Another new closer thread - Rotoworld

[ctcf]

What is it with people thinking we need to replace Dempster for any reason!?

 

Scott Williamson was sent to Triple-A Iowa to continue his rehab from elbow surgery in October.

''I saw him throw [in the bullpen Monday]; he is pretty close,'' manager Dusty Baker said. ''He is throwing the ball great. I was very impressed with his location. And his velocity is good, his breaking ball is good.'' Expect Williamson to get the call soon from the Cubs, and don't be surprised if Dusty wants to see if the former Rookie of the Year (Cincinnati, 1999) can close games for the Cubs. Jul. 20 - 9:40 am et

[jyoung55]

This is silly... over the past month Dempster has pitched 11.2 innings giving up 0 earned runs. And has converted 13 saves in a row. I think we can get somebody to really improve on those numbers. :roll:

[USSoccer]

Dempster's career walk rate is probably the reason.

[cubsfaninfla]

This is quite dumb! Demspter has been nothing short of excellent as the closer.

[badger1679666666]

Dusty isn't going to replace dempster. Who ever wrote that just didn't have a clue and/or was trying to spice up the short blurb.

[CubsInNC]

I don't think it's people who think we need a new closer. Just people who know that the only baseball person who's actions are more inexplicable than those of our dear manager, are those of Sweet Lou.

 

I mean, this is the same guy that left Neifi in the 1-2 spot, that starts Macias, that leaves rookies on the bench to rot, even when they perform well. Why would you assume for a second that he wouldn't dump Dempster for someone who had more than 2 saves in their career, prior to this year? Especially one who was on the same team as your current closer, when the guy coming back from injury had 20+ saves the year they were on the same team?

 

Not that I think he should do it. But just that I think he'll try.

[badger1679666666]

 

Not that I think he should do it. But just that I think he'll try.

 

He won't it's been stated numerous times by both Hendry and Dusty that Dempster is the closer for the rest of the year.

[XZero771679666304]

 

Not that I think he should do it. But just that I think he'll try.

 

He won't it's been stated numerous times by both Hendry and Dusty that Dempster is the closer for the rest of the year.

 

Yeah. And if Dusty pulled Dempster from the closer's role, Hendry might blow a fuse. You don't mess with a winning formula, and even Dusty must be smart enough to realize that.

[badger1679666666]

 

Not that I think he should do it. But just that I think he'll try.

 

He won't it's been stated numerous times by both Hendry and Dusty that Dempster is the closer for the rest of the year.

 

Yeah. And if Dusty pulled Dempster from the closer's role, Hendry might blow a fuse. You don't mess with a winning formula, and even Dusty must be smart enough to realize that.

 

Especially considering Dempster is Hendry's pet project, and having him close was Hendry's vision. Which I must say was dead on accurate.

[Mad Ducks]

this is just some filler a writer thought would make a good story. If Dempster was tried out as a Closer last year because of TJS, why would Baker change his mind with SW?

[Fred Hornkohl]

Here's Dempster's line since they put him in the bullpen.....

 

Dempster             IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR   PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
05/11 - 07/19      25.7   13    4    4   10   23    1  382  3.51  8.06  0.35  0.90  1.40

 

He's 1-0 with 13/14 saves. The walk rate is higher than you'd like it to be, but otherwise, what's not to like ?

[Cubzfan64]

I could care less who closes as long as they're successful - Dempster is my closer until he proves to me that he can't get the job done.

 

That said, Williamson (if healthy) could be a huge boost to our bullpen!

[XZero771679666304]

 

Not that I think he should do it. But just that I think he'll try.

 

He won't it's been stated numerous times by both Hendry and Dusty that Dempster is the closer for the rest of the year.

 

Yeah. And if Dusty pulled Dempster from the closer's role, Hendry might blow a fuse. You don't mess with a winning formula, and even Dusty must be smart enough to realize that.

 

Especially considering Dempster is Hendry's pet project, and having him close was Hendry's vision. Which I must say was dead on accurate.

 

Too bad he wasn't closing since day one, but I won't get too far into that...

[Cubzfan64]

I could care less who closes as long as they're successful - Dempster is my closer until he proves to me that he can't get the job done.

 

That said, Williamson (if healthy) could be a huge boost to our bullpen!

