Although I am a diehard White Sox fan and have loved them for over forty years, I couldn’t help thinking about how a couple of trades might really help the Chicago Cubs. Kevin Gregg has been a disaster as the team’s closer, with Carlos Marmol not doing much better. Perhaps Angel Guzman should be given a shot, but what this team really needs is a proven closer. Enter Billy Wagner, the going nowhere fast, New York Mets just brought Billy the Kid off the disabled list, and he looked like he’s still got it. Only thing is, the Mets signed KRod as their closer in the offseason, and are paying Wags bigtime closer money, even though he’s not closing. It might be a gamble, trading away a good young arm, but I would trade Angel Guzman for Billy Wagner. Next I’d be knocking on the Cleveland Indians door looking for a proven lefty relief specialist. Sure Sean Marshall has looked okay in that role from time to time this season, and Rafael Perez has been lousy all year. But I’d trade Marshall to the Tribe in exchange for Perez & his lefthanded nasty stuff. Wondering what you Cub fans think of my proposed deals, if you agree, contact Jim Hendry. I can’t believe I’m actually trying to help the Cubs. Sheesh, what’s next, a snake & a mongoose sitting down to tea?
Tag: kevin gregg
Late-game shenanigans ruin Lilly’s return
I guess Iâm glad I didnât stay up for the entirety of last nightâs Cubs-Padres pitching duel. That would have made for an angry bedtime.
Ted Lilly came through for a classic of a âfirst-game-backâ performance thatâs for sure. After a month on the shelf, he almost pitched TOO well. It crossed my mind that Iâm sure they would want to be careful with him on his first day back on the job. As much as a traditionalist that I am, it would have been easier to pull Lilly had he given up a run. The Cubs didnât have that problem though, taking Lilly out after 70 pitches and six innings.
They were pretty decent six innings at that. Lilly was helped by good defense most notably two 4-6-3 DPs. He spread out 4 hits and allowed no runs.
Lilllyâs return would have been a great feel good story had it not been for the nasty combination of San Diego RF Kyle Blanks and Cubs âcloserâ Kevin Gregg. Blanksâ walk-off homer won it for the Padres and now has the Cubs wondering about the state of their bullpen. In the space of 2/3 of an inning, Gregg gave up all 4 runs to the Pads.
And with that inning, Gregg has most likely lost his job as the Cubsâ closer.
However, it would be easy and tempting to place all blame at the door of Kevin Gregg for last nightâs loss. But letâs face it. We canât expect Ted Lilly (let alone the bullpen) to pitch a shutout. While the Cubs were winning 1-0 going into bottom of eighth, a little offense isnât a lot to ask.
As we saw with the series with the Phillies, itâs a question of timing.
With the Cubsâ bullpen in dire straits, Bleed Cubbie Blue wonders if we should sign John Smoltz who was DFAed by the Red Sox. Yes? No? Iâm willing to try anything at this point.
Cubs acquire Gregg… End of the Wood Era
“Seems to me that letting Kerry Wood leave without making an offer is like shooting Ole Yeller. I must be getting too sentimental for this game”
-a text message from my friend DonS
Today the Chicago Cubs acquired Kevin Gregg in a trade with the Florida Marlins. In return, the Fish received pitching prospect Jose Ceda.
In case there was any doubt to Kerry Wood’s future with the Cubs, Cubs’ GM Jim Hendry put them to rest.
âWe felt it was time Kerry goes out and does what is best for him and his family and get a huge multiyear deal, if possible,â Hendry said. âThis is really the right thing to do. Weâve had some really honest conversations in the last week. We donât have to get into how much I think of him, but at the same time I donât think we could do for him right now what he deserves and what I think heâll get going elsewhere.â
No doubt, that was hard for Hendry to say. He and Wood have been pretty tight even through Wood’s lean years.
Wood was the longest standing member of the Chicago Cubs. A member since 1998, the playoff year and year he won the Rookie of the Year Award. And yes, he did have those lean years but he was always a Cub in the truest sense of the word.
And now Gregg.
A 6’6″ righthander who will turn 31 next year, Kevin Gregg has turned two solid if not spectacular seasons with Florida in 2007-08. With ERAs of 3.54 and 3.41 respectively, he collected 61 saves in those two seasons.
I say this just once (and will probably deny it mid-2009 when we are in the middle of a playoff race). I’m not particularly fond of the notion of Gregg as our closer. Maybe Hendry has some grand scheme which includes Carlos Marmol in the closing role but I doubt it. If Kevin Gregg is the man who we depend on when the game is on the line in the 9th inning, I have my doubts. Let’s face it, the Cubs are still contenders in 2009. And I don’t see Kevin Gregg as “contender” material.
Perhaps I too am too sentimental for this game.