The Chicago Cubs and Maddon’s bullpen mind games
Chicago Cubs bench boss Joe Maddon knows a thing or two about managing a ball game. Theo Epstein knows a thing or two about building a winning ball club. But what’s with all the mind games being played these days with the Cubbies bullpen?
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If Fernando Rodney‘s 2012 season while both he and Maddon were with the Tampa Bay Rays is the benchmark that Maddon will hold closing pitcher’s to for the rest of his career, it’s simply unfair. Right now, Maddon’s options aren’t exactly on par with other teams closer’s in the division like the Reds’ Aroldis Chapman or Trevor Rosenthal of the Cardinals, but they’re less dicey than Mitch Williams circa 1989-90 for the Cubs.
On Thursday night versus the Reds, Maddon called on his most popular option thus far in 2015, Hector Rondon, to protect a three run lead in the ninth. A three run cushion gives a closer some wiggle room, yet Maddon did little to inspire confidence in his 27-year-old righty. Despite the quasi-comfortable lead and Rondon set to face the weaker bottom half of the lineup, Maddon kept Jason Motte warm in the bullpen just in case.
Rondon, along with Motte and Pedro Strop, have all picked up saves in the month of June. The signing of veteran Rafael Soriano signals even further uncertainties are ahead for the Cubbies ‘pen.
At 32-26, the Chicago Cubs would be flirting with top spot in just about any other division in baseball. Their complications come by way of the St. Louis Cardinals, who are 39-21 and easily the winningest team in the Majors right now. Maddon probably feels that because of this, there is far less room for error with his bullpen in the latter innings of games. Not that any manager is okay with a blown save mind you, but right now, optimism towards a Cubs postseason seems to rest in Wild Card seeding.
After closing out yesterday’s game, Rondon recorded his 11th save and dropped his ERA to 2.84. He has blown two saves in June, but only three on the entire season. It’s not like he has consistently been allowing earned runs in clusters like some other closers in the league with more saves have been doing (see Rodney in Seattle for an example). Early June appeared to just be a rough patch for Rondon. His ERA is lower than that of Strop (3.33) and Motte (3.80), though he has a higher WHIP (1.22) than both and the worst BAA (.253) of the three.
Strop’s peripherals are probably best suited to have him closing out ball games for the Cubs. His ERA is where it is because unlike Rondon, Strop had his rough patch early in May. The 29-year-old allowed six earned runs over three innings in his first four appearances of the month. Since then, Strop has recorded a 2.63 ERA and a BAA of .130. He also boasts the highest K/9 of him, Rondon and Motte and the lowest H/9. His FIP of 3.26 is nothing outstanding, but again — it’s better than Rondon and Motte’s measures. Rondon’s saving grace is that he has superior command to Strop with a BB/9 of 2.6 versus 3.5, respectively.
Motte is 32 and hardly deserving of ninth inning opportunities. He saved 42 games exceptionally well for the Cardinals back in 2012 but hasn’t been the same threat since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013. His 3.4 BB/9 and K:BB of 1.75 hardly asserts any case his supporters might have to institute him as the full-time closer for the Cubbies.
Chicago Cubs fans know they have something good going right now. If not the NL Central, a Wild Card will do just fine for a playoff berth. Anything, so be it there is baseball in October at Wrigley. While no present ninth inning options are stellar, Rondon should have Maddon’s confidence more often than not. Going out on a limb, a trade could even be in the cards for Chicago if Epstein chooses to reunite with Jonathan Papelbon again.
Of course, once Soriano is back up to speed with the MLB level of play, he could turn into the ninth inning man for the Cubs in the second half of 2015 that he was for the Nationals in the first half of 2014. Soriano notched 22 saves to go along with a 0.97 ERA for Washington before the Midsummer Classic last season. If he can return to that form, all bets might be off with consideration to who Maddon and the Cubs turn to in the ninth. As a red flag though, Soriano did fall apart in the second half of 2014, posting a 6.48 ERA en route to eventually losing the closers role. He did after all remain a free agent through the offseason for a reason.