Cubs closer Kevin Gregg walks off the field after blowing another save Tuesday.
It was just over a month ago -- May 16 -- that we raised a red flag regarding Kevin Gregg as the Cubs closer ("Closing in on Marmol?" was the blog entry) after Gregg blew a 4-0, ninth-inning lead against Houston. It won't be long, we wrote, before the Cubs realize that Gregg isn't the kind of closer who is going to take them to the World Series.
Curiously, the Cubs' faithful didn't seem too concerned -- we got only three comments on that post, perhaps because the Cubs rallied to win the game in the bottom of the ninth. But that shouldn't have obscured the fact that the Cubs had a festering problem at the back end of the bullpen.
Gregg was up to his old tricks Tuesday in Detroit. After a two-run homer by Micah Hoffpauir in the top of the eighth put the Cubs back on top 4-3 in a see-saw battle, Gregg came on in the bottom of the ninth and served up a two-run homer to Ryan Raburn to hand the Tigers a 5-4 victory. This after Carlos Marmol, dealing wicked stuff, had struck out the side on 15 pitches to preserve the lead in the last of the eighth.
What are the Cubs to do? It's not like getting rid of Kerry Wood was a bad move -- as we saw over the weekend at Wrigley Field, "Woody" is having issues of his own, blowing two games against the Cubs. He struggled again Tuesday, giving up two hits and two walks before finally nailing down his ninth save as the Indians -- leading 5-0 entering the ninth -- barely held off the Pirates 5-4. Gregg has pitched decently in recent weeks, but even when he notches a save, he doesn't do so in a manner that instills a lot of confidence.
And nasty as Marmol was Tuesday, he has battled control issues this season. Is he really the answer as the Cubs closer? Or does GM Jim Hendry need to somehow swing a deal for an established closer before the July 31 trade deadline? One intriguing possibility? Bobby Jenks, should the White Sox fall out of contention and decide to become sellers, a scenario that Sox GM Ken Williams refuses to entertain.
The addition of a proven closer would allow Marmol to remain a dominant setup man while shifting Gregg (if he wasn't dispatched in the deal) to the seventh-inning role formerly held by Bobby Howry. It would cure the Cubs' bullpen blues and, combined with their strong starting rotation, give them unquestionably the best pitching staff in the National League.
So what do you say now, Cubs fans? It's late June, not mid-May, and the bullpen is a question mark. Do you really want to see Gregg go to the mound in Game 1 of a playoff series, trying to preserve a one-run lead? Is Marmol the best bet, or does Hendry need to make a move?
Kevin Gregg is a joke and was a terrible pick-up from the beginning. He throws from his ear and you can see the pitch for too long. I think Marmol is the best bet with the only other option being moving Dempster back to the closer roll. No matter what ,things that need to be done on this team include but are not limited too: 1.Get Soriano out of the lead off spot
2. Got to shore up the closer roll, again Gregg is a joke and is HORRIBLE
These two things are crucial to the Cubbies and I hope something is done soon. Screw the ego's and worry about winning games!
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!
Obviously I am White Sox Fan enjoying Cubbie pain. And the mere thought we would trade Bobbie Jenks to ya is ludicrous! Why in the heck would Sox management help the Cubs.
No matter how well the White Sox do we are treated as pariah. Never will we trade Jenks to that side of town!!
Now down on your knees and beg for pitching mercy!!
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!
Gregg is HORRIBLE!!! I know Wood has had his struggles in Cleveland, but I'd still rather him. Bottom line, Hendry needs to go out and get a closer. Too bad we didn't go after Hoffman. Get Gregg our of there, he's killing us.
I can't stand Gregg. It is also best for me not to appear anywhere near a cubs game if my voice can carry loud enough into the field to where I'd be insulting Lou and Gregg for the duration of the game...even if Gregg isn't pitching.
The guy has got to go. And because Lou is standing by this guy who has single-handedly cost the Cubs games that should have been "a lock"...he may need to go as well.
I would question the judgement of someone who puts their trust in such a lousy player.
I have never posted a single comment on any blog and there is a very probably chance that this instance will be my last. But this is something that just has to be done. Gregg is not a closer, if ever has been before that was a mistake too. He is at best a situational reliever and is currently only holding the cubs spot as closer for someone else anyway.
