Howry signs with Cubs (yes, it's official)

[Banedon]

If true, this reminds me of Lewis Black's bit about the end of the universe.

 

"You're standing there, looking at a Starbucks, and you think, 'There can't possibly be another Starbucks behind me. No one could be that stupid.'"

 

Great reference. I love Lewis Black.

[Omar]

How much do we have left for OF and possibly SS?

[Sarcastic]

That's actually worse than if he had signed. If he goes for more than $12,000,000 over three years, it would be ridiculous. Heck, he's already way overpriced.

[RynoRules]

That's actually worse than if he had signed. If he goes for more than $12,000,000 over three years, it would be ridiculous. Heck, he's already way overpriced.

 

:?: :-k

[Sarcastic]

That's actually worse than if he had signed. If he goes for more than $12,000,000 over three years, it would be ridiculous. Heck, he's already way overpriced.

 

:?: :-k

 

What I mean is, it is possible that he will reject this offer and the Cubs will bid even higher for him, possibly giving him a completely absurd contract.

[sethuel1]

At least Howry is younger and has spectacular peripherals. At 3/$12, he's a steal compared to Eyre.

 

Edit: he's older than I thought. Born in '73.

 

Edit again: and this past year was by far the best of his career. The year before that was also pretty good. before that point....not so great. Kinda like, um, Scott Eyre.

 

i rescind the initial comment

Edited November 22, 2005 by sethuel1

[Lefty]

This is bizarro world. With the Cubs recent history of overpaying free-agent or nearly free-agent relievers, Alfonseca, Remlinger, Hawkins, and some of the cheap gems like Borwski '02 &'03, Rusch '04, Van Poppell '01, Worrell '00, you'd think that all the scouts that Hendry talks about could find the next Bobby Howry (waivers 2004) or Scott Eyre (waivers 2002) for the league minimum. Hendry is the guy who buys a stock after it's been the top performer for two years running because now he feels he can trust it.

[RynoRules]

That's actually worse than if he had signed. If he goes for more than $12,000,000 over three years, it would be ridiculous. Heck, he's already way overpriced.

 

:?: :-k

 

What I mean is, it is possible that he will reject this offer and the Cubs will bid even higher for him, possibly giving him a completely absurd contract.

 

Oh. Let's hope not.

[Sarcastic]

This is bizarro world. With the Cubs recent history of overpaying free-agent or nearly free-agent relievers, Alfonseca, Remlinger, Hawkins, and some of the cheap gems like Borwski '02 &'03, Rusch '04, Van Poppell '01, Worrell '00, you'd think that all the scouts that Hendry talks about could find the next Bobby Howry (waivers 2004) or Scott Eyre (waivers 2002) for the league minimum. Hendry is the guy who buys a stock after it's been the top performer for two years running because now he feels he can trust it.

 

He's done that with relief pitching, but not all his acquisitions. Barrett and Ramirez weren't exactly at their peak when the Cubs acquired them. That said, relief pitching is probably the worst position to focus on when it comes to expensive free agents.

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

That's actually worse than if he had signed. If he goes for more than $12,000,000 over three years, it would be ridiculous. Heck, he's already way overpriced.

 

:?: :-k

 

What I mean is, it is possible that he will reject this offer and the Cubs will bid even higher for him, possibly giving him a completely absurd contract.

 

Oh. Let's hope not.

 

That will only happen if Hendry is the only bidder. :wink:

[MeatampPotatoesMan]

This is bizarro world. With the Cubs recent history of overpaying free-agent or nearly free-agent relievers, Alfonseca, Remlinger, Hawkins, and some of the cheap gems like Borwski '02 &'03, Rusch '04, Van Poppell '01, Worrell '00, you'd think that all the scouts that Hendry talks about could find the next Bobby Howry (waivers 2004) or Scott Eyre (waivers 2002) for the league minimum. Hendry is the guy who buys a stock after it's been the top performer for two years running because now he feels he can trust it.

 

He's done that with relief pitching, but not all his acquisitions. Barrett and Ramirez weren't exactly at their peak when the Cubs acquired them. That said, relief pitching is probably the worst position to focus on when it comes to expensive free agents.

