Ricketts should keep eye on the ball

Tom Ricketts is a smart, likeable guy. He talks a good game for the most part, but most of what I hear lately has very little to do with winning baseball in 2010. I heard a Lou soundbite from the Cubs Convention: ‘We have a good team up here in Chicago’ he said. And Lou [...]

January 20, 2010 Tags: 2010 Chicago Cubs, Aaron Miles, Andy MacPhail, Carlos Zambrano, Crane Kenney, Cubs Convention, Jim Hendry, Kevin Gregg, L flag, Milton Bradley, Ted Lilly, Tom Ricketts Posted in: Hot Stove, Jim Hendry, lineup, Lou Piniella, observations, players, playoffs, Ricketts family, Team Ownership No Comments

Kevin Gregg versus Kerry Wood

In April I tried to give now former Cubs closer Kevin Gregg a chance to prove himself. But instead by June he validated all of my original concerns – the guy just isn’t a “winning” closer. He has given up 12 home runs in the closer role, for an average of a hefty 1.9 per 9 [...]

August 18, 2009 Tags: Angel Guzman, Carlos Marmol, closer, Cubs, Kerry Wood, Kevin Gregg, Sean Marshall, wait until next year Posted in: game strategy, lineup, Lou Piniella, observations, players, stats No Comments

Cubs need to re-think the bullpen

If 2009 is going to be a year focused on winning the World Series, then the Cubs brass has to re-evaluate their bullpen now. What they have is a mess. I feared when they acquired Kevin Gregg that he would be relied on as the everyday closer. What I had hoped for is that his [...]

June 6, 2009 Tags: Angel Guzman, Carlos Marmol, closer, Fantasy Baseball, Kevin Gregg, World Baseball Classic, World Series Posted in: Fantasy Baseball, lineup, players, roster No Comments

It is still early for Kevin Gregg

It is early. Very early. Just a reminder: 158 games remain in the regular season. Now, I’m not a necessarily a big Kevin Gregg fan. I only know him by his numbers from last year and looking at those, I’m not impressed. He would be fine as closer for a lesser team. But for a major [...]

April 10, 2009 Tags: Kevin Gregg, Lou Piniella, Milwaukee Brewers, Rich Hill, Scott Eyre Posted in: game day, game strategy, lineup, Lou Piniella, observations, players No Comments

Lou taps Gregg for closer

I am surprised. I thought for sure Carlos Marmol the heir apparent, and newly acquired Kevin Gregg the insurance policy. Wrong. Some of the arguments pro and con that I am hearing today make sense to me, but I’m not so sure about Gregg. I have never seen him pitch – I only know him by [...]

March 30, 2009 Tags: Carlos Marmol, closer, Kevin Gregg Posted in: controversy, lineup, players No Comments