Why don't the Cubs give Van Buren a shot in the Bigs?

[Pilchard]

The Cubs bullpen has pitched poorly all year while JVB has been lights out for the last 2 years. Why not see if he is effective on the MLB level? Don't see how he could be any worse than those the Cubs have rolled out there.

[biittner77]

One reason would be that he's not on the 40 man roster and it would be difficult to make room at this point in the season. Furthermore, the Cubs are going to have to add Pie to the 40 man this offseason due to rule 5 restrictions (see the rule 5 eligibles thread)

 

I'd expect Van Buren to be a non roster invitee to ST. BY then the Cubs likely will have traded a few players which might open up a spot.

 

There are also people that feel that even though he's posted good numbers in Iowa he doesn't have the stuff to succeed in MLB. I've never seen him pitch so I don't know.

[erik316wttn]

One reason would be that he's not on the 40 man roster and it would be difficult to make room at this point in the season. Furthermore, the Cubs are going to have to add Pie to the 40 man this offseason due to rule 5 restrictions (see the rule 5 eligibles thread)

 

I'd expect Van Buren to be a non roster invitee to ST. BY then the Cubs likely will have traded a few players which might open up a spot.

 

There are also people that feel that even though he's posted good numbers in Iowa he doesn't have the stuff to succeed in MLB. I've never seen him pitch so I don't know.

 

Only one way to find out, isn't there?

[Diffusion]

One reason would be that he's not on the 40 man roster and it would be difficult to make room at this point in the season. Furthermore, the Cubs are going to have to add Pie to the 40 man this offseason due to rule 5 restrictions (see the rule 5 eligibles thread)

 

They can outright Richard Lewis off the 40. That's hardly an issue then.

 

I'd expect Van Buren to be a non roster invitee to ST. BY then the Cubs likely will have traded a few players which might open up a spot.

 

Van Buren will be claimed in the Rule 5 if he's not protected. You should see some of the rubbish pitchers in the back of major league bullpens.

 

There are also people that feel that even though he's posted good numbers in Iowa he doesn't have the stuff to succeed in MLB. I've never seen him pitch so I don't know.

 

I've never read anything to that effect. As I understand it he's got similar stuff to Mike Wuertz, a low-90s fastball and a good slider, only he throws it with a weird motion. Could someone here confirm that?

[cubweiser03]

Drop Rohlicek or Koronka from the 40 man. Take your pick, they both suck. Bartosh is better than either of these jokers, how many lefties bullpen guys do you need in the minors that are on your 40 man roster? Ohman is already a pretty good LOOGY. Oh do it this year, not in the offseason, im ready for JVB. Im not completly unhappy with Wuertz but i like to see JVB pitch.

[Diffusion]

Drop Rohlicek or Koronka from the 40 man. Take your pick, they both suck. Bartosh is better than either of these jokers, how many lefties bullpen guys do you need in the minors that are on your 40 man roster? Ohman is already a pretty good LOOGY. Oh do it this year, not in the offseason, im ready for JVB. Im not completly unhappy with Wuertz but i like to see JVB pitch.

 

I'm pretty sure Bartosh isn't on the 40 any more. I think he was out of options coming into this year (which is why the Indians traded him, because they couldn't fit him in their 'pen), so for the Cubs to get him to Iowa they'd have needed to outright him.

 

Drop Rohlicek and you lose him. Besides poor control, is he really that bad? I'd rather lose Richard Lewis from the 40. I'd rather lose Koronka over both of them though.

[biittner77]

Drop Rohlicek or Koronka from the 40 man. Take your pick, they both suck. Bartosh is better than either of these jokers, how many lefties bullpen guys do you need in the minors that are on your 40 man roster? Ohman is already a pretty good LOOGY. Oh do it this year, not in the offseason, im ready for JVB. Im not completly unhappy with Wuertz but i like to see JVB pitch.

 

I'm pretty sure Bartosh isn't on the 40 any more. I think he was out of options coming into this year (which is why the Indians traded him, because they couldn't fit him in their 'pen), so for the Cubs to get him to Iowa they'd have needed to outright him.

 

Drop Rohlicek and you lose him. Besides poor control, is he really that bad? I'd rather lose Richard Lewis from the 40. I'd rather lose Koronka over both of them though.

 

Cubs.com has Bartosh listed as still on the 40 man roster though they've been wrong before.

 

While there is some of what we perceive as dead weight on the 40 man roster, Hendry probably doesn't want to just give Koronka or Rohlicek away. After all, he thought highly enough of them to protect them over Sisco. He must see something that we haven't.

 

Rather than try to pass someone like Lewis through waivers, it would be easier to wait until after the season to try to trade him and at least get something.

 

Another possibility is that they'll add him to the 40 man when they hopefully shut down Wood and put him on the 60 day DL. That move buys some time and would allow them to bring VB up sooner.

[biittner77]

Koronka gets recalled. Perhaps this is a make or break opportutnity to see what he has.