The Cubs three-horse race for the closer’s spot is hardly out of the gates. But Sunday night, two days before the Cubs first full-squad workout, manager Lou Piniella declared Bob Howry the early favorite for the position. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild downplayed the proclamation, probably a wise move considering Piniella’s history of changing his mind (Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez were the only consistencies in Lou’s lineup from Opening Day through October last season). Howry did the same, though he did say in January that he didn’t see why he shouldn’t close. The thought of Howry as closer, however, should scare Cubs fans. To be fair to Howry and all the candidates, though, we'll examine each pitcher’s case. Bob Howry 2007 stats : 81.1 IP, 3.32 ERA, 72 K, 19 BB, 76 H, 8 HR, 8 SV. Case for: Howry’s mound presence is unmatched – this guy always keeps his cool, whether it’s Albert Pujols or Brad Ausmus standing at the ...
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Cubs closer race, who is in the lead?
mysportsrumors.com 2/20/2008 — In a recent interview with WGN, Pinella let it out the bag. Who can it be? Carlos Marmol, Kerry Wood or even Bob Howry?
'Miracle' keeps Wood firing in lineup
usatoday.com 2/21/2008 — Kerry Wood, a cult hero in Chicago since his record 20-strikeout game in his 1998 rookie season, is competing to be the Cubs closer. Nine months ago, he was getting ready for a surgery simply so he could throw batting practice to his kids. Today he's ...
Wrigley Field has a new Field
homerderby.com 2/21/2008 — Over the past decade the Cubs have made lots of improvements to Wrigley Field ... seats, statues, falling concrete, etc. But they had ignored their pot-hole ridden field. Until now ... video at HRD.
Is center-field job in the Fuld?
suntimes.com 2/21/2008 — You'd think a guy with an economics degree from Stanford might be a little quicker with the cost-benefit analysis. But there was Sam Fuld late last September, on a break-neck collision course with the brick wall in right field at Wrigley Field.
Each candidate capable to close —
Major League Baseball News 2/21/2008
Flip a coin. Put their names in a hat. Draw straws. Do rock, paper, scissors. Somehow, the Cubs have to pick a closer. They could let it play out this spring and see how Bob Howry, Kerry Wood and Carlos Marmol do. The trio of contenders threw to ...
Notes: Piniella mulls over middle lineup —
Major League Baseball News 2/21/2008
Cubs manager Lou Piniella is considering tweaking the lineup and putting together a 3-4-5 combination of Kosuke Fukudome, Derrek Lee and Aramis Ramirez. Lee is OK with that. "I've been asked about it, and I told them I don't care where I hit," Lee ...
