PHILADELPHIA- Carlos Marmol credits Kerry Wood and Bob Howry with teaching him how to become a successful late-inning reliever, forgetting about the bad outings and focusing on the good ones. .
Now the Cubs are close to signing Howry to fill a right-handed void in the bullpen to help Marmol out.
The Cubs insisted no signing has been made, contrary to a report, but indications are that Howry will be in a Cubs uniform very soon.
"If it happens, it will give us some experience in the bullpen from the right side," manager Lou Piniella said. "When he was with us, he was a rock in the clubhouse and great with the young pitchers."
The Cubs bullpen has been a sore point most of the season, with the exception of Carlos Marmol in the closer's role and Sean Marshall as the seventh or eighth inning pitcher. The Cubs are moving Carlos Zambrano into the rotation, just as he's begun to look good in his late-inning relief role.
"If he goes out there in the rotation and throws the ball like he did (Tuesday) night, it's going to be a good situation for both Carlos and us," Piniella said. "What you saw (Tuesday) night, it's what everyone was hoping for."
Zambrano pitched to one batter on Wednesday and got a great play by shortstop Starlin Castro to retire Jayson Werth with the tying run on second.
"We've been pitching well," Piniella said. "I think that's how teams streak. The pitchers keep the games in check, and it gives you a chance to score enough runs to win."
OMG I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS LOSER IS BACK. PLEASE TELL ME I'M HAVING A BAD DREAM. HIS ERA IS OVER 10 THIS YEAR IN 14 GAMES. HE BLEW SO MANY LEADS AND SO MANY GAMES FOR THE CUBS AND DIAMONDBACKS. THIS GUY IS A CANCER TO ANY TEAM HE PLAYS ON. PLEASE BLOW THE LEAD BOBBY JUST CALL IT A DAY AND GIVE IT UP. THE CUBS HAVE ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT
this is to all the morons on this comment list......there aren't many options for the Cubs right now as was said in the article. The staff we have right now in the bullpen sucks so we need a change.......Howry would bring that change. Also, news flash, pitchers hate playing for the Cubs mainly because of all the "fans" like you all who rip guys for anything and everything. You all are the same types who rip Soriano when he's cold and all of a sudden now everyone loves him. All you fair weather Cubs fans make all the real fans sick.
No NO NOT Lowry.. He was wahed up years ago...
LOU did it again today and I called it in another commebt earlier today .. Down 1 going into the ninth.. Lead off man gets hit by ball .. Man on 1st .. Fontenot get a single .. Wanted Fontenot at third a week ago or Tracy from AAA. Men on 1st and third no outs.. CASTRO
I know he cam hit, why no pinch ruinner for Sorry ?? Why no bunt with castro (he can fly down the line , a bunt can cause havoc and move the runner to 2nd to prevent a DP.. NOT LOU no suicide nothing .. So Castro strikes out.. Oh yah you used Colvin as a pinch hitter and didnt leave him in the game so now you only have Rami to pinch hit against a righty ,, good luck. Another Rami strike out .. Way to go LOU send down Chad Tracy a lefty bat that can play third or 1st .. Well hes in AAA batting over 500.. Leading the AAA. Now you got Soto and he cant hit in the clutch .. He opos out to SS 3 out Game over .. LOu sucks. Another opportunity runied by no manufacture runs LOU..
Makes me sick lou does..
No NO NOT Lowry.. He was wahed up years ago...
LOU did it again today and I called it in another commebt earlier today .. Down 1 going into the ninth.. Lead off man gets hit by ball .. Man on 1st .. Fontenot get a single .. Wanted Fontenot at third a week ago or Tracy from AAA. Men on 1st and third no outs.. CASTRO
I know he cam hit, why no pinch ruinner for Sorry ?? Why no bunt with castro (he can fly down the line , a bunt can cause havoc and move the runner to 2nd to prevent a DP.. NOT LOU no suicide nothing .. So Castro strikes out.. Oh yah you used Colvin as a pinch hitter and didnt leave him in the game so now you only have Rami to pinch hit against a righty ,, good luck. Another Rami strike out .. Way to go LOU send down Chad Tracy a lefty bat that can play third or 1st .. Well hes in AAA batting over 500.. Leading the AAA. Now you got Soto and he cant hit in the clutch .. He opos out to SS 3 out Game over .. LOu sucks. Another opportunity runied by no manufacture runs LOU..
