Before Ryan Dempster's perfect ninth in a save situation Friday, the Cubs were considering moving him to the rotation and installing Carlos Marmol as their closer. Logic can go completely out the window when Lou Piniella feels the need to shake things up. Marmol has closer-type stuff, but he's been a starter almost his entire career, and given his history of command problems, it would seem to be necessary to ease him into any sort of important bullpen role. Dempster had ERAs over 6.00 in his final two years as a starter before becoming a reliever upon returning from Tommy John surgery in 2004. He's no elite closer, but he's gotten the job done this year outside of one horrible outing Thursday. There's no reason to take him out of the role right now. May. 20 - 2:02 pm et
Ryan Dempster said after Sunday's game that he would be joining the rotation, then met with manager Lou Piniella and told the media 30 minutes later that he'd be remaining in the bullpen. So, we're not the only ones who can't figure out what is going on in Chicago. It looks like Dempster will continue to close for now, but this idea of putting him in the rotation is a legitimate threat. If it happens, he'd lose almost all of his value. We thought the same thing about Jason Marquis, of course, but Dempster really would be a lousy bet as a starting pitcher. May. 20 - 8:32 pm et
Now, for me, the fantasy implications are Nil because I have already obtained Marmol. But seriously, WHAT THE FUCK??? Dempster, aside from the occassional bad game or two every few months, has been relatively solid in the role. He's been a model of consistency as a closer since he grabbed the job about 2 years ago - a far cry from the LaTroy Hawkins disaster, or the sweating endured with every Borowski appearance.
This one isn't making ANY sense to me - although perhaps somebody who can see inside Pinella's skull could explain THIS one.
Dealing with a bullpen has consistently been a problem for Pinella. Yes, I know, he won his World Series because of the Nasty Boys with the Reds; but, that falls more under 'blind squirrel finds nut' than anything else. And that led to his love affair with Norm Charlton, who he would bring into the games long after he had nothing left. Go to 1997. The Mariners blow a game to the Red Sox either on July 30th or July 31st. The reaction of the club: Trade Jose Cruz Jr. to the Blue Jays for Mike Timlin, who was an arsonist at the time, and also trade Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek to Boston for the King of the Arsonists: Heath(Drive off the)cliff Slocumb. He never had much talent in Tampa, but he'd find ways to mis-manage his bullpen to defeat on a regular basis. With the Cubs bullpen, Sweet Lou should be on suicide watch by mid-June. He looked like he was close to that point on Thursday against the Mets.
'Ric Flair wishes he was Paul Roma.' Congratulations Paul on winning the Idiotic Comment of the Decade Award.
Originally posted by cfgbHe's no elite closer, but he's gotten the job done this year outside of one horrible outing Thursday. There's no reason to take him out of the role right now. May. 20 - 2:02 pm et
Obviously someone agrees with RotoWorld - I know I do in one league that's for sure: http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-dempstersdoubleswitch&prov=ap&type=lgns He's back to the pen without starting. I think he's solid as a closer. The blowups just seem so much worse when they happen with him, but no more frequent than you'd expect.
Originally posted by redsoxnationDealing with a bullpen has consistently been a problem for Pinella. Yes, I know, he won his World Series because of the Nasty Boys with the Reds; but, that falls more under 'blind squirrel finds nut' than anything else. And that led to his love affair with Norm Charlton, who he would bring into the games long after he had nothing left. Go to 1997. The Mariners blow a game to the Red Sox either on July 30th or July 31st. The reaction of the club: Trade Jose Cruz Jr. to the Blue Jays for Mike Timlin, who was an arsonist at the time, and also trade Derek Lowe and Jason Varitek to Boston for the King of the Arsonists: Heath(Drive off the)cliff Slocumb.
You didn't even mention the Bobby Ayala-era.
Holy fuck shit motherfucker shit. Read comics. Fuck shit shit fuck shit I sold out when I did my job. Fuck fuck fuck shit fuck. Sorry had to do it....
*snip*
Revenge of the Sith = one thumb up from me. Fuck shit. I want to tittie fuck your ass. -- The Guinness. to Cerebus
Of course. 90+ games the past 12 years and one title? Plus a fan base that is half heartedly behind this team? Gimme something more than that for my money. Multiple titles and a fan base excited to be there.