Do The Cubs Need Another Veteran Reliever or A Better 2B?

[CubsWin]

Listening to all the talk on MLB radio and other sports talk shows, most of the analysts, if not all, think that the Cubs should/will be going after one more veteran reliever, and their pursuit of Matt Capps supports this claim.

 

The feelings towards paying for veteran relievers on this board vary, but are largely against spending limited funds on those guys.

 

The current make up of the Cubs bullpen is:

 

Marmol

Grabow

Guzman

Marshall

Samardzjia

Gorzelanny

Caridad

 

The only pitcher on that list that can't be called a major league veteran is Caridad. If the Shark struggles again, he won't be on the team, but he's no longer a rookie. Now if they don't acquire another starter, like Ben Sheets, one of those guys will move into the rotation. But even if that happens, Hendry still has several other prospects waiting in the wings like Justin Berg, John Gaub, Jeff Stevens and Blake Parker who at the least deserve a shot.

 

Does anyone on this site think that the Cubs should devote any of their remaining money on another veteran reliever?

 

Clearly the answer in my mind is "no". What I don't understand is why all these so-called baseball insiders on the radio/TV are saying that they should? Maybe they're saying that they "will" (because of Hendry's proclivity for such signings) and I'm hearing it as a recommendation instead of a prediction. The prediction I can understand. The recommendation, not so much.

 

Regardless of whether the Cubs sign someone like Kiko Calero, how important do you guys think it would be to improve what they currently have at 2B? Baker did great, but with his history being what it is and the small sample size in which he succeeded last season, can he really be counted on in a platoon with Fontenot? How much would signing Orlando Hudson bring the Cubs chances of going deep into the playoffs?

Edited January 7, 2010 by CubsWin

[shnsajax]

Personally I am good with what we have in the minors.

[Backtobanks]

I don't think we need another vet reliever, but the bottom line is that Lou probably wants one. Veterans have a track record to base their use on and managers take comfort in knowing what to expect when the reliever comes in.

[Guest]

if veteran reliever = Calero on reasonable 1 year contract? Absolutely.

 

if veteran reliever = replaceable guy on three year deal? No [expletive] way.

 

(scenarios in the middle ground would have to be evaluated on a case by case basis :) )

[Cubbie Swagger]

I think people should put more stock into the importance of having veteran relievers. You'll notice that most of the really good teams in the league have a bullpen composed of stud veteran relievers. Not talented minor leaguers.

[TruffleShuffle]

I think people should put more stock into the importance of having veteran relievers. You'll notice that most of the really good teams in the league have a bullpen composed of stud veteran relievers. Not talented minor leaguers.

 

that's slightly true because the really good teams are the teams with a lot of money, and those are the teams that will go out and spend big dollars on relievers. but a lot of the really good teams have home-grown guys who have turned into really good relievers (phil hughes, troncoso, broxton, papelbon, masterson), not a bunch of mediocre retreads (grabow) who are signed to dumb deals.

[fromthestretch]

I think people should put more stock into the importance of having veteran relievers. You'll notice that most of the really good teams in the league have a bullpen composed of stud veteran relievers. Not talented minor leaguers.

 

Successful teams have been able to effectively develop quality relief pitching from within, while also utilizing good veteran relievers. The key is not to overpay for relievers as the performance of most relief pitchers is prone to fluctuation.

[soapy]

Does Silva count? He's a veteran. I assume he'll end up in the bullpen at some point once Lilly is back (if not sooner).

 

To answer the question, no.

[nolanwood]

Yeah, the only thing keeping us from competing is overpaying for another middle reliever... :banghead:

[erik316wttn]

To answer the title question:

 

Do you need another hole in your head?

[jersey cubs fan]

Absolutely not.

[fromthestretch]

I agree with Tim here. If the Cubs can somehow manage to get Calero on a cheap one-year deal, fantastic. If not, stick with what they have.

[Guancous]

I can live with Gaub, Archer, Stevens and Berg. Save that money for a bench player.

[daske17]

Does Silva count? He's a veteran. I assume he'll end up in the bullpen at some point once Lilly is back (if not sooner).

 

To answer the question, no.

 

Silva barely qualifies as a pitcher, much less a veteran bullpen presence.

[biittner77]

The current make up of the Cubs bullpen is:

 

Marmol

Grabow

Guzman

Marshall

Samardzjia

Gorzelanny

Caridad

 

Replace Gorzelanny- who probably starts in the rotation with Silva who will be relegated to mop up duty until he shows signs of life.

