Cubs Fans Are Going To Get So Mad At Joe Maddon's Bullpen Usage

You know what? Cubs fans have probably been mad at Joe Maddon's bullpen usage since Game 6 of the 2016 World Series, but I can already see the endless amount of tweets in April, when the team will be without closer Brandon Morrow. In the first week of spring training Morrow confirmed that he won't be ready for the start of the season, as he's coming back from a November procedure that cleared debris from his right elbow. So, who's going to fill in for Morrow in the ninth? The safe bet is Pedro Strop, who stepped into the role after Morrow went down in the middle of July last year, and did a great job for the Cubs. That was until he got injured in September against the Nationals, running out a ground ball in extra innings. Strop is healthy again after starting his offseason regimen in November, and while it looks like he'll begin the year as the closer, Maddon also said it won't be on a permanent basis. Via Cubs.com.

Rather than name Strop the closer, though, Maddon said he is planning on taking a more "fluid" approach to the end of games in April. If a situation in the eighth inning warrants using Strop, the manager does not want to be pigeonholed into using someone else. That means relievers such as Steve Cishek, Carl Edwards Jr. and Brad Brach could also be options for ninth-inning work.

And you know what, that's actually kind of smart. There are so many times when the biggest outs in a game aren't in the ninth inning, with a three-run lead, but rather in the seventh inning, when it's a one-run game, two runners are on base and the number three batter is up to bat. That doesn't mean fans aren't going to be mad about not having a consistent closer because any instance that Strop is used before the ninth and then a lead is blown in the ninth, fans are going to be quick to torch Maddon. Here's where Maddon is adjusting and it should please the fan base. The Cubs had the best bullpen ERA in 2018, but the relievers were worn down to end the season. Morrow says that his usage wasn't to blame for his eventual arm injury, but Theo Epstein did mention how part of the plan in bringing in Morrow was limiting his appearances and not pitching him three straight days. When Morrow does return in 2019, Maddon vows to keep an eye on how often he uses his relievers.

"I think primarily the focus will be who's rested, who hasn't pitched a couple days in a row," Maddon said. "And work it that way until Brandon becomes available. And when he becomes available, it's still not going to be an everyday kind of thing. So, I will work off numbers, but I think with this particular group, a lot of it will have to do with who's most rested."

Not quite a closer by committee. More like closer by who's rested.