329:93 K:BB

0.9 HR/9

9.7 K/9

2.7 BB/9

6.3 H/9

157 ERA+

 

I'd love to have Soriano - he'd be my top choice, hands down (regardless of the injury risk). However, Soriano IS the full-time closer for the Braves, and I can't imagine they wouldn't bring him back.

 

Is he the full-time closer now? He had been sharing the duty with Mike Gonzalez for most of the season, but I hadn't heard that he got it full-time.

[UK1679666180]

But as I mentioned somewhere else, the offense scoring more runs will help Gregg out more than anything.

 

I'm not sure how that could possibly be true. I mean, a 1 run lead is a 1 run lead no matter how many runs it took to get there. Gregg's offense already bailed him out Saturday night. Improvement by the offense would be nice overall, but I don't really see how it has anything to do with Gregg's performance. If he blows a lead he blows a lead.

 

The Cubs have played a bunch of close low scoring games this year, even if it's one run more here or there, it might turn that one run game into a 2 run game and given Gregg's HR ratio and decent WHIP, it becomes more important with him than most closers. Maybe that run turns it into a 4 run lead instead of a 3 run lead and with Lou, he won't feel compelled to use Gregg in the lower leverage situation.

 

I'd be curious to see the save situation between Gregg and Woody last year to see the diff. between 1 run leads and 2-3 run leads between each year.

 

Or maybe he blows a 3 run lead. A save situation is a save situation. He's pitched in plenty of games with more than a 1 run lead. He's blown some, he's given up some runs without relinquishying the lead in some, and he's been successful in most.

 

The offense being better will help the team, it's not going to help Kevin Gregg pitch better. If anything he's pitched worse in non-save situation this year, which suggests he needs it close to be sharp.

 

It won't help him pitch better as far as production but those extra runs are going to help the pen, it's common sense that that extra run will make it easier for him to not blow a save.

[nolanwood]

They better not even think about signing a free agent "closer". It's just a made up position that gets way over compensated on the free agent market. Every year guys come out of relative obscurity to prove themselves as closer, and then lose all their value once they start getting paid. Just keep bringing in live arms from the system and acquire the occasional cheap vet if you must.

 

The reason I'd have interest in Rafael Soriano is that he has posted stellar numbers throughout his major league career (WHIP never higher than 1.143, never walked more than 21 batters) and he's never been a full-time closer so his save numbers aren't real high - thus meaning he might come cheaper. I wouldn't consider paying any closer upwards of $10 million, but I think it might be worth letting Gregg walk and using that money (if we can) for Soriano.

 

That said, I expect him to be too much. If he comes any higher than $4-5 million, I'd lose interest.

 

Soriano's career numbers:

2.74 ERA

306 IP

1.007 WHIP

329:93 K:BB

0.9 HR/9

9.7 K/9

2.7 BB/9

6.3 H/9

157 ERA+

 

I'd love to have Soriano - he'd be my top choice, hands down (regardless of the injury risk). However, Soriano IS the full-time closer for the Braves, and I can't imagine they wouldn't bring him back.

 

Is he the full-time closer now? He had been sharing the duty with Mike Gonzalez for most of the season, but I hadn't heard that he got it full-time.

 

Yeah, I don't think they ever officially announced it, but he's been the full-time closer since the beginning of July. 10/11 in save opps since then.

[dew1679666265]

Yeah, I don't think they ever officially announced it, but he's been the full-time closer since the beginning of July. 10/11 in save opps since then.

 

Well then, that may bump his price tag up a bit.

[jersey cubs fan]

It won't help him pitch better as far as production but those extra runs are going to help the pen, it's common sense that that extra run will make it easier for him to not blow a save.

 

then why is he worse when it's not a save situation? It's common sense that better offense will make the team better, but it's not going to make Kevin Gregg better.

[Guest]

-Any closers out there in free agency next year?

 

Closers:

 

For the right price, I wouldn't mind Mike Gonzalez or, forgive me, Valverde.

 

Gonzalez is pretty overrated. Soriano is much better.

 

Agreed on Soriano though I agree even more with goony on just plugging in guys already in the organization. Since Hendry will likely go after a replacement (especially with Marmol struggling this season), I think Soriano is easily the best choice of the free agents out there.

[Bull]

I hate to admit it, but there's a reason teams pay so much for closers -- consistency.

 

While I think the save is an overrated stat and I think you should use your best reliever in the toughest situation, a shut-the-door closer is worth the paycheck.