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Should Gregg Keep Closing?

Bullpen Brian
Aug 2, 2009

cubsflorida

I know what youโ€™re thinking; the Cubs need a new closer.

In actuality, however, they donโ€™t.

What Iโ€™ve always liked about Kevin Gregg is his closerโ€™s mentality. A mindset thatโ€™s helped him avoid long stretches of inconsistency.

Although Gregg has certainly been dismal the past two games, heโ€™s still worthy of the closerโ€™s role.

He successfully closed out 10-straight games from June 26 to July 29 and has also held the opponent scoreless in 33 of his last 40 innings.

Iโ€™m not saying heโ€™s without room for improvement, but letโ€™s not crucify the guy for back-to-back bad outings. It happens to the best of them.

Look what happens when Aramis is out of the lineup. The Cubsโ€™ offense reverts back to its first half performance.

Its crucial Ramirez is healthy the rest of the way. If it ends up heโ€™s headed to the DL the Cubsโ€™ playoff hopes are in serious trouble, perhaps even dead.

I have no idea why Chicago struggles in Miami. Iโ€™m just glad the walk-off shots came on get-away-day so the Cubs donโ€™t have to come back to this park Monday.

Cincinnati is battling Pittsburgh for dibs on the NL Central basement.

Hereโ€™s a series the Cubs should sweep, even with Gregg closing.

  • The Cubs (55-48) are in second place.
  • W: Donnelly (2-0) L: Gregg (4-3)
  • Chicago is 12-5 since the All Star break.
  • The Cubs have hit eight home runs in its last 18 games.
  • Koyie Hill has started the past 23 games behind the plate.
  • Dempster is 1-4 in 11 starts on the road this season.