dew1679666265

For what it's worth, a quote from the article in the original post:

Going to Tennessee media day Saturday to interview a local kid on the team. He's a linebacker, so hopefully I'll be able to interview John Chavis. That would be pretty cool.

I can't say anything bad about the big 10 because I just heard a rumor we might be going there. seriously? Just from some boosters with some knowledge about the school...a heck of a lot more than I have. The academic and sports seem to match up well and this might also be a go to heck (from Big 10 people) to ND from what I've heard. Boy, that would teach us, all right. no, having all big ten teams refuse to schedule ND would teach them, however Is ND close enough to schedule SEC teams should that happen? That would be a pretty even tradeoff prestige and level of difficulty-wise, but it would be somewhat out of area. I know Tennessee has faced ND multiple times over the years, not sure if it would work wide-spread, though.

was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor? Well played, my friend. Stark has apparently retracted his "Mahay to Philly close" story. Now the deal isn't close.

Ron Mahay from the Royals. If a trade is made (which I wouldn't be shocked if Hendry pulled one off), it'll be for Mahay. EDIT: Dang, nevermind. Just saw the thread in Transactions about Mahay to the Phillies being close.

True. I'm still not sure if I want him learning a new pitch during the season, though.

I agree with this completely.

The one thing I'd worry about is if he loses what he has by trying to learn a new pitch. Sometimes when you do this (learn a new pitch), you lose your arm slot or mechanics in the things you have been using. Yeah, I know...what he has know isn't working but imo it's a hard thing for a guy this age to do and change (pun intended) is hard. he seems like a hard worker, he might be open to learning a new pitch at this stage, if he wants to remain in the bigs. I wouldn't be surprised if he was open to trying a new pitch, but I'm not sure the middle of the season is the time to do it. There's so much that can go wrong when working on new pitches that a major league bullpen isn't the ideal place to do it. I'd rather see him purely in a mop-up role this season (unless/until he turns it around) and then he can learn a new pitch in the offseason when he has plenty of time to fix other issues that may crop up.

Because thankfully, management isn't kneejerk or hyperbolic. Kneejerk? There is a whole seasons worth of stats that show Bob Howry has been a pretty terrible pitcher this season. Hes giving up hits at an alarming rate all season, and he has now turned into the Ryan Franklin of the Cubs. Regardless, an outright release probably is not the answer. Howry has had stretches where he's sucked throughout his ill-advised contract. There is some reason for hope that he can have another stretch of effectiveness soon. He looked okay against the bad RH bats, Lou never should have let him face the tough lefty. The Cubs have other minor league arms, but none of them are surefire bets. They are probably better off keeping Howry in a mop-up type role, or when needed in 6th/7th innings, which also keeps those minor league arms available in case of injury. I havent advocated releasing Howry. However I have advocated for quite awhile now that he needs to quit being used in crucial situations, but Lou hasnt stopped. I really hope Howry can get turned around as he makes the bullpen really really damn good, but outside of 1 month hes really shown no signs of it this year. Lou seems to think hes going to just turn it around and hes been hoping for it since spring training. I just worry that if Howry is there to be used( which the way our bullpen is set up right now its pretty hard to avoid) Lou will keep putting him out there in meaningful parts of the game. I'll be shocked if Howry sees another critical moment until he gets turned around (if that happens) when Wood gets back. Right now, Howry almost has to be used in seventh inning roles because our seventh inning guys (Shark, Gaudin, etc) are pitching the eighth and our eighth inning guy (Marmol) is pitching the ninth. Once Woody gets back, everybody will move back an inning and Howry, until he returns to form (if he does), will be slotted into the sixth.

For some guys they just can't find a comfortable grip. Some, just can't learn a new pitch because they're stubburn and have the "I've got by with the stuff I've had in the past and it works". For others it's a mental thing and they never have any confidence in it. I agree with you 100%, what he has isn't working right now and a change would be a very nice compliment to what he has plus less of a strain on the body. What I don't understand is that scouts love a good change, why in Gods green earth would you not try to learn one when you're younger? The fastball and curve are the sexy pitches and very impressionable on young guys while the change is like riding a bike with training wheels. True, it may be time to make that adjustment though...especially if he's lost a little off his fastball. He's never really needed to learn a change to this point. He's been a very consistent, very good reliever for most of his career - which means the stuff he had worked and he never needed a third pitch. May be, but how long will he take to learn it? I'm not sure learning a changeup is the best thing to do during the season and may be best held til the offseason. I'm not convinced he's completely done, the problem right now is nobody is chasing the close pitches from him - thus forcing him to eventually give them something out over the plate. Much like Greg Maddux, he needs to get the borderline calls to be successful and he's been getting squeezed a tad of late (or at least not getting the calls barely outside the zone).

