Some long time observers of the Cubs doldrums believe that the players find playing on the North Side a comfortable summer job. There is little pressure to succeed because there is no accountability for poor play. There is a culture of losing which is accepted by everyone surrounding the team.
Then there are those who believe the Cubs are a) a good team that is just unlucky; b) has talent but is snake bitten in critical game situations or c) is a good product that should be respected by the fans.
ESPN Chicago reports that Kevin Gregg is one of the latter's prophets. When asked about being a potential trade chip, Gregg was snippy with his answer. “I almost look at it as a little disrespectful to the guys on the
team that are here because this is a good product,” Gregg said. "This isn’t like we’re getting our butts kicked on a
daily basis and they’re looking to clean house. ... To be looking at
what the future holds in June or July is worthless to me.”
Gregg's assessment of the Cubs as being a good product is wrong. The Cubs are 20-30, that is only a winning percentage of forty. The Cubs are on pace to lose 97 games. Those are not objective markers of being a "good" team.
Gregg should be happy that he may be a "wanted" player. His career peaked in 2010 with the Blue Jays when he got 37 saves. He continued on his journey man role to Baltimore. He was cut after last season. He hooked on with the Dodgers in spring training but never made the team so he was released. Gregg is 34 years old and had lost his closing duties until the desperate Cubs needed someone to fill their shaky bullpen. He had come in to throw strikes in the 9th. He is six for six in save opportunities.
The trade deadline is more for massaging rosters than block buster deals. Contending teams are always looking to shore up their bullpen for the last two months. If Gregg continues to perform well, he will be a sought after commodity at the trade deadline. He may not like the idea of moving to another city, but that is the life of a journey man pitcher.
