NO MORE Gregg. PLEASE!

[NCCubFan]

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

We're famous! \:D/

[RedFlash]

I know it's too late to impliment it this season, but wouldn't it be a good career move if KG would add either a Cutter/2 seam FB to his arsenal? It seems that Gregg is basically a FB/Slider guy, with his FB being straight as a line. I'm thinking if he could cutter/2 seam FB he would be more effective. Heck even a decent change would be beneficially for him.

[laurens]

Maybe we can make Dempster our closer again?

[OleMissCub]

Maybe we can make Dempster our closer again?

 

green font??

[imb]

I know it's too late to impliment it this season, but wouldn't it be a good career move if KG would add either a Cutter/2 seam FB to his arsenal? It seems that Gregg is basically a FB/Slider guy, with his FB being straight as a line. I'm thinking if he could cutter/2 seam FB he would be more effective. Heck even a decent change would be beneficially for him.

 

Ok, in this universe you've constructed, where adding a pitch is as easy as saying "i want to learn this pitch" and then waiting through an offseason, wouldn't every pitcher be adding pitches left and right? Wouldn''t Gregg already have one? Do you think he was hanging out in Florida, looking at his stats and thinking, "Gee, I could be so much more productive if I added a cutter. AND THE THING IS, IT'S SO EASY. Nah, I'll have another mai-tai please."

[mikeyt34]

I wonder how much of a conincidence it is that his former team had this kind of success against him? If he does better his next few times out, I can overlook these two games.

 

I was thinking the same thing. I think Saturday's game got into his head a bit and carried over to Sunday. Come to think of it, everytime the Cubs play the Marlins, weird things seem to happen. Lou might have been prudent to put Marmol out there yesterday, but then that would have started a controversy, so I understand where his thinking was. Oh well, terrible loss, but Gregg has been better overall than I thought he would be going into the year. The only other option I see is Marmol, but with his command issues at times, we would be right back to square one. Lou should never pitch Gregg against the Marlins ever again.

[Guest]

I know it's too late to impliment it this season, but wouldn't it be a good career move if KG would add either a Cutter/2 seam FB to his arsenal? It seems that Gregg is basically a FB/Slider guy, with his FB being straight as a line. I'm thinking if he could cutter/2 seam FB he would be more effective. Heck even a decent change would be beneficially for him.

 

Ok, in this universe you've constructed, where adding a pitch is as easy as saying "i want to learn this pitch" and then waiting through an offseason, wouldn't every pitcher be adding pitches left and right? Wouldn''t Gregg already have one? Do you think he was hanging out in Florida, looking at his stats and thinking, "Gee, I could be so much more productive if I added a cutter. AND THE THING IS, IT'S SO EASY. Nah, I'll have another mai-tai please."

In a non-sarcastic response to this...

 

Various pitches work better from different arm slots, mechanics, etc. It isn't as easy as just changing your grip on the baseball to throw a new pitch. Most guys are pretty maxed out on what they can "naturally" throw while maintaining deception and repeatability of their delivery.

[Soul]

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.

 

Psychologically, it hurts more to lose a game when you had the lead in the 9th. It might not be any more than that. It should be just as valuable to "save" a rally in 8th inning. But teams pay more for the guy who saves them from losing the extra sleep of blowing a lead at the last moment (or so it seems).

 

Gregg is average. I accept that. He's going to blow saves like this. And then sometimes he'll get it done. I'm not sure if Chicago is going to forgive him his failings, though. I know I was sure screaming at him listening on the radio this weekend. If he grabs a few saves in a row, people will put their negative attitude on hold until he blows one again. Such is life.

[Guest]

Courtesy of Fred: CUBS are 45-3 when they lead at the end of the 8th inning

 

I don't think Gregg has hurt the cubs more than most any other closer would have this season.

[Soul]

Maybe not, but his stuff seems very average to me. Always has. Maybe blowing 2 saves in a row is a little extreme, but I don't have much confidence in his abilities against the better hitting lineups in the league. I'm guessing, but I think he's going to blow more. More than he has in the first half.

[Sammy Sofa]

The biggest factor that whill determine the success or failures of the bullpen is Lou. This is by no means an ideal bullpen, but it is certainly serviceable yet Lou stubbornly and inexplicably keeps shooting himself in the foot. The smartest thing would be to keep Gregg as the closer and adjust accordingly depending on how tight the game is and who the Cubs are playing. The smartest thing to do would be to make Guzman and Marshall the go to guys to put out fires. The smartest thing to do would be to only use Heilman to start an inning and never with runners on. The smartest thing to do would be to minimize using Marmol in high leverage situations for the time being. All of these things are perfectly doable, yet are tremendously unlikely to occur as reguarly as they should because of Lou.

