Cubs send top 3 pitchers into OzzieFest
We’ll get caught up on a couple of Cubs items before heading to Miami on Tuesday for the start of the series against the Marlins at their new ballpark.
The series also marks the return of Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen from suspension. It should be a media circus, at least for the first day. We’ll bring you our take on that as well as on the new ballpark and the goings-on there.
The Cubs won’t face old teammate Carlos Zambrano in this series, but they will be sending their top three starters to the mound, and that’s a good thing for them.
Ryan Dempster, Matt Garza and Jeff Samardzija have done their jobs for the 3-7 Cubs while Nos. 4 and 5 pitchers Chris Volstad and Paul Maholm need to step up.
Here are some of the breakdowns:
타 The Dempster-Garza-Samardzija trio is 3-1 with a 2.32 ERA and 5 of the Cubs’ 6 quality starts. Dempster and Garza were robbed of possible victories as the bullpen blew the first two games of the season.
타 Individually, the Top 3 looks like this: Dempster is 0-1 with a 1.88 ERA and a tidy WHIP (walks plus hits per 1 inning pitched) of 0.91. Garza is 1-0 with a 1.23 ERA and a WHIP of 0.75. Samardzija is 2-0 with a 3.95 ERA and a WHIP of 1.10.
Samardzija did give up 10 hits, but only 1 walk, in 5 innings Friday against the Cardinals as he allowed 5 runs in the fifth inning of a 9-5 Cubs victory.
타 The duo of Volstad and Maholm is 0-3 with an 8.52 ERA and 1 quality start. Volstad is 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA and a WHIP of 1.18. Maholm is 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA and a WHIP of 1.88.
Getting ready for OzzieFest:
From observers in Miami I talked with over the last couple of days, the furor over Ozzie Guillen seemed to die down over the weekend, but things should liven up Tuesday when Guillen returns from his five-game suspension over comments he made about Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
“It’s going to be an interesting day, no doubt about it,” said coach Joey Cora, as reported by the Palm Beach Post. “There’s going to be a lot more media ... all that stuff. But as far as playing the game, I don’t think it has affected the guys. We miss him, he’s our leader, he’s the one in charge. But I don’t think the guys are worried about what he said, what he didn’t say, when they are trying to throw strikes or trying to get a hit.”
The Marlins were 2-3, both with and without Ozzie, to start the season.
“Our main concern is to play the game and try to win a game against the Cubs,” Cora said. “That’s been our motive the whole time. Win games. Hopefully after Tuesday, we expect everything to be kind of normal. But we’ll see.”
What a relief:
The sample sizes on anything are too small to draw conclusions yet, but the key members of the Cubs bullpen appear to be settling down.
Carlos Marmol has a WHIP of 2.40, and Kerry Wood’s WHIP is 2.57. Those are both way too high, but both late-inning men have bounced back from disastrous outings against the Nationals in the first two games of the season.
The guy I’ve been keeping an eye on since the early days of spring training is lefty James Russell. He’s charged with the big task of replacing Sean Marshall from the left side, and so far, Russell has been up to the task.
In 3 games, Russell has pitched 21⁄3 innings and given up 1 hit and no runs while walking one and striking out four. His WHIP is 0.86. Right-handed batters are 0-for-4 against Russell with a walk while lefties are 1-for-4.
Marshall, whom the Cubs traded to Cincinnati in the off-season, picked up the save Sunday in the Reds’ 8-5, 11-inning victory at Washington. That’s the only save this season by a Cincinnati reliever.
타 Follow Bruce’s reports from Miami at dailyherald.com, where you also can check out his baseball blog, Chicago’s Inside Pitch. Follow Bruce on Twitter @BruceMiles2112
Cubs scouting report
Cubs vs. Miami Marlins at Marlins Park
TV: Comcast SportsNet Tuesday; WGN Wednesday and Thursday
Radio: WGN 720-AM
Pitching matchups: The Cubs Ryan Dempster (0-1) vs. Josh Johnson (0-2) Tuesday at 6:10 p.m.; Matt Garza (1-1) vs. Mark Buehrle (0-2) Wednesday at 6:10 p.m.; Jeff Samardzija (2-0) vs. Ricky Nolasco (1-0) Thursday at 11:40 a.m.
At a glance: The Cubs will get their first look at the Marlins new retractable-roof ballpark. It should be a circus-like atmosphere with former White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen returning from suspension in the wake of controversial remarks he made regarding Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. The Cubs were 3-3 against the Marlins last year, 2-0 in Miami. The Cubs wont face ex-teammate Carlos Zambrano, who is 0-0 with a 3.75 ERA. Former White Sox ace Buehrle is without a victory, but his ERA is 3.65. Omar Infante has 4 of the Marlins 8 homers this season. Hanley Ramirez has 2. Both teams entered Monday at the bottom of their respective divisions.
Next: Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field, Friday-Sunday
Bruce Miles