Makes me sick lou does..
I am not all that excited about Howry either, but I see noreason why Howry should not get a chance. He certainly cannot do any worse than Grabow. I do not see the Cubs having that many options. This might be a good move. He is not going to be a closer or set up man. He will be someone to eat innings.
LOL,
This guy couldn't get the side out in a little league game. I couldn't believe he is still in the majors.
While he is at it Hendry should hire Farnsworth, then the cubs would never win again.
Sir Dragon of Mulberry
STUCK WITH THE SOX
What buffoons Pinella and Hendry are, and, by association, good ol' Tom Ricketts. Homerun Howry back in a Cub uniform is precisely what we need. I suspect the addle-headed boys have a plan -- put Randy Wells in the bullpen and start Howry! Regarding the new ownership, to quote the Who -- looks like the new boss is the same as the old boss.
Hey guys just wanted to know how things going, remember im in Toronto and its been great since i left Chicago, good luck with my friend Bob, he will sure sink you to the bootom in late innings!
I know Howry has had his moments, but this guy is a vast improvement over guys like Caridad. The last time this guy was a Cub, they won the division. He wasn't the answer, but he wasn't the problem, either.
Right now, you've got a few solid starters, spotty hitting, and terrible relief pitching. Why not take a chance that Howry can re-invoke the ghosts of 2007? Unless you think that Samardzija and Zambrano are real options in the bullpen.
I mean at this point, what do they have to lose?
The Cubs have no hope, unless they can bring back Neifi Perez.
WOW, WOW... I mean Lou and Hendry are just downright serious about "WINNING". I see that CSNChicago.com is reporting that terms have been agreed upon with WHIPLASH Howry. I mean this is so incredible. Next thing you know, Lou and Hendry are going to talk Jon Leiber out of retirement, they're going to track down and sign Antonio Alfonseca and without a doubt, they'll somehow trade for both LaTroy Hawkins and Kevin Gregg. WOW, and I really thought that Ted Phillips, Jerry Angelo and Lovie Smith held the title of worst management in Chicago. Congrats to the Ricketts, Hendry and Lou, you have made the Bears management look like GENIUSES.
Can't wait to have another chance to get together Bobby H.
can we also pick up Trevor Hoffman when the Brewers cut him?
Here I come guys! And I'm bringing my gas can with me! Can't wait to burn down Wrigley and piss all over the fans hearts like I did just a few years ago! You all remember, when that nice fan came from the stands and wanted to destroy me after I blew ANOTHER lead late in a game! Wasn't that great!? Ahhhh, the memories :) Can't wait to create some more memories, and heartache, with all you Cub fans again.. See ya soon!
YOURS truly, ALWAYS and FOREVER,
Bob H.
And I just read that Mr. Ricketts praised the baseball operation. Could bringing Howry back finally change his opinion of an operation that has saddled him with some really bad contracts? Or eight years from now will we have to watch an addle brained GM bring back a a 40 something year old "Fonsie" for a Cubbie Days reunion tour?
Last time howry played for the cubs his era was 5.35 and he gave up 13 Hr's and 42 Earned runs in 70 innings.Why is this guy being resigned?? LMAO
NO!!! NO
Not Howry man.This dude sucks.WOW the cubs are desperate if they want him back.You gotta be kiddin me
Surely, You can't be serious? I live in the north side of Phoenix, not far from where Bob Howry lives...some of the dingers he gave up 28 miles south of here just landed in my backyard!1 DO NOT SIGN HIM. Just what we need, sign the worst guy from the worst BP in baseball. This would seal the deal on firing JHen. If he's serious, we'll call him Shirley!
Please do not sign this guy. He is lame, plain and simple. We don't need a guy with an average speed fastball with no movement. Another reason why Hendry must go if he brings this guy back. We had a guy like that, Kevin Gregg last year. Brutal . Jim, you are losing whatever is left in your mind. There is a reason why Arizona released him and their bullpen is the worst in baseball. This is the best you can come up with Hendry, wow.
Please, take everything I got, but please, do not sign that loser again. Pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.
Lou-
Just what we need, "Homerun" Howry back...NOT! Please say it isn't so...
Yeah,Lou would like the idea!