Zambrano Leaves Early With Back Injury

The Cubs offense opened up another can of whoop-ass on an opposing pitcher, scoring six runs in the first two innings. Z gave two of those runs back and has been replaced in the bottom of the 4th inning by Jeff Samardzija, who promptly gave up a leadoff double(runner since erased on a sac bunt attempt).

Len mentioned something about back stiffness, I'm sure more details will be forthcoming.

UPDATE: It doesn't appear to be too concerning to Z at least and he plans to make his next start..blames it on being a big guy and possibly the hotel bed.

"As the game was going, it was feeling worse and worse, and I saw my
arm dropping," Zambrano said. "Lou told me something that was right. He
said, 'Before you get injured because of your back, let's get you out
of the game.' I knew my release point was low. It was the best choice
to take me out of the game." 

Aramis Ramirez also left the game in the top of the 10th inning. He was hit in the left elbow by a pitch, stayed in and made it to second base and then signaled to the trainers and had to be helped off the field after complaining of dizziness. Lou seemed to indicate he was okay though. 

I saw the hit by pitch, but walked away and didn't see Ramirez get removed from the game. I did catch the bottom of the 10th and if you missed it, Lou was forced to put Alfonso Soriano at second base, Jeff Baker at third base and Sam Fuld in left field. Even better, he switched Baker and Soriano when the lefty Jeremy Hermida came up to bat, rightfully figuring that the odds were higher that Hermida would pull the ball to second (Hermida K'd eventually). Either way, some fun water cooler talk as the Cubs nearly blew what should have been a laugher.

Tags: 
Cubs Injuries
Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 7:37pm
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Comments

Submitted by Jeff_Pico
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 7:42pm

F@#! I hope its not serious, and they can at least win this game.

Submitted by Wes
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 7:58pm

Z's hurt, you say? No big deal. We've got Tom Fucking Gorzelanny now. They don't even know what's coming.

Submitted by Chad
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 8:47pm

"I'm sure more details will be forthcoming."

HA! this is the cubs we are talking about.

Submitted by springs
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 9:20pm

the postseason with Marmol in the bullpen."

A little wildness and a few bad outings and these announcers overreact. But the control problems are worrisome. Of course, every team in baseball would want Marmol in their pen, but the number of BBs does make our dependence on him a gamble.

Submitted by billybucks
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 9:57pm

Two outs, nobody on, 3-run lead...are you fucking kidding me?

As I have said before, the Cubs should just forfeit all games in Florida and avoid making the trip.

Submitted by Eric S
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 10:00pm

guh

Gregg's outing reminiscent of Kerry Wood's performance against the Cubs in June.

Nice answer by D-Lee ...

Submitted by Charlie
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 10:06pm

Any theories on why A-Ram left the game?

Submitted by Eric S
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 10:09pm

Not watching the game - where did the pitch hit him?

Submitted by Charlie
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 10:19pm

It hit him on the left arm, near the elbow.

When he left the game he was on second base and seem to be queezy, dizzy, or something along those lines--not pointing toward his elbow at all.

Bob hypothesized that maybe it was the heat.

Submitted by Eric S
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 10:30pm

Thanks Charlie - encouraging that it didn't appear to be related to the HBP (i.e., no bone fracture).

Brutal win, but I'll take it.

Submitted by CA-Phil
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 10:07pm

"let's get this done in the bottom of the 10th with Aaron Heilman" ....shivers of fear

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 10:25pm

HEILMAN for closer!!

if Lou had any balls he'd platoon Hoff and Lee

/TCR comments in April

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 10:35am

You've been awfully smug about Hoffpauir. What would happen to Lee's numbers if he got one start a week in right field?

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:27am

You don't think it's possible that the smugness is as much about Lee's offensive success as it is about Hoffpauir's struggles? That's what the recommendation of the platoon was really about in the spring, I believe--the idea that Lee was done being a good hitter.

Submitted by Eric S
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 1:12pm

With regard to comments on D-Lee's season, I'm in the "nothing to see here" camp ... move along on now, move on!

