Bobby Howry

[inari]

Signing Howry instead of bringing up Jay Jackson is Cubs management at their finest.

 

Why would you want that at all?

[Guest]

You'd think you'd want to at least let Stevens and Parker get the slimmest of chances before going after the fan-reviled retread who has given up runs in 8 of 14 outings en route to a double digit ERA and a HR/9 of nearly FOUR.

[CUBZ99]

I like the Howry signing if it is true. Clearly Rothschild has the pixie dust working well with Silva. Why not give it a shot with Howry as well?

[wekim81]

Am I missing something? Wouldn't this just be a minor league deal?

 

When the initial report came out, CSN said that Howry would join the Cubs this weekend in Arlington.

This is what I was reacting to. If he signs a minor league deal and heads to Iowa and starts there without affecting the big club right away, then i'm ok with the signing. But CSN saying "he was heading to Texas" didn't sound like that.

[Sammy Sofa]

Am I missing something? Wouldn't this just be a minor league deal?

 

When the initial report came out, CSN said that Howry would join the Cubs this weekend in Arlington.

This is what I was reacting to. If he signs a minor league deal and heads to Iowa and starts there without affecting the big club right away, then i'm ok with the signing. But CSN saying "he was heading to Texas" didn't sound like that.

 

Eh, even then I'm not too worried. If he keeps performing like he has this year I doubt he'll last long, even with Lou's man-love for him before. If he can and Rothschild can figure something out and get him back to how he was pitching last year it'll be a decent pick up.

 

I mean, ideally I wish they hadn't tried any of these crap heap options before trying more of their in-house options, but as it stands this isn't necessarily something to get worked up over.

[17 Seconds]

i'd rather see howry get lit up than mess with cashner or jackson, to be honest.

[Sammy Sofa]

i'd rather see howry get lit up than mess with cashner or jackson, to be honest.

 

Me too.

[Keener98]

i'd rather see howry get lit up than mess with cashner or jackson, to be honest.

 

Me too.

 

But Jackson is already being messed with by being moved to the bullpen of the AAA club so Id rather see Jackson pitch in the major league club, then Howry.

[Sammy Sofa]

I grade this move thusly:

 

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l2jaouHrrA1qztjn5o1_500.gif

[Post Count Padder]

I don't hate it. He was effective last season. If he sucks for a few appearances, cut him or send him to Iowa. He can't be worse than what we've been sending out there, and like was said, I'd rather it be him than Cashner or Jackson.

[Sammy Sofa]

He can't be worse than what we've been sending out there

 

Uh, yes he can. If people honestly think the Cubs have a worst case scenario bullpen already, they're in for a serious reality check.

[questionmarkgrace]

Typical cubs move. lets sign a fastball only pitcher who no longer has a fastball. Great job Hendry bullpen fixed.

[RedFlash]

i'd rather see howry get lit up than mess with cashner or jackson, to be honest.

 

Agreed. Allow Cashner to feed off the success he's having as a starter, and in the case of Jackson, we don't know how he will take to the bullpen. Sure we prolly have better options then Howry, and we would still have those option if and when Bob fails. There isn't anything wrong with this gamble.

[Little Slide Rooter]

I didnt realize that Bob had a respectable year last year with a 3.49 ERA and 1.147 WHIP. Still, Chad Gaudin would have been a better option. Better yet would have been giving Jeff Stevens the chance.

[NCCubFan]

Better yet would have been giving Jeff Stevens the chance.

They ARE giving Stevens a chance. He was called up yesterday when Caridad went on the DL.

[CUBZ99]

What is Howry's velocity like this year? I looked at his splits to see if perhaps there was some glimmer of hope. Instead opposing batters are OPSing over 1.000 against him. Lefties, righties, every one seems to be teeing off on him.

 

Maybe Rothschild sees some issue that could get him jump started, but my hope is that this is a minor league deal and they let him work it out in Iowa.

[J.R.]

Let Rothschild take a shot at getting him in order. They can Millar him with little consequence if it doesn't work.

[wvcbxl]

Let Rothschild take a shot at getting him in order.

 

Why would the results in 2010 be any different than in 2008?

[J.R.]

It's a funny game sometimes.

[jersey cubs fan]

Signing Howry instead of bringing up Jay Jackson is Cubs management at their finest.

 

Why would you want that at all?

 

Jay Jackson in the major league bullpen is better than Jay Jackson in the AAA bullpen. He's already relieving, might as well get something out of it.

[Keener98]

Signing Howry instead of bringing up Jay Jackson is Cubs management at their finest.

 

Why would you want that at all?

 

Jay Jackson in the major league bullpen is better than Jay Jackson in the AAA bullpen. He's already relieving, might as well get something out of it.

 

My thoughts exactly. If hes going to be in the minor league pen, call him up to the majors and put him in the pen instead of signing guys like Bob Howry

[Derwood]

What is Howry's velocity like this year? I looked at his splits to see if perhaps there was some glimmer of hope. Instead opposing batters are OPSing over 1.000 against him. Lefties, righties, every one seems to be teeing off on him.

 

Maybe Rothschild sees some issue that could get him jump started, but my hope is that this is a minor league deal and they let him work it out in Iowa.

 

Fangraphs shows his average fastball is 89.8mph this year (vs. 91mph for his career average)

[RedFlash]

Signing Howry instead of bringing up Jay Jackson is Cubs management at their finest.

 

Why would you want that at all?

 

Jay Jackson in the major league bullpen is better than Jay Jackson in the AAA bullpen. He's already relieving, might as well get something out of it.

 

Under normal situations I would agree, but then again we have a manager who doesn't always use his best players in the best situations. I much rather Jackson get innings at AAA then come up have a bad debut gets in Piniella doghouse, doesn't pitch for 2 weeks, and then sent back down to AAA. If Piniella would use him in the right situations then I have no problem bringing him up, but I have no faith in Piniella using him properly.

[jersey cubs fan]

Under normal situations I would agree, but then again we have a manager who doesn't always use his best players in the best situations. I much rather Jackson get innings at AAA then come up have a bad debut gets in Piniella doghouse, doesn't pitch for 2 weeks, and then sent back down to AAA. If Piniella would use him in the right situations then I have no problem bringing him up, but I have no faith in Piniella using him properly.

 

If that happened, then hopefully you'd see him moved back to the AAA rotation.

[davell]

Signing Howry instead of bringing up Jay Jackson is Cubs management at their finest.

 

Why would you want that at all?

 

Jay Jackson in the major league bullpen is better than Jay Jackson in the AAA bullpen. He's already relieving, might as well get something out of it.

 

My thoughts exactly. If hes going to be in the minor league pen, call him up to the majors and put him in the pen instead of signing guys like Bob Howry

 

Yeah, that was my thinking as well. I'm not a fan of putting him in the pen, but he's blocked right now as far as the rotation is concerned, so since they've put him in the pen down in AAA, might as well give him his shot at the major league level. It's not like a young guy can't spend some time in the pen and still end up as a starter eventually.(although trusting the Cubs to do this correctly is iffy)

 

I'd even let Blake Parker get a shot before going out and signing someone like Howry. And that's knowing that it's not like we're paying Howry any real money and can cut him at any point.