Trib: Hawkins "Apparently" Out As Closer
The Chicago Tribune's Dave van Dyck, under the headline "Hawkins likely blows closer job", reports that LaTroy Hawkins, following today's blown save, "lost the game and apparently lost his job as the Cubs' closer." But all we have as support for that assertion is Dusty Baker saying, "I'll think about it tonight." That's not much to base the headline on.
Van Dyck goes on to list Mike Remlinger, Chad Fox, and Michael Wuertz as replacement possibilities. Remlinger is an attractive option in no small part because it would mean Baker would stop using him as a LOOGY, a role to which he is completely unsuited given his splits. But because Baker likes to use him in that role, Remlinger is unlikely to become the closer. Wuertz has almost no chance; too young. So Fox it is.
As for Hawkins, despite being the best reliever on the staff, he has now blown 10 of 16 1-run save opportunities as a Cub.
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Fox it is, for today
So Fox it is.
Well, I was right. For today at least. Baker is calling what he's going to do a "bullpen by situation."
That's How the Toothpick Falls
Is "bullpen by situation" whatever way Dusty's toothpick happens to fall out of his mouth? I'm not very comfortable with Fox as the closer. He seemed to be more of an after-thought pickup in the offseason rather than a he-man reliever.
I'd love to see Wuertz come in, get some saves under his belt and start playing the part. He already looks the part: big young hard-throwing kid with a "mean" game face. How many guys were intimidated when Lee Smith would come ambling out of the bullpen? JoeBo had that to some extent (and I hope he finds it again in a few weeks), and I think Wuertz could develop it as well.
And forget about ol' Remmy. Whatever magic he had in a bottle last year has been used up. Is it just me or does anyone else get a sick feeling when he comes in and Dusty hands him the ball?