Best available relievers

[Sammy Sofa]

My argument is that Smoltz is not terribly good at this point and that at best one has to cherrypick starts of his from last year to try and argue otherwise. Look at his splits from last season: he simply wasn't very good in any month. Yeah, he was throwing strikes...but he was too often throwing very hittable strikes. Combine that with what appears to be his inability to pitch on consecutive days and he simply does not make a very good candidate to go back to his relieving ways.

[17 Seconds]

My argument is that Smoltz is not terribly good at this point and that at best one has to cherrypick starts of his from last year to try and argue otherwise. Look at his splits from last season: he simply wasn't very good in any month. Yeah, he was throwing strikes...but he was too often throwing very hittable strikes. Combine that with what appears to be his inability to pitch on consecutive days and he simply does not make a very good candidate to go back to his relieving ways.

 

now this post is accurate

[Sammy Sofa]

And it ends with a rhyme. Whimsical!

[Eephus Speed]

Smoltz gave up a bunch of HR when he was pitching for Boston, but his K rate and BB rate (and his HR rate w/STL) were excellent. But he's probably not a bullpen candidate at this point.

[Rob]

John Smoltz would be a fine addition to any bullpen, provided he doesn't want a big contract.

 

Anybody who thinks he can't pitch anymore is just wrong.

[Sammy Sofa]

Oh, OK. Tell us more, o swami.

[Guest]

John Smoltz would be a fine addition to any bullpen, provided he doesn't want a big contract.

 

Anybody who thinks he can't pitch anymore is just wrong.

 

I'll take John's word for it.

 

Link

[Rob]

Oh, OK. Tell us more, o swami.

 

If anybody were actually interested, I'd be glad to.

[Rob]

John Smoltz would be a fine addition to any bullpen, provided he doesn't want a big contract.

 

Anybody who thinks he can't pitch anymore is just wrong.

 

I'll take John's word for it.

 

Link

 

Musta missed that while I was down in Arizona.

 

Still, he can physically do the job even if he isn't currently sure whether he wants to or not.

[Sammy Sofa]

I would actually be curious as to why you're so sure he'd be fine out of the bullpen, given how hittable he was last year.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So if camp were to end today, Id expect the pen to look something like

 

Marmol

Grabow

Marshall

Caridad

Berg

Samardzjia

Gaub or Russell

 

May as well run with it, and if it looks bad early on, there will be available replacement candidates.

[KingCubsFan]

So if camp were to end today, Id expect the pen to look something like

 

Marmol

Grabow

Marshall

Caridad

Berg

Samardzjia

Gaub or Russell

 

May as well run with it, and if it looks bad early on, there will be available replacement candidates.

Hopefully Berg/Samardzija only last a few weeks and then Gray will be ready

[Little Slide Rooter]

So if camp were to end today, Id expect the pen to look something like

 

Marmol

Grabow

Marshall

Caridad

Berg

Samardzjia

Gaub or Russell

 

May as well run with it, and if it looks bad early on, there will be available replacement candidates.

Hopefully Berg/Samardzija only last a few weeks and then Gray will be ready

 

I like what Ive seen from Justin Berg so far, at least the small sample size. I have no reason to wish him out of town just yet. As for Samardzjia, I think that they just need to try to focus on one last shot of making him into a starter before finally giving up on him.

[RedFlash]

So if camp were to end today, Id expect the pen to look something like

 

Marmol

Grabow

Marshall

Caridad

Berg

Samardzjia

Gaub or Russell

 

May as well run with it, and if it looks bad early on, there will be available replacement candidates.

 

That's a good guess, and prolly the most likely. But Toronto is still scouting Cubs players so the Jason Frasor rumors won't die down, just yet. So I wouldn't write that bullpen in anything but pencil right now.

[Little Slide Rooter]

So if camp were to end today, Id expect the pen to look something like

 

Marmol

Grabow

Marshall

Caridad

Berg

Samardzjia

Gaub or Russell

 

May as well run with it, and if it looks bad early on, there will be available replacement candidates.

 

That's a good guess, and prolly the most likely. But Toronto is still scouting Cubs players so the Jason Frasor rumors won't die down, just yet. So I wouldn't write that bullpen in anything but pencil right now.

 

If they'll take something like a Sam Fuld or Micah Hoffpauir type of thing, Id be glad to have Frasor, but Id prefer not give up anything of value for him, especially if the next step is a 3 year exension for him.

[RedFlash]

If they'll take something like a Sam Fuld or Micah Hoffpauir type of thing, Id be glad to have Frasor, but Id prefer not give up anything of value for him, especially if the next step is a 3 year exension for him.

