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

[YearofDaCubs]

If we are relying on Dusty to bring free agents here we are in a world of hurt. Eyre got overpaid to come here so what do you expect him to say? he came here for the money? if course not even though that is the correct answer. Edited November 22, 2005 by YearofDaCubs

[CuseCubFan69]

Not a good idea to reward someone who saved 33 out of 35 w/ a setup role after you signed them as a closer. Interesting that the only time people seem to get upset about players getting a supposed raw deal is when it's Todd Walker or Nomar.

 

I don't believe Walker or Nomar got a raw deal, or are getting a raw deal. I just think the Cubs are making a mistake with them.

 

If they end up improving the trade with a Walker trade, I'll have no problem. That's part of the reason I really wanted that option picked up.

 

Now if Hendry does sign Howry that in my mind means he will use Walker in a package to get a quality impact bat...fingers crossed.

[YearofDaCubs]

Not a good idea to reward someone who saved 33 out of 35 w/ a setup role after you signed them as a closer. Interesting that the only time people seem to get upset about players getting a supposed raw deal is when it's Todd Walker or Nomar.

 

I don't believe Walker or Nomar got a raw deal, or are getting a raw deal. I just think the Cubs are making a mistake with them.

 

If they end up improving the trade with a Walker trade, I'll have no problem. That's part of the reason I really wanted that option picked up.

 

Now if Hendry does sign Howry that in my mind means he will use Walker in a package to get a quality impact bat...fingers crossed.

That is if there is one available.

[badger1679666666]

Not a good idea to reward someone who saved 33 out of 35 w/ a setup role after you signed them as a closer. Interesting that the only time people seem to get upset about players getting a supposed raw deal is when it's Todd Walker or Nomar.

 

I don't believe Walker or Nomar got a raw deal, or are getting a raw deal. I just think the Cubs are making a mistake with them.

 

If they end up improving the trade with a Walker trade, I'll have no problem. That's part of the reason I really wanted that option picked up.

 

Now if Hendry does sign Howry that in my mind means he will use Walker in a package to get a quality impact bat...fingers crossed.

That is if there is one available.

 

There are ALWAYS impact bats available via trade. It's only November so there is plenty of time for Hendry to wheel and deal, and we know he's looking at the trade market so... Here's hoping it's not Encarnacion/Jones/Burnitz/Hunter etc.

[YearofDaCubs]

Not a good idea to reward someone who saved 33 out of 35 w/ a setup role after you signed them as a closer. Interesting that the only time people seem to get upset about players getting a supposed raw deal is when it's Todd Walker or Nomar.

 

I don't believe Walker or Nomar got a raw deal, or are getting a raw deal. I just think the Cubs are making a mistake with them.

 

If they end up improving the trade with a Walker trade, I'll have no problem. That's part of the reason I really wanted that option picked up.

 

Now if Hendry does sign Howry that in my mind means he will use Walker in a package to get a quality impact bat...fingers crossed.

That is if there is one available.

 

There are ALWAYS impact bats available via trade. It's only November so there is plenty of time for Hendry to wheel and deal, and we know he's looking at the trade market so... Here's hoping it's not Encarnacion/Jones/Burnitz/Hunter etc.

We'll see but you are right the options you mentioned are not acceptable.

[abuck1220]

Not a good idea to reward someone who saved 33 out of 35 w/ a setup role after you signed them as a closer. Interesting that the only time people seem to get upset about players getting a supposed raw deal is when it's Todd Walker or Nomar.

 

well, for one, the reason i don't want walker traded is because he's good...not because i don't want his feelings hurt.

 

secondly, walker's done more for the cubs than the cubs have for him...accepting a back up role, playing for below market value, etc. on the other hand, the cubs did dempster a huge favor by giving him 1) a contract when he was coming off an injury 2) a spot in the rotation when he did nothing to deserve it 3) a shot at the closer's role when he was pitching terribly 4) a three year contract based on 3/4 of one good season 5) a $15 mil deal, which was probably more than he could have gotten elsewhere.

 

also, giving a guy a fat contract, job security, etc and then having him switch to a somewhat different role is a lot different than picking up a guy's option, taking away his ability to choose where he plays, throwing thinly veiled criticism of him out through the media and then trading him to a place he may not want to go.

 

in other words, the situations are different.

Edited November 22, 2005 by abuck1220

[abuck1220]

Free Agents do come here because of Dusty and good clubhouse chemistry, e.g. Eyre.