[TenzilKem]

I don't see Dusty replacing Dempster with Williamson.

 

I do see Dusty throwing Williamson 3 days in a row and shredding his elbow.

[XZero771679666304]

I don't see Dusty replacing Dempster with Williamson.

 

I do see Dusty throwing Williamson 3 days in a row and shredding his elbow.

 

If he did that and didn't get fired, I'd march on Tribune Tower. That would be 2 in one season.

[stubbers56]

cubsfaninfla

 

Just because you're in Fl doesn't make you crazy.

 

I'm in Lakeland & have been a cub fan over 50 years

[10man]

Dempster stays as closer while Williamson will probably tested as a setup man. If Scott can put in some good innings in a setup role, that should improve Wuertz' performance as he seems to do better when NOT pitching consecutive days.

[UK1679666180]

I'd still like to see one more reliever besides Dempster and Williamson, besides the injury concerns of someone like Williamson and Dempster to a lesser extent. The concept of 3 very good relievers has been exercised quite well on the South Side of the city this year, nice little model to follow as far as a series of surprising strong relievers. Also, it shows the volatile nature of relievers and bullpens in general.

[goonys evil twin]

I'd still like to see one more reliever besides Dempster and Williamson, besides the injury concerns of someone like Williamson and Dempster to a lesser extent. The concept of 3 very good relievers has been exercised quite well on the South Side of the city this year, nice little model to follow as far as a series of surprising strong relievers. Also, it shows the volatile nature of relievers and bullpens in general.

 

I listed the quote about Mike and the Mad Dog and Verducci saying the Cubs are desperate for a closer because I thought it was so ridiculous. I don't think it's ridiculous to look for relief help. However, at this stage in the game, I think the cost will be way to high. Relievers get overvalued at this time, especially proven ones. Bullpen guys are so volatile, it's impossible to guarantee you're getting a great pitcher. What you need to do is trade for guys in the offseason who may have fallen out of favor with their team but still bring a lot of quality to the table at relatively low cost.

 

Assuming for a moment that Florida stays at the bottom of the East and fades from the playoff picture, I wouldn't mind seeing the Cubs try and spin a deal for Pierre, then send him to NY for Gordon. Tom's been an extremely effective reliever for a few years. He's not a longterm solution, but he might be affordable. I have no interest in Pierre on the Cubs, as I never trusted his game even when he was playing well, and now he's playing poorly. But NY would go bonkers for the guy they think beat them in their last WS appearance, and I think they'd be willing to give up the guy they think let them down against Boston. One key would be to play the middle man in this deal, and only giving up a couple of mid-tier prospects at most, while possibly even sending Remlinger (a playoff tested proven veteran reliever) to NY. The other key would be to not overuse Gordon. He's a guy capable of a sub 1.15 WHIP, sub 3 ERA, and sub .200 BAA, but he's also old and somewhat fragile, so I'd keep from using him 3 days in a row or for multiple innings. Ideally he and Williamson can trade duty, with Wuertz and maybe Novoa filling in when possible.

 

Before this happens though, my main goal is to solve the LF issue. The recent offensive surge is great, but I'm not convinced it's permanent, as we've seen burts before.

[UK1679666180]

I think getting a #5/#6 type hitter for LF is key as well and I wouldn't go overboard for a closer as it isn't wise to spend much on a closer either via players or salary. But, they need some pitchers for the later parts of a game, they're even fragile in terms of relievers, and not consistent enough to be counted on without having the starters go 7-8 innings which isn't going to happen everytime or hoping the Cubs score 8 runs each game.

 

If the Cubs go into a reliever search looking at saves 1st, they're going to shoot themselves in the foot.

[treebird]

the Cubs . . . 're going to shoot themselves in the foot.

 

I think that's a pretty good summation.

[nilodnayr]

Im just wondering why we havent traded Holla for F-Rod yet. With Dempster closing and Williamson, Wuertz, F-Rod, and Novoa spliting the 7th and 8th we should be able to conserve our pen and not burn anyone out which knowing Dusty would be my biggest concern.

[barryfoote]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

I don't see Dusty replacing Dempster with Williamson.

 

I do see Dusty throwing Williamson 3 days in a row and shredding his elbow.

 

If he did that and didn't get fired, I'd march on Tribune Tower. That would be 2 in one season.

I'll be right there marching with you.