Submitted by Jordan
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 2:05pm

I think Crunch brought this up in parachat last night:

Derrek Lee May 1 - Yesterday: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n...

.322/.400/.610 for a 1.010 OPS
20HR and 59 RBI in that span.

Only 4 GIDP.

That's amazing. What's crazier, and all credit to Crunch, if you remove the first 6 games, yes, 6 games:
Apr13-Yesterday: .310/.384/.573 for a .957 OPS
21HR and 65 RBI
Link here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n...

So DLee is far and away an all-star for the period not including Apr 6-12. After that, he's been on fire.

Submitted by Chad
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 2:17pm

it was me

Submitted by Eric S
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 2:21pm

Hot streak killer! ;-)

Submitted by Jordan
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 3:20pm

Sorry Chad, you're right. You brought that up in Parachat.

Its a great point you made, Lee has been pretty amazing. Of course I just destroyed his luck.

This lineup sucks. Derrek Lee sucks.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 3:20pm

You've been awfully smug...

pot, I'd like for you to meet the kettle...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 3:32pm

Not really, because when I am smug about something I don't repeat it again and again.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 4:19pm

This is a recipe for awesome.

Can we have an entire thread in which we discuss who among the writers/commenters here is better and who is worse in which we all claim one random person to antagonize and then demonstrate how we are, in fact, much, much better and cooler? That'd be fun.

I call dibs on rokfish.

Submitted by Jeff_Pico
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 10:33pm

Wow, that was some game but a huge win. I have little or no faith in Dempster, but they absolutely killed Nolasco earlier this year. Taking 2 out of 3 at this god forsaken place would be way more than you could hope for.

Ok edit, Nolasco wasn't as bad as I remember, 6 runs 5 earned in 6 innings. I remember he didn't look very good though? We'll take it.

Submitted by rokfish
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 11:20pm

Brenley why would you take the bat off your shoulders no one hits marmol , stikeouts walks or hit by pitch.

Just think if he cutr his walks in half WOW.

Also would be alot less stress on cub fans.

Submitted by rokfish
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 11:29pm

Dusty ruins another one

Edison Volquez elbow surgery next week

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 11:50pm

Did Cubs make a roster move to call-up Gorzelanny?

Submitted by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 12:29am

I haven't seen anything about it, but my guess is that Fuld goes back down. Here is a recent tweet from Gordon Wittenmeyer about Gorzelanny and his "3-start chance"

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/16966...

If you have to prove yourself, Cincinnati is not a bad team to start with...

Submitted by ddp33
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 12:36pm

the cubs currently have just 4 starters on the roster and are carrying an extra bullpen arm... dont you think a pitcher is more likely to go down tues when gorzelanny is activated? stevens or samardzija? depends on how much the bullpen is used in the next few days, but i am more inclined to think a pitcher would go before a 4th outfielder, and one of two defensively sound outfielders on the team. or maybe jeff baker and his .216 avg (w the cubs) and 3 years service time mark inching closer.

by the way, when does miles have to come back? isn't his 20 day dl stint almost up? what are the team's options there?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 08/01/2009 - 11:52pm

http://www.northsidebaseball.com/Forum/viewtopic.p...

well, besides the O's paying $20M, at least it sounds reasonable

Submitted by mjmiller73
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 1:36am

So Friday night, Nunez strikes out Hill to end the game with a three run lead and a runner on. Nunez throws his arms up in celebration, and Hill takes note.

Tonight, Hill grounds into a 3-1 put-out to end the top of the 10th with Nunez pitching. Hill looked to attempt to make contact at first while Nunez loitered on the bag. Nunez then stared down Hill briefly, while Uggla re-directed him to the dugout. Brenly made a comment about how that was a good decision on Dan's part, as Hill would destroy Nunez.

This was of course on top of the hitters getting hit. Bad blood building here?

Dempster may still be thinking payback for Braun's May 9th antics in Milwaukee, too.

