The 2016 Cubs: SPLOOGE SPLOOGE SPLOOGE

[Quality Start Machine]

I think they're only keeping Federowicz on the big league roster to give them some sort of handicap.

[SKO]

I think they're only keeping Federowicz on the big league roster to give them some sort of handicap.

Same with Clayton Richard, I guess

[Saul Goodman]

I think they're only keeping Federowicz on the big league roster to give them some sort of handicap.

Same with Clayton Richard, I guess

Surprise: Clayton Richard gave up runs. Ready the firebarn.

[Quality Start Machine]

I think they're only keeping Federowicz on the big league roster to give them some sort of handicap.

Same with Clayton Richard, I guess

Not only does he suck, but every time they put his face on the video board, it creeps me the fuck out.

[SKO]

I think they're only keeping Federowicz on the big league roster to give them some sort of handicap.

Same with Clayton Richard, I guess

Not only does he suck, but every time they put his face on the video board, it creeps me the fuck out.

The theory was advanced by Eli and Slak that Joe is "Schlittering" Richard and forcing Theo's hand by playing him until Theo gets Joe an actual LOOGY. I'm good with last night if it brought us a day closer to Andrew Miller or Sean Doolittle or something.

[Quality Start Machine]

Lost in the bullpen suckage was the absolutely brutal night Montero had behind the plate.

[R-V]

I think they're only keeping Federowicz on the big league roster to give them some sort of handicap.

Same with Clayton Richard, I guess

Not only does he suck, but every time they put his face on the video board, it creeps me the fuck out.

The theory was advanced by Eli and Slak that Joe is "Schlittering" Richard and forcing Theo's hand by playing him until Theo gets Joe an actual LOOGY. I'm good with last night if it brought us a day closer to Andrew Miller or Sean Doolittle or something.

Options 1 and 2 here may also be worth trying in between the Richard DFA and the trade deadline.

First of all, how about Gerardo Concepcion? Between Tennessee and Iowa this year he has an ERA of 0.66. He's given up just two runs on eleven hits, and only three of those hits came from left-handed hitters. Against lefties with Iowa (sample size alert) he's allowed a batting average of just .167 while striking out four in 3.2 innings. I'd rather see him get more seasoning in Iowa first, but if the Cubs need an option in the short term, he could be a good one.

So could Rob Zastryzny. Right now Zastryzny is a starter, but even as a starter he is markedly more effective against left handed hitters. With Iowa, for example, in 7.2 IP against RHH he has an ERA of 4.70 on a batting average against of .292. Against lefties those numbers drop to 2.08 and .250 respectively. Long term I think the Cubs will want to keep him as a starter, but short term some work out of a major league bullpen would probably be good experience.

[SKO]

I think they're only keeping Federowicz on the big league roster to give them some sort of handicap.

Same with Clayton Richard, I guess

Not only does he suck, but every time they put his face on the video board, it creeps me the fuck out.

The theory was advanced by Eli and Slak that Joe is "Schlittering" Richard and forcing Theo's hand by playing him until Theo gets Joe an actual LOOGY. I'm good with last night if it brought us a day closer to Andrew Miller or Sean Doolittle or something.

Options 1 and 2 here may also be worth trying in between the Richard DFA and the trade deadline.

First of all, how about Gerardo Concepcion? Between Tennessee and Iowa this year he has an ERA of 0.66. He's given up just two runs on eleven hits, and only three of those hits came from left-handed hitters. Against lefties with Iowa (sample size alert) he's allowed a batting average of just .167 while striking out four in 3.2 innings. I'd rather see him get more seasoning in Iowa first, but if the Cubs need an option in the short term, he could be a good one.

So could Rob Zastryzny. Right now Zastryzny is a starter, but even as a starter he is markedly more effective against left handed hitters. With Iowa, for example, in 7.2 IP against RHH he has an ERA of 4.70 on a batting average against of .292. Against lefties those numbers drop to 2.08 and .250 respectively. Long term I think the Cubs will want to keep him as a starter, but short term some work out of a major league bullpen would probably be good experience.

A try out for Concepcion is fine by me, it seems like the Cubs have finally abandoned any hope of him being a starter so if he can throw strikes I don't know why they shouldn't see if he can sink or swim at the majors. I'm not sure what additional minor league seasoning does for a reliever who isn't having control problems or trying to develop an extra pitch.

Zastryzny should probably just stay where he is if they think he has any shot at being a starter eventually. They're not really at all desperate so interrupting his development seems like an overreaction to a situation that's bit them in the ass exactly once all year.

[Quality Start Machine]

I think they're only keeping Federowicz on the big league roster to give them some sort of handicap.

