So, Who’s In Danger Of Being The Next Cubs Reliever To Be Bounced From The Bullpen
So yeah, Pedro Strop gave up a double and then threw a walk-off wild pitch on Sunday, when the Cubs lost the series against the Rangers. But I’m not worried about Pedro Strop. He’s literally been the most consistent reliever in Cubs history. Anyway, the shitty bullpen was the story from the weekend and really there two main guys who looked awful, but I’ll include a third guy who still doesn’t give me any confidence.
So, right before the start of the regular season, the Cubs DFA’d lefty Brian Duensing. The Cubs also optioned Ian Happ to triple-A, so I guess they really were serious about this whole sense of urgency thing. But what if Mike Montgomery, Carl Edwards Jr. and Tyler Chatwood keep pitching poorly? Who’s in danger of getting bounced from the Cubs bullpen?
Let’s begin with Chatwood, because his first appearance of 2019 was interesting. He came into Sunday’s game in the sixth inning and quickly got two outs, but then served up a home run to Jeff Mathis, who isn’t very good. All right, fine, at least Chatwood didn’t walk anyone. Then, Chatwood walked the leadoff hitter in the seventh, but it was all right because he then got a double play.
But still, you can’t rely on Chatwood because with two outs he allowed a single and another walk. So, one home run, a single and two walks in 1.2 innings. The sad thing is that you will usually take that from Chatwood at this point, but that’s still a pretty bad outing. He’s making a bunch of money and can’t just be sent to the minors. Time for an “injury” if Chatwood keeps coming in and letting guys on base.
After Chatwood, Mike Montgomery came in and was even worse. The lefty gave up a game-tying triple and then a go-ahead two run homer. Before Montgomery was pulled he gave up a walk. Got no outs and that was after allowing a two-run homer on Opening Day too.
This is a really small sample size from 2018, but these are the last numbers we have from Montgomery from a full season. Last year, he was pretty bad as a relief pitcher, recording a 5.13 ERA in 26.1 innings. To be fair, in his career 152.1 innings, Montgomery has a 2.95 ERA coming out of the bullpen. So, who knows, maybe it was the back and forth from starting to the bullpen and an injury that made Montgomery bad as a reliever last season.
But there was also the issue that in his struggles as a relief pitcher in 2018, Montgomery wasn’t very good against left-handed hitters, posting a 6.48 ERA against them. Again, really small sample size of only 8.1 innings against LHH. Yet, during his entire career, Montgomery doesn’t have dominant numbers against left-handed hitters.
So, maybe Joe Maddon just has to find better spots to use Montgomery, but with a full rotation, Montgomery better fix his issues quick because the bullpen is his only role on the team as of now. And yes, he did start a tad behind in spring training because of a minor injury, but that whole sense of urgency thing. You can’t really have that mentality, while just hoping guys figure it out during the first month of the season.
And that leads us to Carl Edwards Jr., who apparently just forgot how to do his new delivery.
Via Bleacher Nation.
During yesterday’s broadcast, Len Kasper shared that apparently MLB determined that Carl Edwards Jr.’s new hesitation delivery is illegal after the Rangers pitched a fit about it.
But the thing is, we know the delivery in general is not illegal, since he patterned it off of Clayton Kershaw and Kenley Jansen, who do the move all the time without issue.
What I think actually happened is that when Edwards deployed the delivery against the Rangers (he only got to do it on two pitches, because he can’t do it with runners on base), he really exaggerated the hesitation for some reason. Indeed, it was a full-on stop with his foot, stepping on the ground.
Here's a look at the Carl Edwards Jr. hesitation delivery from Saturday, which features an (illegal) full-on stop, plant, and then deliver. It has to be a little more smooth than this, as he was properly doing in the Spring. pic.twitter.com/ECDZ6Ce85k
— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) April 1, 2019
The new delivery from Edwards is supposed to help him out with command, but in his very first outing he, for whatever reason, just forgot to do it the right way and was indeed featuring an illegal delivery by stopping.
This was him back in spring training.
Carl's new delivery. pic.twitter.com/hiFfpR5tHS
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) March 1, 2019
Even in spring training Edwards had the hesitation, but on Saturday it was clearly exaggerated. You can’t do that. Against the rules.
So, what now? Cubs pitching Tommy Hottovy doesn’t want Edwards to revert back to his old delivery, but Edwards is already messing it up in games that count. Maybe he should be the one who should be in most danger of getting sent to the minors.
Depending on next few outings, don’t be surprised if the final incarnation of Edwards’ new delivery is figured out in Iowa. This is Edwards final optionable season. If Edwards is a work in progress, might be best to check in on status of another work in progress, Dillon Maples. https://t.co/JjIA2kgd0B
— Cubs Prospects – Bryan Smith (@cubprospects) April 1, 2019
Again, sense of urgency was preached all offseason and immediately little things are popping up that should have been addressed.
By the way, Edwards’ delivery, even when he does do it correctly, can’t be done when runners are on base. So, once a runner gets on, Edwards has to do his old delivery anyway.
#JoeyJack for the WIN. pic.twitter.com/TBQLHPYlmN
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) March 31, 2019
A shame that there weren’t any relievers available this offseason for the Cubs to sign.
Hopefully this group figures it out, or the Cubs are going to abuse that injured list this season and bringing up all the help they can from Triple-A.