Submitted by Pell Mell
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 5:37am

Not to mention:

Nunez plunking ARam
Bonifacio going nuts for himself after his Very Awful Triple
Bradley kinda doing the same thing after a safe-at-2nd call
Marmol doing his usual antics after getting out of his usual jam
The hated Cody Ross tracking down a lazy fly ball in an exaggeratedly lackadaisical way (may not have been part of it; I just hate Ross and wanted to blame him for something)

I definitely had the sense that these teams were trying to show each other up. Of course, biased as I am, I believe the Marlins started it and the Cubs are just responding in kind, perhaps out of frustration that this judy-hitting, overhyped bunch (H. Ramirez excluded) continues to give them fits.

Submitted by O.Julius
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:08am

The FLA crowd also was vocally anti-Cub ... moreso than I've heard on other road broadcasts.

I saw the HBP on Hanley Ramirez, but not the plunk on ARam. Couldn't have been retaliation in the 10th, could it?

Submitted by tem99
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 10:04am

The 37 marlins fans are just annoyed that 85% of the people at the game are cubs fans. I lived in south florida for 3 years, it's a terrible non-dolphins sports town.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 10:27am

Well the Heat doesn't do badly - when winning. Imo, the Dolphins trump all as you say - then 'Canes Football - then Gulfstream - then Hialea - and Marlins and the Harness Races duke it out, maybe with 'Canes baseball!

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 1:58pm

That was solid of Uggla to get involved and get Nunez into the dugout.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 10:01am

I have been wondering here out loud since last year:

is jeff samardjia ready to pitch in the majors? is Hendry ramming him down Lou's throat?

are there not better options in AAA?

Submitted by navigator
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 10:39am

No doubt Hendry is ramming. If Samardzija would go back to football, wouldn't that free up $10 mil?

Submitted by navigator
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 10:51am

I can name one who was devestated when Samardzija leapfrogged past him into AAA, former Cubs #2 prospect and 2006 Cubs minor league player of the year Donnie Veal who went from a AA All-Star the first half to a disastrous second half of the season when Samardzija was promoted ahead of him.

Of course, Veal is now with the Pirates where he is equally as not ready for primetime as Smardz is for the Cubs.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:01am

I'm so impressed with Tim Lincecum. The guy is 12-3 with a 2.14 ERA. That's Greg Maddux peak of his career good. Back to back Cy Youngs? If he keeps up like this I think it's a lock.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 1:40pm

He's ridiculous good. Batters' only hope against him is to guess hit.

Submitted by 10man
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:05pm

He's very appropriately nicknamed The Freak. He's got the type of talent that comes along once in every generation. I hope he stays as healthy as Maddux the rest of his career. Even when he's pitching against us, he's a joy to watch.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:13am

Agreed. Randy Wells will be ROY candidate with enough innings.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:49am

OPS last 30 days:

D Lee: 1.026
A Ramirez: 1.011
A Soriano: .945
M Bradley: .894
K Fukudome: .892
and
J Fox: .998

Even though Harden and Lilly have crappy ERAs for the last 30, their WHIPs are 1.23 and 1.31 respectively. August and September should be fun.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 1:25pm

Next time Sori plays anywhere in the IF they'll bunt it toward him to test him. Not exactly a confidence boost by Lou last night per his abilities there.

Submitted by Eric S
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 1:40pm

With added hindsight of Soriano's post-game comments, can you blame Lou for the multiple infield moves?

“Thank God they didn’t hit me a groundball,” Soriano said, “because I didn’t know what was going to happen.”

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/recap;_ylt=AhIoZAywAYT...

Dude sounds like jumping out of the way or curling into the fetal position may have been distinct possibilities.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 1:56pm

So one of our top-paid Cubs, at 16 mil/year this year, is not quit sure about playing the game of baseball.

Super.

Submitted by Wes
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 2:33pm

In the infield, no less, where he played for the first 20 or so years that he played the game.

