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Aardsma's Push

March 27, 2006 by cubsnet

As with Sean Marshall, on March 11, I wrote that righthanded reliever David Aardsma had little-to-no chance to make the big league club out of spring training this year. Again, as with Marshall, things have changed. Michael Wuertz has been terrible. Roberto Novoa came down with valley fever. The Cubs appear ready to drop Todd Wellemeyer or trade him for a song. And, finally, the Cubs have decided to take 7 relievers with them north, at least until they need a 5th starter on April 15. (With 3 days off in the season's first 8 days, though, it's quite likely the 7th reliever is going find himself getting a bit rusty.)

Meanwhile, after today's game, Aardsma has the following line:


 IP H/9 BB/9 K/9 HR/9 ERA
David Aardsma 7.33 9.8 2.5 11.0 1.2 2.45

Here is what I wrote about Aardsma on March 11:
The Cubs received Aardsma, the former Rice University star reliever, along with Jerome Williams from the San Francisco Giants last year as part of the LaTroy Hawkins trade. He skipped double-A in the Giants' system, but then they sent him back there to be a starter in 2005, with some success (2.93 ERA in 46 innings). Aardsma's acquisition led to the promotion of Rich Hill to Iowa, but the Cubs moved Aardsma back to the bullpen after just 3 starts. Aardsma was the 22nd overall pick in the 2003 draft and because of that he still carries an aura of having a high ceiling as a major league closer or setup man. Why he won't make the team: Aardsma is too wild. His only chance is to have a lights out spring, but he likely will not get enough innings for that to happen. He is otherwise destined for Iowa's bullpen.
Aardsma really hasn't had enough innings yet to call his performance "lights out," and he hasn't really been "lights out" in the 7.1 innings he has pitched, at least not in the same sense that Scott Eyre has been lights out this spring (10.2 shutout innings, 1 BB, 11 K). But Aardsma has had good conrol and thus has been good. Given the changed circumstances, that may be enough for the Cubs to consider having Aardsma make the team.

Also watch for the possibility of lefthanded reliever John Koronka making the team. Koronka has a 2.61 ERA in 10.1 innings. While the Cubs don't need three lefthanded relievers, Eyre and Will Ohman are not strictly lefthanded specialists.
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Wellemeyer

March 28, 2006 by Jason (not verified), 3 years 50 weeks ago
Comment id: 1139

You might have noticed a big change with Wellemeyer this year, not necessarily that he is pitching any better but he is able to throw strikes much more consistently with nearly no walks. This is because of a new windup and body rotation he and Rothschild are working on. As of now it is not working very well, despite the fact that his arm is in really good shape and he has added enough weight in the off-season to raise his velocity. Starting nearly a month ago he has been working on a highly modified windup where his left leg stays on the ground instead of raising it with his pitching motion. This has resulted in a significant loss of velocity topping off at 92 or 93 as opposed to the 97 or 98 he was able to throw in the past. This has also affected his movement significantly which has enabled batters to tee-off like they have not done in the past.

According to one of the pen catchers, when he throws with his old windup there is a significant speed difference. The key right now for Wellemeyer is to get this thing figured out. If he can combine his delivery methods and continue to keep the walks down he can be an effective pitcher. Wellemeyer is a good pitcher but they should have been able to “tweak” this pitching motion sooner than less than a week before the start of the season.

RE: Wellemeyer

March 28, 2006 by cubsnet, 3 years 50 weeks ago
Comment id: 1140

Thanks for that report, Jason. That would explain why Wellemeyer's walks and strikeouts are down this spring (just 4 each in 12 innings).

where his left leg stays on the ground instead of raising it with his pitching motion

I haven't seen Wellemeyer pitch this spring. I'm envisioning, based on this description, something like Rob Nenn's windup. Is that accurate?

Cubs deal Wellemeyer to Marlins

March 28, 2006 by diana, 3 years 50 weeks ago
Comment id: 1143

Now that the Cubs no longer have Wellemeyer, Garciaparra, Grudzielanek, Hollandsworth and Alfonseca, could they PLEASE return to including the player's name on the back of the jerseys ?

Thanks!

Cubs deal Wellemeyer to Marlins cubs.com

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