 

Yup, and Hendry has said in the past that it is the toughest thing to figure out. so what does he do? throw money at it. :roll:

[RynoRules]

This is bizarro world. With the Cubs recent history of overpaying free-agent or nearly free-agent relievers, Alfonseca, Remlinger, Hawkins, and some of the cheap gems like Borwski '02 &'03, Rusch '04, Van Poppell '01, Worrell '00, you'd think that all the scouts that Hendry talks about could find the next Bobby Howry (waivers 2004) or Scott Eyre (waivers 2002) for the league minimum. Hendry is the guy who buys a stock after it's been the top performer for two years running because now he feels he can trust it.

 

He's done that with relief pitching, but not all his signings. Barrett and Ramirez weren't exactly at their peak when the Cubs acquired them. That said, relief pitching is probably the worst position to focus on when it comes to expensive free agents.

 

I agree that if this comes to fruition he has overpaid by a about a mill each, but I also think assembling bullpens and getting the right middle-men is something of a crap shoot and you need some good fortune.

 

Look at the Cards and White Sox. Taverez, Eldred and King. Hermanson, Pollite and co. They had some good fortune. Could easily have gone the other way.

[USSoccer]

I really wish Hendry would do a chat here, or field an hours worth of phone calls on a talk show. I would be so interested to hear his response to some actual tough questions, like why he throws money on the most volitale, unpredictable position to fill.. I'm sure we'd get a lot of safe, neutral spin responses, but maybe we'd get some insight into how he looks at things like this.

 

At this point, all I want is some insight. I dn't have to agree with it, or like it, but I would love to understand it.

[RynoRules]

If we give 11 million to Eyre and 12 million to Howry, Hendry should be shot without trial.

 

Ok, not literally, but it would not be a good move.

 

But if he show's his face...

[don_kessinger_was_good]

I don't know why people find this initiative so hard to believe. I noted immediately after the season ended that a strong, deep, effective bullpen is an absolute necessity for this team. It is needed because many of our starters--well, all of them actually except for Zambrano--are simply incapable of going deep into ballgames. Maddux because of lack of durability, the others because of terminal high pitch counts.

 

Further, casual observation shows that most of the successful teams in recent years have been characterized by excellent, quality, deep bullpens. For these teams, the bullpen is a team strength, not an afterthought as it so often has been with the Cubs. You look at the White Sox, Angels, Padres and Astros this past season in the playoffs, Cleveland that barely missed, and even Minnesota. Each of those teams had monster bullpens, probably (along with Washington) the best bullpens in baseball.

 

In 2004, the Cardinals bullpen was awesome. The playoff Dodgers had Mota and Brazoban in support of Gagne. Etc...

 

Finally, Jim Hendry has dropped hints, as parsed through the media, that he regards this as an essential move for the Cubs. He likes the "strong bullpen" model. And he is pursuing it. Good for him, at least it's a strategy, you can debate whether it's a wise strategy as a separate issue.

 

So if you're going to do this, you do it full-bore, not half-baked. If the Howry signing is true, I applaud it. I've seen enough of the Michael Wuertz', and Todd Wellemeyer's, and Roberto Novoa's to know that they are not the answer. They do not inspire confidence. Wuertz is OK in a middle relief role (if not over-used, Dusty!), but you need the quality setup men to get that total bullpen depth. And now (if Howry is a Cub) we have it.

 

Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Williamson, Wuertz, Ohman and (at least until Jerome Williams is traded) Glendon Rusch in long relief/spot starter. With (unless they are traded) Novoa, Jermaine Van Buren, Andy Shipman and Todd Wellemeyer likely fighting to show they belong down in Iowa.

 

Folks, that bullpen is good, and just became a team strength. Hallelujah to that!!

[RockTheIvy]

I don't know why people find this initiative so hard to believe. I noted immediately after the season ended that a strong, deep, effective bullpen is an absolute necessity for this team. It is needed because many of our starters--well, all of them actually except for Zambrano--are simply incapable of going deep into ballgames. Maddux because of lack of durability, the others because of terminal high pitch counts.

 

Further, casual observation shows that most of the successful teams in recent years have been characterized by excellent, quality, deep bullpens. For these teams, the bullpen is a team strength, not an afterthought as it so often has been with the Cubs. You look at the White Sox, Angels, Padres and Astros this past season in the playoffs, Cleveland that barely missed, and even Minnesota. Each of those teams had monster bullpens, probably (along with Washington) the best bullpens in baseball.

 

In 2004, the Cardinals bullpen was awesome. The playoff Dodgers had Mota and Brazoban in support of Gagne. Etc...