 

I'm fine with that pen but I doubt Piniella would be. If Marmol flames out as closer, what do you do? Guzman has durability issues. Samardzjia has closer stuff but he can't throw enough strikes. Caridad looks like he would be a great candidate but he doesn't have a lot of experience. Change great to decent and the same is true for Parker.

 

If they sign another vet reliever they probably have to trade Marshall to give them more flexibility to promote/ demote arms from AAA.

[jersey cubs fan]

 

I'm fine with that pen but I doubt Piniella would be. If Marmol flames out as closer, what do you do? Guzman has durability issues. Samardzjia has closer stuff but he can't throw enough strikes.

 

I'm not sure he has closer stuff, his biggest issues is probably that he doesn't miss bats.

[biittner77]

 

I'm fine with that pen but I doubt Piniella would be. If Marmol flames out as closer, what do you do? Guzman has durability issues. Samardzjia has closer stuff but he can't throw enough strikes.

 

I'm not sure he has closer stuff, his biggest issues is probably that he doesn't miss bats.

 

What I mean is that he has a good/ potentially overpowering fastball and he doesn't project to have a good enough breaking ball to be a starter so he "looks" like a closer candidate.

[Guest]

The biggest reason I'd want the Cubs to sign another reliever is to reduce the temptation to pull Cashner up from the minors and stick him in the pen.

[jersey cubs fan]

The biggest reason I'd want the Cubs to sign another reliever is to reduce the temptation to pull Cashner up from the minors and stick him in the pen.

 

Is this because you don't want him in the pen or because you think it's too early and/or you want to preserve the Cubs control over him?

[Transmogrified Tiger]

The biggest reason I'd want the Cubs to sign another reliever is to reduce the temptation to pull Cashner up from the minors and stick him in the pen.

 

Is this because you don't want him in the pen or because you think it's too early and/or you want to preserve the Cubs control over him?

 

For me it's a little of both.

 

 

If there's a decent deal on a reliever for 1 year, I'd go for it. Nothing lost really.

[jersey cubs fan]

The biggest reason I'd want the Cubs to sign another reliever is to reduce the temptation to pull Cashner up from the minors and stick him in the pen.

 

Is this because you don't want him in the pen or because you think it's too early and/or you want to preserve the Cubs control over him?

 

For me it's a little of both.

 

 

If there's a decent deal on a reliever for 1 year, I'd go for it. Nothing lost really.

 

Unless that guy is Grabow 2.0 and he gets an unwarrented extension.

[Guest]

The biggest reason I'd want the Cubs to sign another reliever is to reduce the temptation to pull Cashner up from the minors and stick him in the pen.

 

Is this because you don't want him in the pen or because you think it's too early and/or you want to preserve the Cubs control over him?

Mainly, I don't want him getting the treatment of bouncing back and forth between pen and starting. If the Cubs decide he's going to be a reliever from now on, fine, call him up whenever. But if they're going to have him start in the minors, then I don't want him bouncing around.

[jersey cubs fan]

The biggest reason I'd want the Cubs to sign another reliever is to reduce the temptation to pull Cashner up from the minors and stick him in the pen.

 

Is this because you don't want him in the pen or because you think it's too early and/or you want to preserve the Cubs control over him?

Mainly, I don't want him getting the treatment of bouncing back and forth between pen and starting. If the Cubs decide he's going to be a reliever from now on, fine, call him up whenever. But if they're going to have him start in the minors, then I don't want him bouncing around.

 

Because you don't believe in introducing a guy as a reliever at first, or because you don't think he'll get the necessary innings?

[Guest]

The biggest reason I'd want the Cubs to sign another reliever is to reduce the temptation to pull Cashner up from the minors and stick him in the pen.

 

Is this because you don't want him in the pen or because you think it's too early and/or you want to preserve the Cubs control over him?

Mainly, I don't want him getting the treatment of bouncing back and forth between pen and starting. If the Cubs decide he's going to be a reliever from now on, fine, call him up whenever. But if they're going to have him start in the minors, then I don't want him bouncing around.

 

Because you don't believe in introducing a guy as a reliever at first, or because you don't think he'll get the necessary innings?

Well, I don't like bouncing a guy back and forth between those roles, primarily.

 

Weaver said he always liked to introduce young pitchers in the pen first to get them acclimated to the bigs. I don't necessarily feel that's a bad idea as long as you're doing it as a conscious step in the development as opposed to knee-jerk reactions to needs.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Unless that guy is Grabow 2.0 and he gets an unwarrented extension.

 

Well I'm not suggested they go get anyone they can get their hands on. Someone like Calero wouldn't be unwarranted getting a short extension if they put up a strong 2010.