[Andy]

The biggest factor that whill determine the success or failures of the bullpen is Lou. This is by no means an ideal bullpen, but it is certainly serviceable yet Lou stubbornly and inexplicably keeps shooting himself in the foot. The smartest thing would be to keep Gregg as the closer and adjust accordingly depending on how tight the game is and who the Cubs are playing. The smartest thing to do would be to make Guzman and Marshall the go to guys to put out fires. The smartest thing to do would be to only use Heilman to start an inning and never with runners on. The smartest thing to do would be to minimize using Marmol in high leverage situations for the time being. All of these things are perfectly doable, yet are tremendously unlikely to occur as reguarly as they should because of Lou.

I was about to make a post saying that it seems like he's been better in high-leverage situations, but his ERA with RISP is 9.00 and his ERA with RISP and 2 outs is over 19. Oops.

[Prizefight]

I'm not sure, if this should be a separate thread, in the game thread, this thread etc so forgive my ignorance.

 

Just heard on 670 that Gregg has a 'tired arm' and likely won't pitch again tonight.

[Banedon]

I'm not sure, if this should be a separate thread, in the game thread, this thread etc so forgive my ignorance.

 

Just heard on 670 that Gregg has a 'tired arm' and likely won't pitch again tonight.

 

The tribune has an article on this as well.

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-04-cubs-brite-chicago-aug04,0,3498986.story

 

"He has a little bit of a tired arm," Piniella admitted before Monday night's game. "No pain in any particular area but just aching. What I'm going to do is talk to him, and if that's the case, we can stay away from him. We've got to know it beforehand."

 

"Closers basically take a lot of responsibility, and they feel, and rightfully so, that they can pitch through anything," Piniella said. "Sometimes you've got to be a little more realistic. I asked [sunday] before the ballgame, and asked about the sixth or seventh inning. And the answer was, 'Yeah, I'm ready to go.'

[SouthSideRyan]

I was about to make a post saying that it seems like he's been better in high-leverage situations, but his ERA with RISP is 9.00 and his ERA with RISP and 2 outs is over 19. Oops.

 

It surprises you that a pitcher's ERA is high with RISP?

[biggers car]

Maybe closer have problems with former teams?

 

 

Kerry Wood vs Cubs

JUN 19 @CHC 0 0 4.81 1 0 0 0 0 1 1.0 1 1 1 1 1 0 19-9 0-3

JUN 20 @CHC 0 1 5.47 1 0 0 0 0 1 0.1 3 2 2 0 0 1 18-8 0-0

 

Kevin Gregg

@FLA 1 0 3.83 1 0 0 0 0 1 1.0 4 3 3 1 0 2 38-25 1-0

AUG 02 @FLA 0 1 4.17 1 0 0 0 0 1 0.1 2 2 2 2 0 0 9-5 0-1

[B4Icroak]

Gregg has been termed a "contact closer" meaning he doesn't have good out pitches other than his 96/97 fastball that doesn't move a mm. Therefore, he has to rely on the ball going into play to get many of his outs. Our unfortunate reality is that all to often we can't make a play on the ball where the opposition hits it and we lose ball games because of it. He's horrible, he sucks, and I hate him pitching for us. I'd love to hang Hendry for this but Wood's numbers are not a load better and he wanted the big payday so Hendry went with the .... wait I have to hurl .... BEST AVAILABLE option. Same game plan by which we got Soriano and Milton the mental patient. We need another strategy going forward because this one doesn't work.

[Guest]

He's striking out enough guys to indicate he has an "out" pitch. I'd like to hear an explanation how you get to a k/ip without one.

[B4Icroak]

He's striking out enough guys to indicate he has an "out" pitch. I'd like to hear an explanation how you get to a k/ip without one.

97 can get you a K if the batter's not looking for it. If he is looking for it - so will the outfielder be as he watches it fly over his head. The opposition doesn't get a lot of scratch hits off Gregg. He's a one trick pony that can fool some of the batters some of the time. Heilman has comparable k/ip numbers, perhaps you'd prefer he gets the ball to close? Glad you're comfortable with his contributions.

[Andy]

I was about to make a post saying that it seems like he's been better in high-leverage situations, but his ERA with RISP is 9.00 and his ERA with RISP and 2 outs is over 19. Oops.

 

It surprises you that a pitcher's ERA is high with RISP?

In Marmol's case, and at that high an ERA, yes. I would assume it'd be high to some extent, but 19 with 2 outs, for a guy that often is entering with other people's runners on, it's mildly surprising.

[Guest]

He's striking out enough guys to indicate he has an "out" pitch. I'd like to hear an explanation how you get to a k/ip without one.