 

Finally, Jim Hendry has dropped hints, as parsed through the media, that he regards this as an essential move for the Cubs. He likes the "strong bullpen" model. And he is pursuing it. Good for him, at least it's a strategy, you can debate whether it's a wise strategy as a separate issue.

 

So if you're going to do this, you do it full-bore, not half-baked. If the Howry signing is true, I applaud it. I've seen enough of the Michael Wuertz', and Todd Wellemeyer's, and Roberto Novoa's to know that they are not the answer. They do not inspire confidence. Wuertz is OK in a middle relief role (if not over-used, Dusty!), but you need the quality setup men to get that total bullpen depth. And now (if Howry is a Cub) we have it.

 

Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Williamson, Wuertz, Ohman and (at least until Jerome Williams is traded) Glendon Rusch in long relief/spot starter. With (unless they are traded) Novoa, Jermaine Van Buren, Andy Shipman and Todd Wellemeyer likely fighting to show they belong down in Iowa.

 

Folks, that bullpen is good, and just became a team strength. Hallelujah to that!!

 

Great post and I agree with you. I just hope Hendry has an idea for RF named Abreu.

[CheeseHead Cubs Fan]

I don't know why people find this initiative so hard to believe. I noted immediately after the season ended that a strong, deep, effective bullpen is an absolute necessity for this team. It is needed because many of our starters--well, all of them actually except for Zambrano--are simply incapable of going deep into ballgames. Maddux because of lack of durability, the others because of terminal high pitch counts.

 

Further, casual observation shows that most of the successful teams in recent years have been characterized by excellent, quality, deep bullpens. For these teams, the bullpen is a team strength, not an afterthought as it so often has been with the Cubs. You look at the White Sox, Angels, Padres and Astros this past season in the playoffs, Cleveland that barely missed, and even Minnesota. Each of those teams had monster bullpens, probably (along with Washington) the best bullpens in baseball.

 

In 2004, the Cardinals bullpen was awesome. The playoff Dodgers had Mota and Brazoban in support of Gagne. Etc...

 

Finally, Jim Hendry has dropped hints, as parsed through the media, that he regards this as an essential move for the Cubs. He likes the "strong bullpen" model. And he is pursuing it. Good for him, at least it's a strategy, you can debate whether it's a wise strategy as a separate issue.

 

So if you're going to do this, you do it full-bore, not half-baked. If the Howry signing is true, I applaud it. I've seen enough of the Michael Wuertz', and Todd Wellemeyer's, and Roberto Novoa's to know that they are not the answer. They do not inspire confidence. Wuertz is OK in a middle relief role (if not over-used, Dusty!), but you need the quality setup men to get that total bullpen depth. And now (if Howry is a Cub) we have it.

 

Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Williamson, Wuertz, Ohman and (at least until Jerome Williams is traded) Glendon Rusch in long relief/spot starter. With (unless they are traded) Novoa, Jermaine Van Buren, Andy Shipman and Todd Wellemeyer likely fighting to show they belong down in Iowa.

 

Folks, that bullpen is good, and just became a team strength. Hallelujah to that!!

 

Well said!

 

I will concur, nothing is more frustrating than watching Prior or Z, heck even Maddux leave in the 6th or 7th and we end up losing.

 

If it takes 11 million for Eyre and 12 for Howry to win us 10 or 15 more ball games...Folks that is the playoffs!

[Tim]

If Hendry were actually paying top dollar for good relievers, I'd agree with the strategy.

 

Paying top dollar for middle aged relievers coming off career years is not a path to success in my mind. Some days, the sun shines on the dog's butt. But most days, it's still just a dog's butt.

[erik316wttn]

If Hendry were actually paying top dollar for good relievers, I'd agree with the strategy.

 

Paying top dollar for middle aged relievers coming off career years is not a path to success in my mind. Some days, the sun shines on the dog's butt. But most days, it's still just a dog's butt.

 

Nice analogy.

[YearofDaCubs]

I just dont understand..Howry is a good pickup but for the amount we would be paying for Eyre and Howry we could get BJ Ryan or Wagner and have an even more dominating bullpen. Kinda pricy but Howry is pretty good. I still want to see offense though..

[indifferent]

I don't know why people find this initiative so hard to believe. I noted immediately after the season ended that a strong, deep, effective bullpen is an absolute necessity for this team. It is needed because many of our starters--well, all of them actually except for Zambrano--are simply incapable of going deep into ballgames. Maddux because of lack of durability, the others because of terminal high pitch counts.

