Results tagged ‘ Kevin Gregg ’
5/17 Lineup & quick hits
Milton Bradley is back in the Cubs lineup after serving his one-game suspension. It’ll be LF Soriano, SS Theriot, CF Fukudome, 1B Lee, RF Bradley, C Soto, 3B Fontenot, 2B Scales and P Harden.
* Mike Fontenot is 0-for-13 in his last four games. Lou Piniella may talk to the infielder. “It’s a bigger adjustment than people think it is, especially at the big league level,” Piniella said about adjusting to being an everyday player. “Sometimes you start thinking a little too much. Most of the time, it’s the wrong thing to do.”
* Carlos Zambrano gave up two runs in the first inning in his rehab start Sunday for Class A Daytona in Dunedin, Fla. If all goes well, Zambrano will return to the Cubs rotation on Friday in San Diego. Don’t expect a complete game — more like six innings.
* Kevin Gregg’s hand was fine after he was hit by Hunter Pence’s single. “If we get in a save situation — assuming the trainer gives his OK — we’ll go with him today,” Piniella said.
Asked if he’d want to get Gregg into a game quickly after Saturday’s implosion when he gave up four runs, Piniella hesitated. “I’m not sure,” he said. Piniella was joking.
“We’ve got our plan set and barring an injury, we’re going to stay the way we are,” Piniella said. “We talked a week or 10 days ago about concentrating on putting a good bullpen together and we’re going to do that.”
– Carrie Muskat
5/16 Postgame notes
Kevin Gregg has a red mark from Hunter Pence’s single that struck the pitcher’s hand in the ninth on Saturday. No worries. “Hunter Pence is a wimp,” Gregg said. He was joking.
“When you take a four-run lead into the ninth — whether you score four or 14 — that should be more than enough to win a baseball game,” Lou Piniella said.
* Carlos Marmol has 11 holds this season, most in the Major Leagues.
* Ryan Theriot doubled in the first inning. Of his last 13 hits, nine have been for extra bases.
* Randy Wells has thrown 16 1/3 scoreless innings to start his Major League career, dating back to last year. All but one of those innings came with the Cubs, and it’s the longest scoreless streak to start a Cubs career since Jose Guzman threw 17 1/3 scoreless innings in 1993. Thanks, Elias Sports Bureau.
On Saturday, Wells held the Astros to four hits and walked three in six scoreless innings.
“Wells has pitched two outstanding games,” Piniella said. “He still doesn’t have a win. If he continues pitching like that, he’ll win quite a few games.”
* Alfonso Soriano has five game-winning RBI this year, and has hit safely in six of his last seven home games. He’s batting .323 in that stretch.
* The Cubs have won five in a row, their longest win streak since Sept. 10-16, 2008, when they also won five straight.
– Carrie Muskat
5/4 Postgame quick hits
Randy Wells tuned up for his first big league start by throwing three scoreless innings Monday night for Triple-A Iowa. Wells, who is expected to take Carlos Zambrano’s spot in the rotation Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, walked one and struck out two against Nashville. Cubs assistant GM Randy Bush was in attendance for the game.
* Ryan Theriot, who has played every game so far, may get Tuesday off. Lou Piniella said he planned on resting some of the regulars in the final game of this brief two-game set vs. the Giants. Koyie Hill will start behind the plate for the Cubs.
* Kevin Gregg converted his third straight save Monday. Carlos Marmol struck out two in the eighth — it’s the fifth time he has fanned two batters in one inning this season.
* The Cubs have won four straight since winning five in a row Sept. 10-16, 2008.
– Carrie Muskat
4/12 Quick hits – plus Soto update
Geovany Soto tested his right shoulder Sunday and was expected back behind the plate on Wednesday. Soto threw about 60 percent, and said he had no pain. He has not played since coming out of last Tuesday’s game in Houston. He’ll miss the home opener, but could be used in a double switch if needed on Monday.
Other notes:
* Kevin Gregg is still the closer, but Lou Piniella said he’s a little limited as to how he can use him. Piniella said once Gregg warms up and doesn’t get in the game, the right-hander’s knee tightens up on him. “What you’ll see probably from Gregg also is I won’t use him at all in the eighth inning,” Piniella said. “I wasn’t aware of that, and [knee issue] was communicated to me by the trainer and by Gregg yesterday.”
* The weather forecast for Monday calls for rain. Don’t expect the Cubs to take batting practice prior to their game against the Rockies because they won’t be arriving home until late because of the night game in Milwaukee.
