The Arizona Diamondbacks have had the worst bullpen in major league baseball this season. On Monday, they designated veteran right-hander Bob Howry for assignment after posting an ERA of 10.67 through the first 14 games. On Friday, the Cubs decided to sign Howry to a one year deal and he will be with the team for the weekend series against the Texas Rangers. Howry pitched previously for Chicago, and the results were mixed. He struggled mightily his final year with the team recording an ERA of over five. To make space on the roster, rookie Justin Berg will be sent down to Triple-A Iowa, and right-hander David Patton will be designated for assignment.
It is getting old to say, but to me this is just another head scratching move by the Cubs. The veteran reliever does not have the velocity that he used to, and he is prone to giving up the long ball. He allowed 13 home runs in just over 70 innings in 2008, and he has already given up six this year. Wrigley Field also does not compliment his pitching style very well, as depending on which way the wind is blowing seemingly routine fly balls can end up sailing into the bleachers. Furthermore, with the way that the Cubs bullpen is currently assembled it appears that Howry may be asked to assume a prominent role during the late innings. They already have left-hander Sean Marshall in the set up role so it seems like they would want a right-hander to compliment him in the seventh and eighth innings. With Zambrano moving back to the rotation it looks like Howry is a good bet for the set up role. Does the veteran have enough left to still be an effective pitcher in the late innings of a ballgame? We will find out soon and you have to think that Piniella will have him on a very short leash.
The Cubs have been playing better baseball of late, and they will surely take the split of the series they just finished up in Philadelphia. They came very close to taking both games from the Phillies, but an eighth inning rally against John Grabow prevented that. They are currently playing the first of three games down in Texas against the Rangers. Top of the third inning and the Cubs are already 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position. Ugh.
