The Dempster Question?
Last week Cubs.com's Beat Reporter Carrie Muskat fielded a mailbag question about Ryan Dempter. "Without laughing, can you say Ryan Dempster is a good closer? I think this is our biggest weak spot and should be the No. 1 priority in the offseason." Here is a link to the article in question:
In the article, Muskat defends Dempster, quoting his many saves. I really disagreed with the article when I read it, thinking instead of Dempster's 4.5+ ERA. That ERA basically means that he gives up an earned run in half of his appearances. Wow.
After watching the St. Louis game on Friday night (9/14) and witnessing Dempster give up two solo shots, I was sure this had to be the last straw with Lou for the year. Piniella had to remove Dempster with Bob Howry, who thankfully managed to truly save the game for Big Z. I was sure that Lou would finally go to Marmol as the team's new closer for the final 15 games. Nope. Lou pitched Dempster again in the first game of the double-header today (9/15), with only a one run lead.
On Friday he had a 4 run cushion, which is the type of scenario he has been given regularly throughout the year. Scenario's like that have allowed Dempster to continue to rack up saves while giving up a lot of runs. Today, he only had a one run lead to ruin. I thought I was going to puke when I saw him walking onto the field. But as Ryan Dempster does every few outings, he pitched brilliantly. The problem is, a closer needs to be consistent, and Dempster does not even live in the same region of the country as consistent.
Even with Saturday's early-game performance from Dempster, I am still going to keep calling him Dumpster. He seems like a really nice guy, but I want someone better closing for my Cubbies.
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Dempster to rotation next year?
Given the almost-move of Dempster to the rotation earlier this year, it's certainly possible that the Cubs will give him a starting rotation shot in the spring next year, with Marmol becoming the closer. But moving Dempster out of the closer's spot isn't going to happen at this late stage of this season.
Dempster starting
This would not be a move I would favor. I say, even if he does struggle as the closer, at least they're minimizing his innings.
Ideally, the Cubs would just realize that he's not all that good of a pitcher, and voila! they'd have a long reliever.