Closer Marmol struggles with his mechanics
MESA, Ariz. - Carlos Marmol's rough outing in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics had manager Lou Piniella scurrying for the video machine.
Marmol came on in the ninth inning of a 2-2 game and lasted just one-third of an inning, giving up 3 hits and 3 runs. He also hit a batter, his third of the spring and the third in his last three games.
Last year Marmol hit five batters in the spring and 12 in the regular season.
"He was really flat with his pitches today, and we were wondering why," Piniella said. "I think we found something on the tape. We'll let Larry (pitching coach Rothschild) work on it tomorrow.
"His mechanics are off. What he's basically doing is showing the ball to the hitter quicker, and also he's losing that nice depth on his breaking ball.
"That's why you're seeing some of these breaking balls back up."
Making his pitch: When spring training began, the Cubs' top left-handed pitching prospect seemed to be John Gaub.
That still may be the case, but Gaub was optioned Friday to Class AAA Iowa, while lefty James Russell was poised to open the season in the Cubs' bullpen.
Russell pitched an inning of relief Friday and kept his ERA at 0.00 after eight games. His spot is precarious, however. If the Cubs make a late-spring trade, it's likely Russell also would be sent to the minor leagues.
For the time being, he's enjoying his status while taking nothing for granted.
"I won't believe it until I'm in Atlanta, where we open up," said Russell, the son of former big-league closer Jeff Russell.
"I'm going about my business the same way as if I wasn't even competing for a job, just trying to go out there and make a name for myself. I'm more than happy with the spring I've had."
If Russell sticks, he will join rookies Esmailin Caridad and Justin Berg in a young bullpen. Lefty John Grabow will be the eighth-inning setup man, with Caridad assuming that role from the right side.
Berg, who has a good sinker, can pitch the sixth or seventh. Jeff Samardzija and Sean Marshall join the bullpen after competing for the rotation. Each can go more than 1 inning if needed.
Lou Piniella joked that the final decision on Russell would come down to how Piniella hit against Jeff Russell. A check of the records showed they never faced each other in a regular-season game.
Zambrano strong: Carlos Zambrano was impressive, working into the seventh. Officially, he went 6 innings, giving up 3 hits and 2 runs, 1 earned. He threw 83 pitches, 54 for strikes. He'll start the season opener.
"I'm anxious to start the season, and I'm ready to go," he said.
Needing work: Among Friday's roster cuts was reliever Jeff Gray, who was optioned to Class AAA Iowa. Gray strained his groin at the beginning of spring training and appeared in only one game. The Cubs obtained him over the winter from Oakland.
"He's got a nice arm," Lou Piniella said. "Rather than rush him, we'll give him a chance to go down and get some work in. I expect him to be back."