Yes, third isn't the same as second, but if you've taken a routine grounder in your life, it doesn't really matter what side of the infield you stand on.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 2:34pm

Nobody else here thinks that what he is referring to is the fact that he hasn't worked on his infield defense since he moved to the outfield four years ago? Don't we always talk about how playing baseball is enormously dependent upon preparation? He's been preparing himself (presumably) to play outfield, not the infield (clearly).

Plus, it's hard to hop when pulling in a grounder.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 3:01pm

Plus, it's hard to hop when pulling in a grounder.

The most important part of your argument.

Submitted by ddp33
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 3:12pm

this is kind of funny (assuming patton has a "groin injury"):

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/08/82_mino...

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 4:06pm

Astros 2, stl 0...final

back to first

Submitted by 10man
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:07pm

Someone remind me again why Heilman is still allowed to pitch past the 6th inning??

Submitted by Pell Mell
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:07pm

Aaron F. Heilman to Cody F. Ross. It's like the worst of all worlds. Like a Sam Neill movie scored by the Spin Doctors. Bleah

Submitted by Pell Mell
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:09pm

sorry dbl post

Submitted by Eric S
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:26pm

Alright Gregg - time for the redemption song

Submitted by 10man
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:43pm

Definitely redeemed himself there. NOT!

Submitted by Eric S
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:54pm

Yep. That kind of sucked in a Yoko Ono covers the best of Bob Marley way.

Submitted by Eric S
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:27pm

double-post. catch the fever.

Submitted by 10man
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:27pm

Jake Fox consistently proving why Milton was such a bad signing.

Submitted by Fireball
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:43pm

Hey give me a $3mil contract. I can go in there and tumble cookies up there just like Gregg!

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:44pm

gregg throws 38 pitches yesterday...go get em again today kid.

cubs lose...brilliant. i guess marmol was busy.

jeff stevens approves.

Submitted by 10man
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:45pm

look at the bright side: he gets a day-off tomorrow.

Submitted by tem99
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:44pm

Good lord. Terrible f'n loss.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:50pm

Helluva series there by Gregg and the bullpen....

Submitted by Iowa Cub
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:57pm

12 runs in 12.1 innings. Awesome.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:59pm

Congratulations boys. We've all had our first colonoscopy.

Submitted by MikeVail
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:55pm

Everything bad happens when the Cubs play the Marlins - unbelievable.

Submitted by CA-Phil
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 7:02pm

In the role of Steve Bartman, please welcome Kevin Gregg.

Submitted by Pell Mell
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:56pm

Ugh. I need therapy

Submitted by dc60124
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 7:03pm

makes one wonder if gregg is still pitching for the marlins...

although, 2 runs in 9 innings just ain't good enough. several missed opportunities; too bad for dempster, he deserved better.

on to cincy, where an awful team awaits. thank you, schedule makers.

Submitted by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 7:15pm

This loss is all on Lou! Gregg threw 40+ pitches last night, obviously struggled against his old team, and should have been unavailable for this game. He was set to fail even before he got on the mound... Lou is pissing me off with his stupidity more and more with each passing retarded move...

Submitted by blockhead25
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 8:23pm

The entire bullpen was burnt. Do you really put Grabow or Marshall, pitching for the thrid day in a row, in a position they aren't used to? Gregg sucked, but Lou really had no other legitimate choice....the bullpen was destroyed with Zambrano's short performance yesterday.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 8:37pm

marmol, marshall, stevens...save guzman for later rather than earlier...

there were better options than gregg, imo...

this is a deja-vu converstaion with similar shades to the use of stevens back on tuesday. big hurry to use stevens after almost a week off only to not use him since...4 days off. go figure.

Submitted by blockhead25
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:24pm

You truly must be kidding about Marmol? How in the heck was he a better option after 2 equally horrid performances the previous two days. Gregg at least had not pitched on Friday.

Marshall was used the previous two days and hasn't been a closer before...and is used to facing lefties recently.

Stevens...I don't know. I don't think putting a minor leaguer in closer situation in a pennant race is better than Gregg there.

