Monday, May 28, 2007

Eyre down, Pignatiello up

No, it didn't happen. Not yet. But it should.

Eyre shouldn't be costing the big club any more games while he tries to figure his shit out. Let him do that in Iowa.

Meanwhile, let's get someone that can throw and help the bullpen. Believe it or not, the bullpen isn't bad, Lou just needs to learn how to use it better.

Sure, we all had Eyre and Howry pegged as the two-headed eighth inning monster and Ryan Dempster in the ninth. But, all Lou needs to do is make a couple of adjustments and the bullpen can actually be halfway decent.

Guzman (as reliever): 12 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 11 K; 2.25 ERA, 1.08 WHIP
Wuertz: 22 IP, 15 H, 4 ER, 18 K; .190 BAA, 1.64 ERA, 1.18 WHIP
Dempster: 22.2 IP, 15 H, 10 ER, 22 K; .192 BAA, 3.97 ERA, 1.01 WHIP

Wuertz hasn't blown a save all year and has four holds. He should be in the eighth. Angel Guzman has steady enough numbers to be the seventh inning guy when the starters are unable to get there. Ryan Dempster is doing just fine as the closer, he's converted 11/12 saves; even Torres has blown three saves and Hoffman and Valverde have blown two a piece.

Bobby Howry can stay on the team and pitch in fewer meaningful situations until he finds his groove and Eyre can figure out his stuff in Iowa. Meanwhile, as far as lefty arms, we should have Will Ohman and Carmen Pignatiello.

Ohman (vs. lefties): 3-22 (.136), 0 HR, 1 RBI, 11 K
Pignatiello (AA/AAA combined): 21.2 IP, 13 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 16 K; .165 BAA, 0.78 WHIP.

Pignatiello is a tall 24-year-old left hander that has been with the Cubs organization since he was 18. Pignatiello pitched well in each year, climbing the minor league ranks slowly but surely. Pignatiello made six appearances (5.1 IP) at Spring Training this year and allowed just three hits and one earned run. He deserves a shot; he can't be worse than Eyre.

The final spot in the bullpen can go to Marmol or Marshall (when Miller returns) or whatever. Lou's got a good bullpen. It's just the guys that are good are not who he thought it would be.

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