Did you get your blood pressure pill prescription renewed before this weekend? I sure hope so or you're probably not reading this right now. I've NEVER been a fan of the Cubs offseason move to sign last year's league LEADER in BLOWN saves. Did Hendry misread the leader stats from 2008? Why would you not resign a guy that was a lifelong Cub in order to sign this guy? I didn't get it then and I sure don't get it now either.
The Cubs went 1-2 this weekend but let's see why that happened. Marmol came in for the 8th inning on Fri night with the game tied at 2-2. Two walks, a hit and hit batter led to 3 Marlins runs and a Cubs loss. Sat didn't go much better for the late inning relief core. Gregg came in for an "easy" single inning save with the Cubs up by 3. The first two outs were easy enough so now he's down to a single out with a 3-run lead. Not so fast Cubs fans - 3 runs later and the Cubs are in extra innings. Gregg gets the blown save and the W (what's up with that?) but D-Lee saved the day with a bomb in the 10th. Sun was the real heartbreaker though. Dempster went 6 innings without giving up a run only to see Heilman give up the 1-0 lead keeping Dempster from getting the W. This time it was Jake Fox to the rescue to put the Cubs back up 2-1. Unfortunately, Lou is stuck bringing Gregg in and after getting the first out, 2 pitches, 2 bombs, Cubs lose.
I'm just wondering how some teams can seem to turn anyone into a closer while the Cubs have a guy that has all the tools but can't get over the hump. LaRussa has turned a better than average starter into a Hall of Fame Closer in former Cub Dennis Eckersley, then took a hugely disappointing starter and turned him into a darn good closer in Jason Isringhausen and now a journeyman starter is arguably the best closer in the game in Ryan Franklin. Of course, it probably has more to do with LaRussa's longtime pitching coach Dave Duncan, but that isn't my point. His teams always seem to come up with guys out of nowhere to be pretty darn good closers and yet, the Cubs go after and sign the NL league leader in blown saves and he's who we, the fans are stuck with this year.
Based on Lou's comments after yesterday's second consecutive blown save against Kevin Gregg's former team (this time for a loss after the Cubs came back in the 10th Sat night to "earn" Gregg a W after blowing a 3-run lead on Sat), Gregg is going to stay in his current role. When Piniella was asked if he had plans to change his closer, he responded with "Why should I?" Uh...were you watching the games this weekend Lou? Gregg is now second in all of MLB with 5 blown saves but has the MLB lead in HRs allowed (uh, Hendry, that's NOT a good thing either!).
It's not like Gregg has been dominating hitters this season. Has there ever been a comfortable enough lead when he's in there? His fastball has no movement and is only coming in at about 91mph. His secondary pitch isn't all that special either.
But I can understand Lou's dilemma...what are his alternatives? Carlos Marmol was supposed to be the closer-in-training but after the Gregg signing and his decision to play for the DR in the WBC, was never even given the chance to become the closer. Well with the way he's been performing this year with his way LESS than dazzling WHIP of nearly 1.5 even though his BAA is only .159. He not only averages nearly a walk per inning, but he leads the league in hit batters too. When the guy is throwing strikes, he is amazing...unfortunately that just isn't close to being a given.
So what's Lou to do? How about starting with a pitching coach that can help this guy get his filthy stuff over the plate? If Marmol can effectively take over as the closer, the Cubs do have to then come up the 8th inning setup guy. Would you trust Gregg in this role? Ya, me either.
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