Updated 10:16am CDT – 05/31/10 – According to a tweet from the Sun-Times, John Grabow was placed on the 15-day DL and Andrew Cashner was Called Up from Triple-A Iowa.
According to multiple reports Sunday, the Cubs will call-up Andrew Cashner from Triple-A Iowa Monday. Cashner will join the Cubs at some point during the series in Pittsburgh and pitch out of the pen . Cashner is not expected to be officially added to the Cubs’ roster until Tuesday or Wednesday.
When Cashner is called-up, the Cubs will have to make two moves. One will be clearing a spot on the 40-man roster … the second will be clearing a spot on the 25-man roster. The Cubs can transfer Angel Guzman to the 60-day DL to open a spot on the 40-man. As for the active roster, it appears James Russell could be the odd man out. Lou Piniella said Sunday that when Andrew Cashner is activated, the Cubs would go with a seven-man pen … three righties, three lefties and Carlos Marmol.
Bruce Levine reported, “Unless someone is traded or goes on the disabled list, that type of setup (three righties, three lefties and Carlos Marmol) would project lefty James Russell going to Triple-A when Cashner joins the Cubs.”
The Cubs are hoping Tom Gorzelanny, who is unhappy with the move to the pen, ends up being as effective as Sean Marshall. Marshall has arguably been the Cubs’ MVP to this point of the season.
If Lou’s count is right once Cashner is called up, the Cubs pen will be: Bobby Howry, Jeff Stevens, Andrew Cashner, Sean Marshall, Tom Gorzelanny and Carlos Marmol. That would mean the final spot is between James Russell and John Grabow.
It could be said that John Grabow has been the worst signing of the off-season. Grabow is being paid $2.7 million this season ($4.8 million in 2011) for a 0-3 record with a 9.45 ERA and a 2.15 WHIP. Grabow has allowed 23 runs, 21 earned, on 32 hits in 20 innings after being paid last winter.
James Russell is 0-1 in 17 games, 19 1/3 innings, with a 2.33 ERA and a 1.03 WHIP. Russell has allowed only five runs, four earned, on 17 hits in 2/3 of an inning less than Grabow.
John Grabow should be placed on the DL and the Cubs should not continue sending the message that no matter how you perform we are going to play the players that are getting paid.
The roster management of this team is beyond ridiculous right now. The Cubs continue to make reactionary moves trying to find a quick fix. Until this organization comes up with a plan and sticks to it, the poor play and underachieving seasons will continue to mount on the North Side.
Stay Tuned …