I could buy Stevens or Marshall over Heimann (although based on numbers, Heilmann was the right pick). But based on the use of the bullpen the previous two days, I really think Gregg was the only legitimate choice.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:28pm

im pretty sure the main point of contention is gregg threw almost 40 pitches yesterday and was marched out less than 24 hours later to put in an inning.

yeah, i'd take marmol over gregg.

i'd let guzman close that day if that wasn't an option...

i wouldn't be thrilled with marshall/stevens closing, but hey...use them earlier in the game....whatever.

Submitted by blockhead25
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 10:05pm

Marmol pitched 23 on Friday and 22 on Saturday...that's a heck of a lot for two straight outings, especially when it was two straight awful outings. I'd take Gregg over Marmol there 100 out of 100 times.

Guzman makes more sense...still totally disagree about Marshall.Stevens closing though.

Submitted by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:03pm

If Lou would just take a gander at Rob G's handy bullpen usage chart, he would see that a better move (after getting 6 great innings out of Dempster) would have been to use Stevens in the 7th, Marshall in the 8th and Guzman as the closer. Samardzija and Gregg should have been unavailable today due to their high pitch counts. I could also see possibly using Heilman again in the 9th, given his success and presumed confidence after closing one out rather easily yesterday. Gregg was obviously laboring last night and how could his confidence not be shot after getting 2 quick Ks and then giving up 3 runs? Bad performance + almost 40 pitches = not available the next day. Lou thinks outside the box when it comes to putting Marshall in left and moving Soriano around the infield like he is Timmy Lupus, so why can't he see that Gregg was not the right choice there?

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:23pm

Maybe Lou thought it was a good idea to get Gregg back on the field as possible after blowing it last night? Doesn't make sense to me, but I'm running out of ideas.

Maybe Lou just has no confidence in Stevens (which begs the question, why bother to call him up at all).

Submitted by billybucks
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 7:17pm

What's the free agent market for closers like next year?

Gregg is a basket case on the road, Marmol can't throw a strike -- doesn't bode well for September.

When Gregg blows saves, it not on bloops or bad luck -- he gives up f'ckin' rockets.

Still -- I agree with the earlier comment -- after last night's game and pitch count, I didn't think Lout would use Gregg tonight.

Woof -- would have been a big win....

Submitted by The Joe
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 7:53pm

That's why we got B.J. Ryan.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 7:49pm

Submitted by ddp33 on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 11:36am.
the cubs currently have just 4 starters on the roster and are carrying an extra bullpen arm... dont you think a pitcher is more likely to go down tues when gorzelanny is activated? stevens or samardzija? depends on how much the bullpen is used in the next few days, but i am more inclined to think a pitcher would go before a 4th outfielder, and one of two defensively sound outfielders on the team. or maybe jeff baker and his .216 avg (w the cubs) and 3 years service time mark inching closer.

by the way, when does miles have to come back? isn't his 20 day dl stint almost up? what are the team's options there?

====================================

DDP33: If Aaron Miles spends the full 20 days allowed on a minor league rehab (it's 20 days max for position players and 30 days max for pitchers), his last day at AAA Iowa will be Tuesday. At that point, the Cubs can either reactivate him, release him, trade him, or leave him to rot on the DL until 9/1 (when rosters expand).

He is owed about $700K for the balance of the 2009 season plus another $2.7M for next season, so if they release him and he signs with another club (like STL) for the MLB minimum (prorated about $100K left in 2009 and the full $400K in 2010), the Cubs would be on the hook for about $2.9M over the next two seasons. If they can find another club interested in acquiring him in a trade, the Cubs would still almost certainly have to pay a substantial portion of his remaining salary 2009-10, but at least it might be less than $2.9M.

As for Jeff Baker, the Cubs can outright him without Baker having the right to refuse the assignment up through 8/14. Beginning on 8/15, Baker will have accrued three years of MLB Service Time, and if he were to be outrighted to the minors 8/15 or later he could be a FA either immediately or after the conclusion of the regular season (player option).

