Bullpen Help

johnnyba99 · July 18, 2005

We are in obvious need of help in the pen. What do all of you think about Bottalico? He's available:

The Red Sox are actively seeking both a starter and a reliever. They like Brewers setup man Mike Wise, but Milwaukee reportedly is willing only to trade Ricky Bottalico.
-- The Boston Globe

Transmogrified Tiger · July 18, 2005

At what point do we start considering the Maddux factor with pitchers leaving Milwaukee? Turnbow, Bottalico, Kolb among others have kindled their careers in Milwaukee, and I'm not so sure it would continue outside of Wisconsin.

ManEatingTarp · July 18, 2005

I'm a Cardinal fan and I wouldn't wish Bottalico on you or anyone else.

shudder...shudder...

johnnyba99 · July 18, 2005

At what point do we start considering the Maddux factor with pitchers leaving Milwaukee? Turnbow, Bottalico, Kolb among others have kindled their careers in Milwaukee, and I'm not so sure it would continue outside of Wisconsin.

I'm not saying he's the best option, but he could help. As far as the Maddux factor, Bottalico seemed to do just fine in New York last year.

EDIT: maybe he just catches my eye because he dominates the Cubs and that's the only time I ever see the guy pitch.

Lefty · July 18, 2005

Karchner, Alfonseca, Remlinger, Hawkins, Rojas, etc. This team shoud never trade for or pay a premium to sign a reliever again. You'd be amazed at what a good offense would do for the bullpen.

YearofDaCubs · July 18, 2005

Karchner, Alfonseca, Remlinger, Hawkins, Rojas, etc. This team shoud never trade for or pay a premium to sign a reliever again. You'd be amazed at what a good offense would do for the bullpen.

Agreed.

vance_the_cubs_fan · July 18, 2005

There's only a handful of relievers that I'd be interested in acquiring at this point and Blowtallico is not one of them.

BigbadB · July 19, 2005

Scott Williamson will be here soon enough.

MeatampPotatoesMan · July 19, 2005

I'd be content with MacDougal and happy with Baez...but not with Bottalico.

He looks very similar to Wuertz, IMO, plus 10 years or so. :D

MadDog07 · July 20, 2005

Closers like Baez will end up somewhere that needs a closer, which, for now, isn't our Cubs

Bottalico will end up going someplace like Boston or Florida that'll need spot closers, because he is one of the better relievers on the market, and has over 100 career saves under his belt

By no means am I saying he's the answer, and I don't have stats on me, but ever since being lifted for the third time, Novoa has looked pretty impressive on the mound. We must have traded Farnsworth for a reason. Weurtz seems to be falling apart, and Remlinger can't handle an entire inning. I would rather leave Novoa and Rusch setting up and getting an outfielder.

The relievers that are gonna be available for the Cubs are guys like Shingo that are DFA from other teams...what's Stephen Randolf doing these days?

johnnyba99 · July 20, 2005

I was just trying to give at least a more realistic option. I seriously doubt that the Cubs will trade for Baez, Wagner, Guardado, etc.

I just don't trust Novoa to handle the 8th inning and who's to say Williamson will remain healthy once he returns. Novoa has done well the last 2 games, I'll give him that.

ZZ Thorn · July 20, 2005

Funny story: several years back I'm seeing a Royals game, and I'm in the outfield seats right by the bullpen and Bottallico is warming up. I'm wasted, as are my pals, and we spend an inning screaming at Bottallico: stuff like "you're the man," "you got the juice," "they got nuthin'","blow em away with the high heat" etc.

He no doubt hears us - as he leaves to try and close out the game he whips his cup of gatorade to the ground in an act of totally cool toughness. We go wild.

He gives up the game winning home run to the first batter he faces.

He is not good. I thought when he came up with the Phillies he'd turn out better.

5.3k · July 21, 2005

What about Brian Fuentes?

Coach C · July 21, 2005

Funny story: several years back I'm seeing a Royals game, and I'm in the outfield seats right by the bullpen and Bottallico is warming up. I'm wasted, as are my pals, and we spend an inning screaming at Bottallico: stuff like "you're the man," "you got the juice," "they got nuthin'","blow em away with the high heat" etc.