97 can get you a K if the batter's not looking for it. If he is looking for it - so will the outfielder be as he watches it fly over his head. The opposition doesn't get a lot of scratch hits off Gregg. He's a one trick pony that can fool some of the batters some of the time. Heilman has comparable k/ip numbers, perhaps you'd prefer he gets the ball to close? Glad you're comfortable with his contributions.

1) Cubs are 46-3 when leading after eight innings, so Gregg's obviously not cost the cubs too many losses in those situations above what you could name for any other closer

 

2) Gregg vs Heilman? Really? Let's see...the k/9ip is 9.24 vs 7.69 - a pretty significant difference in "stuff". Second, the k/bb rate is 2.43 for gregg vs 1.43 for Heilman. Do you want to try again?

[jersey cubs fan]

He's striking out enough guys to indicate he has an "out" pitch. I'd like to hear an explanation how you get to a k/ip without one.

97 can get you a K if the batter's not looking for it. If he is looking for it - so will the outfielder be as he watches it fly over his head. The opposition doesn't get a lot of scratch hits off Gregg. He's a one trick pony that can fool some of the batters some of the time. Heilman has comparable k/ip numbers, perhaps you'd prefer he gets the ball to close? Glad you're comfortable with his contributions.

1) Cubs are 46-3 when leading after nine innings, so Gregg's obviously not cost the cubs too many losses in those situations above what you could name for any other closer

 

2) Gregg vs Heilman? Really? Let's see...the k/9ip is 9.24 vs 7.69 - a pretty significant difference in "stuff". Second, the k/bb rate is 2.43 for gregg vs 1.43 for Heilman. Do you want to try again?

 

You should be really good when leading after 9 innings.

[Prizefight]

He's striking out enough guys to indicate he has an "out" pitch. I'd like to hear an explanation how you get to a k/ip without one.

97 can get you a K if the batter's not looking for it. If he is looking for it - so will the outfielder be as he watches it fly over his head. The opposition doesn't get a lot of scratch hits off Gregg. He's a one trick pony that can fool some of the batters some of the time. Heilman has comparable k/ip numbers, perhaps you'd prefer he gets the ball to close? Glad you're comfortable with his contributions.

1) Cubs are 46-3 when leading after nine innings, so Gregg's obviously not cost the cubs too many losses in those situations above what you could name for any other closer

 

2) Gregg vs Heilman? Really? Let's see...the k/9ip is 9.24 vs 7.69 - a pretty significant difference in "stuff". Second, the k/bb rate is 2.43 for gregg vs 1.43 for Heilman. Do you want to try again?

 

You should be really good when leading after 9 innings.

 

:lol:

[Guest]

He's striking out enough guys to indicate he has an "out" pitch. I'd like to hear an explanation how you get to a k/ip without one.

97 can get you a K if the batter's not looking for it. If he is looking for it - so will the outfielder be as he watches it fly over his head. The opposition doesn't get a lot of scratch hits off Gregg. He's a one trick pony that can fool some of the batters some of the time. Heilman has comparable k/ip numbers, perhaps you'd prefer he gets the ball to close? Glad you're comfortable with his contributions.

1) Cubs are 46-3 when leading after nine innings, so Gregg's obviously not cost the cubs too many losses in those situations above what you could name for any other closer

 

2) Gregg vs Heilman? Really? Let's see...the k/9ip is 9.24 vs 7.69 - a pretty significant difference in "stuff". Second, the k/bb rate is 2.43 for gregg vs 1.43 for Heilman. Do you want to try again?

 

You should be really good when leading after 9 innings.

#-o

 

46-3 when leading after eight innings.

[B4Icroak]

He's striking out enough guys to indicate he has an "out" pitch. I'd like to hear an explanation how you get to a k/ip without one.

97 can get you a K if the batter's not looking for it. If he is looking for it - so will the outfielder be as he watches it fly over his head. The opposition doesn't get a lot of scratch hits off Gregg. He's a one trick pony that can fool some of the batters some of the time. Heilman has comparable k/ip numbers, perhaps you'd prefer he gets the ball to close? Glad you're comfortable with his contributions.

 

 

2) Gregg vs Heilman? Really? Let's see...the k/9ip is 9.24 vs 7.69 - a pretty significant difference in "stuff". Second, the k/bb rate is 2.43 for gregg vs 1.43 for Heilman. Do you want to try again?

Significant in "your" opinion? Look dude - if you want to dance a jig because you have Kevin Gregg as your closer - have at it. He doesn't have the talent to get enough outs in the last inning. But you keep hoping ... and it will happen. Try again? To argue the value of Kevin Gregg? Thats time well spent. You're funny.