 

 

that dusty bonus doesn't mean much to me until some really good players start coming here because of dusty. neifi and scott eyre don't sell that one for me.

[Jehrico]

Free Agents do come here because of Dusty and good clubhouse chemistry, e.g. Eyre.

 

I only hope that carries over to keeping Prior and Zambrano.

 

Not to hijack the thread but...

 

Zambrano #'s and innings + Boras + Beckett $ = Crazy Huge Contract

 

The Cubs have always been good at keeping the guys they want to keep. The last stud that walked that they really wanted to keep is Maddux. Of course, that's always been easy because there's only been maybe two guys at a time that had fallen into that category during our dismal '90s. Nonetheless, I'm not worried about their ability to keep Zambrano, Prior, Aramis or Lee.

[CardsFanInChiTown]

Free Agents do come here because of Dusty and good clubhouse chemistry, e.g. Eyre.

 

I only hope that carries over to keeping Prior and Zambrano.

 

Not to hijack the thread but...

 

Zambrano #'s and innings + Boras + Beckett $ = Crazy Huge Contract

 

The Cubs have always been good at keeping the guys they want to keep. The last stud that walked that they really wanted to keep is Maddux. Of course, that's always been easy because there's only been maybe two guys at a time that had fallen into that category during our dismal '90s. Nonetheless, I'm not worried about their ability to keep Zambrano, Prior, Aramis or Lee.

 

I agree, I just wonder what the Cubs will have to pay in order to keep him. 7-90? Nevermind, this is for another thread even though I'm not sure what this one is about anymore. :wink:

[Ding Dong Johnson]

This thread has gone on so long now that Howry has retired...

[SeldomSeen]

This thread has gone on so long now that Howry has retired...

Who's Howry?

[goonys evil twin]

This thread has gone on so long now that Howry has retired...

Who's Howry?

 

Don't know, could he have helpd the Bears in that tough Super Bowl loss?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

This is coming close to outdoing the Neifi thread, and he actually signed a contract. Great, I just threw up in my mouth again...

[CoolHandLuke]

This is coming close to outdoing the Neifi thread, and he actually signed a contract. Great, I just threw up in my mouth again...

 

Who is the girl in your avatar?

[Roast]

allright, before I get real worked up and start driving up to hendry's office. Is there any sign that this is even remotley true outside of two message boards?

[YearofDaCubs]

allright, before I get real worked up and start driving up to hendry's office. Is there any sign that this is even remotley true outside of two message boards?

From what I heard on ESPN 1000 it sounds like the offer is on the table. It depends if Howry accepts it or not.

[Neuby]

I'm confused why is there so much hate towards Howry and the board rejoiced when we signed Hawkins?

 

Hendry still has cash maybe more than we think and plenty of trade bait.

Patterson, Walker, Cedeno,Williams, Rusch, Wuertz,Nova plus all are Rule 5 arms ect .

 

Dempster

Williamson

Howry

Eyre

Ohman

Wuertz/Nova?

 

that might be the best pen the Cubs have had on paper in years.Hopefully Baker will let it make our starters that much better.

[maandig]

After running through a lot of the posts here, can anyone provide a quick explanation of why B.J. Ryan is appreciably better than Bobby Howry? Their career numbers are similar, Ryan strikes more guys out than Howry, but also walks more batters than Howry (BJ averages a walk every two innings, Howry is about one every three).

 

There was not a lot of confidence in BJ in Baltimore as a closer and the fact that he was being compared to Jorge Julio helped him a great deal.

 

Moreover, Eyre's numbers since started to get significant work in the pen since 2002 compare favorably with Ryan's since 2002.

 

On the face of it, the signings of Eyre and Howry (if this is true) for 11 or 12 million over three years appear to be good additions for the team and it is difficult to imagine that paying more for Ryan would gain the Cubs anything more than they are already getting from Eyre and Howry. While the Hawkins/Remlinger debacle give some pause, I just don't see how Ryan is more of a sure thing than Eyre or Howry.

[E.J.]

I'm confused why is there so much hate towards Howry and the board rejoiced when we signed Hawkins?

 

Hendry still has cash maybe more than we think and plenty of trade bait.

Patterson, Walker, Cedeno,Williams, Rusch, Wuertz,Nova plus all are Rule 5 arms ect .

 

Dempster

Williamson

Howry

Eyre

Ohman

Wuertz/Nova?