If he does get outrighted on or after 8/15 and opts to be a FA immediately, he gives up his 2009 MLB contract and the Cubs would owe him nothing further, so he would likely accept the outright assignment and defer his right to be a FA until after the season (most players do this if they get outrighted during the season).

On the other hand, if Baker is not claimed off waivers and accepts an outright assignment 8/15 or later and defers his right to be a FA until after the end of the regular season but then gets added back to the Cubs 40-man roster before the end of the regular season, he cannot be a FA.

And if Baker were to get outrighted prior to 8/15, he cannot be a FA and the Cubs keep control of him (he would be on the Iowa roster), and if that happens, he would almost certainly get an NRI to ST in 2010 and would be available at Iowa in 2010 if the Cubs wish to bring him up sometime during next season. 

Submitted by ddp33
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:47pm

thank you, as always, for the info!

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 8:13pm

Submitted by The Joe on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 6:53pm.
That's why we got B.J. Ryan

==================================

Joe: If the Cubs don't add B. J. Ryan to their 25-man roster by 8/12 he can opt out of his minor league contract and be a FA, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Cubs bring him up much sooner than that. Possibly this week.

Ryan wasn't at Fitch Park very long before the Cubs realized his mechanics didn't need a whole lot of tweaking (a lot of his problems are mental), so his being at Iowa is just a matter of showing he can get outs and throw strikes, and so far (albeit just three appearances) he has gotten outs (3.1 IP, no runs, no hits, 2/3 BB/K), but he has thrown only 50% of his pitches for strikes (48 pitches thrown in three games, only 24 strikes). However, he did throw 12 pitches (eight strikes) in his one perfect inning yesterday. 

Given how Kevin Gregg imploded the past two games, Piniella may want to try a Gregg/Ryan co-closer thing, and if that doesn't work, there is always the fearless Angel Guzman.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:15pm

Hey Gregg...

*middle finger*

Submitted by billybucks
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:36pm

Perfect.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:33pm

file under miscellaneous:

Brewers Corey Hart to the DL, he had an emergency appendectomy sunday. Ouchie.

on a related note, Kevin Gregg gave me a severe tummy ache today.

Submitted by billybucks
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:38pm

Any update on Geo?

And, seriously -- what do we do for a closr next year?

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:40pm

Kerry Wood?
Michael Wuertz?
Carlos Marmol?

*groan*

Submitted by blockhead25
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 10:07pm

I think Marmol lost his shot at closer...even for next year.
Guzman maybe, but you need to start him in that position from the beginning of Spring Training.

Ultimately though, our closer will be Mr. Gregg. I can deal.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 7:22am

Guzman is our best and maybe only option. Having followed this team long enough, I think we're all half-expecting him to grab his elbow after a pitch one of these days.

Back up the prospect truck for Joe Nathan or Heath Bell, maybe?

Submitted by ddp33
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:46pm

Soto is scheduled to rehab in tennessee with the AA team tomorrow

http://tennessee.smokies.milb.com/news/article.jsp...

Submitted by billybucks
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:54pm

Hurry back Geo...and bring Cashner with you.

Submitted by billybucks
on Sun, 08/02/2009 - 9:53pm

Gregg has 5 blown saves...all on the road.

Maybe not the best idea to pitch him today in the Cubs house of horrors after throwing a ton of pitches yesterday.

They were 90 feet away from one of the most brutal sweeps in memory.

One out of three in Florida is better than usual.

Submitted by Old and Blue
on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 8:41am

The worst thing for me was I knew he'd give up a home run to erase the lead. I just wasn't expecting the second one quite so soon after that. The thing with Gregg is he just isn't a closer. Maybe I'm missing something but what is his out pitch?

Submitted by Ryno
on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 12:58pm

To be fair, Kevin Gregg is a lagging economic indicator.

Submitted by Cubster
on Mon, 08/03/2009 - 7:23am

under the radar?

AA/Tenn RF Tyler Colvin just set a southern league record with an 11 for 11 consecutive hit streak

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.js...
---
lefty John Gaub (from the DeRosa trade) has an 0.66 ERA in 13 IP at AAA Iowa

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