 

Further, casual observation shows that most of the successful teams in recent years have been characterized by excellent, quality, deep bullpens. For these teams, the bullpen is a team strength, not an afterthought as it so often has been with the Cubs. You look at the White Sox, Angels, Padres and Astros this past season in the playoffs, Cleveland that barely missed, and even Minnesota. Each of those teams had monster bullpens, probably (along with Washington) the best bullpens in baseball.

 

In 2004, the Cardinals bullpen was awesome. The playoff Dodgers had Mota and Brazoban in support of Gagne. Etc...

 

Finally, Jim Hendry has dropped hints, as parsed through the media, that he regards this as an essential move for the Cubs. He likes the "strong bullpen" model. And he is pursuing it. Good for him, at least it's a strategy, you can debate whether it's a wise strategy as a separate issue.

 

So if you're going to do this, you do it full-bore, not half-baked. If the Howry signing is true, I applaud it. I've seen enough of the Michael Wuertz', and Todd Wellemeyer's, and Roberto Novoa's to know that they are not the answer. They do not inspire confidence. Wuertz is OK in a middle relief role (if not over-used, Dusty!), but you need the quality setup men to get that total bullpen depth. And now (if Howry is a Cub) we have it.

 

Dempster, Howry, Eyre, Williamson, Wuertz, Ohman and (at least until Jerome Williams is traded) Glendon Rusch in long relief/spot starter. With (unless they are traded) Novoa, Jermaine Van Buren, Andy Shipman and Todd Wellemeyer likely fighting to show they belong down in Iowa.

 

Folks, that bullpen is good, and just became a team strength. Hallelujah to that!!

 

I agree with you, Cubs bullpen has been a weak point IMO in the last couple of years. These moves definitely strengthen playoff possibilities. It seems the Cubs fortune next year will still rely heavily on the health of the starting pitching. If that's not there, the bullpen moves become moot, but if it is, it could overcome any weaknesses in the outfield.

 

Although San Diego had the best bullpen in the playoffs (arguably vs. Houston and Chi Sox), it's also usually a lesser used commodity in the playoffs due to bumping your 5th (and maybe your 4th) starter to the pen. San Diego had no opportunity to exercize their pen strength.

[erik316wttn]

I just dont understand..Howry is a good pickup but for the amount we would be paying for Eyre and Howry we could get BJ Ryan or Wagner and have an even more dominating bullpen. Kinda pricy but Howry is pretty good. I still want to see offense though..

 

I don't think it's a given that Howry has signed with us, correct? Or did I miss something?

[YearofDaCubs]

I just dont understand..Howry is a good pickup but for the amount we would be paying for Eyre and Howry we could get BJ Ryan or Wagner and have an even more dominating bullpen. Kinda pricy but Howry is pretty good. I still want to see offense though..

 

I don't think it's a given that Howry has signed with us, correct? Or did I miss something?

No just thinking out loud if we did sign him...sorry.

[don_kessinger_was_good]

If Hendry were actually paying top dollar for good relievers, I'd agree with the strategy.

 

Paying top dollar for middle aged relievers coming off career years is not a path to success in my mind. Some days, the sun shines on the dog's butt. But most days, it's still just a dog's butt.

 

You are being entirely too negative about the quality of Eyre and Howry. These guys aren't scrubs.

 

As for the money, big deal, at least it's being spent on something here that can help the team, unlike the Neifi and Rusch signings.

 

An improved Cub bullpen is worth an extra 8 to 10 games over the course of a season. That's puts us back to the upper 80 win total category and a playoff contender again. Add a leadoff man and some respectable outfielders and this team is ready to go.

[Tim]

Howry had an unbelieveably lucky season. However, we have a GM and staff that has no idea what the acronym "BABIP" stands for or why it is important.

 

In 2004, Cleveland had one of the worst pens in the majors - for much of the year it was ranked as one of the worst ever. In 2005, they had one of the strongest pen in the majors.

 

It was mainly the same guys.

 

Spending big money on the pen doesn't make sense unless you spend REALLY big money on the pen. And even that doesn't work very well. Most successful pens are built from home-grown guys, astute waiver-wire pickups and cheap FA's. Big money bullpens have a distinct tendency to be mediocre.