He no doubt hears us - as he leaves to try and close out the game he whips his cup of gatorade to the ground in an act of totally cool toughness. We go wild.

He gives up the game winning home run to the first batter he faces.

He is not good. I thought when he came up with the Phillies he'd turn out better.

I can agree to that. Bottalico is deftinaly not very good. His ERA is a 4.08 and a WHIP of 1.49 for the Brewers. I remember his days in the Royals, and it wasn't pretty. He was inconsistent, and wild.

vance_the_cubs_fan · July 21, 2005

Williamson did well at Iowa tonight. If he's back and healthy, there's no need to even look at Bottalico.

Coach C · July 21, 2005

What about Brian Fuentes?

Angels wanted Brian Fuentes, but Fuentes has been told by Colorado management that he will not be moved.

So, I don't think Fuentues will be going anywhere, from what I hear.

10man · July 21, 2005

Williamson did well at Iowa tonight. If he's back and healthy, there's no need to even look at Bottalico.

Good to hear that. I don't expect anything big out of him this year, but any help he can give to our setup situation would be a boost.

CubsWin · July 21, 2005

Mike MacDougal is interesting, but his numbers leave a quite a bit to be desired. If the Cubs are going to trade for a reliever, let him have a better WHIP than 1.39. MacDougal has given up nearly a hit per inning. Given the way Van Buren has pitched in AAA, I bet Jermaine could do at least that well.

If Hendry can't do better than MacDougal, he should have Williamson and Van Buren to call upon from within the organization. Not to mention Wellemeyer, Leicester, etc.

But I believe that Hendry can do better than MacDougal. I'm not certain if the Twins would be willing to part with him, or if Hendry would be willing to pay the price, but Jesse Crain would be one of the guys I would try to get. Has former Cub Justin Speier finally figured it out? His numbers suggest that he might. Julio Mateo is a possibility, but Crain is the guy I'm going after hard. He is 24 so he would be someone who would help the Cubs for several years to come, but it will take a lot to get him. Plus, the Twins are currently tied for the Wildcard lead...

Well, a guy can dream, can't he?

10man · July 21, 2005

Hendry is probably in a bit of a quandary about what to do with this team. On the one hand he is making moves to refurbish the roster by getting players he knows can contribute, but on the other hand he must be kicking himself for hiring a manager who refuses to use the players he gets as intended. In short, Jim has handcuffed himself by hiring Dusty.

Coach C · July 21, 2005

Mike MacDougal is interesting, but his numbers leave a quite a bit to be desired. If the Cubs are going to trade for a reliever, let him have a better WHIP than 1.39. MacDougal has given up nearly a hit per inning. Given the way Van Buren has pitched in AAA, I bet Jermaine could do at least that well.

If Hendry can't do better than MacDougal, he should have Williamson and Van Buren to call upon from within the organization. Not to mention Wellemeyer, Leicester, etc.

But I believe that Hendry can do better than MacDougal. I'm not certain if the Twins would be willing to part with him, or if Hendry would be willing to pay the price, but Jesse Crain would be one of the guys I would try to get. Has former Cub Justin Speier finally figured it out? His numbers suggest that he might. Julio Mateo is a possibility, but Crain is the guy I'm going after hard. He is 24 so he would be someone who would help the Cubs for several years to come, but it will take a lot to get him. Plus, the Twins are currently tied for the Wildcard lead...

Well, a guy can dream, can't he?

I believe MacDougal pitches for the Royals, just to kindly correct you. :)

Mike MacDougal

This is the guy you're talking about, correct?

Deeg · July 21, 2005

If Mota is available - and Florida is ready to sell, looks like - he's the guy I'd go after.

jyoung55 · July 21, 2005

If Mota is available - and Florida is ready to sell, looks like - he's the guy I'd go after.

He has been doing well lately. Florida would probably ask too much for him.

TrueBlueCubFan · July 21, 2005

If Mota is available - and Florida is ready to sell, looks like - he's the guy I'd go after.

He has been doing well lately. Florida would probably ask too much for him.

He was overused with the Dodgers LY, that concerns me a little. He's just a younger version of Tom Gordon. I'll pass

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