Yardbarker: Kevin Gregg

Without option-based contracts, not much early Cubs activity

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:36:57 -0500

Two days after the World Series, and nothing has happened so far to harm or help us. There is a reason behind this: much of the activity you see at the moment pertains to players with contracts specifying "Club options for 2010". At the risk of sounding remedial, take the case of Jermaine Dye as an example. His contract has a club option for 2010 - The White Sox had to decide whether to pick up his option for the pre-determined amount or buy it out for the pre-dete...

Will Lilly's Surgery Affect the Cubs' Off-Season?

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:45:00 -0500

Congratulations to the New York Yankees on their 27th World Series Championship. The 2009 season ended exactly one month after the Cubs campaign came to an end ... Warm up the oven, it's time for the Hot Stove Season. The 15-day free-agent filing period begins on Thursday ... teams have exclusive negotiating rights for the next 15 days in order to try and re-sign their would-be free agents. The Cubs are expected to re-sign John Grabow to a contract at some point over the next two weeks...

Graphing Gregg's Cutter

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 20:34:00 -0500

Kevin Gregg started throwing a cutter on August 15. Since that appearance, he hadn't thrown a single splitter. Until the final game against the Nationals on August 27. Here's a ginormous picture containing four graphs. Spin movement along with three views of the pitch flights.Pitches, not just the cutter - you'll get his sliders and fastballs and that one splitter. Plus one sinker. Take the split/sink flights with a grain of salt - that's just one pitch while the other three a...

Sullivan: Gregg Is Fourth Worst Cubs Closer

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 10:31:54 -0500

Paul Sullivan names Kevin Gregg the fourth worst Cubs closer since 1988. Coincidentally, Paul Sullivan is fourth on Kevin Gregg's list of worst Chicago journalists since 1988.Anywhere, here's Sullivan's full list:1. LaTroy Hawkins2. Goose Gossage3. Mel Rojas4. Kevin Gregg5. Dave SmithHe also takes the opportunity to call people names ("wacko Turk Wendell") and make note of congenital birth defects ("six-fingered flop Antonio Alfonseca").

Cubs Fans Not Happy: Twitter Edition

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:16:46 -0500

Our friend 'Duk [Big League Stew] has pointed out via Twittergraphs that last night's blown save by Cubs "closer" Kevin Gregg sent the micro-blogging service into a veritable meltdown with Small Bear related angst.Behold: Moments after the BSOP the top tweets included... suck, ****, blows, **** and #cubs. Yup. That about sums up being a Cub fan, in case you were wondering. (Click image for full size...)Also, follow us on Twitter

Gregg out as closer; Too little, too late?

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:44:15 -0500

What we’ve long expected has finally happened: Kevin Gregg is no longer the closer. Last night he blew his third save of the month - and sixth overall - and allowed his twelfth home run. The Cubs have fallen 6 behind the Cards with just over 6 weeks left in the season. Is this move even going to make a difference? Not to let Gregg off the hook, but last night’s loss can also be blamed on the offense, which has reverted back to their April form. There are still individuals ...

Closing The Book On Kevin Gregg

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:27:52 -0500

Well, Lou has seen enough:After Kevin Gregg gave up four two-out runs in the ninth inning in a 4-1 loss to the Padres on Monday night, Piniella said he plans on removing Gregg from the closer's role."I think we're going to make some changes as far as what we're going to do in late innings," Piniella said. "We'll have some more tomorrow."Piniella didn't say who would be his new closer, though Carlos Marmol and Angel Guzman are considered the likeliest ca...

That's What You Get For Having Two First Names

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 02:49:40 -0500

Kevin Gregg has been relieved of closing duties according to Lou Piniella.

"I think we're going to make some changes as far as what we're going to
do in late innings," Piniella said. "We'll have some more tomorrow."

That "more" will either be Carlos Marmol or Angel Guzman most likely, and I'm sure Lou will go with experience and name Marmol the new closer. Instead of losing by home runs, it'll be by walking in runs. I know I feel better.