 

that might be the best pen the Cubs have had on paper in years.Hopefully Baker will let it make our starters that much better.

 

No one is hating on Howry. People are upset that if the reports are true about Howry, Hendry will have signed two middle relievers to 3-year contracts worth over $10 million each. That's unheard of, and I think most of us think it's not the most intelligent idea.

[YearofDaCubs]

I'm confused why is there so much hate towards Howry and the board rejoiced when we signed Hawkins?

 

Hendry still has cash maybe more than we think and plenty of trade bait.

Patterson, Walker, Cedeno,Williams, Rusch, Wuertz,Nova plus all are Rule 5 arms ect .

 

Dempster

Williamson

Howry

Eyre

Ohman

Wuertz/Nova?

 

that might be the best pen the Cubs have had on paper in years.Hopefully Baker will let it make our starters that much better.

I dont think it's hate but a matter of what Hendry is doing and what options he is looking at to improve the ball club. Eyre and Howry are nto the top RP free agents available and Hendry is already giving out bloated contracts to them. I for one am surprised Hendry is paying this much for setup men when he has been burned twice in the past with Hawkins and Remlinger. I guess you can make a case that Baker did not properly use Rem and Hawk but at the same time that brings up the question of why is Baker still here?

[Jehrico]

After running through a lot of the posts here, can anyone provide a quick explanation of why B.J. Ryan is appreciably better than Bobby Howry? Their career numbers are similar, Ryan strikes more guys out than Howry, but also walks more batters than Howry (BJ averages a walk every two innings, Howry is about one every three).

 

There was not a lot of confidence in BJ in Baltimore as a closer and the fact that he was being compared to Jorge Julio helped him a great deal.

 

Moreover, Eyre's numbers since started to get significant work in the pen since 2002 compare favorably with Ryan's since 2002.

 

On the face of it, the signings of Eyre and Howry (if this is true) for 11 or 12 million over three years appear to be good additions for the team and it is difficult to imagine that paying more for Ryan would gain the Cubs anything more than they are already getting from Eyre and Howry. While the Hawkins/Remlinger debacle give some pause, I just don't see how Ryan is more of a sure thing than Eyre or Howry.

 

Welcome to the forum!

[Neuby]

I'm confused why is there so much hate towards Howry and the board rejoiced when we signed Hawkins?

 

Hendry still has cash maybe more than we think and plenty of trade bait.

Patterson, Walker, Cedeno,Williams, Rusch, Wuertz,Nova plus all are Rule 5 arms ect .

 

Dempster

Williamson

Howry

Eyre

Ohman

Wuertz/Nova?

 

that might be the best pen the Cubs have had on paper in years.Hopefully Baker will let it make our starters that much better.

I dont think it's hate but a matter of what Hendry is doing and what options he is looking at to improve the ball club. Eyre and Howry are nto the top RP free agents available and Hendry is already giving out bloated contracts to them. I for one am surprised Hendry is paying this much for setup men when he has been burned twice in the past with Hawkins and Remlinger. I guess you can make a case that Baker did not properly use Rem and Hawk but at the same time that brings up the question of why is Baker still here?

 

assuming Ryan gets a closer's job and Gordon gets one who is a better set up man on the free agent market than Howry? I like Dotel I still wouldn't be suprized if Hendry got in on Dotel if he was looking for a deal like Dempster and Williamson with more cash up front.

[goonys evil twin]

I don't hate Howry. I love his 2005 WHIP.

 

He's mostly been a good reliever in the majors. But I'm fearful of another 3-year deal, and distrustful in this team's taste in relievers.

 

Perhaps the best thing going for him is that Bruce Miles has been promoting this guy for a while, and I trust Bruce's judgement, as he was pretty good with the Wuertz hype, which proved true until Dusty had him throwing everyday.

 

But he's just a middle reliever. I doubt he repeats that '05 dominance. Relievers come and go, and they have a short shelf life. I'm pretty certain that his next three years won't be better than the 3 best he's already had. That's part of the problem of buying other people's relievers. Most of the best teams do what they can with one year fixes or develop their own guys cheaply. I don't know of a lot of 3/9-12m bullpen contracts that have worked out well.

[badger1679666666]

Can any reliever really be good with the way that Dustbrain uses and abuses them. That could go for Starting pitchers too (remember 2003 and how our starters had the most pitches per start).

[Balsa]

So no new news on this yet.....deal not going down?