Same with Clayton Richard, I guess

Not only does he suck, but every time they put his face on the video board, it creeps me the fuck out.

The theory was advanced by Eli and Slak that Joe is "Schlittering" Richard and forcing Theo's hand by playing him until Theo gets Joe an actual LOOGY. I'm good with last night if it brought us a day closer to Andrew Miller or Sean Doolittle or something.

Options 1 and 2 here may also be worth trying in between the Richard DFA and the trade deadline.

First of all, how about Gerardo Concepcion? Between Tennessee and Iowa this year he has an ERA of 0.66. He's given up just two runs on eleven hits, and only three of those hits came from left-handed hitters. Against lefties with Iowa (sample size alert) he's allowed a batting average of just .167 while striking out four in 3.2 innings. I'd rather see him get more seasoning in Iowa first, but if the Cubs need an option in the short term, he could be a good one.

So could Rob Zastryzny. Right now Zastryzny is a starter, but even as a starter he is markedly more effective against left handed hitters. With Iowa, for example, in 7.2 IP against RHH he has an ERA of 4.70 on a batting average against of .292. Against lefties those numbers drop to 2.08 and .250 respectively. Long term I think the Cubs will want to keep him as a starter, but short term some work out of a major league bullpen would probably be good experience.

A try out for Concepcion is fine by me, it seems like the Cubs have finally abandoned any hope of him being a starter so if he can throw strikes I don't know why they shouldn't see if he can sink or swim at the majors. I'm not sure what additional minor league seasoning does for a reliever who isn't having control problems or trying to develop an extra pitch.

Zastryzny should probably just stay where he is if they think he has any shot at being a starter eventually. They're not really at all desperate so interrupting his development seems like an overreaction to a situation that's bit them in the ass exactly once all year.

Yeah, I agree. There's a need for at least a LOOGY in the pen, but it's not worth boiling the ocean over.

[Eli]

I don't think people know how horrible Concepcion has been for the past few years. Like, shouldn't-have-still-been-in-the-system horrible. It'll take a lot more than two months for me to think he should be anywhere near the major-league roster.

[SKO]

I don't think people know how horrible Concepcion has been for the past few years. Like, shouldn't-have-still-been-in-the-system horrible. It'll take a lot more than two months for me to think he should be anywhere near the major-league roster.

For what it's worth, Arguello and a few others have said his struggles largely stemmed from the Cubs asking him to throw a changeup and add pitches to his repertoire in order to potentially become a starter some day. Since they've abandoned that idea and just had him throw two pitches and work primarily as a lefty specialist, he's been a lot better. But yes I agree I don't trust him much and would prefer a veteran alternative that isn't Clayton Richard.

[Eli]

I don't think people know how horrible Concepcion has been for the past few years. Like, shouldn't-have-still-been-in-the-system horrible. It'll take a lot more than two months for me to think he should be anywhere near the major-league roster.

For what it's worth, Arguello and a few others have said his struggles largely stemmed from the Cubs asking him to throw a changeup and add pitches to his repertoire in order to potentially become a starter some day. Since they've abandoned that idea and just had him throw two pitches and work primarily as a lefty specialist, he's been a lot better. But yes I agree I don't trust him much and would prefer a veteran alternative that isn't Clayton Richard.

I don't have time read things on line, so I hadn't heard that. But hopefully it's true and he can actually be a useful player for a while.

[SKO]

I don't think people know how horrible Concepcion has been for the past few years. Like, shouldn't-have-still-been-in-the-system horrible. It'll take a lot more than two months for me to think he should be anywhere near the major-league roster.

For what it's worth, Arguello and a few others have said his struggles largely stemmed from the Cubs asking him to throw a changeup and add pitches to his repertoire in order to potentially become a starter some day. Since they've abandoned that idea and just had him throw two pitches and work primarily as a lefty specialist, he's been a lot better. But yes I agree I don't trust him much and would prefer a veteran alternative that isn't Clayton Richard.

I don't have time read things on line, so I hadn't heard that. But hopefully it's true and he can actually be a useful player for a while.

Yeah, it sounds like the Cubs tried for a long time to make him stick as a starter because that was how he was originally projected and they spent a lot of money on him. Once they accepted that wasn't going to work and made him a specialist he's thrived. Could be a fluke I suppose but it sounds like he sure has the stuff to be a pretty effective LOOGY.

[Saul Goodman]

They can have their slapdick infielder's leadoff home run. I'm fine with winning 10-1.

[Saul Goodman]

They can have their slapdick infielder's leadoff home run. I'm fine with winning 10-1.

Fine, 2-1 works too.