Hendry: Dempster to Rotation (Really, We Mean It This Time)
There is a lot to digest in Phil Rogers' column in the Chicago Tribune today:
Ryan Dempster is again being told that he will enter the starting rotation. Jim Hendry cites the facts that Demspter won 15 games and went to the All-Star game as a starter. He doesn't mention that those events occurred 6 and 7 years ago, respectively.
But moving Dempster to the rotation frees the Cubs up to offer the closer's role to Kerry Wood as enticement for him to come back. That might work. If it doesn't, the Cubs have Bobby Howry and Carlos Marmol as closer options. Thankfully, Hendry sees the value Marmol offers in the role he played in 2007: "Ideally, I think you'd like to give Marmol another year doing what he did last year, when he could maybe come in and give you two innings at a time and get a little more experience." As Phil Bencomo at Cub Town notes, Wood, Howry, and Marmol are all better relievers than Dempster.
Of course, Sean Marshall is a better starter than Dempster. Sean Gallagher may be as well. But, if Hendry manages to get some team to take Jason Marquis and the $16M the Cubs owe him over the next two years off his hands, Dempster can fill the Marquis role in 2008, for better or worse. (Disclosure: I like Dempster and would love to see him succeed.)
In other news, "Hendry says Piniella will give Felix Pie a chance to become the regular center fielder next spring." At the same time, the Cubs are seeking a regular rightfielder. Neither of those developments bode well for Jacque Jones and Matt Murton.
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Dempster
Of course, Sean Marshall is a better starter than Dempster. Sean Gallagher may be as well.
Nothing like turning to your third-best option for help.
Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see Dempster succeed, too. I want to see all the Cubs succeed. But Dempster was not a very good starter. And he was not, all things considered, a particularly good reliever. He's averaging more than 4.5 walks per nine innings over his career! And it's not like his other numbers are any better.
I would think the Cubs would be extremely fortunate if they could get from him in 2008 what they got from Marquis in 2007 (which was less and less as the season went on). Their continuing fascination with Dempster is just plain bizarre. How long does a guy have to be not very good before they stop making bigger and better plans for him?
RE: Dempster
But Brian! He was an All-Star!
Eh.
I agree that Marquis' 2007 season would be "good" for Dempster. Still, that is a league-average season. And league-average at the back end of your rotation isn't bad.
But I'd rather try Marshall or Gallagher.
Centerfield
In other news, "Hendry says Piniella will give Felix Pie a chance to become the regular center fielder next spring."
I really hope Pie hits, because his glove has award winning potential, but if not, Sam Fuld's performance in the AFL is worth noting.
http://tinyurl.com/yuffo4
Those numbers are impressive, and it is the opinion of some well respected baseball people that, if the AFL season ended today, Fuld would be the MVP. So, if Pie does not hit, Fuld will be in Iowa waiting, and if Fuld is performing, it is possible he will get a shot at the job.