So I say make the move now, Marmol has control issues, fine. But he is a dominate pitcher and can without doubt exceed what Gregg can do. So make the move and stop second guessing. If someone comes along better than Marmol get him, but my guess is we're not going ot find it.
I have said this from the day the Cubs screwed the pooch when Hendry traded for one of the league leaders in blown saves. He literally cannot get anyone out in the clutch.
I see a couple problems. One our bullpen has no concept of where the strike zone really is. Had Gregg not issued a walk before the homer, the game would have been tied. Hendry is too bull headed to admit he screwed up royally.
Look at the options we had and what we got:
Closer - Trevor Hoffman / Kevin Gregg
Rightfielder - Raul Ibanez / Milton Bradley
2nd Base 3rd base - traded DeRosa / Aaron Miles
Centerfielder - anyone / Fukudome and the helicopter swing (good hitter in April & May, unfortunately season ends in October)
Not Hendry's best work by a long shot. We need a closer, left fielder, centerfielder, and maybe Pedro & Peavy. That would get us to World Series. Kevin Gregg should never have been traded for, PERIOD!!!!!!!!
Stu - how many home runs do the Sox have to hit to get a thread started?
KLS that is why Sox Fans needle Cub Fans unmercifully! Enjoy provoking the LOSERS! Come on man, it is way more fun than this heat wave we got going on presently.
Laugh at them! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!
They were laughing at Kerry Woods last week and now look at them! Begging for pitchers!!
Laugh over and over at Cubbie woes like a maninical character named Joker! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha!!
Was it not the Cubbies who blew Kerry Wood's arm out? And now mock him when he comes to town. Remember Kerry and Sammy? One known as the K-man averaging almost eight to ten strikeouts per game. And Slamming Sammy hitting rockets for homeruns. Now they despise and mock these former Cubs' players.
Cub fans were excited, exhilarated while being extorted by Cubs' management and still haven't won a championship.
Oh yes, my beloved White Sox might be slipping in the standings and last won a CHAMPIONSHIP IN 2005, but by golly they won one!!! In the 21st century!!
Cub fans where is the championship? Ya bunch of lousy losers!!!
KLS, see how much fun that was? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!
KLS, you are a White Sox Fan, request nothing from STU. My suspicion is he is a Cubs fan. The low-down dirty bum! Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha
Oh shoot, the cool A/C air got to me before I could cancel this comment!
I'm a Cubs fan who recently transplanted himself west to L.A. and I gotta say, I'm kinda glad I'm not around to see this waste of $4.2mil. He looks like he'd be better-suited to try to take Patick Mannely's place as the Bears long-snapper than to assume the role of closer on a MLB team. Don't you need range of motion in your shoulders/neck area as a pitcher?
This guy needs to spend less time working his army-press and more time working the strike-zone.
Indeed a sore area for this team. Especially a MLB team that's trying to shake the stigma that it can't "close out" a playoff series.
Hendry had possibly his worst off-season ever this year signing cancerous Bradley for $7mil/yr, and letting perennial player/fan/manager favorite DeRosa go for what has amounted to a bucket of BP balls. Don't get me wrong, I could care less if people like to hang out with the guy after games, but he's a producer.....Period.
Ryan Freel is making $4mil, Aaron Miles is making $2.2mil???
Does moving Soriano to another sucker sound like a good idea to anyone else but me? We've obviously got talent in the fold with the likes of Hoffpauir and Fox sitting around producing every 7th day that Lou decides to throw them a bone.
Hopefully, this Detroit series will wake Lou up and he'll decide to let the hitters hit, and the chumps sit.
(With apologies to Danny O'Keefe and the song Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues)...
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Cubbies bullpen's got the blues
Throw a strike or throw a ball
Just watch it sail out over the wall
For the First Time in a long time - I think the Cubs Organization were playing games with us. I know this will not be well received, but I think they purposely tanked those 3 games with the Tigers!!!
And for the first time, I will be pulling for the Sox to get some payback! I don't like the Crosstown Classics because Chicago always loses, but since the Cubs like dropping 3 games in a row - here's to wishing they continue to do JUST THAT! Go Sox!!!!
My boys almost pulled it off. And I still say the Cubs didn't have to drop 3 in a row to the Tigers. That will be the thing I don't like about them the rest of this season. I guess Stu was just like SKIP the Classic.