– Carrie Muskat
Lou: 'Gregg is still our closer'
Carlos Marmol may have gotten the save Saturday night, but Kevin Gregg is still the Cubs’ closer. This week in Houston, Lou Piniella explained that he couldn’t afford to get both Gregg and Marmol up in the pen if he wasn’t going to use both pitchers. On Saturday, he had Marmol warm up just in case the Cubs rallied — and they did, taking the lead on Alfonso Soriano’s two-run homer in the ninth.
Marmol picked up his first save, ending the game with Prince Fielder looking at strike three.
“Gregg is still our closer,” Piniella said after the game. “I can’t get them both up [in the bullpen]. I said that the other night in Houston. I can’t afford to get them both up because I lose [both of] them. We got Marmol up just in case we tied or went ahead and that was the end of it.
“I said when the season started there will be opportunities for both of them,” Piniella said, “but believe me, tomorrow, if we get into a similar situation, Gregg will be the closer.”
– Carrie Muskat
Pecking order
One of the rites the Cubs still have to determine is who will carry the pink backpack to the bullpen. Carlos Marmol knows one thing — it won’t be him. The pitcher with the least amount of seniority is assigned the pack. Marmol is the only reliever who was on the Cubs’ Opening Day roster last year and will be on it this season.
“That’s quite the turnover,” Kevin Gregg said.
The backpack is loaded with gum, sunflower seeds, and any other goodies relievers need to get them through the game. We won’t know who has the responsibility until the roster is completed. If Rule 5 Draft pick David Patton makes the team, it would go to him.
The other thing still to be determined is where the relievers sit in the bullpen.
“I sit in the middle — the same spot I’ve been sitting in for three years,” Marmol said.
What about Gregg? Does he have a preference?
“I could care less,” he said. “I’m in a big league ballpark, I don’t care where I’m sitting. I’ll sit in the middle of the grass if they make me.”
– Carrie Muskat
And the Cubs' closer is …
… Kevin Gregg. Lou Piniella made the announcement Sunday, picking Gregg over Carlos Marmol. “I couldn’t go wrong either way,” Piniella said. Marmol admitted he was disappointed at the news. Gregg, who has saved 61 games the last two seasons with Florida, has not given up a run this spring in 8 1/3 innings. Marmol has pitched in seven games, and given up four runs on six hits and one walk while hitting five. Both have struck out 10.
– Carrie Muskat
Gregg vs. Marmol
Lou Piniella has said he’ll name the Cubs closer on Sunday. Carlos Marmol has eight career saves, and last year was named to the National League All-Star team. This spring, he’s pitched in seven games, given up six hits, walked one, and struck out 10 in eight innings. He’s also hit five batters. Kevin Gregg has appeared in nine games, given up four hits, walked two, struck out 10 over 8 1/3 innings. He also has a track record with 61 saves in the last two seasons combined.
In a poll of Chicago beat writers, the vote was split — two for Marmol, two for Gregg. Who would you pick?
– Carrie Muskat
3/22 Quick hits
Lou Piniella and pitching coach Larry Rothschild want to see how Carlos Marmol and Kevin Gregg do in back to back games before announcing who will be the closer. Marmol went one inning on Sunday, and continued to have trouble with his breaking pitches in the dry Arizona weather.
Other notes:
- Carlos Zambrano went six innings on Sunday, and will have one more long outing of 80-85 pitches before a shorter one to prepare for Opening Day April 6.
- Derrek Lee still can’t run full speed because of his leg injury. Geovany Soto may catch Rich Harden on Wednesday in the Minor League camp so he can get more work.
- Expect roster moves Tuesday. The Cubs have 42 players in camp.
– Carrie Muskat
Gregg: "I want to close"
Asked if he wants to close, Cubs pitcher Carlos Marmol said: “I’ll pitch wherever they put me. I want to be a closer but if they put me in the situation where I have to pitch the eighth, I’ll go out there.”
Well, Kevin Gregg made it clear he wants the job.
“I want it. I want to close,” Gregg said Saturday. “I have no qualms about saying that. I’m comfortable there.”
He’s feeling even more comfortable because his knee has given him no problems whatsoever this spring, and has helped him get better stability, which has resulted in a better breaking ball.
Both pitched Saturday against the Angels, and Gregg had a 1-2-3 inning while Marmol loaded the bases, giving up a hit and hitting two batters before he struck out two. Cubs manager Lou Piniella will make the final decision.
– Carrie Muskat
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