So far, this whole Lou Piniella managing the Cubs thing has more than lived up to expectations. We've already got one solid explosion from Lou this year and we're only three weeks into things. His reaction after yesterday's extra inning 12-9 loss to the Cardinals wasn't quite as good as the first explosion, but it was close. From the Chicago Tribune: Since Angel Guzman was sent to Triple-A Iowa on Tuesday, manager Lou Piniella has been adamant about the need for a 12th pitcher.
After using five relievers on Sunday in the 12-9, 10-inning loss, Piniella's message to management was loud and clear.
"I need the 12th pitcher in here," Piniella said. "We can't go anymore with 11 pitchers. We stretched the rubber band about as far as it needs to be stretched. We need somebody.
"[If] this game goes 11 or 12 innings today, and [Will] Ohman pitched two innings [on Saturday], and I have my closer in the game ... What are you gonna do?"
The article goes on to say that it is likely that AAA Iowa's closer Rocky Cherry (great, great name) will be called up soon. I suppose the real question is why this is such a big deal to Lou. Has anyone ever missed Angel Guzman before? Within the division the 12th pitchers are guys like Elmer Dessens, John Wasdin, Ryan Franklin, and Victor Santos. While some of those guys aren't bad, none of them are good and none of them are guys you want in key extra inning situations like Lou is talking about. Or does Lou just want a white flag to wave in blowouts?
