I can’t believe I’m even typing these words. Trust in Strop? Never that. Going back the last couple years, if there was one guy I would have got rid of in the Cubs bullpen, it would have been Pedro Strop. Second was Hector Rondon; he’s not doing too bad in Houston. But I could never bring myself to trust Pedro, but after another year of consistent performances, has he earned his way back in the circle of trust?
He has been our most consistent reliever. Now, with Morrow on the DL again, he’ll be looked at to close out games. I’m sure he’ll have help; I’m sure Joe will play the matchups, but Pedro is front and center. He closed out the Cardinals in game 1 Thursday of the 5 game series with the dirty birds to begin the 2nd half of the season. No drama; just shut the door.
Shut the Front Door… what my friend told my young son in place of the explicit version of Shut the F Up. It was hilarious; he would repeat it for a while before forgetting. But when we saw him again, it started up again. Funny stuff. Pedro would actually be responsible, technically, for shutting the back door. I still can’t believe I feel confident with him.
Relievers have that love and hate relationship. Do we really remember all the good performances turned in? No. But we sure as hell remember the bad ones. It’s those bad ones, where the reliever gets shelled, and costs us a W, that make us question them. I never questioned Chapman. What happened in Game 7 was shocking… thankfully it didn’t matter at the end of the day. And one other thing… don’t care how good Gleybar is with the Yankees; the acquisition of Chapman cinched that title for us. End of story.
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But now… am I finally feeling comfortable with Pedro? I remember Marmol; talk about a love hate relationship. He was lights out at times, and couldn’t find the strike zone other times. Strop doesn’t really have control issues, but he has been touched up over the years. Yet his numbers remain spectacular. It’s time to trust Pedro.
Still, turn the clock ahead to the postseason and a high leverage situation; that’s where trust is really tested. Going to the bullpen for a big out, I’m going Cishek first, sorry. Of course Morrow, but even Edwards, or even Rosario before I trust Strop. I’d call on Stroppy before Wilson no doubt. Still, he’s not at the top of the list, regardless of his consistent performance over the years. We remember the other guy we got from Baltimore in that deal, but this guy has paid off big time too.
OK, I’m trying to talk myself into it. I really want to trust Pedro. Ugh… Will he reward our trust? Will he blow up in the biggest of moments? Only time will tell, but like I said, he’s not my option #1. He may have to get the big out… Crossing my fingers. Go Cubs!
MK
Honestly, it is hard to trust any reliever. Chapman was different in 2016…lights out! WD71 was aWesome last year but never really got that chance in the postseason. Morrow has been good for the Cubs but is hurt. Strop to close games out now…scary. Let’s hope he does a fine job while Morrow gets healthy. I was on the get rid of Strop train the last couple years, but he is still here, so we have to hope for the best. Playoff time rolls around, not sure how much trust Joe will have in him. Whoever he does have trust in come playoff time, just get the job done!
GO CUBS GO!!!