Chicago Cubs: New closer Brandon Morrow doesn’t dance

Chicago Cubs Closer Brandon Morrow is off to a great start as the team’s  closer.  What does the rest of the season hold for the Cubs’ stopper?

Chicago Cubs fans love their closing pitchers and what’s not to like? Cubs fans have had a ringside seat to watch some of the best in baseball over the past couple of years. First, it was the often underrated Hector Rondon. Then, the front office went big, acquiring the likes of Aroldis Chapman and Wade Davis. This year, Cubs fans may pay witness the best closer in the National League.

Brandon Morrow, 33, was signed by the Cubs to a two-year, $21-million deal in December. This was a major step in Chicago Cubs president, Theo ‘Thanos’ Epstein’s master plan for pitching world domination.

Epstein watched Morrow pitch in all seven World Series games last year, tying the record for reliever appearances. Cubs fans watched the reliever carve up their star-studded lineup in the NLCS. Convinced that Morrow’s recovery was complete and his value on the up-swing, Epstein pulled the trigger and brought the experienced stopper to Chicago.

Keeping Morrow healthy is the key to the bullpen

It doesn’t matter how good your stuff is if you’re never on the mound.

“Brandon Morrow is the closer,” Epstein said as Spring Training drew to a close. “We think he’s just got electric stuff. He’s at a point in his career where he’s figured it out. It’s all about health for him.”

Epstein wasn’t talking about Morrow’s health in passing. He and skipper Joe Maddon had discussed using Morrow in classic ninth inning situations much like they did with Wade Davis.  In a tightly structured closing role, Epstein believed he could keep Morrow healthy. By limiting his appearances to ninth-inning saves and optimal usage only, Maddon and Epstein hoped to get seven deadly months with Morrow each season.

Even four or five months of health hasn’t been historically easy for Morrow.  His 15-year career is littered with the typical injuries.  As 670 WSCR broke down in February, Morrow has battled the likes of biceps tendinitis, an abdominal strain, radial nerve entrapment in his right arm, a torn tendon sheath in a finger and, last but certainly not least, a 2015 shoulder surgery.

In short, the Cubs made a bit of a gamble. In saving tens of millions of dollars (as opposed to re-signing Davis), they bet on Morrow’s ability to stay healthy over the course of his deal. And it’s far from a guarantee given his past.

Morrow doesn’t dance – nor does he need to

Morrow picked up save number 10 of the season in a recent win over the Braves. He has taken the elder statesman role of the bullpen due to his experience.  While the youthful Cubs bullpen strut their dance moves during spectacular plays, Morrow sits.

He doesn’t dance.  As a result of his calm demeanor during intense situations, the Cubs should have an advantage leading into October due to teams feeling the playoff pressure.

“I’ve closed before. It’s been 10 years, but there’s so many different places to pull experience from. And I think all the playoff experience last year helps a lot in pressure situations,” Morrow said.

Some of that experience that could prove incredibly valuable? His 14 appearances last fall with the Dodgers. I mentioned his dominance against the Cubs earlier – but the numbers really do it more justice. The guy put up a 13.5 strikeouts per nine clip in the NLCS. That paired nicely with a 7:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Lights-out. There’s no other way to describe what the veteran right-hander did last October.

Morrow’s promise? Stick it to the Dodgers

Consequently, that experience will mean a lot against some excellent closing pitching in the NL Central including the Reds’ Raisel Iglesias and the Pirates’ Felipe Vazquez .

Fangraphs Steamer (Update) projects Morrow to finish 3-2, with a 2.95 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. What’s most interesting is the projection for Morrow to lead all Central closers with 37 saves well in front of Vazquez and Iglesias’ 31 saves each.

Look for Morrow to get even better as he stays healthy. The former first-rounder’s two-seam fastball is averaging 97.4 miles per hour but has already jumped over 100 mph this season. In mid-June, the Cubs will host Morrow’s former team at Wrigley Field before traveling west later in the month to face the Dodgers at home.

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Morrow knows that Chicago fans can’t wait to see him carve up some Dodgers in his return to Hollywood. He told the Athletic, he’s anxious to show the Dodgers what they missed.

“Obviously, you want to come back and show ’em you got it and shove it up their ***,” Morrow told the Athletic.

Morrow may not dance this season, but 40 or more saves will be music to Cubs fans’ ears.