For some guys they just can't find a comfortable grip. Some, just can't learn a new pitch because they're stubburn and have the "I've got by with the stuff I've had in the past and it works". For others it's a mental thing and they never have any confidence in it. I agree with you 100%, what he has isn't working right now and a change would be a very nice compliment to what he has plus less of a strain on the body. What I don't understand is that scouts love a good change, why in Gods green earth would you not try to learn one when you're younger? The fastball and curve are the sexy pitches and very impressionable on young guys while the change is like riding a bike with training wheels. He's never really needed to learn a change to this point. He's been a very consistent, very good reliever for most of his career - which means the stuff he had worked and he never needed a third pitch.

There is no reason to drop Howry. I would not pitch him in a tie game in the 8th or with a 1 run lead though. If he rights the ship he will be huge in October. If not so what, we are not going to replace his potential. Calling him trash is uncalled for. As soon as Wood gets off the DL, there will be no reason whatsoever to pitch Howry later than the sixth - barring him entering in a blowout - and I don't think Lou will. For now, Lou will sometimes not have a choice (due to prior bullpen usages) but to use Howry in the seventh, but that should change when Wood returns and he can move Marmol to the eighth and have Gaudin, Shark, Eyre, etc for the seventh.

Except Bob Howry. Unless just the one HR was better than the expectation. Great game for Howry in the sense that he only allowed the Brewers to tie the game rather than take the lead. And to defend Howry a bit, it was a terrible matchup for him. Branyan, much like Adam Dunn, either homers or K's and Howry simply doesn't really strike people out (at least right now). I had a bad feeling from the time Branyan stepped in.

Marmol pitches in save situations. Lou mentioned it before the game I believe. Yeah, I'll be a bit surprised if it isn't Howry, Shark, Marmol to finish this out.

Why would you say that? Casey Dick is you quarterback. :D At least there's still a chance you'll be saved from the cellar by Ole Miss. Though they're worlds better with Orgeron out and Nutt in. You're forgetting the younger Dick on the QB depth chart. Casey's brother, Nathan, is his backup. (Mallet can't play till 2009) How could I forget the infamous younger Dick? I'm ashamed. :oops:

Maybe it's my traditionalist roots, but I think momentum will play a bit of a factor in this series. The Cubs had a big win today (Sunday) in dramatic fashion to take the lead over the Brewers heading into the series, while Milwaukee got pretty much trashed by the Astros. Cubs win at least the first two and end up taking the series 3 of 4. Milwaukee is too good for momentum to overcome them, but I think the Cubs will hold an advantage entering the series.

=D> Bravo my friend, bravo. They should play the Jaws music when he enters a game.

Eyre was released? Jesus, that is a shock. I meant in the possible alternate future were it might happen I completely disagree with the people calling to DFA Eyre or Howry. But, if you're looking to trade either, Eyre would bring significantly more in return than Howry. I would prefer to keep Eyre since I like Cotts but don't want him to be one of only two lefthanded bullpen options. Howry, on the other hand, I would look to trade if we could get something of value, but I wouldn't spend the next few days shopping him - he's declined, but I'm not certain he's done yet.

I really liked what I saw from Carlos yesterday, too. Despite the loss, Marmol was challenging hitters better and showing much better control.

Mind you, this is Dempster's walk year, and Lou really wants to get rid of Marquis... which helps clear out the rotation somewhat. With the emphasis Lou and Hendry put on versatility too, I suspect they value Gaudin's ability to fill in both as a starter and key reliever. Marshall's future is clearly in the rotation or trade, which leaves Gaudin as the longterm swingman. That cuts him out of the rotation competition as well. And Demp will likely walk as well if Shark keeps this up. The guys I think could/should fight it out next year: Z Harden Lilly Hill Marshall Samardzija

No they don't. I don't see how Glenn isn't done at this point. I'll be shocked if he ever plays significant time again.

DiaperDandy

Why would you say that? Casey Dick is you quarterback. :D At least there's still a chance you'll be saved from the cellar by Ole Miss. Though they're worlds better with Orgeron out and Nutt in.

If they have to, NFL teams will reach into the I-AA ranks to find drop-back passers (i.e. Joe Flacco). Mobile QBs have to be truly special to make it in the NFL due to the speed all over the field. Most college teams simply don't have enough speed to contain mobile QBs - and if they do, the field awareness of those fast players isn't up to par with even an average NFL defender.

I agree that Tebow likely won't develop into a good NFL QB. He actually might make a good running back - good speed, very strong and could toss in a Hines Ward/Antwan Randle El-type trick play where he throws the ball. Even Meph was talking about Tebow moving to full back (I think) last season.