The Cardinals won last night leaving the Cubs six back in the division. You might as well kiss that train good-bye. Never say never and all, but it would take a NY Mets-like collapse at this point and I don't see it happening. Of course, I doubt the Mets did either. The Braves and Giants won and the Cubs dropped a half game to the idol Rockies leaving them four back and in 5th place in the wild card. What's the August equivalent of June Swoon? August Ambivelance?

Kevin Gregg Out as Closer

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 01:13:15 -0500

The Chicago Cubs will have a new closer on Tuesday according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. Kevin Gregg blew his sixth game of the year and Lou Piniella finally decided that was enough. Gregg served up his Major League leading third game ending home run and his fifth longball in August. Gregg was told he was tipping his pitches after blowing back-to-back games in Miami, but he is not fooling anyone right now ... or missing any bats. Lou Piniella did not indicate who would be clos...

Ramirez Is In Constant Pain; Gregg Is Tipping Pitches

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 23:03:06 -0500

A couple of interesting notes from Dave van Dyck, the only Cub beat guy to show up for work this weekend: “The whole ballpark can tell when he’s got discomfort, it shows,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. Ramirez was held out of the lineup Sunday and could miss Monday’s game, depending on how the shoulder responds to treatment. The pain is not going to end this season. “It won’t be 100 percent,” he said. “A week ago it started getting worse....

Gregg Ggives It Up Again - Cubs 2 Marlins 3

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:00:34 -0500

Game One Hundred-Three - Cubs 2 Marlins 3 WP - Brendan Donnelly (2-0) LP - Kevin Gregg (4-3, BS 5) Save - None The Cubs took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth thanks to Jake Fox's eighth home run of the year, a solo shot in the top of the inning off of Brendan Donnelly. Kevin Gregg retired pinch-hitter Hanley Ramirez on a pop out to Jeff Baker at third for the first out. Kevin Gregg quickly fell behind Dan Uggla 2-0. Then on a 3-1 pitch Uggla tied the game with a bomb to the ...

The Case For Kevin Gregg

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:45:55 -0500

Why do people hate Kevin Gregg? I mean, beside the Sling Blade stare and half-wit, Special Olympics goggles the guy's been really good. To the tune of 19 saves in 22 chances. Over the year, he's been a rock solid reliever for the Cubs. In 45 2/3 IP, he's chiseled down his ERA to a nice 3.15 with a 1.226 WHIP. But let's look a little deeper, shall we? In June, Gregg really started to pitch well. In 13.0 IP, he posted a nice 2.77 ERA with 5 SV, a 0.846 WHIP, 0.163 BAA, and 11/3 ...

MLB Outsider - In Which We Examine Closers

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:52:20 -0500

Not too long ago, Cubs closer Kevin Gregg came in to face the Detroit Tigers. He managed to get one of the three necessary outs before serving up a game-losing, two-run homerun to pinch hitter Ryan Ratburn. I doubt Gregg had even finished his walk of shame back to the clubhouse before Cub fans were spewing all over the internets their disdain for the closer, who has been other-than-reliable this season.The thing is, he actually hasn't been so bad. It's just that he's pitching u...

Z Motown Meltdown ... Gregg Blows Another One - Cubs 4 Tigers 5

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:01:08 -0500

Game Sixty-Seven - Cubs 4 Tigers 5 WP - Brandon Lyon (3-3) LP - Kevin Gregg (2-2, BS 3) Save - None Leading up to the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs had played one of their better road games of the season. The Cubs' offense struggled again with runners in scoring position (0-for-8) but Micah Hoffpauir's two-out, two-run homer in the seventh gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead. Carlos Marmol struck out three of the four batters he faced in the eighth with one of his better outings over the ...

Cubs sign Kevin Gregg

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:16:52 -0500

The Cubs signed Kevin Gregg to a one-year deal for $4.2 million. Gregg was arbitration eligible and that now makes 5 of the 6 arb-eligible Cubs that have been signed. The Cubs now have $125.5ish million guaranteed to 18 players. This does not include signing bonuses that Bradley and Dempster will get. Bruce Miles said yesterday that the Cubs are close to deals with Gregg and Wuertz so we should expect to hear about Wuertz rather soon.