 

I agree, and I think Minnesota needs Frasor more the Cubs.

[Pushfrog98]

Chad Gaudin and Mike MacDougal have just hit the market, according to mlbtr...

[Derwood]

will jeff gray be in the mix when he's healthy? he was good in Oakland last year

[Little Slide Rooter]

Chad Gaudin and Mike MacDougal have just hit the market, according to mlbtr...

 

Id defintiely take out a flyer on either one. See this is exactly why theres no reason to offer large contracts to middle releivers.

[Pushfrog98]

Scratch MacDougal off the list. Signed with Nationals.

[Wrigley Rat]

Not sure where to post this, but I am personally hoping that the Cubs at least bring Mike Parisi north with the team rather than return him to the Cardinals. His repertoire is as follows:

 

My main pitch is a two-seam fastball, a sinker. I throw that about 92, 93. My curveball is definitely my second pitch. I throw three different types of curveballs. I throw a slow one, that’s kind of like a get-me-over pitch. Then I throw a harder one that’s kind of like 12-6, and then I throw another hard one probably about 80 miles an hour that’s more of a slurve. it starts out at a righty’s hip but then breaks over the outside half. And then I have a changeup, which is kind of a new thing for me.

 

As explained by Parisi himself. Everyone knows that curve balls just don't break at altitude like they do everywhere else. Arizona is notorious for making curve ball pitchers nuts! I say let him pitch in five games for Chicago. If he is not looking like he belongs, return him and call up whomever they would have called up instead (I assume it is James Russell). Russell would need to be added to the 40-man anyway and Parisi's spot would be his for the duration.

[MWV]

Not sure where to post this, but I am personally hoping that the Cubs at least bring Mike Parisi north with the team rather than return him to the Cardinals. His repertoire is as follows:

 

My main pitch is a two-seam fastball, a sinker. I throw that about 92, 93. My curveball is definitely my second pitch. I throw three different types of curveballs. I throw a slow one, that’s kind of like a get-me-over pitch. Then I throw a harder one that’s kind of like 12-6, and then I throw another hard one probably about 80 miles an hour that’s more of a slurve. it starts out at a righty’s hip but then breaks over the outside half. And then I have a changeup, which is kind of a new thing for me.

 

As explained by Parisi himself. Everyone knows that curve balls just don't break at altitude like they do everywhere else. Arizona is notorious for making curve ball pitchers nuts! I say let him pitch in five games for Chicago. If he is not looking like he belongs, return him and call up whomever they would have called up instead (I assume it is James Russell). Russell would need to be added to the 40-man anyway and Parisi's spot would be his for the duration.

 

Mike Parisi is this season's David Patton (read: ineffective pitcher we hide in our bullpen at the expense of a roster spot)?

[Wrigley Rat]

Not sure where to post this, but I am personally hoping that the Cubs at least bring Mike Parisi north with the team rather than return him to the Cardinals. His repertoire is as follows:

 

My main pitch is a two-seam fastball, a sinker. I throw that about 92, 93. My curveball is definitely my second pitch. I throw three different types of curveballs. I throw a slow one, that’s kind of like a get-me-over pitch. Then I throw a harder one that’s kind of like 12-6, and then I throw another hard one probably about 80 miles an hour that’s more of a slurve. it starts out at a righty’s hip but then breaks over the outside half. And then I have a changeup, which is kind of a new thing for me.

 

As explained by Parisi himself. Everyone knows that curve balls just don't break at altitude like they do everywhere else. Arizona is notorious for making curve ball pitchers nuts! I say let him pitch in five games for Chicago. If he is not looking like he belongs, return him and call up whomever they would have called up instead (I assume it is James Russell). Russell would need to be added to the 40-man anyway and Parisi's spot would be his for the duration.

 

Mike Parisi is this season's David Patton (read: ineffective pitcher we hide in our bullpen at the expense of a roster spot)?

But how much does it hurt the team to give him a 5-game tryout? Surely Russell can wait that long! He's no Starlin Castro!

[Guancous]

Brian Shouse was released by the Red Sox. He's mildly interesting if he will sign for the veteran minimum. He had 17 Ks and 7 walks in a small sample size last year.

[Guancous]

Brian Shouse was released by the Red Sox. He's mildly interesting if he will sign for the veteran minimum. He had 17 Ks and 7 walks in a small sample size last year.

 

Nevermind about Shouse; he's a 41 year old lefty. Pass.