Kasper: Marmol clearly at career crossroads
Q. Which is the greater problem for Carlos Marmol, confidence or mechanics? Can he earn back the closer’s role?
A. Confidence is a very difficult thing for anyone to analyze. Only the player ultimately knows what’s going on in his own head.
I know he conceded that late last year he struggled with it and I’m sure the start of this season hasn’t helped.
The mechanical issue has and always be an issue. It’s the classic paradox — his funky mechanics are what give his pitches deception and they also make him not throw strikes consistently. Until he starts missing more bats like he did a couple years ago, he will likely continue to struggle.
The problem is, he used to get whiffs on pitches that had the appearance of a strike but guys are just not going after those right now, content instead to take their walks. So now he has to start finding the plate more often.
If that’s the case, does he then try to become a pitch-to-contact guy? I know Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio worked with him on sinking his fastball a little more in spring training to try to get quicker outs.
I don’t have the answer, but his career as the Cubs’ closer is clearly at a crossroads.
Q. James Russell has been an unsung hero in the bullpen the last year or so. It looks like he can fill Sean Marshall’s old role as the left-handed setup man. Given his makeup, is there any doubt he can be an effective closer, too, if used in that role?
A. Trying to figure out if a pitcher can be an effective closer is often a futile exercise because until a guy has been asked to consistently get the final three outs in pressure situations, you just don’t know.
Russell has zero saves in his entire pro career at this point. Now, the fact that he’s a fearless competitor and gets to talk shop with his father Jeff, who had 186 career saves, would seem to bode well for him.
But the proof is in the experience. I am very curious to see how he would do in that spot, for sure.
Q. Tony Campana wants to steal 100 bases. What players in today’s game are capable of that?
A. If Campana played every day I think he’d have a legitimate shot at it. The Dodgers’ Dee Gordon could also threaten that number. The key, though, for any base stealer to even consider that plateau is to get on base a ton to give himself as many opportunities as possible.
Q. After seeing the Dodgers, what impresses you most about Matt Kemp? Is he the best player in the NL right now?
A. He is so good at everything — hitting for average, hitting for power, running the bases, playing defense. The epitome of a five-tool player.
I asked his manager, Don Mattingly, what’s been the best thing about him this year and he said leadership. Kemp plays every day and goes hard all the time, which sets a great example for his teammates.
Best player in the league right now, no question about it.
Q. As plugged in, so to speak, as you are to the music scene, what band or bands should we be listening to?
A. I could give a long list of stuff I am into right now — like JD McPherson and Len Price 3 and new records from The Soundtrack Of Our Lives, The Dandy Warhols and Jack White.
Also, there is a big charity concert announcement in the next few days that has me particularly excited. Stay tuned to our Cubs broadcasts for more info. That’s what we call a tease in the TV biz!
Ÿ Len Kasper is the TV play-by-play broadcaster for the Cubs. Follow him on Twitter @lenandbobwww.wgntv.com/lenandbob;http://www.wgntv.com/blogs/lenandbob/[URL]. Subscriber Total Access members can email him [/URL]questions;mailto:cubsquestions%40dailyherald.com?subject=Reader%20question[URL] each week via our online link.[/URL]